Ddbates concerning knowledge are not relevant to accounting and its Essay

Ddbates concerning knowledge are not relevant to accounting and its practice - Essay Example As such, knowledge has its limits; some synthesis of object matter is needed through reasoning to create understanding. To objectively generate new knowledge various sources of knowledge exists that include; induction, intuition, observation, experience, testimony, and introspection among others. Plato cautions that those seeking to understand knowledge must distinguish it from opinion. For example, accounting statements have to be viewed objectively other than subjectively in creating reality and true knowledge. In my view, knowledge is fixed, absolute, and eternally true while opinions are changeable. Therefore, for one to be a true knowledge seeker, then they must naturally not consent to opinions, but have to strive with unwavering passion to establish the essential nature of things that constitute facts. However, it is not certain that accounting operations can lead to such knowledge or truth, making knowledge not an essential consideration in accounting profession. On the other hand, Juan (2007) defines accounting as ‘the art of collecting, analyzing, recording and posting, summarizing and reporting financial results in a significant and orderly manner, aimed at providing useful concepts essential in decision making.’ Juan (2007) explains that accounting operates on clearly defined fundamental principles; those working in the profession have little discretion in influencing the output of end results from accounting practices. First, accounting operates on a going concern principle, which assumes that a business entity will continue its operations for unforeseeable future without termination. Secondly, accounting assumes that businesses are legal entities different from owners. In my view, the above two concepts in accounting are much based on assumptions rather than reality, which implies their application may not lead to reality or truth, but have been put in place to facilitate a standardized approach in accounting statements under a concep tual framework. Such assumptions may not lead to truth or reality in knowledge. Hines (1988) argues that the body of knowledge on which the profession of financial accounting is based shows that such professionalization took place a round a number of personal qualities such as respectability, honesty and independence, unlike other professions which presume the existence of knowledge as the legitimate way to claim expertise and professionalism. Hine notes that the knowledge foundation of accounting profession is problematic; in order to advance the accounting profession and maintain its credibility, there was need to stem such threats of the profession caused by the underlying knowledge foundation. For example, accounts perceived in high regard in ethics and morality will presents a perception of reality and truth in their statements compared to those who do not. This explains why some accountants may be preferred over others. Therefore, the increasing advocacy for a conceptual frame work is perceived to be the best way to counteract the threat of accounting profession to social legitimacy in the accounting profession .According to Hines (1988), a conceptual framework will bring together national accounting standards, sound accounting rules, stock exchange requirements, and other statutory requirements, which may vary from country to country. In my view, a conceptual

How do you respond to Shakespeares presentation Essay Example for Free

How do you respond to Shakespeares presentation Essay The theme of fathers and sons, and responsibilities and obligations placed on sons, by fathers, is arguably one of the more important themes in the play. Shakespeare puts forward three main interpretations of father and son relationships, and each brings out interesting viewpoints about responsibilities and obligations for the reader. The first father and son relationship that Shakespeare presents is that of Hamlet and his father, old Hamlet. In the encounter between Hamlet and the ghost of his father, Hamlet has the responsibility of revenge thrust upon him, and he cannot reject it, List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not. Shakespeare presents old Hamlet as being pathetic and incapable of avenging himself. The ghost, therefore, does not incite Hamlets initiative by instilling fear in him, but rather through putting him in a guilt-trap, making Hamlet feel that he is somehow obliged to carry out the vengeful murder in place of his father, as the ghost cannot attend to it himself. In my opinion, this action, on the part of the ghost, was the final push that caused Hamlet to fall into his apparent madness. Hamlet was obviously moved by the ghosts words. And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmixed with baser matter. This was very largely unfair of the ghost of his father, on Hamlet, enthusiastic though he seemed at first. It placed an unnaturally large amount of pressure on Hamlet, having to commit such a daunting act, however justified it may have seemed. Shakespeare emphasizes the effect of this action in Hamlets life, in the many incidences and soliloquys where Hamlet just muses, thinks the situation out and talks about it, but can never bring himself to actually do anything about the revenge. In the relationship of Laertes and Polonius, there is not so much responsibility placed on Laertes by Polonius, as there is nagging and nitpicking about the way that Laertes should present himself and the way he should live his life when he is overseas. In this sense, the responsibilities being placed on Laertes are those of keeping in his fathers will and rule, and maintaining a good name for himself. At the point in the play, in act I. 3, Polonius is displayed by Shakespeare as just another normal father, or maybe more appropriately, a mother, who is proud of his son, but needs to remind him to keep a good image all the same. This bestowing of responsibility can be considered to be only natural for any father to do. However, in act II. 1, we see that Polonius is actually quite obsessed with the idea that his son might bring shame to Polonius, and goes to the extents of sending a spy keep a watch on Laertes, and even muddy his name, so that he does not get too comfortable. But breath his faults so quaintly that they may seem The taints of liberty, the flash and outbreak of a fiery Mind I saw him enter a house of sale, Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. Polonius even goes to extents of dishonouring so that he may retain his own honour, which is a rather strange sense of logic. In this sense, it can be said that Polonius places responsibility on his son just to save himself any possible shame. This is rather selfish on the part of Polonius, but it is in accordance with Shakespeares illustration of Poloniuss character as being that of a conniving, scheming, slightly evil old man that you might feel sorry for. In the relationship of young Fortinbras and his foster-father, or father-figure, old Norway, we see, again, a normal attitude of a parent toward their child. When Fortinbrass plans for an attack on Claudiuss realm are found out by Norway, he immediately admonishes the impetuous firebrand of a youth and prevents him from doing so. When Fortinbras indicates that he doesnt actually want to go along with the attack, Norway forgives him and even allows him to come to Denmark on peaceful terms. In this sense, old Norway is teaching Fortinbras the responsibility of thinking clearly and not acting rashly or whimsically. On the whole, Shakespeare presents the responsibilities and obligations placed on the sons, by their fathers, in Hamlet, as ways for the fathers to get what they want. In the case of Hamlet and the ghost, it is for the ghosts want of revenge and justice for a murder most foul, without much thought as to the effects of the deed, and even the contemplation of the deed, in the case of Hamlet, on him. In the case of Laertes and Polonius, it is a selfish and unwarranted want to save his own face from any shame that Laertes need not necessarily have caused in the first place. In the case of Norway and Fortinbras, it is the want to maintain good diplomatic relations and the prevention of unnecessary quarrels. In all cases except the diplomatic one, the fathers in question were rather selfish and self-centered in thinking of ways to get their sons to do their bidding. In the case of Norway and Fortinbras, it was done for diplomatic reasons, but it was still to save the bed-ridden Norways old skin. This gives a rather negative impression of father figures and what they tell their children to do. Possibly, Shakespeare chose to illustrate these aspects of fatherhood the way that he did because it was his own interpretation of responsibilities and obligations set down by fathers, maybe drawn from his own bad experiences with his own father during his younger days. Hamlet, as a play, could be then seen to be a Shakespearean self-help guide on How to know what is right to do as a father by knowing what is wrong to do as a father, and it could have been a lesson to all the bad fathers out there who use manipulate their sons as they would a mindless henchman.

The Media and Mass Misinterpretation of Islam Essay -- Argumentative P

The Media and Mass Misinterpretation of Islam As the cross is the symbol of Christianity, the Star of David the symbol of Judaism, the Crescent Moon and Star are supposedly the symbols of Islam. Islam at its core is a peaceful religion, which like many other religions over the ages has at times been misunderstood not only as to the values it preaches, but also in relation to its core beliefs. Although in today’s post September 11th world Islam and its followers, who are also known as Muslims, tend to be associated with acts of terrorism, the Middle East and anti-American beliefs, Islam at its core is radically different than what most people perceive it to be. Being the fastest-growing religion in the world, Islam’s 1.2 billion practitioners reside throughout the hemispheres. Although generally linked with the Middle East, Muslims can be found residing throughout Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and even in the Americas. The fact that Islam is such a profound religion in terms of size and influence can be very deceiving. For example, amongst Roman Catholics if there is a dispute regarding Catholic tradition, morals, symbols, or teachings, all of these issues could and often are addressed by the Vatican. However, within Islam there is no such thing as a central authoritative body which can resolve disputes, manage problems, etc. Thus when most non-Muslims see violence or acts of terror inflicted on a group of people by Muslims, who often boldly state that what they have done is in the name of their religion, no central body exists which one can go to in an effort to see if this religion really is one of violence or peace. Within Islam’s holy book or Quran, which is akin to our largely Christian-based culture’s Bible, ... ...s a radically different religion that what most people perceive it to be. Due to the fact that through today’s â€Å"media rich† world billions of people world-wide are exposed to the opinions of a daring few, the views we have regarding groups of people as well as individuals themselves can often be misconstrued. In the case of the Muslim religion, a lack of a central authoritative body within the religion itself, general historical misconceptions as well as those recent ones promoted by the media have led the majority of the non-Muslim world to a mass misinterpretation of Islam, its followers and their beliefs. Works Cited About.com. Crescent Moon: Symbol of Islam? http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa060401a.htm Discover Islam. http://www.discoverislam.com/ Stevenson, Seth. Islam? A Peaceful Religion. 24 Oct. 2001 http://slate.msn.com/?id=117525

Rheumatoid Arthritis Case Study Essay

Skeeter Buck has had 4 years of joint pain with some very severe occasions. He complains of stiffness in his wrists, hands, knees, and feet. The stiffness seems to last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours in the morning. When his joints are sore he is very unstable and feels as though he has no balance. The joint pain does not occur on a regular basis but when it does, he tends to lose his appetite. Medication: Cortisone shot (every 3 months), Aleve, Tylenol Medical History: 4 years of joint pain. Recently symptoms worsened. Family History: Grandmother and mother have rheumatoid arthritis and have had surgery. Grandma had a hip replacement and his mother had a knee replacement. Most of his family is overweight but there is no history of diabetes or heart disease. Social Lifestyle: Married with 2 children and wife is pregnant with their third. Lives in North Bay where he is the manager at a bank. He walks with a cane when his ‘flare ups’ are bad. Lifestyle History: Enjoys playing with the kids. He is as active as he can be without being in pain. He helps coach the hockey team his oldest son plays on. Wife is a dietician and so he eats healthy meals on a regular basis. Risk Factors: He is a non-smoker, regular cholesterol levels, and normal blood glucose levels. Physical Examination General Appearance: Looks healthy, comfortable and has great colour in face. Vital Signs: Blood Pressure = 123/82 mmHg in both arms, Pulse = 72 beats per minute, Respiration= 17 breaths per minute, Mass= 82 kg, Height = 70 in. (175 cm), BMI= 27, Waist Circumference = 34in. Cardiovascular: No carotid bruits, no jugular venous distension, clear lungs, normal point of impulse, regular rate and rhythm, no extra heart sounds, no edema, normal peripheral vascular exam. Skin: no rashes, a bit red, swollen and warm around knuckles on hands and feet. Musculoskeletal: walks slow due to pain, joints on the hands and feet are a bit swollen, does not have a full range of motion in his joints. Neurologic: Normal cranial nerves, loss of fine motor skills in hand, normal sensory exam. Resting Electrocardiogram before Exercise Test: Sinus rhythm, rate= 72 beats per minute, no Q waves, ST or T wave abnormalities. Computer interpretation is normal electrocardiogram. Diagnosis: Rheumatoid arthritis in wrists, hands, knees, and feet causing stiffness in the morning and pain throughout the day especially after more than normal use of the joints. This causes exercise intolerance and fatigue. Plan Complete a standard cycle ergometer test and initiate a training program focussing on increasing exercise tolerance, muscle strength, and range of motion. ** Please refer to following pages for pre-screen and informed consent forms! ** PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is one where the body’s immune system becomes confused and begins to attack its own body. In rheumatoid arthritis the target of the immune attack is the lining of the joints (synovial) and sometimes other internal organs. This causes swelling, pain, inflammation, and joint destruction. Inflammatory cells release enzymes that can digest bone and cartilage causing limited bone motion. This inflammation of joints usually occurs in a symmetrical and bilateral pattern (what happens on one side of the body, happens on the other). Rheumatoid arthritis is also characterized by aggravations and remissions (periods of time with intensified symptoms followed by period of time with reduced symptoms). Rheumatoid arthritis usually begins slowly, starting with only a few joints and spreading to others over a period of a few weeks to a few months. People with rheumatoid arthritis have impaired exercise tolerance. The disease affects flexibility, biomechanical efficiency, muscle strength, endurance, and speed, which contributes to functional limitations. There are three levels of classifying rheumatoid arthritis disease stages: 1. Acute: reversible signs and symptoms in the joint related to synovitis 2. Chronic: stable but irreversible structural damage brought on by the disease process 3. Chronic with acute exacerbation of joint symptoms: increased pain and decreased range of motion and function often related to overuse or superimposed injury. (3) Figure:(12) Signs and Symptoms of Concern (13)You should see your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks: Feel unusual pain and stiffness in your joints Pain and stiffness in the morning lasting more than 30-60 minutes before you feel any relief Feel more fatigued than normal Lack of hunger leading to weight loss Importance of Exercise for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Although people with rheumatoid arthritis may be hesitant to exercise due to pain they experience within their joints, current evidence suggests that a significant amount of disability related to the condition occurs from lack of fitness. By not exercising, muscle strength and endurance begins to deteriorate. This weakens the joint and contributes to accelerating the speed or arthritis. By not exercising you are also putting yourself at risk for other chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis. The American College of Sport Medicine outlines three goals for exercise and arthritis. The goals are: 1) preserve or restore range of motion and flexibility around the affected joints; 2) increase muscle strength and endurance to build joint stability; 3) increase aerobic capacity in order to enhance psychological state and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. (8) Although long term effects of dynamic weight bearing exercise on those with rheumatoid arthritis remains unclear, current data suggests that vigorous exercise may be used to improve joint mobility, muscle strength, and aerobic capacity without causing joint damage (except when there is an acute joint inflammation or uncontrolled systemic disease)(8). Those with rheumatoid arthritis should remember that post exercise discomfort should be expected, but activities causing increased joint pain enduring for greater than two hours post-exercise should be discontinued. As previously mentioned, people with rheumatoid arthritis often have little aerobic capacity due to inactivity, but it has been shown to be a safe and beneficial form of treatment for those who are not experiencing acute symptoms. The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that people with rheumatoid arthritis should participate in large muscle activities such as walking, cycling, rowing, swimming, and dance at 60-80% of their peak heart rate or 40-60% VO2max, a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) rating of 11-16, 3-5 days per week for five minute sessions building up to thirty minutes. When working with people with rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to emphasis duration is more important than intensity with goals of increasing VO2max, peak work, and endurance within 4-6 months. It is also important to have at least fifteen minutes of warm-up and cool-down. (8) MEDICATION Although there is no specific cure for rheumatoid arthritis at the present, there are a range of medications available to manage the symptoms to improve the condition. Rheumatoid medications can be classified into different classes such as NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, DMARDs, Biological Agents, Salicylates, and Pain Relief Medications. Your doctor will most likely use a combination of these drugs to alleviate pain and prevent further damage to the joints. NSAIDs NSAIDs or Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs are effective in pain relief and inflammation reduction, but do not serve to protect the joints from further damage. NSAIDs prevent your body from producing a substance called prostaglandins, which is primarily responsible for inflammation and pain. When taken in extreme dosages for a long time, these drugs can produce severe side effects, such as stomach bleeding, gastric ulcers, as well as potential damage to the kidneys and liver. Corticosteroids Corticosteroids suppress the immune system, thus managing inflammation. Although these may be very effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, they have been said to trigger adverse side effects if used in prolonged periods. Examples of these side effects include easy bruising, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, excessive weight gain, and thinning of the bones. DMARDs DMARDS or Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs are groups of medications that serve to inhibit the immune system from damaging the joints, thus slowing further joint damage. Rheumatoid arthritis causes permanent joint damage in the early stages and so it is very important to start these medications right away. The risks for severe side effects are high with these medications. Taking DMARDs for a long time may result in bone marrow and liver toxicity, vulnerability to infections, skin allergies, and autoimmunity. Biological Agents Biological agents or biological drugs function to alleviate inflammation via various methods. An example of how they work is by inhibiting tumour necrosis factors. They also can treat inflammation through eradicating Beta cells. Salicylates Salicylates reduce the body’s production of prostaglandins. The use of salicylates has been replaced with NSAIDs, mainly due to the fact that they caused adverse side effects. Pain Relief Medications While anti-pain drugs neither decrease inflammation nor suppress further joint damage, these medications allow the individual become more comfortable and eventually function better. (2) PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL To determine baseline levels and the areas exercise is in need of improvement, exercise testing can be used to evaluate the different exercise parameters. Those with rheumatoid arthritis tolerate sub-maximal and subjective symptom-limited treadmill tests that require less than 3 miles per hour walking speed. Early-onset muscle fatigue may limit receiving accurate information. Since people with rheumatoid arthritis may have troubles performing maximal treadmill test, sub-maximal bicycle tests may provide more accurate information without over-stressing joints.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty-Three

â€Å"I don't know how it got so late,† Elena said for the third time as they hurried down the path by the quad. â€Å"Bonnie and Meredith are probably worried about me.† â€Å"They know you're with me,† Damon said, pacing along unruffled beside her. â€Å"I don't think they'l find that comforting,† Elena said, and bit her tongue as Damon shot her an expressive look. â€Å"After al the time we've spent fighting side by side, they stil don't trust me?† he said silkily. â€Å"I'd be terribly hurt. If I cared what they thought.† â€Å"I don't mean that they think you'd hurt me,† Elena said. â€Å"Not anymore. Or that you wouldn't protect me. I guess they worry that you might †¦ might make a pass at me. Or something.† Damon stopped and looked at her. Then he picked up her hand and held it, running one finger down the inside of her arm, tracing the vein that led from Elena's wrist to her elbow. â€Å"And what do you think?† he asked, smiling gently. Elena snatched her hand back, glaring at him. â€Å"Clearly they have a point,† she said. â€Å"Knock it off. Just friends, remember?† Sighing deeply, Damon started walking again, and Elena hurried to catch up. â€Å"I'm glad you decided to come to the party with me,† she said eventual y. â€Å"It'l be fun.† Damon shot her a velvet-black glance through his lashes but said nothing. It was always fun to be with Damon, Elena thought, listening to the clicking of her own heels and watching her shadow grow and disappear as they walked beneath the streetlights. Or at least, it was always fun when Damon was in a good mood and nothing was trying to kil them, two circumstances she wished coincided more often. Stefan, sweet, darling Stefan, was the love of her life. She had no doubts about that. But Damon made her feel breathless and excited, swept up in something bigger than herself. Damon made her feel like she was special. And he was more easygoing than usual tonight. After Matt left, they'd searched the library some more, and then Damon treated her to chips and soda in the basement vending-machine room. They sat at one of the little tables and talked and laughed. It wasn't anything fancy or elegant, nothing like the parties he'd escorted her to in the Dark Dimension, but it was comfortable and fun, and when she looked at her phone, she was startled to see that more than an hour had passed. And now Damon even volunteered to come to a col ege keg party. Maybe he was trying to get along with her friends. Maybe they could real y be friends, once things somehow worked out between Stefan and him. Elena had reached this point in her musings when she suddenly got the unmistakable creepy-crawly feeling that she was being watched. The little hairs on the back of her neck stood up. â€Å"Damon,† she said softly. â€Å"There's someone watching us.† Damon's pupils dilated as he sniffed the air. Elena could tel that he was sending out questing tendrils of Power, searching for an answering surge, for someone focusing on them. â€Å"Nothing,† he said after a moment. He tucked his hand under her arm, pul ing her closer. â€Å"It could just be your imagination, princess, but we'l be careful.† The leather of Damon's jacket was smooth against Elena's side, and she held tightly to him as they stepped out into the road that divided the campus. Just across from them, a car that had been idling at the curb gunned its engine. Its headlights blazed on, blinding Elena. Damon's arms locked around her waist, squeezing the breath out of her. The car's tires squealed and it shot toward them. Elena panicked – oh God, oh God, she thought helplessly – and froze. Then she was sailing through the air, Damon holding her so tightly that it hurt. When they hit the grass on the other side of the road, Damon paused for a moment, adjusting his grip on Elena, and Elena peered back at the car, which had passed where they were standing a moment before and skidded back around in a U-turn. She couldn't make out anything, not what kind of car it was nor anything about the driver; behind the bright lights, it was just a hulking dark shape. A hulking dark shape that was veering onto the grass and coming back after them. Damon swore and yanked her onward, running rather than flying now, Elena's feet barely touching the ground. Her heart was pounding. She could tel Damon was hampered from using his ful speed by keeping Elena close. They dodged around the corner of a building and leaned against its wal , surrounded by bushes. The car hurtled by, then turned, its wheels leaving long skid marks, and lumbered back to the road. â€Å"We lost him,† Elena whispered, panting. â€Å"Annoy anyone lately, princess?† Damon asked, his eyes sharp. â€Å"I should be asking you that,† Elena retorted. Then she wrapped her arms around herself. She was so cold suddenly. â€Å"Do you think it could have been because of the Vitale Society?† she asked, her voice quavering. â€Å"Something about them and my parents?† â€Å"We don't know who or what could have been on the other side of that trapdoor,† Damon replied somberly. â€Å"Or maybe Matt†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Not Matt,† Elena said firmly. â€Å"Matt would never hurt me.† Damon nodded. â€Å"That's true. He's ridiculously honorable, your Matt.† He gave her a little wry sideways smile. â€Å"And he loves you. Everyone loves you, Elena.† He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. â€Å"One thing's certain, though. If the driver of that car thought I was human before, he knows differently now.† Elena pul ed the jacket more tightly around herself. â€Å"You saved me,† she said in a tiny voice. â€Å"Thank you.† Damon's eyes were soft as he put his arms around her. â€Å"I wil always save you, Elena,† he promised. â€Å"Don't you know that by now?† His pupils dilated, and he pul ed her closer. â€Å"I can't lose you,† he murmured. Elena felt like she was fal ing. The world was being swal owed up in Damon's midnight eyes, and she was being drawn along with it, into the darkness. A tiny part of her said no, but despite it she leaned toward him and met his mouth with hers. Stefan tapped his fingers against the wal behind him, looked around at al the people jammed too close together: talking, laughing, arguing, drinking, dancing. His skin was crawling with anxiety. Where was she? Matt said he'd seen her at the library more than an hour ago, that she had been planning on coming to the party then. Making up his mind, Stefan began to push his way toward the exit. Maybe Elena didn't want him in contact with her right now, but people were dying and disappearing. It would be worth it to have her angry with him, as long as he knew that she was okay. He passed Meredith, deep in conversation with her friend, and said, â€Å"I'm going to find Elena.† He had the quick impression of her faltering, starting to reach out a hand to stop him, but he left her behind. He pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool night air. Campus security was stil by the door checking IDs, but they let him pass without comment, only interested in people trying to come into the party. Outside, the wind was rushing through the trees overhead and a crescent moon rode high and white above the buildings around him. Stefan sent his Power out around him, feeling for the distinct traces of Elena. He couldn't sense anything, not yet. There were too many people too close together here, and Stefan could only feel the tangled traces of thousands of humans, their emotions and life force mixing together in one great underlying buzz from which it was impossible for him, at this distance, to pick out any particular individual, even one as singular as Elena. If he had fed on human blood recently, it would have been easier. Stefan couldn't help thinking longingly of the way that Power had surged through him when he drank regularly from his friends. But that was when Fel ‘s Church needed his best defense against the kitsune. He wouldn't drink human blood just for pleasure or convenience. Stefan started walking quickly across the quad, stil sending out questing fingers of Power around and ahead of himself. If he couldn't locate Elena that way, he would head for where she was last seen. He hoped that, as he got closer to the library, his Power would pick up some hint of her. His whole body was thrumming anxiously. What if Elena had been attacked, what if she mysteriously vanished and never returned, leaving him with this strange distance as their last memory of each other? Stefan walked faster. He was halfway to the library when the distinctive sense of Elena hit him like a punch. Somewhere nearby. He scanned left and right and then he saw her. A terrible pain shot through his chest, as if he could actual y feel his heart breaking. She was kissing Damon. They were half hidden in the shadows, but their light skin and Elena's blond hair shone. They were focused only on each other, so much so that, despite his Power, Damon wasn't aware of Stefan's presence, not even when he walked right up to them. â€Å"Is this why you wanted to take some time apart, Elena?† Stefan asked, his voice sounding hol ow and distant. Final y noticing him, they broke away from each other, Elena's face pale with shock. â€Å"Stefan,† she said. â€Å"Please, Stefan, no, it's not what it looks like.† She reached out a hand toward him, then drew it back uncertainly. Everything seemed so far away to Stefan; he was aware that he was shaking, his mouth was dry, but it felt almost as if he was watching someone else in pain. â€Å"I can't do this,† he said. â€Å"Not again. If I fight for you, I'l just end up destroying us al . Just like with Katherine.† Elena was shaking her head back and forth, her hands stretched out toward him imploringly again. â€Å"Please, Stefan,† she said. â€Å"I can't,† Stefan said again, backing away, his voice thin and desperate. Then, for the first time, he looked at Damon, and a redhot rage slammed into him, overriding the numb distance instantly. â€Å"Al you do is take,† Stefan told him bitterly. â€Å"This is the last time. We're not brothers anymore.† Damon's face opened for a split second in dismay, his eyes widening, as if he was about to speak, and then he hardened again, his mouth twisting scornful y, and he jerked his head at Stefan. Very well, that gesture indicated, then get lost. Stefan stumbled backward, and then he turned and ran, moving with al the supernatural grace and speed at his command, leaving them far behind even as Elena screamed, â€Å"Stefan!†

Effective Argumentative Essay Topics Part 1

Effective Argumentative Essay Topics Part 1 Effective Argumentative Essay Topics Part 1 November 18, 2016 We have created the list of incredible argumentative essay topics for both instructors and students. Our website can be a reliable resource, where you can draw inspiration from, if you do not know how to approach persuasive writing. The list consists of numerous sections and it is simple to find the needed topic. You will definitely come across good argument essay topics for your personal pieces of writing. If you do not know how to start writing and deal with argumentative topics, you can always consult some online writing labs or find examples that will clearly show what argumentative writing presumes. Topics about Animals Do people pay enough time and attention to the protection of animals? Have you ever kicked an animal? Why? Do you regret? Should there be a severe punishment for people who treat animals in a cruel manner? Should zoos be closed? Are there any ethical and legal considerations about it? Why did dinosaurs become extinct? Should animals be given certain legal rights, just like human beings? Do you think that people have no right to kill animals for food? Bullying What are the common forms of cyber-bullying? Bullying at schools. Should teachers punish students for this sort of misbehavior? How to differentiate between bullying and typical quarrels between students? Should students report on bullying to the police? How can school counseling deal with bullying? Arts Do you clearly differentiate between fiction and non-fiction? What is the edge between those two literary genres? Can people live without art and what possible consequences will be? Do you believe that graffiti can be characterized as an art form? Does pop culture make any positive influence on people? Should all students be obliged to study Arts in colleges or universities? Good argumentative essay topics can always be found on our website. You are bound to find the one that interests you the most. Work Responsibilities and Career Should potential employers pay attention to the SAT results? Would you quit your well-paid job for a low-paid one that you dreamt about for so long? Would you like to commute to your work instead of living in a loud city? Do you think working at home is as productive as working in the office? Will you add your employer to a friend list on the social media websites? If your life values differ much from the ones of your employer, will you still continue working for the same company? The American Dream Compare and contrast lives of the immigrants and Americans? Do you think that neighborhood imposes its own rules about how you should live in America? Is it possible to work days and nights and become rich? While choosing a country to live in, does it matter that the US is the most powerful and influential in the modern world? Parents and Children Should young children have a cell phone? Do you think parents should buy luxurious gifts for their children? Should children feel a certain level of freedom in their actions? Pushing parents: Will children ever reach anything according to parents wishes? Why should children spend less time watching TV? Should parents set certain technology hours for their kids? Does modern pop culture make a strong influence on children and their perception of the world around them? Should parents forbid children to dress like their favorite celebrities? Children in the US against children in the European countries. The influence of excessive video watching on children and their development of personality. Do you think that Halloween costumes should be changed into positive ones? Should parents spy on their children by checking their social media accounts? How to control teenagers behavior? Modern parent-children relations. How are they different from the past? What upbringing techniques do you believe to be the most effective? The Rich and Fame Do you think that children of celebrities would never survive without money given by their parents? Should paparazzi be legally punished for spying on celebrities? Do you think celebrities should donate more to volunteer organizations? Do you think famous people are happy? Topics for Argumentative Essays about College Life Scholarship and grants. Are all applicants equal? Should all high school graduates attend college? How to choose the right college. How to write an application essay for college of your dream. Should all college students live in dorms? Should English literature and history be an obligatory course for all college students? College rankings: How do instructors divide students according to their personal preferences? How would you improve the admission process? Do students need to attend all classes? Late submission. Should instructors re-consider their policies about extending deadlines? Should college education be free of charge? Science and Environment Issues Tests on animals. Do you support or oppose it? Have you ever tried to do something useful for the environment? Should all people be involved in the community programs related to environmental issues? Do you think climate changes can be overcome? How do you see the world around us in 50 years? What scientific project would you like to join? Do you think that developed countries invest too much in the development of science? There are many topics for argumentative essay. If the choice is up to you, do not make any quick decisions and read our list till the end to make the right move. Personal Appearance Why do people resort to a cosmetic surgery? What is your opinion about high quality clothing? Should it always be expensive? How should office workers dress up? Should children be given much freedom about the way they choose clothing? Nutrition and Food Do you think that all people should have a hearty breakfast? Why? Do you really care about the origin of your food? Should MacDonalds and Tacos be forbidden? What is your ethical position pertaining to meat consumption? Should school children be forbidden to buy sugary drinks? What is your perfect meal? Should it include vegetables and fruits? Should parents pay more attention to the nutrition of their children? Do you think overweight is interdependent with the food he/she consumes? Football Should students playing football be paid? Do you consider football to be a dangerous game? Do you think children be allowed to play football despite its high trauma levels? Do you think football fans act too offensively? Easy Argumentative Essay Topics on Gender Issues Do you think a reunion of Rihanna and Chris Brown is a good choice? Do you share an opinion of inequality of male and female leadership? Should school divide classes for boys and girls? Do you think gender influences decisions of potential employers? Do you think that parents set different standards for their children depending on their gender? Do you think that gender has no influence over peoples decisions? How do you perceive the issue of sexual violence in the US? Is it true or false that women rely too much on their emotions in decision making? Is it alright for males to comment on females they see on the street or elsewhere? Do you think it is easier to find a compromise with a person of the same gender? Do you think that women are too much concerned about a perfect body? Why do boys choose exact sciences more often than girls? Should girls be forbidden to wear skirts at school? Do you think that gender issues are not well-researched? How do modern media define sexuality? Do you think that men and women have equal rights and responsibilities? Bad Habits: Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol Can you create a plan for discouraging teens from smoking? Do you see it obligatory to impose drug testing on students? Do you think that an inclination of drunk driving should be finally resolved? Should marijuana be legalized in all states? Is tobacco smoking still popular among high school students? What is binge drinking? Does this problem refer to the US youth? Should parents refrain from drinking at home in front of their children? Do you think that government should invest more money into anti-smoking campaign? Modern Generation Do you think that racial inequality can ever be eradicated? Do you think that modern generation develops too rapidly? What is your perfect view of a generation? Government and Politics Do you think that government should pay more attention to the national security? Do you think that politicians are not preoccupied with citizen privacy? How you imagine a perfect government? Does government deal mostly with problems of the rich? Would you like to be a state governor? What will be your first steps? Gun Control Do you think that guns should be allowed for common people? What is the positive side of gun usage (if any)? Should educational establishments think more about gun control? Do you think homicide rates can become lower if government imposes a ban on gun possession? Do you think that students will feel safer if school security will carry guns? Mass shooting and gun laws. How should government react to the issue with gun possession? How can the issue with illegal gun ownership be resolved? Health Issues Should euthanasia be permitted? Do you think medical marijuana should be legalized in all countries? Should unvaccinated students attend the same classes with vaccinated ones? Do you think that overweight people need more psychological assistance than anyone else? Do you believe that healthy food consumption is a key to the general well-being? Should parents control what their children eat outside home surrounding? Standardized School Tests Do you think that school tests can precisely evaluate ones knowledge in the subject? Should standardized tests be cancelled? Do you think that students should spend more time on preparing for tests? How do you manage to suppress anxiety before tests? Housekeeping and Tidiness Do you think that parents should teach children to be tidy, no matter what people surround them? Should all children be involved in house cleaning? Do you think that a clean house reflects how successful a person is? Explore even more topics for an argumentative essay with us. You will find a great deal of topics that can be very interesting to explore in academic writing. Politics and Leadership Do you think that a good leader should be an extrovert? Do you think that leadership is an inborn feature? Do you think that politics is nothing more than a game with our lives? Technology Tablet devices: Should they be introduced in a school setting? Do you think that students spend too much money on technological devices? Do technology trends influence all groups of people? Do you think that technology makes our life easier? Can you remember instances when you would rather get rid of all technological devices? Do you think that texting at school should be controlled? Does technology make our life funnier? Should the usage of cell phones be restricted at schools? Do you think that robots will actually live with us? Do you think that a computer will be able to assess your essays? Immigration Should illegal immigrants have the same rights to education as common citizens? Should the US introduce less strict deportation laws? International Relations Should government spend less money on identification of potential terrorists? Do you think that it is a waste of money? Have you every though that there is a spy behind you? Do you think that military force operations in developing countries should be cancelled?

Fight Club, The First Scene Essay Example

Fight Club, The First Scene Essay Example Fight Club, The First Scene Essay Fight Club, The First Scene Essay Fight Club, directed by David Fincher, is a movie of man versus himself and man versus society. The movie encompasses the struggle of a man trying to find his true self and his place in society. The first scene of Fight Club helps the viewer understand how the rest of the movie will unfold and the meaning behind it. The first scene really begins with the opening credits. The scene opens with a backward tracking shot. The setting has appearances of being under water or even space, all digital effect. The shot then seems to transcend through something and fades to black. The shot then tracks down a persons face and backwards following the barrel of a gun. The shot then comes to rest in behind the gun in the narrators mouth. The narrators face then comes into focus. Then there is a cut to a close up of the left side of the narrators face and gun. Then cut to front side close up of narrator and gun, this time the hand holding the gun is visible. Next there is cut to medium shot of the hand pulling the gun out of the mouth of the narrator. Tyler Durden, holding the gun, moves to the right and camera pans to follow him, keeping narrator still in focus and in the shot. Tyler walks to the back of the narrator to a window behind the narrator. It is then clear all this is taking place in a skyscraper. Then there is a shot-reverse-shot of close up of narrators face turning to look back at the window and Tyler. Then cut to a beautiful medium shot from outside of the building looking in at the narrator and Tyler with the reflection of the city in the window. Then suddenly the camera does a fast tracking shot down the building, transcends the street to basement of the building. The camera stops with a medium shot of a van with a bullet hole in it. The camera then tracks forward, transcends the windshield, and stops on a close up of a bomb in the van. Then there is another fast tracking shot out of the van, out of the building, across the street and into another building. The shot stops on another bomb under this building. Next there is a cut back to medium shot in front of narrator with him still looking back at Tyler looking out the window. Cut to close up of waist of Tyler holding his watch. Then there is a long shot in front of narrator, still looking back, with Tyler behind him on his right looking out window. Then cut to medium shot of narrator looking forward. Next camera tracks in to close up of narrators face. This then concludes the first scene of fight club. : This first scene of Fight Club is essential to the make up and meaning of the movie. The initial shot of the opening credits is actually inside the head of the narrator. This conveys that the movie is going to be dealing with the mind of the narrator. Come to find out a lot of the movie actually takes place in the mind. The audience has to view the movie with an understanding that sometimes the events taking place may be a representation of the narrators mind and not the real world. Once the shot moves out of his head, the audience sees a gun in the mouth of the narrator. This actually is a continuation of the mind and the narrator is actually the person holding the gun in his own mouth. The narrator thinks it is Tyler Durden, his best friend, but Tyler is also a continuation of his mind. The scene also shows bombs under two skyscrapers of the city. After the first scene the viewer realizes the movie is going to be about how the narrator arrived in this position and how those bombs c ame to be under those building. In closing, this scene conveys that the entire movies is about a man struggling with his mind and alter ego, and how he arrived at his present position

Your LinkedIn Profile 10 Most Common Errors and Omissions

Your LinkedIn Profile 10 Most Common Errors and Omissions Your professional image is largely determined by whats on your LinkedIn profile. Dont think for a minute that any and I mean any employer who considers hiring you wont Google you and vet your LinkedIn profile. What would you like them to find there? I recently offered to review 20 peoples LinkedIn profiles for free, and I got an overwhelming response to my offer. What I learned through the process of conducting these reviews rather astounded me. Heres what potential employers and clients will see in most profiles: 1. Spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in the main profile. Dont let this happen. Find a good editor to review your profile! 2. Recommendations containing spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Have someone check these and if there are errors, ask your recommender to replace the recommendation. Most people are very cooperative Ive made these requests myself! 3. No picture, a blurry picture, a picture with 2 people in it, or a picture with a busy background. I understand some people have privacy considerations that raise concerns about posting a picture on LinkedIn. If you do choose to post a photo, however, make it a head shot with a plain, light background. Were shooting for the professional look here! 4. Websites like My Company and My graduate school. These titles dont provide much information. Thankfully, its easy to personalize your URLs just choose Other and write in your specific website description. 5. Public profile URLs with lots of numbers, letters and slashes at the end. You can customize your URL to end with your name. Is that name taken? Try last name followed by first name, or use an initial or two, or insert dashes you can figure this one out. (Read more about this in my post Should I Include My LinkedIn Profile URL on My Resume?) Heres what potential employers and clients will NOT see in many cases: 1. Consistency. From one job description to the next, there are often discrepancies in format and structure. Consistency is extremely important in any resume-like document! If you have a heading that says Major Accomplishments, use it in all positions where you had major accomplishments. If you are writing in the third person, write everything in the third person. If you use periods at the end of your bullets, do it everywhere. Capisce? 2. Recommendations. If you own a business or are looking for work, it is especially important to use this opportunity to have people sell you! 3. Descriptions of your job duties and accomplishments why would you leave these out? Its okay on your 10th job in the list to leave out the bullets, but make sure you provide a description of what you did at your jobs. Start your phrases with verbs (past tense verbs for past positions, present tense verbs for present positions). Let us know not just what you did but what you accomplished. The more concrete and quantifiable the better. You can also attach a resume for this purpose if you download the application Box.net. 4. School activities and sometimes degrees. If you got a degree or participated in activities while in school, list them! 5. Applications. I recommend checking out the partner applications available through LinkedIn. You can attach documents, recommend books, and do many other things with these useful tools. Find out whats available and use it! If you avoid these errors and omissions in your LinkedIn profile, you will stand out in a positive way to the people reading it. Why would you take a chance by doing anything else? Are you getting the results that you want from your LinkedIn profile? If not, this book is for you. In my do-it-yourself Kindle book, How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile And 18 Mistakes to Avoid! I provide you with 18 detailed strategies and writing tips that other â€Å"LinkedIn experts† don’t cover. First I tell you how to get found on LinkedIn, and then I tell you how to keep people reading. Click here for more info and to order. Category:Archived ArticlesBy Brenda BernsteinMay 22, 2009 2 Comments Irene Castillo says: May 25, 2009 at 5:14 am I am interested. How would I pay the $25? Thank you. Log in to Reply admin says: May 29, 2009 at 4:12 pm Here is the link to the profile review offer on my website: LinkedIn Profile Review Click ?add to cart? and you will be brought to a PayPal window where you can purchase the profile review. If you would prefer, we can send a PayPal request by email, or an invoice for payment by check. What you get in a LinkedIn Profile Review by The Essay Expert: ? Overview of your presentation, including strengths and weaknesses ? Detailed commentary on every section of your profile ? Substantive and technical suggestions for improvement Thank you for working with The Essay Expert. Log in to Reply

Role of Nature and Nurture in Perceptions about Sensory Information Assignment

Role of Nature and Nurture in Perceptions about Sensory Information - Assignment Example The present assignment has identified that animals have the ability to distinguish objects, which becomes possible from their reactions to applications of stimuli. However, the nature of such perceptions relates to only surmising. Difficulties faced in examining animals relate to whether they fail to respond because of the need to perceive or because of the reluctance to do so. Recent research has clearly indicated that the great apes have similar language abilities as human beings, in terms of perceptions relative to sensory information. In fact, considerable controversy has been created by suggestions that there is a similarity in the language ability of apes and human beings (Terrace et al, 1979). The accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information is determined by the distinction between sensations and perceptions and to what extent they vary in relation to how the different terms are defined. A second factor that determines the extent of accuracy in this regard is that perceptions are dependent upon the impact of learning through taste, touch, smell, and hearing. Thirdly, vision is the most important factor that is considered to impact sensory information. Researchers have been focusing upon the constituent components of visual perception and the need to analyze organized wholes because humans are prone to relate to patterns. Moreover, visual objects have the tendency to remain stable in spite of constantly altering stimulus characteristics such as contrast of figure arrangements, perspectives, and ambient light. This allows observers to relate perceptions of objects with objects as they are understood to be existent. In this regard, perceptions are known to be impacted by values, ideas, needs, expectations and conflicts (Baddeley, 2005). Sensory memory is believed to be the shortest-term component of memory because it retains pictures of sensory information following the ending of the initial stimuli. Sensory memory is also a virtual buffer for stimuli and comes from the five senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and vision that are absorbed accurately, although for a brief time. For instance, the accuracy of sensory information is evident from the fact that when we look at something, we remember what it looked like, even if it is observed for a single second. This is an example of sensory memory (Baddeley, 2005). There are a number of factors that contribute to the accuracy of sensory data. Just as it happens in any measurement system, sensory evaluation is also prone to being a source of error. There are factors that impact the accuracy and precision of sensory data and thus lessen its reliability. Psychological factors arise in view of using human subjects as tools of measurement. Despite instructions being issued and training being given by organizers to panelists, a great deal of confusion arises in regard to the details of the instructions and the choice of sensory scales. Thus, there is all likelihood that individual panelist s could have different interpretations of sensory characteristics and intensity levels. Moreover, the decision-making process could also change within the same study, thus creating uncertainties. Different panel members may have different focus levels whereby some could be distracted or experience fatigue, which impacts sensory abilities. A large number of experimental designs can strongly impact the reliability and accuracy of data. This is because it is crucial for samples to be presented, which also requires that they have to be standardized in the context of nonassociative coding, lighting conditions, temperature, and form.  

EasyJet Airline Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

EasyJet Airline Company - Essay Example The timeline of EasyJet Airline reportedly started in March of 1995 as founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou was noted to have offered flights at significantly low fares in Europe. Currently,it boasts of being â€Å"Europe's leading airline,operating on over 600 routes across 30 countries with our fleet of over 200 aircraft, employing over 8,000 people In its almost 18 years of organizational existence, EasyJet was noted to have been governed by a code of conduct to guide the behavior and decision-making processes of its personnel. The paper hereby presents a critical evaluation of the code of EasyJet Airline through a description of the code and by thoroughly assessing the code’s effectiveness in demonstrating the company’s values and conformity to business ethics. Critical Analysis of the Code The organization’s code was found under the title Governance on their official website: http://corporate.EasyJet.com/about-EasyJet/governance.aspx?sc_lang=en. Upon initial gl ance, the governance page contains information that indicates that the organization’s board of directors commissioned setting principles and ethical policies, of which, it was explicitly emphasized that the â€Å"key to these principles is working in an open and honest manner† (EasyJet Airline, Governance, n.d., par. 2). Likewise, the code was apparently patterned from the UK Corporate Governance Code which allegedly requires the following information to be disclosed:†¢ Terms of reference for the Finance Committee†¢Terms of reference for the Remuneration Committee... ance Committee   Terms of reference for the Remuneration Committee Terms of reference for the Audit Committee Terms of reference for the Nominations Committee   Terms and conditions of appointment / reappointment of the non- executive directors Matters reserved for the Board Non-Audit Services Policy (EasyJet Airline, Governance, n.d., par. 3). Finally, two (2) other documents were disclosed to be incorporated and accessible: (1) Corporate Governance Pages of the Annual Report; and (2) division of responsibilities of the Chairman and CEO (EasyJet Airline, Governance, n.d., par. 4). The Corporate Governance Pages of the 2012 Annual Report are found on pages 44 to 48 and contain the following major portions, to wit: principles statement, statement of compliance, leadership, directors’ conflicts of interest, board engagement with investors, board committees, relations with investors, internal control, risk management and internal audit (EasyJet, Corporate governance, 2012). T he Ethics Resource Center has recommended a code outline that should apparently contain the following format: I.  Ã‚  Ã‚   MEMORABLE TITLE   II.  Ã‚   LEADERSHIP LETTER   III.   TABLE OF CONTENTS   IV.   INTRODUCTION-PROLOGUE   V.  Ã‚   CORE VALUES OF ORGANIZATION   VI.   CODE PROVISIONS-SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS   VII.   INFORMATION AND RESOURCES (Ethics Resource Center, 2009, p. 1). From the course modules, it was explicitly defined that the contents of ethical codes are as follows: â€Å"standard of conduct, obeying the law, employees,consumers, shareholders, business partners, community involvement, public activities, environment, innovation, competition, business integrity, and compliance/monitoring† (University of Salford Manchester, What is the content of ethical codes?, 2012, p. 6; Crane and Matten, 2007).

Global Business and IMF Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Business and IMF - Essay Example The Great Depression and the two World Wars gave a great setback to the greatest nations of the world. Shook by these disasters, delegates from 44 countries met in July 1944 at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in U.S.A. and agreed on a framework for â€Å"economic cooperation party† (Clift, 2004). The IMF was conceived in that meeting, whose primary agenda was to avoid those inconsistent economic policies that led to the Great Depression of 1930s. It background was the pursuit of flawed economic policies, like increased restriction on imports and freedom to buy in other countries, dwindling gold and foreign exchange reserves and even devaluation of currencies, which together contributed to worsening the downward spiral in output, world trade and the overall employment rate. All these steps devastated the international economy, leading to a sharp decline in trade, world output, employment and living standards (Dicken, 1986). Hence in order to restore the international monetary relations, the IMF emerged after the constitution of a charter (Articles of Agreement) by the country representatives. Its purpose was the establishment of an international institution, which could overlook the international monetary system and guide the member countries to pursue appropriate economic policies. It officially came into existence in December 1945, when 29 countries signed the Articles of Agreement (IMF). Since then, IMF has strictly pursued its original purposes, which became more important with the expansion of more countries. Any country, regardless of being a member of UN or not, is eligible for membership of the IMF. The membership largely depends on the terms prescribed by the Board of Directors of IMF. However, a country has to agree to financial policies economic growth and reasonable price stability. Furthermore, the country has to provide the IMF with economic data, which it will regularly analyse. After reviewing and monitoring

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 31

Management - Essay Example These factors have enable the firm be the best semiconductor chip manufacturer globally. The company currently enjoys a wider market and increased profits. The two factors are of essence in the existence of a business. Intel thus has a number of strengths and these include effective marketing. There is no doubt to the fact that the firm has one of the best marketing teams in the world. The company manufactures information technology devices. It is therefore more likely for the firm’s employees to be technologically savvy. Such a team knows what to do to result in increased publicity for products. Within no time, the products and services of the business are uploaded onto the social networking platforms alongside the other conventional media. The social media offers clients a unique opportunity to stay a head of their competition; the customer literally interacts with possible clients who may develop customer infatuation with products (Alexander 128). Besides the extensive and very elaborate advertisement parameters, the company enjoys a favorable reputation. This factor comes from the fact that it has existed for a very long time and is arguably among the pioneers of modern day computing technology. The high quality of its chips is thus known and highly regarded. Such occurrences make clients develop loyalty with the given products. Customer loyalty as well as interpersonal recommendation is the most effective form of advertisement. With these, the firm enjoys positivity and commands a large customer base globally. Additionally, the firm currently enjoys the increased revenue because of the market segment it targets. It is common knowledge that the market is divided into two; there are those who shop while attaching more importance to the price of the commodity while there are those who attach heir shopping decisions on the quality of the products. Subscribers having a belief in quality will buy any good regardless of its price provided the

Team and leadership db2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Team and leadership db2 - Essay Example used his decision-making skills on a multi-dimensional level to navigate his company through the ever-dynamic external and internal forces that drive the insurance business. With experience accumulated from 1997, he is able to predict market trends and align his employees with the least disruptions. This is helped by his personality strengths, which include resilience and ambition in a fiercely competitive industry. Further, he has the leadership skills to balance organisational relationships, even when it is in conflict with the interests of stakeholders’. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), effective CEOs must act as role models, communicate across boundaries and solve problems creatively (PWC, 2013). By emphasising on innovation and efficiency, Blair has set an example for his employees and supervisors to be creative. Involving all levels in an organizations hierarchy in conducting market research leads motivation simply by participating (Tittemore, 2003). Blair used that strategy, which resulted in the development of the supplemental benefits programs that realised record growth. He also insists on the organisation to hire and maintain the best professionals in the sector who are capable of, like himself, working with and inspiring all colleagues. The key legacy the CEO will leave behind is the organisational culture that encourages each employee to be a role model to colleagues, which promotes communication across all

Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care Research Paper

Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care - Research Paper Example The present research has identified that the Obamacare act was introduced for the purpose of reducing the uninsured number of Americans; thus introducing universal healthcare that benefits everyone. The government wanted to reduce the total healthcare costs and provide a mechanism for increasing the healthcare coverage rate such as through subsidies and tax credit cards. However, the health care reform act has posed significant challenges; thus, it has become a political debate in America. This is because the rich feel that the Obamacare act is not fair because they will be paying for the lazy workers. Therefore, instead of putting control over the health care reform decisions, the government will mandate families, individuals or employees to be the key decision makers in the healthcare issues. The government will mandate families, individuals or employees to make decisions on the health care issues. This is because the problem of health care reform has been a significant problem for a long time in the U.S. Therefore,  providing employees or individuals to make their own decisions and provide their own opinions on the policy reform. This will enable the government to get the sense of direction. The healthcare services have become expensive in the contemporary society. Many people are dying especially the poor because they are unable to afford the Medicare services. Moreover, many Americans especially those suffering from acute diseases are unable to meet the cost of medicine because some diseases such as cancer are expensive to treat; thus the new health care act will benefit people suffering from such disease that are too costly to maintain. Therefore, including employees or individuals to offer their opinions over the issues of health care reform will enable the government to implement an effective policy that benefits everyone. Mason, Leavitt, and Chaffee reveal that the big threat in America is the rising costs for healthcare services. Healthcare costs ha ve become one of the driving forces for economic assets more than even oil and food crisis.

Team and leadership db2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Team and leadership db2 - Essay Example used his decision-making skills on a multi-dimensional level to navigate his company through the ever-dynamic external and internal forces that drive the insurance business. With experience accumulated from 1997, he is able to predict market trends and align his employees with the least disruptions. This is helped by his personality strengths, which include resilience and ambition in a fiercely competitive industry. Further, he has the leadership skills to balance organisational relationships, even when it is in conflict with the interests of stakeholders’. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), effective CEOs must act as role models, communicate across boundaries and solve problems creatively (PWC, 2013). By emphasising on innovation and efficiency, Blair has set an example for his employees and supervisors to be creative. Involving all levels in an organizations hierarchy in conducting market research leads motivation simply by participating (Tittemore, 2003). Blair used that strategy, which resulted in the development of the supplemental benefits programs that realised record growth. He also insists on the organisation to hire and maintain the best professionals in the sector who are capable of, like himself, working with and inspiring all colleagues. The key legacy the CEO will leave behind is the organisational culture that encourages each employee to be a role model to colleagues, which promotes communication across all

Research Four Articles or Develop Tactics for your Public Relations Essay

Research Four Articles or Develop Tactics for your Public Relations - Essay Example s article further continues to show the situation in the institutions of higher learning whereby many stories were written and taken to well know media houses thus creating a good relation with them, but with the technology most people prefer to convey their stories directly to the audience. This article that illustrates the future of public relation jobs argues that the personality, charming nature, and the integration of ones talent, uniqueness, being eloquent as well as endurance to various factors play a big role for the success of public relations ( Kera,2012).All these qualities need to be blended for the success of public relation. The greatest challenge is the blending of these virtues which is leading to the diminishing of public relation jobs, it goes beyond one imagination and one has to be very innovative in order to succeed in this field. Publicity mostly in this industry plays a vital role for ones success. For example, Oprah Winfrey one of the most sought after public relation figures laid down a number of lessons that many people followed leading to their success in their careers. Some of the lessons included the issue of being transparent as well as the aspect of telling the truth about oneself. Another aspect is the issue of being fully knowledgeable t owards the issues you are addressing besides being innovative. Innovativeness tops this list because it is one element that people embrace making it possible to analyze the situations in place. According to this article, the future of public relations jobs is advancing in line with the technological advancements. In addition, the emergence of online blogs as this article illustrates allows some of the public relations departments and firms to extract information regarding the public opinion on some issues which they might have not gained access to or had no prior information about (Georgy, 2011). The development of software for example Bacons media map, allows the public relation professionals and

Gods Word in Schools Essay Example for Free

Gods Word in Schools Essay Currently our country is in moral decay because we are not raising our children under the authority of Gods Word. For example, some parents feel as though their children should not have to do chores around the house. It is our responsibility as parents to educate our children on what Gods Word  says about all of lifes issues, including chores. In Jane Smileys, The Case Against Chores she attacks parents that have their kids do chores saying that it alienates children from the family, but it my family it brings us together because we all pitch in to get the job done. In 1 Samuel 16:11 it says when Samuel came to anoint David, he was in the field tending the sheep. He was doing his chores! This passage clearly indicates that God wants kids to do chores. Whether or not our kids do chores is not the biggest issue though. In the 1960s the U. S. Supreme Court decided to take prayer out of our schools. From that point on our country has seen a vast moral decay resulting in things such as AIDS and the murder of millions of innocent babies. Are we to blame the government for this? How about the school system? We need to look at ourselves as parents. Since our school systems are not going to allow the Word to be taught we parents must take up the sword and teach our children what God has to say about lifes major issues. Traditional family values are quickly becoming a thing of the past. In her article Ms. Smiley states, And dont the parents love their children anyway, whether the children vacuum or not? This is insinuating that the only reason parent’s love their kids, is because of the work they do. To that I say its because we love our kids we assign them chores. This helps them learn responsibility. The Bible says, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Its not just about teaching our children what the Word says, but we must show them in our relationship with them. Ms. Smiley says in her article when she was taking care of her horse she saw the purpose of her labor. If we educate our children about Gods Word they will see the purpose in everything they do. Colossians 3:23 says, And whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. When Gods Word is in our heart our entire life takes on new meaning. Ms. Smiley says in her article when she was a girl she had a problem with a teacher because she (Ms. Smiley) always did what she wanted to do. She had no responsibility. She would leave for school with her room a mess and return home and it would be cleaned up for her. Its clear that Gods Word had not been taught to Ms. Smiley. The Bible says in Romans 13:1 that we are to submit ourselves to authority. Proverbs 15:33 tells us the fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom. Had Ms. Smiley been taught the Word there would not have been a problem. In the case of Ms. Smiley we can see where our culture is going astray. We have gotten away from God in the home and in the schools and we now have one generation passing down their values (or lack thereof)  to another. In order to restore our country to what our founding fathers intended it to be we must start in the homes. We can do this by giving our kids chores, disciplining them when needed, telling them what they need to hear as opposed to what they want to hear, spending time with them, showing them love, and most importantly teaching them about our Heavenly Father. In doing so we can bring up a nation of young leaders who can restore this great land to what it once was, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

Family Practice :: Residency Admissions Essays

Family Practice    I was born in Tamil Nadu, a southeastern state in India. I did my schooling in Madras, a large metropolitan city in India. I was interested in science courses especially in Zoology. This interest, combined with my desire to serve the humanity, I set my career goal to become a physician. I then joined Stanley Medical College, which is one of the finest in medical schools in India.    After graduation, I worked for a year with an internist, where I dealt with medical emergencies and did inpatient management. I decided to pursue my postgraduate studies to further broaden my knowledge in July 1993. I chose Obstetrics and Gynecology as my specialty and received my diploma in Ob Gyn in June '95. I participated in the continuing medical education programs and also did bed side teaching for the medical students and received excellent feedback from my preceptors. Following my post graduation, I worked for two years with hands on experience with a variety of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Medical and Surgical cases and attended a free weekly clinic providing primary care to the rural people.    I moved to California in July 1997. I have successfully completed my step one and step two exams in June and March 1998 respectively. In order to gain some insight into the medical practices in the United States, I am volunteering as a research assistant at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital in Palo Alto, an affiliate of the Stanford University School of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, where I am involved with the evaluation of ' The Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Cancer using Positron Emission Tomography', the results of this work will be published in a few months. At the Veteran's Hospital, I also attend the Pulmonary Grand Rounds, Pulmonary Clinics and lectures with the Stanford Residents in the ICU and the GMC. I also volunteer in other primary care facilities. Research and work has given me the opportunity to interact with people and to acclimatize to the US culture.    My personal interest includes Indian classical music and travel. I play the Veena, a string instrument used widely in the Indian Classical Music; which has amazed the western artists for its wide range of musical tones.    Family Practice deals with all the aspects of medicine and focuses on preventive care.

Unemployment in the US Essay -- essays papers

Unemployment in the US Why I Chose These Indicators I chose these indicators because all are something that ordinary people deal with every day. All of us have control over our own spending and how far into debt we go. If we are not making the salary we want then we are free to look for a new job or an additional job. There is also the possibility of going back to school to raise your educational level in order to get a better job. This may, of course, put us deeper into debt. We are in debt as a country, and as individuals, but with the economy as strong as it is people have no qualms about going deeper into debt. There are increases in delinquency rates on consumer loans, record numbers of bankruptcy filings, and an increasing share of income devoted to paying interest on debt. These are signs that some households are becoming overextended. In this paper I discuss bankruptcy, consumer credit, inherited wealth and the difference in the way some generations handle debt. Executive Summary Personal income, installment debt and unemployment are coincident or lagging economic indicators or both. By many measures the US economy is very healthy, but increasing consumer debt and personal bankruptcies raise concerns about the future. Credit card debt is higher than ever, and personal bankruptcies soared in 1995 and 1996 (Silverman 1997). Over 10% of Americans are expected to declare bankruptcy during the 1990s unless the trend changes, and there is no longer public scorn for those who file bankruptcy (Darlin 1997). Consumer credit remains readily available despite rising bankruptcies. This trend is attributed to a credit-friendly social policy which requires credit to be extended without discrimination. Furthermore, easy credit is needed to allow consumers to buy goods. The lending business also remains lucrative. To manage risks, financial institutions resort to diversification and risk shifting. The cost of bankruptcy is also incorporated in the cost of credit (Lykins and Plankenhorn 1996). The post baby-boom group known as Generation X is accumulating a great deal of debt, mostly through credit cards. The average credit card balance of households headed by someone under 25 nearly doubled from 1990 to 1995. There seems to be little desire among these people to live within their means (Shenk 1997). However,... ...e News, 6 October 1997 v13 n37 p40. Lykins, Gregory B., and Robert L. Plankenhorn. AEven with personal bankruptcies at record levels, easy consumer credit is here to stay,@ Illinois Business Review, Winter 1996 v53 n4 pg32. McGinn, Daniel. ADeadbeat nation: why are so many people in bankruptcy court?,@ Newsweek, 14 April 1997 v129 n15 p50. Murphy, Robert G. AHousehold debt and consumer spending,@ Business Economics, July 1998 v33 n3 p38. Seiberg, Jaret. AFed card study finds surprisingly little pure convenience use,@ American Banker, 19 June 1997, v162 p4. Shafer, Tim. ASailing over the fence: the rewards of good credit,@ Credit World, July-August 1997 v85 n6 p38. Shrenk, Joshua Wolf. AIn debt all the way up to their nose rings,@ U.S. News & World Report, 9 June 1997 v122 n22 p38. Silverman, Dick. AConsumer debt builds a house of cards,@ Daily News Record, 1 August 1997, v27 n92 p10. Time. AWhen boomers become busted,@ Time 31 March, 1997 v149 n13 p64. Topolnicki, Denise. AYou=d be surprised what folks will do for money today,@ Money August 1994, v23 n8 p12. Ventura, Michael. AThe psychology of money,@ Psychology Today, March-April 1995, v28 n2 p50. Unemployment in the US Essay -- essays papers Unemployment in the US Why I Chose These Indicators I chose these indicators because all are something that ordinary people deal with every day. All of us have control over our own spending and how far into debt we go. If we are not making the salary we want then we are free to look for a new job or an additional job. There is also the possibility of going back to school to raise your educational level in order to get a better job. This may, of course, put us deeper into debt. We are in debt as a country, and as individuals, but with the economy as strong as it is people have no qualms about going deeper into debt. There are increases in delinquency rates on consumer loans, record numbers of bankruptcy filings, and an increasing share of income devoted to paying interest on debt. These are signs that some households are becoming overextended. In this paper I discuss bankruptcy, consumer credit, inherited wealth and the difference in the way some generations handle debt. Executive Summary Personal income, installment debt and unemployment are coincident or lagging economic indicators or both. By many measures the US economy is very healthy, but increasing consumer debt and personal bankruptcies raise concerns about the future. Credit card debt is higher than ever, and personal bankruptcies soared in 1995 and 1996 (Silverman 1997). Over 10% of Americans are expected to declare bankruptcy during the 1990s unless the trend changes, and there is no longer public scorn for those who file bankruptcy (Darlin 1997). Consumer credit remains readily available despite rising bankruptcies. This trend is attributed to a credit-friendly social policy which requires credit to be extended without discrimination. Furthermore, easy credit is needed to allow consumers to buy goods. The lending business also remains lucrative. To manage risks, financial institutions resort to diversification and risk shifting. The cost of bankruptcy is also incorporated in the cost of credit (Lykins and Plankenhorn 1996). The post baby-boom group known as Generation X is accumulating a great deal of debt, mostly through credit cards. The average credit card balance of households headed by someone under 25 nearly doubled from 1990 to 1995. There seems to be little desire among these people to live within their means (Shenk 1997). However,... ...e News, 6 October 1997 v13 n37 p40. Lykins, Gregory B., and Robert L. Plankenhorn. AEven with personal bankruptcies at record levels, easy consumer credit is here to stay,@ Illinois Business Review, Winter 1996 v53 n4 pg32. McGinn, Daniel. ADeadbeat nation: why are so many people in bankruptcy court?,@ Newsweek, 14 April 1997 v129 n15 p50. Murphy, Robert G. AHousehold debt and consumer spending,@ Business Economics, July 1998 v33 n3 p38. Seiberg, Jaret. AFed card study finds surprisingly little pure convenience use,@ American Banker, 19 June 1997, v162 p4. Shafer, Tim. ASailing over the fence: the rewards of good credit,@ Credit World, July-August 1997 v85 n6 p38. Shrenk, Joshua Wolf. AIn debt all the way up to their nose rings,@ U.S. News & World Report, 9 June 1997 v122 n22 p38. Silverman, Dick. AConsumer debt builds a house of cards,@ Daily News Record, 1 August 1997, v27 n92 p10. Time. AWhen boomers become busted,@ Time 31 March, 1997 v149 n13 p64. Topolnicki, Denise. AYou=d be surprised what folks will do for money today,@ Money August 1994, v23 n8 p12. Ventura, Michael. AThe psychology of money,@ Psychology Today, March-April 1995, v28 n2 p50.

Ishmael Bernal and Religious Interpretations Essay

Ishmael Bernal’s films have received countless acknowledgements throughout the years because of his unique style of â€Å"working out patterns of symbolic details† (Lumbera 25). And through these patterns, Bernal was able to portray his views on things as an auteur. This paper examines his interpretations of religion and religious activities through his films. But this only includes three of his works: Manila by Night (1980), Himala (1982), and Hinugot sa Langit (1985). These three films’ devotional approaches are analyzed by both their mise-en-scene and fabula. On that note, religion as tackled in this paper only pertains to the Philippine religion of Christianity/Catholicism, since Bernal’s films appear to be only on the Catholic’s view. How did Bernal attack Catholicism? Why did he represent the country’s most widespread religion in that manner? What are the implications of his works on the era during such films were distributed? How do these films affect the contemporary time? And what do these films impose on the society and on the religion majority of it believes in? Hence, this paper has these films examined through the eyes of a spectator, and relates that analogy to Bernal’s own philosophies as an auteur. Religion in Mise-En-Scene and Iconographies Through the apparatus theory, Bernal’s religious interpretations in his works can be examined. Ponsford’s Film Theory and Language from media. edusites. co. uk says apparatus theory suggests that film is created to illustrate different ideas and that everything has meaning even starting from the camerawork up to the editing. Manila by Night is a drama film made by Bernal in 1980. It is a multiple-charactered film where the characters’ existences in the city were unveiled as they live by the ruthlessness of drugs, poverty, adultery, and lust. In Manila by Night, Bernal constantly used iconographies and effigies of divine entities in several sex scenes through elaborate camerawork and editing. An example is a scene where a couple (Adelina, played by Moreno and Pebrero, played by Ojeda) who routinely cheated on each other made love while religious icons peered over them (Santos 21). There is another sex scene where instead of figures, Bernal focused a shot on a chaplet necklace worn by the indolent college guy (Alex, played by Martinez) for a few seconds just before he had premarital sex with his girlfriend (Vanessa, played by Alajar). Bernal not only used these icons in sex scenes. In one scene where the neurotic mother of Alex, Virgie (Solis), trashed their home when she found out he was doing drugs, multiple shots of religious statues were shown simultaneously with the scene of flying plates and broken furniture in the screen. Hinugot sa Langit also has a remarkable mise-en-scene in terms of religious interpretations. It is a film about infidelity, unwanted pregnancy, and abortion. In the scene where Carmen (Soriano) was rushed to the hospital after attempting to commit suicide, the disparity between the two conflicting characters of Aling Juling (Solis) and Stella (Austria) was clearly depicted. Aling Juling, being the sanctimonious that she was, gave the feeble Carmen her Holy Bible, hoping that it helps Carmen as it did to her. Seconds after Aling Juling left the room, Stella put a bag of apples on top of the bible as she jokingly referred to it as â€Å"holy mansanas (apples)† which may be interpreted as the apple Eve took from the treacherous snake in the Garden of Eden. The style Bernal had in Manila by Night was still used in Hinugot sa Langit. There was the scene of Mang David’s (Ventura) child’s wake where an image of Christ hung over Carmen and Mang David’s backs as they talked about the latter’s debts from Aling Juling. There’s still that style but other sightings of the religious icons and statues were not shown in that ambiguous manner anymore; instead they were shown conspicuously to prove a point like every time Aling Juling conducted prayer meetings and worship time. The irony in showing religious images and sinful acts simultaneously is an apparent symbolism of the societal hypocrisy towards faith and Christianity. Morality Issues on Manila by Night, Himala, and Hinugot sa Langit These three films are all packed with morality issues and what are morality issues if there is no religion? Morality, I believe, is bound by the norms and rules of whatever religion an individual believes in. Therefore, people do what for them is â€Å"right† because the religion they keep their faith in tells them to do so. Himala is a story of a girl named Elsa (Aunor) who claims to have seen the Blessed Virgin Mary on the top of the very hill where she was found by her non-biological mother years ago when she was still a baby. Since then Elsa started to â€Å"heal† people through the use of the power that was allegedly bestowed upon her by the Virgin Mary. She was situated in a small town called Cupang where the soil was always dry because of a â€Å"curse† from long time ago. Since then people came flocking to Elsa’s house to seek treatment from her miracles. She had her own followers and a bunch of detractors. In the end, when she faced piles of troubles—from not being able to â€Å"heal† anymore to being raped along with her best friend who later on committed suicide—she came clean and announced that there is no miracle, that it is the people who create their own miracles. She was shot dead at that same moment. The morality issues in this film is particularly apparent during the time when documentarist Orly (Manikan) battles with himself whether to have Elsa and Chayong’s (Centeno) rape video shown to the public. In the end he seeks help from the priest, which only made it clear that his decisions still depended largely on the â€Å"Catholic opinion† even though he was a self-proclaimed atheist right from the start. Manila by Night touches more morality issues than Himala. Since it is a film using a multiple-character format, the struggles each persona faces vary. There was a cheating guy (Pebrero), a liar prostitute (Adelina), a hypocritical ex-prostitute (Virgie), a happy-go-lucky gay (Manay Sharon), a dope-pusher lesbian (Kano), a blind whore (Bea), a college dropout (Alex), and his girlfriend (Vanessa). Their characters differ from each other but what’s uncanny about it was that their lives intertwine one way or another. Set in the city during a time when people’s freedom was being suppressed, these characters faced the question of what to do in times like that. Whether they hold on to their principles and strive to live for the good or just continue their dishonest lives to be able to endure everything and coexist. In a country where Catholicism is dominant, what Bernal showed in Manila by Night questions the values the religion upholds for its followers. The ending of the film where after all the mayhem that happened in the city during the past night seemed to be forgotten and the characters are portrayed as monotonous citizens living their routinely-charged lives is a strong point for proving how people trapped in the confusion of what’s good or evil can act as two-faced individuals who eventually become victims of the system. Hinugot sa Langit, on the other hand, tackles a more brazen topic that’s related to religion: abortion. When Carmen found out she was having Jerry’s (Tantay) child, she was faced with only two options: one is to keep it and the other is to abort. The problem the film earlier gave was that Jerry was already married with someone else and he made it clear right from the start that he didn’t want anything to do with the child Carmen was carrying. This, on top of the incessant urging of her straightforward cousin Stella, pushed Carmen to the edge of option number two. But her landlady, Aling Juling, insisted otherwise—saying abortion is a sin to God. As Carmen’s pregnancy became relatively closer to three months (which is the point when a mere embryo becomes human according to the abortionist) she began thinking about the issue of whether abortion is already an act of killing or not. But eventually, she chose to have abortion. Near the end of the film where she pounded on Mang David for stabbing Aling Juling to death, Bernal used a brilliant camera shift from Mang David’s staring face to Carmen’s while she was yelling, â€Å"Wala kang karapatang pumatay ng tao! You have no right to murder anyone! ),† as if giving the former a reason to say that she did not have any right to kill her child either. As Oggs Cruz put it in his blog, â€Å"Hinugot sa Langit may be branded as preachy and anti-abortion but in reality, the film has side stories that suggest a more pressing issue: societal hypocrisy. † This is not only apparent in the abortion issue but also in Aling Juling’s actions. It’s just that, as Cruz again puts it, â€Å"abortion is the most telling of issues. The Philippines being a prominently Catholic nation declares abortion as criminally and morally wrong yet funnily, the practice is unwrittenly accepted among women who are time-pressed with a decision. † Elsa and Aling Juling While Manila by Night’s interpretations of religion banks largely on its mise-en-scene, what Bernal created in Himala and Hinugot sa Langit were characters who seemed to embody the â€Å"divine† and through them, Bernal showed how false devotions and idolatry can be misleading. Elsa’s alleged involvement with the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary made her just as acred as the holy mother of Christ in the people’s eyes. She became, in an obvious way, the people’s source of blind faith that led them to their own pits of darkness as shown in the last part of the film where healthy and sick people alike experienced a stampede that caused them physical pain. This false faith is also ostensible in Aling Juling’s character in Hinugot sa Langit. Even from the start of the film, her character already proved to be a hypocrite. She dressed conservatively, regularly attended prayer and worship meetings, firmly discouraged Carmen to do an abortion, and constantly spoke about the Divine. But she also wanted to have the informal settlers removed from her land at any cost just to be able to build a chapel, claiming it is for the greater good. Aling Juling proved to be the perfect devotee, but failed to act as a true child of God for the other people; and there lies the biggest fallacy built in her persona. There was also one scene where Carmen and Aling Juling went into a brief screaming match about how should the former handle her problems. In the one line of Carmen saying, â€Å"Ano pa bang gusto Niya (pertaining to God), ano pa bang gusto mo?! What else does He want, what else do you want?! ),† the character of Aling Juling seemed to be a symbolism of the â€Å"god† Carmen had come to believe in. Instead of the all-powerful, all-knowing One, because of her problems, Carmen landed on believing Aling Juling’s preaching as that of God’s. Elsa and Aling Juling both died at the end, and both by being brutally attacked. What I see in this phenomenon is the attempt to â€Å"kill off† the wrong and misrepresentative beliefs brought about by these two characters, and probably the only way Bernal suggests to do that is through a vicious, one-time manner. Bernal as Auteur This paper is not about Bernal but about the works of Bernal. But since he is an auteur, understanding his background is essential in understanding the concepts behind his works. The auteur theory proposes that the director is the author of the film and that the director is the primary creative source, therefore the films produced express the director’s distinctive vision of the world (Pramaggiore and Wallis 398). Therefore, his politics mirror his representation of religion, thus making his films a reflection of his own beliefs. According to Bayani Santos’ Bernal as Auteur, Ishmael appreciated the values of Gregorio Aglipay and Catholicism. He also admired the disciplines of Iglesia Ni Cristo but criticized it for its exploitation of religion in politics. It was also said that he â€Å"respected Catholicism as faith, but always qualified it with a historical reminder of its political and economic crimes against the nation† (Santos 19). It was also said in the same article that Bernal’s view of shallow Catholicism among Filipinos as facts of Philippine life was not just mocking jibes against superficial religiosity but rather â€Å"accurate descriptions, as synecdochical of Philippine reality† and having the satirical impact arrive after a realization by the audience that, indeed, the descriptions are ‘us’ (21). Bayani continued on to saying that Bernal’s politics are â€Å"deeply buried in many of his works† (31). His politics involve not only his aforementioned views on Philippine religion but also his involvement in communism. This notion is perceivable in the three films being analyzed by this paper. In Manila by Night, Bernal took jibes on Martial Law more than anything. In Hinugot sa Langit, he â€Å"showed the desperate situation of the poor in a script that scrupulously avoided overt political commentary† (31). In Himala he managed to speculate a Marxist view of religion as an opiate when Elsa’s death became a dismaying reversion to mass hysteria and fanaticism (31). Bernal’s Films then and now These three films were produced during the second golden age of the Philippine cinema, during the years that mark off the end of the Marcos Martial Law regime. Bernal’s films were acclaimed during those times because both the films and timing were apt to belong to the cinema that recognizes the struggle as the most gigantic cultural, scientific, and artistic manifestation our time, the third cinema (Solanas and Gettino 47). This is what makes Bernal’s films timeless. The impact these films made during those times were huge. Bernal revealed how the Marcos regime exploited the Filipinos. This is overtly seen in Manila by Night, where his depiction of the supposed city to signify the â€Å"New Society† is the exact opposite of it. The term â€Å"New Society† claimed that the dictatorship had eradicated corruption and transformed Philippine society (Lumbera 359). This same â€Å"New Society† was also exploited, although for good reasons, by Bernal in his film Himala. According to Lumbera, Himala criticized the manipulative religiosity of this society which â€Å"drew the people’s attention away from the realities of poverty, violence, and moral decay† (359). This, however, is still manifested in the present time. There is this one scene in Himala that is applicable to both the past and present times. When people started coming to Cupang for Elsa and Elsa’s â€Å"apostles† used the water Elsa blessed for profit, it was a hypocritical move on the side of Elsa and her followers to lure people into giving them money when all they were meant to do in the first place was to offer treatment for everyone who asked for it. The past screams about the pretentious â€Å"New Society† and the present stages the scene in real life whenever such religious items or services that are supposed to help them are still sold for amounts to the people. (e. . : a priest’s service fees, blessed rosaries, mass guides) Another thing that might have helped in the success of Himala is the fact that superstar Nora Aunor played the lead role. In the Noranian Imaginary, it is said that Himala is as much about the popular hysteria mediated by the idol Nora Aunor as it is about the mass hysteria endemic to Catholicism as held by many (Tadiar). People saw Elsa in Nora and Nora in Elsaâ⠂¬â€the same poor, unfortunate protagonist who strive against all odds to defend herself and achieve goals. In these times, Nora may not be that same girl many Filipinos used to idolized, but the imprint she left on Elsa’s character is so known to almost every Filipino as â€Å"that† girl who everyone admired. Elsa’s death at the end of the film may be read as liberation from such faith, since she made confessions about the inexistence of miracles prior to his death. But the people’s continuous idolatry in her after she passed away seems to be a symbol of the people of today—those who still continue hang on to false hope and devotion even after such devotion proves to be wrong. As Patrick Flores puts it in Himala: Fall of Grace, â€Å"Himala is against the miracle and it is against the cinema. † Hinugot sa Langit, lastly, also speaks of a timeless issue in Catholicism: abortion. The values the film imbibes a great impact on the beliefs of the majority of the Filipino citizen. The question of whether abortion is or is not an act of murder is still being debated upon until today. Bernal’s films speak of ageless and timely issues concerning the Filipino people and that’s what makes his films succeed not only in the era during which it was manufactured, but also in the present time.