Odysseus as an Epic Hero Essay

What is an epic legend? Homers’ â€Å"Odyssey† is about an epic legend named Odysseus and his journey home. â€Å"The Odyssey† starts after the Trojan war had left Odysseus caught, absurdly nautical for a long time subsequent to incensing Poseidon, the divine force of the ocean. He attempts frantically to get back to Ithaka and his significant other, Penelope, and infant child, Telemachus. Odysseus at that point has numerous difficulties whereupon he defeats through his knowledge and mind. Odysseus is an epic legend since he is shrewd, he tunes in to the god’s exhortation, and he is clever; ready to think and react quickly. With the assistance of the divine beings he can endure things most men couldn’t. To begin with, approaching the finish of the Epic, Odysseus keeps on utilizing his knowledge to conquer hindrances and difficulties. Upon one endeavor to get back, Odysseus must pass the island of the Sirens. He has his men plug their ears with beeswax yet not before he reveals to them his place in the arrangement: â€Å"Take me and tie me to the crosspiece most of the way up the pole; tie me as I stand upstanding, with a bond so quick that I can't in any way, shape or form split away, and lash the rope’s finishes to the pole itself. On the off chance that I ask and ask you to liberate me, at that point tie me all the more firmly still. Despite the fact that Odysseus surrenders to the shortcoming of the sirens’ tune, he can't escape from the obligations of the rope and his past knowledge spares him. When he shows up in Ithaca, Odysseus by and by utilizes his knowledge to beat his admirers and recover his domain. At the point when he first experiences the individuals of his territory, he astutely decides to stay mysterious, maintaining a strategic distance from a spontaneous battle or battle. Odysseus at that point uncovers himself to his child and barely any workers to design an assault on the admirers. At a challenge to find out on the off chance that anybody can string Odysseus’s bow, the legend designs his assault subsequent to hanging the bow and terminating on the admirers. His child and hirelings have different arms and they slaughter the whole gathering of admirers. This was one of Odysseus’s last demonstrations of splendor to finish up the epic. Moreover, there are numerous occasions all through the epic where Odysseus accepts the exhortation of the divine beings to defeat the deterrents he is confronted with. One of the primary occasions is when Odysseus experiences Aeolus, the divine force of winds. Numerous men would not confide in this god and not acknowledge his mystery loudmouth, trusting it would be a plague or something to that affect. Be that as it may, Odysseus acknowledges Aeolus’ pack of winds and treats him with accommodation. Another example where Odysseus acknowledges the gods’ direction is the point at which the legend tunes in to Hermes on the best way to beat Circe: â€Å"But Hermes met me, with his brilliant wand, notwithstanding the way-a kid whose lip was wool in the main sprout of humankind, so he appeared. He accepting my hand and talked just as he knew me. † By Hermes understanding, Odysseus eats the food that is given to him and persistently trusts that the perfect time will strike. Odysseus stifles Circe and powers her to liberate his men from the servitude of pig. Subsequent to living in extravagance with Circe for a year, he tunes in to her recommendation on the best way to come back to his country of Ithaca. At long last, one of the principal snags Odysseus vanquishes is the thrashing of the Cyclops. When caught in the cavern of the one-looked at beast, Odysseus must devise an arrangement and quick, the monster had taken to expending his men. This is the place Odysseus’ mind becomes possibly the most important factor. Cleverly, Odysseus gets the Cyclops alcoholic and permits him to fall into sleep. He at that point blinds the Cyclops with an intensely hot lance, knowing shrewdly enough that on the off chance that he murders the Cyclops they will be caught for eternity. Scanning for help, the monster opens the cavern. Prior, Odysseus says: â€Å"My name is Nobody: mother, father, and companions, everyone calls me Nobody. At the point when the blinded goliath is looking for help from his siblings, he broadcasts that, â€Å"Nobody† blinded him. Hence, Odysseus and his men escape with their lives by the methods for this hero’s mind.? All in all, through this insight and mind with guidance from the divine beings, Odysseus beats the entirety of his snags despite seemingly insurmountable opposition. Being a genuine legend, the Achaeans admire Odysseus as a good example with his knowledge, mind, and authentic understanding. It is a direct result of these three qualities that Odysseus is viewed as an epic legend and is never to be overlooked.

The Boston Tea Party Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Boston Tea Party - Research Paper Example The initial segment is a review of British colonization of America to show the connection between managed states and the decision Empire. The subsequent part sums up the connection among business and government in the settlements that prompted mishandles. The third part investigates the job that tax collection from tea, a common refreshment, played in the contentions between the Crown and its provinces. The fourth part quickly talks about the fights that prompted the Tea Party and the responses of the British colonizers. The last part shows the connection between the Boston Tea Party and American autonomy. The primary English pilgrims cruised to America in the mid seventeenth century, establishing the settlements of Virginia in 1607. Notwithstanding cruel states of atmosphere and rough obstruction from locals, English pioneers kept showing up in huge numbers: settling in Plymouth in 1620, Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire in 1629, Maryland in 1630, Rhode Island and Connecticut in 1636, New Haven in 1638, North and South Carolina in 1663, New York and New Jersey in 1664, Hudson Bay in 1670, and Pennsylvania in 1681. Provincial settlements were set up in Delaware in 1702, Georgia in 1732, and West Florida in 1763 (Innes 5-7). Every one of these states was built up either as a sanctioned organization province or an exclusive settlement, which separates the manner in which the state is dealt with, its relations with the British government or Crown, and how incomes from exchange and business all through the settlement is imparted to government. A sanctioned organization is overseen by business interests for benefit of the Crown, while government workers delegated by the Crown deal with a restrictive province. Most sanctioned organization provinces were not also overseen as restrictive states, so settlements, for example, Virginia, Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay were in the long run transformed into exclusive settlements, with the Crown selecting pilgrims from England as governors (Innes 11-13). America was a combination of rich and

When to Cut Ties With a Longtime Employee

When to Cut Ties With a Longtime Employee Whoever is at work in charge of a team, a department, or an entire company would probably tell you that its always better to have long-term trusting relationships with the people they lead, instead of changing the people they work with often.Although its ideal that you become close with the people you work with, unfortunately, sometimes, uncomfortable situations can be even harder because you guys became so close.This is why sometimes its a blessing in disguise when you dont get work with your colleagues.When you become close, the motivation for work gets higher, but also less strictness and authority is present.After a while, you as a boss, feel that your employee is not performing as he was, or that he doesnt fit the team anymore.Whether or not they are your friend, the person has been in the company a long time, and you know it will be hard to end it, but you need to find a way to cut ties.Well, in this article, we will cover:what ground is there to cut ties with someonehow to end your work relationship with an employee: over the phone or in personwhat to expect after you fire someonepieces of advice for you as a bossAlthough its true that rarely anyone finds easy firing someone, its also true that if there is ground to do it, its always better to do it.Were here to make this process as painless as possible and help you do this!Lets get on it!REASONS FOR CUTTING TIESYou know that time you worked on something with someone, and you didnt enjoy the atmosphere?You just didnt feel comfortable or nice? Surely, you remember at least one of those types of situations. Maybe it was:when you had homework in school which you needed to do in a teamwhen you applied for a hackathon or a case study with people you didnt know wellat your first jobat your current jobThere are a lot of toxic workplaces because people become unpleasant because of stress.It only takes one influential toxic person to spread the unpleasantness through the entire team or organization.Now, weve prep ared for you examples of behavior you as a boss should be on the lookout for.If you see some of these happen, consider your next course of action with that employee, because you might have to fire him/her later. 1.  The employees performance drops excessively.Are they late with delivering what is necessary to their clients? Are they having fewer meetings? Are their results getting worse? An employee is mainly judged by his/her performance. After all, they are there to get the job done.Underperforming is the least toxic behavior, but it can spread easily. If other people see one employee slacking and getting away with it, they might start to do it too.As a boss, you need to be strict with performance because your results depend on others work. Sometimes, underperformance happens because of external factors like the market has changed, or a new competitor appeared.Sometimes it can also be because of private reasons: a baby is on the way, or someone in their family has health issues.Ei ther way, openly talk about performance with the employee and make them know youre there to help with more educational training, or maybe with an altered job description with less work until they are back on their feet.2.  The employee is easily replaced.Sometimes, one of your workers cant get fired because they have a key position for getting the job done on time.This postpones cutting ties, so when you want to fire someone, consider how currently they are vital to the team.If their performance and/or behavior is bad, and the costs of time and money are low for their replacement, there isnt any need for you to worry how this move will affect the companys performance.It will probably be better than before anyway so you will know that you made the right decision.3.  The employee has two jobs.Nowadays its very popular for workers to have a side job.The hustle culture is getting stronger and more and more people to want to become entrepreneurs.Not to mention that a lot of people are g etting into freelancing waters, which can pay nicely.You might sense that your employee isnt fulfilled by his/her work and would like to switch to a different profession.Also, he/she is losing focus because of the other work, which is more interesting.Before cutting ties if this happens, check with them if theres anything you can do to make their current job better.Anyway, it might even be better for them and for you to let them focus on their side gig full time.4.  The employee gossips a lot.As a manager or a boss, its your job to make tough decisions.Those decisions are only made harder because you know not everybody is going to like them.You know those people who openly talk with everyone about how your decision was wrong and that they wouldve made a better one? If you do, then you know how frustrating it is to have them in your firm.People who gossip are tricky because they can be big influencers on your less-experienced employees.So, if you notice that there are gossips spreadi ng around, not only about you or your work but also about other people, be sure to find the source of those stories and confront them about it.5.  The employee isnt accountable.Some workers have a hard time owning up to their mistakes and being accountable.They often play the blame game by shifting the responsibility to their co-workers or subordinates if they are managers.But these people are not hesitant when it comes to accepting praise for the results which they accomplished with someone.Leading unaccountable people is not only unproductive because you never know if theyll do something that theyve promised to do, but also can lead to good employees quitting because they feel that theyre not treated accordingly.Accountability is one of the building blocks of a good performing team, so encourage others to talk with an accountable person as well.6.  The employee put himself/herself before the team.Having a person who puts their own results before the teams results is very hard to m anage.Departments which need to work together, like marketing and sales, need good synergy in order for the company to perform.Its always better to have good team players, so if you have great solo players work with them, so they become one great part of a team!7.  The employee acts like a dictator.If youre higher at the hierarchy in your company, the people who manage people are also your employees.As such, you should also pay attention to how they treat their people because the workers at the lowest level are the ones who are on the field and bringing the results.If your manager is power-hungry the people, he/she leads wont trust him/her.A working environment without trust will never accomplish anything good.When a manager delegates everything and doesnt listen to feedback, employees become unsatisfied, and then they start to work less and worse.So, if you notice that you have a dictator in your team, immediately talk to him/her about that.After all, it could be that theyre just n ot aware of their own bad behavior.HOW TO END IT?At some point, you might see that you and the employee had different visions for the company.They still work for you because of good conditions, or maybe they dont want to look for a new job, but you see that their performance is a mere fraction of what it used to be.You can let the employee know of your decision in a lot of ways:You can phone themYou can let them know in personPeople choose the first two options because theyre easier, of course.However easy it may seem to avoid eye contact for this conversation, we recommend that you do this in person.This move is more valued and respected. Also, if you guys have a friendship, doing this in person is the least you can do.The employee will also better understand you if you do this face-to-face.However, sometimes you really dont have time to do this in person, so we will also cover here on how to let someone go over the phone or via e-mail.1.  Cutting ties in person.i. Prepare to say w hich behaviors led to this.This is very important because your decision should be objective and not subjective.By making them know which exact behavior led to this, not only do you seem more objective, but the person will also know what to work on.Surely there are big reasons for firing them, so name all you can think of:being late for workmissing meetingsnot dressing properlyusing unwanted languagenot doing enough workdisrespecting colleagues etc.Think of it like this if you were fired, wouldnt you want to know why youre fired for, so you know not to make the same mistakes at your next job?Its always better to talk with your employee about these things as soon as they happen, so you know youve tried to fix them.This way your mind is easy because you know that your decision wasnt rash but that you tried and it didnt work out.ii. Have an open direct conversation.When you guys meet, dont wander around the topic. The sooner you talk about the elephant in the room, the better youll bot h feel. For example, you can begin the conversation like this:To be completely honest, Ive invited you to this meeting to talk to you about finding your way to other companies. Im sorry that it had to come to this.Ive thought about it a lot, and Im sure that this is the right thing to do. In the past period *now name the situations which led to this*.Be prepared for a bad dramatic reaction. Whatever their initial reaction is (its probably not going to be a good one), hear them out and try to comfort them professionally.You should remain calm and remember at all times why youre doing this, so you dont give them their job back because of empathy.Make sure that you let them know their time in this company is valued and that you are sure theyll find a new job soon.iii. A complete example.Hello, welcome. I arranged this meeting for us so I can tell you that, unfortunately, this is your last day with us. Ive thought about this a lot, and Ive decided that this is the best course of action for everyone. In the past period you did this, this and this (name the exact bad behavior which led to this) and weve tried to work on fixing these behaviors, am I right? So far, I havent seen progress in your work, which is why Im letting you go.I know that you might want to say a proper goodbye to some people here, you can do that today or tomorrow. These are workdays so you can reach out to them after work hours. I think that theyll appreciate it. I will let everyone know what happened once we are done with the meeting here.I have your final paycheck, which covers everything until today, and I also have a separation agreement for you. This agreement expires in X days, and if you sign it, we can give you $X. I understand that youll probably want to review it.Please collect your stuff from the desk today or tomorrow; we can help you with that.Do you have any questions?2.  Cutting ties over the phone.Although this is the worse option, its sometimes the only one.The employee might be a remote workerYou might be in another country, and this cant waitThey might be currently in another countryFirst, check if you can even do this legally. It might violate the contract, and you might get a lawsuit if that is the case. Once youve checked this, arrange the call and make sure to leave out a lot of time for the conversation.Book it in the time of day when you have time to talk; youre not expecting a short call. They will probably talk to you at least a little.Whether you fire someone over a phone or in person, expect questions concerning:severanceunemployment insurancedetails about termination of benefits etc.AFTERMATH OF CUTTING TIES WITH AN EMPLOYEEWhen you cut ties with a longtime employee expect to feel bad if its your first time doing it.You probably dont like to hurt someone as much as the next guy, so its completely normal that you feel bad.Dont worry; it will pass. Keep in mind that you did this for a reason.One of the most important things to remember to do whe n you cut ties with someone is to take away their access to classified information.They still might have access to their professional e-mails, and nothing is stopping them from sending out e-mails in the companys name.This is unlikely to happen, but know that if people overreact to this, there is no telling what they could do.So, take away their access to the companys:phone numberemailGoogle DriveCRMSocial media profiles etc.What you can also expect when you fire someone is to spend a lot of time making up for their leave.The search for another candidate may be a long one, and even after you find him/her, it will still take some time until they do the job well.When you take this into consideration, it is great to have a suited education cycle ready for the new employee, so they learn the job as fast as possible.Expect to hear people talking about this, especially people who are close to the employee who got fired. Try to understand them as much as you can.Think of how you would feel if your friend got fired from the same company you guys work in.But, if the rumors escalate to an unwanted level, confront openly the ones who are talking about it.PIECES OF ADVICESometimes, if the issues arent big enough for the person to leave the company entirely, consider demoting them or allocating them to a different project. This might be a better solution for both of you. Keep in mind that this person has been in the company for a long time and that his/her experience in it is still valuable to you.Make your final decision on whether you want to fire someone by answering the question What is best for the company?. Making the best call for the company is your job, and you know that the companys needs come first. If you determine that this employee is no longer bringing anything good to the company, or that someone will do everything better than them, then its time to let them go.The more you postpone this decision, the worse it will get. Your companys performance and culture will suffer more and more. Once you decide that its your final decision, execute on it immediately.If its your first-time practice this with someone, you trust. By simulating the conversation, you will prepare for the real one.Dont fire someone without warning. In this article, weve covered a lot of reasons for cutting ties with someone, but as weve mentioned, you should never react on the first impulse. When you notice something bad, immediately talk to the employee about it and be prepared to work it out. Resort to firing them only when youve already tried to work with them on their bad behavior and when youve warned them where their bad behavior leads.Keep the conversation from your side short and simple. Be prepared for the conversation to take time, but you should do the talking for only the necessary part. Let them know the decision is final; you dont want them to start negotiating with you.Try to end the meeting on a positive note. To help the employee try to give them a boo st. Mention what theyve done for the company and how much that was valued. Name their skills and propose jobs that would fit them. If its possible, offer to write them a recommendation letter for future job applying.If youre not close with the employee, consider having a third person present for the conversation. HRs are regularly present at these types of conversations and can be of help when you go through this. Not only are they there as a witness, but also to help with dealing with the employee.FINAL WORDOne of the points to take out from reading this would be to be careful of who we hire and how close we get to meet them.But you really cant predict anything. In different circumstances, you mightve had everything a great friend who you do great work with!Being careful about who you befriend at work isnt recommended. Rather, focus on good selection processes and give immediate feedback on bad work or behavior.You cant find a perfect employee, but you can make one with good commu nication and their willingness to work on their weaknesses.When youre in charge of people, sooner or later youre going to cut ties with someone. This isnt only a bad thing, but a good thing as well. Youre saving yourself from stress in the future, and that person will probably be happier somewhere else.You got this role because you are capable of doing it.This is just another part of the job description.Hopefully, in this article, you found how to do this as nice as possible. We got your back and believe that you can do this!

The Nuclear Weapons Of The World - 1059 Words

A majority of the science and technology breakthroughs of the 20th century improve mankind and advance society. From antibiotics and vaccines to the internet and the cell phone, engineers and scientist grind to enhance the quality of life not only of the United States but the world. However, in a planet inhabited by humans, power rears its tenacious head and disrupts the balance of good and evil and manipulates situations that cause havoc and do harm. Consequently, in an era where war exists in any country at any time, weapon of mass destruction spark discussions amongst the world’s leaders, the UN, foreign ambassadors, and the citizens. The most talked about weapon is the nuclear bomb. The use of the nuclear weapons happens to be a taboo†¦show more content†¦These two scientists, originally from Europe, felt that the United States needed to join the atomic bomb race, fearing that Hitler neared the finish line and would attempt world domination. Apparently, Roosevelt agreed because now we know of the â€Å"The Manhattan Project† that conducted the testing of the atomic bomb. The original Nazi threat settled but war with the Japanese raged which resulted in the attack against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The causalities astonished many people and the effects of bomb including sickness and burns saddened the hearts of the people in the United States (Nobelprize.org). Even Robert Oppenhiemer, who did extensive scientific research on the bomb stated, â€Å"I am become death, the shatterer of worlds.† This quote was pulled from a Verdic religious text and encompassed what everyone thought in the world in eight words. This war effort made by the U.S. occurred as a final resort to end the war but to many it was to solidify us as the ultimate superpower. Sadly, it backfired and the amount of countries with nuclear power increases as the years fade. Now, almost every country hosts their own nuclear weapons which raises concerns. The rapid develo pment of these weapons and what could occur if a country sensed the urge to attack with them looms and the United States appears to be a ginormous target.

“Ghetto Gospel” By Hugely Worshiped, King Of Rap, 2Pac

â€Å"Ghetto Gospel† by hugely worshiped, king of rap, 2Pac was released on January 21st 2005 as a part of his album â€Å"Loyal to the game.† The song features the wonderful Elton John, and was produced by the also extremely well respected rapper by the name of Eminem. The official music video was released to YouTube on the 5th of July, 2011 and follows the last day of a man’s life highlighting the decisions that he makes. The music video for â€Å"Ghetto Gospel† is a chronological breakdown of the day a father, a boyfriend, a son is shot down out in the streets. The video takes place in the middle of the ghetto in Los Angeles primarily around the Cross Road Church of God in Christ. â€Å"Ghetto Gospel† is broken down into seven major times†¦show more content†¦The biggest theme would be the separation of our society, and the want for cultural unity. 2Pac points a light at not only the separations between blacks and whites (which exist even today), but also the separation between blacks and blacks which has a major effect of their own communities. Just after separation the next theme would be how the older generation has been unable to help the new generation and may have even pushed them even further down. The decisions of the older generations have been detrimental to the growth of the new generations. Within this song 2Pac leaves his hopes for a better world, hoping that the next generation can fix the world before it is to late pleading, â€Å"I hope we see the light before its ruined† (1:21). â€Å"Ghetto Gospel† brings to light two major things about the state of our society, the first fault is the separation of our society as a whole, and the second would be how the older generations are failing the new generations. Separation has a huge negative effect on our society and prevents us from moving forward toward a greater future. The first form of separation addressed by 2Pac is the separations between black and whites, he addresses this with the lyric, â€Å"it ain’t about black and white cause we’re human† (1.20). All the way in back in 2005, 2Pac was spreading the word of unity between blacks and whites, but it seems that we have actually done the exact opposite. Things are separating us to even greater lengths and a perfect

Compare and contrast the attractions and facilities for visitors Free Essays

Weston-Super-Mare and Brean Leisure Park are two different tourist sites near each other. * Compare and contrast the attractions and facilities for visitors to these areas * What impact does tourism have on the surrounding area? * Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Weston-Super-Mare Brean Leisure Park Introduction This project is based around tourism, we have been asked to answer a question that is about tourism in the two areas near to each other. These two areas are Weston-Super-Mare seafront and Brean Leisure Park. We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and contrast the attractions and facilities for visitors or any similar topic only for you Order Now The question is first, to compare and contrast the attractions and facilities for visitors to these areas. Two, what impact does tourism have on the surrounding area? And three, do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? The first question is the main question, I think that it is asking me to find out which area is the best area for tourism, environmental issues, residential issues (what the locals think) and which area is the best to go to? The locations we are to investigate are; Weston Super Mare seafront and Brean Leisure Park, both of these locations are near each other on the south west coast of England, the areas we are covering are roughly the same size and are both roughly the same distance from any motorway or major road, this road is the M5 motorway. This will make the investigation slightly fairer between the two locations. Maps of the Region and Local Area The grid references for the two locations are: Weston-Super-Mare Seafront (Pier): 51à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½20`51.50†³N + 2à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½58`54.97†³W Brean Leisure Park (Main Entrance): 51à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½17`07.28†³N + 3à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½00`40.79†³W Main Cities The main cities near to the two locations are Bristol, Bath, Swindon and Southampton, big towns would include Bridgewater, Minehead, Clevedon, Street and maybe Frome. Major Transport Link The most major transport link that is closest to Weston and Brean is the M5 running south past Bristol, Weston, Brean and Lympsham. Most tourists would use this route to get to the two areas. Also the M4 is linked to the M5. This is our sphere of influence, the area in which our tourism and advertisement will be most beneficial and listened to. The background of tourism in Weston is an old record, the original reason that Weston became a tourist town goes back to Victorian times, this is when British beach holidays became really popular, and therefore it has been a tourist centre for years and is still on top as one of the best places to go for a British holiday. It has many attractions such as a high street for shopping, an arcade town for gaming and the grand pier for more gaming; this makes it very popular for people to come to have a good time, either over the weekend or for a week. There are brilliant amenities such as a hospital, toilets, bins, restaurants and accommodation. On the other hand Brean has different types of attractions and amenities such as a Leisure Park and the beach, the amenities are almost the same as Weston except the accommodation is set up as caravan parks instead of hotels, Weston has no caravans but it has many hotels lining the seafront which I think may turn out to be a major difference in how much and what type of tourism each location gets. Brean in general started as a natural area full of historical value. The national trust took ownership and protected the Down (The Main Headland) from any building, although others started building around it, it apparently started interest when people began to come to the site for holidays and then found out about the Neapolitan Fort (also used in World War 2) and also the fascinating history of the headland. Overall people get attracted to this general region not only because of the beaches, even though it’s the main popularity reason but also all around the area there are major shopping center’s, entertainment in Bristol and also surrounding Weston and Brean are the Mendip hills, perfect for a walking and camping holidays. How to cite Compare and contrast the attractions and facilities for visitors, Papers

Frost free essay sample

A freezing cold day began when I tried to open my eyes. My eyelashes were frosted together, my mascara adding pounds of weight. I could feel tiny icicles formed on the edges of my eyelids. They made my eyes feel so heavy, as heavy as my broken heart that kept sinking lower in my chest. I felt it pound in my chest, and was thankful for somehow it still beats. There were times before that Id wish it stop and freeze. Once it almost did I couldnt bear the burden. All my agonizing pain would cease, but I now know that isnt going to happen. Slowly the frost melts, it runs down my cheeks as if they were chilling tears. But I no longer can cry, my tears have been used up to make a lake upon my pillow. By weeping until I can weep no more is how I slip into sleep. We will write a custom essay sample on Frost or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I sit up slowly seeing colors dance at the edges of my vision and I know something is wrong. I know I will faint if I stand up. I wait. I sat for awhile ontop of my haggard bed breathing in ice, and seeing my breath run away with the bit of soul I had left. Carefully I stepped off the bed and it collapsed in a heap behind me. I sighed a sigh wishing the weight of my life had vanished. I was wistful for my old house, the one before it happened. The divorce that broke my heart and made me the way I am. I missed that house. This new one was completely ramshackle and it could blow over after the slightest breeze. They left each other because of me. Me I was the reason this horrible nightmare happened. The fought over me constantly. They left because of the chronic fighting that occured almost every day. They both said things and backed those things up by saying I want what is best for you. Which of course was what they said. How was I supposed to choose? I know it is nice that they love me, but they dont realize I love them the same. One of them always has to win. Someday. Maybe someday they will transcend their old way s. Because this Christmas we wont be together like everyone else in the world. The way we should be. I was on the outside looking in. I didnt understand how any of this could happen so fast. I had just met my new friend, she didnt really have anyone to go to. I remember the first time I met her dad. He was angry, angry at the world. I was having fun you know making purses and all that jazz. Of course siblings dont get along. My friends little sister wasnt very aware of a guest in the house. She would always follow us around, at first I thought it was cute but then she wasnt being nice to us. Finally my friends dad stopped her but you know who he yelled at? My friend. Right in front of me. It scared me how angry he was. I could reach out and grasp the tension floating in the air. I wished I could stop the swelling of the wound, but I wasnt a divorce doctor. I couldnt fix the emotions coursing around. I wanted to loose contol, and throw my two cents out into the solid air, but all it would do is make a loud clank in choas. I left straightly after that. I walked home freezing even whe n the sun was shining for the rest of the world. It changed me, illustrated the world and how cruel and solid it was. Stones were hard and some people had hearts of stone. Then I thought of the soft things in nature like spongy rainforest trees and clouds, the tobjects none of us can reach all the time. The fantasies that lie in the world, and above. Waves crash upon the stones or gently lap at our toes. How extreme the world was. I couldnt imagine having one suitcase to travel with no real home. Pack up everything and move on, be near different friends, different buses, meals, and atmospheres. Nine days living with my mom who I loved. Then four with my dad that I loved deep inside but who I believed was the antagonist. Because of his behavior towards me, I had choosen. Perhaps inside I already had a while ago. My mother was innocent in my eyes, and still today she is. I am not sure if my father and I have made up or if he knows I believe in my mother. One day I will get tired of this. One day Ill have to choose. Because they will make me, and maybe thats what they want. Which one is better. To be the favorite parent. Last year I felt like my mom was my choice, like mother like daughter. This year I am not so sure. I love them both. I love spending time with each, I do. Coming home to nothing upsets me, as I walk into my dads house, a hole opens up in my heart. My mom is there when I shout I am home. She has a snack ready or a hug for me. I miss the time when we were together. Now my best friend is acting. I love acting as much as I possibly can. It is in my blood. I am me, a crazy actress. I am uncertain, my life is insane. Im caught on a giant rollercoaster, and quite frankly I have no idea where I am going. I have no idea why, I am just listening to my heart. And following the yellow brick road. What if it is just being played?

Advertising Strategies Comedy vs. Sexuality free essay sample

Comparison of two different marketing strategies; one based on humor and one on sex. This paper compares two different marketing strategies: humor and sex. The author discusses how comedy prevails over sexuality in advertisements because comedy is more memorable and generally more easily applies to the product. The paper is based on six advertisements, half comedy and half sexuality and spends a section discussing each and its pros and cons. Both humorous and sexual themes are used in advertisements because marketing executives believe these to be the most direct way to sell a product. Marketing executives rely on comedy and sex to sell their products, but while interest may be generated for the ad itself using these methods, interest in the actual product can only be obtained if the comedy or sex is realistically applicable to the product itself. When comparing the two kinds of ads, comedy ads are generally much better at showing applicability than are sexual ads

buy custom Macroeconomics essay

buy custom Macroeconomics essay Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole. The millions of individual microeconomic decisions of the people, businesses, and government in their totality represent a nations economy. Macroeconomics economic goals involve three conditions associated with mixed economy such as the full employment, the levels of stability as well as economic growth which have the society desires (Schumpeter, 2004). The government therefore has a duty of pursuing them through implementing economic policies. Other goals include balanced trade, economic freedom, equitable income distribution and stability of price level. There is no universal acceptance of the existing economic goals and they are also not complementary at all times (Lazear, 2000). Macroeconomics business cycle implies periods that usually keep on recurring and they are associated with recession at times and prosperity at other times and they may be widespread in the entire nation. There is a need of identifying them through the variations in seasons such as the absence of sales of heavy clothing in summer (Blaug, 2007). They also have secular trends on the long run especially in relation to the population such is the case with the baby boom. The phases evident in the business cycle include peak, contraction, the times of recession, the trough, recovery, as well as expansion. Retrenchment in the workplace is the best indicator of changes in the business cycle which mostly occurs at the time of recession (Harcourt, 2007). The economic variables in macroeconomics include the quantity, the quality as well as distribution. The implication of quality is the qualitative changes that take place in the processes of production (James, 2007). The occurrence of qualitative changes is at the time of the alteration of different price input as well as output (Baumol, 2007). The implication of distribution on the other hand is the series of the events whereby the unit prices related to the constant-quality products as well as the inputs have been altered resulting to the changes in the level of income. Buy custom Macroeconomics essay

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 38

Marketing - Essay Example In this regard, the questions that need answers for successful marketing educational products include: The market is diverse and dynamic, and so would be the products offered in that market (Pride & Ferrell, 2012). Product customization might highly be necessary, owing to the various modes and programs of teaching and learning employed by different teachers, learners and schools. For a start, competitors may be lacking, but with successful business establishment, they are likely to emerge. The market is also subject to changing variables due to reforms and improvements undertaken in the education sector from time to time. Marketing products to married couples who have no children would have to account for individual couple’s tastes and preferences. The situation is different when it comes to couples with children, or even empty-nester couples. For a married couple with no children, likely products to be marketed to them include family life products, gifts and kids’ products in the anticipation of children. This couple’s buying decisions are guided by future expectations and plans for a bigger family. For this couple, it is likely that expenditure exacerbates as savings decline. On the other hand, the empty-nester couple’s buying decisions are less influenced by family size, but are guided by savings rather than

Look at the attachments not thought of a topic yet Research Proposal

Look at the attachments not thought of a topic yet - Research Proposal Example The analysis shall enable establishment of the connection, thus a foundation for the eradication of the variables researched on. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fact sheet number 364, approximately 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth every year. In addition, one million girls aged fewer than 15 also gives birth every year (Hamilton et al., 2012). Most of these teenagers come from low and middle-income nations. The World Health Organization also stated complication during pregnancy and childbirth as the second cause of death among teenagers, globally. The research also indicated that almost three million girls aged 15 to 19 undergone unsafe abortions, yearly, and that babies born to these teenage parents face a higher risk of infant deaths (Gibb et al., 2014). Teenage years are marked by rebellion and disagreement between teenagers and their parents. During this period, they are less likely to trust their parent. Becoming pregnant at this age will probably serve to strain the already complicated relationship. Parents will mostly view the pregnancies as the epitome of the childrens rebellion. The prospect of a fallout with the parents may end causing the teenager to conceal their pregnancies or running away from home (Coleman, 2006). Teenage girls are likely to hide their pregnancies for the longest time possible because they are afraid tell their parent. In a majority of cases, teenage girls point at their mothers potential reactions in explaining their deception. Although the stigma associated with these pregnancies is declining in modern days, most teenage girls are still afraid of the disapproval that their mothers are likely to have. It is worth noting that, some fathers will tend be bitter and unforgiving. This is true especially when the teenager is still in school (Ferre et. al., 2013). The stigma and the strain the relationships can be attributed to the fear of

Impact of Money on Happiness

Impact of Money on Happiness The love of money, as they say, is the root of all evil. Yet money remains an essential commodity in everyday living. It is a universal need that is pursued one way or the other world over. There are several amenities in life that can mostly only be purchased by money; hence the lack of it can speedily reduce an individual, any individual into distress and a state of depression. Money is acquired by several means; for most people of certain ages, to acquire money means to simply work for it. For others of younger and even older ages, their acquisition of money is largely determined by others, such as parents, guardians in the case of younger people or the government, pension and previous investments in the case of the older generation. All in all, money is an essential part of living. It may not necessarily be the most important aspect in life as will be critically examined later on but it most certainly ranks very high indeed on the list. Some might argue that with enough money or a dequate finances, every other aspect of life falls into perspective. Yet it may immediately be counter argued that the term ‘enough money or adequate finances’ is, in itself, a relative one. What constitutes adequate finances, when is a man said to have enough money? Perhaps it is worth mentioning at this juncture the economic theory of supply and demand and vice versa. The more you make, the more you need. Human need is such that can never be fully satisfied. For instance the needs and demands of a toddler differ significantly from that of a teenager as does that of a man in his 20s from that of a family man with children. Is it then possible to quantify one’s overall state of wellbeing by how much wealth the individual has been fortunate enough to acquire? Can money be said to possess the ability of buying or at the very least orchestrating happiness? What, in the first instance, is happiness? While it remains difficult to attribute a specific definition to hha ppiness, it is often referred to as the state of well-being characterised by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy or emotions experienced when in a state of well-being. The opposite of ‘happiness’ would therefore be ‘sadness’ or to be in a sober mood. Happiness is a robust state of mind that has been pursued by mankind since the stone ages and is as old as man himself. Man as a social being has goals and expectations in life. Such goals and expectations are quite naturally based on individual beliefs, societal or cultural norms as well as personal experiences. It is however safe to surmise that whatever a man’s[1] ambitions, goals, expectations and desires, when these desires and expectations appear to be within easy grasp and ultimately achieved, he will naturally be in a state of well being and experience what is known as happiness. Some of the major contributory factors to happiness include but are by no means limited to the following: Good or optimum state of health Secured and well paid employment Supportive family or friends As pointed out above however, these factors are based on individual concepts of happiness and the means by which this state of mind can be achieved. From the factors above, it becomes increasingly visible that happiness can be analysed from the economic as well as psychological perspectives. According to economists, it is a standard assumption that happiness – individual utility in the economic vocabulary depends on income, leisure and sometimes a few other factors. Yet, although mainstream models would predict that higher income leads to greater happiness, most earlier empirical research has been unable to find a sufficiently strong correlation between subjective well-being and per capita income in rich countries to support the standard utility assumption.[2] In a research carried out in the 90s, it was discovered that even though many, if not all, African countries were classed as under developed societies where poverty assails most of the population, people were still happ ier than others of more substantial means in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. In a country like Nigeria for instance, the term ‘depression’ was almost a strange expression for many while others who had heard of the world had never even come close to suffering such a low state of mind. Research on the other hand, shows that quite a significant number of patients in the UK suffer depression which is the exact opposite of happiness or a state of bliss and well being. The pursuit of happiness and all it entails has been a goal shared by people world over more than any other goal in the history of mankind. While economics might be associating the pursuit and ultimate capture, so to speak, of this rather elusive blissful state of mind with the accumulation of wealth and material satisfaction, it has been proven in recent times that this may not very well be the case. In fact, a positive association has been shown to hold only at certain points in time within particular countries and not for the group of high-income countries as a whole.[3] The usual explanations given for this paradox are either that people compare themselves with their peers and neighbours[4] or that as incomes increase, so do people’s income aspirations[5]. Both these factors are assumed to be present already at fairly modest levels of per-capita income. However, one recurring problem with previous studies is that conclusions on the absence of an effect of economic performance on well-being have typically been based on either limited cross-sectional samples which may be contaminated by a strong time-constant cultural component[6] or on sparse and incomplete longitudinal data.[7] The unavoidable fact remains that with the accumulation of wealth or any other commodity for that matter, comes more responsibility or need which in turn leads to even more desire for greater accumulation. In that regard, it might be safe to surmise that perhaps wealth or its end less accumulation does not exactly guarantee happiness.[8] For instance, if a man is said to have achieved his goal and been fortunate, lucky or smart enough to secure a fantastic job and comfortable income, if the economist approach on consumer behaviour is accurate, he should be in a blissful state of mind. However there are other factors which need to be considered to determine a man’s state of mind and this is where the psychological and social researches into happiness comes into play. In support of Duesenberry’s paradox, Kenneth Arrow believes that it offered â€Å"one of the most significant contributions of the postwar period to our understanding of economic behaviour†[9] and that it was to be commended for attempting to link economic theory more directly with psychological motivations and with consumer learning processes.[10] Some saw Duesenberrys work as attempting to broaden the theoretical economists horizon.[11] Others like A. C. Pigou, expressed se rious methodological reservations but nonetheless commended the potential significance of the work.[12] In more recent times, there has been a steadily increasing interest on the part of economists in happiness research. It has been argued that reported subjective well-being is a satisfactory empirical approximation to individual utility and that happiness research is able to contribute important insights for economics. It has also been reported how the economic variables such as income, unemployment and inflation affect happiness as well as how institutional factors, in particular the type of government; democracy or dictatorship and the extent of government decentralisation, systematically influence how satisfied individuals are with their life, the effects and some of the consequences for economic policy and for economic theory. Whereas psychologists and sociologists have been researching the concept of happiness for a very long time, the economist approach to happiness is actual ly a more recent approach. Early economists and philosophers, ranging from Aristotle, who promulgated that a happy life is a good complete life and concluded that although happiness is good other things are equally good and important; such things as health and wealth, knowledge and friendship, and a good moral character[13] to Bentham, who formulated that â€Å"happiness is the greatest good†[14] John Stuart Mill, an ardent supporter and disciple of Bentham who agreed that â€Å"†¦. actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness†¦.†[15] have all incorporated the pursuit of happiness in their work. Yet as economics grew more rigorous and quantitative, more parsimonious definitions of welfare took hold. Utility was taken to depend only on income as mediated by individual choices or preferences within a rational individual’s monetary budget constraint. Even within a more orthodox f ramework, focusing purely on income can miss key elements of welfare as numerous economists have noted over time. People have different preferences for material and non-material goods. They may choose a lower paying but more personally rewarding job, for example. The study of happiness or subjective well-being is part of a more general move in economics that challenges these narrow assumptions. Richard Easterlin was one of the first modern economists to re-visit the concept of happiness, beginning in the early 1970s.[16] In economic researches world over, when people are asked relevant questions about what for them constitutes happiness, the answers are mostly identical. For those who are currently struggling to make ends meet, those who are out of jobs, those who are classified as under priviledged in society by virtue of their meager or no income it would appear that the wide belief is that money can indeed buy happiness. But when probed further and deeper, it emerges that money on its own, may not necessarily bring happiness but mere momentary satisfaction. What money certainly does however is to relief people from their financial burdens. Where a family struggles to pay the rent/mortgage at the end of every month, bills accumulate from lack of adequate finances, holidays are a thing of the past or never experienced. If such a family is transported to a place where they can suddenly afford to consolidate their debts, pay off the mortgage, go on holidays, eat what and when they like, their spirits will certainly be lifted significantly higher than when they had little or nothing to exist on. It is therefore apt to surmise that money would most probably clear debts, reduce or out rightly pay off mortgages, which would certainly be a tremendous source of relief for most people. Money however may not necessarily have the ability to purchase true happiness. The human brain is trained to adapt to situations, good or bad. It is therefore only a matter of time before the new found wealth becomes a ‘given’ and the family is faced with other challenges. Many people, cross-section, agree that acquisition or possession of significantly more money than they have at the moment can calm their day to day frustrations and perhaps distract them from their personal problems, but it cannot make them truly happy. If an individual is basically positive and optimistic, the acquisition of wealth will only enhance that persons life. It is believed that money can bring relief if the lack of it is causing stress (as is the case in the majority). If however, a person is generally neurotic, unhappy and pessimistic, no amount of money will eradicate such pessimism or other unrelated psychological problems the individual deals with on a daily basis. A windfall can also bring problems to people who have no idea how to deal with money. To those who have lived from hand to mouth all their lives, unless they are intelligent about it, there is a tendency to fritter a windfall away. One has to know how to use or invest money wisely, in order to make it work for them. In a survey carried out in England and America on lottery winners it became a clear pattern that people essentially remain who they basically were before winning the lottery. A pessimistic, uninspired individual who wins  £1,000,000 in lottery is more likely to be back to exactly the same spot he was in before winning the lottery in less than five years. While a more optimistic, ambitious and level headed indiv idual who wins  £500,000 is more likely to go ahead and invest the money in ventures that will guarantee him better income for the foreseeable future. Money or shall we say too much money is itself a catalyst for trouble for those who are not psychologically balanced enough to handle instant wealth. Economists and psychologists have come together in numerous attempts to untangle the webs of how, why and why-not of money and the general state of well being/welfare. Of particular importance, it would appear, is the aspect of why money is seen by many as unable to set right all that is wrong in their lives and by so doing guarantee them lasting happiness. Why is it that the more money one has, the more one aspires to acquire? In the popular words of an artist ‘..the more money you come across, the more problems you have’[17] The economics of happiness is an approach to assessing welfare which combines the techniques typically used by economists with those more commonly used by psychologists. It relies on surveys of the reported wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of individuals across countries and continents.[18] Why is it that when one is finally able to possess those material things that appeared all so important in the absence of money and to basically achieve their dreams it only brings momentary joy? In attempting to answer these seemingly depressing questions, scholars of happiness have arrived at some insights that appear very useful and educational indeed. It has been commonly acknowledged and accepted that money can help find more happiness, so long as one knows just what to expect from it and does not have unrealistic expectations. Splashing out money on luxurious cars or even buying a private jet is not necessarily a means of utilising money to becoming happy. Research suggests that seeking the good life at a store is an expensive exercise in futility.[19] It is essential to realise and understand where one has been going wrong in order to achieve a blissful state of mind. According to Richard Gelfond, co-chairman and CEO of Imax, being an achiever and rising out of poverty certainly brings happiness. Wealth therefore appears to play a bigger factor in being happy than most would like to admit. In surveys, people consistently give thre e reasons for their personal happiness: wealth, family and health. Being richer means being able to afford better health, however debatable an argument this is. For a terminally ill patient for instance, perhaps with the notorious HIV virus or the equally formidable cancer; wealth most certainly affords them better treatment and immediate access to the very best specialists in those fields as well as the very best medication. The patients are therefore guaranteed far more comfort in their sickness than the ordinary man on the street who depends on the state or government for his treatment. At the end of the day however, can one honestly assert that the affordability of better health care makes the former patient happier than the latter? Can either be truly happy simply because one has more money than the other? Does it not then depend on the individual’s outlook on their conditions? Would the wealthy not willingly give up their wealth to become healthy again? Strange and surp rising as it might sound, it is not uncommon for the poorer man to come to better terms with his condition and find, if not downright happiness, some sort of peace in the terminal medical situation he finds himself than for his richer or wealthier counterpart. Professor Robert Shiller, a Professor of Economics at Yale University, in his argument for the advantages of having money is of the opinion that more money, in all likelihood, guarantees better relationships.[20] This is open to extensive debate and arguments. The simple question thereafter arises, if money or wealth enables one to find better relationships, how come then that most celebrities, by far the best paid individuals in the world, find it, from time immemorial, practically impossible to be happy in their relationships and marriages? It is common knowledge that marriages and relationships in Hollywood or any other star studded part of the world, for that matter, are more often than not, a fleeting experience for the p arties involved. Talking about celebrities and their wealth, if money does indeed procure happiness, why is it that the majority of celebrities have had at one time or the other alcohol problems, drug addiction issues, depression, suicidal tendencies and even in albeit admittedly fewer cases, death by over dose of one dangerous substance or the other? Surely if money brings happiness they, the celebrities with more money than most should be the happiest on earth. This is however evidently not the case. It stands to reason therefore that while money promotes a better sense of well being in some, better sense of achievement in others, contentment, the satisfaction that comes with the ability and affordability of luxury items o comfort, and even perhaps momentary happiness and joy in others, it is not the mere happenstance of such money or wealth in one’s life that procures happiness or any true sense of joy for the consumer. Tim Webber of the BBC’s Business Edition, in o ne of his editorials, ‘Why money doesn’t buy happiness’[21] quotes an African artist, Youssou N’Dour as follows†¦ â€Å"†¦ Forget money entirely†. Youssou NDour is reported as going on to say that there is plenty of happiness in Senegal, even though its people are not wealthy at all. Just see the joy that music and entertainment can bring to the boys in the poorest parts of Dakar. says Mr NDour. But he concedes that one thing was even better than the music and other elements that promote happiness in Senegal; the moment when Senegal beat France in the 2002 Football World Cup.[22] Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College expresses her opinion on the debate of economics approach to happiness by saying that human beings are never satisfied. It is standard consumer behavioural pattern. The more we have, the more we are likely to want. It is the inherent nature of man. Ms. Sanderson authoritatively asserts that we always t hink just that little bit more money will be the answer to all our problems and bring ultimate satisfaction.[23] Indeed, it would appear that the more money one makes, the more one wants or continue to aspire to make. The more one has the less effective it is at bringing one joy. Little wonder it is therefore that this seeming paradox has long bedeviled economists. Another reputable scholar, Professor Dan Gilbert, psychology professor at Harvard University opines that â€Å"Once you get basic human needs met, a lot more money doesnt make a lot more happiness,[24]. Regrettably, there is no easy way out of being unhappy; money is no short cut to happiness for a depressed person. Overcoming one’s emotions and teaching one’s self to be happy can be more difficult that earning more money or winning the lottery as explained above. In fact, according to Matthew Herper,[25] if a person is handed $10, the pleasure centres of his brain lights up as if he were given food, sex or drugs. But that initial rush does not translate into long-term pleasure for most people. Surveys have found virtually the same level of happiness between the very rich individuals on the Forbes 400 and the Maasai herdsman of East Africa. Lottery winners return to their previous level of happiness after five years. Increases in income just do not seem to make people happier and most negative life experiences likewise have only a small impact on long-term satisfaction.[26] Probably via media exposure or even in real life, at some point in time or another extremely rich, wealthy and famous people have been seen to be unhappier than one would expect them to be, given the amount of material benefits that they have. It is surprising that a large number of wealthy people do not seem to experience the happiness that one would expect goes with so much money and riches. A study conducted by the University of Illinois indicated that more than 30 percent of the richest people in America were n ot as happy as the person who earned a modest income.[27] It is worth mentioning that more often than not, most of the sulking, miserable people one comes across in everyday life are rich people. This is obviously not due to the fact that these wealthy people are unable to afford three square meals, pay the mortgage, go on holiday or afford whatever luxurious item catches their fancy. Their misery is as a result of the fact that people generally seem to have more expectations from money. Money cannot buy anyone everything but in the minds of people who give up everything for money, it is difficult to accept, having acquired the wealth of their goal that they strove so hard to achieve partial success. This is not to negate the positive effects money has in the society and on one’s well being in particular. Yes, money most certainly is important to help one live life to the fullest and be able to experience the good things in life, not necessarily criminally expensive activitie s but such holidays, clothes, jewelries, and cars that become seemingly unreachable when one is void of the purchasing means. But at the same time, an increase in its inflow does not bring proportional happiness with it. As the age old saying goes†¦the grass will always (appear to) look greener on the other side. If ‘A’s’ income increases by $20,000, he is happy until he finds out his next door, perhaps less qualified neighbour’s income has increased by $60,000 and that the neighbour can now afford the car of A’s dreams without breaking the bank. The economics of happiness does not purport to replace income-based measures of welfare, but instead to complement them with broader measures of well-being. These measures are based on the results of large-scale surveys, across countries and over time, of hundreds of thousands of individuals who are asked to assess their own welfare. The surveys provide information about the importance of a range of factors which affect wellbeing, including income but also others such as health, marital and employment status, and civic trust. The approach, which relies on expressed preferences rather than on revealed choices, is particularly well suited to answering questions in areas where a revealed preferences approach provides limited information. Indeed, it often uncovers discrepancies between expressed and revealed preferences. The latter cannot fully gauge the welfare effects of particular policies or institutional arrangements which individuals are powerless to change. Examples of these inclu de the welfare effects of inequality, environmental degradation, and macroeconomic policies such as inflation and unemployment. In a recent happiness survey at the University of Colorado, it was established that actual involvement in doing things can bring more joy than having things. Gilovich and Leaf Van Boven, both of the University of Colorado conducted this survey by asking students what makes them happy, when and where. The students were also asked to ultimately decide if they were at the happiest when they were doing something as against when they were buying something. It emerged that man’s preoccupation with stuff obscures an important truth: that the things that do not last create the most lasting happiness. One reason may be that experiences tend to blossom and not diminish as they are recalled. In your memory, youre free to embellish and elaborate,[28] Gilovich admonished the students. â€Å"Your trip to Mexico may have been an endless parade of hassles punctuate d by a few exquisite moments. But looking back on it, your brain can edit out the surly cabdrivers, remembering only the glorious sunsets. So next time you think that arranging a vacation is more trouble than its worthor a cost youd rather not shoulderfactor in the delayed impact.†[29] Economists have found out in the United States for instance that an increase in income does not necessarily automatically yield an equal increase in one’s level of happiness. In one of the several surveys conducted, it was discovered that going from earning less than $20,000 a year to making more than $50,000 admittedly makes the recipient twice as likely to be happy, yet the payoff for then surpassing $90,000 is slight. And while the rich are happier than the poor, the enormous rise in living standards over the past 50 years has not made Americans happier.[30] Why? David Futrelle gave three reasons for this. According to him, we overestimate how much pleasure there is to be derived from having more. Humans are adaptable creatures, which has been a plus during assorted ice ages, plagues and wars. But, he argues, that is also why people are never all that satisfied for long when good fortune comes their way. While earning more makes people happy in the short term, we quickly ad just to the new wealth, status and everything that comes with it. Granted, there is bound to be a certain thrill and sense of achievement which comes with the first shiny and exotic car one buys from the increased income or new found wealth, splashing out on huge screen televisions and even spending money on family. But it is not long before all these become ‘normal’ and the consumer begins to want even more. It is when this insatiable appetite for more yields little or no result that man begins again to experience dissatisfaction and many people find themselves descending back to the very initial position they were in the first place; reverting to a state of running in place that economists call the ‘hedonic treadmill.’[31] The hedonic treadmill theory explains the popularly held observation that rich people are no happier than poor people, and that those with severe money problems are sometimes quite happy. The theory supports the argument that money does not buy happiness and that the pursuit of money as a way to reach this goal is futile. Good and bad fortunes may temporarily affect how happy a person is,but most people will end up back at their normal level of happiness.[32]Buttressing Mr. Yarrow’s point on the same subject, John Lanchester also observed that following studies of data from all over the world, it is clear that, instead of getting happier as they become better off, people get stuck in a place where their expectations rise at the same pace as their incomes and the happiness they seek remains constantly just out of reach.[33] Reference is here being made yet again to the hedonistic treadmill. Daniel Kahneman, the one time (2003) winner of Nobel Prize for economics is best known for his work on hedonic psychology.[34] Kahneman opines that suddenly the big question is being asked by those who spent their lives on making and measuring money: what indeed is it all for when people are no happier than they were.[35] Be all these as they may, the fact remains undisputable that money does matter in various ways. In England, for instance, people who are earning less than or around  £10,000 per annum are measurably, permanently happier when paid more. It matters when people of any income feel a drop from what they have become accustomed to. But above all, money makes people unhappy when they compare their own income with others.[36] Richer people are happier not by the simple virtue of the absolute size of their wealth, but because they have more than other people. But the wider the wealth gap, the worse it harms the rest. Rivalry in income makes those left behind more miserable that it confers extra happiness on the winners. This insatiable appetite for more will keep driving a man back to the car dealership or to the electronic gadget stores in search of better and bigger items for more satisfaction. According to Gilbert[37] however, what is being mistaken for happiness and satisfaction at buy ing a new ‘toy’ is simply the feeling that comes on the day one actually buys the item in question. Once the initial razzmatazz fades away and the new Ferrari or even private jet no longer races the heart, man tends to draw the wrong conclusions. Instead of questioning the notion or erroneous, if honest, belief that happiness can be bought at the dealership, one often begins to question their choice of car. ‘Perhaps I would feel better with a Ford Mustang?’ This thought alone sparks a fresh burst of enthusiasm and hope for more happiness which simply leads to yet more disappointment once the new car is purchased and the racing heart also inevitably settles back to normal after a few days or weeks. Again this is what economists refer to as typical consumer behaviour. More often than not, this dissatisfaction with the material things that come with wealth is borne out of envy for others around us. Quite naturally, more money can and does lead to more stress. The big salary pulled in from a high-paying job may not necessarily procure much in the way of happiness, at least not much more than the individual is accustomed to. Some have even gone as far as saying if one is unable to find happiness in their current situation on a low income job; it is unlikely that such persons will ever be happy even in a high paying job. The whole idea is to cut one’s coat according to one’s size to afford flexibility, satisfaction and happiness because however low one’s income is, there are always people below the hierarchy of earnings. Just as however much one earns, there will always be people on the upper rung of the ladder of success. What more money can do however is to buy one a (more) spacious house in the suburbs. What immediately becomes a problem is the long trip to and from work, taking the children (if there are any) to school and commuting to social activities from the suburbs or the countryside. At the end of the day, it is only natural that the everyday commute, even if permissible initially, becomes a problem and however much one loves their job, becomes a burden and wears down the individual. As in the case of lack of continued satisfaction with ones purchases, compariso

Legal Process

Discrimination is rampant.   In the workplace, employment discrimination can take various forms.   According to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2004.), â€Å"it is illegal to discriminate in any aspect of employment†.   Employment discrimination can be based on sex, race, color, religion, disability or sexual orientation.   â€Å"federal and state employment discrimination laws prohibit employers from engaging in unfair employment practices† (Justia.com, n.d.). Most of the employment discrimination cases are handled first by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before a case may be filed in court. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (n.d.), the Equal Employment Opportunity or EEO complaint process â€Å"is a legal process designed to resolve allegations of employment discrimination and retaliation†. The legal process sis composed of three parts.   First is the â€Å"pre complaint counseling process.   Second, the â€Å"formal complaint process.   Lastly, â€Å"the appeal process†Ã‚   (U.S.   Office of Personnel Management, n.d.). At the counseling process, John will be referred to an officer so that he may be apprised of his rights and the remedies made available for him under the various equal employment opportunity laws.   This is where John can be advised of the best course of action to take and the corresponding costs and benefits of the relief.   The formal complaint process shall commence after John filed a charge and the investigation proper.   At this stage, the complainant, John, and the respondent, and his employer, are already entitled to the right to appeal.   Should they feel that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission erred in its resolution or investigation, they may file an appeal according to the provisions of law. If a person feels that his employment rights as regards equal employment opportunity have been violated, he can start the legal battle by filing a discrimination complaint at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.   However, it should be noted that another person may also file a complaint in behalf of another person who has been discriminated against (The U.S.   Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2007. In John’s case, he can start his complaint by filling out an â€Å"intake questionnaire† which shall be submitted to the nearest Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office either personally or by mail.   According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2007), â€Å"an intake questionnaire or other correspondence can constitute a charge under the statutes if it contains all the information required by EEOC regulations governing the contents of a charge and constitutes a clear request for the agency to act†. In order to complete the charge, relevant information should be provided including the names, addresses and contact numbers of the complainant and the respondent employer.   A short description of the acts complained of or of the acts constituting the violation.   After which, John should see the Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint Processing (The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2007). After the complaint has been filed, the Commission will inform the respondent of the nature of the complaint.   Then, the Commission will act on the complaint either by referring it to a priority investigation if it appears that there is a convincing proof that a violation indeed happened; or request for a follow up investigation should the complaint need additional evidence.   However, settlement efforts can be resorted to at any stage of the investigation. In this case, should John’s employer be willing to negotiation or submit into alternative disputer resolution like mediation.   However, should these efforts prove unsuccessful, the investigation shall continue.  Ã‚  Ã‚   After investigation, the EEOC will issue recommendation and judgment as to the charges.   After which, should the EEOC decide in favor of John, a â€Å"right to sue† can be issued in his favor so that eh can file a formal complaint in the courts of law. The suit should be filed within 90 days following the issuance of the â€Å"right to sue† (The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2003).   Pursuant to Title 28, U.S. Code, Section 1914, John is required to pay a filing fee, which can be given back to him should judgment be rendered in his favor together with all other costs of litigation.   John should know that under the law, he is entitled to a number of remedies. He shall be entitled to back wages, reinstatement, hiring, promotion or reasonable accommodation; including the payment of attorney’s fees and other costs of the suit.   Compensatory damages can also be awarded should intentional discrimination be found (The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2003). Once a complaint is filed in court, it shall undergo the usual proceedings in court until a judgment is rendered and the judge in order for the decision to be adhered to, either in favor of John or his employer issues a Writ of Execution. References The Federal Judiciary. (n.d.).   Frequently Asked Questions.   Retrieved January 12, 2008 Justia.com. (n.d.).   Employment Discrimination.   Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://www.justia.com/employment/employment-discrimination/ The U.S.   Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2003). EEOC’s Charge Processing Procedures.   Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://www.eeoc.gov/charge/overview_charge_processing.html The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2004).   Discriminatory Practices.   Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeo/overview_practices.html The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2007).   Filing a Charge of Employment Discrimination.   Retrieved January 12, 2008 U.S.   Office of Personnel Management.   (n.d.).   Laws and Executive Orders.   Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://www.opm.gov/disability/appempl_5-01.asp

Literacy and People Essay

â€Å"Literacy† is an often discussed topic. Be able to read and write is not as simple as it looks; literacy is one of important communication skills in today world. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, â€Å"Literacy† means â€Å"ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society. † In other words, a person has the ability to understand and exchange of opinions and views in a society, and thus participate in this society. So if literacy is so important to everyone, then how does the reality look like? We start at very early years to learn reading and writing, so we forget that reading and writing actually are a fairly complex skill, it takes years to learn and memorize. Even in the highest level of civilization country, such as US, the proportion of literate adults has never reached 100%. According to an article â€Å"The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society† by Jonathan Kozol, there are 60 million people that are â€Å"functionally illiterate† in 1980, and he demonstrate an accurate portrait of the life illiterates live on a day-to-day basis and feel miserable. Even literate people, there are only a small number of people with a high level of reading and writing skills. In human history, the literacy was a privilege. In â€Å"Learning to Read and Write† by Frederick Douglass and â€Å"Learning to Read† by Malcolm X. They both demonstrate how important the basic reading and writing skills are and people could use it as a simple tools to impact people and auto gnosis and social change. To be literacy also is very important to people who want to participate in their society and make them life easier. In â€Å"The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me† by Sherman Alexei and â€Å"Mother Tongue† by Amy Tan. Both of their stories shows us how reading and writing provide they better future, and how difficult could be without the knowledge of literacy. So I truly believe in knowledge could change our future, and help us to build the abilities of adopting the society. And more importantly, we absorb and reveal those knowledge need to through by the reading and writing. People has their own future, that is undoubtable; but how to clarify the future is a problem that confusing many of us. Language gives a great contribution to solve this problem. Since getting language can allow people learn things and gain knowledge, it helps people know more of what our society is about and what is good for them. With these experiences, people will have a better idea of what kind of future they want and create their own dream. Sometimes, this can change a person’s life just like what Malcolm X said in his article â€Å"Learning to read†: â€Å"I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive. † In other words, the knowledge form books could impact a person from inside out. Therefore, language can help people adopt the society by showing them their future. Another ability that language can show people is the ability to fight and defense. People usually use their fists, club, or even gun as a weapon to hurt others, but in modern society with police department to stop these physical violations, what can be better than use the words to beat people. By learning knowledge, language through receive language, people also learn that these things can use to fight and defend in real life. With leaving an indelible memory in one’s mind, apparently, it is more powerful than healable body damage. Many people include Richard Wright realize its power, Richard even has some words in his essay â€Å"The Library Card† said: â€Å"Yes, this man was fighting, fighting with words. He was using words as a weapon, using them as one would use a club. † So, this is another useful effect that language brings to people, protect and fight back. There is another thing people gain form language can help them feel better in the society, which is discovery the truth. This skill, or ability, can allow people ignore the interferences on the way to success, to achieve a goal, create own future. Throughout the history, many brilliant people fail just because they were direct to a wrong way. Why they never know that? Because they were uneducated or instill something wrong, they were expected to fail. Situation in the past has shown in Sherman Alexei’s â€Å"The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me† described the difficulties that Indian kids were facing: â€Å"As Indian children, we were expected to fail in the non-Indian world. † Obviously, language provides people the ability to dig out the real truth behind illusion. Nowadays society, many people are confusing about their futures. Literacy gives a great contribution to solve this problem. At first, literacy can help people adopt the society by showing them their future. Secondly, literacy can show people are the ability to fight and defense themselves. Finally, language provides people the ability to dig out the real truth behind illusion. Literacy is important in keeping you safe and allowing you to learn and grow to better yourself. 50 Essays Bedford/St. Martin’s, 75 Arlingto Street, Boston, MA 02116 Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Literacy.

Perception Of Oneself Through The Eyes Of The White Culture

Perception of Oneself through the Eyes of the White Culture: A Feminist Perspective Alongside its umbrageous depiction of African American female identity and its shrewd criticism of the internalized racism cultivated by American cultural definitions of beauty, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison has been inspiring a propagation of literature written by African American women about their experience as women of color. Inspired by a conversation Morrison had with one of her students who wished for blue eyes, the novel portrays the subconscious demolition of a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove, who searches for love and acceptance in a world that underrates people of her own race. Pecola hopelessly longs to possess the traditional American standards of feminine beauty—white skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes—as presented to her by the popular icons of the white culture. The Bluest Eye is portrayed as a powerful expression of Toni Morrison’s ethnic cultural feminism, impotence, and loss of positive self-image represented by Pecola who feels that blacknes s has condemned her to ugliness and scorn. The purpose of this paper will further demonstrate how the Bluest Eye makes a withering attack on the dissimulation of white standards of beauty on black women and the creation of cultural debauchery, from a feminist perspective. In the Bluest Eye, the three main female characters Pecola, Pauline (Mrs. Breedlove) and Claudia occupy a climactic place in the novel. The first personShow MoreRelatedReflection Paper On Culture And Structure1309 Words   |  6 PagesReflection Paper Culture and structure do contribute to or reinforce racial inequality. 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