Sponsorship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sponsorship - Essay Example The sponsor keenly looks at the opportunity to develop their organization commercially through brand awareness that is done through advertising. Sponsorship can take different approaches; they include, firstly there is the branding the kits used by the players with the sponsor’s brand. Secondly, there are banners that are found on the ground as well as in the arenas which bears more information about the sponsor. Thirdly, through the media affiliated to the sport such as the website, the company is able to advertise their products. Fourthly, the players/sportspeople/coaches can be used to endorse the product of the sponsor. For the team, they can be provide with free kits, transport, facilities as well as provision of funds and other services (BBC, 2014). Sponsorship comes with a variety of pros and cons. Sponsorship is healthy for both the sponsor and the individual/club being sponsored; some players would not be able to raise the costs of participating in their respective sporting activities if they lacked support. On the other hand, the sponsor uses the sponsorship agreement as an opportunity to benefit themselves commercially especially through advertisements. Public awareness of a given product is easily achieved through the advertisements in sports stadiums, players’ uniforms, club’s website among others (BBC, 2014). Sponsorship is founded on the grounds that, in exchange of the resources or services given to the club or individual the sponsor will have either of the following benefits. Firstly, the image of the sponsor should be improved courtesy of the sponsorship. The company gets a good image since it is perceived to exhibit the corporate social responsibility. Secondly, the company gains a competitive advantage over is competitors due to its public reputation. Thirdly, the consumer attitude can be changed through the perception

Assignment Internal Audit Essay Example for Free

Assignment Internal Audit Essay Q.1 Critically evaluate the qualities of an Auditor in the wake of recent scams Ans:- What should be the qualities of Internal Audit Personnel? There is no universal answer to this question. We can only generalize about the qualities of internal Audit Personnel. It has been observed that internal auditors and independent auditors often belong to the same professional organization and are subject to the same professional regulations. Hence apart from professional qualification and experiences, the qualities of audit personnel should be same. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has issued â€Å"SA-220-Quality Control for Audit Work† with an objective to establish standards on quality control as to the policies and procedures regarding of an audit firm for audit work generally, and procedures regarding the work delegated to assistants on an individual audit. The standard is equally applicable to an internal audit department also. The head of internal audit department should regularly review the quality of audit work based on the standard mentioned below. Important extract of SA 220 are given below. Important terms a) â€Å"The Auditor† means the person with final responsibility for the audit. b) â€Å"Audit Firm† mean either the partners of a firm providing audit services or sole practitioner providing audit services. c) â€Å"Personnel† means all partners and professionals staff engaged in the audit practice of the firm. d) â€Å"Assistant† means personnel involved in an individual audit other than the auditor. Audit firm 1. The audit firm should implement quality control policies and procedures designed to ensure that all audits are conducted in accordance with the standards on auditing. 2. The objectives of the quality control policies to be adopted by an audit firm will ordinarily incorporate the following: a) Professional requirements: Personnel in the firm are to adhere to the  principles of independence, integrity, objectivity, confidentiality and professional behavior. b) Skills and competence: The firm is to be staffed by personnel who have attained and maintain the technical standards and professional competence required to enable them to fulfill their responsibilities with due care. c) Assignment: Audit work is to be assigned to personnel who have the degree of technical training and proficiency required in the circumstances. d) Delegation: There is to be sufficient direction, supervision and review of work at all levels to provide reasonable assurance that the work performed meets appropriate standards of quality. e) Consultation: Whenever necessary, consultation within or outside the firm is to occur with those who have appropriate expertise. f) Monitoring: The continued adequacy and operational effectiveness of quality control policies and procedures is to be monitored. 3. The firm’s general quality control policies and procedures should be communicated to its personnel in a manner that provides reasonable assurance that the policies and procedures are understood and implemented. Individual audits 4. The auditor should implement those quality control procedures which are, in the context of the policies and procedures of the firm, appropriate to the individual audit. 5. The auditor, and assistants with supervisory responsibilities, will consider the professional competence of assistants performing work delegated to them when deciding the extent of direction, supervision and review, appropriate for each assistant. 6. Any delegation of work to assistants would be in a manner that provides reasonable assurance that such work will be performed with due care by persons having the degree of professional competence required in the circumstances. Direction 7. Assistants to whom work is delegated need appropriate direction. Direction involves informing assistants of their responsibilities and the objectives of the procedures they are to perform. It also involves informing of matters, such as the nature of the entity’s business and possible accounting or auditing problems that may affect the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures with which they are involved. 8. Audit programme is an important tool for the communications of audit directions. Time budgets and the  overall audit plans also helpful in communicating audit directions. Supervision 9. Supervision is closely related to both direction and reviews and may involve elements of both. 10. Personnel carrying out supervisory responsibilities perform the following functions during the audit: a) Monitor the progress of the audit to consider whether: i) Assistants have the necessary skills and competence to carry out their assigned tasks; ii) Assistants understand the audit directions; and   iii) The work being carried out in accordance with the overall audit plan and the audit programme. b) Become informed of and address significant accounting and auditing questions raised during the audit, by assessing their significance and modifying the overall audit plan and the audit programme as appropriate; and c) Resolve any differences of professional judgment between personnel and consider the level of consultation that is appropriate. Review 11. The work performed by each assistant needs to be reviewed by personnel of at least equal competence to consider whether: a) The work has been performed in accordance with the audit programme; b) The work performed and the results obtained have been adequately documented; c) All significant audit matters have been resolved or are reflected in audit conclusions; d) The objectives of the audit procedures have been achieved; e) The conclusions expressed are consistent with the results of the work performed and support the audit opinion. 12. The following need to be reviewed on a timely basis: a) Overall audit plan and the audit programme; b) Assessment of inherent and control risks including the results of tests of control and the modifications, if any, made to the overall audit plan and the audit programme as a result of tests of control; c) Documentation of the audit evidence obtained from substantive procedures and the conclusion drawn there from, including the results of consultations; and d) Financial statements, proposed adjustments in financial statements arising out of the  auditor’s examination, and the auditors’ proposed observations/report. Conclusion The personnel qualities required of the internal audit personnel can be summarized as follows: 1. They should possess required qualifications, training, experience and competence. 2. They should have a continuing awareness of development in the field of accounting and auditing especially internal auditing. 3. They should perform their duties with due professional care, paying due attention to the role assigned to them by the management. 4. They should maintain their professional independence. 5. They should be completely impartial and unbiased in their reporting. 6. They should possess highest quality of ethics and integrity. Q.2 What is social audit? Is social audit taken seriously by the corporate world? Give examples of corporates undertaking social audit. Ans:- The social audit is also called social responsibility audit. A business organization exists in society. Hence, it owes certain responsibilities toward society at large. As Lord Denning has observed: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ the directors of a great company should owe a duty to those who are employed by the company to see that their conditions of service are proper. They should owe a duty to the customers, to the people to whom the goods are supplied, a public duty perhaps, not to expect excessive prices. They should owe a duty also to the community in which they live, not to make the place of production hideous or a nuisance to thos MF0013 [Internal Audit and Control] Set1 Q2 Q.2 What is social audit? Is social audit taken seriously by the corporate world? Give examples of corporate undertaking social audit. Ans: Social Audit:- The social audit is also called social responsibility audit. A business organization exists in society. Hence, it owes certain responsibilities toward society at large. As Lord Denning has observed: The directors of a great company should owe a duty to those who are employed by the company to see that their conditions of service are proper. They should owe a duty to the customers, to the people to whom the goods are supplied, a public duty perhaps, not to expect excessive prices. They should owe a duty also to the community in which they live, not to make the place of production hideous or a nuisance to those who live around.† Social audit is mainly concerned with social accounting. It may be noted that social accounting is still in early stage and so social audit also. Social audit also called Social Responsibility Audit is mainly concerned with social accounting. A continuous audit is basically a perpetual audit, where auditors and his staff constantly engaged in checking the accounts throughout the year. Annual audit is done at the end of the financial year when finalization of accounts has been completed and books of accounts closed. A Balance Sheet audit is mainly concerned with the verifications of items appearing in the Balance Sheet such as share capital, reserve and surplus, current liabilities, fixed assets, current assets, investments etc in detail. Importance of the Social Policy: The phenomenal growth of Socially Responsible Funds (now 20% of funds invested in the US), the growing difficulty to attract qualified employees, and the rise of non-governmental organizations able to sue or boycott unethical businesses, demonstrate the vital importance for any business of a well designed Social Policy. The Ethics Policies will attract long-term investors, increase market shares for the ethical product, strengthen partnerships, and make the employees proud. The Labor Policies will attract and keep a qualified workforce, and increase productivity, while opening new markets (ethnic minority customers are sensitive to the anti-discrimination policies in the work place). The Environmental Policies will attract customers interested in the protection of the environment, and investors who fear the risks linked to bad environmental practices, while sometimes reducing the costs with cost-effective modifications of production processes. As for most other components of the Social Policy, serious Environmental Policies will attract Socially Responsible Funds and a qualified workforce (nobody likes polluters!). The Human Rights Policies, also, will attract Socially Responsible Funds and a qualified workforce. Its most important role, however, is defensive: to prevent boycotts or campaigns of protest that could seriously tarnish the reputation of the company accused of practicing (or being an accomplice of) human rights abuses, and the resulting falling stock prices, loss of market shares, and low-moral work force. The Community Policies will not only create roots in a local base for the company, it will also increase the productivity of the work force involved in the projects (by developing their leadership and customerservice skills, building pride and loyalty with the feeling of being useful). The Society (or Extra-Community) Policies boost not only the products linked with the policy but also the image of the company. Cause Related Marketing is extremely appreciated by customers because it makes them feel good (allowing them to support charities without spending their time or money), as long as the charities are well chosen and the percentage is not too small (or the ceiling too low). The Compliance Policies are part of the Social Policy for two reasons. First, by complying with the law, the co. demonstrates it is socially responsible. More importantly, Compliances Policies often go beyond the legal requirements, in order to show concerns for social matters (health, labor, environment, etc.). In many cases, companies build their social image by doing only slightly more than what is required by the law. Creation of a Social Policy: Most companies (if not all) already have elements of Social Policy. Often, these are independent pieces of regulation and practices. Most of the time, they are not part of a unique strategy, they are not managed by powerful senior executives, they are not reviewed before any business decisions are made, and they are not used in ways that would produce their full benefits. The first step is to have an Independent Social Audit, either Defensive (to prevent lawsuits and boycotts), or Productive (to increase productivity, market shares and long term investment). The audit will identify the stakeholders; clarify the components of a Social Policy that would address the concerns of these stakeholders at either the Defensive or Productive level, or make recommendations on the necessary measures to build the Social Policy. The company must be totally involved in the Audit. The Independent Social Audit is neither an inspection (for which the company would dissimulate important pieces) nor is it a situation where the Auditor brings his one size fits all solutions. The Auditor is only the coach of a team, composed of senior executives of the company who are working at gathering the information and finding solutions. The Auditor provides the directions, merges the information to create a whole picture of the social situation, and gives advice on the method used by the company to build its Social Policy and on its different aspects. Ultimately, it is the leadership of a company who builds its Social Policy, and then decides on the best way to run the policy (for instance, nomination of a person or creation of a department dedicated to Social Policy issues). Scope of a Social Audit The identification of the stakeholders is generally the first task of an audit. However, a Social Auditor does not study each group of stakeholders separately. Stakeholders have to be considered as a whole, because their concerns are not limited to the defense of their immediate interest. As a result, the Social Auditor will work on the components of a companys Social Policy (Ethics, Labor, Environmental, Community, Human Rights, etc.), and  for each subject, the Social Auditor will analyze the expectations of all stakeholders. The scope of the audit generally includes the following policies: Ethics: values the company vows to respect. Policies include the pledge not to participate in (nor engage in business with people involved in) a series of activities that are deemed offensive. This list of unacceptable activities often includes exploitation of children, unethical treatment of animals, damage to the environment, and dealings with undemocratic regimes or with bad guy industries (fur, tobacco,guns, etc.). Labor: creation of a working environment allowing all employees to develop their potential. Policies include training, career planning, remunerations and advantages, rewards linked to merit, balance between work and family life, as well as mechanisms that ensure non-discrimination and non-harassment. Environment: monitoring and reduction of the damage caused to the environment. For instance, policies of reduction of emissions and waste. Human Rights: making sure the company does not violate human rights nor appears as supporting human rights violators. Community: investment in its local community. Policies include partnerships with voluntary local organizations, with financial donations, donations in kind (computers for education, food and clothes for the poor), and employees involvement. The company may initiate or participate to a major project such as the regeneration of a poor neighborhood plagued with unemployment, poverty, low education and racial tensions. Society: investment or partnership beyond the community. For instance, Cause Related Marketing (partnership with a charity to market a product while giving a small percentage of the sales to the charity). Compliance: Identification of all legal obligations and of the means to comply. Policies must deal with changing rules related to its work force (Labor), its products (Health, Environment, Intellectual property, specific regulations), its administration (Business, Tax), its dealings (supplier and customer liability, Criminal actions). MF0013 [Internal Audit and Control] Set1 Q3 Q. 3 Explain the Code of Ethics for Internal Auditor. Explain them in context with blacklisting Price Waterhouse Coopers in Satyam Scam. Ans: Code of Ethics for Internal Auditor In his book â€Å"Practical Guide for Internal Audit† R.S. Adukia has scholarly explained about the code of ethics for internal auditor which is as follows: â€Å"This code of ethics sets the minimum requirements for the performance and conduct of internal auditors. This code applies to all internal auditors but does not supersede or replace the requirement on individual to comply with ethical codes issued by professional institutes of which they are members or student members and any organizational codes of ethics or conduct.† There are four main principles: 1. Integrity: The internal auditor should demonstrate integrity in all aspects of their work. Their integrity establishes an environment of trust, which provides the basis for reliance on all activities carried out by the internal auditors. 2. Objectivity: Objectivity is a state of mind that has regard to all considerations relevant to the activity or process being examined without being unduly influenced by personal interest or the views of others. Internal auditors should display professional objectivity when providing opinions, assessments and recommendations. 3. Confidentiality: Internal auditors must safeguard the information they receive in carrying out their duties. There must not be any unauthorized disclosure of information unless there is a legal or professional requirement to do so. 4. Competency: The internal auditor should make use of his/her knowledge, skills and practical experience necessary for auditor’s activity performance. They should not accept or perform work that they are not competent to undertake, unless they have received adequate training and support to carry out the work to an appropriate standard. Achieving compliance with code of ethics i) Security integrity: The internal auditor should: a) Perform his/her job honestly, diligently and with responsibility. b) Perform his/her profession in harmony with the acts and other generally binding regulations. c) Avoid any illegal activity and performing any activity discrediting the internal auditor’s profession. d) Respect the legal and ethical objectives of the organizations. e) Take care that his/her integrity should not be compromised. ii) Objectivity: The internal auditor should: a) Avoid taking part in activities or relations which may damage, or might be understood as damaging his/her unbiased assessment including activities or relations which may be in conflict with public interests. b) Avoid accepting anything that may damage or might be understood as damaging his/her objective professional assessment. c) Protect his/her objectivity against political influence. d) Disclose all substantial facts known to him/her that being undisclosed might misrepresent the conclusions on activities or events assessed. iii) Observing Confidentiality: The internal auditor should: a) Be careful when using and protecting information he/she gathered when auditing. b) Avoid disclosing and making use of the information obtained during the auditor’s activities performance in order to damage the interests of other person or organization. c) Avoid making use of the information obtained during the auditor’s activities for personal enrichment or in a way which would be in conflict with the law or which would damage legitimate and ethical interests of the organization. iv) Demonstrating Competence: a) It is a pre-requisite that all internal audit staff is aware of and understand: 1. The organization’s aims objectives, risks and governance arrangements. 2. The purpose, risks and issues affecting the service area to be audited. 3. The terms of reference for the audit assignment so that there is a proper appreciation of the parameters within which the review be conducted. 4. The relevant legislation and other regulatory arrangement that relate to the service area to be audited. b) The internal auditor should keep educating himself constantly in order to have a good command of internal audit techniques and auditor standards necessary for obtaining, examining and evaluating the information. v) Maintaining Audit Independence: Internal auditors should be independent of the activities they audit. Internal auditors are considered independent when they can carry out their work freely and objectively. Independence permits internal auditors to render the impartial and unbiased judgments essential to the proper conduct of audits. This is achieved through organizational status and objectivity. Independence stands for an internal auditor being able to take a stand and report on materiality issues, uninfluenced by any favors coercion or undue influence. Satyam’s auditors:- So what were the auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, doing? There was no cash within the companys banks and yet the auditors went ahead and signed on the balance sheets saying that the money was there. Not just the cash, even they even signed off on the non-existent interest that accrued on the non-existent bank balance! Auditors do bank reconciliation to check whether the money has indeed come or not. They check bank statements and certificates. So was this a total lapse in supervision or were the bank statements forged? No one knows yet. The cops have already raided the PwC office in Hyderabad, but details of what they have found are yet to emerge. The company officials said they relied on data from the reputed auditors. But PricewaterhouseCoopers, stung by this insinuation hit back at Satyam. In a statement to the media, the firm said: The audits were conducted by Price Waterhouse in accordance with applicable auditing standards and were supported by appropriate audit evidence. Given our obligations for client confidentiality, it is not possible for us to comment upon the alleged irregularities. Price Waterhouse will fully meet its obligations to cooperate with the regulators and others. (Extracted from Rediffmail.com). MF0013 [Internal Audit and Control] Set1 Q4 Q.4 As a senior audit assistant of M/s. Asutosh Associates, you are in charge of internal audit team of M/s Rajesh Technologies involved in the manufacture of plastic tubes. From the information you obtained you find the company is facing liquidity problem for the last two years. You are required to prepare working paper indicating the internal audit problems you would expect to face and how you plan to overcome them. Ans: There have been many accounting scandals over the years which resulted in more traders showing interest in learning how to analyze a companys financial statements. When companies do declare bankruptcy, it is usually because they cannot pay their debts. So let’s take a look at the importance of corporate debt and go over how an investor can analyze a company’s liquidity. Economic theory says that the mix of debt and equity in a company’s capital structure is irrelevant, that the value of a firm should be independent of its debt ratio. In the real world, companies and investors have to worry about things like taxes and the risk of default, so a companys capital structure can be relevant to its long-term survival. Long -term creditors can also put restrictions on the company such as preventing it from taking on additional debt or paying higher  dividends. Most public companies have at least some debt, and the biggest reason to take on debt is to leverage the equity (much like buying stock on margin). Return on equity is very important to investors. But the greater the proportion of debt to equity on the balance sheet, the higher the business risk. Since a lot of corporate debt tends to be short-term, there can be a real risk to the company if investors lose confidence in it. It is not unlike a run on a bank, where liabilities (loans) have a longer duration than their assets (deposits). If everyone suddenly wants their money now, the bank will not be able to meet the demand and be forced to close. That is why it is important to look at a company’s debt and liquidity. Liquidity in the option markets refers to the volume of contracts changing hands in a day. There is lots of liquidity in the options of companies such as IBM and Microsoft, since there are many buyers and sellers. However, liquidity means something very different at the company level. Here we are referring to whether or not the company has, or can generate, enough cash to keep operating if they had to pay off short-term debt quickly. Banks use liquidity analysis to assess the risk of a company not being able to repay them in the short term. Agencies rate a company’s debt according to the perceived threat of default. Still, crises periodically seem to emerge from almost nowhere to cause the sudden collapse of companies that seemed solid only weeks before. Once investors lose confidence, as companies such as Enron, Qwest and WorldCom learned, liquidity can mean the difference between survival and death. That is why investors should always take a little time to check debt and liquidity ratios before entering any trading position. Most investors are familiar with the corporate bond market. When a ratings agency such as Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s downgrades a company’s debt, this certainly causes the company’s bond holders some distress, as the value of the bonds will drop. Still, since corporate bonds are primarily long-term debt, this is not usually the source of liquidity problems (unless a large  amount just happens to be nearing expiration). No, it is usually a company’s short-term debt that gets them in trouble. When a company runs into financial problems, their debt rating is usually quickly downgraded. Investors demand a higher premium to lend to the company. If they lose confidence altogether they will simply refuse to lend at any price. If the company does not have liquid assets available, even temporary cash flow problems can quickly become life threatening. Of course, the banks most companies up in the short term. Before investors will buy commercial paper, they usually require a commercial paper back-up facility with a bank. This gives them a bit more security that they will be paid. However, this facility is not meant to be used, and drawing on it is an admission the company is having severe liquidity problems. This is what happened to Qwest about two years ago. When Qwest had trouble borrowing in the commercial paper markets, they had to draw down their $4 billion credit line with banks. It was a stop-gap measure that put off a financial reckoning for a few months, but credit agencies responded by cutting the rating on its outstanding bonds to near junk status. $4 billion is a lot of money to come up with in short time. By comparison, their market capitalization was $16.4 billion at the time, they had annual revenue of about $20 billion, and a loss of $4 billion the previous year. So one of the first ratios an investor should look at is the company’s debt to its total capital. Total capital is all their debt plus equity. This ratio should be compared with what is normal in their industry and not simply against all other businesses. The next thing to look at is a companys ability to meet its debt payments. This is measured by a ratio called â€Å"times interest earned†. Times interest earned is a company’s earnings divided by their total interest cost. For the earnings number you could choose to use EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), or the more aggressive EBITDA (which adds back the  non-cash costs of depreciation and amortization).

Signs of Stress :: essays research papers

"Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress; 75 to 90 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints; stress is linked to the six leading causes of death--heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide." (Miller, 1993, p.12) "Stress plays havoc with our health, our productivity, our pocketbooks, and our lives, but it is necessary, even desirable." (Oxford, 1998, p.29) In researching stress, one would learn about what stress is, the early warning signs of stress, the different types of stress, and how to build resistance to it. Stress is a combination of physical, mental, and emotional feelings that result from pressure, worry, and anxiety. These pressures are called stressors. Some examples of common stressors are; divorce, death in the family, job change, pregnancy, a large mortgage, marriage, and retirement. "In medicine, stress is, a physical, chemical, or emotional development that causes strains that can lead to physical illness." (Microsoft Encarta) The early warning signs of stress include apathy, anxiety, irritability, mental fatigue, and overcompensation or denial. Some signs of apathy are feelings of sadness or recreation that isn’t fun any more. Feelings of restlessness, agitation, insecurity and a sense of worthlessness are examples of anxiety. Signs of irritability are feeling hypersensitive, defensive, and arrogant. Feeling argumentative, rebellious, or angry are also signs of irritability. Examples of mental fatigue are feeling preoccupied, having difficulty concentrating, and trouble thinking flexibly. Working too hard, denying that there are problems, ignoring symptoms, and feeling suspicious are all signs of overcompensation or denial. Some behavioral signs of stress are avoiding things, doing things to extremes, administrative problems, and legal problems. Avoiding things includes keeping to one’s self, avoiding work, having trouble accepting responsibility, and neglecting responsibility. Examples of doing things to extremes are alcoholism, gambling, spending sprees, and sexual promiscuity. Some administrative problems are being late to work, poor appearance, poor personal hygiene, and being accident prone. Possible legal problems are indebtedness, shoplifting, traffic tickets, and an inability to control violent impulses. Some physical signs of stress include excessive worrying about illness, frequent illness, and physical exhaustion. Reliance on medication including remedies like aspirin is a physical sign of stress. Ailments such as insomnia, appetite changes, and weight gain or loss are also physical signs of stress. Indigestion, nausea, and nervous diarrhea, are also physical signs, as well as, constipation, and sexual problems. Stress can be confusing. There are some myths surrounding stress. Here are a few of them. One myth is that stress is the same for everybody. This is not true. What is stressful for one person, may or may not be stressful for another; each person responds to stress in a different way.

George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984 :: essays research papers

Have you ever thought about what life would be like if Hitler had won WWII? Just think about not being able to choose the job of your choice or not being able to express your feelings about the government. Those are just two of the many freedoms that would have been lost if the U.S. would have lost the war. The book 1984 gives a view of what life would be like if we lived under a totalitarianism government. The story 1984 is about Winston Smith an average person who lives on airstrip one in Oceania, which used to be London, England. The ruling government of Oceania is IN SOC, which is a totalitarianism government. The author George Orwell wrote this book to warn people about the negative effects of a totalitarianism government. In the first section of the book, it tells about Winston's job changing the past and present news for the government. Winston belongs to the outer-party and is suppose to love Big Brother who is the ruler of Oceania. The official language developed by the government, which is spoke in Oceania is Newspeak. Oceania is constantly at war with the brotherhood, which allows Big Brother to stay in power. Winston's rebellion against Big Brother starts in section one with him writing in a diary, which is not allowed in Oceania. Later in section one he has sex with Julia who is also an outer-party member and having sex is also illegal in Oceania. In the second section of the book Winston has a love affair with Julia. The two of them continue to break the laws of Big Brother and the thought police, which is the police core of Oceania, begin to catch on to Winston and Julia. Winston also meets O'Brien who works for Big Brother and is spying on Winston and Julia. In the third section of the book is when the climax of the book takes place. Winston and Julia were caught by the Thought Police because of their acts against Big Brother. O'Brien then takes Winston to room 101, which contains in it a person's worst fears. For Winston his worse fear is rats because when he was a kid he saw his mom lying dead in a field with rats all over her. In room 101 is where the climax of the book takes place when Winston yells out, "do it to Julia.

Pin Hole Camera

Pin hole camera was invented by a Muslim scientist ibn-al-haitham. An Egyptian polymath (born in Iraq) whose research in geometry and optics was influential into the 17th century; established experiments as the norm of proof in physics (died in 1040). Another inventor is the tenth century optician and physicist Abu Ali al-Hassan ibn al-Hassan ibn al-Haytham, simply known as al-Haytham, who invented the pinhole camera and discovered how the eye works. The ancient Greeks thought our eyes emitted rays, like a laser, which enabled us to see. The first person to realize that light enters the eye, rather than leaving it, was the 10th-century Muslim mathematician, astronomer and physicist Ibn al-Haytham. He invented the first pinhole camera after noticing the way light came through a hole in window shutters. The smaller the hole, the better the picture, he worked out, and set up the first Camera Obscura (from the Arab word qamara for a dark or private room). He was also credited with being the first man to shift physics from a philosophical activity to an experimental one. Pinhole cameras are one of the earliest styles of camera ever created. So what is a pinhole camera? It is essentially a small-enclosed box with a tiny hole placed on one of the sides. When light is allowed to entire through the tiny hole, an image of the object directly outside the hole is projected onto the opposite side of the box. We will explore pinhole camera history a little deeper so you learn more about how they first came into being. Many scientists and others observed and wrote about the phenomenon from the ancient Chinese to the Greeks. But it wasn't until the 11th century that someone actually wrote about the principals of the pinhole camera and created the camera obscura to study it. Ibn al-Haytham wrote his â€Å"Book of Optics† in 1021, and created his own pinhole camera, then later the camera obscura. Al-Haytham discovered he could sharpen his reflected, inverted image by shrinking the pinhole or aperture. Essentially, a pinhole camera is a light-tight box, usually rounded like an oatmeal box, with a pinhole in one side. The image outside the camera is projected through the pinhole where it is reversed and shown upside down on the rear of the box. With no film yet available to record the image, al-Haytham constructed the camera obscura, which is a room-sized pinhole camera where the observer can get inside the apparatus and observe the image. For hundreds of years, people used the camera obscura/pinhole camera to draw or paint the image projected. They used people, animals and landscapes as their models. While these images were not exact, they were an important step on the way to photography, because the pinhole camera served as a model for the first cameras. Discarded as quaint for many years, pinhole cameras first made a comeback with artists in the 1960s. Since then, they have become the focus of hobbyists, Cub Scout packs and other educational venues. Since all it takes to build one is an oatmeal box and some light-sensitive paper or film, the pinhole camera can teach children about physics, light and photography with a little bit of the old â€Å"gosh, wow† effect. Using the pinhole technique is one of the most authentic ways to record photographic images. The technique is based on the principle of the camera obscura which is centuries old. Basically it's nothing more then a lightproof box with, in the middle of one side, a tiny little hole instead of a lens. The light works its way through the pinhole right into the enclosed room and that is how at the opposite side of the pinhole an image appears which is upside down. We can preserve the image by putting material which is sensitive to light at the side where the image shows up and develop it after exposure. Al hazen (Ibn Al-Haytham), a great authority on optics in the Middle Ages who lived around 1000AD, invented the first pinhole camera, (also called the Camera Obscura} and was able to explain why the images were upside down. The first casual reference to the optic laws that made pinhole cameras possible, as observed and noted by Aristotle around 330 BC, who questioned why the sun could make a circular image when it shined through a square hole. http://www. muslimheritage. com/topics/default. cfm? articleID=382 Made significant contributions to the principles of optics, as well as to anatomy, astronomy, engineering, mathematics, medicine, ophthalmology, philosophy, physics, psychology, visual perception, and to science in general with his introduction of the scientific method. He is sometimes called al-Basri   after his birthplace in the city of Basra in Iraq(Mesopotamia), then ruled by the Buyid dynasty of Persia. 3] Ibn al-Haytham is regarded as the father of optics for his influential The Book of Optics, which correctly explained and proved the modern intromission theory of visual perception, and for his experiments on optics, including experiments on lenses, mirrors, refraction, reflection, and the dispersion of light into its constituent colors. [4] He studied binocular vision and the moon illusion, speculated on the finite speed, rectilinear propagation and electromagnetic aspects of light,[5] and argued that rays of light are streams of energy particles[6] travelling in straight lines. [7] Ibn al-Haytham described the pinhole camera and invented the camera obscura (a precursor to the modern camera),[14]discovered Fermat's principle of least time and the law of inertia (known as Newton's first law of motion),[15] discovered the concept of momentum (part of Newton's second law of motion),[16] described the attraction between masses and was aware of the magnitude of acceleration due to gravity at a distance,[17] discovered that the heavenly bodies were accountable to the laws of physics, presented the earliest critique and reform of the Ptolemaic model, first stated Wilson's theorem in number theory, pioneered analytic geometry, formulated and solved Alhazen's problem geometrically, developed and proved the earliest general formula for infinitesimal and integral calculus using mathematical induction,[18]and in his optical research laid the foundations for the later development of telescopic astronomy,[19] as well as for themicroscope and the use of optical aids in Renaiss ance art.

11 Ways to Celebrate 4th of July with Your College Friends

11 Ways to Celebrate 4th of July with Your College Friends College friends are planning their 4th of July fun, festivities and classic American festivals with spirit this time of year! If you’re here, you’re digging for ideas. Well, in this post you’ll find 11 of the best. And listen, America needs your patriotism. No doubt. We all know that. Hell, the entire modern world knows that. America is going through an incredibly trying period right now after prolonged economic fallout and war fatigue. Please, make it a point to celebrate our nation’s history and rich heritage. You are, or you can be, we can be†¦Independent! Let freedom reign. 1. Hold a Legendary BBQ! Hot dogs, hamburgers, briskets and brats†¦oh my! You can get outside (weather permitting of course), fire up the grill and gather around a few tables with friends. If possible, head out super-early and secure a spot in a park overlooking a fireworks display. Speaking of which†¦ 2. Go and Watch a Mega Fireworks Display Listen, even if you guys have to pool some gas money and road trip it, maybe now is the time to see one of the biggest, boldest and loudest iconic American fireworks displays? Just Google it dude! Theres tons of them. Here’s a few of the more notable: â€Å"America’s Biggest Birthday Party† by the Gateway Arch in St. Lois. The Addison, Texas, fireworks display. The event at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois The 4th of July Barge Battle display in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Lake Tahoe, California display. The display around Municipal Pier, San Francisco Bay, California. The Space Needle display, Seattle, Washington. 3. It’s Patriotic Movie Time! If there’s going to be a television of some sort around, or in the background, whatever, make sure to have the best patriotic movies rocking. In fact, no one said you can’t just do a dorm movie day, or with someone special†¦like red white blue popcorn. Here’s a taste of the most popular ones we’ve all seen: Forest Gump Independence Day The Patriot Born on the 4th of July Glory Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Saving Private Ryan Captain America: The First Avenger 4. Host an Epic Patriotic Picnic Let’s say all the BBQ pits and public grills within miles and all over campus are already taken. That’s fine. Grab a big blanket, put together a bunch of different treats and fingers foods and do a picnic. The idea is to get outside and get into the thick of it with other Americans. The 4th of July is about us. 5. Patriotic Road Trip Time! Why not head out on a historical road trip to all the most timeless patriotic American destinations. Honestly, it’s something every American should be required to do during their college days. Until Oculus virtual reality headsets become commonplace, you’re going to have to make a road trip out of it. Here’s a sampling: Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania The Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Statue of Liberty Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, South Dakota Mount Vernon, Virginia The Patriotic Path, Boston, Massachusetts 6. Go Join the Nearest Parade Most cities, even the small ones, hold parades for the 4th of July. If your college town doesn’t have one going on, well, then travel to somewhere that does. These places typically have all kinds of stuff going on; big gatherings, BBQs, fireworks displays, live music, etc. 7. Host a Beach Bonfire Bonanza! No, we’re not talking a little pit-fire or campfire here. On both the east and west coast there are places where you can either host your own beach bonfire and set off fireworks or join in on one someone else is hosting. Sometimes it’s private property. Sometimes it’s hosted by local organizations or groups. You’ll have to do a bit of digging online and make sure everything is by the book. 8. Throw a Study Session Oh lord. Yep, get your buddies together, drape yourselves in American flags and study (recite) patriotic writings like The Bill of Rights, The writings of Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, and Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, The Gettysburg Address, â€Å"Ragged Old Flag† by Johnny Cash or Patrick Henry’s Give me Liberty or Give Me Death speech. 9. Get Ridiculously Crafty There’s literally no end to what kinds of crafts you can make that are covered in red, white and blue. How many different ways can you craft an American flag? You can take something as simple as a regular wooden pallet and paint it to look just like one. 10. Did Someone Say Block Party? Yeah. Envision a historic college block party that doesn’t get out of hand, but stays peaceful, celebrative, and oozing with inspirational solidarity. 11. Go Nuts With Patriotic Food Bake a cake and get creative with the icing. Make some red, white and blue pretzels, cookies, fruit plates, parfaits, cupcakes, muffins, popsicles, kabobs, etc. There you have it all you patriotic souls, a slew of ideas for this year’s 4th of July celebration with your college friends. Again, remember, America REALLY needs your patriotism and that American spirit of yours. Let us know how your 4th goes and be safe!

buy custom Essentials of Baccalaureate Education essay

buy custom Essentials of Baccalaureate Education essay The essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice provide a curriculum for nursing education that is appropriate for the 21st century (AACN, 2008). It also provides core knowledge required by all healthcare nursing professionals due to its focus on patient-centeredness, interpersonal teams, evidence-based practices, quality improvement, patient safety, informatics, and clinical reasoning. Modern nursing profession requires additional knowledge in genetics, cultural sensitivity, professionalism, and many other ever-changing issues in the healthcare environment. Its overall outcome is to produce graduates that are able to function within a complex and dynamic healthcare system as a consequence of the resulting knowledge, skills, and antidotes. It is a liberal education which provides a cornerstone of practice and education for nurses. The learning outcome, such as knowledge, skills, and attitudes, enables practitioners to acquire leadership skills necessary for promoting patient safety and high quality healthcare. The professional practices help in transferring current evidence into practice. Health practitioners also acquire knowledge on how to handle information concerning the patient, as well as using patient care technology as a way of delivering quality patient care (AACN, 2008). The program also contains healthcare policies related to healthcare, finance, and regulatory environment. It also enables practitioners to improve their communication and interpersonal skills, in order to promote disease prevention for individuals and the public. The program is rich in professional values and codes of practice that are necessary for all professionals in all healthcare environments. During the professional training, learning opportunities are provided to enable learners to acquire deep and wide experiences that promote better knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the management of clinical care services. Professionals also improve their interpersonal skills to be able to become part of a team and to acquire clinical reasoning, management and evaluation skills. Essential III: Scholarships for Evidence-Based Practice Professional nursing practice should seek to translate current evidence into practice and to evaluate outcomes. The nurses are made capable of monitoring patient outcomes and relating them to the practice issues. The evidence is then shared with professional teams as evidence of the best practice. Baccalaureate educations prepare practitioners to understand how evidence results from the research process, clinical decisions, inter-professional perspectives, and patient preferences as applied to practice (AACN, 2008). The graduates are equipped to conduct their research in any healthcare setting according to the ethical and legal precepts so that the rights of patients are protected, to avoid conflict and misconduct or any harm to patients (AACN, 2008). Essentials IV: Information Management and Application Patient Care Technology Baccalaureate graduates are prepared to use knowledge and skills in information and patient care technology to deliver quality patient care. They are given technical skills to use computers and other applications, including such patient care technologies as monitors and data-gathering devices for a wide variety of purposes. Such technological skills are also used in providing support services, such as gahering evidence and supporting decisions. The graduates are also prepared to use other technical applications comfortably and in a knowledgeable manner (Melnlyk Overholt, 2011). Graduates of Baccalaureate course are, therefore, able to manage data, information, knowledge, and technology to communicate effectively, in order to promote the safety of patients, due to decisions based on evidence. The day-to-day nursing services can, therefore, be integrated into the clinical information systems to improve the practice based on well-kept data and documents for quality decision-making. The course work helps the graduates to be well-prepared to use a variety of technologies that facilitate clinical care by monitoring patients using clinical and administrative systems to ensure safety in the nursing practice (CNSSP, 2008). Essential V: Health Care Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments Graduates of Baccalaureate course will be able to understand the wider healthcare policies, including financial and regulatory policies that impact nursing and healthcare system. Guidelines in healthcare with regard to how patients care services are organized and financed. The graduates will have a good understanding of agencies that are involved in the development and change of healthcare services. The professionals are also able to work with advocacy groups and other nursing professionals that may influence the nursing practices. It makes the graduates to understand how healthcare policies shape the nature, quality, and safety of the environment for practicing nursing, and the responsibilities of different stakeholders (Melnlyk Overholt, 2011). The processionals are able to know how to accommodate patients, families, communities, and nursing professional agencies that may have common interests in promoting social justice. The nursing professionals are also prepared to work jointly with such groups to promote and uphold moral and ethical responsibilities (AACN, 2008). Essential VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Baccalaureate course produces graduates who understand how to promote health to the public by preventing disease and injuries in the community. This helps in improving population health through creating a clear understanding about how lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors are major determinant factors in determining aspects of health, such as illness, disease, disability and mortality. Nursing professionals also help in responding to acute disease episodes in order to improve health. Consequently , health professionals helps in assisting individuals, families, groups and communities to prepare for and to minimize health consequences of emergencies , including mass casualty disasters (AACN, 2008) .The health professionals also help in using clinical preventions, such as immunization and counseling, that can be used to prevent disease escalations. Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice Upon completion of the nursing education, graduates acquire superior knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable them to care for individuals, families, groups and communities. This can be done by the professionals in any setting, regardless of the complexity of the healthcare environment. The professionals are the link between patients and the complex healthcare systems. They serve using their compassionate approaches by applying theiir scientific base of knowledge, and all the evidence of research that they accumulate over time. They harmonize the skills and knowledge with the healthcare practice. They reason within any context and apply all ethical values in dealing with the patients (CNSSP, 2008). The professionals are equipped with skills that can enable them assume any leadership role within the professional teams. They are also able to pay attention to changes in demographics and are capable of handling both adults and children populations with diverse health complications. To handle all situations and diverse cases, the professionals are made to understand diversity resulting from ethics, gender, sexual, cultural and spiritual affiliations, especially based on the current trend of globalization. The graduates of Baccalaureate course are holistically prepared and able to use their superior knowledge, skills, and attitudes to customize health services and therapies to achieve good health for all in the society (AACN, 2008). Two of the Essentials that Can Guarantee the Future of Any Registered Nurse The challenges facing modern nurses can be best handled through the preparation of Generalist Nursing Practice. This is essential because it enables a nurse to acquire superior knowledge, skills, and attitudes that allow them to care for all categories of any population irrespective of their age, gender, race and cultural affiliations. Being a non-specialist healthcare function, nursing may require a registered nurse to take care of individuals, families, groups and communities. This can be done by holistic professionals with general nursing practice, to fit in any setting regardless of the complexity of the healthcare environment. These professionals are the link between patients and the complex healthcare systems (AACN, 2008). The second most important essential is the clinical prevention and population because Baccalaureate course produces graduates that understand how to promote health to the public by preventing disease and injuries in the community. This helps in improving population health, by creating a clear understanding about how lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors are major determinant factors in determining aspects of health, such as diseases, disability and mortality. The health professionals also help in using clinical preventions, such as immunization and counseling, that can be used to prevent disease escalations. A registered nurse can, therefore, take care of the whole population by advising on how the available resources can be used to meet the health needs of the entire population. Conclusion Baccalaureate nursing course is appropriate for nursing professionals in the modern society where the health of almost everyone is endangered. Provision of better healthcare services, therefore, requires professional nurses with superior skills, knowledge and attitude, as well as competencies in other areas that impact quality of health care. The course, therefore, produces graduates who can contextualize their technical knowledge and who can use other technological applications in meeting the health demands for all patients. Provision of better health services requires both technical and application skills in order to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services for the entire population. These skills, knowledge and competencies are provided by the Baccalaureate education course. Buy custom Essentials of Baccalaureate Education essay

Racial Profiling

Racial Profiling Introduction Ever since the early civilization man has always discriminated fellow men on the basis of their color, age, gender among other many factors. In the United States of America, discrimination is more spread across the different race origins that the citizens bear.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Racial Profiling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The American population is made of people from different origins, for example, we have; the African American, Caucasians, Red Indians among others. Some races feeling superior to others have promoted discrimination for a very long period. One way through which this has been done is racial profiling (MacDonald 4). When the color of your skin or the origin of your race is used by the law enforcing officers as a basis of suspicion of having committed particular crimes in general non suspect investigations then that can be described as racial profiling (Glaser 4 ). This discrimination which most of the times has been based on religion, race, ethnicity or any other special character that one may be identified with undermines the human rights and freedom of every American citizen. It is a fact that law enforcement officers at all levels target people of certain races or ethnic groups most of the time as seen during traffic stops and inspection. For many years, Americans of African and Hispanic origins have complained of being victims of race profiling due to allegations of their likelihood of committing crimes compared to Americans of other races. For example, allegations of racial profiling have been on the policemen who suspect African American shoppers of being petty thieves. Individuals have been subjected to racial profiling when walking or shopping, for instance, blacks are often stopped and questioned by cops if seen walking in an area assumed to be a white dominated region (Muffler 2). This has become a major issue in the United State s of America some debating on its essence and why it should continue or it should stop and thus the need to look into the matter. Current System or the Way Things Are Currently Done In Regards to Racial Profiling In the recent years it has become a major concern to everybody on racial profiling. Laws seeking to ban racial profiling have been introduced in the congress for example Both S. 16(Daschle) and H.R 2364(Engel), (Laney 2), contains provisions relating to racial profiling. S.16 is an â€Å"omnibus civil rights bill, which includes provisions that would express a sense of the Senate that Congress enact legislation banning racial profiling and requiring law enforcement at the federal state and local levels to prevent the practice (Muffler 3).Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The HR.2364 (Engel) aims to amend immigration and nationality act by establishing a Visa Fairness Commission to collect data on the ongoing racial profiling in the American Embassies and with the US border inspectors. The law enforcement departments have been accused of practicing racial profiling in their aim of controlling two vices: preventing the illicit drugs activities and containing terrorism threats. Many Americans disapprove traffic stops but when terrorism investigations are the claims of making the stops, then the Americans have no problem in allowing the vice to continue. The fact that the bombings of September 2001 were carried by attackers of Arab origin, other Arab citizens living in the country whether innocent or guilty have been faced with adverse cases of racial profiling; â€Å"50% Americans responding to a poll supported the laws requiring Arabs including those who are U.S. citizens to carry a special ID† (Muffler 6). Another study carried in the country by the Opinion Dynamics showed that â€Å"54% of American citizens approved the u se of racial profiling to screen Arab-male airline passengers. While in another carried by Cornell University â€Å"68% responded to racial profiling as a tool of fighting terrorism† (Muffler 6). Thus, race profiling is within many American citizens and any bid to eliminate the vice is expected to face all sorts of challenges. While all the claims about Muslims and their relation to terrorism might be true, it is worthy noting that terrorists of Middle East (as they are usually faced with higher risks of racial profiling) background could have migrated to Germany, England or any other country and thus racial profiling by use of the geographical factors is also not bound to work. The extent of racial profiling has been studied in some states, for example, in the Arizona Sentinel Investigation of all the vehicles which were stopped in the interstate highway in Florida, â€Å"While nearly 705 of the vehicles stopped belonged to the blacks and Hispanic, only a small 5% of the dr ivers were from the minor communities† (Muffler 7). Racial profiling violates the individual constitutional rights as stated in the supreme constitution of the United States of America. The fourth amendment of the United States of America protects every American citizen against any unreasonable searches and seizures (Kops 72) while the Fifth Amendment protects against discrimination based on ethnicity, race or nation of origin as experienced in racial profiling cases (Rezmovic Ekstrands 3).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Racial Profiling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fourteenth amendment of the constitution goes further and protects all American citizens by ensuring that they are provided with equal security and protection by the country laws thus those practicing racial profiling should be made aware that the constitution bars them from doing so. Why do you think racial profiling is unjust? Who suffers? Who benefits? Why is that unfair? Racial profiling is in no doubt unjust as it favors one group of people over the other. It is both wrong and ineffective on those who uses and for those who are subjected to. That is why racial profiling should be banned whether in fighting drugs or terrorism. It is important to note that it is not a race or ethnicity which commits a crime rather it is an individual people who commits the crimes and thus judge the people individually and not linking a whole group to the acts. Blacks have often been suspected of committing crimes more than other races thus faces more cases of racial profiling but the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) argues against racial profiling by stating that while blacks may be responsible for a higher percentage of crimes committed within an area it does not mean that majority of blacks population should be held responsible for the crimes. Another case which makes racial profiling u njust is that certain communities are overly policed, unjustly scrutinized, and disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system while individually they might not have committed any crime. These victims of racial profiling have their liberty interests taken from them. They are stopped, searched, arrested, subjected to unwarranted force, detained in custody and in the most extreme cases, shot, tortured or killed as a result of being ill-perceived as a serious threat† (Sandborn, Bahdi, Parsons 2). Racial profiling also promotes cynicism about law enforcement and the judicial system amongst members of communities who are subjected to racial profiling thus decreasing the probability of citizen co-operation with law enforcers for legitimate investigations. The only claimed benefit to racial profiling is that the authorities are able to narrow their investigations down to certain characteristics within a certain race of a given suspect incase they have a reliable infor mation connecting to a certain crime which was committed somewhere rather than stopping and questioning every individual who passes through a police check (Korobkin 24).Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A Legal Approach Would Entail On Making Policing a More Informative and Responsive Process Would Be My Approach towards Solving Racial Profiling Increasing the available information to the police can be a solution towards eliminating or reducing cases of racial profiling in the United States of America. With adequate information the police can be able to monitor and pin point the hot spots where much police presence and patrols are needed. Laws and legislations passed against racial profiling has been a major incentive to the adoption of technology by most law enforcers in order to change their approaches towards traffic stops. Once information is collected by the police for example about a crime committed somewhere and the details made public this creates a warning system to the people and incase the police may stop you according to the details already given in the public domain then no one will complain of discrimination or racial profiling. However, this data should always be aut henticated by the authorities to prevent chances of circulating the wrong information to the public thus making wrong traffic stops leading to increased racial profiling within the country. By the police making the information public, this would allow them to announce what their plans are and it can help in building trust between the public and the police. To end racial profiling, the police departments should be made to release all the relevant information that can be meaningful to communities and target groups. This information should be aggregated according to the interest groups addressing the systemic problems while much information should be released according to the individual characteristics. Engaging with the public is also another strategy through which the police can gather information from the public and this can help them in understanding how the community feels and what needs to be done to ensure cases of racial profiling are reduced. The rigid supervisory techniques u sed by the police should be dropped and a more respectful and participatory approach adopted by the police as they seek for information during traffic stops. How Would You Combat Those Arguments Supporting Racial Profiling? For those who supports racial profiling the following are the simple facts that they should note about racial profiling. Racial profiling can be used as a tool to distract law enforcers from gaining access information through better approaches, for example, the law enforcers should focus on the suspicious behaviors which should lead to arrests rather than basing their focus on race. Racial profiling also prevents the cops from serving the entire community due to the fact that it sends a message that a certain race can be trusted more than the other and other races are viewed more as criminals than normal citizens. This can lead to the less scrutinized race taking advantage of the situation and committing crime. Another weak factor about racial profiling is that i t leads to communities and law enforcers not cooperating in containing crime in an area since the communities are already aware that the police are biased against them (Hunter 16). More than often racial profiling is likely to lead to riots as reports of discrimination and torture of suspects goes round in the society the community is likely to riot against the practice. Finally, not only is racial profiling morally wrong but it is also against the supreme constitution of the United States of America, which under the 14th amendment states that people within the jurisdiction of the country should not be denied equal protection of the laws. Glaser, Jack. â€Å"The Efficacy and Effect of Racial Profiling: A Mathematical Modeling Approach.† Goldman School of Public Policy University of California, Berkeley, 2003. Web. Hunter, David Jr. An Analysis of Racial Profiling and the Consequences of Profiling Based Upon Race. Michigan: University of Michigan-Flint Department of Public Sa fety. 2003. Kops, Deborah. Racial Profiling, 21st Edition. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2006. Korobkin, Daniel. â€Å"Racial Profiling: A New Challenge in Public Policy.† Public Policy Concentration Thesis, 2002. Web. Laney, Garrine. â€Å"Racial Profiling: Issues and Federal Legislative Proposals and Options.† CRS Report for Congress, 2004. Web. MacDonald, Heather. â€Å"The Myth of Racial Profiling.† The Manhattan Institute, 2001. Web. Muffler, Stephen. Racial Profiling: Issues, Data and Analyses. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 2006. Rezmovic L Evi Ekstrand E. Laurie. Racial Profiling: Limited Data On Available On Motorists Stop. New York: Diane Publishing, 2000. Sandborn, Tom; Parsons Olanyi; Bahdi Reem. â€Å"Racial Profiling Position Paper.† Civil Liberties Association, 2009. Web.

'Indigenous peoples are adequately protected by the international Essay

'Indigenous peoples are adequately protected by the international human rights law framework'. Discuss - Essay Example They are now minorities but they still have their ancestral territories and their ethnic identity as the basis of their continued existence as people. They live in accordance with their cultural mould, social institutions and legal systems. They are considered to be the caretakers of the most various biologically territories in the world. World’s linguistic and cultural diversity all originated from them and their traditional knowledge has been the source of invaluable benefits of mankind (United Nations 2009). To date, there are about three hundred ninety million indigenous people in ninety countries. However, indigenous peoples continue to endure racial discrimination, they are greatly marginalized and live in extreme poverty and usually conflict. The situation of the indigenous people in different parts of the world continues to be problematic. Systematic discrimination ranging from political and economic power continues to burden their peaceful way of existence. They are o ften victimized by invasion of their ancestral lands destroying their livelihood. Worse, they have been victimised by development aggression. In most less developed countries, they are being uprooted from their communities to pave the way for development such as mining activities. Not only that governments have abandoned them, but most of the time, governments work in connivance with big foreign capitalists to invade and take over to their ancestral lands. They have fallen victims of wars, militarisations which have led to massive displacement. The indigenous peoples depend on land for their lives, culture and identity. They live in a system that the whole community lord over the lands, territories and natural resources and that they only manage them. However, since the period of colonisation, the indigenous peoples have been constricted, deprived and driven away from their lands. In extreme cases, they have even been completely extinct or assimilated. Their belief systems, cultures , languages and ways of life are usually either being ridiculed, threatened or extricate. Rape and sexual humiliations, especially in times of armed conflict had afflicted to women for ethnic cleansing and demoralization of tribal communities. Indigenous women are particularly at risk to sexual violence. Access to the right to education has been has been a perennial problem. And to some ho can have the access to education, the prevailing culture within the educational institutions is oftentimes harsh ethnic and cultural differences. It has caused poor performance and higher dropout rates. Thus, the sector of the indigenous people was pushed back lower and lower to extreme level of poverty and hunger. International Human Rights Law, hereafter referred to as IHRL has recognized these threats, these serious problems and have provided various and different forms of solution in protecting and preserving the indigenous people. But are these enough to say that IHRL do protect the plight of the indigenous people? Can they truly guarantee protection, from the truest sense of the word, to the

Capstone Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Capstone Project - Assignment Example After a number of meetings they recommended three very important violence prevention programs which include prevention, intervention and treatment. They also established a new department of community programs to manage them. The first program involved improving and expanding gun violence prevention efforts in schools. This program kicked off in 1993 but was enforced in 1998 in response to the shooting in Jonesboro school. Schools in Arkansas started receiving federal funds to enable them set school based violence resource centers. According to Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families (2002), these violence resource centers wrote and published guidebooks on violence prevention that are now used in schools. The second program was an initiative of creating a Community threat assessment program. It was enforced in 1994 by the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The organization published a handbook addressing violence â€Å"computer, cellos and call-in radio: violence prevention tools for the 90s†. This book had the steps to follow in confronting violence in the community. The last one was enhancing service provision and accessibility of mental and behavioral health under the treatment initiative. This program involved the Arkansas Art children’s hospital, school clubs, Art center, city parks and churches (Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, 2002). In conclusion, the gun violence prevention programs started in Arkansas has greatly contributed to preventing gun violence cases in Arkansas. For instance, currently, there are 15 separate groups and 17 summer youth programs with more than 6,000 members funded by the initiative. In addition, a community in Arkansas, knows as Little Rock, recorded a 54% drop in juvenile gun violence arrests. Adjudicative practices are procedures that are made to solve disputes in the judiciary. One of these practices is rehabilitation of the federal prisoners.

Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing Management - Essay Example It should always be borne in mind that the above-mentioned factors are subject to change and uncertainty and likewise Hengist House is not immune to change hence the need to have up-to-date information about their business environment if they are serious about its development. Whilst Brenda and Phillip may want to believe that their business is flourishing by virtue of a large number of visitors they get each year, a close analysis of their business shows that it is operating below capacity to a certain extent. As a result of underutilization of other vast facilities, their property is not earning them the maximum capacity it should be considering that it used to be a successful farm as well as tourist attraction. Indeed, the place is endowed with the resources that can generate large amounts of revenue if properly utilized and carefully marketed. It seems there is no proper planning the reason why some of the facilities that can be used to generate income are being underutilized. For instance, there are winter bulbs that flowered under the trees each February and even into March but nothing much was ever done to them by way of feeding or other care but they are among the most attractive features at the place. With proper planning and marketing of the plac e, there is no need for applying for grants or loans to develop the area but it would generate its own revenue that can be in turn used to spruce up the image of the place. Their place looks as if it is neglected hence may not appeal to many people. Winter tourism has great potential for business and Brenda and Philip have the property endowed with all qualities necessary for the business to flourish like all other property owners but they had little planning to harness this kind of business. In the absence of proper marketing strategies in place, though the owners would like to believe that they are making handsome business, it can still be argued that they are not using their competitive advantage compared to other competitors in the area.

International Cooperation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Cooperation - Essay Example International institutions are essential in ensuring cooperation between states and this is mainly through enforcing reciprocity. These institutions ensure that they institutionalize cooperation in such a manner that states find it hard to renege on those treaties or agreements that they have made with others. Furthermore, international institutions are designed to reduce mistrust and instead foster a spirit of confidence between member states, thus making possible an environment that is conducive for cooperation. The formation of these institutions guarantees the creation of ground rules that are necessary to build confidence between member states, which allows for the development of better initiatives for cooperation. The reciprocal nature of cooperation through international institutions is necessary for fostering the needed agreements to reduce friction between states and instead bring about mutual benefits between partners at the state level.International institutions act as a m eans through which states can be able to achieve international security mainly through developing confidence between member states. It should be noted that states normally try to secure themselves in the belief that there will come a time when their security might be threatened by their neighbors or other international players. In order to ensure their mutual security, states have come to cooperate in this sector, an example being NATO which has brought together some of the most powerful states in the world.

Ancient Art Unit 2 DB Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ancient Art Unit 2 DB - Research Paper Example This statue was originally sculpted and cast to illustrate a treatise (now lost) written by Polykleitos called the Kanon. A piece of Roman art that is also quite impactive is the Colosseum (Knapp & Lehmberg, 2000). Set in ancient Rome, this art was a symbol of Roman dominance and rule. The two art pieces are quite similar in some various aspects. The similarity is found in context, blend and style, and is what makes them some unique pieces (Leonardo & Otinno, 1969). They are however also different in form. One is abstract while the other is representational. The Doryphoros is a two dimensional work of art that achieves a balance of straight and bent, tense and relaxed form that marks it as an ideal example of contrapposto piece (Ritcher, 1970). The Colosseum however is a three dimensional work of art, falls under the representational category and cannot be labeled as a contrapposto piece. In conclusion, the Doryphoros is symbolic to the Greek culture and represents proportionality and completeness in structure and design. The Colosseum was a symbol of Roman power and rule. Both pieces have historical significance as they signify an important period of time in both

International Cooperation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Cooperation - Essay Example International institutions are essential in ensuring cooperation between states and this is mainly through enforcing reciprocity. These institutions ensure that they institutionalize cooperation in such a manner that states find it hard to renege on those treaties or agreements that they have made with others. Furthermore, international institutions are designed to reduce mistrust and instead foster a spirit of confidence between member states, thus making possible an environment that is conducive for cooperation. The formation of these institutions guarantees the creation of ground rules that are necessary to build confidence between member states, which allows for the development of better initiatives for cooperation. The reciprocal nature of cooperation through international institutions is necessary for fostering the needed agreements to reduce friction between states and instead bring about mutual benefits between partners at the state level.International institutions act as a m eans through which states can be able to achieve international security mainly through developing confidence between member states. It should be noted that states normally try to secure themselves in the belief that there will come a time when their security might be threatened by their neighbors or other international players. In order to ensure their mutual security, states have come to cooperate in this sector, an example being NATO which has brought together some of the most powerful states in the world.

The Contribution Of Feminist Criticism To Opera Studies Essay

The Contribution Of Feminist Criticism To Opera Studies - Essay Example In order to defend the position of a woman and stop discrimination, feminism penetrates all the spheres of life. As the old values of the society have been formed for a long time and are reflected in the works of art, it became necessary for the strugglers for human rights to make feminist movement influence the sphere of art. Old plots of classical art creations are very popular today and widely used by producers for their performances. However, feminists claim that many of these plots should be modified. The trouble is that they plunge us into the past values and traditions feminists did their best to change. As the plots are too old, the representation of women is usually too discriminative and reminds men about their dominance in the past. Under such influence the efforts of feminists risk to come to nothing, thus they consider it necessary to impose their effect on the sphere of the modern art. The given paper will provide the overview of the feminist influence in the sphere of mass media and demonstrate how the modern opera is affected by the feminist movement. The main argument of feminists is the â€Å"male gaze† that can be traced in modern performances. Notwithstanding that feministic mood penetrated many fields, the sphere of film-making remained almost unchanged. It keeps using motives, which are considered to be classical, in spite of the fact that they were formed in the patriarchal society. A woman continues playing secondary role. Boetticher explains: "what counts is what the heroine provokes, or rather what she represents. She is the one, or rather the love or fear she inspires in the hero, or else the concern he feels for her, who makes him act the way he does. In herself the woman has not the slightest importance."1 If to trace the literary works on the topic, it becomes clear that the problem was started to be considered by the strugglers for women’s rights already in 1970s. The work by Mulvey titled "Visual Pleasure and Narrat ive Cinema" discussed the secondary role and discrimination of women. The author states: "in their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness," and as a result contends that in film a woman is the "bearer of meaning, not maker of meaning.†2 The author draws the readers’ attention to the theory of Lacan that explains how the performances contributes to gender discrimination by depicting women as objects for sexual exploitation. Mulvey emphasizes the importance of re-consideration of the plots used to make performances. She states that the radical changes in the film-making structure are crucial as it is the only way to eliminate gender discriminative motives from modern performances. The issues of women discrimination in opera was discussed in the book by Catherine Clement. The feministic work â€Å"Opera: The und oing of Women† were created at the end of 1970’s. The author strongly believes that in opera women are oppressed and men dominate over them. She underlines that women in opera are portrayed as victims, who cannot express their own feelings and who sacrifice their lives for their beloved men. The life of these women in most situations has a tragic end. Really, it is possible to trace that most of the female protagonists appear in difficult circumstances and they are always unhappy and dissatisfied. In order to prove that it is enough to overview the most famous plots that are depicted in opera. The main heroine of â€Å"Tosca† Floria has committed suicide after she got to know about the execution of her beloved. The opera â€Å"Madam Butterfly† is rather popular, but if to consider it from critical point of view, it is plot is

Problems and Benefits of Privatization of Public Sector Organizations in China Essay Example for Free

Problems and Benefits of Privatization of Public Sector Organizations in China Essay Privatization as an important role of economy , has great contribution for all over the world. So what is privatization? Privatization means transfer of assets of economic activity from public sector to private sector, it has been seen by many governments as a means of revitalizing inefficient industries and as an opportunity to raise revenues to ease budgetary problems; however, privatization in China is very complicated. When reform started in 1978, almost of the productive assets were state-owned in China. But reforms since then have not included privatization. Today, there is more than 70 per cent of Chinese productive wealth which belongs to Chinese government. During the first 20 years of reform, the government concentrated the country’s assets with a great purpose of development which helped to achieve the creation of infrastructure and expansion of industrial capacity. We can image, if the state assets had been privatized, it would become a big trouble for China to mobilize resources during the tremendous industrialization between 1980s and 1990s.That’s why the initial marketization-without-privatization approach has been successful. Also because of that, China has emerged a robust infrastructure and become an industrialized economy. However, this industry-first, government-investment-driven and export-oriented growth model which has been highly resource intensive has run its course. China has expanded export almost of the world, not only the developed countries, also Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. But this growth model is limiting the speed of export. China has to turn towards growth driven by domestic demand, not exports, and one led by service not industry to shift its economy. So what can help to stimulate the transformation? The answer is privatization. Privatization remains a thorny issue in a country where private property became a constitutional right only in 2004 and where the right to own productive assets remains unclear. Many vibrant, purely private companies have sprung up despite this uncertainty, but take care to stay out of the limelight. For example, the most famous Chinese private company is Legend Holdings Ltd, is Chinese investment holding company in IT, investment, and real estate formed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences- the best-known of which is the Lenovo Group in which Legend is the controlling shareholder. In 2006, the volume of its business was 4,033,096 million RMB. Another famous private company is Huawei which makes and sales telecommunication equipment. It is biggest supplier who provides the solution of telecommunication network. Until 2011, the whole company had 146,000 employees, and the annual sales volume was 203.9 billion RMB. Obviously the kinds of private companies become a main power to improve C hinese economy and increase national income. Proverbially, privatization can help to reduce the government financial and administrative burden. The best example is Legend Holdings Ltd. Legend Holdings Ltd was based on the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Chinese government only invested 200 thousands to organize the company. However, until now, the company has developed to an international holding company with the influence from all over the world. The Chinese government doesn’t manage the company directly but it controls a part of stock of the company. According to an analysis suggests that privatization of China’s state-owned enterprises is achieved with limited compromise on the social welfare responsibilities, and much of the improvement in the firm performance comes from the reduction in the agency cost at the management level. The state-owned enterprises generally have bloated management structure with excessive amount of managerial expenses. It is because the State Assets Agency has multiple objectives, and so long as the management meets those objectives it is neither motivated nor disciplined for profit maximization. On the contrary, private companies have their own management systems, they don’t have so much social welfare duties as state-owned enterprises. Rapid development of privatization also can help government to increase their financial income. According to the data suggests, in 2004, mainly to the private economy of small and medium-sized enterprises created 58.8 per cents of GDP, 68.3 per cents of exports and 48.2 per cents of revenue in China. Also we can see the data from Legend Holdings Ltd. Until 2003, this private company handed over to the national tax 5.45 billion RMB. As the state-owned enterprises, the government has to invest by themselves to get profit; however, as private company, government can get revenue without investing or management. Increasing efficiency and productivity in certain public sector is the third advantage of privatization in China. Some state-owned enterprises sale to specific purchasers through MBO(Management Buy-Outs). The managers cooperate with foreign companies which can help to import high technology equipment and improve the manufacturing technology. Obviously, this can increase the efficiency and productivity of company. The most famous example in China is Haier. Haier as a global electrical appliances brand, cooperate with 28 companies from difficult countries like America, Japan and Germany. As of 2008, Haier has surpassed rival Whirlpool as the worlds top refrigerator producer in terms of sales, according to Euromonitor, an independent business intelligence provider. Haier said it sold 12 million refrigerators worldwide last year, up 20% over the previous year. Its market share reached 6.3% globally. On the other hand, with the development of privatization in China, there are many problems which disturb the road of privatization. As I talked before, MBO is a kind of form of state-owned enterprises privatization. The government selling the state-owned enterprises to private organization or individual is another form. The biggest problem for this form is the individual will change the enterprise to family business. The Chinese Social Science Center had a research about Chinese private economy. The data showed 61.82 per cent companies admit that they are family business. Only 27.4 per cent of enterprises’ stock was controlled by family under 90 per cent. In China, family business enterprises’ average life is only 2.8 years. Why? Many bosses of private companies provide management job to their family. However, with the development of enterprise, importing the skills of manufacture and the experience of management become more and more important. Family members are not en ough for the development of business. The crisis of stock is another problem for privatization in China. A while back Huawei company was in trouble of old employees demanded the stock of enterprise. According to this event, we can notice there is more stock crisis in privatization of China. The owners of enterprises want to control the whole company; however, when the state-owned enterprises change to private enterprises, the distribution of stock is very confused. The lack of clear strategy of cooperation and the lack of coordination system make the partner scramble for stock, which can make the management layer into disarray. The developing of enterprise is seriously for entrepreneur. However, the growth of enterprise is not only expanding the company or increasing the number of employees, it appears in many aspects. Chinese entrepreneur always want to control their companies, this means they do not want to decrease their stock of the company. This phenomenon result to the lack of investment. For example, we can connect to family business. The lack of investment and management skills make the enterprises’ average life only 2.8 years. How to affect foreign investment and increase the capital is big challenge for Chinese entrepreneur because when the enterprises become private, the government cannot control or manage or invest to the companies directly. China’s privatization has developed more than 20 years, the private company increase the government financial income and develop Chinese economics. However the privatization in China is still not mature. A state-owned enterprise which changes to private enterprise has to face many problems. In general, the trend of Chinese privatization is optimistic. This also can help to develop the world economics.

Philosophy Essays Platonic Epistemology Socratic

Philosophy Essays Platonic Epistemology Socratic Platonic epistemology seeks answers to key questions regarding the nature of reality, man, mind/soul, knowledge, being and becoming. The nature of this paper allows only the broadest brush strokes across the Platonic canvas. However following a brief introduction in which I will discuss the Socratic method and its influence on Platonic philosophy. Plato like his predecessor and mentor Socrates, aimed to identify the world around him using a more in depth methodology, from others that had been employed previously. The more Humanistic nature of Socratic enquiry was in marked contrast to the pre Socratic Naturalist approach. In The Republic Plato sets about an examination of specific concepts presented as a serious of dialogues or in a dialectic style. Through various metaphors and dialectic prose Plato delineates theories of reality (including the world of forms and being), the doctrine of Recollection, the roles of dialectic and aporia, and the tripartite structure theories of man and state. Benjamin Jowett in his edition of The Republic suggests the greater aim of Platos work is the â€Å"search after justice† embodying the fields of reality, man and knowledge discussed â€Å"On the basis of proverbial morality by Socrates and Polemarchus then caricatured by Thrasymachus reduced to an abstraction by Glaucon and Adeimantus† all based on the constructs of man and state as delineated by Socrates Influenced by his mentor Socrates and other Greek thinkers mentioned by Jowett. Platos work is still applicable today in a priori philosophies; Idealists concepts such as the tripartite nature of Man and State would have remarkable relevance in modern political theories including Utilitarianism and Communisms. Andrew Levine in his book Engaging Political Philosophy postulates: â€Å"Rousseaus investigation in The Social Contract was the realm of Platonic ideas or forms in contrast to the world of appearances, where de facto legitimate states exists† Any discussion on Platonic epistemology must inevitably weigh the influence of the Socratic school. Platos Socrates is the key to understanding the complexity of Platos thought. Socratic contrarianism and its methodology of aporia, a sort of constant intellectual [foundational] doubting, left Socrates free to claim that he was the wisest of men and was at the same time ‘wise in no way great or small. Platos later theories and epistemology would develop with Socrates almost rebellious dialectical style, questioning the accepted traditional beliefs of Greek intellectual society. (The historic Socrates stood trial and was sentenced to death for preaching his philosophy publicly; he refused to discontinue the practise) Platos adoption of Socratic contrarianism pervades much of his writings, especially in concepts as fundamentally abstract as his denial of knowledge through empirical observation; As witnessed in the Theaetetus when the Socratic midwife prepares to assist the young Theaetetus with his labours while delivering a reply to Socrates question â€Å"what is knowledge.† When questioned Theaetetus equates knowledge with perception, after intense dialectical questioning, during which Socrates successfully refutes arguments that perception is (biconditional) knowledge Theaetetus finally agrees, (with restrictions) that perception is not knowledge. So commences the search for an answer to the question Socrates asks, â€Å" what is knowledge?† Plato rejected all empirical claims to understand the true nature of knowledge â€Å" Knowledge is not constituted by sense impressions, but by the inferences we make about them, by that means being and truth are attainable, in the other way it is impossible† In the Theaetetus Plato demonstrates the concept of being as â€Å"fundamental and universal† Socrates points to the specialization of bodily sense organs. If we ask which organs enable us to formulate opinions or judgements that range across more than one field of sense-experience, we cannot identify such a grouping. â€Å"the things you perceive by means of another for example, that objects of hearing can not be objects of the seeing and vice versa?† The possession of mathematical knowledge or the ability to formulate judgements does not reside in some empirical â€Å" Sorting office†, Socrates states in the Meno, â€Å"Then knowledge is related to what is and knows what is and is as it is. The objects of mind are eternal; those of the senses always changing. Knowledge never changes; opinion, which is not tied down, is subject to change.† It now seems clear that what the mind knows is being, that which is eternal and unchanging, while the senses inform us concerning the â€Å"intermediate flux† The realm of being is comprised of ideas or forms and that of becoming by changing things. â€Å"Aporia and refutative cross examination serve to purify ambiguous formulation by excluding false and misleading interpretations and opening the path to true ones† reflects Rosemary Desjardins, in Logos in Platos Theatetus. Platos dialogues may indeed be aporetic but by subjecting both his interlocutors and readers to elenchus and meiutic method he hopes to lead from gross perceptibility to finer cognition. The relentless inquisitiveness of the Socratic method in conjunction with aporia lends to a degree of abstraction in the nature of Platos philosophy (referred to in Jowetts introduction to The Republic) evidenced by the allegory of the cave, the doctrine of recollection, the nature of reality, the concept of the divided line, and the theory of forms. The allegory of the cave allowed Plato to postulate several ideas archetypal of Platonic philosophy. The allegory of the cave describes the limit placed on mankind, by an over reliance on sensory perception, and the subsequent systems of knowledge that relied on empirical evidence alone to deduct truths. For Plato, the resultant effect of mans self-shackling (empirical observation) is described in Book VII of The Republic. Plato views mankind as: â€Å"living in a underground [den] which has its mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and neck chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads† Plato does not give a finite explanation of enlightenments form nor does he give an example of reality, what he demonstrates in the allegory of the cave is a clear method or path, that man and society must pursue to achieve deeper knowledge of reality. Like the prisoners emergence from the cave, enlightenment at first will be difficult to understand, like the temporary blindness they suffer when first exposed to sunlight, its an arduous path that takes time, patience, temperance and practice, with the temptation for a return to former ignorance always present. Ignorance when lifted will deliver us into the Real world of philosophy with man finally comprehending his own place on the path to true knowledge. Plato delineates this movement with mathematics through the image of a straight line. He divides this imaginary line into two unequal segments, the large segment represents the intelligible world, and the smaller the visible world. He further divides these segments in the same ratio as his first division. The division in the larger segment represents the world of higher and lower forms (ideas). The division in the visible world represent visible objects and the lowest segment represents their shadows and reflections (imagination). For Plato the line represents the levels of cognition available to man and society. Socrates avowed mission was to educate the Athenian populace up until the last days of his life. He likened his mission to that of a gadfly, ‘stinging the lethargic Athenian horse into wakefulness through the application of philosophical dialectic (Socratic method) Plato believed if entered into in good faith, this method would ensure a cognitive assent along the divided line. He believed until individuals and society, collectively questioned the political, ethical, and moral status quo, conciousness would remain in bondage much like the prisoners restricted mechanical life in the cave. Answering his critics regarding the phenomenon of knowledge Plato states that the soul is immortal â€Å" the soul, since it is immortal, and has been born many times, and seen all things both here and in the other world, has learned every thing that is† Plato offers proof of the souls immortality, in the Phaedrus he postulates that its the nature of the soul to initiate its own changes, in effect to be self moving, rather than moved by an outside agency. Therefore the soul cannot be destroyed nor can it come into being. ‘It was not, nor will be, but always is, one whole continuum. (Parmenides.) To contemporary ears the Platonic soul bears great similarities to the Christian Soul unlike his Doctrine of Recollection or anamnesis; Platos Socrates denies his own wisdom; in the Apology he states, â€Å" human wisdom is worth little or nothing† he merely asserts that he is a â€Å" midwife† assisting in the â€Å"rebirth† of knowledge lying dormant in the mind Opinions proven wrong in the course Socratic investigation, does not demonstrate lack of knowledge, but rather, the clouding of mind on account of sensory perception. Platos Socrates asserts that dialectical investigation (with its constant questioning) would lead the inquiring mind towards clues, allowing it a recollection of what was already known through the many cycles of rebirth. Although considered a Platonic absolute the Doctrine of Recollection cannot be contested or proved. Platonic abstraction, denies legitimate validity to Empirical investigation. The a priori solution given by the slave boy in the Meno to the mathematical question posed by Socrates, hardly resolves this problem. Tying into the Doctrine of Recollection and the minds compromised judgement on account of sensory perception, Platos Theory of forms plays a greater role in the Allegory of the cave, where the impressions cast on the caves wall are believed to be real. For Plato the shadows on the wall were a reflection of empirical reality, which in turn was a reflection of a Reality whos dwelling lay in the realm of Forms (ideas). Platos theory of Forms is base on the notion that all things in the world share in common with a greater abstract (ideas) that in turn embodies all things in the empirical world. For example a small red chair, sharing certain physical characteristics in common with a large white chair, is not a real chair, but the perception of the abstract â€Å"chair† in which the white chair and all other chairs mimic. Plato translated his notion of the intangible into the Tripartite nature of man; man Plato contended, was comprised of physical material (the body), and the abstract immaterial (soul and mind). While co-dependant, the two parts ¾ matter and form ¾, function separately of each other.