Friday, December 27, 2019

A Feminist Reading Of Marry Shelleys Frankenstein - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1216 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Frankenstein Essay Did you like this example? A Feminist Reading Of Marry Shelleys Frankenstein Feminism is a movements aimed to equal rights between men and women so in Shelleys time it was just started and through Frankensteins novel she pointed out one of the most powerful work of feminism in London 1818. Shelley was 18 years old when she wrote this story. When she was in Switzerland with her lover Percy Shelley who later became her husband, they stayed at their friend Lord Byrons castle. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "A Feminist Reading Of Marry Shelleys Frankenstein" essay for you Create order They decided to compete for writing the best horror story. That night Shelley dreamed of a scientist who created a scary creature, then her dream developed to a novel that she wrote (Zeitoun). She was from a noble rich educated family and they were interested in arts. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a writer and advocate for womens rights and her father, William Godwin, was a political philosopher and a science fiction writer, while her husband Percy Beach Shelley, was a famous poet who had his own way of thinking which conflicted with his community and was calling for freedom and liberalism rather than religion. She managed to publish the novel in her fathers publishing house, and her name mentioned in the second edition with her husband helped. Shelleys Frankenstein reflected different problems that were prominent in the lives of female at that time via her subordinate female characters. Elizabeth, Safie and the nearly created female monster. The most important female character in this story is Elizabeth although she is hardly mentioned until after the interdiction of Victor Frankenstein her fianc, Shelley showed how women were not important at that time unless they had a man. An example of this, the way Victor treated Elizabeth, he never discussed with her his work or his fear from the monster that he created. He was only expecting for her loyalty and obedience. Even when Victor decided to marry, he discussed his marriage with his father and his friend Henry to locate the place and the day of the marriage. It is strange because, it is known from antiquity that these concerns are womens interests, not mens, but Shelley preferred to show that men dominated women even in their most basic rights and interests. Victor said: Elizabeth loved the wonderful sights of nature in the mountains and lakes of Switzerland while I was more interested in investigating why things in nature happened (Shelley 17). Here Victor was outspoken about his opinion on Elizabeths interests, which is nothing important in life. Shelley reflects how men in her society looked at women as their mentality lacked invention or even education. She was docile and good tempered, yet gay and playful as a summers insect and I loved to tend on her, as I should on a favourite animal (Shelley 20). Victor again looked at Elizabeth as a small butterfly or a pet. Another opinion Shelley pointed out, which is men look at women as a beautiful animal or insect that they enjoy looking at, and they only expect obedience from women and t hey have no missions in life other than fulfilling their desires. In addition, when the Monster tries to take revenge from Victor he decides to kill Elizabeth. Here, Elizabeth is a metaphor of something that belongs to Victor. Because when someone tries to take revenge from someone else the first thing he will do is to take or destroy something he owns. So Shelley refers to Elizabeth as an object belongs to Victor. Indeed, the beast is able to kill Elizabeth on her wedding day wearing her white dress, Shelley reflected her negative idea about marriage in her society. Because she didnt believe in marriage, she thought a person should be with whoever he chooses without restrictions. Second, Safie is another subordinate female character. She runs away from her father in Turkey alone to live with her fianc? © Felix in Germany. Safie and Felix showed a deep and powerful relationship by defying the rules of their societies. Her relationship with her fianc? © is strong and perfect. Shelley presents herself in Safie in the way that rebelled against her family, Shelley ran away with Percy Beach Shelley without getting married and she believed in her lovers belief in freedom and there is no such thing as restrictions such as marriage if two people love each other she even knew that Percy had another wife. But after their long struggle with their family and society they decided to marry. She mentions Safie in only two pages to show that it is a fictional character who seeks her personal desire something that no one dares in her society to do such a thing, it is also a message to women who want to seek their dreams and live only for their personal desires. Felix spent the weeks following Safies arrival teaching her to speak and read their language (Shelley 85). Safie does not give up on her family but she abandons her identity, language and her culture for Felix who does not even speak her language. In this novel, Shelley points out that women in her society could be this stupid and blind to forget who they are when they loved men. Finally, the monster asks Victor to create a female monster to live in peace far away from humans. In the beginning, Victor accepts to create her, but he starts to think of consequences and feel suspicious. Still, my work was proceeding well. Why, then, did such a sickening sense of foreboding ill my heart? This feeling that something evil was about to happen (Shelly 111). Victor thinks that the monster hates himself already and starts to become independent, let alone a female ugly angry monster, she will make a fuss. That cannot be controlled by his male creature (Mellor 360). Victor is afraid that the female creature might become a thinker, she may refuse to live with the male monster and they will hate each other. She will have an entity and a sense of self and needs as any normal person. Hes afraid that she might have her own way of thinking. Female autonomy, in Victors eyes, becomes a terrible threat (Williams). Victor was not only afraid of an angry female monster but is also afraid she may not submit to the male monster whom Victor created hem himself and this may shake his manhood and change his principles on women who should not exceed the limits of obedience. Victor is also afraid that the female monster may start to think of having babies, little thinkers demons such as their mother. Shelley through Victor showed how men thought of women at that time. Men through Victor, supposed that women followed men when their named were mentioned, and if women become superior over men it would be a great disaster because it was against women nature to be superior. To conclude, Mary Shelley was one of the most important women who talked about the womens movement in the nineteenth century. Her aims were to spread awareness among women through her creative writings, the most important work she wrote was Frankenstein. Despite her young age, Shelley managed to reflect mens perspective of women successfully that time via her works. Also, she reflected her personal life through her characters and showed how she suffered that time because she was a woman.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Minimum Wage Should Increase Unemployment - 996 Words

We, the people elect representatives to improve society, and some of us have very high standards. It is a representative’s duty and responsibility to manage taxes, improve health, protect the environment, protect lives, improve education, and many more. Rightfully, we want each and every representative to perform their duties, and hopefully exceed expectations. Without a doubt, as a fellow representative who represents the people, you should raise minimum wage. It is all about the people, and making society a better place. Theoretically, minimum wage should decrease unemployment, close racial gaps, enable families to take care of basic necessities, and would somehow make the world a better place. However, theories are ideas, intended to explain a situation; they are not facts, they are not constant, and they can be wishful thinking. Therefore, an increase in minimum wage does not ensure these privileges. There are too many factors to consider before making a drastic decision. A raise in minimum wage will negatively impact the workforce which will eventually cause Inflation. We live in a society where roles are reversed, and where people wants fast and efficiency. At the age of fifteen or younger, many young adults have children. Also, many young adults are the acting parent for their siblings. These teens are without experience searching for a job to improve their situation. With the opportunity of a job, they have the funding to take care of their child/children, or theirShow MoreRelatedLink between Higher Minimum Wage and Higher Unemployment1179 Words   |  5 PagesIn theory when an increase in minimum wage increases the cost of low-wage workers firms should want to hire less workers, however in reality this basic theory might be wrong according to Plumer B. (2013) While some studies found a link between higher minimum wage and higher unemployment level many others such as a recent paper from U.C. Berkeley that exploited differences across state borders did not find a link between higher minimum wage and higher unemployment. A study by John Schmitt of theRead MoreA Brief Note On Raising Minimum Wage1088 Words   |  5 PagesBrendan Mason Mrs. Scruggs 08/07/15 Raising minimum Wage There is always talk about the problems of North Carolina’s economy, and these problems then become publicized and put throughout the media, informing people on the condition of their state’s economy. A popular topic lately is the state’s minimum wage, and whether it should be raised or if we should keep the current minimum wage. Usually, opinions vary on what to do about minimum wage, however there certainly seems to be a larger group ofRead MoreThe Positive and Negative Effects of Raising Minimum Wage805 Words   |  4 Pagesincome. Many people’s income relies on minimum wage. In 2012, 3.6 million people received an hourly pay at or below minimum wage. There is an ongoing debate in government as to what the minimum wage should be. Stuck at $7.25, Obama has suggested raising the minimum wage to $9.00. Depending on a person’s perspective, raising minimum wage could be positive or negative. Minimum wage has the ability to change lives, and change t he economy. Small businesses and unemployment, teenage demographics, and the costRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Raised?870 Words   |  4 PagesShould Minimum Wage Be Raised? Minimum wage has always been a controversial issue. Many politicians use the argument of minimum wage for their own political propaganda. Some may argue minimum wage should be raised, while others believe it will have detrimental effects on our economy if it is raised. Surprising to most people, minimum wage earners make up only a small percent of American workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, minimum wage workers make up about 2.8% of all workersRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Legal905 Words   |  4 PagesRise in minimum wage has several impacts apart from unemployment. The minimum-wage workers would have to pay more taxes and receive fewer benefits if they are subjected to rise of minimum wage. The federal marginal rate for tax is 32 percent on an average for low earning members. This would amount to almost one third of the income of a worker. The tax rate is quite high for low paid workers. The rise of minimum wage would also reduce some of the advantages an d leverages that the low-wage workersRead MoreRaising The Minimum Wage?1575 Words   |  7 PagesThe issue of raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour is a heavily debated topic. Both sources against or in favor of the minimum wage refer to a â€Å"growing gap† between low-income workers and high-income earners. Sources against the minimum wage believe raising it will increase this gap, whereas those in favor of the minimum wage believe it will decrease this gap. The arguments in favor of the minimum wage rely mostly on ethical beliefs, such as â€Å"pay should reflect hard work,† to advanceRead MoreThe Effects of Raising the Minimum Wage on US Economy1507 Words   |  6 Pagessupport their family. Due to the fact that the prices of goods increase year and after year, the minimum wage has been increasing from less than a dollar to $7.25 now. The question that comes to everybody is that should we increase the minimum wage by too far. Does the minimum wage in crease reduce the unemployment since now the current wage is high enough? Some people might think that we should increase the minimum wage in order to increase the labor supply. However, if we think deeply than this, thereRead MoreImpact Of Minimum Wage On Unemployment1305 Words   |  6 PagesImpact of minimum wage on unemployment The supply and demand factors show significance towards growth of unemployment. It has been observed that the price floor above equilibrium wage should cause unemployment. There are many people who have provided their arguments against the fact. However, it has been observed that whenever there has been a rise in the minimum wage of workers, unemployment rate goes very high. For example, an organization has to maintain its expenses as well as its incomes.Read MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Minimum Wage In Taiwan1541 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Nowadays, minimum wage is very important for workers in this world. In addition, minimum wage is also a core element of public policy in lots of countries. For example, minimum wage has become a hot topic in Taiwan recently. The Taiwanese complained that the working hours are too long, and the wages are too low. Because of that reason, workers in Taiwan have come forward to protest this policy. Therefore, according to this example, minimum wage has become an issue that cannot be ignoredRead MoreCongress As Part Of The Fair Labor Standards Act1084 Words   |  5 PagesStandards Act (FLSA) instituted minimum wage back in 1938. The first minimum wage was at $0.25 per hour and the last minimum wage increase occurred in 2007. Over the past 65 years the minimum wage has varied considerably in inflation-adjusted buying power. It has averaged $6.60 an hour in purchasing power in 2013 dollars, but it has ranged from a low of $3.09 an hour in late 1948 to a high of $8.67 an hour in 1968. Toda y’s minimum wage buys somewhat more than the minimum wage has historically, although

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Impact of Internet Connectivity on Individual Behavior

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Internet Connectivity on Individual Behavior. Answer: Introduction: The behavior of human beings has been determined by the array in which each of the physical activities he has been performing is defined. The observable emotion has also been associated with these individuals considering the overall human race. Some of the temperaments and behaviors of human beings has been consistent throughout the life. While some other traits shifts with the change of ages and time (Ellison et al., 2014). Various researches have been conducted over the influence of the Internet addiction with additional problems. The outcomes displayed disturbed behavior exhibited by the Internet Users over the Internet. With the increasing phenomenon of the huge browsing of Internet, researchers have been trying to figure out its impacts. The following study firstly identifies the influence and addiction of Internet. Subsequently, the merits and demerits are explored. The ultimate aim of the study is to propose a model, explaining flaws of the existing solutions. Finally, the conclusion has been discussed on the review process and determining the limitations of the study. Describing the field of research: Since the last couple of decades, the way human beings has been living and the process of their performing activities has faced new changes. This has been due to the developments in information and communication sectors. As said by Taddicken (2014), the large distribution of the computers has been vital reason behind this. This has lead to communication of people taking place in the virtual space better defined as the cyberspace. This has appeared as a new-fangled ambience quite different from the real world that the human beings have been living. This has built links between people throughout the world. The efficiency in learning has also increased. The cyberspace has been utilized for disseminating and acquiring for future development. On the basis if the new information claimed by the Internet World Stats, two billion individuals have the access to internet. This growth of the usage of internet tremendously increased to 566.4% during the years of 2000 to 2012. The group of people in fastest growing category has been the adults aged from 55 to above. The people of age group between18 to 34 are found to be the users mostly active online. Lallmahamood, (2015) said that the Users of Internet has been increasing rapidly since the 90s. A study done previously claimed that 83% of the users surfing frequently have been between the ages of 20 to 40 years. Moreover, 30% of them found to browse without any particular reason. Almost 67% of them were males. Further, it was seen that the young adults has been camouflaging as teens while engaging in various online forums. 72% of them have been addicted to the social networking sites all day and night. As researched by Lu et al., (2014), mainly Asia has been found to accommodate the largest number of such users with a massive figure of 922.3 million. It has represented the forty four percent of the population of the internet users on this Earth. There have been an increasing number of concerns in Asia labeled as the Internet addiction. This has been also referred to as health issue. The Chinese Ministry of Health claimed that engaging in online activities for more than 6 hours per day is a symptom of the disorder called Internet Disorder. It also includes the adverse effect of unable to come online. 90% of the juvenile crime happening in Beijing city has been related to Internet. Several boot camps have been set up with the collaborative government of South Korea, Japan and China (Aguiar Martens, 2016). The Governments of China, Japan and South Korea have set up boot camps. They have been providing therapies to do away with Internet addiction of people. China has approached a step further in banning the new cyber cafes as a part of their government campaign. Almost fifteen percent of the university students in Europe and United States have been aware of the fact that they have been devoted to Internet. However, several doubts have risen regarding the justification of the outcry. Description of the Research: Bhatti, (2015) claimed that as a consequence, several questions has been rising regarding the level of changes of human behavior due to the Internet surfing. The review by empirical and academic literatures has shed light on some common questions. These have been the regarding the factuality of problems caused due to internet addiction. Moreover, the personality types who have been correlating with this addiction were needed to be identified. Lastly the possible addicts and the behaviors of the users of Internet have been raising severe queries. Hedman et al., (2014) claimed that the Internet Addiction has been regarded as an impulsive disorder that has not been due to the taking of intoxicating drugs. Nevertheless, it has been very much related to pathological gambling. It has been identified as the behavioral or non-chemical addiction arising due to the Human-Machine interaction. This has been both passive liking watch movies and active like playing of computer games. It has been the maladaptive using of internet leading to functional and social impairment. The several views for the concepts of Internet include the failure to control the internet usage. This results in psychological, tasking and social activities. The primary reasons for the dependency over Internet has been the rise in tolerance over the impact to stay online, rise in quantity of source investment on correlated activities, unpleasant mood during off-line and lastly the denial of the behaviors creating problems. Evaluation of the contribution the research to the field: Huang et al., (2014) argued that, there have been various models suggested to categorize the kinds of the activities done online. It has been concluded that the similarity nature around the models is the key distinction between the information collecting and interactive functions. The empirical study that has been carried out early has indicated the subtypes like addiction of cyber relationship or over involvement of online relationships. There have been net compulsions like online shopping, trading and gambling. The information also gets overloaded such as the compulsive we searches or surfing. Computer addictions have been also there like the obsessive behavior on computer games. There has been an alternative approach of 5 phases of the process of addition. This has been belonging towards the experimentation, discovery, escalation, hopelessness and compulsion. There has been also searching for irrelevant information that has not been so important and chatting for excessive time. Th ere are the contributions of the research to the field. Limitation of the research: Contrary to all the above, the internet has brought so many things close to the human beings. The positive aspects of it have been involving the performing of transactions of businesses with communications. There has been communication in between the social relations and access to library journals also. There have been few people who become obsessed in becoming exposed and familiarized in the Internet world that are to be changed. Various opinions have risen about the internet addiction (Park, 2013). Hence, it becomes hazardous to physical and mental health if the Internet is utilized excessively that needs changes. Hence, arguments have been lying on both the positive and negative aspects. So, the coming to a sudden conclusion through the studies only is a great limitation of the research. Kiesler, (2014) identified that these have been compulsory since working through Internet has been productive and effective. The students also need to surf the internet. Many people have been feeling comfortable with their online friends than the friends they interact in real life. There have been various modes of entertainment like playing games and watching movies and videos that brings refreshment. The internet access has been easier in mobile phone s also. All this indicates that during the states of being online the individuals has been feeling thrilled, uninhibited, excites, desirable and more supportive. The situations offline could make them angry, depressed, anxious and worried. The strong emotions have been positively reinforcing the compulsive behavior referring to the addicted ones generating various effects (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014). Hence the research has been a humanitarian approach for the betterment or better living of human beings in the peaceful society. Effect of Internet addiction: From the previous studies various impacts to the addiction to Internet could be drawn. The negative impacts have been regarding the influence on the interpersonal relationship. Here the relation goes away further from the reality for an individual. People have been facing behavioral problems because of the Internet where they have been giving reaction much differently from their normal attitude. Various physical problems have been arising due to the addiction to Internet. This includes the disruption of sleeping pattern, headache or migraine and so on (Dale et al., 2015). Other problems have been regarding the psychology where people have been unable to manage the emotions. Schulz, (2014) claimed that there has been further alteration in the thinking because of the long hour utility of Internet. This has tended to increase the time of net serving and eliminated set schedule. There have been interpersonal problems that recurrent difficulties related to others. There has been argument that this interpersonal problems has been those areas where individuals has been reacting differently unlike what they have been expected to be. The person who has been indulged in the social networks has been found to withdrawing from the social activities. There has been decrease in tolerance and problems of time management. The behavior has been lying on the basis of internal personal factors that has been including the affective, biological and cognitive conditions and events. This situation has been generating from the external environment influencing each other from both the directions. The results have been social isolation, late evening usage of Internet, reduction of academic performances and sleeping disturbances. Heavy users of Internet has been less likely to be engaging in taking healthier diet, eating nutritional supplements, trying to rise the levels of physical activities and significantly showing overweight BI or Body Mass Index. They acquire hypersomnia. Sitting in front of the computer for excessive time leads to higher risks of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Dombrowski et al., 2014). Putting aside the poor influences, there has been positive aspects also in using Internet. The Internet has been providing the users with the information related to promotion of research, working overseas with foreign people effectively and connecting people worldwide. The positive features have been involving convenient, informative, and fun and resourcefulness but those who are addicts this turn into detriments. In the Pakistan study, a significant majority of respondents has reported that the activity has been helpful for communication throughout the world. About seventy four percent has experienced the development in reading and writing and skills of data processing by using Internet. The Internet users have been more actively indulged and engaging in Internet usage due to this interactivity. Neubauer et al., (2013) used their scales of Internet usage and searched some motivations namely the entertainment, convenience, information seeking, time passing, interpersonal utility. Carlbring et al., (2013) Found out that the users has been experiencing in large scale of exposure, leisure, relaxation, self development and lastly larger exchange of global views and information. Technology acceptance model: It is the best model for the solution. Developed from the reasons action theory, the technology Acceptance Model has explained the acceptance of technology on the basis of the users attitude. The model has seen the relationships casually as essential and unidirectional. The good thing about the model is that the environment has been influencing the cognitive beliefs influencing behavior and attitudes (Dombrowski et al., 2014). Limitations: Like the other empirical studies, the study has been consisting of various limitations: Firstly, some online journals have been considered merely for the huge issue arising against the sustaining of the human society. The longitudinal studies using both the qualitative and quantitative techniques were not made. These would have been required to make sense of the changes in Internet behavior Lastly, surveys on different age group could also be done. The research could be strengthened by increasing the size of sample and including university students and working people. The empirical researches have been needed on the various patterns of the distressed users that would help in better studying. This should also include the behavioral pattern and the disorder for further research. This would help in remarking the advanced phenomenon. Conclusion: The study has discussed about every pieces of work. The research and the field of research is described. The valuation of research is done. The effect of Internet addiction is highlighted. Limitations are shown with the best model proposed which is the Technology Acceptance Model. It has been hard to determine the causality of the addictedness towards Internet. Indeed, the impacts has been recognized a collection of dilemmas like behavioral, working, psychological and interpersonal problems. The internet addiction or abuse has lead to serious addiction over young adults particularly those who are under maturity period of their physical and mental health. The addiction to Internet has not been limited to the harming of an individual only. It has also left its impact on the performance of work of a person. The condition has been worsening as the problem of work has brought harms on people doing work together and their company The Internet has permeated the work and home environments. I t has also included the social and personal phenomenon. The awful impacts have been the poor performance of work, physical problems, interpersonal relationships and psychological aspects. Moreover there have been impacts on academics and career of people also. The researches on the influence of the addiction of Internet have been in its primary stage of the development. The empirical studies have been required on the different patterns of the distressed users. This should also include the behavioral pattern or the disorder for further research in order to remark the advanced phenomenon. References: Aguiar, L. Martens, B., 2016. Digital music consumption on the internet: evidence from clickstream data.Information Economics and Policy,34, pp.27-43. Bhatti, T. (2015). Exploring factors influencing the adoption of mobile commerce.The Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce,2007. Carlbring, P., Hgglund, M., Luthstrm, A., Dahlin, M., Kadowaki, ., Vernmark, K., Andersson, G. (2013). Internet-based behavioral activation and acceptance-based treatment for depression: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of Affective Disorders,148(2), 331-337. Dale, L. P., Whittaker, R., Jiang, Y., Stewart, R., Rolleston, A., Maddison, R. (2015). Text message and internet support for coronary heart disease self-management: results from the Text4Heart randomized controlled trial.Journal of medical Internet research,17(10), e237. Dombrowski, S. U., Knittle, K., Avenell, A., Araujo-Soares, V., Sniehotta, F. F. (2014). Long term maintenance of weight loss with non-surgical interventions in obese adults: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.Bmj,348, g2646. Ellison, N. B., Vitak, J., Gray, R., Lampe, C. (2014). Cultivating social resources on social network sites: Facebook relationship maintenance behaviors and their role in social capital processes.Journal of Computer?Mediated Communication,19(4), 855-870. Hedman, E., Ljtsson, B., Kaldo, V., Hesser, H., El Alaoui, S., Kraepelien, M., ... Lindefors, N. (2014). Effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for depression in routine psychiatric care.Journal of affective disorders,155, 49-58. Huang, G. C., Unger, J. B., Soto, D., Fujimoto, K., Pentz, M. A., Jordan-Marsh, M., Valente, T. W. (2014). Peer influences: the impact of online and offline friendship networks on adolescent smoking and alcohol use.Journal of Adolescent Health,54(5), 508-514. Kardefelt-Winther, D. (2014). A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research: Towards a model of compensatory internet use.Computers in Human Behavior,31, 351-354. Kiesler, S. (2014).Culture of the Internet. Psychology Press. Lallmahamood, M. (2015). An Examination of Individual s Perceived Security and Privacy of the Internet in Malaysia and the Influence of This on Their Intention to Use E-Commerce: Using An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model.The Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce,2007. Lu, J., Lu, C., Yu, C.S. Yao, J.E., 2014. Exploring factors associated with wireless internet via mobile technology acceptance in Mainland China.Communications of the IIMA,3(1), p.9. Neubauer, K., von Auer, M., Murray, E., Petermann, F., Helbig-Lang, S., Gerlach, A. L. (2013). Internet-delivered attention modification training as a treatment for social phobia: a randomized controlled trial.Behaviour Research and Therapy,51(2), 87-97. Park, Y. J. (2013). Digital literacy and privacy behavior online.Communication Research,40(2), 215-236. Schulz, D. N., Kremers, S. P., Vandelanotte, C., Van Adrichem, M. J., Schneider, F., Candel, M. J., de Vries, H. (2014). Effects of a web-based tailored multiple-lifestyle intervention for adults: a two-year randomized controlled trial comparing sequential and simultaneous delivery modes.Journal of medical Internet research,16(1), e26. Taddicken, M. (2014). The Privacy Paradoxin the social web: The impact of privacy concerns, individual characteristics, and the perceived social relevance on different forms of self?disclosure.Journal of Computer?Mediated Communication,19(2), 248-273. The impact of Internet knowledge on college students' intention to continue to use the Internet. (2017). Informationr.net. Retrieved 19 April 2017, from https://www.informationr.net/ir/13-3/paper348.html

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The Waste Land and Waiting for Godot Essay Example

The Waste Land and Waiting for Godot Paper The two texts, The Waste Land and Waiting for Godot both convey an air of pessimism within their openings due to the modernist and existentialist views of both the writers. The Waste Land Eliots vision of a contemporary predicament, one of natural erotic and spiritual aridity which seems to transcend the barriers of historical time, or natural and geographical boundaries does no depict just the sickness of the land itself; on the contrary it is a metaphor for something more powerful and complex we are dealing with the human condition which Eliot reveals lacks focus and has ironically dissolved into fragments resulting in a heap of broken images. T. S. Eliot was a modernist poet, who questioned contemporary literary values of life after the First World War. Modernism thrived in the periods between the two World Wars as it was a time of great difficulty since the conflict created many pessimistic beliefs amongst the civilians. There was not much optimism as to improvement of mankind and this resulted in the disintegration and alienation of the modern self through crisis. Similarly, the poem purports to open up cracks in culture, to show the underlying fault lines and its implications are also to unsettle the reader. Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot is an absurd play, because at times it is difficult to discern if there is a plot at all, and at other times, the play seems incredibly profound. We will write a custom essay sample on The Waste Land and Waiting for Godot specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Waste Land and Waiting for Godot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Waste Land and Waiting for Godot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The essence of existentialism, which is most prominent in this play, concentrates on the concept of the individuals freedom of choice, as opposed to the belief that humans are controlled by a pre-existing omnipotent being, such as God. Beckett believes that humans only exist and nothing else. In order for existence to become a life it must have a purpose and Beckett believes humans do not have a purpose. Everything we do is purely to pass the time between birth and death. The play is a tragicomedy and is for the majority of the time rather morose and dark, creating a pessimistic image of life. The few characters and sparse surroundings are used to exaggerate the view that humans exist only to pass time. Vladimir and Estragon never progress through life but go round in circles in their conversation, actions and encounters with other characters. They are representative of humankind and the play is a microcosm of society. The Waste Land is a spiritual journey, which begins with an April opening that questions our conditioned expectation of the seasons. We see the natural attitude that April heralds the spring and is responsible for bloom is distorted. The adjectives used to describe this season indicate that nothing flourishes here because the roots, the very foundation of the vegetation is described as being dull a word which seems to stand out from the rest because the l sounds enact the idea of lyrically sighing. Paradoxically, life seems to struggle out of death. Eliot expresses this idea well by the physical imagery he uses to describe the landscape: lilacs. This is a symbol of freshness and vigour and it is bred out of the dead land. So the land in turn reflects the sapped vitality of its inhabitants. We see that there is a lack of regeneration and fertility through the deficiency of flourishing vegetation in the Wasteland and this conveys an air of pessimism as there is no possibility of hope being created since nothing is able to grow in this land. The hyacinth girl with her wet hair and very succulent lushness of her flowers are sexually symbolic and therefore she has expectations for growth but her words which are childlike and self-pitying convey her disappointment because her lover has failed her. So the expectations that love should grow and flourish is shattered by the silence, creating a note of finality. There is definitely something lacking in the relationship, which results in a state where the people of the Wasteland are neither living nor dead which then places them all in a limbo of the half alive whose life cycle can never be harmonised with the natural cycle (of growth). Therefore, where the two should harmonise they jar discordantly and this results in the many negative activities going on in the wasteland adding to the pessimistic feelings expressed in the poem. By looking at the state of the land it is evident that no spiritual being has come to promote regeneration within the Wasteland. The expectation that the corpse in The Burial of the Dead might sprout or perhaps bloom this year comes to stand as a metaphor for rebirth and growth which is not physical but spiritual. This expectation though is not fulfilled but instead is sardonically dismissed. We are instead presented with an image opposing the idea of growth: the image of the dying Tristan who shows us that the true potential of relationships is not fulfilled and instead the relationship comes to a tragic end because love alone is not enough to provide the answers for a spiritually rewarding life. The use of assonance, the e sounds, in Tristans last words Oed und leer das Meer help to create the idea of the wide sea ironically filled with vast emptiness. Earlier, we were warned by the god-like voice not to take this life, but the language there was very covert and the fear that he would show in a hand full of dust suggests an association with death, as the image of dust once again questions our own mortality. These people however, cannot connect or comprehend the meaning and so have taken it to mean only the idea of death, rather than using the information to question the lives that they lead now. Waiting for Godot fertility The lack of fertility is expressed in Waiting for Godot through the fact that there are no female characters at all. This means that there is no real chance of new life being brought into the universe and the natural cycle of life is tampered with. Beckett claimed thatg he Moreover, Estragon and Vladimir seek sexual pleasure through hanging themselves off a tree: What about hanging ourselves? showing the sexual depravation faced by the protagonists. They prefer to indulge in suicidal methods to attain sexual pleasure rather than actual intercourse, through which some optimism could also be brought into the play with a sense of fertility and regeneration. Yet, there is no renewal or rebirth of human life and this suggests a lack of hopefulness within the play. In addition, the image of the fog in The Waste Land is symbolic of the confusion felt by the London crowd, people with a spectral dimension who flow aimlessly. Their sighs of boredom amount to nothing, but a form of damnation, which Eliot presents as ghost-like. Therefore, in this section the imagery clearly emphasises the idea that their existence is a very unreal one, lacking focus. This also explains their confusion and inability to piece information, valuable for their spiritual growth. Stephen Coote highlights that in the wasteland, Life is death and death is life. This can be seen to be very true, especially in the case of the citizens, as they are not actually living their lives but merely existing on the basic needs necessary for their lives to continue. The people could be described as being soulless which is equivalent to death and therefore living is also seen to be dead. The futility of the lives lead by the citizens, that can be see here, shows the many difficulties people faced after the First World War, claiming that despair was the only honest response to the chaotic universe, admitting defeat and leading bleak lives with a deficiency of love and spirituality. Their pessimistic attitude to the world and to each other is communicated through the ineffectuality of their behaviour. Waiting in Waiting for Godot induces boredom as a theme. Vladimir and Estragon constantly ponder and ask questions, many of which are rhetorical or are left unanswered. Existentialists expressed clearly that human beings can never hope to understand why they are here. The tramps repetitive inspection of their empty hats perhaps symbolizes mankinds vain search for answers within the spiritual and moral vacuum of a universe. Existentialists further declared that human beings require a rational basis for their lives but are unable to achieve one, and thus human life is a futile passion. Estragon and Vladimir attempt to put order into their lives by waiting for a Godot who never arrives. They continually subside into the futility of their situation, reiterating the phrase Nothing to be done. Vladimir also resolves with the notion that life is futile, or nothing is to be done at the beginning, replying All my life Ive tried to put it from me And I resumed the struggle. David Parfitt claims that this is a play in which nothing seems to happen and this is true as Beckett deliberately employs the repetition of themes, speech and action to highlight the futility of life. Gogo and Didi frequently repeat phrases, such as, Nothing to be done. Their actions consist of ritually inspecting their hats. Nothingness is what the two tramps are essentially fighting against and the reason why they talk. Beckett conveys a universal message that pondering the impossible questions that arise from waiting, cause pain, anxiety and inactivity. Both Vladimir and Estragon ponder suicide, by hanging themselves from the tree, but are unable to act due to anxiety, as Estragon states, Dont lets do anything. Its safer. Anxiety could explain the inactivity of both Estragon and Vladimir as they both are aware of the different choices they can make but are hesitant, anxious and generally inactive: Estragon: Well, shall we go? Vladimir: Yes, lets go. They do not move. Beckett infers that humans pass time by habit or routine to cope with the existentialist dilemma of the dread or anxiety of their existence. This shows the futility of the lives and conversations that the protagonists of the play have as they are continually stagnating and there is no progress throughout their existence on Earth. The process is very cyclical and hence an air of pessimism is conveyed through the fruitless survival led by Vladimir and Estragon. Throughout The Waste Land, various prophetic figures are alluded to, including the Sybil, Ezekiel, Tiresias, Buddha and the thunder. Madam Sosostris is an ironic version of the prophetic figure and is an example of the lack of spirituality in the Wasteland, especially since she had a bad cold exemplifying that she is only human and mocks her abilities to read the future. Madam Sosostris conducts the most outrageous form of reading possible, transforming a series of vague symbols into predictions, many of which will come true in succeeding sections of the poem. She claims, Fear death by water, that comes true in Part 4 of the poem Death by water. We see that water not only brings salvation to people of the wasteland but also death, showing natures ability to take peoples lives. The clairvoyant also indicates the nature of the wasteland, I see crowds of people walking around in a ring, illustrating the pointless and futile lives led by the people of the wasteland and also the image of the ring means that there is no escape from the cycle of death imparting the idea that there is no hope in the wasteland. Eliot transforms the traditional tarot pack to serve his purposes. Similarly, the clairvoyant undergoes a transformation in assistance with her needs: fraud, vulgarity, and cheap mysticism. The phoney psychic Madame Sosostris simply states what she sees and there is not enough insight to apprehend the meaning of the drowned Phoenician sailor or the Wheel. Eliot shows this to be the behaviour of those who expect nothing, feelings which come from an indifference towards life itself. Western men had exhausted their spiritual powers; some rushed around looking for replacements in magic, as we can see with Madam Sosostris but others also turned to eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism that they felt offered peace and salvation. This view is repeated by Stephen Coote when he states that the wasteland mainly focuses on the, Death of God. This can be seen in the way that people believed in magic and consulted a psychic rather than turning to God. However, I believe that this is not entirely true as Eliot mentioned the three Das in the latter part of the poem where regeneration occurs and the belief of God comes into focus in the peoples hearts following Eastern religions showing that universally a slow change is occurring. This will soon spread to the others who will spiritually strive within the wasteland, giving the reader some hope that life will continue on a positive note, eradicating the air of pessimism that is prevalent throughout the poem. Eliots mother was also a poet, interested in more visionary and prophetic poetry as she was obsessed with religious truths. Whilst his mothers principal poetic direction was the extraordinary exertions of seers and prophets, Eliot chose to write about the lack of spirituality of people within the wasteland because they turned to a fortune-teller for help although she has no connection with God. This is a portrayal of his cynical opinions, using Madam Sosostris as an example, of the life people lead in the time period between the two World Wars. Beckett seems to portray the incomprehensibility and irrationality of faith or hope and perhaps feels advocating a leap of faith limits the individuals choice. Despite Becketts denial of Godots symbolism to God, Godot does have a strong connection towards a god of some kind. Godot could be a hero, a religious symbol, a role model but most importantly a symbol of hope. The more Gogo and Didi converse about this supposed Mr. Godot, the more importance this god-like figure or symbol acquires. Vladimir illustrates the absurdity and the delusive nature of hope, as he has premonitions of Godots arrival: Listen! Hssst! ( They listen, huddled together. ) I thought it was Godot. I could have sworn I heard shouts. Gogo replies more realistically, Pah! The wind in the reeds. Absurdity in the play is a by-product of their metaphysically bizarre condition. However, the fact that Godot still has not arrived throughout the course of the play, shows the lack of a higher spiritual present to sort out Vladimirs and Estragons problems. In fact, this increases the pessimism within the play since Gogo and Didi have made no progress throughout the whole play and end at the same place as they started presenting their stagnating positions, which religion or a supreme being does not help to change. In conclusion, the play and the poem both display a bleak view of life and all the characters epitomise all of mankind showing the full range of human emotions. In Godot, the pessimistic view is that they cannot escape waiting for Godot, from each other or from their situation. The optimistic view of the play shows a range of human emotion and the need to share experiences alongside the suffering of finite existence; governed by the past, acting in the present and the uncertainty of the future. On reflection in The waste Land, we see that our lives are conditioned by hope and if we yearn to become more spiritual and religious, the negativity of the wasteland portrayed by Eliots pessimistic tone would soon disappear. The texts, although, express disappointment, disillusionment, and shows desiccated human relationships, also show us some promise of an escape from these things.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

70+ Plot Twist Ideas and Examples To Blow Your Readers Away

70+ Plot Twist Ideas and Examples To Blow Your Readers Away 70+ Plot Twist Ideas and Examples Guaranteed to Blow Your Mind Away As R.L. Stine once said, â€Å"Every story ever told can be broken down into three parts. The beginning. The middle. And the plot twist.†The legendary plot twist is a staple in almost every genre and medium of storytelling - one that’s fun to read but hard to write. To help you become a veritable Chubby Checker, here's a definitive resource that's all about the art of the twist.What is a plot twist?A plot twist is a story development that readers do not expect in which either something shocking happens or something shocking is revealed. Generally, the storyteller will set up expectations and then "twist" those expectations by revealing new information through subsequent plot points.The criteria for a plot twist tends to be made up of the following:It must be narratively sound,It must be unexpected, andIt might be foreshadowed.To no-one’s surprise, plot twists are particularly prevalent in mysteries, thrillers, and suspense fiction. However, the twist takes no pr isoners and has reared its head in almost every genre out there, which brings us to†¦Want to read some of the best, most twisted thrillers and suspense books out there? Check out these 50 best suspense books of all time, or our list of  23 psychological thrillers that will make your head spin.50+ plot twist ideas in pop cultureIf you seek inspiration for crafting your own twists, there’s no better place to start than with some of the most popular unexpected plot-turns in film and literature. But be warned: there be spoilers ahead. With that in mind, here are over 50 examples of plot twists in film and literature. Just in: SEVENTY plot twist ideas to fuel your story! I Am Your FatherMum’s the word when it comes to family secrets, right? Not so fast. This is the plot twist that concerns a revelation about the key character’s family. It could be that there is a surprising reveal regarding parentage - or perhaps it’s uncovered that the protagonist was an orphan all along.Made legendary by Star Wars, this type of plot twist is nevertheless widespread in all genres and mediums, as there’s no drama quite like family drama. As George Carlin once said: â€Å"The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In a pivotal battle, Luke discovers that Darth Vader, his ultimate nemesis, is actually his father.Angels Demons. Robert Langdon is shocked by the revelation that the late pope’s aide is actually His Holyness’s’s son - conceived through artificial insemination.Shutter Island. During an investigation of a disap pearance from a remote asylum, U.S. Marshal Edward â€Å"Teddy† Daniels realizes that he himself is the missing patient - and the husband and murderer of the woman that he had been trying to locate.More plot twist examples of this flavor:The Man From Earth. Right before he dies from a heart attack, Will learns that the unaging Professor John Oldman is actually his father.Oldboy.   Mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-su falls in love with a young restaurant chef who is later revealed to be his daughter.The Kite Runner. Amir has mixed feelings when he discovers that his closest childhood friend, Hassan, is his half-brother.The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is befuddled to discover that the Wizard of Oz is a middle-aged man using a microphone.The Prestige. Robert Angier, a rival stage magician, doesn’t realize that â€Å"Alfred Borden† is actually a double act of twin brothers until it’s too late.Gossip Girl. The end of the series pans to a shot of Dan H umphrey, revealing that he was Gossip Girl all along.Did we say that there were only 55 examples in this list? Well, how about THIS twist: here are 15 more!10+ plot twist ideas for youNow that you have an idea of what plot twists look like, you might find it easier to write your own. But in case you’re still struggling to come up with a twist, here are some hypothetical scenarios to jumpstart your thinking.56. CHARACTER A is persuaded by CHARACTER B that it is all a dream - when it’s actually not.57. A gift from CHARACTER B to CHARACTER A is really a trap.58. It is revealed that the NARRATOR is Death.59. An ARCHAEOLOGIST at a dig comes across his own skeleton.60. CHARACTER A discovers the real identity of CHARACTER B through an old yearbook.61. It is revealed that all the sounds that CHARACTER A has heard throughout his life has been inside his own head.62. CHARACTER A believes he is in Hell. It’s actually Earth.63. It is revealed that CHARACTER A and CHARACTER B are not themselves because they were body-swapped.64. CHARACTER A is informed that the previous events were actually part of an alternate reality simulation.65. It is revealed that SANTA CLAUS is real.66. A promise that CHARACTER A and CHARACTER B made when they were children is not really what they think it to be.67. CHARACTER A is set up with CHARACTER B, a rich politician, and finds herself falling in love with CHARACTER B’S GIRLFRIEND.68. CHARACTER A goes on a series of blind dates without realizing that it is all being filmed for the next experimental season of The Bachelor.69. A key strength of CHARACTER A becomes a key weakness.70. CHARACTER A experiences puzzling and unexplained flashbacks because she is the reincarnation of GEORGE WASHINGTON.Now, over to youA well-written plot twist makes for some of the most exciting, mind-blowing, and dramatic stories in history, which is why it’s so important to get it right. Here’s the second plot twist for this post: it’s now up to you to write your own.And before you go, here’s one more: you don’t have to be alone when writing it. Leave your best (or favorite) plot twists below in the comments, and we’ll reply to every one of them!Are you writing your own plot twists? How is it going? If you'd like to share your experiences or bounce ideas off of us, just comment below.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING SERVICES

CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING SERVICES We are proud to present one of the recent changes in our services as we have added a new editing service for all of our customers. What does it mean? In order to ensure best quality papers for our customers, a client is able to upload his complete paper for editing and proper correction. We understand the true value of well-written essay. But we also know the value of great essay with no grammar or essay structure mistakes. Our custom essay writing services team of highly-qualified writers are able to check your work for mistakes, to proofread the paper and to correct grammar. We know how to ensure the best quality of your written academic work. What can Essay Correction do for you? Here is the list of the important details that we are able to do for you. 1. Grammar Check. When we receive your essay, we are motivated to find and to correct all of the common mistakes that students tend to make. We check grammar and spelling. We correct improper sentence and paragraph structure. If there are necessary details to be added, we do that too for the essay to have a complete finished look. 2. Address Essay Issue. We are able to see if the essay addresses the essay issue correctly. We understand the value of the essay questions and look for the ways how they can be answered with supporting details and facts. 3. Proper Essay Structure. Our professional writers are trained to write different types of essays like narrative, reflective, cause and effect, expository, illustrative, biographical essay, etc. It is very easy for the custom essay writer to see and correct if the descriptive essay possesses all the necessary essay formats and if it replies to the essay topic correctly. For example, if a writer receives an expository essay, he would point out to the chronological sequence of the essay as it is the core of this type of essay. 4. Proper Academic Level. We make sure that the essay language corresponds to right academic level. But we also go beyond that as we ensure the higher academic level. We check the words and the proper use of language phrases. We also correct style and format. To finish up this blog article, we offer competitive prices for this type of academic services. We share our abundance with our clients by offering them 15% discount for their first orders made in our custom essay writing service.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Russian Lit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Russian Lit - Essay Example This is the tragedy of their love. The Theme of Love in The Lady with the Little Dog. The Lady with the Little Dog is one of Anton Chekhov’s most popular short stories and also one of the greatest love stories in literature. The entire narrative revolves round the theme of love. The protagonists, Dmitri Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna, are married and have their own separate, routine family lives that are not particularly cruel or intolerable. As such, their passion is not something which automatically deserves approval. However, the compassion and tenderness with which the author delineates the love between Dmitri and Anna arouses the reader’s sympathy and justifies their common search for a meaningful relationship. Their passion transforms the cynical Dmitri into a true lover and a more compassionate man. The Lady with the Little Dog is a story of illicit passion and the conclusion is ambiguous. There is no ‘they lived happily ever after’ at the end. Their inab ility to overcome the clandestine nature of their meetings lends a tragic note to the narrative. They are doomed to live apart. The protagonists’ love arises from a shared need, transforms Dmitri’s cynicism into true passion, and leads to their living double lives which cannot be reconciled with social norms. Dmitri and Anna come to Yalta with the shared experience of loveless married lives. Both have been married early in their respective lives: obviously in marriages which have been arranged for convenience, according to the custom in the Russia of those days. Dmitri is afraid of his wife and does â€Å"not like to be at home† (Chekhov, p. 361), while Anna despises her husband for being â€Å"a lackey† (Chekhov, , p.365). Both of them are obviously in search of romance and have come to Yalta prepared to actively seek out and enjoy new experiences and pleasures. Dmitri is lured by the â€Å"tempting thought of a swift, fleeting love affair,† (Chek hov, p.362) and Anna yearns for â€Å"something better --- a different life† (Chekhov, p. 366). Anna is aware of Dmitri’s motive in pursuing her, but does nothing to discourage him. In spite of her moral qualms, and the comparative innocence of her character, she voluntarily surrenders to her passion. They deliberately embark on a one week fling, which they fully expect to be a temporary indulgence. However, contrary to their expectations, the beautiful surroundings, their common needs, and their shared celebration of â€Å"this sweet delirium, this madness,† (Chekhov, , p.368), take root as enduring love. Dmitri enters into his relationship with Anna in the same spirit of cynicism with which he has always dealt with women in the past: despising them as â€Å"an inferior race!† (Chekhov, , p.362). Being unfaithful to his wife is nothing new to him. He is bored and irritated by Anna’s remorse and her continuous fear of being despised by him for bein g a â€Å"trite, trashy woman† (Chekhov, , p.366). He admits that she is deceived in thinking him to be â€Å"kind, extraordinary, lofty† (Chekhov, , p.368). He is ready to put Yalta behind him and move on with life in Moscow. He is totally unprepared to find that his memory of Anna â€Å"followed him everywhere like a shadow and watched him† (Chekhov, , p.369). What begins as just a search for another conquest ends with making a new man of him. He realizes that â€Å"there was no person closer, dearer and more important to him in the whole world† (Chekhov, , p.372). He complacently thinks it is she who loves him and continues

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Key concepts of culture and leadership. Problem statement Essay

Key concepts of culture and leadership. Problem statement - Essay Example The success that Gene One has had in eight short years has presented a quandary concerning the strategic path Gene One’s future. Should Gene One execute of strategy of constancy and continuity? Will this type of strategy keep Gene One’s competitors from gaining ground on Gene One’s share of the market place over the next several years? After careful consideration of these perplexing questions, the leadership of Gene One has decided an alternate strategy, as Gene One has not achieved all that they have by continuity alone. Gene One has taken risks that were founded on sound strategy and faith that intelligent men and women with innovative ideas and unsurpassed drive and passion cannot be stopped. These type of people are winners and they accomplish their goals. These factors set the stage for constantly evolving ideas that provided multiple benefits that were accomplished in record time. Seldom has this type of success been achieved in the biotech industry which i s considered a risky business in some cases. That said, the Gene One leadership has decided that Gene One must be given an opportunity to experience its maximum growth potential before some piggy back organization with lucrative investors siphon off strategic market areas previously held by Gene One. As with any strategy, there are risks involved. However, due to Gene One’s financial stability, strong leadership and growth potential, these risks are just obstacle that can be turned into positive opportunities. Please note the following: While IPO capital is of extreme importance concerning Gene One’s preparations to go public, this topic can not be considered if it does not include job security and economic packages that reward the founders, board members and essential personnel at Gene One for their contributions that have led to the meteoric rise of Gene One over an eight-year timeframe. This is not a difficult problem to solve due to the strategy that

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Measurement of Time Spent Communicating Essay Example for Free

Measurement of Time Spent Communicating Essay The amount of time we spend communicating is outstanding. There have been multiple studies to find the actual amount of our waking lives spent communicating, and the percentage of time we spend in each division of communication. The article, Measurement of Time Spent Communicating, is the result of a communication study of employees of a research and development laboratory. The study was based on two techniques: direct observation, and questionnaires. How much time do people spend communicating at work? How much time do people spend using machines at work? This useful information can help to improve the amount of work done in a certain amount of time. If people spend more time communicating to get a job done, then our communication skills possibly need improvement. The talking people do is related with their work output. The same goes for machinery; if we spend more time in person-machine interaction, improving machinery would be the main advance to improving jobs. People were observed at one instance in time in offices of one person to five people, some at supervisory levels, laboratories, hallways, and conference rooms. The observation data was divided into to groups time spent communicating, and time spent working with equipment. These categories were subdivided in different types of communication activities, including face-to-face communication, telephone communication, reading, and writing, and different types of equipment uses, including lab equipment, office machinery, and an other category. Pre-tests showed the three trained clerks could classify the behavior of the employees reliably. Sampling moments were random and unbiased, only avoiding break times and everyones lunch, and are correspondent to the entire working day. The questionnaires were placed at the desks of all the people in the sampling areas, offices, and laboratories. The questionnaires were pre-tested to make sure the wording was understood, and the ordering of questions didnt change the results. The employees were to answer seven questions all percentages that should add up to 100% of the working week. The questionnaires that were returned and did not add up to between 90% and 110% were disregarded. 4,000 questionnaires were distributed, and 2626, or 66%, were returned and usable. Overall, the common results of the observations and questionnaires were recognizable. The observation method is more accurate, and unbiased, so the main differences in the two sets of data are explained by people underestimating the time they spend communicating face-to-face, and overestimating the time they spend reading and writing. The questionnaire and observed data representing how much time is spent speaking on the telephone, working with lab equipment and office machinery, and other were relatively the same. Another observation is that the amount of time spent communicating depends on how many people are in the office. The fewer people, the more communication went on. This could be due to the fact that many one or two person offices were supervisory level, and therefore had to communicate to employees more often. All offices engaged in face-to-face communication more than in laboratories. Although, time spent working with equipment is only 13%, even though the research study population is a research and development laboratory. This leads us to the conclusion that communication with people, not equipment, is the center of activity for most professionals, administrators, clerks, secretaries and technicians.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Underdevelopment Development Africa And Latin America Politics Essay

Underdevelopment Development Africa And Latin America Politics Essay Introduction The widespread economic international inequities and the big technological gap that exits between the rich and the poor-the developed and the developing countries-have virtually divided the world into two parts: The Rich or the North, and the Poor or the South. The rich countries are technologically developed and economically well off. By virtue of this, they are in a position to maintain and even strengthen their hold not only over international economic system but also over the economies and policies of the poor countries. The poor countries, which are industrially, technologically and economically under-developed, continue to live under the neo-colonial dependence upon the rich. In the past, they were the victims of imperialism and colonialism, and even after becoming sovereign independent states, they continue to suffer from poverty and under-development as the legacies of the past history and face continued exploitation at the hands of the rich countries. The latter through seve ral devices like foreign aid, multi-national corporations,, control over international economic institutions and protectionist trade and economic policies, are virtually forcing the under-developed countries to live with under developed nation and these developed nations create hegemony upon the underdevelopment countries, so called third world countries. If we study the population and resources among these two, developed and underdeveloped nations; 70 percent of population are living in the later category and 30 percent of populations are living as developed nations, but at same time on the side of the spectrum 70 percent of resources excess by developed nations and only 30 percent of resources excess by the underdeveloped nations. This is undoubtedly a very wide disparity. In the international arena every nation interacts with others because of technology and free trading. But the developed countries have been creating hegemony in many ground with their powerful aids of advance technology, sophisticated weapons and powerful army. In this paper I would like to draw the condition of Africa and Latin America and their positions in the contemporary international standards. How these two nations have been suffering chronic hunger, poverty, contagious diseases, racial discrimination, gender disparity, low literacy rate and unstable government all through in the earlier twentieth century. Attributable to these issues, Africa and Latin America have paid heavy prices But the developed nations settled their industries in this region. They pulled out natural resources and used cheap labours and finally they exported goods in the international market. But these two nations did not get any noteworthy benefits out of this, because their lands were merely used for the purpose of industrial development without a reciprocal promise of development even the labour contribution by these two nations are not very significantly rewards . And these industries created more pollution for these nation ultimately the environment pollute d what eventually native people were affected with many diseases. At the rudimentary stages the positions and conditions of both, Africa and Latin America were some how similar. If we see the history of these two nations, the prime source of income was farming. But the rural oligarchies and the rich men were holding the 70 percent of lands and where as there were only 30 percent for the rest of the population. After the independence, African countries they settled their new farming policy, which were based on the cooperative model. In this model the new government was settled down with some reforms in the farming sectors. The government checked the middle men profit for the shake of farmers to sale directly the crops in the market. The new Govt. revised the colonial price standard. It introduced opened market system for market prices. It created the cooperative farms for price fixing and also created present friendly opportunities for a market oriented development. But due to some adverse forces and conditions the policies made by the Govt. were no t effective. Seidman mentioned, how the managerial was so corrupt as a result the price was very low for the peasants to sell their crops out side the county. [INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY SERIES1, Page 242.] Seidman point out that, In Ghana, the peasants objected to the Nkrumah governments state buying agency, the United Ghana Farmers Council. The post-1966 coup government tried to persuade the transnational buying firms to purchase cocoa directly from the peasants, but they refused. Apparently, they preferred to let local traders or cooperatives do the task. That insulated the transnational from blame when falling world prices pushed producer prices down. The Tanzanian government also tried to substitute government agents for marketing cooperatives; but costs mounted, export prices fell, and, blaming the government, many peasants simply stopped cultivating export crops. After several years, the government re-established the marketing cooperatives.The developed countries farmers used pesticides and they cultivate the crops in the large amount of area. But the Africa and Latin Americas farmers did not have capacity to apply in the farming land for increase of the production capacity and t he land fertility was decrease and the environment degradation due to this farmers lost their fertile land. Many African family, they invested their money in the cattle, but send their cattle near the desert sand because of feeding. [INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY SERIES1, Page 243,258] The African society mainly dominated by patriarchy system, so the condition of women was so venerable. The women did not have any property right, even the girl child did not send to school. In Kenya the private ownership only acknowledged to the male members. The Kenya society totally male domination, even in the bureaucracy also effected by the male domination. Whatever policy took place in the bureaucratic level, the women did not include in that policy formulation. The bank also did not give lone to the female members of the family. Particularly any country or a society for their development, the both male and female participation should be necessary. But in Africa and Latin America society was totally mail domination. So it is the one of prime causes of underdevelopment. Hence the position of women have to develop as they have same capacity to generate wealth, and they also have rights to participate in the development process what ultimately help for the progress of nation building.Any society or nation comes in to sphere of underdevelopment due to several reasons, viz. hunger, poverty, unstable government and not solely from the backwardness. Same kind of situation was happening in Africa and Latin America. [The Crisis of African Development: Conflicting Interpretations and Resolutions., p. 527.] Immediately after independent many third world countries adopted some structural development, in the nation building process viz. road, port, hospital, new institution, education and high expenditure in the military sector. However these govt. expenditures remained consistently below those of high income countries. The foreign private investment and exim policy in the international market, But the market did not grow because of inherent corruption in the structure. The developed countries exported the heavy machinery, croups, clothing and food and the third world countries likes Africa and Latin America export the oil, gold and luxury item in the developed countries. We can closely observe how the underdeveloped countries exploit in the international market. The open market gave benefits to the rich developed or the rich countries. The Africa and Latin America did not gain any benefits from the open market and therefore the economy was shrunk. [Underdevelopment of Development, p. 301. Copyright  © 1996 by Sage Publications,] In the 19th century the Latin America society has had barbarism and the European cultural value influenced the Latin American culture. The elite saw the European domination in the society. In the second half of 19th century the Latin America excess the scientific knowledge and export the raw material and import the industrial products. [p. 150 Latin American past, present and future.] For the Latin America economy development, the United Nation Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA )laid the foundation for the economic analysis, empirical groundwork, and institutional support that would later inform the search for the bases of Latin American development. The ECLA scholar such as, Andre Gunder Frank, Raul Prebisch, Paul Baran, and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, combinely worked for the development of Latin America. Andre Gunder Frank gave the dependency theory. In his theory he says that, the capitalism generates the wealth so that, the underdeveloped nations they can interact in the capital global market. But the developed nations they settled down their industries in the underdeveloped reasons. In the open market process the underdeveloped nations they became loser, because the developed nations they settled industries in this poor reason. Extract the minerals and export in the world market. But they did not get benefits out of it. He studied the Chile and Braz il past and present history. This two countries histories reflect that, during the epochs of colonialism free trade, imperialism excess the wealth from this reason. At the present time also the free market capitalism exploit in the name of development. Fernando Henrique Cardoso one of the scholar, who among the ECLA group also gives the theory of dependency. How the poor nations became poorer, due to capitalism and free market the developed nations they access raw material in low price from the underdeveloped countries. Cardoso is a sociologist. He studied the socio economy condition of Latin America. He was the president of Brazil and earlier he worked as a economic minister for Brazil in 1980. [Underdevelopment of Development, p. 162. Copyright  © 1996 by Sage Publications.] After imperialist predominance were able to cope with the new situation by maintaining proprietorship of the local export economy in the hands of native bourgeoisies. Some countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Chile the export sectors controlled by the local bourgeoisie directly linked with productive sector and they gained their own benefits and create the hegemony. So the country was unable to overcome from the poverty. The Africa and Latin American countries has some regional conflicts and for which the neighboring country do not interact with its neighboring countries. For example, in Africa the Zimbabwe is a land lock country, so for its treading, it needed for treading communication through South African countries. But Zimbabwe did not get the permission. So these are the things which are create the situation for the underdevelopment. The World Bank and the IMF funding the finance for structural adjustment. But Africa and Latin American countries still underdevelopment. All the financial support are meet with failure, due to corruption and the institution were not capable to maintained the funds and the bureaucracy was corrupt too. So the World Bank and the IMF funds were not benefits for the development of the Africa and Latin America. But many scholar they criticizes the World Bank and IMF policies. Because these financing agencies, they saw their own benefits, and the return duration was 7 to 8 years and the interest rate was so high and how a country can sustain development within a sort period. Some scholar they said that, the world bank and the IMF work for the developed nation and it controlled by them. [ INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY SERIES1, p. 306. ] Immanuel Wallerstein criticizes the imperialism and he says that neo-imperialism creates its hegemony through open market. The USA and other developed nations they capture the global market and access the raw materials from the underdevelopment reasons, in the low price. So it is a new kind of colonialism settled through MNC and TNC. These agencies work for the developed nations and give the finance support to the underdeveloped countries for industrial development. [p. 355. underdevelopment of development] Conclusion The development and underdevelopment mainly based on the policies and more importantly the structural adjustment. But in Africa and Latin American countries suffered due to many causes, these two reasons have many disparity such as racial discrimination, gender discrimination and feudal base society and many other cause for underdevelopment in Africa and Latin American countries.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Hinayan and Mahayn

Introductory Comparison of Hinayana and Mahayana Alexander Berzin Berlin, Germany, January 2002 [edited transcript] The Terms Hinayana and Mahayana The terms Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle or Modest Vehicle) and Mahayana (Greater Vehicle or Vast Vehicle) originated in The Prajnaparamita Sutras (The Sutras on Far-Reaching Discriminating Awareness, The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras). They are a rather derogatory pair of words, aggrandizing Mahayana and putting down Hinayana. Alternative terms for them, however, have many other shortcomings, and so therefore I shall use these more standard terms for them here. See: The Terms Hinayana and Mahayana. ] Hinayana encompasses eighteen schools. The most important for our purposes are Sarvastivada and Theravada. Theravada is the one extant today in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Sarvastivada was widespread in Northern India when the Tibetans started to travel there and Buddhism began to be transplanted to Tibet. There were two main divisions of Sarvasti vada based on philosophical differences: Vaibhashika and Sautrantika. Hinayana tenet systems studied at the Indian monastic universities such as Nalanda, and later by the Tibetan Mahayanists, are from these two schools.The lineage of monastic vows followed in Tibet is from another Sarvastivada subdivision, Mulasarvastivada. [See: A Brief History of Buddhism in India before the Thirteenth-Century Invasions. ] Buddhas and Arhats There is quite a significant difference between the Hinayana and Mahayana presentations of arhats and Buddhas. Both agree that arhats, or liberated beings, are more limited than Buddhas, or enlightened beings, are. Mahayana formulates this difference in terms of two sets of obscurations: the emotional ones, which prevent liberation, and the cognitive ones, which prevent omniscience.Arhats are free of only the former, whereas Buddhas are free of both. This division is not found in Hinayana. It is purely a Mahayana formulation. To gain liberation or enlightenmen t, both Hinayana and Mahayana assert that one needs nonconceptual cognition of the lack of an impossible â€Å"soul. † Such a lack is often called â€Å" selflessness,† anatma in Sanskrit, the main Indian scriptural language of Sarvastivada and Mahayana; anatta in Pali, the scriptural language of Theravada.The Hinayana schools assert this lack of an impossible â€Å"soul† with respect only to persons, not all phenomena. Persons lack a â€Å"soul,† an atman, that is unaffected by anything, partless, and separable from a body and a mind, and which can be cognized on its own. Such a â€Å"soul† is impossible. With just the understanding that there is no such thing as this type of â€Å"soul† with respect to persons, one can become either an arhat or a Buddha. The difference depends on how much positive force or so-called â€Å" merit† one builds up.Because of their development of the enlightening aim of bodhichitta, Buddhas have built up far more positive force than arhats have. Mahayana asserts that Buddhas understand the lack of an impossible â€Å"soul† with respect to all phenomena as well as with respect to persons. They call this lack â€Å"voidness. † The various Indian schools of Mahayana differ regarding whether or not arhats also understand the voidness of phenomena. Within Mahayana, Prasangika Madhyamaka asserts that they do. However, the four Tibetan traditions explain this point differently regarding the Prasangika assertion.Some say that the voidness of phenomena understood by arhats is different from that understood by Buddhas; some assert the two voidnesses are the same. Some say that the scope of phenomena to which the voidness of phenomena applies is more limited for arhats than it is for Buddhas; some assert it is the same. There is no need to go into all the details here. [See: Comparison of the Hinayana and Mahayana Assertions of the Understandings of Voidness by Arhats and Buddha s. ] Further Points Concerning Buddhas and ArhatsThe assertions of Hinayana and Mahayana concerning arhats and Buddhas differ in many other ways. Theravada, for instance, asserts that one of the differences between a shravaka or â€Å"listener† striving toward the liberation of an arhat and a bodhisattva striving toward the enlightenment of a Buddha is that shravakas study with Buddhist teachers, while bodhisattvas do not. The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, for instance, did not study with another Buddha. He studied only with non-Buddhist teachers, whose methods he ultimately rejected. In the fact that Buddha’s understanding and attainment id not arise from reliance on a Buddhist teacher, Theravada asserts that a Buddha’s wisdom surpasses that of an arhat. In addition, bodhisattvas work to become universal Buddhist teachers; shravakas do not, although as arhats they certainly teach disciples. Before passing away, Buddha himself deputed his arhat disciple Sharipu tra to continue â€Å"turning the wheel of Dharma. † According to Theravada, however, Buddhas excel arhats in being more skillful in methods for leading others to liberation and in the breadth of their conduct of teaching.This is the meaning of a Buddha’s being omniscient. However, according to this presentation, a Buddha would not know everyone’s address and would have to ask such information from others. According to the Vaibhashika school of Hinayana, Buddhas are actually omniscient in knowing such information, but they only know one thing at a time. According to Mahayana, omniscience means knowing everything simultaneously. This follows from its view that everything is interconnected and interdependent; we cannot speak of just one piece of information, totally unrelated to the rest.Hinayana says that the historical Buddha achieved enlightenment in his lifetime and, like an arhat, when he died, his mental continuum came to an end. Therefore, according to Hina yana, Buddhas teach only for the rest of the lifetime in which they achieve enlightenment. They do not emanate to countless world systems and go on teaching forever, as Mahayana asserts. Only Mahayana asserts that the historical Buddha became enlightened in a previous lifetime many eons ago, by studying with Buddhist teachers. He was just demonstrated enlightenment under the bodhi tree as one of the twelve enlightening deeds of a Buddha.The precursor of this description of a Buddha is found in the Mahasanghika School of Hinayana, another of the eighteen Hinayana schools, but is not found in either Sarvastivada or Theravada. [See: The Twelve Enlightening Deeds of a Buddha. ] Concerning Buddhas, another major difference is that only Mahayana asserts the three corpuses or bodies of a Buddha – Nirmanakaya, Sambhogakaya, and Dharmakaya. Hinayana does not assert them. Thus, the concept of a Buddha is significantly different in Hinayana and Mahayana. [See: Identifying the Objects of Safe Direction (Refuge). The Pathway Minds Leading to Liberation and Enlightenment Hinayana and Mahayana both assert that the stages of progress to the purified state, or â€Å"bodhi,† of either an arhat or a Buddha entail developing five levels of pathway mind – the so-called â€Å"five paths. † These are a building-up pathway mind or path of accumulation, an applying pathway mind or path of preparation, a seeing pathway mind or path of seeing, an accustoming pathway mind or path of meditation, and a path needing no further training or path of no more learning.Shravakas and bodhisattvas who attain a seeing pathway of mind both become aryas, highly realized beings. Both have nonconceptual cognition of the sixteen aspects of the four noble truths. [See: The Five Pathway Minds: Basic Presentation. See also: The Sixteen Aspects and the Sixteen Distorted Ways of Embracing the Four Noble Truths. ] Both Hinayana and Mahayana agree that a seeing pathway mind rids both arya shravakas and arya bodhisattvas of doctrinally based disturbing emotions, while an accustoming pathway mind rids them of automatically arising disturbing emotions.The former are based on learning the set of assertions of one of the non-Buddhist Indian schools, while the latter arise automatically in everyone, including animals. The list of disturbing emotions that shravaka and bodhisattva aryas rid themselves of is part of a larger list of mental factors. Each of the Hinayana schools has its own list of mental factors, while Mahayana asserts yet another list. Many of the mental factors are defined differently in each list. Both Hinayana and Mahayana agree that the course of progressing through the five pathway minds entails practicing the thirty-seven factors leading to a purified state.A â€Å"purified state† or â€Å" bodhi† refers to either arhatship or Buddhahood. These thirty-seven factors include the four close placements of mindfulness, the eight branches of an arya pathway mind (the eightfold noble path), and so on. They are very important. In anuttarayoga tantra, the thrity-seven are represented by Yamantaka’s thirty-four arms plus his body, speech and mind, as well as by the dakinis in the body mandala of Vajrayogini. The thirty-seven are a standard set of practices. The specifics of each practice, however, are often different in Hinayana and Mahayana. See: The Theravada Practice of the Four Close Placements of Mindfulness. See also: The Four Close Placements of Mindfulness According to Mahayana. ] Both Hinayana and Mahayana assert that the scheme of stream-enterer, once-returner, non-returner and arhat refers to stages of an arya shravaka’s path, but not to the path of an arya bodhisattva. Thus, stream-enterers have nonconceptual cognition of the sixteen aspects of the four noble truths, which include nonconceptual cognition of the lack of an impossible â€Å"soul† of persons.We should not think that stream-e nterer is a beginner level. So if someone claims to have achieved the state of a stream-enterer, be suspicious. Hinayana does not provide an extensive explanation of the bodhisattva pathway minds. Mahayana, however, explains that an arya bodhisattva’s path to enlightenment entails progressing through the development of ten levels of bhumi-mind. These levels of mind do not pertain to the path of shravakas. Both Hinayana and Mahayana agree that traversing the bodhisattva path to enlightenment takes more time than traversing the shravaka one to arhatship.Only Mahayana, however, speaks of building up the two enlightenment-building networks – the two collections – for three zillion eons. â€Å" Zillion,† usually translated as â€Å"countless,† means a finite number, though we would be unable to count it. Shravakas, on the other hand, can attain arhatship in as short as three lifetimes. In the first lifetime, one becomes a stream-enterer, in the next lif etime a once-returner, and in the third lifetime, one becomes a non-returner, achieves liberation, and becomes an arhat. This is quite tempting for many people.The assertion that arhats are selfish is like bodhisattva propaganda. It is basically meant to point out an extreme to avoid. The sutras record that Buddha asked his sixty arhat disciples to teach. If they were truly selfish, they would not have agreed to do so. Arhats, however, can only help others to a more limited extent than Buddhas can. Both, however, can only help those with the karma to be helped by them. Bodhisattvas It is important to realize that the Hinayana schools do assert that before becoming a Buddha, one follows the bodhisattva path.Both Hinayana and Mahayana have versions of the Jataka tales describing the previous lives of Buddha Shakyamuni as a bodhisattva. Starting with King Siri Sanghabodhi in the third century CE, many Sri Lankan kings even called themselves bodhisattvas. Of course, this is a little tri cky to untangle because there was some Mahayana present in Sri Lanka at the time. Whether this idea of bodhisattva kings preexisted a Mahayana influence is hard to say, but it did happen. Even more surprisingly, in the fifth century CE, the elders at theSri Lankan capital Anuradhapura declared Buddhaghosa, a great Theravada Abhidharma master, to be an incarnation of the bodhisattva Maitreya. Mahayana asserts that there are a thousand Buddhas in this â€Å"fortunate eon† who will start universal religions, and there have been and will be many more Buddhas in other world ages. Mahayana also asserts that everyone can become a Buddha, because everyone has the Buddha-nature factors that enable this attainment. Hinayana does not discuss Buddha-nature. Nevertheless, Theravada does mention hundreds of Buddhas of the past.One Theravada sutta even lists twenty-seven by name. All of them were bodhisattvas before becoming Buddhas. Theravada asserts that there will be innumerable Buddhas in the future as well, including Maitreya as the next one, and that anyone can become a Buddha if they practice the ten far-reaching attitudes. The Ten Far-Reaching Attitudes Mahayana says that the ten far-reaching attitudes are practiced only by bodhisattvas and not by shravakas. This is because Mahayana defines a far-reaching attitude or â€Å"perfection† as one that is held by the force of a bodhichitta aim.According to Theravada, however, so long as the ten attitudes are held by the force of renunciation, the determination to be free, bodhichitta is not necessary for their practice to be far-reaching and act as a cause for liberation. Thus, Theravada asserts that both bodhisattvas and shravakas practice ten far-reaching attitudes. Aside from the different motivating aims behind them, the other main difference between a bodhisattva’s and a shravaka’s practice of the ten is the degree of their intensity.Thus, each of the ten far-reaching attitudes has three st ages or degrees: ordinary, medium, and highest. For example, the highest practice of generosity would be giving one’s body to feed a hungry tigress, as Buddha did in a previous life as a bodhisattva. The list of the ten far-reaching attitudes also differs slightly in Theravada and Mahayana. The Mahayana list is: * generosity * ethical self-discipline * patience * joyful perseverance * mental stability * discriminating awareness * skill in means

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Driving Under the Influence of a Cell Phone

Driving Under the Influence of a Cell Phone Dameatrius McCreary, age 5 was killed when he was hit by a driver that had reached down to pick up a ringing cell-phone that had fallen to the floor of the car. Dameatrius had just gotten off a school bus that was dropping him off. The school bus was parked, had its warning lights flashing and a stop sign out when he was hit by the vehicle (11 Reasons to ban). Each year in the United States, talking on a cell phone while driving causes an estimated 2600 motor vehicle-related deaths and 330,000 moderate to critical injuries (Lissy).Driving is a complex task at the best of times. A driver speeds up and slows down, steers, changes lanes, scans the road for hazards, checks mirrors, merges, and brakes. When in traffic, drivers must process a great deal of information in a very short time. Talking on a cell phone while driving greatly impacts ones’ ability to drive safely. Despite the known risk, many people still use a cell phone while dr iving. Cell phones are not only cognitively distracting, but they affect peripheral vision and cause reaction time to become much slower.By banning cell-phone usage while driving, the number of deaths and injuries could be decreased significantly. Lawmakers need to push this issue into law before more innocent lives are taken. Some people feel they are experienced enough drives and have the ability to drive and talk on a cell phone. My brother thinks he is the best driver in the world. We have had many discussions on how dangerous it is to focus more on your phone than on the road. He feels that no amount of talking on the phone or texting is going to be detrimental to his driving.I have found this common attitude with many of my family and friends who drive with the phone stuck to their ear. This behavior is not due to a lack of awareness of the dangers. They truly believe they are in control of their environment and overestimate their own ability to drive safely while talking on t he phone. This superman mind-set clouds their way of thinking. In fact many people know that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, and some even consider it more risky than eating or putting on make-up in the car. In a focus group, held in 2000, benefits of driving while talking on a cell phone were discussed.Some of the argued benefits were to, â€Å"expand productivity for commuters, improve mental alertness, and diminish the tendency to speed (Lissy 44). In another study conducted in 2002 by Hammond and Horswill showed â€Å"drivers with a high desire for control were more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors than were those with a low desire for control† (Schlehofer 1108). It is this high desire for control that causes drivers to overlook the danger that is involved in talking on the phone and focus on what they are able to accomplish while doing it.It is true if you talk on the phone while driving you will probably get more accomplished, but is it worth the risk? Talking on a cell phone is a cognitive distraction plain and simple. Several studies show that a driver paying attention to a conversation on a cell phone is distracted simply because he is paying attention to the conversation, reducing the attention he is paying to driving and what is going on around him (Ropeik and Gray 71). Not only is talking a distraction, but today our phones are loaded with applications, which usually require two hands to operate.We have all witnessed drivers that have one hand on the wheel and the other hand typing, or driving with their knee while texting. When your hands are holding your phone, or dialing or receiving a call, they’re not holding the steering wheel or helping to control the vehicle. Think of the last time you came upon someone driving in the left hand lane while traveling under the speed limit. A lot of the time they are talking on their phone. Many times they merge into your lane and never realize that you are even there.C ell phone usage may decrease speed, but it also creates more of a hazard for drivers and everyone else around them. Research at the University of Utah suggests that cognitive distraction may be the most important distraction since their test subjects did equally poorly when using hands-free or hand-held devices (Ropeik and Gray 71). Talking on a cell phone while driving, dramatically affects your peripheral vision. It has been claimed that driving while talking on a cell phone can be as or more dangerous than driving drunk.I know that when I have been talking on the phone while driving and change lanes or turn, it is not as easy to see other cars. It has only taken a couple of close calls for me to realize that my life and that of my family is not worth the 5 minute conversation I could be having with someone. A study done by the Southern College of Optometry to measure visual fields with and without a cell phone conversation taking place suggests that cell phone conversations tend to artificially constrict the peripheral awareness as measured by a visual field. This suggests that cell phone use while riving can decrease the perceptual visual field, making the driver less aware of the surroundings and more susceptible to accident (Maples et al 36). Think of those times you have picked up your phone to see who is calling or to read a text you have just received. As you look at the phone, glancing up every so often to see what is ahead of you, are you paying attention to what is around you? Are you able to look over your shoulder to make sure no one is in your blind spot before changing lanes? Generally you have no idea what is behind or on the side of you.Suddenly you are so involved in reading that text or taking that phone call that everything around you disappears. Driving requires the use of all of your faculties. If you are looking for your phone, or at your phone to make a call, you are not looking at the road. Furthermore, the reaction time decreases dra matically when using a phone while driving. University of Utah psychology professor David Strayer stated, â€Å"Drivers talking on cell phones were 18% slower to react to brake lights and once the driver hits the brakes, it takes them longer to get back into the normal flow of traffic.The net result is they are impeding the overall flow of traffic† (Britt). Stop and go traffic is already frustrating, but drivers who are paying more attention to what is going on with their phone than with traffic just amplifies the problem. Studies of driver performance, observing drivers both on simulators and in the field, have shown that mobile phone use while driving can adversely affect reaction time, swerving ability, and the ability to execute difficult driving tasks (Ropeik and Gray 71).Driving with both hands on the wheel and having your eyes focused on the road the whole time is hard enough. Now add the distraction of a cell phone and one is bound to have problems. As much as we woul d like to think that we can do multiple things at the same time, the reality is no one is perfect. Case in point: On Thanksgiving weekend, 1999, John and Carole Hall were killed when a Naval Academy midshipman crashed into their parked car. The driver said in court that when he looked up from the cell phone he was dialing, he was 3 feet from the car and had no time to stop (Stockwell B8).University of Utah research found that test subjects took longer to react to traffic signals and completely missed twice as many of those signals when they were on the phone (Ropeik and Gray 71). Matt Wilhelm was cycling near Urbana, Illinois when he was struck and killed by a driver that was downloading ring tones to her cell phone. Matt’s death has prompted cell phone legislation that has been signed by Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. The new law teaches teen drivers the importance of avoiding distraction while they are driving (11 Reasons to ban).Recently Oprah has been promoting a No P hone Zone pledge challenging her viewers to stop using their cell phones while driving. They pledge to not text or talk on their cell phone. We can all take this pledge and help get the word out how dangerous it is to let our cell phones distract us from safe driving. Driving is a complex task that requires the driver's full attention. Smart drivers keep their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road and focus more attention on driving than talking on the phone. Because of increased injuries and deaths surrounding accidents involving cell phones, we must begin to take this problem seriously.How many more lives need to be claimed before we take a stand? The time is now to call your local representative and voice your opinion before someone you love is affected by this dangerous habit. It is time we put the brake on our cell phone usage while driving. Banning cell phone use while driving may not totally eliminate the number of deaths or accidents that happen, but it will dramaticall y decrease them for sure. How many lives can we save by simply putting our cell phones down and concentrating on actually driving?Works Cited â€Å"11 Reasons to ban Cell-Phone Use While Driving. DrivingLaws. org 951online. LLC, 2009. Web. 6 July 2010. Britt, Robert Roy. â€Å"Drivers on Cell Phones Kill Thousands; Snare Traffic Technology. † Live Science. com. TechMedia Network. 01/02/2005. Web. 5 July 2010. Lissy M. P. H. , Karen S. , et al. â€Å"Cellular Phone Use While Driving: Risks and benefits. † Cell Phone Free Driving. Harvard Center for Risk Analysis: Harvard School of Public Health. July 2000. Web. 1 July 2010. Maples, W. C. , et al. â€Å"The Effects of Cell Phone Use on Peripheral Vision. † Optometry 79 (2008): 36-42. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 July 2010. Ropeik, David, and George Gray. â€Å"Cellular Telephones and Driving. † Risk: A Practical Guide for Deciding What's Really Safe and What's Really Dangerous in the World Around You. B oston: Houghton-Mifflin Company, 2002. 70-75. NetLibrary. Web. 1 July 2010. Schlehofer, Michele M. , et al. â€Å"Psychological Predictor of College Students' Cell Phone Use While Driving. † Accident Analysis and Prevention 42. 4 (2010):1107-1112. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 July 2010. Stockwell, Jamie. â€Å"Phone Use Faulted in Collision. † Washington Post 6 Dec. 2000: B1+. Web. 13 July 2010.