The Advantageous Of Petrodollar And Islamic Finance...

3.7. The advantageous of Petrodollar to Islamic Finance Petrodollar flows have been among the major factors supporting the growth of the Islamic finance industry ever since the 1960s GIFF (2010). The rising petrodollar flows in global markets imply continued and increasing petrodollar investments in the Islamic finance sector. This has led to a surge of interest in the Islamic Finance sector, with more and more countries positioning themselves as strategic locations to tap into part of this abundant pool of funds. For instance, a number of countries worldwide have announced their plans to issue Sukuk (Islamic bonds) and thus meet their financing needs by attracting high net worth investors (HNWIs) and wealth from the Middle East region. HNWIs are particularly on the look-out for efficient and secure jurisdictions for investing their funds, more so in the context of the present economic downturn . Operating in a facilitative business environment and reducing cost of operations are deemed instrumental factors for market players. Accordingl y, a number of jurisdictions have actively encouraged the development of their Islamic capital markets as a key strategy for attracting both HNWIs and Islamic finance businesses . In particular, it has been observed that jurisdictions from across the world are developing their Islamic capital markets by utilising the efficiency provided by Offshore Financial Centres (OFCs) to structure Shari’ah compliant products which adhere to the

Understanding Existentialism Essay - 864 Words

Do we matter? Do we seek personal happiness in life? These are questions from existentialism. The dictionary defines existentialism as an individual’s experience filled with isolation in a hostile universe where a human being attempts to find true self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. Hamlet is an existentialist character who believes that he is forced to avenge his father’s death and the hatred builds in his heart because of the many betrayals which direct him towards a senseless life and constant thoughts about suicide; this ultimately leads to his demise and he is left with naught. The narrator from â€Å"Things that Fly† has obviously gone through some sort of abandonment which has affected him†¦show more content†¦Moreover, Ophelia his ex-lover is set up by her father, Polonius and King Claudius to discover Hamlet’s reason for insanity;a she meets with him and Hamlet immediately discovers that sh e betrays him by lying about her father’s location. All the obstacles express his disappointment in life and they make him believe that life is really senseless and there is no way out while his attempts to finish Claudius remain a failure. Protagonist of â€Å"Things that Fly† has also gone through an calamitous event, where some significant person has abandoned him which ends up resulting in him â€Å"thinking of all the bad things [he] had done to other people in the world† and this also worries his parents that â€Å"[he] might go to pieces at any moment.† This exemplifies the extent of his melancholic behaviour he feels takes responsibility for all the mistakes he makes in life and realizes that he has no purpose in life. Like Hamlet is betrayed by the ones closest to him, narrator is also Both characters are able to not able to act freely and responsibly while being isolated in the world that they cannot control. Hamlet: He wants to be free from the worldly sorrows; he sees no point in human life and questions his existence. He wishes to commit suicide but his religious views stop him from ending his life; however in this life he has been forced to avenge for his father’s death. [not able to control the people betraying him and Hamlet has theShow MoreRelatedExistentialism : Existentialism And Existentialism994 Words   |  4 Pageshis choices† (Sartre, n.d.). When discussing existentialism, the man responsible for this quote is always attached to the conversation. As the man who is often remembered for bringing the most amount of international attention to the theory of existentialism, Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre deserves to have his theories and ideals discussed and respected whenever possible. Firstly, what exactly is existentialism? The textbook defines existentialism as â€Å"a philosophical movement or tendency, emphasizingRead MoreSartre s Idea Of The Self983 Words   |  4 Pagesor God. Sartre’s idea of Existentialism introduces a new way of thinking in terms of how we become a self. This paper will argue for Sartre’s idea of Existentialism by addressing the way in which it provides a concept of the self that has not been predetermined. Jean-Paul Sartre was considered one of the foremost thinkers in the world of existentialism. He firmly represented the idea of atheistic existentialism, and further described the broader term of existentialism as â€Å"existence precedes essence†Read MoreExistentialist Theory: Its Features, Advantages and Disadvantages784 Words   |  3 PagesExistentialist Theory, Its Features, Advantages and Disadvantages For introduction purposes, Existentialism is the philosophical theory that holds that in order to grasp human existence, then further set of categories governed by the norm of authenticity are necessary (Steven Crowell, 2010). Existentialism is a philosophy which stresses on human existence as opposed to the movements that submerge mans existence. Normally, if emphasis of distinction is placed upon mans existence then the questionRead MoreExistentialism And The Existentialist Ideas Behind Existentialism1186 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Existentialism is a theory of philosophy that stepped away from ideas that there is any single unifying reality or reason to existence and that we should approach philosophy from a perspective of what we can perceive to be true, not what we think is true without being able to perceive it. In that mind set, it tries to examine what a person’s perception of reality can be, their place is in that reality, how they approach their own existence given that information, and how, based on thoseRead More The Rise and Fall of Existentialism1287 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rise and Fall of Existentialism   Ã‚  Ã‚   Existential literature often focuses on the personal journey towards existential awareness. Common themes in existential works, such as alienation and confrontation with death, often lead the anti-hero towards a climactic choice that defines whether they have reached true understanding. The themes within existential literature are reflected from the world at large, and the works themselves are a metaphor for a grander shift in Western philosophy. Read MoreExistentialism And The Beliefs Of The Movement1454 Words   |  6 PagesPalahniuk that is a good summary of existentialism and the beliefs of the movement. Existentialism was a turning point for society and literature that advocated the expansion of the minds of authors and their readers so we could improve our thinking to be more enlightened and free. The movement sparked much alternative thinking to allow our society to grow into what it is today and without it people would most likely be more close minded and less free. Existentialism was a very influential movement withRead More Hopeless and Absurd - Existentialism and Buddhism Essay1536 Words   |  7 PagesHopeless and Absurd - Existentialism and Buddhism Perhaps the most telling symptom of existentialist philosophers is their ever-divergent theories on the fundamental characteristics of human life and their steadfast refusal to assign an explicit meaning or reason to our existence at all. Contrary to criticism which therefore labels the movement cynically nihilistic, existentialism justifies life with reasoning similar to that of Zen Buddhism. Specifically, the notions of hopelessness and absurdityRead MoreNo Exit By Jean Paul Sartre1342 Words   |  6 Pagesand true natures, exposing each other in a raw truth. In many of his works, Sartre attempts to get important messages across that coincide with his philosophies. A piece that is easy to use to compare with the play is the essay The Humanism in Existentialism, as everything written in it are his own thoughts and commentary on life, how it should be lived, humanity, and how humans relate to each other and the world around them. That being said, he purposely writes No Exit in a way that blatantly disregardsRead More Finding an Existential Ethic Essay1570 Words   |  7 Pagesargues in her book Existentialist Ethics, It seems that to be attracted by Existentialism is to be attracted by a mood. When it comes to serious thought, one may find . . . that it is necessary to cast off the mood and start again (57). The focus of the existentialist is on the individual, existing being. By nature, the subject of existentialism appears incommunicable. It demands that each individual come to an understanding of the inwardness of self independently. This inwardness is not a state whichRead MoreSartre s Views On The Moral Choices895 Words   |  4 PagesJean-Paul Sartre is a French philosopher who makes his claims based on a combination of two philosophical traditions – existentialism and phenomenology. Sartre himself is an atheistic existentialist. He summarizes his claims regarding existentialism with three words – anguish, abandonment, and despair (25). I n this paper, I will talk about Sartre’s definition of existentialism, its relation to essence, Sartre’s views on the moral choices and how they relate to art. Sartre makes the claim that all

The Forest Free Essays

Forests are precious national resource whim not only play significant role in national condor but help in pollution control and maintaining logical balance. These offer a number of direct indirect advantages which have been realised sin time immemorial. Direct Advantages 1. We will write a custom essay sample on The Forest or any similar topic only for you Order Now Forests provide valuable timber for dome tic and commercial use. Industries like paper, matt making, plywood, sports goods, lakh and furniture at directly based on raw materials derived from forest 2. Forests supply a number of minor produce which are utilised in different industries and domes* tic uses. These include lakh, gum and resins, tannin material, medicines, herbs, honey, spices, etc. 3. Forests offer employment to about 4 mil ­lion people to earn their livelihood in forest based occupations, i. e. , lumbering, sawing, furniture mak ­ing, forest produce collecting, etc. 4. Auction of forests for commercial use fetches annual income to state exchequer. 5. Export of forest products earns valuable foreign exchange to the country. 6. Grazing of cattle in the forests helps in dairy farming and cattle rising. 7. Forests are the natural habitat for wild life and birds which attract tourists, holiday makers and hunters. These may be developed as very good picnic or tourist centers in the form of wild life sanctuaries and national parks which have good employment and income generating potential. Indirect Advantages 1. Forests are the moderators of climate. These have effective role in controlling humidity and tem ­perature and precipitation. 2. Forests play dominant role in carbon cycle. These absorb atmospheric carbon-di-oxide and help in maintaining the purity of air and controlling atmospheric pollution. 3. Forests help in controlling soil erosion, soil degradation and floods. That is why these are very helpful in land reclamation and flood control. 4. Forests help in water percolation and thereby maintain underground water table. 5. Decay of plant leaves provides humus to the soils and increases their fertility. 6. Indian forests are rich in wild life housing about 500 species of animals. 7. Forests help in maintaining natural scenic beauty which every year attract a number of tourists and nature lovers. 8. Forests provide natural habitat to a number of primitive tribes which are part of our rich cultural heritage. Their mode of living, economy and cul ­tural traits are based on forest environment. 9. Forests provide recluse to rashes, saints and hermits who have enriched our religious and cultural thoughts. Mere a visit of such quiet serene environment relieves physical and mental strains and refurbishes new vitality and vigor. How to cite The Forest, Papers

Literature Review Cloud Computing

Question: Discuss about theLiterature Reviewfor Cloud Computing. Answer: Introduction Cloud computing is the mechanism which can be adopted by the business organizations for many of the purposes such as delivery of computing servicesservers, storing of databases, networking, software and systems which can be used by the entities in a number of operations, analytics and more over the Internet. The business organizations or the institutions who provides these kinds of computing services are (azure.microsoft. 2017) known as cloud providers and these institutions charge for the services they provide and these charges or the fees are based on the usage of the systems and the mechanisms. Important Variables According to Helpdesk LLC (2017) the small and large business corporations have been waiting for the cloud computing systems from the last few years. The most of the business organizations face the confusion and have a doubt regarding for making use of this system. The below mentioned literature review has been presented by the Help-desk LLC for defining the system and also determination of the same system will be done (Reilly, Wren and Berry, 2011). First a description has been given about Cloud computing is the same concept as it was earlier just the change and modification has been done in the name of the concept. This concept has been used by many of the business corporations and institutions from many years. There are a number of small business enterprises which are found to be using these mechanism and which are found with a server which is connected with a number of computers and these desktops are networked to server. And the second system which is used is known as hardware l ayer and which is also typically referred to as "the network," or "the information systems." And the cloud computing has decreased the need of networking in the offices at a greater extent. There are numerous of benefits of making use of this system or mechanism and from them one is that cloud computing will benefit the network and as it can be suddenly accessible from anywhere and anyone one can have access to the Internet and by which the company will be in running condition all time all the operational activities will be in a continuous form. And the biggest benefit of this system is that it can be accessed from whatever device or mechanism used from any to have with you i.e. laptop, iPad, mobile phone, etc. A comparable reference point would be Google Docs (Pocatilu, Alecu and Vetrici, 2010). The following is one of the example of a common use of cloud computing is while submitting of your documents to Google Docs for others to access via the Internet. For the initial level the most suitable example which is suitable for this system is of average small business person. As the business is small scale business the owner wont be having big amount for investing and building up an in-house network and also the entire business operations should b the entire business operation can be up and run-up and running within short period of time and this could be made happen by making use of the approach of cloud computing. The expenses are basically pay-as-you-go means as per the use and are also based on the amount of storage space and computing power that you use (Antonopoulos and Gillam, 2010). The below mentioned are the advantages and drawbacks of cloud computing: Low Cost Emergence of the mechanism of cloud computing in the market has been considered as the a low-cost or minimum expense incurring tool for the business. Corporations. And also business organizations are not required to make huge investments and heavy expenses on the establishment and setting up of this mechanism, as no hardware, equipment and infrastructure establishment is required. The companies wont be requiring incurring the expenses for installing the desktops, laptops or some type of device to access the Internet and utilize your data. And the investment in the implementation and maintaining the private and the companys own in-house networking is very minimum or low (searchcloudcomputing.techtarget. 2017). It is a very vital and significant concept for many small scale business corporations. The expenses incurred in the maintenance of an in-house network are enormous and it has also been observed that they are increasing every day. With an in-house network, there are oth er related costs and expenses which are incurred and are required to be paid by for the installation of the software and hardware upgrades and also the maintenance and providing training on the related topics to the employees. The above mentioned responsibilities and the duties are to be fulfilled by the service providers of the cloud systems and also the costs and the expenses are to be incurred by them only. The best way to develop an understanding which is related to the concept of expenses computing services is to think in context of renting vs. owning. The service providers of the cloud computing services should have a storage of all the required resources and which are to be utilized by the business client for a monthly or annual fee which has been charged by the service provider at the begining. And this concept has been referred as similar and which is also common to as the Software-as-a-Service (or SaaS) model. In this concept the company is required to pay for the use of t he service which can also be said as you pay as you go. A sense of more predictability in budgeting for these costs and expenses is provided to the owner of the model. Flexibility -- With the use of the mechanism of cloud computing in the business organization, as mentioned above the company need to pay only for what the company use the services, the business corporation are provided with a limited flexibility in the use of the system and the service for which they have already paid an amount. For instance if a person has small amount of investments for starting up a small business and in this case the owners can make use of small computing packages and can also increase the use of the computing services as the business activities and the operations keeps on growing. After a particular growth in the business the owners can opt for a bigger package of computing services (Velte and et al, 2010). The setting-up, implementation and bring into operation are some of the functionalities and these are done with a good speed. There are some service providers who have set-up at an automatic scale for the essential and required resource for the business corpo ration. Necessary changes and modifications can be done in the infrastructure as per the requirements of the organization. These modifications can be into making the network private network, public, or a combination of both (Sosinsky, 2010). Simple, Fast, Easy The biggest advantage of cloud computing is that it's is of very much easy to operate. By making use of the system of cloud computing can streamline many parts within the organizational structure of the entity (Griffith. 2016). It will be proven beneficial for the business entities when they start making use of these systems and step into the systems and this will also make the business to run more smoothly with a great potential and also improves the efficiency of the firm and also when the firm is a web-based corporation applications that are available in the cloud (Rittinghouse and Ransome, 2016). Everything from prospect management applications to customer billing and invoicing can be moved out of the store of the company and gets shifted to the into the cloud system. This gives will enhance the ability to focus on what the company do best in business and excel and grow the strengths while someone else handles the administrative functions (Sotto, Treacy and Mc Lellan, 2010). Accessibility -- Regardless of where the company stands or is operating in the world, it will have access on the operations which are based on cloud computing mechanism. There will be only some sought of complicated remote login procedures and which are required for the in-house network. In this process the only thing or the tool required is a device that can access the web and an Internet connection which will be controlling the systems (bigdata-madesimple. 2017). This means the employees or the staff in the organization can have access anywhere and at any-time, from home, office or on the road at a client's office. Sustainability There are a number of issues which can be faced by the business such as a natural disaster which can strike the business at any time,. But now there is solution to the problem which is cloud computing capability which resides somewhere else. Obviously, this is can also be considered as a disadvantage if the disaster hits the service provider (Chaczko and et al, 2011). Security of Your Data -- This has been considered as the prime or the main concern which is related to cloud computing systems which are being used within the business organizations. In a very basic sense, the data or the confidential information that used to reside within the four walls of the business corporation now resides elsewhere. Addressing the security of the data must be done on priority basis and also the security of that data must be addressed and shit should be considered as a significant point and this is required to be done with care as the data stored in the cloud systems contains trade secrets of a number of business organizations, proprietary lists, files of the consumers and their records etc. As per the researches and survey carried about 69% of cloud providers said that data security was the responsibility of the end-user (Antonopoulos and Gillam, 2010). And on the basis of another survey it was also concluded that by contrast an approx. estimate number of only 3 5% of the end-users agreed that they should be held responsible. And it has been clearly mentioned that there is a sense of disparity between cloud providers and cloud users about who is responsible for data security. The companies who are making use of the cloud computing system should have a clear idea and estimate that their data is vulnerable to compromise and is exposed to risk. Author has also mentioned that knowing about the risks and dangers and also having an idea about the proper measures and precautions which are required to be taken right from the start has been considered as an important step for the business organization (Vishwanathan, P, 2017). Whereas there are a number of small business organizations who do not have the resources to adequately protect their data even when it is in-house and for these small companies a reasonably priced off-site solution may be right for certain applications (levelcloud. 2017). The key or the solution to this problem is consulting or asking to the right questions of the provider and getting good advice. Costs When Under Attack As mentioned above the mechanism of cloud computing has been considered as a low cost mechanism or tool and some time it also provides some sought of additional benefits. But it can also actually cost more money or can be a reason in incurring a number of additional expenses. For instance, if a company's website comes under a distributed denial of service (D-DOS) attack (stratospherenetworks . 2017). The reason behind this attack is that the typical goal of a D-DOS attack is to gobble up resources and which is done for rendering the server incapacitated (Sridhar, 2009). If the cloud computing provider has no protections in place against DDoS attacks, when the site is attacked, then service provider will have to simply begin to increase the resources that the site requires (due to the attack) and bill for the resources provided and which naturally will bring an increase in the expenses. It is of very much significance for the business corporation to ask the pr ovider what kind of provisions they have to protect against this type of attack. Performance Can Vary -- In a cloud environment, the applications which are running on servers for the business organizations are also simultaneously providing resources to other businesses too. With the fluctuations in the requirements and the demands made by the other users, there will be impacts on the performance of the business organization and the share of the resources will be also on a varying note. Often, the service providers may claim that the resources available with the business entities are unlimited. This may be theoretically true, but from a practical point of view the hardware scalability is probably limited. Methods of Analysis There are number of methods which have been adopted for carrying out the research of the above presented literature review. Mainly the books have been made in use for getting a deep understanding about the advantages and disadvantages of the cloud computing mechanism. Also the articles have been used for get a clear idea about the concept. Gaps in Literature Review In the above carried out research the main focus has been provided on the concept of cloud computing and also the advantages and disadvantages of the system. Mainly the focus of the research is on the benefits attained by the cloud computing system and which develops the gap in literature review as some of the important issues or disadvantages has been ignored. Such as reliability of the organizations on the system is too much and is increasing day by day and which is a big issue as in case if the system crashes or is hacked then the corporation can be in a big problem. As all the confidential data is stored within the system. Also there is very limited control over the whole system of cloud computing. The more control is of the service provider and which can be sometimes quite dangerous for the customer as many of the details can be exposed to the service provider. Conclusion From the above carried out research it has been concluded that the concept of cloud computing has to be considered as a new concept in terms of maturity and adoption. And also there are some expectations and estimations made regarding the changes under which the business corporations will undergo in the future, in terms of resources, issues, risks, and ultimately best practices and standards. Moreover there are a number of benefits and advantages which have been provided by the system and have also been undergone in providing potentially values for institutions of higher education and other business organizations. On-demand services can resonate positively with the current university tight budgets across the nation and other parts of the world. A number of benefits of the transition to cloud computing have been mentioned out in this above carried out analysis along with concerns regarding the general implementation of this application. References Reilly, D., Wren, C. and Berry, T., 2011. Cloud computing: Pros and cons for computer forensic investigations.International Journal Multimedia and Image Processing (IJMIP),1(1), pp.26-34. Pocatilu, P., Alecu, F. and Vetrici, M., 2010. Measuring the efficiency of cloud computing for e-learning systems.WSEAS Transactions on Computers,9(1), pp.42-51. Antonopoulos, N. and Gillam, L. eds., 2010.Cloud computing: Principles, systems and applications. Springer Science Business Media. The helpdesk LLC. 2011.The Pros Cons of Cloud Computing. available at:https://www.thehelpdeskllc.com/pdf/what-is-cloud-computing.pdf[Accessed on24 April 2017] Amazon, (2009). Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. Retrieved from https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/, on August 28, 2009. Amazon, (2009). Amazon Elastic ComputeCloud. Retrieved fromhttps://aws.amazon.com/ec2/, on August 28, 2009. Amazon, (2009). Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. Retrieved from https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/, on August 28, 2009. Amazon, (2009). Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. Retrieved from https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/, on August 28, 2009. Cloud Computing and its Security in Higher Education (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255618308_Cloud_Computing_and_its_Security_in_Higher_Education [accessed Apr 24, 2017]. Velte, A.T., Velte, T.J., Elsenpeter, R.C. and Elsenpeter, R.C., 2010.Cloud computing: a practical approach(pp. 1-55). New York: McGraw-Hill. Sosinsky, B., 2010.Cloud computing bible(Vol. 762). John Wiley Sons. Rittinghouse, J.W. and Ransome, J.F., 2016.Cloud computing: implementation, management, and security. CRC press. Sotto, L.J., Treacy, B.C. and McLellan, M.L., 2010. Privacy and Data Security Risks in Cloud Computing.World Communications Regulation Report,5(2), p.38. Chaczko, Z., Mahadevan, V., Aslanzadeh, S. and Mcdermid, C., 2011, September. Availability and load balancing in cloud computing. InInternational Conference on Computer and Software Modeling, Singapore(Vol. 14). Antonopoulos, N. and Gillam, L. eds., 2010.Cloud computing: Principles, systems and applications. Springer Science Business Media. oss, V.W., 2010.Factors influencing the adoption of cloud computing by decision making managers. Capella University. azure.microsoft, 2017, What is cloud computing, Assessed on 35th April 2017, https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/overview/what-is-cloud-computing/. searchcloudcomputing.techtarget, 2017, Cloud computing, Assessed on 35th April 2017, https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/cloud-computing. Griffith, E, 2016, what is cloud computing, Assessed on 25th April 2017, https://in.pcmag.com/networking-communications-software/38970/feature/what-is-cloud-computing. bigdata-madesimple, 2017, 5 advantages and disadvantages of cloud storage, Assessed on 25th April 2017, https://bigdata-madesimple.com/5-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cloud-storage, levelcloud, 2017, Advantages and disdvantages of cloud computing, Assessed on 25th April 2017, https://www.levelcloud.net/why-levelcloud/cloud-education-center/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cloud-computing. Vishwanathan, P, 2017, Cloud computing and is it really all that beneficial, Assessed on 25th April 2017, https://www.lifewire.com/cloud-computing-explained-2373125. stratospherenetworks , 2017, Advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing, Assessed on 25th April 2017, https://www.stratospherenetworks.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cloud.html.

Fiscal Policy Definition

The macroeconomic policy is usually seen as having two components namely the fiscal policy and the monetary policy. Fiscal policy portrays the process of government funding, and the activities that are funded, including compiling a government budget.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Fiscal Policy Definition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to uphold fiscal policy, the population as well as the individuals who purchase government debt instruments need to see it as predictable and capable of continuing with its debt payments. When government revenue sources are able to accommodate its expenses in terms of government programs, then the fiscal policy is observed to be prudent. The rationality of a fiscal policy is also observed when the government informs the population of its budget and the concept behind coming up with that kind of a budget, which is a regular process due to the auditing of government finan cial statements. The association between fiscal policy and monetary policy is that a nation’s currency would lose its value if its fiscal policy was observed to be unsustainable (Barro and Redlick 2009). According to Keynesian economists, unemployment can be easily managed by governments using fiscal policy, in that it can increase the demand in the economy. Employment is observed to be a product of the demand created in the economy due to private economic activity. When this does not create adequate opportunities, fiscal policy can increase the demand by stimulating economic activity, leading to increases employment opportunities. According to Keynes, fiscal policy is a strategy used to involve the government in dynamic organization of the economy. Keynes observed the need for the government to take an active role due to the prolonged cases of unemployment during the Great Depression. This respected economist came up with the idea that the government should create job opport unities without having to rely on the private sector (Keynes 2010). An active fiscal policy helps to stimulate an upward cycle of economic activity. This is made possible by the government’s use of taxing and spending policy. Ideally, the private sector invests in productive assets in order to maximize its output, which leads to a higher demand for labour, therefore creating employment. The stimulus generated from active fiscal policy is referred to as fiscal stimulus. Through fiscal stimulus, the government spends more, which results in higher income for private individuals. As a result, these individuals spend more through consumption, which increases the demand for commodities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Higher demand for commodities implies the need for increased supply, which is possible by the increased company output. In order for companies to increase the ir output, they need to hire more people, who then begin spending based on their income. This generates a cycle, due to increased demand for commodities imposed by the new spenders, which translate to more output, and more labourers. This is the upward cycle of economic activity, referred to as demand management (Ilzetzki 2010). Fiscal stimulus is made possible through deficit spending. This is because the government expenditure is higher than its revenue. Government fiscal policies are based on the methods used by governments to formulate fiscal stimulus based on deficit spending, which creates government programs. According to Ilzetzki, there are several methods of creating deficit spending (Ilzetzki, Mendoza and Và ©gh 2010). â€Å"Increased government spending with taxes remaining unchanged, reduced taxes with unchanged government spending, and the combination of reduced taxes and increased government spending.† The first instance of deficit spending was observed in 1938 , when the federal government budget increased by about 6% from the previous year (Ilzetzki, Mendoza and Và ©gh 2010). The fiscal stimulus is meant to produce a temporary improvement in economic activity that leads to commencement of the upward cycle. Deficit spending is observed to work in theory but not practically. The fiscal stimulus has been observed to increase government spending, which in turn creates employment, but the spending does not decrease once its purpose is attained. This is because the extra spending by the government is used to start programs for particular groups, and the government cannot withdraw from such programs, or reduce its funding. Economists have observed that the private sector is in a better place to create long term productivity. This is because unlike the government, the private sector operates on a profit incentive. Deficit spending is observed to be increase the government debt, and this demands the resources in the community to be redirected fr om the private sector in order to pay the debt (Fatà ¡s and Mihov 2001).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Fiscal Policy Definition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The ‘Golden Rule’ of fiscal policy was adopted by the Labour Party when Gordon Brown was Chancellor. This rule states that: â€Å"The government should borrow to invest only for future needs, over the full economic cycle. The tax revenues should be used to meet current needs in order to allow for stable finances as defined by ratios of public sector net worth, debt and current expenditure to national income (Ilzetzki 2010).† At the same time, the UK government intended to abide to the sustainable investment rule. This was aimed at maintaining the national debt at a rational level. In the year 2008 the public debt had risen from 40$ to 42% of GDP, and was expected to increase to 70% by 2010. The coordination between the UK monetary and fiscal policy was examined for the presence of any issues, resulting from the formation of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Creation of the OBR was advantageous in that it increased the confidence levels of the economic forecasts on which fiscal policy was based by not being affected by political expediency (Ilzetzki 2010). The possible effects of fiscal policy on the economy were the increased debt and deficits due to long-term interest rates, requiring consolidation for growth based on lower long-term interest rates and decreased demand due to contraction. A contraction was expected to cause depreciation in exchange rates, and an increase in external demand, but this effect would be decreased by the simultaneous reduction in demand by trading partners of the UK. Optimal design of the fiscal policy demanded that the taxes be stable to reduce costs on the private sector. It was also necessary that the government corrects the shocks to debt, in order to contain its mag nitude. The other factor influencing the optimal fiscal policy was the worry that he lack of action in reducing government debt would lead to reduced private investment. The policy also found it prudent to share the risk in various generations, whereby the effects of a war or crisis would not be imposed on a single generation (Barro and Redlick 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Mundell-Flemming model illustrates an increase in exchange rates due to fiscal stimulus, in nations where the exchange rates are flexible. This is seen to balance the effect of the fiscal stimulus, as it leads to reduced exports and more imports. In order for the central banks to ensure stable exchange rates, they decrease the interest rates as a result of increased government consumption after a fiscal stimulus. Central banks aimed at increasing inflation tend to raise the interest rates in order to oppose the stress caused by inflation due to fiscal expansion. This counteracts the stimulative effect of fiscal policy, hence nullifying the fiscal stimulus. The effects of fiscal stimulus are dependent on the association between fiscal policy and monetary policy. The response of the Bank of England in evaluating the possible outcomes of the economy resulting from the stern measures implemented by the UK government is an example of this. The response of the bank would take an appro ach that is similar to that of most central banks if it contains the economic costs using loose monetary policy, though it is unlikely to react in such a manner due to the banks rates and unusual programme of purchase of assets (Barro and Redlick 2009). Delays have been observed in the implementation of public policy, in demand management using fiscal policy. The fiscal stimulus is most effectively implemented when the economy is performing poorly. From studies conducted on the processes of deficit spending, increased economic growth and employment has been followed by decreased economic growth and unemployment. This is because it is not easy to predict the best time to implement a fiscal stimulus, which is at the exact moment of the economic downturn. This is because the government requires time to compile a budget proposal that suggests the stimulus. The budget then has to be approved by the legislative body. The government then needs to spend, and wait for the effect to raise the demand, according to the economic cycle. These lags in public policy are problematic for the effective management of the economy, by the government, using fiscal policy (Fatà ¡s and Mihov 2001). It is possible for the government and the private sector to compete for the scarce economic resources simultaneously, when the government spends on one of its programs while the private sector increases its economic resources. This makes the fiscal stimulus spending counterproductive, and capable of making the situation worse, due to the usage of the scarce resources during the crisis. The budget cycles of all governments use fiscal policy, though its use as demand management raises issues that result in debate in economics (Fatà ¡s and Mihov 2001). Reference List Barro, Robert, J and Charles, J. Redlick, 2009. â€Å"Macroeconomic e ¤ects from government purchases and taxes.† NBER Working Papers No. 15369. Fatà ¡s, Antonio and Ilian Mihov, 2001. â€Å"The effects of fiscal poli cy on consumption and employment: Theory and evidence.† CEPR Discussion Papers 2760. Ilzetzki, Ethan, 2010. Does Fiscal Policy Work? London: CentrePiece Autumn. Ilzetzki, Ethan, Enrique G. Mendoza and Carlos A. Và ©gh, 2010. â€Å"How Big (Small?) are Fiscal Multipliers?† NBER Working Paper No. 16479, pp 1-23. Keynes, John Maynard, 2010. The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, 1936. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing. This essay on Fiscal Policy Definition was written and submitted by user Jerry I. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How MS-DOS Put Microsoft on the Map

How MS-DOS Put Microsoft on the Map On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its new revolution in a box, the Personal Computer complete with a brand new operating system from Microsoft, a 16-bit computer operating system called MS-DOS 1.0. What Is an Operating System? The operating system orOS is the foundation software of a computer and schedules tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the user between applications. The facilities an operating system provides and its general design exerts an extremely strong influence on the applications created for the computer. IBM and Microsoft's History In 1980, IBM first approached Bill Gates of Microsoft, to discuss the state of home computers and what Microsoft products could do for IBM. Gates gave IBM a few ideas on what would make a great home computer, among them to have Basic written into the ROM chip. Microsoft had already produced several versions of Basic for different computer system beginning with the Altair, so Gates was more than happy to write a version for IBM. Gary Kildall As for an operating system (OS) for an IBM computer, since Microsoft had never written an operating system before, Gates had suggested that IBM investigate an OS called CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers), written by Gary Kildall of Digital Research. Kindall had his Ph.D. in computers and had written the most successful operating system of the time, selling over 600,000 copies of CP/M, his operating system set the standard at that time. The Secret Birth of MS-DOS IBM tried to contact Gary Kildall for a meeting, executives met with Mrs. Kildall who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement. IBM soon returned to Bill Gates and gave Microsoft the contract to write a new operating system, one that would eventually wipe Gary Kildalls CP/M out of common use. The Microsoft Disk Operating System or MS-DOS was based on Microsofts purchase of QDOS, the Quick and Dirty Operating System written by Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer Products, for their prototype Intel 8086 based computer. However, ironically QDOS was based (or copied from as some historians feel) on Gary Kildalls CP/M. Tim Paterson had bought a CP/M manual and used it as the basis to write his operating system in six weeks. QDOS was different enough from CP/M to be considered legally a different product. IBM had deep enough pockets, in any case, to probably have won an infringement case if they had needed to protect their product. Microsoft bought the rights to QDOS for $50,000, keeping the IBM Microsoft deal a secret from Tim Paterson and his company, Seattle Computer Products. Deal of the Century Bill Gates then talked IBM into letting Microsoft retain the rights, to market MS-DOS separate from the IBM PC project, Gates and Microsoft proceeded to make a fortune from the licensing of MS-DOS. In 1981, Tim Paterson quit Seattle Computer Products and found employment at Microsoft. Life begins with a disk drive. - Tim Paterson

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 15

Research Paper Example This is born out by the tremendous gains that Roman civilization made during his reign, even though much of it came on the heels of a dictatorial style of leadership (Barret, p. 608). This paper will demonstrate the historical relevancy of Julius Caesar, his accomplishments, and the lessons to be learned from ancient civilization and culture. Even from an early age, Caesar was extreme popular within Rome. In addition, he developed a political acumen that would serve him well for his entire career, and garner the support he needed to push Rome into a new era of modernity for the time. One of his primary contributions to the growth of the Roman Empire rests in his ability to expand the regions that Rome had influence over, in addition to establishing more of an imperial type of system. These concepts would serve as the model for territorial expansion throughout much of the world for much of the next millennium. It is important to note that Caesar was not always a person of privilege. While he was born into a family of aristocrats from Rome, history tells us that his family was of relatively minimal means. The father of Julius Caesar actually died when Caesar was only 16 years old, and he remained very close to his mother. As a result of his relatively poor upbringing, however, Cesar spent much of his youth in unstable surroundings. He would remark later in life that even Rome contributed his own sense of instability, as the country was truly is a relative state of constant disorder, even though it was already of enormous stature within the region. Roman had begun to discredit their own nobility, and they were not focused enough on territorial expansion to truly be able to deal with it enormous size and influence throughout the ancient world. In essence, this reveals a truth that we realize even today. The larger a country grows, the more organization and focus is required to drive future

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Reflection - Essay Example The people around us in the society play a big role in making us realize who we are and the potential that we carry, and ignite fire to conquer all odds of life in our spirits, and become what we want to be in life. This indicates how environment contributes in learning a language. This creates some emptiness and the hunger that can only be fulfilled through self satisfaction of success. This can be achieved when learners have the ability to connect their reading with their real life situations. I agree that learning a language does not take place automatically, but it can only be achieved through careful planning and design. It is a process that starts from home and continues to school. Therefore, indicates that instructors should not depend on the aspect of telling learners that it is time to reflect for them to grow and embrace this skill, but proper strategies and purposeful aims should be set to guide learners on this process (Welch 1999.) When instructors are designing teaching approaches, they should be able to identify the intended purpose and be able to realize how they will be achieved even before they manifest and happen. Such approaches will promote a smooth transition from oral to printed languages. There is a laid down procedure to enable learners develop their own learning that may be independent from those of their instructor (*). Positive environments enhance social interaction among learners who are able to share their ideas that see them acquiring more information from each other. This encourages group teaching, which promotes confidence and talking among peers. When learners share ideas it enables them to develop a deeper thinking more than learning on individual levels. (*) This confidence helps learners to develop a mastery content of the language. Students who have a good command of a language have the ability to express their opinions and feelings correctly. I agree that reading brings experiences stimulated by the author to the reader. However, the learner should get the meaning of the words he is reading. Discussion of pictures during reading activities enables the learner to understand what he is going to read. . After several trials, the mind will eventually come up with remedies that can be applied to handle the issue, which means the mind has broadened through challenges. Learning has become dynamic, and it calls for instructors to search deeper than they were doing in the past. They should develop ways that are relevant to the current curriculum system, and which have a communicable language that the audience can understand. This is because language is the medium of instruction that instructors depend on to pass information. Unit 2 Reflection Reading programs give meaning to an individual basing on his motives and intentions, but these intentions do not come from an individual alone since the leaner acquires some values when one interacts with others through relationships. This indicates that metacognitive a spects enable learners to grow socially through their sharing of ideas in groups that enhances cooperation among them. Therefore, some programs emphasize the power to influence and propagate relationships among learners, the community and the nation at large. However, it is my opinion that teachers should assess the value of any reading program before applying it. This suggests that instructors should show how they plan to

A Helpful Hybrid in Search of Integrity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Helpful Hybrid in Search of Integrity - Essay Example Also, there is an abstract, a â€Å"descriptive summary,† at the beginning of this article that has an overall â€Å"sober look† – characteristics that define a scholarly work (ibid., 2011). There is proper in-text referencing and also a comprehensive bibliography at the end of this article, which again is an indication that this is a scholarly resource (ibid., 2011). In the first page itself, there is a description about â€Å"the affiliations† of the author, which suggests that this article is written by a scholar â€Å"who has done research in the field (ibid., 2011). The language of the article is also highly specific to the area of research, which demands certain level of background information from the reader so as to understand it properly. This is yet another indication of it being a scholarly resource. In the review of the previous literature section, this article has reported original past works in the field and has also carried out certain orig inal analysis of the topic. The article published by The Economist (2011) and titled â€Å"Business: The View from the Top, And Bottom; Corporate Culture,† is not a scholarly resource and the source it was published in can be described only as a â€Å"substantive news and general interest† periodical as is classified by the Cornell University website (ibid., 2011). This article is classified so owing to many reasons, they being: 1) there is no abstract; 2) this article is not peer-reviewed; 3) it is not published by any academic publisher; 4) it has no proper referencing and citation; 5) it is not written by a scholar having done background studies on the topic; 6) it is not the outcome of any original research but is only quoting randomly from a recently done research study (ibid., 2011). There is not even an author to this article and it is evident that it is just a quick summary, in the form of news, of a research work carried out elsewhere. The language of this art icle is meant to address laymen rather than those who have some background information on the topic. The article titled â€Å"A Toy Maker’s Conscience† and authored by Jonathan Dee (2007) is not a scholarly resource either. It has been published in a â€Å"substantive news and general interest† periodical such as New York Times (ibid., 2011). A journalist employed by the periodical has written the article and there is no information given on what past research experience on the topic the author has. The very format of this essay does not comply with research writing as there is no abstract given, and there is neither citation of past research work on the topic nor original experimentation or analysis carried out on the topic apart from some personal observations and comments. This article is not peer-reviewed (â€Å"Evaluating Sources,† 2009). The language of the article is meant for light reading and there is nothing serious or scholarly about this artic le. The interview taken and included in this article does not follow the research interview format and the analysis and conclusions made form these interviews do not follow any research methodology. The photograph and advertisements included in the designing of the page in which the article is displayed also suggest that this is not a scholarly resource (â€Å"Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals,† 2011). The article entitled â€Å"75 Years of Lessons Learned: Chief Executive Officer Values and Corporate Social Responsibility† and authored by Carol-Ann Tetrault Sirsly (2009), which was published in the Journal of Management History, is a scholarly resource because it is peer-reviewed (ibid., 2011). The Journal of Management History, in which it is published, is a peer-reviewed journal and is listed

Complex Narrative Structure Of Memento

Complex Narrative Structure Of Memento Due to the nature and complex narrative structure of Memento (Nolan 2000), one has to closely evaluate the succession of events before one could make the assumption that this film is a typical Hollywood mainstream motion picture. It is easy to assume that this film would in fact fit the criteria of the Hollywood mainstream motion picture, only upon looking at the cast and A-List director- Christopher Nolan- who one could assume would use his usual cinematic style to ensure the success of this film. The complex introduction to the film already creates the anxiety-driven need to finish watching the film, due to the unusualness of the opening scene that distinguishes Memento (Nolan 2000) from other classical Hollywood films. Jean Baudrillard: brief biography Jean Baudrillard, the French sociologist, cultural critic, and theorist of post modernity were born in Reims on the 27th of July, 1929. Even though his parents were civil servants and his grandparents were peasant farmers, Jean Baudrillard was the first University graduate from his family. He later went on to teach sociology at University and was named one of the most intellectual figures of his time. Throughout his childhood, he was exposed to the Algerian war of the 1950s and 60s, which had a significant influence on the way he thinks and perceives society (Jean Baudrillard-Biography [sa]). After becoming an assistant at Nanterre University of Paris in 1966, he was quickly connected with Roland Barthes and used Bartheses analysis of culture in his first book, namely The Object System (1968). When the students of Nanterre University revolted in 1968, Baudrillard joined in the action, and through inspiration, assisted with a distinctive journal of the time, Utopie. This journal was clearly influenced by situationism, structural Marxism and various media theories wherein he issued numerous theoretical articles about/on the environment of capitalist prosperity (affluence) and the evaluation of technology. Baudrillard then went on to teach at the European Graduate School (EGS) from the day that the school opened to the day of his death on the 6th of March, 2007 (Jean Baudrillard-Biography [sa]). Marxism and (post-) Marxism: Marxist film theory The Marxist approach to the study of films centres (focuses) on the continuous ways that cinema ideologically allow and even betrays the devises that diminishes the middle-class (bourgeois) view of society and the world. These devises (mechanisms) of ideology comprise both the social organisations (institutions), as well as the industrial knowledge that vigorously function to create (produce) the middle-class culture which society consume daily. Several precise illustrations of such social and industrial organisations are: (1) the way labour is divided to ensure revenue (capital); (2) hierarchy (social order and class-structure); (3) industrial transformation of revenue of production; and (4) replacing services (commodities). Each (and all) of the mentioned devices (mechanisms) have been incorporated into (and informed) the film trade since it originated. In the sphere of cinema and film, these mechanisms shape the influential culture-producing section of societal apparatuses that Ma rxist film theorists calls the cinematic apparatus (Netto 2000:[sp]). Jean Baudrillards opinion of Marxism In his book, The consumer society (Baudrillard 1998:183), Baudrillard makes the conclusion and commends multiple forms of refusal of common ruling (convention), obvious notable and eye-catching utilisation (consumption), and conventional thinking and behaving, which can ultimately be merged (combined) into a practice of radical change (Baudrillard 1998:183). Baudrillard then goes on to describe a state (situation) where isolation (alienation) in its entirety cannot be improved on since it is the very structure of market society (Baudrillard 1998:190). Baudrillard argues that in a social order (culture), in which everything is seen as a product or service that can be purchased and put up for sale, that isolation (alienation) is total. Thus, isolation (alienation) is ever present in the social order where everything (from products to services) can be bought (Kellner 2007:[sp]). In the early 1970s, Baudrillard had an unsure (ambivalent) relationship with the theory of conventional Marxism in the since that he agreed with the Marxian analysis of the production of social commodities, which ultimately defined and critiqued the various notions of estrangement (alienation), dominant power, and exploitation that was shaped by capitalism. One could say that Baudrillards evaluation of these notions corresponds with the traditional (standard) neo- Marxian viewpoint which puts emphasis on the culpability of Capitalism and makes the assumption that Capitalism is homogenizing, domineering and ruled social class systems whilst depriving individuals of their liberty, originality and imagination, time, and potential (Kellner 2007:[sp]). In contradiction, Baudrillard could never emphasise any revolutionary forces and above all, didnt argue the circumstances and prospectives of the working class as a driving force for an altered (changed) social order of consumption. Thus, with no suggestion of the subject as a participating driving force of societal modification, Baudrillard pursued the structuralist and poststructuralist assessment of the truth-seeking (philosophical) and practical subject matter which was extensively governed in French deliberation. Practitioners of structuralism and post structuralism argued that bias (subjectivity) was shaped by verbal communication (language), societal establishments, and cultural appearances and wasnt sovereign of its creation in these establishments and preparations (Kellner 2007:[sp]). Classical film noir: Definition, Primary characteristics, conventions and historical surroundings The role of the male protagonist In (post-) Marxist noir films, the protagonist is frequently depicted as a single white male, who is usually psychologically troubled due to disloyalty or some form of loss of something in particular. The male protagonist is also usually emotionally crippled or psychologically injured. This summary of the post Marxist noir leading male is applicable to the post Marxist neo-noir picture Memento (Nolan 2000) (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). In Memento (Nolan 2000), Nolan presents the character of Leonard Shelby (Guy Pierce) who could be seen as a combination of the typical private investigator that thrives in noir and neo-noir films and the defective (flawed) insurance salesman of the noir crime picture. The result is a brain damaged insurance investigator. This character in itself is already a complex and interesting one, but Nolen makes Leonard even more complex by turning Leonard into a serial killer who is unaware of the driving forces that influences him to commit these crimes (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Further characteristics of classical film noir: mood, tone, visual and cinematic elements According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), that did a study on films dealing with memory, and made the conclusion that in Memento (Nolan 2000)- different from other films dealing with the memory genre- Leonards character (with some form of amnesia) maintains/retains his identity and puts emphasis on a number of strenuous daily problems regarding recollection related to mental disorders (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). After watching this film one could argue that the disjointed, mosaic-like quality of the succession of edited scenes in Memento (Nolan 2000) ingeniously simulates the perpetual present characteristics of memory loss related conditions. The film does not however merely represent mental/neurological illness, but furthermore supports the (post-) Marxian notion of the leading white male point of view. This notion is supported by purposely bringing in a cruel femme fatale character named Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss). Natalie makes use of Leonard by lying to him, whilst telling him that she is using him, since she is fully aware of Leonards condition and knows that his memory will fade. Yet again, Nolan does so to make a victim of the protagonist in order to distract the viewers from the plot by making use of empathetic relation to the character (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Neo noir films In the 1990s, spectators all through the world were presented with a newer and darker adaptation of noir, which was concealed within old methods, yet they were presented as fresh and sleek narratives in magnificent colour. One of the things that make 90s neo-noir different from previous recreations of film noir is the reoccurring focal point on mental illness and the dilemmas caused by psychological struggles. Within this new neo-noir, a white male middle-class outlook was reflected, articulating the fear of becoming the solitary objective in an innovative bold politically correct society. neo-noir also emphasised the increasing statistics of mental illness of the 90s in America (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Neo-noir films were made to retaliate against a variety of minorities occupied with complicated interior clashes that inhabits not only the minds of the characters, but also the mind of the filmmakers. Whereas this is a presumption as to why noir returned (resurfaced), it is evidently apparent that noir- exclusively composed of method (style) over matter (substance) was a new way of thinking in (post-) Marxist filmmaking. By entering the unknown territory of the inner workings of the mind (psyche), as supposed to the usual physical plane of existence that regularly surfaces in the narrative cinema, the matter (substance) was produced (formed) (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). In these types of films, making use of the psychological (mental) state whilst attacking unfit elements disrupting the social order, a new innovative way of filmmaking ensured an interesting and attention-grabbing combination (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). In 90s American cinema, audiences were extremely wrapped-up in paranoia. It was a time of confusion and society was faced with a civic (public) crisis when the need for truth, the status of information, and the determination of truth surfaced (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). It is ordinarily noticeable that postmodern, post-industrial, post- Marxist, and post- cold war social orders (society) shaped and produced an ongoing concern to what is real and how reality could be established and the authorization thereof. The continuing psychological (mental) focal point in/of 90s contemporary American cinema- mainly of neo-noir- revolves around the postmodern panic (fear) and uncertainty over truth and reality. The internet (made available to the public in the 1990s) not only brought an increasing stream of information, but made it more difficult for society to know what to trust and what not to trust. The 90s is known as the era where it was the fastest and easiest way of distribution of propaganda and misinformation, which added a spiralling effect of cynicism and disillusionment of a nation (Szyszka 2007:[sp] ). Strategy of the real The way in which text positions and/or fixes the viewer (consumer) is revealed first and foremost through a significant assessment surrounding the dominant (governing) structures of cinema, demonstrated by the Hollywood system (structure), and its utilization of narrative and realist forms (BaraÅ„ski and Short 1985:276). One could argue that the dominating shape of narrative used in mainstream cinema and Television creates a meticulous mode (way) of interpreting the world (dominant society): rather than focussing on the subject matter of the motion picture it is concerned with mysteries and anxiety that focuses on the attention of the audience to the method of narrative resolution, it demands and supplies endings which appear to present straightforward resolutions and conclusions to the struggles it has symbolized (represented), so that it gives a closed view of the world (modern society); attention (interest) is frequently concerned on a single protagonist rather than grou ps, and driving forces is understood in the psychosomatic rather than societal conditions (BaraÅ„ski and Short 1985:276). In the same way that it is impossible to rediscover a total (absolute) level of reality it is also impossible to stage a false impression (illusion) of what is real. The possibility of illusion is not possible anymore because the possibility of the real does no longer exist. for instance, should one fabricate (simulate) a break in at a local department store, it would be an interesting observation as to how one would be treated by the repressive state apparatus, as sopposed to what would happen to a person who organised a real brake in. A real brake in would ultimately disturb the natural order of things- individual property rights- whereas the simulation of a robbery ultimately obstructs the code of reality. Misbehaviour and aggression (committing a crime) are not as serious, because it simply challenges the natural (real) order and will be delt with. Simulation of the real is considerably more hazardous given that it constantly implies (suggests), in addition to its object, that re gulation (law) and instruct (order) in itself are merely simulations (Simulacra and Simulations 1988:[sp]). Nevertheless, after simulating a fake robbery, how would one convince the repressive state apparatus that it was merely a simulation of theft? One couldnt, for the reason that there is no objective distinction. Identical motions (gestures) and identical signs are apparent in a simulated robbery as it would in a real theft. As far as the dominant power (Ideological state apparatus and repressive state apparatus) is concerned, they (the gestures and signs) resemble those of a real robbery. After the fake robbery, one would- without knowing- find oneself instantly in the real (one of whose purpose is specifically and ideologically produced to consume all efforts of simulation) reducing everything to reality (Simulacra and Simulations 1988:[sp]). Socialist and radical practitioner have been using realism as a narrative structure, and although they have been criticised since they are significant to the realities they depict, have been presenting information of reality as trouble-free and doesnt properly give possible methods of altering (changing) the world. in addition, they present an uncomplicated truth regarding society. This is the innermost predicament of realism: that it presumes a representation which it considers as the truth, neither inquiring the course of representation nor inserting audiences into position from which they have to work to create an understanding of the text. The significance to the workings of Marxism and (post-) Marxism is that dominant cinema and TV are viewed as two of the positions through which dominant ideology is symbolized (represented) and accomplishes its effects. Narrative forms and realist forms are ideological, and their naturalness and obvious impartialities are conducts of disguising the fact that they create a meticulous vision of the world (BaraÅ„ski, Z.G Short, J.R 1985: 277). The revenge film By convincing the viewer that Leonards murderous ways are driven by vengeance (Leonard wants to avenge the rape and murder of his wife by hunting down the alleged murderer, John G) one could say that Nolan relies on the aspect of sympathy .i.e. to sympathise with a character to justify his/her actions (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Common characteristics Although the film humorously simulates the authorative power of the case-hardened private detective (private- eye) by giving Leonard a voice-over narration, his weakening state-of-mind (short-term memory loss) undermines/and challenges any assertion that Leonard is creating a continuous, consistent narrative- either about himself or about other characters. One could say that one of the main purposes of the confusing voice-over narrative is to include comical relief throughout the picture. This is applicable in the scene where Leonard is apparently chasing a man: Okay, what am I doing? Im chasing this guy. Nope. Hes chasing me. (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Memento (Nolan 2000), in addition to coming across as a series of fragmented scenes, is also edited so that the narrative plays out backwards. This becomes evidently clear as the protagonist (Leonard Shelby) vigorously lies to himself. One could make the assumption that Leonards condition not only makes the creation of self- trickery (dece ption) achievable but also possibly fatal (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Analysis of the narrative structure of Christopher Nolans Memento Memento (2000)is a film written and directed by Christopher Nolan (and adapted from the short story of his brother, Jonathan Nolan), revolves around memory. In the film, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pierce), is the protagonist who has lost the ability to/of forming new memories when he was violently assaulted during the rape and murder of his wife in their own home. Now suffering from short-term-memory-loss, Leonard is not able to remember, nor recognise people even after just having interaction with them (people such as the clerk of the hotel where Leonard is staying). Leonard does, however, recall everything that happened in the past preceding his accident. The plot revolves around Leonards condition (as he calls it) and the determination of avenging his wifes death(He has a clear recollection of the actual murder of his wife) (Clarke 2002:167). The combination of his condition and the yearning to avenge the death of his wife requires him to constantly refresh his memory, which he does by making and keeping loads of mysterious/ puzzling (cryptic) notes, by taking Polaroid pictures of everyone he meets (to remember them) and even going so far as to tattoo the facts that leads his investigative search, on his body. Even though Leonard has all these clues, his memory is constantly fading and he has to function in perpetual confusion when he meets people for the first time or when he finds himself at a different location. Thus, one could say that Leonard is constantly exposed to submission (he is easily persuaded or convinced). Leonards condition is so severe that he can instantly forget what he was doing or talking/thinking about. One could argue the hilarity (comical aspect) of this situation of memory loss throughout the film (Clarke 2002:167-168). One such an example is when Leonard is running but doesnt recall why he is running. As he looks around, he quickly becomes aware that someone is running parallel/next to him, when suddenly, one can hear Leonards thoughts. He is thinking: Okay, now, what am I doing? Oh, I must be chasing that guy (Clarke 2002:168). The comical aspect arises when Leonard changes his course and starts to run after the unknown male, when suddenly, the unknown male points his gun at Leonard and starts chasing him (forcing Leonard to change his direction again when the gun is fired) after almost shooting Leonard (Clarke 2002:168). Leonard is also constantly manipulated throughout the film, not only by his own mind, but also by the characters. Various characters (will be made clear later on) misleads Leonard due to his condition and manipulates him into doing their dirty work (Clarke 2002:168). Spectacle has always been the major field of entertainment, but in todays society that is mainly concerned with infotainment, spectacle and entertainment have come into the area of society, economy, politics, and existence in significant original customs. Building on the convention of manifestation, modern figures of entertainment stretching from Television to stage include spectacle society into their schemes, changing film, television, music, Drama and other areas of society, as well as creating original structures of society, such as cyberspace, multimedia, virtual reality and psycho-crime Drama (Kelner, D 2003:4). A plot summery Leonard Shelby had been struck in the back of the head by the rapist/murderer when trying to save his wife, which resulted Leonard to sustain severe mental and physical trauma and nearly destroyed the function of memory making entirely. After recovery, Leonard is now faced with the difficult role of functioning in society without any short-term memory reconciliation. Leonard is, however, able to function in society after learning to retain information through impulse (instinct) and repetition (replication) .i.e. conditioning. He does so by taking Polaroid pictures and writing short notes (information) on them, thus, using the pictures to simulate short-term memory. This simulation evolves further, one could say, due to the fact that Leonard tattoos the fact of his investigation onto his person (like a bodily map of facts and clues). In a classical (post-)Marxist noir-ish style of filmmaking, Leonard is surrounded by characters who exploit his misfortune by helping (assisting) him, mi sleading him, and/or achieving a little of both (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). The narrative structure In the film Memento (Nolan 2000) which could be perceived as a (post-) Marxist film- it is evidently clear that the film relies on gimmick ( a devise used to grab attention). The fact that one has been hailed (interpolated) into a chain of lies can be terrifying upon watching this film, however, what is more terrifying is that the lies were created by ones own need to fabricate a real narrative (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Just before the ending of Memento (Nolan 2000), Nolan actively places the viewer into Leonard shoes in the scene where Teddy tells Leonard the truth about the death of his wife, creating final confusion to ensure that the viewer partakes in the movie. Nolan does so by actively ensuring that the viewer takes on the role of detective (just like the role of Leonard Shelby) by trying to make sense of (decipher) the narrative truth. This however posts the question: Does one believe the character of Leonard Shelby who constantly confesses to his unreliability? Or does one believe the character of Teddy who discloses that he had been lying to Leonard and that he, himself, is also named John G Gammell? (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). In order to answer this question one has to closely evaluate various scenes from the film. One of the scenes that stands out meticulously (by using flashbacks) is the scene just before the climax of the movie where Teddy informs Leonard that Sammy Jenkins (a man described by Leonard when he talks about his job where he had to investigate an insurance claim made by the wife of Sammy Jenkins) did in actuality, not exist. The viewer is presented with a sequence of flashbacks that changes momentarily which furthermore contributes to the constant confusion of who and what to believe. One thing is certain though, given that the viewer is restricted to Leonards point of view (perspective), that when Leonard makes the subtle realisation (the flashback where he injects his wife with insulin) and squats down to the floor while convincing himself that his wife didnt have diabetes that Sammy Jenkins is in fact just a fabrication in Leonards mind, thus, showing that Teddy tells a version of the t ruth (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). Another scene that convinces one that Leonard is the one lying to himself, is the scene where Leonard tells the story of Sammys wife not believing that Sammys condition is real. She then goes on testing Sammy- according to Leonard- by telling him (Sammy) that it was time for her to be injected with insulin. After Sammy had injected his wife with the medicine she is still convinced that her husband is lying, so she turn back her wristwatch by 15 minutes and tells him that it was time for her to be injected with insulin (she was diabetic and relied on him to inject her even though he suffered from short-term memory loss). After repeating this process yet again Sammys wife overdoses on insulin and dies. Sammy was then placed into a mental asylum and in the final seconds of the black-and-white scene, just before it ends as the camera is closing up on Sammy a nurse walks past the camera-obstructing the view of Sammy- and for a brief second the shot is edited so that one sees Leonard sitti ng in the same chair as where Sammy sat, thus, emphasising that Leonard was in fact the one who was lying to himself through conditioning his mind and ultimately fabricated the story of Sammy Jenkins (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). One could say that in this particular scene, that Leonards memory of Sammy Jenkins is a simulation of himself in order to detach from the traumatic loss of his wife whom was raped and murdered before his very eyes. Here, the (post-) Marxist notion of neo-realism hits the most confusing plane of paranoia by making use of a protagonist who will never be able to believe himself and must constantly remind himself of where he is by leaving himself a postmodern network of clues to function in society (Szyszka 2007:[sp]). unified social reality In cinema, spectacle is presented as all of society, forming a part of the social order and as an instrument of unifying the general public, all at the same time (simultaneously). The spectacle is not a compilation of imagery, but rather a way for people to relate to one another socially, by mediation of imagery. An immense variety of obvious phenomena is explained and unified by the notion of spectacle. Measured in its own conditions, the spectacle confirms how everything should look (appearance) and confirms the nature of humanity (how humans should live), i.e. social life, as mere appearance. However, further analysis of the truth of the spectacle depicts it as noticeable contradictions of life, since spectacle is no longer about visual aesthetic and enriched text, but rather about mainstream cinematic ideology and revenue (Debord 1967:[sp]). Conclusion The master/slave dialectic is the story of the actualisation of a unified social reality. It is also an extension of the story of how the identity of the self is constituted in and through another. It is the story of desire (Diprose 1994:46). Even though the above mentioned excerpt speaks of the female form in modern day society, one could argue that just like the master/slave dialectic, that Leonard represents the slave and everyone else that is using and deceiving him- even his mental condition- are the masters. One could make this conclusion since Leonard is the one being used and mislead (just like the typical female character is usually exploited) without his knowledge. He thus creates, within himself, the longing (desire) to avenge his wifes death. One could thus conclude, that due to the fact that one is presented with a male protagonist, driven by loss and vengeance, in order to find closure and move on with his life, that Memento (Nolan 2000) does represent some form of unified social reality .i.e. the need to move forward. The fact that he never does move on with his life, almost contradicts the previous statement, except, the fact that Leonard is unable to realise this tragedy due to his mental trauma-paired wi th the fact that he is in actuality a serial killer- ensures the unified social reality (in accordance to the dominant power) that he gets what he deserves, an ongoing struggle of redemption. Sources consulted BaraÅ„ski, Z.G Short, J.R. 1985. Developing Contemporary Marxism. London: The Macmillan Press LTD. Baudrillard, J. 1998. The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures. Gateshead: Athenà ¦um Press Limited. Clarke, M. 2002. The Space-Time Image: the Case of Bergson, Deleuze, and Memento. The Journal of Speculative Philosophy 16(3): 167-168. Debord, G. 1967. Society of the Spectacle. [O]. Available: http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/debord/society.htm Accessed 5 October 2010 Diprose, R. 1994. The bodies of woman: ethics, embodiment, and sexual difference. London: Routledge. Hurd, R. 2003. Christopher Nolans Memento Analysis of the narrative structure of a noirish revenge film. Paper presented at the Seminar: Decadence and Modernism in Late 20th Century American Cinema, 23 February 2003, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Jean Baudrillard-Biography. [Sa]. [O]. Available: http://www.egs.edu/faculty/jean-baudrillard/biography/ Accessed 2 October 2010 Kelner, D. 2003. Media Spectacle. New York: Routledge Kellner, D. 2007. Jean Baudrillard. [O]. Available: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/baudrillard/ Accessed 1 October 2010 Netto, J.A. 2000. Marxist film theory. [O]. Available: http://www.nettonet.org/Nettonet/Film%20Program/theory/marx-theory.htm Accesed 2 October 2010 Simulacra and Simulations. 1988. [O]. Available: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/Baudrillard/Baudrillard_Simulacra.html Accessed 30 September 2010 Szyszka, E. 2007. Brain Damage: Neo Noir in the Nineties. [O]. Available: http://thecinephilenewyork.blogspot.com/2007/08/brain-damage-neo-noir-in nineties.html Accessed 3 October 2010

Tourettes Syndrome and the :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Tourette's Syndrome and the "I" Function Tourette's syndrome is characterized by a presentation of verbal and motor tics. The first descriptions of the syndrome, involving symptoms similar to Tourette's, were reported in the nineteenth century. For most of the twentieth century TS was thought to be a psychiatric disorder because of the ability the patients had to suppress their tics. In the past twenty years more biological factors have been introduced in the study of the syndrome, arising from the use of pharmacological treatment and the discovery of hereditary patterns of the disorder. In the diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome the concept of involuntary tics has become hard to define. Many patients experience a volitional aspect of the tics, "a capitulation to an internal urge for motor discharge accompanied by psychological tension and anxiety Patients who are afflicted with Tourette's syndrome can only describe their symptoms by using terms associated with the "I" function, the consciousness of self and relation to one's environment, and many of their symptoms are associated with or affect the function of their self. This can imply that what ever is causing the symptoms of Tourette's is subsequently affecting the part of the nervous system that controls the self and the "I" function. Most of the studies done on the neuropathology of Tourette's syndrome (TS) have been focus on the basal ganglia, a group of nuclei located mostly in the diencephelon of the brain, a region beneath the cortex. This area has been classically associated with involuntary movement and tic disorders such as Parkinson and Huntington's disease. The neural circuits formed by the basal ganglia and the thalamus are critical for normal function and hypothesized to be required for the planning of movement ranging from simple to complex. Though what these pathways actually do is still very vague the basal ganglia has been found, in normal circumstances, to exert an inhibitory influence on the thalamus. Disruption of this inhibition could correspond with TS in which the making of uncontrolled and unplanned movements are involve. There is evidence that patients with Tourette's syndrome have some structural abnormalities in the region of the basal ganglia, mainly TS patients showed a comparative size reduction in the basal ganglia. There are various different behaviors through which Tourette's syndrome presents itself. The diagnostic categories of TS depend on the presence of tics, alone, although patients with Tourette may have mental or behavioral disorders, which over shadow the severity or impairment on normal function of the tics.

How & Why the Crusades Were Successful and Failures Essay

The Hundred Years’ War, was a conflict between England and France, was not actually a single war that lasted a hundred years; instead it was a series of wars interspersed with periods of peace that began in May 1337 and ended in October 1453. The three main conflicts were the Edwardian War won by English king Edward III; the Caroline War won by French king Charles V; and the Lancastrian War won by French king Charles VII. The Hundred Years’ War was the outcome of disputes between the ruling families of the two countries, the Plantagenets in England and the Capetians in France. Since 1066 the English had controlled rich agricultural areas of France, and the two countries had often fought over these territories. In the 1300s marriages between English and French nobles meant that both English and French kings had a claim to the French throne. During the Edwardian War the English took control of large areas of southwestern France and the northern coastal city of Calais. Although England was smaller than France, it was able to muster a large army. Equipped with longbows and arrows that could pierce French armor, the English defeated the French cavalry. During the Caroline War, the French regained much of the territory lost during the Edwardian War. This success was due to able military leaders and the development of a full-time, professional army and a taxation system to support it. During the Lancastrian War, the English allied with Philip the Good, duke of Bourgogne to conquer most of northern and western France. The tide changed, however, when Philip changed his alliance to the French. It was during the Lancastrian War that the heroic efforts of Joan of Arc, who fought the English, allowed uncrowned French king Charles VII to be officially crowned. The use of newly invented cannons also significantly aided the French war effort. Although the English maintained control of Calais until 1558, they were never again a serious threat to French sovereignty rule. One of the central causes of the Hundred Years War centered on the relationship between the Kings of France and England regarding the duchy of Aquitaine located in Southwestern France. In 1259, the Treaty of Paris designated that Henry III held the duchy as a fief of the French king. As a vassal to the King of France Henry was required to pay liege homage to the king. This meant that the King of England was required to do homage whenever the kingship of either England or France changed hands. However, Henry was the King of England. Control over the French throne further complicated matters. In 1328, Charles IV, King of France, died without a male heir. Edward III, the King of England, held claim to the throne via his mother who was Charles’ sister. The other important claimant was head of the Valois house (Philip VI) grandson of Philip III. Philip VI gained the throne and moved to confiscate Aquitaine in order to consolidate his power. Edward led a raid into French territory in 1338 to defend his claim and two years later declared himself the true king of France. Another cause of the Hundred Years’ War was economic conflict. The French monarchy tried to squeeze new taxes from towns in northern Europe which had grown wealthy as trade and cloth-making centers. Dependent as they were on English wool, these towns through their support behind English and Edward III. The hundreds year war was one by the French. The Hundred Years War was the last great medieval war. The Hundred Years’ War was a series of separate wars, battles, and political feuds lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne. The reason that the French ultimately won is because the English war effort in France was dependent upon their alliance with the Burgundians, but when the Burgundians tepidly switched allegiance to the King of France, it truly crippled the English war effort. As a result of the Hundred Years’ War, the French and English people, who had been ruled as one nation after the Norman Conquest, began to assume separate national identities. They also developed new military tactics. The wars, however, had been a serious drain on the populations of both countries, bringing about a decline in feudalism. France had been severely damaged during the fighting. This was partly caused by official armies conducting bloody raids designed to undermine the opposition ruler by killing civilians, burning buildings and crops and stealing whatever riches they could find. It was also frequently caused by routiers, brigands frequently soldiers serving no lord and just pillaging to survive and get richer. Areas became depleted, populations fled or were massacred, the economy was damaged and disrupted, and ever greater expenditure was sucked into the army, raising taxes. Historian Guy Blois called the effects of the 1430s and 1440s a ‘‘Hiroshima in Normandy’’. Of course, some people benefitted from the extra military expenditure. England, in contrast, had begun the war with more organised tax structures than France, and much greater accountability to a parliament, but royal revenues fell greatly over war, including the substantial losses incurred by losing wealthy French regions like Normandy and Aquitaine. However, for a while some Englishmen got very rich from the plunder taken from France, building houses and churches back in England.

Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Essays

Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Essays Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Paper Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Paper High levels of suspended particulate matter increase respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and asthma cases while gaseous emissions contribute towards global warming besides causing health hazards to the exposed population. The uncontrolled dust not only creates serious health hazard but also affects the productivity through poor visibility, breakdown of equipment, increased maintenance cost and ultimately deteriorates the ambient air quality in and around the mining site. The dust can also pollute nearby surface waters and Stunt crop growth by shading and logging the pores of the plants. Besides polluting the environment, the generation of dust means the loss of fines, which act as road surface binders. Problem with greenhouse gases, acid rain and ground level ozone The key environmental challenges facing the coal industry are related to both coal mining and the use of coal greenhouse gases, acid rain and ground level ozone, issues which can be local, regional and global in their impacts. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon which refers to the increase in the earths surface temperature due to the presence of certain gases in the atmosphere. There is concern that this natural phenomenon is being altered by a greater build up of gases caused by human activity. This is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect. The combustion of coal, like that of other fossil fuels, produces CO, a gas that is linked to global warming through the greenhouse effect. The combustion of coal produces gaseous emissions of sulfur dioxide (SIS) and nitrous oxides (Knox) that are responsible for the production of acid rain and ground level ozone. Acid rain occurs when SIS and Knox gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen and other Heimlich to form acidic compounds. Ground level ozone (03) is mainly responsible for smog that forms a brown haze over cities. Ground level ozone is formed when Knox gases react with other chemicals in the atmosphere and is enhanced by strong sunlight. Emissions of SIS and Knox are termed trans- boundary air pollution because the environmental impacts from the production of these gases are not restricted by geographical boundaries. II) Impact of Coal Mine Fires A number of coal mines in the country are affected by fires leading to steady destruction of precious energy resource. The reason for mine fires resalable involves the phenomenon of spontaneous heating through two interrelated processes biz. , the oxygen coal interaction or oxidative process and the thermal process. If remains uncontrolled, the fire could spread further through interconnected pathways and fissures in the strata. It is estimated that about 10% of total national coal resources are in the fire- affected areas. Mine fires give rise to several environmental problems besides safety hazards and economic losses. Apart from direct losses due to burning of coal, the other associated hazards encountered are: I) gas poisoning, ii) difficult ego- inning conditions, iii) sterilization of coal, iv) hindrance to production v) explosions, vi) damage to structure and adjacent properties, etc. (Ill) Impact of Mining on Water regime Disturbance to hydrological regime Mining and its associated activities not only uses a lot Of water but also affects the hydrological regime of the district and often affects the water quality. Large and deep opencast mines usually have great impact on the hydrological regime of the region. The major hydrological impact of a large and deep opencast mine, however, is on the ground water regime of the region. The eater seeping into the mine and collected in the mine sump is partly used up in the mine and the excess amount is discharged into the surface drainage system. The water used up in the mine for spraying on haul roads, conveyors, at loading and unloading points, bunkers etc. Are lost by evaporation. A deep mine is likely to have longer haul roads requiring more spraying water. The water used for green belts and plantation areas are also lost by Eva- transpiration.. Many areas of the country are faced with the problem Of over exploitation of ground water resources resulting in alarming lowering of eater table. Therefore a lot of care has to be taken in estimating the water need and the mines of future are likely to be subjected to a lot of constraints on water use and discharge. Acid Mine Drainage Acidic water results in severe water pollution problems. Acid Mine Drainage (MAD) refers to distinctive types of waste bodies that originate from the weathering and leaching of sulfide minerals present in coal and associated strata. Environmental effects of MAD include contamination of drinking water and disrupted growth and reproduction Of aquatic plants and animals. Effects f MAD related to water pollution include the killing of fish and loss of aquatic life and corrosion of mining equipments and structures such as barges, bridges and concrete materials. MAD is the most persistent pollution problems in mines of North Eastern Coalfield. Generally, water quality characteristics of acidic mine water reflect high acidity and high hardness along with high iron and sulfate contents. Various toxic trace/ heavy metals become soluble in acidic water and may be presenting significant to concentration levels depending upon their availability in the source material. Fortunately the considerable majority of coal mining areas are safe and only in a few localized areas problem of MAD exists. MAD cripples the economy of mines due to compliance of stringent environmental standards and involves huge cost burden in its management. IV) Impact of Mining on Land Irrespective of the type of mining used for extracting coal, mining invariably results in enormous land disturbance- e. G. Large scale excavation, removal of top soil, dumping of solid wastes, cutting of roads, creation of derelict land etc. The mining industry, in general, is reluctant to remanded overburden trial for economic reasons but in a few cases it has been planned to remanded the material to fill the voids created at the end of mining, and it is expected that the practice will become more widespread in future.

Free Essays on Modern Christianity

Now a day too many people are loosing their focus in life. We have heard that people are committing suicide everyday around in our community. In many of these occasions, religion has played a big role in saving many of these victims from the overwhelming pressures of our society. Religion has acted as a shelter that provides a peaceful environment and hope for guidance for these lost victims. Among that, becoming a Christian is what many have sought for. Two years ago, an eighteen years old high school friend of mine who is a typical American teenager lived in a perfect family of four had tried to commit suicide. It was astonishing when I found that he almost killed himself after he broke up with his girlfriend of six years. He simply thought that it was the end of the world when this had happened to him. He thought that his life would be no longer important and meaningful to this world. Luckily, at the very last moment of killing himself, his friend saved him. It happens that his friend knocked on the door of the bathroom at the right moment while he was trying to cut through his own wrist. After talking with this friend, who happened to be a Christian, he told him that there was a lot more in life that he should hold on to. He was then convinced that he could find what he had lost and would be able to realize how valuable a life is by becoming part of the big family, Christian, that is. He then became a born-again Christian ! in the following weekend. My friend although knew absolutely nothing about Christianity and he had never even read Bible, finally joined the big family. Another friend of mine who happened to be a really mature guy, living in his early 30^s had realized that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was being told that he would not live longer than 2 years. Before he got this disease, he used to be really energetic and hopeful for everything that he did. After realizing how much ... Free Essays on Modern Christianity Free Essays on Modern Christianity Now a day too many people are loosing their focus in life. We have heard that people are committing suicide everyday around in our community. In many of these occasions, religion has played a big role in saving many of these victims from the overwhelming pressures of our society. Religion has acted as a shelter that provides a peaceful environment and hope for guidance for these lost victims. Among that, becoming a Christian is what many have sought for. Two years ago, an eighteen years old high school friend of mine who is a typical American teenager lived in a perfect family of four had tried to commit suicide. It was astonishing when I found that he almost killed himself after he broke up with his girlfriend of six years. He simply thought that it was the end of the world when this had happened to him. He thought that his life would be no longer important and meaningful to this world. Luckily, at the very last moment of killing himself, his friend saved him. It happens that his friend knocked on the door of the bathroom at the right moment while he was trying to cut through his own wrist. After talking with this friend, who happened to be a Christian, he told him that there was a lot more in life that he should hold on to. He was then convinced that he could find what he had lost and would be able to realize how valuable a life is by becoming part of the big family, Christian, that is. He then became a born-again Christian ! in the following weekend. My friend although knew absolutely nothing about Christianity and he had never even read Bible, finally joined the big family. Another friend of mine who happened to be a really mature guy, living in his early 30^s had realized that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was being told that he would not live longer than 2 years. Before he got this disease, he used to be really energetic and hopeful for everything that he did. After realizing how much ...