Managing Information Systems In Organisations Essays (205 words)

Managing Information Systems In Organisations INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INTRODUCTION In recent years, there has been an abundance of new technologies in the information systems field. These new technologies have altered the very development process itself. Information systems have gone from being a series of one level databases to three dimensional reality, virtual reality, and multimedia systems. In the early days of information systems, the demands were for data, with no real function of artificial intelligence. However, as the 21st century approaches, business has taken on an entirely different function, and the need for individual information systems has grown immensely. This demand for information technology is in all areas of business: corporations, law, medicine, science and even small business. In addition, the worldwide web and the Internet have added an additional factor of communications. Most information systems in use today require at the very least, a measure of Internet capability. In order to understand the changes in these development processes, the history of databases should be analyzed. BACKGROUND Database Management Systems actually began in the 1950s, with what is known as the first generation, also known as file systems on tape. The major task of any computer in those days was to process data under the control of a program. This primarily meant calculating, counting and simple tasks. Second generation databases, file systems on dis...

How I Became a Competitive Gamer essays

How I Became a Competitive Gamer essays To most kids, gaming has an unlimited attraction - in fact, for some, it seems to have almost taken over their souls. Nearly every kid likes to be the hero in their video games. And, I admit that I am one of them. I started playing video games when 8 years old. At first, it was all about having fun. Then, one day, I began to play a game called "Counter-Strike 1.5". This game was influential in making me thee serious competitive gamer I am today. My first memory of playing video games was "FC" games. I had to go to the gaming station to play them secretly, because my parents thought playing games was harmful to my studies and an FC was too expensive for a normal family. Unfortunately, one day I was caught right outside the station by my mother. She was angry and warned me that if I went back there to play the games again, I would lose all my allowance and pocket money. I was frightened by this threat, so for a very short while, I gave up video games. After two game-less weeks, my desire to get my hands on a game controller kicked into overdrive because my uncle bought a new game system. He was a gamer even though at that time he was 35 years old. Although he was not rich and the FC machine would cost him 200 yuan, which was as much as his monthly salary, he finally made the purchase. My aunt knew that I wanted to play badly too, so she brought the machine to my house for me on every holiday. It was great to play in my own house and also, because it was on holidays, my parents didn't stop me from playing. Those were the happiest days of a year for me. I began to dream of one day buying myself my own FC. Although I could not go into the station and play anymore, I could stand outside and watch the other kids play. I really wanted my own FC. Popular games at that time were Warriors of Fate, Cadillac's of Dinosaurs, Street Fighter, Captain Commando, and the classic RaidenX and at that time, I was a better watcher than a ...

A juxtaposition of republican and democratic parties

A juxtaposition of republican and democratic parties Democratic Party Vs Republican Party To properly compare the Democratic and Republican party platforms, I am going to pick three political issues that have popped up in this year’s election and review the party’s opinions and plans and highlight their similarities and differences. The three political issues will be immigration, gun control, and taxes. Starting with immigration, first looking at the democratic platform. Clinton basically says that she will make immigration easier. She wants to end the three and 10 year bars. She says she’ll do everything possible to protect immigrant families. She states she’ll close the detention centers and try to expand access to affordable health care. Clinton and the Democrats seem all for immigration. Now, taking a look over at the Republican candidate’s stance. Trump wants to put American citizens first. He wants a wall, plans on ending catch-and-release. No more sanctuary cities, no visas to countries without adequate screening, countries must take their deportees back. He wants to put in place a visa tracking system. No more job and benefits magnet. He is against massive immigration and wants to put America first. Next onto gun control. Clinton’s platform on gun control isn’t actually the worst thing ever. She wants to expand background checks and get rid of the Charleston Loophole. She plans on taking on the gun lobby and revoking licenses. She wants to make it illegal for domestic abusers, violent criminals, and the severely mentally ill to be able to obtain guns. Of course, none of these plans do anything if someone manages to get a gun illegally, but we really can’t do anything about that until after the fact. Trump, although not an advocate of taking guns away from everyone, shares a similar stance. Obviously he wants to support the Second Amendment right to bear arms. But he also wants to get serious about the prosecution of violent criminals. He also plans on getting gangs and drug dealers off the street. He also plans on expanding mental health programs to keep the violent mentally ill off the streets. However, he still wants to empower law-abiding gun owners to b e able to keep defending themselves if necessary. Finally, looking at something that really will affect us. Taxes. Clinton’s platform is raising taxes on the wealthy. I’m not super sure why, since she counts as wealthy. She phrases it as â€Å"restore basic fairness to our tax code†. She plans on closing corporate and Wall Street tax loopholes. She plans on charging an exit tax for companies leaving the US. She also wants to cut taxes for small business and pay for ambitious investments in a fiscally responsible way. Trump’s platform on taxes is a little different. He plans on reducing taxes across the board, especially for working and middle class Americans. He also will eliminate special interest loopholes, and entice business to stay in America and those who have moved to come back to America. He also will reduce the cost of child care by allowing families to deduct the full cost of childcare from their taxes. His tax plan will increase the economy and grow jobs. Comparing their platforms on these issues, you can see that they both have good ideas. We may not need a physical wall but we do need harsher immigration policies, especially with ISIS growing stronger every day. Stricter gun laws would be nice, but if we can get the gang bangers and violent criminals off the streets, that would be nice too. They both want to stimulate the American economy since Obamacare is basically collapsing now. They both want guns off the street, where they are hurting people. Clinton is pro-immigration and Trump is pro-isolation. Clinton wants to tax the rich and Trump wants to reduce taxes across the board. Similar ideas (sometimes), but different methods.

Best Practices on Autism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Best Practices on Autism - Research Paper Example While the paper has focused on the best practices in the field but the limited diagnosis criteria and lack of emphatic treatment has greatly frustrated the parents and the scholars alike and presents a challenge for the medical fraternity as well. In the recent times, there has been extensive and wide ranging concern for issues relating to disability. The prognosis and the use of technology in the field has made tremendous advancement and the amendments in the constitutions, making special provisions to include all round welfare programs for the people with disabilities has facilitated equal participation in the socio-economic development of the country. Though the huge efforts made by the countries to facilitate and promote the participation of the people with disabilities has made significant mark, a lot more needs to be done in the field of developmental disabilities which have multifaceted and multilateral aspects that are not only complex by nature but they also need socio-psychological interventions, stretched over a period of time, involving extensive inter-personal communication. Of the various developmental disabilities, autism is significantly different and encompasses a wide set of communication problem. Autism and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) can be broadly defined as neuro-developmental disorder that affects social interaction and communication. There is decided lack of responsiveness to others that is accompanied by resistance towards any type of change. The studies have shown that autism is more prominent displayed amongst the children in the age group of 4-12 (Rutter, 1970; Wiug, 1988). The various studies looking for contextual variables have found that the demographic representation of autistic children was higher in the urban areas (DSM II criteria, 1980; DSM III R criteria, 1987). The incidence of autism was higher in the immigrant population from third world countries, especially Caribbean, Asia, south America, South-east Europe

Tucson Community Profile Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tucson Community Profile - Assignment Example Investigation, development, along with production within A & D forms the key economic facets for Tucson. Also, Tucson community is positioned amongst the best five within the country in this sector. Also, Tucson economy comprises of aerospace-related companies, manufacturing ultra-modern fields, production, distribution, along with warehousing and business aviation repairs. Davis-Monahan Military Base as well is a noteworthy component of Tucson society and the primary driver of growth of Tucson since 1950. It generates over one billion US dollars in the financial system per annum (Luckingham, 2015). Furthermore, Raytheon Missile facilities are the leading NGO industries within Tucson, having in excess of 10,800 workers. Likewise, historically, Tucson has been a junction for traders within Southwest area as well as the main center for shipping as well as logistics till presently. Additionally, Tucson’s closeness towards Mexico State, its position at crossroads of Pacific Railwa y Major Line, 2-11 as well as 2-20, along with Tucson Global Airdrome offer ease plus swiftness for delivery of products. Numerous companies, comprising of Target as well as HomeGoods, have decided to position center of distribution in Tucson (Luckingham, 2015). Fascinating Attractions Tucson provides a fascinating array of sceneries in addition to attractions. Local attractions comprise of the National Parks of Saguaro (both Eastern as well as a Western side), the planets celebrated Desert of Arizona-Sonora Museum and Sabina Gorge.

Story of an hour Essay Example for Free

Story of an hour Essay ?Prompt: Read â€Å"The Story of an Hour† carefully. Examine the protagonist’s attitude about the death of her husband. How is this attitude revealed and how does it contribute to the meaning of the story? Authors reveal characters attitudes through different literary devices. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, the author Kate Chopin, uses irony to reveal Mrs. Mallard’s attitude toward her new husband’s death. Chopin first describes in the story how a typical woman might respond to her husband’s death. â€Å"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. † Most women would have been in shock and not want to accept the fact that their husband had indeed passed away. However, Mrs. Mallard had a rather ironic reaction. She wept suddenly and wanted to be alone. This revealed she was not like most women and had a rather peculiar view about her husband’s death. As the reader continues, they discover more irony into Mrs. Mallard’s attitude. After she has retreated to a room to isolate herself from the others, she sits in a chair facing a window and whispers to herself, â€Å"Free, free, free! † No widow would whisper that only minutes after their husbands death, if ever at all. Though she knows her husband had loved her, and she had loved him, she had felt trapped inside their marriage. Now recognizing she has regained her freedom, her sense of entrapment diminishes. The irony continues as the reader learns Mrs. Mallard’s husband had not actually died. Not only is the reader in shock, but so is Mrs. Mallard. So shocked in fact, that she dies at her husband’s arrival. â€Å"When the doctor came they said she had died of a heart disease – of joy that kills. † Mrs. Mallard had actually died because for one hour she actually got to live with true freedom. Most women would be overwhelmed with joy that their husband was alive, where as Mrs. Mallard has more of an ironic reaction. She had realized at the sight of her husband that her glimpse of freedom and joy was over, and she could not go back to living under her husband’s will. Her final attitude towards the death of Mr. Mallard is revealed, Mrs. Mallard was happier as a widow. Kate Chopin uses irony as a literary device to reveal her character, Mrs. Mallard’s attitude towards her husband’s death.

The Internet Does Not Equal Isolation Essay -- Internet

The Internet Does Not Equal Isolation The computer has become a centerpiece for almost everyone’s lives. Teachers require homework to be typed, and students go through an Internet search tutorial at the beginning of every year. Communication online plays a role for many people with the introduction of instant messaging, message boards and chat rooms. Even businesses run their companies on computers and sell online. This can bring up controversy. Some believe that the Internet isolates people and takes away face-to-face interaction. Some studies have been done to see if the Internet causes loneliness. Does this mean that all Internet activity does harm to the world? No, in fact, it can do quite the opposite when actual contact is impossible. Internet has the potential to save lives, connect families and friends, and give ill patients a support system. Internet provides exceptional resources for health information, in particular transplants and organ donations. The web provides a great opportunity to share a wealth of information, and informing people about diseases and providing resources helps a lot in patients’ understanding. For example, TransWeb (www.transweb.org) provides a great amount of information on organ transplants and donations. On this site, the latest news, stories and conference information can be found. Another excellent website is the page for the United Network for Organ Sharing (www.unos.org). Under contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this nonprofit organization makes sure that â€Å"News, patient information, statistics, data requests, Internet links, and more are available at this site, as well as the bylaws and regulations that govern tissue allocation† (Sjogren). Dan Sjogren also... ...E-mail eases trauma.† Nationwide News 7 Dec. 2003: 34. Lexis-Nexis. Rodney A. Briggs Lib., Morris, MN. 7 Dec. 2003. â€Å"Internet use may benefit survival of minority/ethnic patients.† Cancer Weekly 18 March 2003: 24. Expanded Acadamic ASAP. InfoTrac. Rodney A. Briggs Lib., Morris, MN. 7 Dec. 2003. Minerd, Jeff. â€Å"The decline of conversation: with everybody wired, we are starved for face-to-face conversation.† The Futurist Feb. 1999: 18. Expanded Acadamic ASAP. InfoTrac. Rodney A. Briggs Lib., Morris, MN. 7 Dec. 2003. â€Å"Peer-to-Peer Computing Can Help Speed Pace of AIDS Drug Research.† AIDS Weekly 16 Oct. 2000. Expanded Acadamic ASAP. InfoTrac. Rodney A. Briggs Lib., Morris, MN. 7 Dec. 2003. Sjogren, Dan. â€Å"Transplant information on the World Wide Web.† AORN Journal 68 (1998): 1035. Expanded Acadamic ASAP. InfoTrac. Rodney A. Briggs Lib., Morris, MN. 7 Dec. 2003.

Globalization †Has Globalization Made The World More Or Less Secure Essay

The world is evolving and in the last few decades, some of the major changes have taken place in the world. Out of the many changes, one of the major transformations that have taken place is what is referred to as globalization. Globalization has taken over the world by storm and reduced large distances; it has resulted in many changes in the last decade and has been supported and promoted by the advent of technology. The world has turned into a global village which is so small that distances no longer carry much importance. Globalization is not a single concept but one which has various aspects like technological, economical, cultural and social and each one of its dimension has a broad scope. Since, the world is now interconnected because of globalization, this has facilitated and created opportunities in different aspects, but has also resulted in increased competition and many insecurities. In this essay, we first discuss globalization and explain what it is, discuss briefly some of its drivers, then discuss some of the non state actors and the impact of globalization on the world in terms of security. Globalization Globalization can be defined in various ways. It is the process where extension of connections takes place on a global basis, creating a social connection of life at a global level and resulting in the fusion of global societies. The term is comprised of different large processes; the definitions thus also vary according to what is emphasized in the description. With respect to the true meaning of the word, there is difference in opinion as to what it actually refers to as it may indicate actual processes as they take place in life, thoughts which validate the course of action or simply the manner in which people form perception of these processes. Globalization is thus understood through the different definitions that exist and each of these definitions articulate diverse considerations of global change brought about by the phenomenon of globalization (Lechner, 1, 2001). Globalization generally is considered to be a procedure that increases the interconnectedness and inter reliance amongst the business and markets of the world (INVESTOR 2008). Thus, globalization results in bringing the markets and businesses of the world closely linked to each other, but the term is not limited to just an economical dimension, therefore, it would be more appropriate to inculcate in it the aspects of politics, social, culture and ethics. Globalization may also be considered as a practice of a social nature where the diminution of the limitations of geography on provisions of cultural and social nature occurs and people are more conscious over time of the fact that limitations are diminishing (Waters, 9, 1995). Drivers of globalization Globalization has been driven by a number of factors which have broadened its scope even more. The increased pressure on costs causes companies to move their resources to such places where they are more cheaply available. Many products have reached a certain level of market saturation in their respective markets, therefore, giving rise to the need to search for new markets. Customers have become more savvy and quality conscious which has resulted in globally increased demands that have to be met. Governments at different places have introduced policies to promote globalization such as levied taxed and allowing open markets. There is development in technology every other day and many of these technological changes facilitate globalization (Briscoe & Schuler, 14-15, 2004). There are a number of trading blocs existing in different regions that place different rules for trading among countries and pave way for open trade amongst them. The advent of internet has resulted in world wide communication and flow of information which makes information available at fingertips to be accessed at any time. The different cultures are more closely integrated and boundaries have become blurred because of global communication and availability of different products and services like music, food, clothing etc. the workforce is now more educated across the world and thus is able to meet the demands of globalization. Trade barriers have decreased and markets have become more open resulting in increased competition and thus searching for opportunities in overseas market to keep up with the competition. Finally, E-commerce makes a business global, the very moment it hosts its website online, making it available to customers across the globe (Briscoe & Schuler, 14-15, 2004). The major contribution to globalization has been made by technological advances which have paced up the process considerably in the last two decades, thus, facilitating traveling, communicating and conducting business on an international level. Amongst the many drivers of globalization, two major ones are advancement in telecommunication infrastructure and internet, which are a result of technological development (INVESTOR, 1, 2008). Non state actors Governments have a vital role to play in the process of globalization, they should be able to plan and implement vital policies and negotiate important international bodies for expressing the views of their nations and obtain benefits by stressing their national interests. Though the states are important but there are different non state actors, among them are organizations which support globalization. Among these, World Economic Forum and World Trade Organization are the two most prominent ones. The World Economic Forum lacks the authority to make decisions yet it has great influence and high importance. This foundation has played its part in providing a forum for the networking needs of governments, business and non-profit leaders on a global level. On the other hand, The World Trade Organization is an entity which was created with the objective of defining rules that will oversee global trade and capital flows by taking consent of its members and make sure that the established rules are adhered to by supervising the concerned acts of the member countries (INVESTOR, 1, 2008). The formation of WTO was meant to revolutionalize the scope of issues related to global trade and to assure the conformity of to its principles of international trade and settle conflicting disputes of the concerned domain by its dispute-settlement mechanisms (UN, 1, 2000). Another important non state actor is the UN which has a vital role to perform in globalization on the basis of its multilateral system, which is necessary for working globally as there is a need for cop operation with each other across the globe. The multilateral system is important for the making of international policies that reflect shared values within the boundaries of law (WC, 1, 2004). But the UN has delegated its power of dealing with social and economic subjects to WTO, WB and IMF. The WTO has such approach that often leaves out developing countries in the decision-making. The decision making policy of the UN need to have more participation from the developing matters at least in the issues pertaining to them so that they may efficiently serve the needs of such nations. The economic and social powers that were shifted to other bodies are over burdening these bodies and resulting in inefficient mechanisms, therefore, these powers should be brought back with the UN but with proper policies and rules that may benefit all nations (Khor, 1, 2000). Implications of globalization Globalization is now a common feature of the world economy but it is not accepted by everyone with open arms. Though globalization results in opportunities and competition for everyone across the globe and provision of opportunities is good and if viewed positively, even competition is good as it results in more efficient production. But on the other hand, globalization cause deprivation for specific groups of people who do not have sufficient resources to cope with it. Consequently, in the increasing pressure of competition brought about by the inter-connection of their economies with the rest of the globe, these people are incapable of functioning efficiently and thus stand at a disadvantage (INVESTOR, 1, 2008). Globalization requires economic, social and political adjustments for people of different societies, areas or regions to accept and characterize their culture with an aim to integrate it with that of the rest of the world. It endorses global integration significantly and asks for elimination of existing barriers between different cultures. Those who support the process justify this kind of integration by resembling it with that of the significant technological information devices like satellites and computers. The critics argue that the proposed integration of cultural is in fact aimed at cultural invasion and will result in the degeneration of cultural identity and its spirit whereas those who support it deem the declining of cultural boundaries as an ample indicator of improved communication processes, combination of societies and a signal of capacity aimed at amalgamation of civilizations. There is evidence of how the global socioeconomic forces belonging to the industrialized West have invaded these poorer countries and may eventually cause them to lose the characteristics of their religion and society. It is observable that the means which assisted in bringing cultures nearer to each other may also have caused the exhaustion of many of these global cultures (Moussalli, 1, 2003). An overlook of the governance of globalization shows that it is dictated by strong players and countries, proper rules and institutions to regulate the different aspects like trade or finance are lacking and poor people and countries stand at a clear disadvantage as they are unable to reap the benefits of the phenomenon (WC, 1, 2004). Globalization has not helped in equitable development as there is an increase in disparities and poverty. Politically, even though the national boundaries are growing blurred but upon closer observation, we get to know that it is not a result of the free choice of people but a model imposed by stronger powers (Sabourin et al. , 56, 2000). The focus of globalization has stayed on the aspect of economy and business for a long time but it is about time to realize its effects on the personal and professional life of people. Although problems like poverty, human rights violation, unemployment were present even before globalization took over but these have been fuelled by globalization along with added disadvantage of social exclusion for many poor nations of the world. Deduction from many of the studies related to globalization shows that it is someway responsible for the growing inequality as the poor usually do not get to derive their share of the benefits offered by the phenomenon; among such nations, the developing countries are most affected. But there are also studies that suggest the benefits availed by the poor from globalization when facilities are provided to the poor like credit access, technical know-how, social safety nets as income support and well targeted food aid (Nesvisky, 1, n. d. ). With respect to employment, we see that there has been a decline in labor intensive jobs which has consequently led to lower demand of unskilled labor and resulted in lower earnings for this group as compared to the skilled group of workers. Another phenomenon is that low-skilled jobs are moved over to countries which offer labor at lower wages; this results in low demand for low-skilled workers. Liberalization of economy is of great concern to the developing countries, which have a motive to derive benefits from increasing trade and investment flows, yet they yield increased unemployment and inequality (Lee, 1, 1996). The phenomenon of child labor is deeply interwoven within the context of the societies or households where it exists, it was present even before globalization in the developing countries and it is in these countries that the practice has increased even more because of globalization. In the developing countries, mainly those of the poor and consequently the pressure and need for working for women and children has increased and in certain cases become vital for survival. Due to inflation and decreasing social sector budgets, children have to work either to substitute for the working mothers domestically or to add to the family income by working outside (Raman, 1, 1997). Global insecurities The economic, technical and social changes brought about by globalization have greatly affected the lives of people. Global insecurities have been brought about by the fast spreading of information and growth of the media industry globally which has affected existing identities and resulted in decline of social cohesion and cultural diversity. Globalization is guided only by a few powers and works in their favor, the strategies established by them doesn’t seem to work and benefit the great majority of the people around the world. This has resulted in insecurity and ambiguity for the poor and the middle-classes (Raghavan, 1, 2000). There has been unsustainable development, excessive use of resources, negative impacts on existence of original communities, and a growing gap between the rich and the poor. Consequently, there are insecurities and social tensions coming from international and intra-national inequalities (Dass, 1, 2002). The insecurities are also attributable to the international bodies, which are explicitly in absence of state influence as these are non state actors. Their rules are designed and implemented on a basis which considers regulation of the global activities in various aspects of life by and under the control of such influences which are not considerate towards the smaller powers and play by their own rules without having a respect for the weaker associates who are exploited (UN, 1, 2000). The insecurities have also been created due to a lack of widely available social services for every country and social class. Global insecurities are also related to hindrances towards the development of low income groups and therefore it is vital to erase distortions like inequalities and take measures to encourage the productive potential of low-income groups. Globalization definitely has its benefits but they are accompanies with new vulnerabilities, for this reason, there is confusion in the voice of public opinion about globalization. Taking steps to reduce global insecurity and equally distributing the benefits may help in creating a sustainable support for the phenomenon (Brookings, 1, 2001). Conclusion: Though globalization may be considered to be a positive phenomenon which has resulted in various opportunities for people in the form of increased trade, choices of goods, improved lifestyle, enhanced communication and other benefits. But, globalization has also created many adverse impacts upon the life of people like increased poverty in poor nations, unemployment and low wages for low skilled workers, turning education into a commercial activity and cultures losing their individual identities. There are non state actors like international organizations which integrate the different nations together and formulate rules to guide their path in the light of globalization, making the process a little smoother but on the same lines, the same bodies result in insecurities for people magnified by globalization. Thus, globalization is a phenomenon which apparently may look beneficial to all but actually benefits only the dominant powers and that too at the expense of weaker ones and unless something is done to stop the exploitation and mutually benefit everyone, insecurities will continue to grow.

A Vine on the House

A Vine on the House Ambrose Bierce Ambrose Bierce has a special talent of keeping readers alert on their toes and holding their breaths till the very last word. I believe Mr. Bierce wanted to allow others to understand that circumstances and events are not always what they appear to be. The words Mr. Harding expressed and the reality of the situation were two complete opposites. He kept a secret of his wife’s â€Å"disappearance† and also picked up everything and left, leaving no signs behind, leading to believe he was very secretive and suspicious.Secrets are kept in every household, things that could kill if it was leaked. I feel like the writer’s purpose was to keep the reader guessing and inferring. This story could also be an account of his life and a cry for help. Mr. Bierce grew up in a troubled family. His two sons died early on and he found out about his wife’s infidelity. This could be his way of plotting revenge on his wife. It is a cry for help because he mentions Mr. Harding disappearing, which is exactly what Bierce did a few years later.The intended audience is for those who enjoy getting goose bumps, those who seek a thrill and love being kept in the dark. It is not however for the uneasy sleeper. The main theme of this story and connection on a universal level is that in every family, there is a fair share of secrets. Everyone can relate to this one way or another because we all have issues we wished no one would find out. The Harding family as a whole must’ve had a few problems of their own. A family doesn’t just all of a sudden fall apart. It takes time to disintegrate.In the story, like in real life, it shows that there are unhappy couples out there, ones who have stopped loving each other and instead find pleasure in hurting their significant other. The Harding family is just one example of a relationship that is unhealthy, both physically and emotionally. The author has quite a few tricks up his sl eeves to grasp the reader’s attention. First of all, Mr. Bierce is an expert in the suspense category. He keeps readers guessing and wondering what will happen next. For example, Mr.Harding mentions his wife went to â€Å"visit relatives† but his tone of voice allowed no further questioning. This makes me curious because he seems like he’s hiding a dark secret. He also later on flees the country, which gathers even more curiosity. Mr. Bierce describes the â€Å"haunted house† as not actually haunted, making me wonder what truly happened for it to deserve such a title. He also pulls in elements from his life. This story is loosely based on his own family matters. He could also be a â€Å"revenge† for finding out about his wife’s sinful actions.A Vine on the House has supernatural aspects but because the events were pulled from his life, it makes the story seem more realistic and feel like it could potentially be a true story. Another aspect t hat I enjoyed was that, yes this story is gothic, but the gothic elements were all very subtle and mind boggling but not gory. There was no mentions of diseases, a small brush on incense and only one inferred death. This gives the story a different twist to the normal classical gothic tales. The author uses foreshadowing well. He describes Mrs.Harding in detail and left her disappearance very shocking and sudden leading to her inferred murder by her husband. He also described the wine along the house as a sign of the supernatural that was partly concealed, which indicated before hand that something out of the ordinary was going to happen. These are all red flags, leading to the discovery of the vine’s unnatural root formation. I enjoyed this short story very much. It was intriguing and kept me on my toes at all times. I enjoyed the suspense and the feeling of wanting to know what happens next.The one part that I was disappointed in was that I found the part where people were witnessing the phenomenon of the tree dragged on for a long time. My interest was lost during that time. However, I really enjoyed the idea that things are never what they appear to be and words spoken could just be a slur of lies. I find that this is completely true in today’s society. People don’t always show their true colours. The part I love was the cliff-hanger ending. It makes me wonder, could this all be a coincidence or could it truly happen in real life? If it could, then it was surely explain the phenomenon of a shaking leaf on a still tree.

An Introduction to Dog Intelligence and Emotion

An Introduction to Dog Intelligence and Emotion We feed them, we let them sleep in our beds, we play with them, we even talk to them. And of course, we love them. Any dog-owner will tell you that their pet has a remarkable capacity to understand the world around them. And they’re right. Scientists have figured out great ways to find out exactly what human’s best friend is capable of. The Science of Animal Cognition Over the past several years, one of the biggest advances in our human understanding of doggie cognition has been the use of MRI machines to scan dog brains. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, the process of taking an ongoing picture of what parts of the brain are lighting up through what external stimuli. Dogs, as any doggie parent knows, are highly trainable. This trainable nature makes dogs great candidates for MRI machines, unlike non-domesticated wild animals like birds or bears. Ragen McGowan, a scientist at Nestlà © Purina specializing in dog cognition, takes full advantage of a certain type of MRI machine, the fMRI (which stands for functional MRI), to study these animals. These machines detect changes in blood flow and use that to measure brain activity. Through ongoing research, McGowan has found out a lot about animal  cognition and feelings. In a study done in 2015, McGowan found that a human’s presence leads to increased blood flow to a dog’s eyes, ears and paws, which means the dog is excited. McGowan also studied what happens to dogs when they are being petted. We’ve known for some time that for humans, petting a beloved animal can lead to lower rates of stress and anxiety. Well, it turns out the same is true for dogs. When humans pet shelter dogs for 15 minutes or more, the dog’s heart rate decreases and it becomes less anxious overall. Another recent study on dog cognition found that our beloved companion animals can tell the difference in our emotional expressions. In another study done with the fMRI machine, scientists found that not only can dogs tell the difference between happy and sad human faces, they also respond differently to them. As Smart as Children Animal psychologists have clocked dog intelligence at right around that of a two to two-and-a-half-year-old human child. The 2009 study which examined this found that dogs can understand up to 250 words and gestures. Even more surprising, the same study found that dogs can actually count low numbers (up to five) and even do simple math. And have you ever experienced the emotions of your dog while you’re petting another animal or paying attention to something else? Do you imagine they feel something like human jealousy? Well, there’s science to back this up, too. Studies have found that dogs do, in fact, experience jealousy. Not only that, but dogs do their best to figure out how to â€Å"handle† the thing that’s taking their parent’s attention - and if they have to force the attention back on them, they will. Dogs have been studied for their empathy, as well. A 2012 study examined dogs’ behavior towards distressed humans that weren’t their owners. While the study concluded that dogs display an empathy-like behavior, the scientists writing the report decided that it may be better explained as â€Å"emotional contagion† and a history of being rewarded for this type of emotional alertness. Is it empathy? Well, it sure seems like it. Numerous other studies on dog behavior, emotion, and intelligence have found that dogs â€Å"eavesdrop† on human interactions to assess who is mean to their owner and who isn’t and that dogs follow their human’s gaze. These studies may just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our learning about dogs. And as for doggie parents? Well, they may know a lot more than the rest of us, just by observing their best canine companions every day. The studies done on dog cognition all illuminate one thing: that humans may know much less about dog brains than we previously thought. As time goes on, more and more scientists are becoming interested in animal research, and with each new study done, we find out more about how our beloved pets think.

Critically appraise the fiscal strategy of the UK Conservative-Liberal Essay

Critically appraise the fiscal strategy of the UK Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government - Essay Example There is no plausible, consistent, or convincing measure that has been established to oversee national recovery by the coalition government. As a corollary, this paper will endeavour to critically appraise the fiscal strategy of the UK Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government. To come up with a comprehensive and detailed appraisal, it is essential to revisit the genesis of the current financial woes in the UK and the rest of the world i.e. the global financial crisis. The first indicators of the global financial crisis were realized on August 2007. They developed progressively throughout the 2008. It was not until September/October 2008, that the full-blown effects of the crisis were realized. In this document, a succinct summary of the fiscal policy response strategies to the global financial crisis in the UK is given. An emphasis is given to the changes in those strategies after the shift of power from the Labour government to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition took fiscal austerity stance in a bid to counter the financial woes in the UK. This was particularly evident in the emergency budget was produced months after the inauguration of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition where public expenditure cut were projected and the declaration of a programme to eradicate the structural budget discrepancies for five years was made. In March 2008, the Treasury asserted that UK’s the economy was unwavering and flexible, was experiencing a steady growth, and that the country had the aptitude to deal with fiscal shocks swiftly and with minimum financial expenses (HM Treasury, 2008a: 2). This self-satisfied stance changed in September/October 2008 when major financial effects of the global crisis started being experienced. The Labour government established a strategy aimed at enhancing the episodically

A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell Research Paper

A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell - Research Paper Example Both the story and the play gained much popularity, and many women writers and playwrights included them in their anthologies (Goodman 191). Since Glaspell had been acting as a court reporter in Iowa, she designed a story in which she showed some rural women pondering over the details of the murder of a man, whose wife had killed him. Women take clues from petty things in the murderer’s kitchen, and reach to the disclosure of who killed the man. Glaspell has claimed, after the story received warm appreciation, that it was based on a real court case when she was working as a reporter for the Des Moines Daily. She reported the murder of a sixty-year-old farmer, named John Hossack, in Indianola, Iowa, in 1900. He was found with a crushed skull on the night when he was sleeping with his wife. Somebody had crushed his skull with an axe. His wife, Margaret, was doubted, but was released due to unconvincing evidence. She said that she did not know who the murderer was. A lot of women of the town attended the trial. A sheriff’s wife showed sympathy with Mrs. Hossack, when she had first testified against her. This was the woman who depicted the character of Mrs. Peters in the story. Glaspell created a jury of those female peers in â€Å"A Jury of Her Peers†, because in real, females were not allowed as jurors in the court trial. This paper intends to discuss the main theme and focus of the play, along with the means and techniques the author used to communicate the idea. To start with, it is better to give a summary of the play, so that the reader gets a better idea about what the storywriter is trying to convey. The whole story is about the characters (the county attorney George Henderson, the neighbor Lewis Hale, the large Mrs. Martha Hale, The sheriff Henry Peters, and the thin Mrs. Peters) searching for clues to solve a murder case in a dull and messy kitchen of John Wright's farmhouse. The story begins with Mrs. Hale working in her kitchen, mak ing bread, when her husband, Mr. Hale, comes upon her and asks her to leave with him. She is furious for leaving the task she was doing, but leaves to join the county attorney George Henderson, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peters, at the place where the Wrights lived. Wrights were a couple all of them were familiar with. Mr. John Wright has been murdered. His wife, Mrs. Minnie Wright is being under arrest as a suspect. The women refer to her as Minnie Foster. The men- Peters, Henderson and Hale- search through the crime scene for evidence and clues, and mock at the women’s talk about the clues. They make fun of women’s discussion about the quilt, the broken door of the bird cage, and the dead canary. The men consider their interest in these objects as unimportant as Hale says, â€Å"Well, women are used to worrying over trifles†. When men move upstairs to look for evidence, the women search the chaotic kitchen and find clues which point to the guilt of Mrs. Wright. Me n had called these things as â€Å"trifles† and had said, â€Å"Nothing here but kitchen things†. The women form a bond with Mrs. Wright, when they see her shaggy clothing and the run down kitchen. As an objection to men’s mocking, the women decide to keep the evidence to themselves. Ironically, their discussion about unimportant things finally leads to uncovering the truth and solving the murder case.