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Personal statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 13

Individual explanation - Essay Example I as far as it matters for me was exceptionally inspired by the region, so I delighted in those oc...

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Single Sex Education Single Gender Education - 1458 Words

Single-gender education has become more and more popular in the last few years. There are many people and organizations who like the idea and would like to continue it and other organizations that think single-sex education could make our school systems revert back to a time with gender inequalities. Single sex education breaks down gender stereotypes and in many cases limits distractions for a student in a classroom especially in a student’s teenage years. Opponents to single-gender education claim that separating and boys and girls is detrimental to their future. Because it is good for some children single gender education should be offered as an option for all students and parents. It should always be offered as an option but it does not work for everyone, We really don t have a position on single-gender education, he said, adding that what works best really depends on the student. In his own family, a son did well in an all-boys high school, while his daughter preferred coeducation†(Eidemiller). Single-sex education has grown in popularity, â€Å"According to the National Association for Single Sex Public Education, only 34 single-sex public schools were in operation in 2004. That number jumped 25-fold in 10 years: The New York Times reported in 2014 that 850 schools nationwide had single-sex programs†(Anderson 1). The biggest reasons for this is because single-sex schools offer certain things that co-education doesn’t. Single-sex schools breakdown Schmalz genderShow MoreRelatedEducation: Gender and Single-sex School Works1256 Words   |  6 PagesSingle-Sex Schools A time comes in every young teen s life when he or she must decide where to attend high school. As they examine which high school they want to go to, one of the factors they may come across is whether to go to a single-sex school or a co-educational school. While co-ed schools allow students to develop socially, single-sex schools have the advantage in academic success. Single-sex schools provide a conducive learning environment for students, allow teachers to teach accordingRead MoreSingle-Sex Education : Is One Gender Enough?1304 Words   |  6 PagesIs One Gender Enough? Introduction: In 1999, Jefferson Leadership Academies was named the first public middle school in the U.S. to offer an environment fully dedicated to single-gender instruction (Niche). This organization became a milestone for single-sex education and brought attention to the fact that separating genders is beneficial in more ways than one. Our country is known for its prestigious learning system and the endless opportunities provided for its citizens. Immigrants continue toRead MoreSingle Sex Classes Should Not Be Incorporated Into Schools Essay1523 Words   |  7 PagesSingle-sex education consists of separating male and female students and teaching them in different schools or classes. Although controversial and often looked as antiquated, more Americans have been considering single-sex schools as a viable option since the early 2000’s. The reason? With various problems public school education faces, many parents have been looking at single-sex education as a potential solution to some o f those problems. In addition, with the very convincing gender rhetoric thoseRead MoreSingle Sex Education Essay964 Words   |  4 Pages Single-sex classrooms and schools are used in education all around the world. As a student who has never attended a single-sex school or classroom, I have always been curious to know how beneficial it really is. The controversy over single-sex classrooms and/or schools is an ongoing battle between educators, school systems, and the community. Those who support the idea of single-sex education argue that the separation of boys and girls due to biological differences can improve academic achievementRead MoreEssay about Staying Single: Sexually Segregated Schools1304 Words   |  6 PagesIn recent years, education in the United States has slowly decelerated when compared globally. Compared to students in other countries such as China or Germany, American students tend to slack when it comes to their studies. This concerns parents, who want their ch ildren to receive the best education offered. Single sex schools have proven to provide this need for a quality education. With only one percent of all schools in America sexually segregated (Whelan), the admissions process can be strenuous;Read MoreSingle-Sex Education and Co-ed Education Essay1059 Words   |  5 PagesSingle-Sex Education and Coed Education. The single-sex format creates opportunities that do not exist in the coed classroom. (Edison 1) Researchers are unaware that both genders brains function differently. This lack of knowledge may be why the real truth about single-sex education being more efficient than co-ed education has not been discovered. Some say single-sex education may be the key for a brighter generation. It shows to improve test score dramatically. The number of public schools experimentingRead MoreThe Issue Of Public Single Sex Education Essay1407 Words   |  6 Pagespublic single-sex education has increased in the recent years as schools are piled with more pressure to increase their grades and keep teaching method fresh. It’s an old approach to the education but its gaining momentum in public schools as it has been the method in most private schools. According to the report by National Association for Single Sex Education, over two hundred public schools across the United States offer single-sex classrooms. Most public schools are venturing into single-sex educationRead MoreSingle-Gender Classrooms Essay1350 Words   |  6 Pagesabout student success in school, any changes in the classroom that could increase student achievement should be considered. Recognizing the learning differences between boys and girls, one of the changes that could be instituted is single-gender classrooms. Single-gender classrooms would allow boys and girls to be instructed in a way that is conducive to them. Literature choices could be offered to girls that are different from the ones offered to the boys. Science experiments for the boys couldRead MoreSingle Sex Education Is Overall More Effective For Most People1274 Words   |  6 PagesSingle sex education is overall more effective for most people. It helps with multiple aspects of a person s personality. This specific education helps students gain confidence, feel comfortable, and lets students be themselves. It’s no surprise that boys and girls were educated separately in the colonial times (Kennedy). During the 1960s and the 1970s, the number of single sex schools began to decrease. The main reason for this decrease was out of respect for women s rights and equalityRead MoreThe Debate Over Single Sex Schools958 Words   |  4 PagesThe debate over single-sex schools Single-sex schools are becoming more common. According to some religion reasons, several countries such as Saudi Arabia only have single-sex schools. However, the effect and rationality of single-sex schools are an ongoing controversy, that being debated in a worldwide range. In this essay, the cases for and against single-sex education will be discussed. This essay will firstly present some positive impacts of single-sex schools, including an increase in students’

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Ch10 Beechy3e case 3 solution Essay - 17682 Words

Solutions for some acct 400 cases here - http://novellaqalive2.mheducation.com/sites/dl/premium/0070930317/instructor/237732/ Chapter 10 Suggested Time Case 10-1 Good Quality Auto Parts 10-2 Canadian Wilderness Wonders Inc 10-3 Provincial Hydro 10-4 May Company 10-5 Canadian Energy Corporation Assignment 10-1 Amortization policy 10 10-2 Amortization policy 15 10-3 Amortization computation 15 10-4 Amortization computation (*W) 25 10-5 Amortization schedule 30 10-6 Analysis of four amortization methods—maximize income (*W) 20 10-7 Interpreting amortization disclosures 20 10-8 Identify amortization methods—amortization schedules 15 10-9 Identify, recalculate amortization 20 10-10†¦show more content†¦If rates are different for similar assets, comparability is also hurt; again, disclosure is important. 7. A firm would consider the following factors in their choice of amortization methods: nature and use of asset, corporate reporting objectives, industry norms, parent company preferences, the desire to minimize future (deferred) taxes, and the accounting system costs associated with a given method. 8. An asset with a thirty-year life will be amortized over a shorter period when it is expected to be used (will generate revenue) for the shorter period. 9. The straight-line method reports depreciation as a variable amount per unit of output and a fixed amount per period, whereas the productive output method reports depreciation as a fixed amount per unit of output and a variable amount per period. 10. Straight-line amortization is likely popular because it is simple to calculate, logically appealing, rational and systematic, often portrays the pattern of benefits received (equal each period), and because it provides a stable expense pattern. 11. Accelerated methods of amortization result in a periodic amortization charge that is less in each succeeding period than the prior period. There are a number of variations of the accelerated methods, such as the declining balance method and the sum-of-the-years’-digits method. These methods are appropriate when an asset contributes to revenue

Monday, December 9, 2019

Lust Essay Research Paper In the short free essay sample

Lust Essay, Research Paper In the short narrative Lust, the storyteller negotiations in item about her sexual promiscuousness and the assorted male childs she has slept with while off at get oning school. Throughout the narrative, there are several actuating factors that contributed to the storyteller s sexual behaviour. At first, her behaviour began because she was off from her parents and it was new and rebellious. The 2nd motivation factor was the environment she was in while she was at get oning school. Her friends, both cats and misss, contributed to her behaviour every bit good. Besides, the deficiency of concern by the authorization figures played a portion in her determinations. Finally, her hunt for love and security, or an emotional connexion with these male childs played a large function on her actions. All these actuating factors played a immense function in lending to the storyteller s sexual behaviour. The storyteller s behavior began because it was new and rebellious. All adolescents go through a phase in their lives when they begin experimenting with assorted things such as drugs, intoxicant, and sex. These Acts of the Apostless so exciting at first because they are new and exciting, but more significantly, because your parents have no thought what you are making. This is what sparked off the storyteller s sexual behaviour. The storyteller remarks, My parents had no thought. Parents neer truly cognize what s traveling on, particularly when you re off at school most of the clip ( 257 ) . This remark by the storyteller suggests that holding sex with these cats is so much more merriment and exciting because her parents didn T know what she was making. She evidently knows that her actions would let down her parents, particularly her female parent because she states, I kept the [ birth control ] dial in my top drawer like my female parent and idea of her each clip I tipped out the xan thous tablets in the Raymond 2 forenoon before chapel ( 259 ) . As you can see, she decidedly knows she is making something that would upset her female parent because she thinks of her every clip she takes the pill. This causes the reader to believe that possibly the defiance of her behaviour is lending to her actions. The environment s convenience and deficiency of parental control was besides a cardinal motivational factor lending to her promiscuous behaviour. In a coeducational embarkation school with virtually no supervising, adolescents have a premier chance to experiment freely. It was evidently easy to mouse around with male childs and non acquire caught. She states, We hid in the hearing suites during survey hall. With a record screen over the door s window, the instructor on responsibility couldn t expression in. I came out rose-cheeked and judicious and back at the residence hall was surprised how ruddy my lops were in the mirror ( 258 ) . In another case with a different male child, she states, Simon snuck out and run into me at Main Gate after lights-out. We crept to the chapel and spent the dark in the balcony ( 260 ) . You can plainly see that it wasn t really hard to conceal out someplace if you truly wanted to. The parental-free environment every bit good as the convenience of the c ollege girl ambiance was a 2nd contributing actuating factor to the storyteller s sexual behaviour. Her friends, both cats and misss, are determining the storyteller s actions throughout the narrative every bit good. Her girlfriends ever make remarks to her when they sit about in the common room that you ever have a fellow ( 259 ) . After this remark, she looks at her friends and thinks to herself, As if ( p. 259 ) . She evidently believes to herself that none of these cats are really her fellows, but her friends ever see her with male childs, Raymond 3 which leads them to surmise that she ever has a fellow. This may subconsciously state her that she must ever hold a fellow because it would be unusual if she didn t. Besides, if the physician gave out the pill like acetylsalicylic acid ( 259 ) so possibly see feels like she has to maintain up with all her friends and have sex they like they do. In add-on, the male childs at her school form her behaviour because they already have a preconceived impression of what they are traveling to acquire if they go out with her. They more than probably cognize how she is and what they can acquire from her so she is traveling to be the first miss they go after. Although the repute she has is her ain mistake, it is reasonably hard to alter when sex is about expected from her. Besides, since harmonizing to narrator the worst thing anyone could name you was a cock-teaser ( 259 ) , if she flirted, she was ever prepared to travel through with it. These outlooks of her from both her fellows and girlfrie nds are another actuating factor lending to her sexual behaviour. Not merely did she hold no parental counsel in her life, but it besides seemed that the authorization figures at her school about promoted that type of behaviour. For illustration, the storyteller states that, the gag was that the school physician gave out the pi ll like acetylsalicylic acid. He didn t ask you anything ( 259 ) . This is absurd to me because alternatively of giving 15 year-olds the pill, the physicians should seek to at least attempt to advance abstention and seek to convert the misss that they are non old plenty to hold sex. Another case is at the point in the narrative when the misss went to see the housemother of their boarding school, Mrs. Gunther for advice. When the misss suggested that cats ever want something from you and you feel like you have to present something, she replied, You do, babes ( P. Raymond 4 262 ) . That remark entirely suggests that sex is fundamentally the lone thing that adult females are good for. What Mrs. Gunther did by that remark was reinforce to the storyteller that sex is the lone thing that guys want. Finally, when the schoolmaster received ailments about her amative shows on the town green ( 261 ) , he told her that he didn t care what she did so if she s traveling to spoon with her fellow, there are 20 estates for you to make it out of the public oculus ( 262 ) . Finally, her hunt for love and security, or an emotional connexion with these male childs played a large function on her actions. It is possible that she doesn t think that she good at anything else and she has nil else to offer. She states, I could make some things good. Some things I was good at which felt like a alleviation at first until it became like droping into a sludge ( p. 258 ) . It may besides be that she has really small self-esteem and likes the security of being with a adult male. She says, Certain darks you d experience a certain resignation, possibly if you d had vino. The resignation would be burying yourself and you d set your olfactory organ to his cervix and feel like a squirrel, safe, at remainder, in a reposeful dream ( p. 258 ) . The storyteller s job is that at some point in her life she must hold felt really insecure about herself, which causes her to seek some security from the assorted male childs that she sleeps with. In add-on, she may besides believe th at in order for these cats to love her she must kip with them. Apparently she doesn t think that sex comes after love, but love comes after sex. She remarks after her adventure with soft Eddie that I neer saw him once more after that but I thought, I could hold loved that one ( 261 ) . The storyteller s hunt for an emotional connexion wholly mesmerizes her when she is with these male childs which Raymond 5 causes the reader to believe that this hunt for love is an other motivational factor lending to her behaviour. There is plentifulness of grounds, nevertheless, to propose that despite all of these motivational factors, she felt really empty, worthless, and like a piece of meat before, during, and after her brushs. During her brush with Tim, when he returned to her after shuting the door, she referred herself as a organic structure waiting on the carpet ( 257 ) . This clearly suggests that she doesn T think she is anything more to him other than a organic structure he can make what he pleases to. She states that you start to acquire tired. You begin to experience diluted, like watered-down fret ( 260 ) . One would believe that if she feels that diluted and less pure after she has sex with these cats so she should likely halt, but it s non that easy. Near the terminal of the short narrative she remarks, You wonder about things experiencing a small off-kilter. You begin to experience like a piece of pounded veau ( 262 ) . She besides states, After sex, you curl up like a runt, something deep ins ide you ruined, slammed in a topographic point that sickens at banging, and easy you fill up with an overpowering unhappiness, an elusive gaping concern ( 262 ) . It is clear that by the terminal of the narrative, she isn t even basking her experiences any longer, nevertheless, it merely might be excessively late to turn herself about. The storyteller in lecherousness is clearly a complicated individual with many factors act uponing her behaviour. At first, he new and rebellious lifestyle took control of her behaviour. Besides, the parental free environment at school contributed to her actions because it was so convenient for cats and misss to acquire together. Another actuating factor was the force per unit area Raymond 6 she received from her fellows and girlfriends. The authorization figures contributed every bit good because they are really unconcerned about their pupil s behaviour. Finally, her hunt for love and an emotional connexion overwhelmed her many times while she was with assorted male childs. Despite all of these actuating factors, by the terminal of the narrative, the storyteller is unhappy with herself and doesn Ts cognize why she continues with her sexual behaviour. However, her behaviour continues, which leads the reader to believe that the incentives in her life are taking over her interior ego and her life. Plants Cited Minot, Susan. Lust. The Compact Bedford Into. to Literature 5th Edition. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford 1999. p. 256-263.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Nuclear Weapons Essays - Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Warfare

Nuclear Weapons A major problem concerning the world today is the disposal of nuclear weapons. With the Cold War, we have seen a massive build up of nuclear weapons, and no, that we are no longer in a state of global warfare, what is to be done with them? As a result of the build-up in nuclear weapons during the cold war the world is now facing major environmental problems trying to deactivate them, and in addition major debate are occurring on the policies of disarmament and deterrence as solutions to this global problem. Countries are becoming more aware of the fact that their citizens do not want to have to worry about a nuclear attack or environmental effects of nuclear weapons testing. The people of the world are calling for an end to this senseless destruction of the earth. The explosive power of a nuclear weapon comes from nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, or both in the case of the Hydrogen bomb. A typical small nuclear weapon has the explosive yields of tens of thousands of tons of the conventional explosive TNT. A large nuclear weapon can kill hundreds of thousands of people, and when carried on a ballistic missile, can travel intercontinental distances in less than half an hour. The deployment of tens of thousands of these weapons, primarily by the United Sates and the Soviet Union, has threatened annihilation of millions of people with little or no warning. Strategic (long-range) nuclear weapons include land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and bombs and cruise missiles carried on long-range bombers. Tactical nuclear weapons are shorter-range weapons allocated for regional use or for use in support of battlefield operations. As a result of the Cold War, the build-up of nuclear weapons today has never been greater. The term "Cold War" refers to the strategic and political struggle that developed after World War II between the United States and its Wester European allies on one side, and the former USSR on the other. The Soviet leaders considered the objections of the United States to Soviet actions in Poland, Hungary, and Romania a betrayal of wartime understandings about spheres of influence in Europe. Therefore the Soviet Union was placed under a military and political barrier. The stockpile of nuclear weapons that available today is the direct result of the arms race which was the highlight of the cold war. Nuclear arms at the time of the cold war were considered to be a way for countries to discourage other countries from attacking, mainly the United States and the USSR, which were the key players in the arms race of the 1950's and 60's. While the dissolution of the Soviet Union has r! educed the concern about nuclear war waged with strategic weapons between the Russia and the U.S., other issues have become more pressing. As far as is known, only eight countries now have nuclear weapons. "The five declared nuclear powers are : the United States, over 9,000 warheads deployed and some 11,000 in reserve or awaiting dismantling; Russia, over 10,000 warheads deployed and some 18,000 in reserve or awaiting dismantling; France, over 500 warheads; China, about 450 warheads; U.K., about 300 warheads." "In addition to the key countries there are 'threshold' states which have not officially confirmed the possession of nuclear weapons: Israel, India and Pakistan," all countries in which there is great possibilities of a civil war breaking out and the nuclear weapons being utilized. The realization by the people of the massive amounts of nuclear weapons stockpiled and disastrous environmental hazards has caused much protest among the people. During the cold war thoughts of massive destruction and human suffering dominated people's minds, but no one really knew how grave the situation would be after a nuclear bomb was dropped. Until recently, scientific research had not addressed the potential long-term climatic and environmental damage of a nuclear conflict. Scientific research suggests that a nuclear conflict could inject enough smoke and dust particles into the atmosphere to block out sunlight and cause severe drops in surface temperatures over a significant period of time. This, in turn could adversely affect plants, animals, and humans. The term "nuclear winter" has been coined to describe these effects. Nuclear Weapons Essays - Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Warfare Nuclear Weapons A major problem concerning the world today is the disposal of nuclear weapons. With the Cold War, we have seen a massive build up of nuclear weapons, and no, that we are no longer in a state of global warfare, what is to be done with them? As a result of the build-up in nuclear weapons during the cold war the world is now facing major environmental problems trying to deactivate them, and in addition major debate are occurring on the policies of disarmament and deterrence as solutions to this global problem. Countries are becoming more aware of the fact that their citizens do not want to have to worry about a nuclear attack or environmental effects of nuclear weapons testing. The people of the world are calling for an end to this senseless destruction of the earth. The explosive power of a nuclear weapon comes from nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, or both in the case of the Hydrogen bomb. A typical small nuclear weapon has the explosive yields of tens of thousands of tons of the conventional explosive TNT. A large nuclear weapon can kill hundreds of thousands of people, and when carried on a ballistic missile, can travel intercontinental distances in less than half an hour. The deployment of tens of thousands of these weapons, primarily by the United Sates and the Soviet Union, has threatened annihilation of millions of people with little or no warning. Strategic (long-range) nuclear weapons include land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and bombs and cruise missiles carried on long-range bombers. Tactical nuclear weapons are shorter-range weapons allocated for regional use or for use in support of battlefield operations. As a result of the Cold War, the build-up of nuclear weapons today has never been greater. The term "Cold War" refers to the strategic and political struggle that developed after World War II between the United States and its Wester European allies on one side, and the former USSR on the other. The Soviet leaders considered the objections of the United States to Soviet actions in Poland, Hungary, and Romania a betrayal of wartime understandings about spheres of influence in Europe. Therefore the Soviet Union was placed under a military and political barrier. The stockpile of nuclear weapons that available today is the direct result of the arms race which was the highlight of the cold war. Nuclear arms at the time of the cold war were considered to be a way for countries to discourage other countries from attacking, mainly the United States and the USSR, which were the key players in the arms race of the 1950's and 60's. While the dissolution of the Soviet Union has r! educed the concern about nuclear war waged with strategic weapons between the Russia and the U.S., other issues have become more pressing. As far as is known, only eight countries now have nuclear weapons. "The five declared nuclear powers are : the United States, over 9,000 warheads deployed and some 11,000 in reserve or awaiting dismantling; Russia, over 10,000 warheads deployed and some 18,000 in reserve or awaiting dismantling; France, over 500 warheads; China, about 450 warheads; U.K., about 300 warheads." "In addition to the key countries there are 'threshold' states which have not officially confirmed the possession of nuclear weapons: Israel, India and Pakistan," all countries in which there is great possibilities of a civil war breaking out and the nuclear weapons being utilized. The realization by the people of the massive amounts of nuclear weapons stockpiled and disastrous environmental hazards has caused much protest among the people. During the cold war thoughts of massive destruction and human suffering dominated people's minds, but no one really knew how grave the situation would be after a nuclear bomb was dropped. Until recently, scientific research had not addressed the potential long-term climatic and environmental damage of a nuclear conflict. Scientific research suggests that a nuclear conflict could inject enough smoke and dust particles into the atmosphere to block out sunlight and cause severe drops in surface temperatures over a significant period of time. This, in turn could adversely affect plants, animals, and humans. The term "nuclear winter" has been coined to describe these effects.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on The Just War Theory

A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified. A just war can only be fought to rectify a wrong suffered. A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success and morally right intentions. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable. The ulimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought. The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. The weapons used in war must differentiate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissable targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target. If soldiers use discrimination, proportionality, and correct methods they will have kept their fighting as conservative as possible. Soldiers should only target those who are engaged in harm. Thus, when they take aim, soldiers must discriminate between the civilian population, which is morally immune from direct and intentional attack, and those legitimate military, political and industrial targets involved in rights-violating harm. While some civilian casualties are excusable, it is wrong to take deliberate aim at civilian targets. An example would be saturation bombing of residential areas. Soldiers may only use force proportional to the end they seek. Weapons of mass destruction, for example, are usually seen as being out of proportion to legitimate military ends. Soldiers may not use weapons or methods such as: mass rape campaigns; genocide or ethnic cleansing; torturing captured enemy soldiers; and using weapons whose effects cannot be controlled, like chemical or biological age nts.... Free Essays on The Just War Theory Free Essays on The Just War Theory A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified. A just war can only be fought to rectify a wrong suffered. A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success and morally right intentions. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable. The ulimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought. The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. The weapons used in war must differentiate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissable targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target. If soldiers use discrimination, proportionality, and correct methods they will have kept their fighting as conservative as possible. Soldiers should only target those who are engaged in harm. Thus, when they take aim, soldiers must discriminate between the civilian population, which is morally immune from direct and intentional attack, and those legitimate military, political and industrial targets involved in rights-violating harm. While some civilian casualties are excusable, it is wrong to take deliberate aim at civilian targets. An example would be saturation bombing of residential areas. Soldiers may only use force proportional to the end they seek. Weapons of mass destruction, for example, are usually seen as being out of proportion to legitimate military ends. Soldiers may not use weapons or methods such as: mass rape campaigns; genocide or ethnic cleansing; torturing captured enemy soldiers; and using weapons whose effects cannot be controlled, like chemical or biological age nts....

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Deep Time and Geologic History

Deep Time and Geologic History Deep time refers to the time scale of geologic events, which is vastly, almost unimaginably greater than the time scale of human lives and human plans. It is one of geologys great gifts to the worlds set of important ideas. Deep Time and Religion   The concept of cosmology, the study of the origins and eventual fate of our universe, has been around as long as civilization itself. Before the advent of science, humans used religion to explain how the universe came into existence.   Many ancient traditions asserted that the universe is not only much larger than what we see but also much older. The Hindu series of yugas, for example, employs lengths of time so great as to be meaningless in human terms. In this way, it suggests eternity through the awe of large numbers. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Judeo-Christian Bible describes the history of the universe as a series of specific human lives, starting with Adam begat Cain, between the creation and today. Bishop James Ussher, of Trinity College in Dublin, made the definitive version of this chronology in 1650 and announced that the universe was created starting in the evening of 22 October in 4004 BCE. The biblical chronology was sufficient for people who had no need to concern themselves with  geologic time. Despite overwhelming evidence against it, the literal Judeo-Christian creation story is still accepted as truth by some.   Enlightenment Begins The Scottish geologist James Hutton is credited with exploding that young-Earth chronology with his painstaking observations of his farm fields and, by extension, the surrounding countryside. He watched the soil being washed into local streams and carried out to sea, and imagined it slowly accumulating into rocks like those he saw in his hillsides. He further supposed that the sea must exchange places with the land, in a cycle designed by God to replenish the soil, so that the sedimentary rock on the ocean floor could be tilted and washed away by another cycle of erosion. It was obvious to him that such a process, taking place at the rate he saw in operation, would take an immeasurable amount of time. Others before him had argued for an Earth older than the Bible, but he was the first to put the notion on a sound and testable physical basis. Thus, Hutton is considered the father of deep time, even though he never actually used the phrase. A century later, the age of the Earth was widely considered to be some tens or hundreds of millions of years. There was little hard evidence to constrain speculation until the discovery of radioactivity and 20th-century advances in physics that brought about radiometric methods of dating rocks. By the mid-1900s, it was clear that Earth was about 4 billion years old, more than enough time for all of the geologic history we could envision. The term deep time was one of John McPhees most powerful phrases in a very good book, Basin and Range, first published in 1981. It first came up on page 29: Numbers do not seem to work well with regard to deep time. Any number above a couple of thousand years- fifty thousand, fifty million- will with nearly equal effect awe the imagination to the point of paralysis. Artists and teachers have made efforts to make the concept of a million years accessible to the imagination, but its hard to say that they induce enlightenment rather than McPhees paralysis. Deep Time in the Present   Geologists do not talk about deep time, except maybe rhetorically or in teaching. Instead, they live in it. They have their esoteric time scale, which they use as readily as common folk talk about their neighborhood streets. They use large numbers of years nimbly, abbreviating million years as myr. In speaking, they commonly dont even say the units, referring to events with bare numbers. Despite this, its clear to me, after a lifetime immersed in the field, that even geologists cant really grasp geologic time. Instead, they have cultivated a sense of the deep present, a peculiar detachment in which it is possible for the effects of once-in-a-thousand-year events to be seen in todays landscape and for the prospect of rare and long-forgotten events to occur today.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Enlightment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The Enlightment - Essay Example The current research looks at ideals of nature and human potential, absolutism and forms of government, as they are related to Enlightenment models, which were a challenge to the Old Regime. Later ideal government structures of the Enlightenment were more about the people than the divine monarch. â€Å"Supposed innate qualities, such as goodness or original sin, had no reality. In a darker vein, Thomas Hobbes portrayed man as moved solely by considerations of his own pleasure and pain.† (Enlightenment, 2008). There were light and dark sides to this decrease in absolutism. The Enlightenment represented a shift in the form of nature from being totally based on the idea of absolutism of divinity to a paradigm shift from the Old Regime. What many Enlightenment thinkers did was to refine the whole concept of nature-as-absolute, and change it in a way that represented less absolutism. A paradigm shift occurs when the accepted notions about a given subject or theory (absolutism in this case) become disfavored, in the favor of a new way of doing things or a new notion of the way in which things are done. This creates tension as supporters of the old paradigm are often polemical against the new paradigm during the process of change or paradigm shift. In terms of humanity’s successful attempts to control nature, and both of these things are seen as being positive by the various Enlightenment philosophies. The Enlightenment seems to also reserve a lot of praise for those things which are not found in nature, but rather which represent culture and art. Th is is a reflection of what the Old Regime may have been experiencing in terms of an agenda to install Enlightenment ideals of science, rationality and reason being paramount in terms of their opposition to nature and emotion which may be more spontaneous. The idea of the fall of absolutes shows in Enlightenment ideals in many ways, particularly in the appreciation of reason over emotion and the attention to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Death penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Death penalty - Essay Example Death Penalty is the gravest of all punishments and the Roman Catholic Church’s take on this punishment has evolved over time.This change in view of the Church will be discussed in this paper thoroughly.The paper will start off by giving a history of the death penalty and its supporters and opponents in the past,in terms of societal and religious groups. Then the Roman Catholic Church’s notion on the death penalty and its development is studied. Death penalty is a serious punishment for those who have committed serious crimes such as murder and have caused harm to the society by terrorist acts. People’s and nations’ perceptions of the death penalty or execution changed over time. This perception changed according to the requirements of the era. In today’s era, where crime is pervasive but also unstoppable, there is little need for death sentences, according to many people out of which some are staunch Christians also. But why do we link the religion to death penalty? They are both different branches of the same subject. We link religion to this punishment because all religions teach respect for human life and the right of humans to their lives. We will see in our discussion how the Church changes course from defending the right of oneself to the right of human life in general. We will see how the teachings of the Church changed from supporting the death penalty as a punishment to opposing it.... We can easily say that there will be many groups who will support this as punishment and other sensitive and tender ones will oppose it as it is the violation of human rights. The question is why would anyone support it and/or oppose it People who support it believe that this punishment should be given to people who have committed serious crimes in the past because of which people have lost lives, directly or indirectly. It supports the idea of the old adage; "a tooth for a tooth". If these criminals took lives, their lives must be taken in return too. On the other hand, the opponents believe that death penalty is as bad as what the criminals did. If they killed people, it doesn't make it acceptable for authorities to become as dire as them and take their lives in return. Now that the debate is clear, we can get into the history of the death penalty. It was in the Eighteenth Century B.C. when death penalty laws were first established. However, by the Eleventh Century A.D., it was decided that only people who murdered will be hanged and not other. Death penalty was traditional in Europe also, for many centuries. People were being executed till mid-1700 but by late 1700, the US abolitionist movement started. As a result, by early 1800's many of the states concentrated the number of their death crimes by building more state prisons. In Britain, around a hundred of the crimes that were punishable by execution were eliminated (Death Penalty Information Center, 2008). By early 1900, people were executed using the electrocution method but nine states of the US had abolished the law. By 1920, the abolition movement of USA started to lose support and became unpopular. Soon after this, newer ways of executing people were being discovered. Around this

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Hunger Games Essay Example for Free

The Hunger Games Essay In this Action-Drama Feature novel, Katniss Everdeen, A victor from the first novel the hunger games. Has fought her way through death itself. In which brings us to part two and when she fights to the death and becomes victor. Her worst enemy president Snow gets really angry with her. n the first hunger games when Katniss was in the arena she started a small rebellion by getting some poisonous berries with herself and her partner Peeta Mellark decided they where going to eat them some poisnious berrys so they wouldn’t have to kill each other while they was interupped by the government. Little did they know Katniss and Peeta was starting a rebeillon which brings us to novel three! The Mocking Jay Katniss is in the lost district 13. District 13 capture Katniss and 2 other tributes that was in the Hunger Games But instead of imprisoned them they decide to Make Katniss the Leader of the army, Beetus as the weapons designer Leader, rewarded Finnick with his own army, Gail Was Katniss assistance but while these tributes try to plan there attack on the capitol, the capitol is torturing the other people from districts all over except district two Because of the alliance there so Katniss Has to come up with a scheme to help those in need while bringing the government down so they can have the total freedom they been fighting the government for decades now. This is a great novel for readers at above reading average also for people who like drama intense action and a little love story here and there. I also enjoy reading part of this book except it takes an awfully long time to get to the point of what they are trying to say or explain but other than that it was a good story that enjoy.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Compare and Contrast 7 of the Main Ethical Principles Essay -- Ethics

Despite the implementation of a certain code of conduct and belief system into most individual's everyday lives, the concept of ethics or moral philosophy remains a hazy area, left to be tackled by philosophers and exceptional theorists. The assessment of major ethical systems over the course of the semester has forced me to reevaluate the fundamentals of my own moral philosophy and reconsider the role of ethics as a more average field of thought than I had once considered. Included in the major ethical systems examined throughout the course were: Cultural Relativism, Religious Ethics, Ethical Egoism, Utilitarianism, Kant's Moral Absolutism, Social Contract, and Ethics of Virtue. The explication of these very different systems and their pillars can be a sound basis for analyzing one's personal moral philosophy. In the 4th century BC the Greek sophist Protagoras, living in the midst of a period of Greek historical turmoil, turned to philosophy and an experimental model that he would develop to attempt to find any universally accepted moral principals. After collecting data from cultures he had the ability to examine, he concluded that he didn't find any universally accepted moral principals, which led him to the conclusion that there are no moral absolutes. In this case, when discussing something that has universal acceptance, it means with absolutely no exceptions, and a moral absolute is something that exists in the real world, independent of changes in perception. Protagoras concluded, through the use of human opinion for his data, likely to be not the most reliable source, that if morals are not absolute in nature, they are relative to the cultures that they are inherent to. This conclusion leads him to be called the father... ...ood mixture, consisting of a pinch of Cultural Relativism, a dash of Religious Ethics, a little bit of the others, and a lot of the Ethics of Virtue, would be the most beneficial to my life. It may seem like this conclusion is a cop out, a way to not choose a side in the battle of moral philosophies, but really, the reality of the world lends itself to a mixture, from cultural diversity to the diversity necessary for a healthy diet, a composition of many ideas seems to prevail, hardly ever just one. Works Cited Rachels, James. The Elements of Moral Philosophy. 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill, Boston, 1999. Herskovits, Melville J. 1967 Cultural Dynamics. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. Abridged from Cultural Anthropology originally published in 1955. 1972 Cultural Relativism: Perspectives in Cultural Pluralism. New York: Random House.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Language Exerts Hidden Power Essay

Language utilizes the hidden power to express, convince and influence human beings. Language can be used in different forms and styles, however, we are never fully aware of the importance of the hidden power that language can express. Language can be revealed in many different ways, which can cause different perspectives from people. In Text A, â€Å"Tversky and Kahneman (1981) demonstrated systematic reversals of preference when the same problem is presented in different ways†. It shows the effectiveness of euphemism and vagueness. The people did not appreciate the straight forward statement, it may be because of the harshness and the reality that shocks the reader. The difference in the preference of the programs shows how human beings are more likely to prefer the positive facts than the negatives; Program A had seventy-two percent preferences. This can show how language has the power to convey something disastrous, however, in a euphemism way, in which the reader will more likely to accept. However, the complicated statements, those with fractions instead of exact numbers, seem to favour the reader. This may be because the reader needs more time to process the factual information in their brains, which may have the same effect as ‘Lost in Translation’; the more your brain processes, the more details and facts are faded away. In addition, the fractions used can make the situation of the Asian disease problem seem less serious, because fractions appear to be less in number than the exact real numbers. In this particular text, power is revealed by the factual information. The difference in presenting the statement does not differ the meaning of the Asian disease problem. However, the power of manipulating and influencing the reader depend on the way the author chooses to present the factual information. The language chosen will be the power that controls the reader’s minds. Different presentations will lead to different interpretations from the readers. Therefore, writers usually use certain style of language to ensure that they can influence and convince the readers. This can represent how human beings are slightly unaware of the importance of language. We tend to ignore and skip through words easily, in which we only want to read what we believe and what we want to see. Similarly, Text B expresses that in our world we normally ignore the flaws and the little ‘holes’ in our communication in language, which also shows the lack of awareness of the importance in language. Slowly, we will tend to lose the ability to control the power that is hidden in language. The ‘Lost in Translation’ ties in with text B as well. When people start to learn a new language they normally translate the words back into their foreign language in order for them to understand the meaning of those words. However, during those translations, many details and little ‘holes’ in the language will disappear and fade away. Native language enables human beings to communicate freely and comfortably, however, it influences out thoughts when it comes to learning a new language. Those little ‘holes’ will be filled in by the influential thoughts from our native language. Therefore, though we are learning a new language, we will still be moved and differentiated by the influence of our native language. The hidden power of the influence of a certain language is strong, it ties with the culture and the tradition of the certain country. From these, we can see how ignorant human beings can be when it comes to realizing how much language influences our lives and how we interpret things. Nevertheless, the power in language can cause negative effects as well as those positives. There are so many languages spoken in our world, therefore, many people can speak more than one language. This means that those people have more than one choice of language to express themselves. This can be positive, however, negative, because there isn’t always the same ‘sayings’ in different languages. As human beings, we manage to experience many different emotions and incidents, where many of those are indescribable in language. Therefore, we can say language is powerful, however, not as powerful as our own minds. â€Å"Language should be a direct mirror of mind† though many thoughts cannot be put into words. In text C, it suggests that language plays an essential role in thinking and the interactions between people, in which the power hidden is the linguistics, philosophy and the psychology side of language. We communicate through language by expressing out what we think in our minds using words, phrases and sentences. Therefore, Noam Chenosky expresses that language is a direct mirror to our minds, which is true to some extent, however, many emotions and thoughts cannot be fully expressed by language. Language can be so powerful that it’s complicated, and those technical studies of language can contribute to an understanding of human intelligence. Human beings have not paid much attention on the hidden power of language, therefore, we only have a rare glimmerings of understanding. Though the understanding of language is limited, most people think and do things depending on what they know and what they believe, which ties in with text A strongly. When people prefer different presentations of the same statement, we can assume that they all have a different perspective, which means they have their own beliefs and knowledge over the statement. Overall, all three texts agree with Rita, Mae Brown’s statement of â€Å"Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides† to a reasonable extent. They all show the human science of language and how language is powerful in our minds. The power inside language is great, however, we have never noticed it. It influences the way we think and the way we judge certain things. Though, due to our lack of awareness of the importance of language, we do not see how it influences out perspectives and perception. However, the possible negative effect of the power in language is that due to the many different languages people may be able to speak, they may find it difficult to express their thoughts and emotions because there are so many choices.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Importance of Literature to Humanity

â€Å"Literature speaks the language of the imagination, and the study of literature is supposed to train and improve the imagination† (Frye 134). According to Northrop Frye the imagination is the combination between emotions and intellect in every individual. The more an individual is exposed to literature the better that person is at expanding their imagination, which he calls the educated imagination. Having an educated imagination helps one to think for themselves and create their own ideas and opinions. The educated imagination is a necessity of life in a political world, the study of literature is not an â€Å"elegant accomplishment† but a means of entry into a â€Å"free society† (Frye 147). With an educated imagination one is able to distinguish between moral and aesthetic truth, this is extremely important when it comes to politics. Politicians or simply people in a higher authority often use rhetoric language to manipulate and brainwash people with lies . In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury shows the negative effects rhetoric language can have on those with an uneducated imagination and that without literature society produces a world filled with ignorance. The absence of books in Fahrenheit 451 creates darkness within the society. In literature darkness is a symbol of ignorance, evil, falsehood, oblivion, despair and the unknown. Light on the other hand represents goodness, life, knowledge, fame and hope. During the entire novel the author constantly relates to darkness and night, â€Å"In the late afternoon it rained and the entire world was dark and grey† (Bradbury19). Books represent light; it provides people with knowledge, exposes truths and educates the mind. In this society books are illegal and the job of a fireman is to burn any house that contains books in it. Due to the burning of these books there is a lack of light in this society, just utter darkness. Because of the ignorance within the civilization the politicians are able to manipulate and convince the population that books and everything else that causes one to think is evil. This way they are able to easily influence and lead the population. Those that have been exposed to books realize that they are living in darkness and that their only way to get out of the darkness is through books, †Maybe these books can get us half out the cave† (Bradbury 74). All the darkness within the society has blinded the people into being unaware as to what is going on around them. The population is unconsciously being brainwashed and forced to conform without even knowing it. â€Å"We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the constitution says, but everyone made equal† (Bradbury 58). Watching television became the major replacement for literature. This is because watching television does not require one to think but influences their thoughts which later influences their actions. The subconscious believes television is real. Watching television physically damages the brain and reduces intelligence. It also switches brain activity from the left side of the brain which is responsible for logic and critical analysis to the right side of the brain that is responsible for emotional responses. This allows each viewer to be heavily influenced and brainwashed by what they see and hear on TV. By restricting the population from literature and replacing it with televisions, they are decreasing the intelligence within the population making it easier to have full control over the society. Without the education one receives from books these people are simply sheep in a herd following their Sheppard. â€Å"The man who does not read books has no advantage over the man that cannot read them† Mark Twain. The society is afraid of being inferior to those who read and understand. All books have meaning. Reading gives people time to think and reflect on not only the text, but their lives as well, â€Å"So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life† (83), books reveal the truth about the world. By burning books the firemen are destroying knowledge and promoting ignorance. This is the reason for all the ignorance and darkness within the society. Due to the lack of literature the people have an uneducated imagination and are therefore unable to see past the governments’ use of rhetoric. the first thing our imaginations have to do for us, as soon as we can handle words well enough to read and write and talk, is to fight to protect us from falling into the illusions that society threatens us with† (Frye 60). Those who are caught reading books are exterminated or taken away to reduce the chances of them spreading their wisdom to others. Those that read are smarter and are seen as a threat to society. These individuals are able to see past society’s use of rhetoric, â€Å"We can see here how the ordinary use of hetoric, which attempts to make society presentable, is becoming hypocritical and disguising the reality it presents beyond the level of social safety† (Frye 61). The rhetoric use of language in this society is to persuade the population into believing that being intellectual is a sin, and books are the cause of this sin, â€Å"So! A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach mans mind. Who knows who might be the target of the well read man? Me? † (Bradbury 58). Those that did read were able to oppose the use of eloquence. Clarisse was considered abnormal and a threat because she thought about things and often asked why, â€Å"She didn’t want to know how a thing was done, but why. That can be embarrassing. You ask why to a lot of things and you wind up very unhappy indeed, if you keep at it. The poor girl’s better off dead† (Bradbury 60). Once again rhetoric language is used to justify the death of Clarisse and criticize the use of imagination. The main character Montag is a fireman who also reads books and is smart enough to see the flaws in his society. For this he is considered a burden and wanted by police. Those that read are able to see that there is more to life than pleasure and titillation. â€Å"Forgive a child who is afraid of the dark, the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light† -Plato. The people in this novel are afraid of the light. They are afraid of literature and the truth, knowledge, and all goodness that comes with it. Due to the lack of literature in this society, the population is ignorant and unable to think individually. Because of the ignorance within the population the government has full control over their lives. Each individual deserves the right to live imaginative and free lives. â€Å"The fundamental job of the imagination in ordinary life, then, is to produce, out of the society we have to live in, a vision of the society we want to live in† (Frye 60). Without literature the imagination becomes limited and people are unable to vision the society they want to live in. As the world becomes more modern and grows further, away from literature, society beings to look more like Fahrenheit 451 where citizens are nothing but a sheep in a herd.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Ancient Mayan Architecture - Temples and Palaces

Ancient Mayan Architecture - Temples and Palaces The Maya were an advanced society that flourished in Mesoamerica long before the arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. They were skilled architects, building great cities of stone that remain even a thousand years after their civilization fell into decline. The Maya built pyramids, temples, palaces, walls, residences and more. They often decorated their buildings with intricate stone carvings, stucco statues, and paint. Today, Maya architecture is important, as it is one of the few aspects of Maya life that is still available for study. Maya City-States Unlike the Aztecs in Mexico or the Inca in Peru, the Maya were never a unified empire ruled by a single ruler from a single place. Rather, they were a series of smaller city-states who ruled the immediate vicinity but had little to do with other cities if they were far enough away. These city-states traded with and warred upon one another frequently, so cultural exchange, including architecture, was common. Some of the more important Maya city-states were Tikal, Dos Pilas, Calakmul, Caracol, Copn, Quirigu, Palenque, Chichà ©n Itz and Uxmal (there were many others). Although every Maya city is different, they tended to share certain characteristics, such as general layout.​ Layout of Maya Cities Maya tended to lay their cities out in plaza groups: clusters of buildings around a central plaza. This was true of the impressive buildings in the city center (temples, palaces, etc) as well as smaller residential areas. These plazas are rarely neat and orderly and to some, it may seem as if the Maya built anywhere they pleased. This is because they Maya built on the irregularly-shaped higher ground to avoid floods and dampness associated with their tropical forest home. In the center of the cities were the important public buildings such as temples, palaces, and the ball court. Residential areas radiated out from the city center, growing sparser the further they got from the center. Raised stone walkways linked the residential areas with each other and the center. Later Maya cities were built on higher hills for defense and had high walls surrounding most of the city or at least the centers. Maya Homes The Maya kings lived in stone palaces in the city center near the temples, but the common Maya lived in small houses outside the city center. Like the city center, the homes tended to be bunched together in clusters: some researchers believe that extended families lived together in one area. Their modest homes are thought to be much like the homes of their descendants in the region today: simple structures constructed mostly of wooden poles and thatch. The Maya tended to build up a mound or base and then build upon it: as the wood and thatch wore away or rotted they would tear it down and build again on the same foundation. Because the common Maya were often forced to build on lower ground than the palaces and temples in the city center, many of these mounds have been lost to flooding or encroaching wilderness. The City Center The Maya built great temples, palaces, and pyramids in their city centers. These were often mighty stone structures, over which wooden buildings and thatched roofs were often built. The city center was the physical and spiritual heart of the city. Important rituals were done there, in the temples, palaces, and ball courts. Maya Temples Like many Maya buildings, Maya temples were built of stone, with platforms on the top where wooden and thatch structures could be built. Temples tended to be pyramids, with steep stone steps leading to the top, where important ceremonies and sacrifices took place. Many temples are graced by elaborate stone carvings and glyphs. The most magnificent example is the famous Hieroglyphic Stairway at Copn. Temples were often built with astronomy in mind: certain temples are aligned to the movements of Venus, the sun or the moon. In the Lost World Complex at Tikal, for example, there is a pyramid which faces three other temples. If youre standing on the pyramid, the other temples are aligned with the rising sun on equinoxes and solstices. Important rituals took place at these times. Maya Palaces The Palaces were large, multi-storied buildings which were home to the king and royal family. They tended to be made of stone with wooden structures on top. Roofs were made of thatch. Some Maya palaces are spacious, including courtyards, different structures that were possibly homes, patios, towers, etc. The palace at Palenque is a good example. Some of the palaces are quite large, leading researchers to suspect that they also acted as a sort of administrative center, where Maya bureaucrats regulated tribute, trade, agriculture, etc. This was also the place where the king and noblemen would interact not only with the common people but also with diplomatic visitors. Feasts, dances, and other community social events could also have taken place there. Ball Courts The ceremonial ball game was an important part of Maya life. Common and noble people alike played for fun and recreation, but some games had important religious and spiritual significance. Sometimes, after important battles in which important prisoners were taken (such as enemy noblemen or even their Ahau, or King) these prisoners would be forced to play a game against the victors. The game represented a re-enactment of the battle, and afterward, the losers (which were naturally the enemy nobles and soldiers) were ceremonially executed. Ball courts, which were rectangular with sloped walls on either side, were prominently placed in Maya cities. Some of the more important cities had several courts. Ball courts were sometimes used for other ceremonies and events. Surviving Maya Architecture Although they were not on a par with the legendary Inca stonemasons of the Andes, Maya architects built structures which have withstood centuries of abuse. Mighty temples and palaces at places like Palenque, Tikal, and Chichen Itza survived centuries of abandonment, followed by excavation and now thousands of tourists walking and climbing all over them. Before they were protected, many ruin sites were scavenged by locals looking for stones for their homes, churches or businesses. That the Maya structures have survived so well is a testament to the skill of their builders. The Maya temples and palaces that have withstood the test of time often contain stone carvings depicting battles, wars, kings, dynastic successions and more. The Maya were literate and had a written language and books, of which only a few survive. The carved glyphs on temples and palaces are therefore important because there is so little remaining of the original Maya culture. Source McKillop, Heather. The Ancient Maya: New Perspectives. New York: Norton, 2004.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

History and Facts About Alcatraz Prison

History and Facts About Alcatraz Prison Once considered the prison of American prisons, the island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay has been an asset to the U.S. Army, the federal prison system, jailhouse folklore, and the historical evolution of the West Coast. Despite its reputation as a cold and unforgiving penitentiary, Alcatraz is now one of the most prominent tourist magnets in San Francisco. In 1775, Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala chartered what is now San Francisco Bay. He called the 22-acre rocky island La Isla de los Alcatraces, meaning Island of the Pelicans. With no vegetation or habitation, Alcatraz was little more than a desolate islet occupied by the occasional swarm of birds. Under the English-speaking influence, the name Alcatraces became Alcatraz. Fort Alcatraz Alcatraz was reserved for military use under President Millard Fillmore in 1850. Meanwhile, the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada Mountains brought growth and prosperity to San Francisco. The lure of the Gold Rush demanded the protection of California as gold seekers flooded the San Francisco Bay. In response, the U.S. Army built a fortress on the rocky face of Alcatraz. They made plans to install more than 100 cannons, making Alcatraz the most heavily armed entity on the West Coast. The first functional lighthouse on the West Coast was built on Alcatraz Island as well. Once fully equipped with weaponry in 1859, the island was deemed Fort Alcatraz. Having never fired its own weapons in combat, Fort Alcatraz quickly evolved from an island of defense to an island of detention. In the early 1860s, civilians arrested for treason during the Civil War were housed on the island. With the influx of prisoners, additional living quarters were built to house 500 men. Alcatraz as a jail would continue for 100 years. Throughout history, the average population of the island hovered between 200 and 300 people, never at maximum capacity. The Rock After the devastating San Francisco earthquake of 1906, inmates from nearby prisons were transferred to the infallible Alcatraz. Over the next five years, prisoners built a new jail, designated Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison, Alcatraz Island. Popularly known as The Rock, Alcatraz served as an army disciplinary barracks until 1933. Prisoners were educated and received military and vocational training here. Alcatraz of the early 20th century was a minimum-security prison. Prisoners spent their days working and learning. Some were even employed as babysitters for the families of prison officers. They eventually built a baseball field and inmates fashioned their own baseball uniforms. Boxing matches among inmates known as â€Å"Alcatraz Fights† were hosted on Friday nights. Prison life played a role in the changing landscape of the island. The military transported soil to Alcatraz from nearby Angel Island, and many prisoners were trained as gardeners. They planted roses, bluegrass, poppies, and lilies. Under the order of the U.S. Army, Alcatraz was a fairly mild institution and its accommodations were favorable. The geographic location of Alcatraz was the undoing of U.S. Army occupation. Importing food and supplies to the island was much too expensive. The Great Depression of the 1930s forced the army off the island, and the prisoners were transferred to institutes in Kansas and New Jersey. Uncle Sam’s Devil’s Island Alcatraz was obtained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1934. The former military detention center became America’s first maximum-security civilian penitentiary. This â€Å"prison system’s prison† was specifically designed to house the most horrendous prisoners, the troublemakers that other federal prisons could not successfully detain. Its isolated location made it ideal for the exile of hardened criminals, and a strict daily routine taught inmates to follow prison rule and regulation. The Great Depression witnessed some of the most heinous criminal activity in modern American history, and Alcatraz’s severity was well suited to its time. Alcatraz was home to notorious criminals including Al â€Å"Scarface† Capone, who was convicted of tax evasion and spent five years on the island. Alvin â€Å"Creepy† Karpis, the FBI’s first â€Å"Public Enemy,† was a 28-year resident of Alcatraz. The most famous prisoner was Alaskan murderer Robert â€Å"Birdman† Stroud, who spent 17 years on Alcatraz. Over its 29 years of operation, the federal prison housed more than 1,500 convicts. Daily life in the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was harsh. Prisoners were given four rights. They included medical attention, shelter, food, and clothing. Recreational activities and family visits had to be earned through hard work. Punishments for bad behavior included hard labor, wearing a 12-pound ball and chain, and lock-downs where prisoners were kept in solitary confinement, restricted to bread and water. There was a total of 14 escape attempts by over 30 prisoners. Most were caught, several were shot, and a few were swallowed by the chilling swells of the San Francisco Bay. Why Did Alcatraz Close? The prison on Alcatraz Island was expensive to operate, as all supplies had to be brought in by boat. The island had no source of fresh water, and almost one million gallons were shipped in each week. Building a high-security prison elsewhere was more affordable for the Federal Government, and as of 1963 â€Å"Uncle Sam’s Devil’s Island† was no more. Today, the equivalent of the infamous federal prison on Alcatraz Island is a maximum-security institution in Florence, Colorado. It is nicknamed â€Å"Alcatraz of the Rockies†. Tourism Alcatraz Island became a national park in 1972 and is considered part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Open to the public in 1973, Alcatraz sees more than one million visitors from across the globe each year. Alcatraz is best known as a maximum-security prison. Media attention and fantastic stories have exaggerated this image. The San Francisco Bay islet has been much more than this. Alcatraz as a mass of rock named for its birds, an American fort during the Gold Rush, an army barracks, and tourist attraction may be less enticing but allude to a more dynamic existence. It is one to be embraced by San Francisco and California as a whole.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Court system in England and Wales Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Court system in England and Wales - Essay Example This provides the judge with an opportunity to grow his knowledge and expertise on the basis of the experience of hearing similar cases; this has supported his understanding of and familiarity with the subject matter. This procedure has saved out the time required by the previous judges to educate themselves for the variety of cases, the fundamental benefit of Specialist court is that it has reduced the duration of hearings, and reduced the costs for litigants, courts, and administrative staff. The procedure will develop the command and affiliation of a particular judge towards a particular issue and reference, the fact that the specialist judge is familiar with the particular area of law has frequently enabled the court to resolve and reach the conclusion at an early stage, through case management at a directions hearing, to ensure that only the core issues are pursued, and thus the reduction in the number of issues can be expected. (Graeme C. Moodie. The Government of Great Britain . 1961. Crowell. pp.241) The strong and comprehensive understanding of the respective judges with the case material has ensured greater consistency in the decision making phase, and the outcome of the proceedings is more predictable. This is especially important in certain fields, such as family law, where the ultimate decision usually requires the exercise of a discretionary judgment. The practice has resulted in the uniformity of decisions and verdicts; the uniformity of the decision is expected to further improve by judges having a collegiate association with each other. The consistency of the decision is required especially in family cases, where the court's decision may well impact forcefully on the parties. If such consistency of the decision is not reflected by the court, it is feared that people and families will develop lack of confidence in the court system, and subsequently the court's authority will dilute. (Edward Cazalet. Specialised courts: Are they a "quick fix" or a long-term improvement in the quality of justice A Case Study. 5th March, 2001) DEVELOPMENT OF CORPS OF SPECIALIST ADVOCATES The Court system of England and Wales, has recommended the establishment of Specialized Court, provided that there is sufficient amount of work, which will be followed by the development of a corps of specialist advocates. The purpose and existence of the court is compulsory, so as to assist and support the running court. Furthermore, the practice of the specialist court will enable the newly appointees of specialized court in identification of the important issues relevant to the case, and thereby give to the parties concerned a more informed prognosis about the outcome of the case. The Court system has further reduced the caseload of generalist courts, which are often overburdened. The specialist court is responsible for relieving the general court in case, a new legislation in particular field require thorough interpretation by the court. The specialist court is also responsible for ensuring that the mainstream of litigation is not impeded. (Philip Norton. The British Polity. 1984. Longman. pp.152) INCREASED MOMENTUM OF LITIGATION The adopted Court system has resulted in the increased momentum of litigation and saved costs. According to reports, the benefits of case management through the family court have been seen

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Reserche proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reserche proposal - Essay Example The researcher has chosen to research the area of people with learning disabilities. Researcher because of experience of working in a PCT chose this subject area, where a large proportion of people with learning disabilities access primary health care services from independent contractors. The researcher works closely with a learning disabilities team and is carrying out research on their behalf that has a keen interest to identify the barriers for people with learning disabilities face, while accessing health services within Kensington and Chelsea PCT. As a health care practitioner, researcher is concerned that these people are discriminated against. The new government health strategy â€Å"our health, our care, our say† reinforces people rights and desires. Therefore, why not people with learning disability have a same right as other people and why they cannot access the same services. The aim of the study is to identify â€Å"Are health’s needs being met by GP services for people with learning disabilities?† The purpose of this study is to identify the most effective ways of closing the health gap and improving services so that people with learning disability problems have their physical needs met. A review of literature in this area was carried out using various search strategies (See appendix 1). Learning disability is a major concern around the world. Not all people share equal opportunities for good health and evidence indicates that people in less advantaged circumstances experience poorer health [1]. The poorer health of people with learning disabilities is the major concern in present circumstances. Therefore, this proposal will review the wider causes of health inequalities and consider how these affect people with learning disabilities. â€Å"People with learning disabilities have much poorer health than the general population and the NHS has traditionally failed to serve people with learning disabilities

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

West music recording corporation Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

West music recording corporation - Coursework Example 5. The names of the leading songs. 5. Location 1. The navigation menu for the user to move from the page. 2. A quick link if the user wants to contact the company. Target Users of the website The website will be used by music selling company, music listeners and musicians. Music selling persons John is a business man who owns a music store in New York City. He sells all genres of music at his store. To make high sales, he has to have the best and the latest music for his clients. The music seller will look for a site to provide those services. The music seller will have this information from the home page. The company will also replies to any questions the seller sends. Music Listener Wayne is a high school graduate who owns an iPod. He prefers to have the latest music in his iPod. He makes a lot downloads over the internet but he ends up not listening to most of this music. Wayne has decided to be finding the best musicians online to download their music. He will be looking at the w ebsite to get news about the top musician on the bill boards and the best music. Musicians Dre is an upcoming musician from West Indies. He would like to record his music in a reputable company and alongside famous musician. He walks to down town companies which do not have a strong profile. The site provides Dre with a profile where he can see if the company fits what he wants. Provision of the contact page will also allow him to enquire on anything. Evaluating wire frames Questionnaires that would evaluate the wire frames were formulated. They were divided into open and closed questionnaires. The main objective of the questionnaire was to test if navigation, visibility and provision of what clients needed were right. The user chosen to fill the forms...The company representative gave the requirements required were such as providing the company profile. This profile would enable the business get as many clients as possible. Mailing capability was another thing the website was suppo sed to provide to allow their clients contact them with easiness. Music listeners were supposed to be incorporated in the site requirement specification. The listener stated some of the requirement they would have its to see the top musician on the billboard. The second requirement was to know the best ranked music at any moment. This would allow this person to download the latest music without going to a lot headache. The musicians who are the main clients of the company had to be considered, and a representative was found. The interview revealed the need of a profile page to enable the musician make a decision whether or not hire the company. They also required a contact page to communicate with the company without moving outside the website. Collecting of user requirement was involving because some users gave conflicting requirements. This required my ability in decision making, which sometime would not favor all the users. Another problem was starting to collect requirements from users without informing them on the need of providing this information.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Factors leading to building of good working environment

Factors leading to building of good working environment As HR professionals, we know that the real strength of an organization is its people. It is the only asset which cannot be easily copied but management tend to forget that people are not robots. The management is only concern about bring down the cost rather than focusing on improving the work environment in which their employees work in. Lately especially in Mauritius with the new regulations, employees are more willing to invest in their infrastructure so as to create a safe place to work. However, just investing in infrastructure and increasing pay is not the magic elixir towards the promoting of a good working environment. There are other factors which are important and they are discussed below. Culture The culture of an organization is the typical way of doing things in the organization. It particularly relates to behavioural patterns and relationships. The culture of an organization develops over time. It is created by the people that work for the organization, that is, its workforce and managers. What the organization stands for (its values) and the dreams that it seeks to turn into reality (its vision) are fundamental in creating a dynamic culture. A high performance culture exists when everyone in the organization shares the same vision and where they trust and value each others contribution. This shared belief and behaviors will ensure that the working environment at the firm is stable and consistent. Schein gives a more precise analysis of organizational Culture based on organizational psychology Organizational Culture is: A pattern of basic assumptions Invented, discovered, or developed by a given group As it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptation an integral integration That has worked well enough to be considered valid and therefore, Is to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to these problem According to Schein, there are four dimensions of culture should be present in a firm namely, company practices, company communication, physical Cultural forms and common language. According to Armstrong .M(1996), Culture management is concerned with: Culture change: the development of attitudes, benefits and values which will be congruent with the organizations mission, mission, strategies, environment and technologies. Culture reinforcement: which aims to preserve and reinforce what is good or functional about the present culture Change management: This is concerned with enabling the culture to adapt successfully to change and gaining acceptance to changes in organization, systems procedures ad methods of work. Commitment gain: commitment of members of the organization to the mission, strategies and values The aims of culture Management are to: Develop an ideology which guides management on the formulation and implementation of coherent HRM strategies and policies Create and maintain a positive climate within the organization which indicates the behavior which is expected of members of that organization in the course of their work The management of the organizations culture is a central activity for senior management with the advice and help of personnel and HR specialists in their increasingly important role as internal consultants. Culture provides a sense of direction and is an unwritten form of norms which guides the employees in their everydays work at the workplace. It is this shared belief which guides and binds each individual at the workplace so that they form part of a family. Moreover, it is this shared belief which helps to form and maintain a good working environment. Each individual is unique in his or her way. It is the employers role to provide and sustain a culture which will be beneficial for each of the firms strategic partners. An employee spends most of his time at the workplace consequently the latter should feel at ease. He should feel that he is valued and not neglected by the company. Leadership Alan keith of Genentech states that, Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen. According to ken SKC Ogbonnia, effective Leadership is the ability to successfully integrate and maximize available resources within the internal and external environment for the attainment of organizational or societal goals. Good management brings about order and consistency by drawing formal plans, designing organizational structures and monitoring results against the plans. In other words, the role of management is in the area of planning, implementation and control. In contrast, leadership involves developing a vision and inspiring people to achieve that vision. This leads to Shackletons definition (1995) Leadership is the process in which an individual influences other group members towards the attainment of group or organizational goals. The modern Leaders should be more of an employee oriented rather than production oriented. The statement You manage things, you lead people from Grace Murray Hopper demonstrates the importance of the behavioural dimensions of leadership . It involves the concern that the leader has for the feelings, needs, personal interest, problems and well being of followers. This is such as employees are the human capital which contributes to the success and development of a company to a great extent. Thus, these days, companies do not see them only as factors of production from the classical perspective, but have started to value them as stakeholders and strategic partners with who long term goals are achieved together. A positive working environment is critical no matter how many employees the firm have. It is management that fosters the work atmosphere so they are responsible for conducting things in a way that helps raise peoples spirits. The statement from David J. Schawartz which states big thinkers are specialist in creating positive, forward looking, optimistic pictures in their own minds and in the minds of others is significant because people generally need some sort of challenge to motivate themselves. Effective leadership means offering people the chance to grow. The management should recognize their contribution through positive feedback and advancement to more challenging positions. Norman Allan statement Skill in the art of communication is crucial to a leaders success. He can accomplish nothing unless he can communicate effectively is indeed true since an organization will experience a good working environment only if the management and the employees are engaged in a collaborative and participation relationship. This reminds us of the statement from Mary D. Poole Leadership should be more participative than directiveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.If the employees do not trust the management then this will create conflicting relationship between both parties and this is a major barrier towards the promotion of a good working environment. Thus communication is indeed a powerful tool which can align both partners towards the same goal. The leaders should do their best to create an atmosphere that is conducive to trust and provide the necessary infrastructure for the personal growth of its workforce. The leaders should do their best to create an environment where the workforce will feel at ease and can thus be more productive. The management should not forget that by creating a good working environment it will be a win situation for both the workers and the employers as this will enable the firm to be more competitive and productive. 2.3 Organisational justice Distributive justice This type of justice refers to outcomes being distributed proportional to inputs like the so-called equity principle (Adams, 1965). Outcomes in a work context might take the form of wages, social approval, job security, promotion and career opportunities, while inputs would include education, training, experience and effort. As it can be difficult to determine what constitutes an appropriate level of reward for a particular degree of input, people tend to make this judgement in relative terms, looking for a contribution-outcome ratio that is similar to that of their peers. For instance, if two employees have the same qualifications and experience but only one of them gets a promotion, the one who did not get promoted might feel that he was the victim of an unfair decision from the management. Consequently, such injustice might create a havoc in the firms working environment. Procedural justice Procedural justice is concerned with the fairness of the decision process leading to a particular outcome. It can outweigh distributive justice, in the sense that individuals might be willing to accept an unwanted outcome if they believe the decision process leading up to it was conducted according to organizational justice principles. For example, Greenberg (1994) found that smokers more strongly accepted a smoking ban at their workplace when they felt they had been given thorough information about the change of policy, in a socially sensitive manner. The same principles might apply to the hypothetical promotion scenario given above. An unpromoted worker may be placated if he is convinced that the system used to decide promotions is transparent and free from bias. Thus, if the employees trust the procedures adopted by their managers, they will readily accept them and the good working environment will be sustained at the workplace Interactional justice A third type of justice has been proposed by Bies and Moang(1986), which they call Interactional justice: the communication of fairness. This perceptive argues that people are sensitive to the quality of interpersonal treatment they receive during the enactments of organisational procedures. Researchers treated this as a third type of justice but recently researchers now treat it as one component of procedural justice. Colquitt (2001) divides interactional justice into two components: interpersonal which compasses respect and propriety and informational, which encompasses truthfulness and justification. Positive effects of organisational justice Well-designed systems that promote distributive, procedural and interactional justice profit both the individual, who will be satisfied that they have been fairly treated, and the organisation, which will maintain control over potential challenges and threats from its staff while reaping the benefits of being an employer of choice. Numerous gains can be observed. For example, Sheppard et al . (1992) state that equitable pay improves individual performance, equal treatment raises group spirit, voice creates commitment to a decision, and access creates a loyal ally (p. 102). Justice promotes positive attitudes of job satisfaction, commitment and trust, in turn breeding healthy and constructive professional and interpersonal behaviour. In particular, perceptions of procedural justice have been associated with the termed organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) that is, informal, prosocial acts that go beyond the immediate remit of the job description and encompass such outputs as cour tesy, conscientiousness, altruism and sportsmanship (Organ, 1988; Skarlicki and Latham, 1996). If employees feel that there exist organizational justice at their workplace, they will feel more secure and the wok environment will be more friendly between the management and the employees and this will drive the company towards achievement of its goals and objective. Psychological contract (PC) The long term economic health of most organization depends on the efforts of employee with the appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities. One concept that has been useful in discussing employees relationship with the organization is that of a psychological contract. Which refers to the unwritten expectation that employees and employers have about the nature of their work relationship because of the PC is individual and subjective in nature, it focuses on expectations about fairness that may be defined clearly by employees. The transformation in the PC mirrors on evolution in which organization have moved from employing individual who perform tasks. To employing individuals expected to produce results. Rather than just paying them to follow orders and put in time, increasingly employers are expecting employees to use their skills and capabilities to accomplish organizational results. Studies suggest that employees do believe in these unwritten agreement or PC and hope their employers will keep their side of the agreement. When employers do not, employees feel a minimal need to contribute to organizational productivity because they no longer trust employers. Thus, employers loyalty is necessary and it can be successfully based on a new PC with the following expectation: Employers provide employee provide Competitive compensation Contribute to performance improvement Benefits tailored to the workforce Reasonable tenure with the organization Flexibility to balance work Extra effort when needed and home life balance 2.4 Personality, Health, Work Environment, and Performance According to Schneider (1987), the people make the place, and people are attracted differentially to, differentially selected, and differentially leave organizations. Costa, McCrae, and Holland (1984) emphasized on the fact that people begin this procedure by choosing into vocations that match their behaviors. Similarity between an interviewee values and the values of interviewers and employees in organizations has been shown to result in enhanced work attitudes and improved performance after organizational entry (Judge and Cable, 1997; Chatman, 1991). Research by Cable and Judge (1994) and Judge and Cable (1997) highlighted that interviewee pro-actively prefer such organizational environments based on individual preferences, as they think that job candidates look for organizations with recognize their efforts and reward them and cultures that fit their behaviors. Of even greater significance is the prospect that the link between personality characteristics and good work environments may have an influence on performance (Hurtz and Donovan, 2000). . Training and development programs Employee training programs are an integral part of the HR vision and long term strategic objectives of an organization. Through timely and planned training programs, employees are able to develop their knowledge, skills and capabilities so as to perform assigned jobs consistently and successfully. Ultimately, carefully devised and implemented employee training programs should impact organizational competiveness, long term performance and overall productivity. (By Pallab Dutta, ehow contributor). Nowadays, when we talk of training, employees want to form part of the planning process à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.preparation and agreement with the individual of a development plan including formal training and various development activitiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦'(Baron and Armstrong,2005,p.25). This collaboration ensures that efficient training occurs and everyone is capable of learning more and doing better in their job ( Baron and Armstrong,2005,p.25). All employees want to work for an organization that will satisfy their need for development as all employees want to develop and acquire new skills so that they are not only efficient but also more employable. Herzberg (1973) stresses opportunities for learning as a motivation factor in a good working environment when employees are properly trained, they become empowered with the knowledge and skills to perform their job functions with confidence. In turn, they will develop a stronger sense of accomplishment, usefulness and loyalty to the organisation (Peterson). Consequently, if the management caters this need of its workforce then they will be motivated and committed. This will eventually create a good working environment since both parties will respect their promise towards each other. 2.7 Staff Empowerment Creating an environment and culture where employees feel comfortable and capable of accomplishing their finest work, is the only means that ensures these organizations are experiencing their employees peak potentials. People are empowered when they are given the authority and responsibility to make decisions affecting their work with a minimum of interference and second guessing (Maurer, 2000, p.5). Empowerment has received increased attention among scholars and practitioners at the workplace (Donovan, 1994), and an opinion regarding the numerous advantages of empowering employees is shared by both managers and employees. Empowerment has proved to influence both organizational and managerial effectiveness (Spreitzer,1995) and is recognized as a method by which managers can efficiently manage an organization in todays work environment. 2.8 Trust Respect Trust is seen as an important attribute of effective leadership and has been referred to as the glue which keeps an organization together as a functioning unit (Strasser, 1994, p.181). In a study, Mishra (1990) concludes that there exist four factors that breed trust within an organization namely: Communication at all level Shared decision making Sharing critical information Honest sharing of perceptions and feelings This study also concluded that trust is an element which starts at the top of any organization, then filter sits way down due to the upper managements hierarchical advantage and greater access to key information. In a team-based environment, trust is an essential ingredient to the overall success and ensures that there exist a collaborative working environment where all party can cohabit and work together. Grundy (1998, p. 180) concludes that organizations where there are determined levels of trust, employees experience empowerment, satisfaction, and competitive advantage, stating; For a team to work effectively, its members must trust one another. We must be able to assume that we can trust each other, that is we can operate with the same values and purpose, count on each other during tough times, be bone straight with each other and work together with mutual respect and care (Harari,1999, p. 29) 2.9 Office layout and working environment Over the years, many organizations have been trying new designs and techniques to construct office buildings, which can increase productivity, and attract more employees. Many authors have noted that, the physical layout of the workspace, along with efficient management processes, is playing a major role in boosting employees productivity and improving organizational performance (Uzee, 1999; Leaman and Bordass, 1993; Williams et al. 1985). The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID, 1999) carried out an independent study and revealed that the physical workplace design is one of the top three factors, which affect performance and job satisfaction. The study results showed that 31 percent of people were satisfied with their jobs and had pleasing workplace environments. 50 percent of people were seeking jobs and said that they would prefer a job in a company where the physical environment is good. Ergonomics of office furniture is important because an employee has to work with them for the entire time that he is on office, and if they are uncomfortable and not user friendly, their working style and efficiency gets hampered considerably, in turn affecting the overall organizations. Non-ergonomic office furniture can also lead to health problems of employees, which again has an adverse effect on the productivity. Ergonomic office furniture ensures that each employee gels well with the things around him, like desks, chairs, computer alignment and even environmental factors. If the employee is uncomfortable due to any reason, his work is bound to get affected. If all factors surrounding the employee are ergonomically correct, then the employee will be comfortable and remain motivated to give his best. Nowier Mohammed (2009) Barriers towards building a good working environment The promotion of a good working environment has numerous advantages namely the firm will have a motivated workforce which will work to their maximum level so as to make the organization become more competitive. Moreover, the firms reputation will not be affected negatively since it will not suffer from problem like strikes and other major problems. As a result, the organization will be more productive and efficient. However, in spite of these advantages, there exist barriers towards the creation of a great place to work namely: Resistant from both parties At the workplace, there are often conflicts between the management team and the employees and this is due to the simple fact that no one party wants to listen to the other. For instance, the management usually implements decisions first and then they expect employees to follow. The management tends to use the authoritarian leadership style but employees are against that since they want to have a say. Resistance can be constructive if it forces managers to interact more frequently with subordinate, to review the decision to introduce change, and perhaps to explore alternative ways to meet desired objective. Six approaches have been put forward as ways of controlling resistance to change (kotter Schlesinger, 1979): Education and communication Participation Facilitation Negotiating and agreement Manipulation and co-option Coercion If the management uses the above approaches then issues like disagreement can be resolved. For instance, with a proper communication channel, there will be clarification of information and thus both parties will be on the same length. Moreover, by educating the employees, they will be able to see change as an opportunity rather than a threat. Thus, such policies can ensure that the organization will experience a harmonious working environment with very little or no conflict at the workplace.