FASB Codification System Orientation Paper

Becoming an accountant there are many guidelines and regulations that one must become aware of. The FASB assists in establishing these guidelines through generally accepted accounting principles, GAAP. As an accountant one must follow GAAP while producing any reports for a business. Consequently, the author will explore the FASB Codification System, its purpose, and contents.The FASB Codification SystemThe FASB Codification Systems is a source of principles and standards recognized by the FASB that is applied to nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with (GAAP). â€Å"Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants† (FASB. n.d.). Generally, the FASB Codification System helps to establish the principles and framework for preparation of financial statements.The Purpose of FASB Codification SystemThe purp ose is to have accounting to have established GAAP principles for nongovernmental entities to follow. This helps to maintain uniform accounting principles. The FASB Accounting Standards Codification as the source of authoritative principles and standards recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP (FASB. n.d.). The SEC helps to regulate to ensure entities are following the guidelines properly.The content and types under FASB Codification SystemThe nine content areas located under the FASB Codification System is general principles, presentation, assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, expenses, broad transactions, and industry. Under the general principles are overview, objectives, scope, scope exceptions, glossary, transition, open effective date information, grandfathered guidance, and XBRL Elements. The presentation section lists all the different types of financial statements. The assets name al l assets such as cash, cash equivalents, receivables, investments, inventory, and more. The liability, equity, revenue, expenses,  broad transaction, and industry list accordingly. In general each section reviews each classification and its sub categories within financial statements.ConclusionThe FASB Codification System establishes GAAP principles that must be followed within nongovernmental entities while preparing financial statements. The website thoroughly explains all financial statements and classification codes. These principles assist in keeping conformity in financial reporting which is critical to follow while accounting for a business.

Effective and Efficient Methods of Background Investigation and Reference Checking

A great business relies on talented, highly skilled, and hardworking employees that continue target goals and surpass them. Hiring the best employees for a business however, is not a simple task. It requires sifting through the vast workforce and getting only the best of the best for the production results one desires. Intelligent and effective human resources management involves two practices that guarantee the people hired fit their positions to a T: background investigation and reference checking.The three most effective ways of background investigation and reference checking are mail, by telephone, and in person. In the world of human resources management today, there is no universal agreement on what the terms â€Å"background investigation† and â€Å"reference checking† mean (Barada and McLaughlin 1). The term â€Å"background check† may mean the same thing as a â€Å"background investigation,† but there are also some people who interchange the terms with each other. It may be important to distinguish between â€Å"background investigation† and â€Å"reference checking† however, to clarify the following discussion.Background investigation involves verifying the accuracy of the information provided by a job applicant through his resume or cover letter. In a way, it serves as the company’s first defense against potential fraud from job candidates. The person or group assigned the task of background investigation makes sure that a particular job applicant has not deceived the company about the details of his cover letter or resume. As an initial screening device, a background check also serves the purpose of decreasing the number of resumes and cover letters on the prospective employer’s table.Through the careful elimination of job applicants who seem to provide doubtful information on their job applications, the prospective employer can arrive at a shorter list of candidates to consider. These candidat es’ job applications are theoretically more credible than the others that have been discarded. Background investigation though, strictly speaking, is very different from reference checking. The prospective employer doesn’t evaluate a candidate’s past job performance during a background investigation.However, background investigation does involve tasks such as verification of current and former job positions, dates of employment, educational information, and professional licenses claimed, if any (Barada and McLaughlin 4). There are many ways to conduct background investigations, including by phone, through the Internet, and by hiring a background investigation firm. The simplest way would be to phone institutions mentioned by the candidate in his resume. For example, if a candidate claims that he has an MA in business management from a particular university, the investigator could phone that university and verify the information.Background investigation by phone is very effective and efficient because the investigator consumes little time and effort in confirming the details on the resume. The people concerned can also answer any questions the investigator may have regarding the candidate’s background. Another way to conduct background investigation is to use Internet resources to verify the information on the candidate’s resume and cover letter. Many schools today provide information on their websites regarding their students and programs.Some may have downloadable newsletters that the investigator could sift through to confirm the candidate’s information. The investigator may also send an e-mail to people concerned, asking them to reply when it’s most convenient to them. There are companies today who hand over the task of background checking to specialized background investigation firms. These firms help their clients to hire better employees by steering them clear of candidates who lie on their resumes. Indust ry experts estimate that thirty percent of all resumes contain falsifications or misrepresentations.Most of these are located in the education section of a resume. A background investigation firm can help their clients enhance their workplace security, reduce turnover, minimize the risk of employee theft, and provide assurance to the prospective employer’s decision regarding hiring a candidate or not (Falcone 122). Reference checking, in contrast with background investigation, is an objective assessment of an applicant’s past job performance based on information collected from the applicant’s previous employers (Barada and McLauglin 2).Prospective employers usually do reference checks during the final stages of the hiring process to assess applicants on their list of job finalists (Kleiman 163). Among the many uses of reference checking is the collection of clear testimonials that support a prospective employer’s decision to hire an applicant, and the rev elation of factors that the employer and applicant may have not discussed during the interview (Andler and Herbst 157). Reference checking has many other benefits, which will be discussed later.The three most effective ways to conduct reference checks is in person, by telephone, and by mail. Among these, the most effective way to gather information is through a face-to-face discussion with a character reference. This method has several advantages over others. First, you can verify if such a person does exist and that the character didn’t deceivingly asked a friend of his to impersonate a boss for example who he claims to be extremely proud of his work. When conducting a reference check in person, it is a good strategy to talk to the character reference first through the telephone.It may be more appropriate to do this when considering a candidate for an executive position which may have a huge impact on the company’s overall performance. The reference should be asked if he is willing to meet the human resources representative at his office for a brief conversation about his previous employer. The representative could also ask the previous employer if he is willing to talk over lunch or a cup of coffee. The important thing is not to pressure the character reference into agreeing to the meeting. He should agree wholeheartedly about the proposition.It’s also not right to deceive the character reference about the meeting. He should be clearly informed of what the meeting will be all about. During the meeting, he should not be pressured to reveal information on the candidate. It is best to have a ready list of questions to ask the character reference, so the conversation will not venture off to unnecessary topics, consuming the reference’s precious time. While face-to-face reference checks are extremely informative about the job candidate, it is very obvious that it also consumes too much time, energy, and money to execute.A human resourc e representative would have to travel from one place to another just to secure interviews from the character references. He would also have to spend the company’s money during these short conversations. It is therefore not that efficient as a means of checking character references. The most efficient method of reference checking is by telephone. The human resources representative in this case doesn’t have to go anywhere and can remain in the office while checking character references. There are many ways by which a representative can do reference checking by phone.One effective method is called the â€Å"exact-time method† (Andler and Herbst 186). In this method, the representative first calls the character reference asking him what time would be convenient for him to talk a little bit about his previous employee, for example. The representative then establishes an exact-time by which he would call the person again, and then proceeds to call him exactly at the t ime specified. According to experiments done by Andler and Herbst, the exact-time method has an interesting effect on character references.Once the representative tells a person that he’ll be calling again at a particular time, the person somehow is induced to sit all day beside the telephone waiting for the call. In their experiments, some were even annoyed because they waited for the phone to ring at the time specified. This works to the prospective employer’s advantage because interviews with character references are then easier to secure. The possibility of missing them because they’ve just had lunch or went to another place is lessened, making the reference check more efficient.References may also be pleased by the professionalism of the representative through this method since he shows that he is willing to work with their schedules (Andler and Herbst 187). The oldest way of checking references is by mail. Although the method is still being used today by n ew and old companies, it is obvious that checking references by mail is both time-consuming and ineffective as a means of gathering information. There are many difficulties associated with reference checking, including choosing the right people to do the job, dealing with the references themselves, and making sure no law is transgressed in the process.While reference checking is an essential part of the hiring process, some companies that are more administrative than results-oriented avoid reference checks by telephone or in person to cut risks (Andler and Herbst 187). This is not advisable to prospective employers because investing in the most credible candidates is an important way to secure the future of any business. Reference checking through snail mail is virtually futile. Previous employers could be expected to be slow in answering questions that the prospective employer sent them. Many of them many not answer at all.Research shows that the return rate of reference checking b y mail can be as high as fifty-six percent and as low as eighteen percent. One reason for the very low return rate is that previous employers are afraid that their employees may sue them for revealing information in written form (Andler and Herbst 187-188). When checking references by mail, it is advisable that e-mail be used rather than snail mail. This would make the character reference more comfortable with writing the information that he knows because he doesn’t have to write it on a tangible piece of paper.He’ll just type all the necessary bits of information on the e-mail and then send it back. The questionnaire should be written as to assure the character reference that they’re violating no law in the activity and that records of the prospective employee will be competently guarded. Whether by phone, by mail or in person, there are many ways to conduct reference checks. Some companies hire other agencies to do reference checks and background investigation for them. Others though, use their own human resources departments to do the job.One good strategy though is for the manager for whom the job applicant will work to call the previous employers himself. Thus, reference checking is not done through the human resources department or any other agency but directly (Rosenberg 241). It is very advantageous to conduct a reference check through the manager than the human resources department because the candidate will eventually have to answer to the manager when he gets hired, not to the human resources department. The manager will know what questions about job performance to ask the character references.A human resources representative wouldn’t have this kind of knowledge and would likely only be concerned with the legal issues the company might face in conducting the reference check (Rosenberg 241). The manager can talk to character references by phone, mail or in person, but it is most recommended that he talks to them by phone f or efficiency and more results. One problem with any kind of reference check is that the character references may want to withhold or change information regarding a candidate.Former employers are usually reluctant to reveal information, sometimes only providing the candidate’s date of employment and job title. Some of them may also want to reveal only information that’s favorable to the candidate even if it’s not true (Kleiman 164). The reason why previous employers and other character references are usually reluctant to share information on a candidate is because they fear they could be sued for defamation by the candidate.Some candidates do sue their character references, blaming them for their failure to secure a job position. It’s easy to get around this problem though, by clearly explaining to the character reference that he can defend himself against any defamation suits by only revealing information that is factual and objective. He should also onl y share the information to interested parties and not anyone outside of the transaction. The interview must also completely revolve around topics that are job-related and nothing else (Kleiman 164).While there are companies today who skip reference checking because of legal concerns and the belief that references would only reveal information favorable to the candidate, reference checking is still essential as an investment for the company’s future. Reference checking is an effective strategy to predict the future job performance and behavior of a candidate based on the testimonials of other parties that have seen his work before (Kleiman 163). There’s always a risk in hiring people, and reference checking supports a prospective employer’s decision to hire a particular candidate.Conducting a reference check makes a prospective employer feel better about the decision he made regarding hiring a candidate. Reference checks may also reveal information that has not b een revealed before during the candidate’s interview. That information may be helpful or disadvantageous to the candidate’s application, but it is ultimately the prospective employer that benefits from the supplementary information. Information like the candidate is a very good mother, very health conscious, or that she’s pleasant to work with may be revealed during a reference check.The character reference may also give some advice on where the candidate excels best. You can then consider his advice and put him in a position where he’ll likely perform in the best way possible (Andler and Herbst 157). Whatever means you choose to conduct a reference check, it is absolutely necessary to keep the conversation about the job position the candidate is applying for. Common topics addressed during a reference check include the candidate’s dates of employment, job titles he held, rate of pay, attendance, and performance evaluations.The prospective employer may also ask the reference about the candidate’s behavior, what character traits he possesses or if he has any discipline problems. It’s also important to inquire about the candidate’s ability to get along with his colleagues and his general strengths and weaknesses. The prospective employer may also inquire about the candidate’s reason for leaving if the character reference knows anything about it and is willing to share that information. Finally, he could also ask him whether he’s willing to rehire the candidate or not.In our opinion, it is not only prospective and previous employers who should be conscious of the necessity of background investigations and reference checks. All employees and job applicants should also recognize that an efficient and successful company relies on credible, talented and hardworking people to accomplish goals and targets. Instead of being too wary of background investigation and reference checks, and thinking about suing their former employers for revealing information about them, they must accept the fact that both procedures are essential to ensure the health of their industry.They must act on their own and provide only truthful information on their job applications. Background investigation and reference checking will always be essential to the performance of a company. Both of these procedures can now be more efficiently and effectively done with the use of modern resources like the Internet. While employers, both prospective and previous, may continue to confront lawsuits from employees or job applicants, it is necessary to continue the practices of background investigation and reference checking for the benefit of any industry.Without these procedures, industries will perform poorly because of the increased chance of hiring the wrong people for important positions. Whether by phone, by mail, in person, through the Internet or through a private investigation firm, it is advisable for any company to conduct background investigations and reference checks for improved performance in the future. Works Cited Ades, Leslie J. Managing Mavericks: the Art of Sales Management. Dubuqe: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2004. Adler, Lou. Hire with Your Head: Using Performance-Based Hiring to Build Great Teams. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2007.Andler, Edward C. and Herbst, Dara. The Complete Reference Checking Handbook: The Proven (and Legal) Way to Prevent Hiring Mistakes. Atlanta: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, 2002. Barada, Paul William J. and McLaughlin, Michael. Reference Checking for Everyone: What You Need to Know to Protect yourself, your Business, and your Family. Dubuqe: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2004. Berman, Evan M. , et al. Human Resource Management in Public Service: Paradoxes, Processes, and Problems. Thousand Oaks: SAGE, 2005. Branham, Leigh. Keeping the People who Keep you in Business: 24 Ways to Hang On to your Most Valuable Talent.Atlanta: AMACOM Div American Mgmt A ssn, 2001. Dinteman, Walter Anthony. Zero Defect Hiring: a Quick Guide to the Most Important Decisions Managers Have to Make. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2003. Enos, Darryl D. Performance Improvement: Making it Happen, Second Edition. New York: CRC Press, 2007. Falcone, Paul. The Hiring and Firing Question and Answer Book. Atlanta: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, 2001. Fischer, Robert J. and Gion Green. Introduction to Society. Saint Louis: Elsevier, 1998. Herman, Susan J. Hiring right: a practical guide. Thousand Oaks: SAGE, 1993. Kleiman, Lawrence.Human Resource Management: A Managerial Tool for Competitive Advantage Third Edition. Daryaganj: Wiley-India, 2003. Loen, Raymond O. Superior Supervision: the 10% Solution. Lanham: Lexington Books, 1994. Marshall, Don R. The Four Elements of Successful Management: Select, Direct, Evaluate, Reward. Atlanta: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, 1998. Moran, Greg and Patrick Longo. Hire, Fire, and the Walking Dead: Recruiter's Guide to Hiring th e Best. El Monte: Academic Learning Company LLC, 2006. Pritchard, Christopher W. 101 Strategies for Recruiting Success: Where, When, and How to Find the Right People Every Time.Atlanta: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, 2006. Rosenberg, DeAnne. A Manager’s Guide to Hiring the Best Person for Every Job. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2000. Stone, Florence M. The Manager's Question and Answer Book. Atlanta: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, 2003. Voros, Sharon and Philippe De Backer. The Road to Ceo: The World's Leading Executive Recruiters Identify the Traits You Need to Make It to the Top. Cincinnati: Adams Media, 2002. Widmann, Nancy C. , et al. I Didn't See It Coming: The Only Book You'll Ever Need to Avoid Being Blindsided in Business. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2007.

Women's role in Hinduisim and Judaism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Women's role in Hinduisim and Judaism - Essay Example This work intends to look into the role of women in Hinduism and Judaism. In order to understand what views the religions hold, the work primarily focuses on religious texts rather than contemporary social reality. This is so because what is practiced in the society is often slightly different from what is prescribed. Admittedly, Hinduism and Judaism are much older than many other religions. (Tuyizere 66). A look into the position of women in Hindu religion will provide the researcher with a number of contradicting views because while women enjoy equal status with men in some places, cultures, and texts, they seem to face many restrictions in some other cases. The reason may be that Hinduism is not a single religion, but is a union of various religions possessing considerably different views. Anyway, Vedas and Upanishads are considered as the basic tenets of Hinduism, and hence, the research on any subject in Hinduism should begin there. To begin with, a look into Vedas shows that a daughter is considered inferior to a son. To illustrate, Rig Veda presents the reader with a number of prayers for the birth of sons (Rig Veda I.91.20; III.1.23). These brave and religious sons are considered important because a son is necessary to perform religious rites to the ancestors. Thus, without a son, salvation of ancestors becomes a difficult task (Rig Veda V.85.25). As a result of this position, there is a degree of uneasiness associated with the birth of a girl child (Atharva Veda. VIII. 6. 25). Similarly, a look into Atharva Veda shows various charms and rituals in order to ensure the birth of a son (Atharva Veda VIII.6). Despite these differences, one can find references indicating equal position enjoyed by boys and girls in the Vedic society. For example, Atharva Veda (XI.5.18) shows that girls spent their early years in Brahmacharya ashram

Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding - Essay Example His suggestion is that the controversy could easily be solved if all people become careful with their definitions of the terms, he argues, â€Å"For how easy may it seem to give exact definitions of the terms employed in reasoning....† (17). He believes that, despite the differences in human beings, all human being has doctrines that they agree on from both fields of necessity and liberty. Hume examines the factors that define necessity and suggests that our ideas are based on the connections between certain determinations and events in life he states â€Å"Our idea, therefore, of necessity and causation arises entirely from the uniformity observable†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (72). These factors determine how we infer the ideas of necessary connections rather than from the direct observation of nature. The controversies experienced are a result of the laws that govern human nature. However, he believes that there are conjunctions between the actions of men that bring universality in principles and their operations. Debates concerning the compatibility of liberty and necessity have a long history. The debate concerns how the two can be reconciled basing on the fact the events surrounding human being human beings as being necessitated at the same time arguing that, at any situation, human beings can behave otherwise, therefore, promoting free will. Hume argues that if all human act s are being necessitated, then their reactions should also be necessitated. This implies that liberty and determinism have to work together which has never been the case. The results of this disagreement are incompatibility; the two can never be compatible. Hume, however, goes into the field of incompatibilist to try and prove them otherwise by arguing that there is a possibility of reconciling the two. His arguments as earlier stated lie on the definition of the terms.

Assess the impact of ideology on the (United Kingdom) Coalition Essay

Assess the impact of ideology on the (United Kingdom) Coalition government elected in May 2010 - Essay Example To understand how the ideologies of political parties in the UK affect the present coalition governance it will be necessary to define political ideology based on the UK situation, their development over the years and therefore how they affect people, societies and governance in the land. Political ideology like any other form of ideology will have as part of its components a definition of the cognitive values (expression of knowledge and doctrines), intended effects on the subjects’ feelings, the definition of norms and system of judgment through its valuation criteria, plans and action points and lastly its social base. These are what the main political parties in the UK strive to monitor in order to achieve the support of groups and collectivities. For a government to run smoothly there has to be agreement among the members in the government to a common ideology. However in cases where parties are forced to come together in form of coalitions to form government then comprom ises are sought in the ideologies (Ball, 1987 p 1-3). This is quite a challenge in a case where the ideological differences are sharp and incompatible. In assessment of the state of the UK coalition government formed following the may 2010 general election, political ideologies of the constituent parties are found to have a major contribution on governance of the country. In this paper we seek to give an assessment of the effects of ideology of the constituents of the coalition on governance by first assessing the ideologies of individual major in the UK namely the Conservatives, the Labor Party and the Liberal Democrats. The paper will further consider how the ideologies affect governance in the coalition through analysis of opinions. The role of political parties in the UK Political parties in the UK are charged by the electorate and members with the important role of governance through direct formation of government as the ruling party or as a check to the government as backbench ers or the opposition party. In cases where no particular winner is obtained as the case in the 2010 general elections, the parties agree to form a coalition government. Other functions of political parties in the UK can be summarized as: 1. Development of particular party ideological positions. 2. Facilitation of political education while encouraging participation by party members and the electorate in political processes. 3. Formulation of individual policies that are combined to form a coherent political program implemented in case the party forms government. 4. Oversee political elections at all levels (local, national and regional) 5. Represent political, social, economic and cultural interests of supporters though ensuring they are elected to the Legislature as the ruling party 6. Institutionalization of conflict by providing mechanisms of peaceful conflict resolution in the political system From this checklist it can be understood why party ideals are an important element in the UK political systems because of their deterministic role in the success of governance. An overview of political ideology of political parties in the UK For the purpose of this assessment we shall consider the three major parties namely: the Conservative, the Labor party, and the Liberal D

Clincal nutrition Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Clincal nutrition - Literature review Example rsial topic in that there are multiple different recommendations in existence regarding the use of diets with low Glycemic index (GI) in its treatment. In the light of the ensuing controversy, the need for more research into the study is evident; thus this literature review. In this review, different sources are analyzed with regards to the authors’examinations on the effects of dietary (glycemic factors) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Majority of the reviewed studies indicate that indeed, the glycemic index is a major consideration in diabetes mellitus management. Diabetes mellitus refers to a collection of metabolic disorders that are associated with defects in insulin action, insulin secretion, or both. They are characterized by the presence of high blood sugar levels over a long span period. The effect of insulin defect arises when the pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin, or if cells in the body fail to respond to the produced insulin. When this happens, three types of diabetes are imminent; type 1 diabetes due to insufficient secretion of insulin, type 2 diabetes due to cell resistance to insulin, and gestational diabetes which is experienced when expectant mothers develop high levels of blood glucose. If the disorders go unnoticed, they develop into complications such as nonketotic hyperosmolar coma or diabetic ketoacidiosis in the short term. Long term complications such as kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, eye damage, stroke, or foot ulcers may develop if the disorders are not treated in time. Brand-Miller, Hayne, Petocz, and Colagiuri (2003, p. 2261) conducted studies aimed at answering the query whether low glycemic index diets significantly improved glycemic control in diabetes patients as compared to high glycemic index diets. There were 203 type 1 and 153 type 2 diabetes patients. The evaluation was to be done depending on the levels of fructosamine and HbA1c levels before and after the tests for a period of 12 weeks. The low-GI

The effectiveness of public managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The effectiveness of public managers - Essay Example The chief executives and legislatures have several powers over the agencies. These powers involve the fact that they have the power to respond to the democratic institution. They achieve this by creating the equilibrium between the laws while recognizing the democratic needs of the citizens. They have the authority to hold public forums in which the citizens can openly share the problems affecting them. In such forums, the citizens are allowed to give their suggestions, and it is upon the administrators to act on them or to ignore them on the basis of the laws. The public administrators are required to implement the laws and act as an example to the citizens. In order to embrace responsive administration, it is the duty of the public administrators to ensure that they create a suitable environment. This enables them to come up with suitable power structures, organizational design, and the laying of suitable strategies that will strengthen the need for democratic standards within and without the organization. Public administrators have the power to acknowledge the organizational structure and come up with ways that will guarantee an independent society. It is a requirement for the public administrators to be accountable for their respective duties, but they have the powers to ignore the requirements of the society and their representatives. Good governance is achieved when the public administrators are able to visualize and properly interpret the interests of the citizens and ensure that the issues are timely addressed.

Buddhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Buddhism - Essay Example As the essay declares the religion of Buddhism is associated to the Hinduism religion. Both of them believe in the concept of escaping from samsara also referred to as rebirth. A lot of people believe that Buddhism is in some way integrated within Hinduism. The religion of Buddhism was created when a young prince escaped from a life that was seen as fake. He did so in order to find reality. He decided to become the Buddha by being a mediator instead of a king. People believe that the religion of Buddhism does not allow its monks to get married, eat meat, or drink alcohol, but in reality this is not true. From the paper it is clear Zen Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism whose leader is the Buddha which them stands for emptiness. A lot of people believe the Zen Buddhism has a lot of similarities with Christianity, but there also many differences between both religions. Christians believe that God rules this world and each person has a soul that will either be send to heaven or earth upon death. Buddhism differs in that the followers of this religion do not believe in the existence of God, thus people can be free from samsara. They believe that through samsara or nirvana their souls escape from the rebirth cycle. Emptiness of nature is accomplished through religion. The Zen Buddhism religion started in China around 100 B.C. For Chinese people emptiness is reached through celibacy, solitary mediation, renunciation, and monasticism. The religion was not popular before, but it spread across Japan and China.

Accounting II Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Accounting II - Article Example Such an individual promotes mediocrity in what they achieve as well as mediocrity in other individuals’ ability to achieve. A low EQ actually causes one to feel belittled, unworthy and inefficient. One example of a high EQ individual is my lecturer who is able to make every student’s response seem like gold or of Albert Einstein’s quality. On the other hand, an example of a low EQ individual would be my boss who constantly derides my every action and attempts to be excellent. I am left with the notion that it is impossible to achieve anything of substance. I believe that a high EQ can certainly help one’s personal and professional work. Likewise a low EQ can hinder one’s ability to progress. Firstly, a high EQ will cause one to relate at an optimum level with oneself as well as with others. Thus, one’s perception of self will improve to such an extent that others will want to be in the presence of such an individual. Similarly, a low EQ would cloud one’s ability to clearly accept oneself. Consequently, inability to objectively accept self will interfere with one’s ability to understand and relate to others. EQ therefore will affect both personal and professional life because one does not live in a vacuum. What affects one area of life will disperse to the other

Risperidone and the Treatment of Schizophrenia Essay

Risperidone and the Treatment of Schizophrenia - Essay Example Therefore, this literature review proposes addressing the following: Background: Use and Mechanisms: Risperidone is the most widely recommended, second-generation antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia. It blocks excess of dopamine type 2 and serotonin 5-HT2 receptors, and lack of H1 histanminergic, and alpha 2 adrenergic receptors on nerves which cause schizophrenia, by binding to the receptors (Curran & Keating, 2006; Love & Conley, 2004; Pajonk, 2004; Robson & Gray, 2007). Therefore, risperidone has effective clinical outcomes in the treatment of schizophrenia. It is more effective in reducing positive symptoms and more directly effective in decreasing the negative symptoms than the typical antipsychotics (Parjonk, 2003). Also, in a study by Marder (cited in Parjonk, 2003), it was shown that the rate of relapse and rehospitalisation of patients receiving long-term risperidone therapy is much lower than those treated with typical, and other atypical antipsychotics. In addition, it has more significantly beneficial effects on the reduction of af fective symptoms, cognitive symptoms, and the improvement of patients' quality of life compared with typical antipsychotics. ... Therefore, patients with schizoaffective disorders can be improved rapidly by the use of risperidone. Compared with typical antipsychotics, risperidone has a lower risk of adverse effects. In the investigation by Csernansky, Mahmoud, & Brenner (cited in Parjonk, 2003), it was proved that incidents of extrapyramidal side effects (EPSs) of risperidone are more reduced than those experienced with haloperidol. In particular, there is no relationship between cardiac arrest and use of risperidone; therefore, it is safer and more tolerable, reducing the cardiac risk factors. Side Effects of the Use of Risperidone, Expressed in the Literature: In spite of the numerous beneficial effects on risperidone for patients with schizophrenia, adverse effects continue to be a considerable issue relevant to its use. The most recurrent side effects are dizziness, somnolence, insomnia, agitation, and psychosis (Curran & Keating, 2006; Love & Conley, 2004). Also, weight gain is an important side effect, which can lead to diabetes. One of the most highlighted potential adverse effects of higher dose risperidone is EPSs, such as acute dystonia, akathisia, Parkinsonism and TD. In particular; TD can contribute to dysfunction and disturbance of a patient's quality of life, such as social isolation (Courey, 2007). TD is evidenced by abnormal uncontrolled movements of face, mouth, lips, trunk and limbs, such as facial tics, tongue thrusts and rocking trunk, caused by long-term antipsychotics use. Studies have shown that prolonged use of antipsychotic medications such as rispe ridone may induce TD. It was believed that the relationship between risperidone and TD is due to the abnormal production or excessive growth of dopamine receptors, and highly active atoms which then damage

Child Safety Essay Example for Free

Child Safety Essay Safety is the condition of being protected against physical, social, emotional, financial or other types or consequences of failure, damage, harm or any other event which could be considered un-desirable. To me safety is the most important aspect of any environment because it affects a person mentally and for anyone to show his/her best performance it is necessary that their safety zone is intact. When we think about safety the first thing that comes to mind is protection, shelter, freedom etc. And, this starts from the moment a child is born till he/she is alive. All human beings want a secure and healthy environment which is utterly devoid of hazards and dangers. And, when we talk about children’s safety; it plays a vital role in their upbringing and development in ensuring they are enthusiastic, creative and confident because when they are provided with an environment that is relatively free from danger, risks and threats of harm then they feel relaxed, happy, free to explore. It is very important to provide safety to the children because sometimes some events, incidents or actions affect children a lot, whereas we adults feel that it will not matter to the child. Talking about myself as a teacher, I would take all the necessary steps to ensure that my learning environment is unhindered. Firstly, I would plan the physical appearance with material and ideas that are age appropriate. This will allow me to attract and inspire my pupils in a positive direction. The class should have a warm environment and the color schemes used should be inviting. Indisputably there will be material and some resources like scissors, glue, sockets, play dough etc. that might be dangerous or harmful to the child, these items though needed in the class should be kept out of reach and when required used under the guidance of the teacher. The furniture and seating arrangement in the class should have smooth edges and preferably be circular in shape. There should be just enough furn iture in accordance with the strength of the class. This will allow safe and free movement for the children in the class space. Physical safety is not only confined to the classroom. When the child is in the school premises every event that takes place is the responsibility of the adult. When the child leaves the classroom, it is important that the adult accompanies him/her to whatever place the child has to go. Be it the play area, the swimming pool, the playground or even the toilet; they should all have proper safety features such as flooring which in case of a toilet should be dry so as to avoid slipping, age appropriate equipment and infrastructure all safely installed with irrelevant material kept out of reach of the children. Another aspect of safety is the social-emotional effect on a child. To foster an emotionally safe classroom it is important for the adult to discuss how each child in the class is as an individual and that everyone is different. The classroom environment can detract from a student’s ability to learn if he/she does not feel safe. A safe environment means that there is respect between the child and the adult and amongst the children themselves. Hence students feel accepted and free to voice their opinions. It is important to teach children class room rules at the beginning of the year and the adult to be consistent in enforcing them. But when talking about rules, they should be realistic and not rigid. If adults overwhelm children with rules for everything, there could then be countless power struggles with children. The adult should speak to the child individually if he/she suspects any problem because when children are corrected in front of their peers they may get demotivated and feel a sense of insecurity. This insecurity can also take place when a child is faced with an obstacle such as bullies. In this case the children have no way of defending themselves. It is very important that the adult makes sure all pupils are comfortable in their learning environment. Discussing with the children about peer press ure and bullying and how it has a negative effect in the classroom by revising child friendly moral stories is a reasonable way out. To develop the children to be socially interactive the adult needs to build bonds by providing opportunities of group play, interaction and discussions. The adult can also train the children to look after each other and the environment of their classroom. This can be in the form of a daily clean-up routine in regards to toys, blocks, art work etc. The classroom can be messy due to different activities of the children which could present a safety hazard to all the children depending on the cleanup. For example: â€Å"If the children have just finished their free play activity, it can be possible that while the children were exploring the different items in front of them some of the toys could have broken or cracked. In this event the children can hurt themselves or hurt each other.† Now, the introduction to a clean-up routine after every activity allows the children under the guidance of the adult to dispose of broken toys or equipment that may cause injury or choking, immediately. This will secure the classroom and prevent any unforeseen event concerning the activity. The child will feel a sense of ownership and accomplishment; it will also develop the ability to work with others in different situations and bring about the pride of teamwork to create a friendlier environment. I feel that, creating a safe learning environment for children is a daunting prospect because children not only need physical safety but also need to feel emotionally and intellectually protected. It is important that the adult should pay attention and be vigilant of the children’s activities. When adults plan lessons and activities for children they should not only keep the academics in mind but also the safety needs that pertain to the lesson. The teacher should explain the children the rules by her actions because children respond faster to what they see rather than what they are simply told. In the end it all comes down to child protection and hence it is important to take care of them to allow for the development of their ideas and enthusiasm to explore their imagination allowing them to grow.

Not a Privilege, but a Right Essay Example for Free

Not a Privilege, but a Right Essay The times are ripe for civil disobedience. Not a full year ago was the act of defiance by the populace of Myanmar and their subsequent bloody repression displayed before the televisions around the world, sparking outrage and sympathetic demonstrations. The streets of Pakistan were also filled with protests, first against a President who would let an advocate of justice—a Supreme Court Justice—to be thrown to the jails for pursuing his conscience, and then again for the same President’s attempt to perpetuate his rule through an act of â€Å"emergency rule†. The world is now again made witness to a wave of international protests, sparked by violent protests by Tibetan secessionists and their repression by the Chinese government. Everywhere in the world, these acts of assembly and disobedience are criticized or hailed as acts of free expression based on the then-current sentiment. Many times, these same democracies that hails the voice of liberty and sound judgment and rule, condemn protests and demands for redress as â€Å"anarchistic in character† and â€Å"break the order and thus inconvenience the public†. Generally, if without the backing of any government, a protest is localized, and belittled as an act of unnecessary activism. Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr. , though living in different periods of history, fought under similar demeaning circumstances, and faced similar opposition from their government. They asserted that the act of civil disobedience was a God-given right granted to people to correct the fatal defects of government. Their separate acts of defiance were considered â€Å"illegitimately born†, â€Å"with malicious intent†, and â€Å"unwise and untimely†; these same categories echo now in the criticisms of our movements. For their sakes, then: what constitutes a valid exercise of the People’s will? Studying Thoreau and King’s works, that is, on the Duty of Civil Disobedience and Letter to a Birmingham Jail, respectively, we can identify two primary characters of a legitimated act of defiance: a legitimated cause and legitimated means. Legitimated Cause Why did we choose the term â€Å"legitimated† rather than â€Å"legitimate† or â€Å"lawful†, in characterizing a valid act of the people? This is due to the fact that the act of defiance, seeks as its purpose the overthrow of the unjust system of government. In Martin Luther King’s time, this was the segregation between â€Å"whites† and â€Å"blacks†, which though inherently unjust, was nevertheless valid under passage of law. If one were to require a â€Å"lawful† cause, it would bar any protest against any injustice that is protected under the mantle of law. The cause is â€Å"legitimated† not because of its opposition to any system, but because the system lost its mantle of legitimacy by its promotion of injustice. Thoreau wrote that if a system causes some injustice to be inflicted though it is merely incidental in its application, one would be unjust to apply a level of severity to attack it, for eventually the system will soon be smoothened out and these flaws corrected. If, however, the system compels one to cause injustice to another, then the system may be validly attacked. This is to say that in all governments, flaws are to be expected—in fact, the imperfection of the system of government lies within the need, at all, of a system of government. In view of this, Thoreau stressed not the need for a no-government, as he believes the people to be unprepared for this event, but at once a better government, which does not promote injustice and does not speak for the stronger few. The legitimated cause of a civil disobedience is dependent on the measure of injustice inflicted by the present system of government the act is made to oppose. King further elucidated this by expounding on St. Thomas Aquinas’ expression that an â€Å"unjust law is no law†. There are two ways by which a law is made unjust: if it is made contrary to natural and divine law, or, if in consonance to it, it is implemented as to make it unjust. A government, then, that enacts a law ordering the execution of every second son of every family violates the natural law against murder, promotes its agent to violate the same, and is consequently unjust. Likewise, if a government would inflict a severe punishment for the infidelity of a wife yet will only inflict a punitive penalty for the same committed by the husband, by virtue of its disproportionate application of justice the government would likewise be unjust. This injustice, then, must be inherent within the system, and so prevalent as to inflict the severity of oppression. If, however, the system is merely suffering â€Å"momentary lapses† of injustice that are incidental to its improper application, the system could be corrected without the use for excessive violence, and hence, disobedience. For example, a government erroneously enacts laws as to regulate traffic when in effect such traffic is worsened; this is no cause for civil disobedience. If however, the same law was enacted to provide for a path reserved for â€Å"white† people, as opposed to those of other races, then the system is inherently unjust. Legitimated Means The qualifying word â€Å"legitimated† is also as important here as it was in qualifying the proper cause. For any act of civil disobedience to a system is, by nature, unlawful; as paramount to a government’s duty is to make sure that its people will follow laws, however unjust it may seem to be. Dura lex, sed lex. The law, however harsh in its implementation, remains the law. Besides, which, it is in the government’s best interest that these laws are followed, as these inherently perpetuate their power. King opined that oppressors, in light of historical precedent, would not voluntarily give up their power. Nevertheless, the act of disobedience is legitimated in light of the injustice inflicted. As Thoreau explained, when something is stolen from a man, or injustice inflicted on him, he will not content himself with exhausting all lawful procedures provided for him by law; he will only be satisfied upon the return of the stolen item, and consequently his vindication. The two civil advocates differ only in the interpretation of the purpose of legitimated means: Henry David Thoreau, believing fully that the State is unjust from its inception, considers his act (in this case, the non-payment of a poll tax) as one of exclusion; he will not be part of a system that promotes injustice, in this context the propagation of slavery and the aggression inflicted on the Mexican War. King, however, considers this act of civil disobedience as an act of inclusion, and recognizes its unlawful nature and is willing to suffer its consequences. In this act, however, he hopes to unmask the oppressiveness of the system and its persecution of the advocates of equality and free expression. This distinction is further substantiated in King’s denunciation of two other camps: one that would do nothing in the face of oppression, and another that would set itself against the State and employ violent action. A proper legitimated means is one that will exhaust methods of petition provided by the State, and, having been refused, act in defiance of the system in order to promote tension and force the State to negotiate. This formula of defiance has been employed by the likes of Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi and Aung San Suu Kyi. Conclusion: Not a Choice, but an Obligation. A final word remains of civil disobedience: Thoreau warns that those who do not stand in opposition to a system that promotes injustice will necessarily aid it, and participate in it. This is the concept of collective guilt—the nation is naturally responsible for excesses inflicted upon it by the government, in their silent acquiescence to its measures. Those criticizing the untimeliness and impropriety of civil disobedience can well be reminded King’s remarks that a revolution, and an act of civil rights will never be timely, and will never be proper in the eyes of the oppressive government. Those who passively let their rights be trampled upon are equally guilty of the oppression inflicted on them. This is a harsh truth, but it remains the truth: the State will not provide for an individual who â€Å"sleeps on his rights†. So long as the people are deficient in fighting for their cause, the State will, by virtue of the previous maxim, take what it can in the name of the few and escape with impunity.

Point And Click Adventure Games Film Studies Essay

Point And Click Adventure Games Film Studies Essay The intentions of this dissertation are to delve into the depths of a much-loved yet dwindling genre of video game, the Point and click Adventure. Setting out to investigate what made the genre so popular in the 1990s and discuss the mystery surrounding what game theorists and fans refer to as The Death of The adventure game. Point and Click adventures are all but a dusty book in the archive that is todays hugely successful gaming industry. However its position in the minds of the people that experienced it that singles out point and click as not only important to its fans but to the video game industry itself. Many games since the mid 80s have come and gone, leaving very little, if any impact on the gaming industry. Developers today hold the genre in high regard. In an interview with Claas Paletta of Daedalic Entertainment, I asked him about his experiences with the point and click genre: Point and click had a huge impact on me and my friends as teenagers in the 90s. I remember waiting for the next LucasArts or Sierra title to be on the shelves. Its what made me want to be where I am today, I just wanted to be involved in video games. I still play them all to this day, If I can get away with it. Claas, like many involved in the gaming industry have shown just what an impact the genre has had on their careers. Point and click is a genre that inspired a generation of game developers, with their witty humor, mind-bending puzzles and in-depth story. This ability that point and click had to tell a story was in no small part due to the biggest developer in the genre and of the 1990s, LucasArtsà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢. Founded under the name LucasFilm Games in 1982, they were originally set up as a research development company, however in 1984 they announced themselves as a developer and publisher of entertainment software. After several years of development a member of the LucasArts team developed the SCUMM engine, which stood for Script creation Utility for Maniac Mansion, a game that begun the revolution in Point and Click. His name was Ron Gilbert, he would go on to be a driving force behind the point and click generation of games at LucasArts, with titles such as the famous Monkey Island series and Day of the Tentacle; a sequel to Maniac Mansion. It was this engine that rejuvenated what was at the time parser driven adventure genre. The player would have to type commands into the game to achieve progression, however with the advent of the SCUMM engine Point and Click was born. With the experience of many successful movies in their arsenal, LucasArts and their development team, were able to create in-depth story and complex narrative that could only be comparable to that of the movie industry. Games at this time simply could not compete with the complexity of some LucasArts titles. The likes of Sierra who some would say kick started the adventure genre in the 80s with titles such as the Kings Quest series (1984-1994) were unable to create anything to get near the sales levels that LucasArts achieved. The first Monkey Island sold around 44,000 copies in the US alone, with estimates claiming Europe tends to double that number. According to an interview with Tim Schaefer (2007), co-creator of the monkey Island series: In 1990, Monkey Island took nine months to make and cost $200,000. In the early 90s, we were really excited if we sold 100,000 copies of a PC graphic adventure. This would leave sales at an estimated 150,000 units Worldwide. So considering the context of the time, and the money spent on the development of the game, Monkey Island was a huge success. Moreover, taking into account the ownership of PCs in 1990, in which not every household would own a PC, this figure was considered to be a very high and successful number despite it being vastly overshadowed in todays market. These sales were no fluke, of course the standard of game was the main contributor to its success, nevertheless LucasArts had one main advantage over their main rivals Sierra, an already huge captive audience. This audience was due to the huge success of the film franchises Star Wars and Indiana Jones. George Lucas had built a huge fan base due to the success of these movies, a fan base that were hugely excited by the prospect of video game versions of their favorite movies. Poss quote. With such a huge following LucasArts were able to create videogames that would appeal to the masses. They could call upon their already established film franchises to excite and connect with the player. For example the use of subtle references to the StarWarsà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ saga in the second Installment of Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChucks Revengeà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢(1995). During the climactic fight scene near the end of Monkey Island 2, LeChuck proclaims to be Guybrushs father, a twist taken directly from the Star Wars Movies in which you discover Darth Vader is, in fact Luke Skywalkers father. Its this innovative ability to interweave story, narrative, humor and in some cases popular culture into a single entity that set LucasArts and the genre it helped to re-mould, apart from other games of the time. Narrative within games had never been so advanced, it created mass appeal for PC gamers, a generation that played games before they progressed into the mass consumer market that they exist in today. So is narrative in question today? With titles being churned out much like in the movie industry, is narrative in modern gaming not what it was in the early to mid 1990s? Methodology When investigating this area of media it is important to take into account the ways in which I will tackle research surrounding the subject. The majority of the dissertation will be reliant on looking into the History of not only the point and click genre but the history of video games overall. Monkey Island and the point and click genre was a period in gaming, in which, I as a participant was heavily involved. This is a vital consideration when it comes to charting the events of The Death of The adventure game One Research model that will be useful for my investigation is the somewhat controversial method of Auto-ethnographic research. This is the process in which the writer or author writes his or her own personal narrative exploring their experiences within a certain field, rather than relying on the beliefs and findings of others. This is wholly the case in this dissertation due to my exposure and experiences with the subject matter. Despite the process becoming more widely used within the spheres of new media and journalism it is still thought somewhat controversial as a reliable method of research. Many Qualitative researchers have expressed concerns with the validity of the method, expressing concerns that all analytical texts should in some way connect to something larger element of life, rather than stating its importance through personal belief. Conversely Chang(2008) argues the benefits of Auto-ethnography. He claims that it allows for a research method that is friendly both rese archers and readers because of the texts engaging qualities, allowing the researcher to gain a cultural understanding of self in relation to others, on which cross-cultural coalition can be built between themselves and others. In summary, Auto-ethnography, used in conjunction with other forms of research, will allow this dissertation to become more engaging and allow, what are considered, important self-experiences to be communicated to the reader. One factor that must be considered if this method is going to be executed correctly is the coherent understanding that subjective opinion of the subject matter can be somewhat skewed by the fact that my relationship with it was established at a young age. The genre was what I grew up playing, it is important not to make drastic claims, solely based upon personal experiences of enjoyment interacting with the genre. The form that this dissertation will take, heavily relies on the recollection of historical events, breaking down these events and uncovering potential reasonings for the fall of the point and click genre. This makes hands-on research a somewhat tenuous subject in uncovering truths. Nevertheless, by employing an ethnographic approach that will coincide with the aforementioned Auto-ethnographic method I will endeavor to perform interviews with industry insiders, people that have in some way been involved in some element of the video game industry during the time period in question. One potential pit fall with interviewing could be the structure of the questions asked. It is important that I set out to ask no leading questions, and leave the participants response to be entirely reflective of their experiences. One potential issue I have encountered during the interviewing process was the location of the interviewees. The majority of the people of whom I wished to speak to are based in either the USA or Europe, this meant that interviewing face to face was implausible, this meant all interviews would have to be conducted via email. Potential problems with this process of interview include the inability of the interviewer to probe any interesting responses, Cowen(2001) tells of the importance of interview technique, she talks of the importance of empathy and rapport, listening and questioning, restatement, clarification and persistence. Many of which cannot be adhered to in an email-based interview. Chapter 2 The secret mythology of Monkey Island It is vitally important to single out and identify what it was that made Point and Click adventure games so popular in the 1990s. One of the most successful titles released in this period of escapist gaming was the work of a small team at LucasArts. In order to understand their success, we must understand the roots of the games; their inspirations, intentions and results. LucasArts video games had the advantage of two hugely popular and highly praised film trilogies to call upon when developing their Star Wars and Indiana Jones games. These aforementioned box office hits were all inspired by the works of Joseph Campbell, a prominent figure in the analysis of heroic myth throughout civilization. Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer who endeavored to break down the structure of myth. Most importantly in the context of this essay, was his analysis of the many faces and intentions of the Hero. Campbell (1968) explains the basic structure in his book The Hero With A Thousand Faces like this: A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man. In October 1990 a videogame emerged as one of the most unique and critically acclaimed adventure games of the decade. It also, like many of Lucas films, relied on this same myth structure but placed it in a completely new and unique setting. The Secret Of Monkey Island (1990) takes these same principles of the heroic myth as laid out by Campbell and delivers an interactive experience packed with wit and humor that has become a classic in its own right. Monkey Island is one of the best examples of interactive narrative that was released during the point and click era of gaming. It achieved this by using varying techniques of narrative and video game design to deliver a Joseph Campbell experience. Whilst other games in 1990 were helping you build railways or guide two plumbers to save a princess, Monkey Island was setting out to tell a story of Love, laughs and a mans endeavor to become Guybrush Threepwood, A Mighty Pirate. In the opening moments of the game the player is introduced to their setting, Melee Island. This is where the adventure really begins. We are then introduced to Campbells archetypal Old Wise Man in the form of the blind Island lookout; this is where the player and hero, Guybrush Threepwood, are given their instructions to complete the quest of becoming a mighty pirate. Our protagonist, Guybrush, is already on an island inhabited by pirates much mightier it would seem than he. So this initial opening chapter begins his quest to become a member of a pre-existing society; much like Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars trilogy. Campbells concept of proving your worth to the tribe before setting out on your journey. This is done by a series of trials in which Guybrush must prove his credential as a pirate, again connecting with Campbells outlining of the heroic myth. Campbell states that the ease with which a Hero defeats these challenges demonstrates how great of a person the truly are. This same argument can be easily transferred onto the puzzle solving element of Monkey Island, and in fact any adventure game. However it also coheres well with narrative idea that the protagonist, Guybrush, must struggle from the beginning in order to prove himself. Anything but the mighty pirate he dreams of being, Guybrush and the player must solely rely on their wits, and the puzzles and game design reflect this. To beat the swordsman, you have to participate in learning based puzzles. Learning insults by fighting various wandering pirates around Melee Island, then using logic to work out the correct insults to beat the sword master. Another challenge is to plunder some buried treasure from a dark forest, relying on either a guide or stumbling around in the woods until you by chance achieve your goal. Such decisions to solve puzzles or aimlessly wander are often ones faced by various heroes in their journeys through similar darkness. For example, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the first known pieces of literary work, the character of King Gilgamesh chooses to descend under the mountain in his quest for the Fruit of Immortality, stumbling around until he finds his way out before the Sun reaches him. The third and final quest is to steal an idol from the governors mansion, a test of wits and man-eating poodles this trial similarly harks back to ancient legend and myth. The previously mentioned man-eating Poodles, are a reflection of the beast guarding the prize. Guybrush must find a way past this defender before he is able to venture into the governors home, which represents the cave or temple of many ancient myths. Whether its the three-headed Cerberus defending Hades or the dragon protecting the Princess (as the governor eventually turns out to be) the beast plays a large role in the structure of mythology. LucasArts game design allows the player to be challenged in ways that mimic the patterns and conventions of the heroic myth by testing various skills that allow the overarching quest of the game to be embarked upon. One of the ways that LucasArts made the story of Monkey Island so compelling was the use of cutscenes to tell the story and fill in the gaps that were unobtainable during initial game-play. During the opening stages of the game a cutscene reads Meanwhile, deep beneath Monkey Islandà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This is where we get our first glimpse of our storys Villain The Evil Ghost Pirate LeChuck and his ghost ship anchored deep under Monkey Island in a place that can only be described as Hell. The player is exposed to the undead crew of the ghost ship ominously discussing your arrival. The glowing blues and reds of this nightmarish locale are equally off-putting and are a stark contrast to that of the colors of Melee Island. This place is equally the subject of myth for all of the characters you meet throughout your journey, they tell Legends of doomed journeys to Monkey Island, ships returning without their crews. These cut scenes and NPC enabled narrative progression is what allows the player to gain an air of excitement and intrigue. They must venture to this Hellish place, yet have no idea how they will get there. Such an idea of the goal or part of the quest being some distance from home is a convention noted by Propp(1968) in his work Morphology of the folktale, he stated: Generally the object of search is located in another or different kingdom. This kingdom may lie far away horizontally, or else very high up or deep down vertically. The trigger for the main quest to begin is LeChucks kidnapping of Governor Marley. The players relationship with Marley is dependant on the order in which the trials are completed, Guybrush will either have a jilted romantic exchange with The Governor due to his not being a pirate or she is taken away just as the relationship with Guybrush has begun. In either circumstance Governor Marley takes the role of the desirable female figure that everyone desires. Numerous NCPs will talk of their admiration for Governor Elaine Marley, whilst she complains of her annoyance at having to continually turn away their advances. The Villain of the piece, LeChuck is also driven by his lust for Elaine, leading him to kidnap her and take her to the illusive Monkey Island. The female figure or love interest is an important convention of any myth Campbell explains that part of her value is to serve as both a goal for the hero but also one that can be attained through spiritual purity, in the rather skew ed case of Monkey Island this is represented by Guybrush proving himself as a mighty pirate. Campbell explains the female goddess figure as follows: She is the paragon of all paragons of beauty, the reply to all desire, the bliss-bestowing goal of every heros earthly and unearthly questà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦she is the incarnation of the promise of perfection; the souls assurance that, at the conclusion of its exile in a world of organized inadequacies, the bliss that once was known will be known again. This has never been truer than in The Secret Of Monkey Island and its sequel Return to Monkey Island The unattainable female character drives the plot of both games. This however was lost in the subsequent games in the series, highly criticized by the games creator, Ron Gilbert, for having Guybrush and Elaine Marry. Part of the function of her role in the story was lost when this decision was made. Guybrushs endless pursuit of Elaine whilst she laughs him off was one of the key driving forces behind what made the story and characters so successful. When she is kidnapped, neither Guybrush nor the player once hesitates in their need to rescue her. The transition from the pirate Island of Melee to the high seas in pursuit of Monkey Island coincides with a shift in chapter but also backdrop. It becomes daytime for the first time in the game, suggesting a new dawn, a new adventure. This theme continues with the discovery of Monkey Island, which is framed and explored during the day time. However before actually reaching the island the player must again fulfill another convention of fairytale and myth. Described by Propp as The Acquisition of a magical agent the Hero receives some sort of magic, which helps progress the story. This comes in the form of a potion that Guybrush must put together using inventory items. Once the potion is complete Guybrush enters a Rip Van Winkle-like state. This concept of the Hero entering a dream like state during his journey into the mythical realms is a key element of many myths that Campbell outlines. Once Guybrush has awakened he has reached his destination. This all works towards emphasizing th e mythical and mysterious aura surrounding the island, portrayed earlier in the story. Exploring Monkey Island allows for the skills learnt earlier in the game to be finally tested, albeit applied in new ways. Just as Campbell stated: The initial trials will dictate how difficult the heros journey will be The players ability to puzzle out this section of the game has fundamentally already been tested. Those skills now only need to be refined and adapted to suit the new puzzles. The earlier insult based swordplay becomes collecting bananas to please a monkey enough to hold a gate open for you. Wandering around the dark forest evolves into exploring an enormous island, finding a way to the other side and eventually down under the island, cohering with the earlier mentioned convention of the goal being far away above or below where you start your journey. Prior to this our wits are tested as we attempt to find a way around the Vegetarian Cannibals that inhabit Monkey Island. Eventually the player finds themselves in the depths of Monkey Island, it soon becomes clear that guybrush will require a guide for this particular leg of his journey. There is only one route through the twisting passageways of Hell, and in order for us to follow this path we must rely on the decapitated navigator. Once the player reaches the Ghost Pirate LeChuck and his ghostly pirate ship, that was shown in earlier cutscenes, the player finally can feel the satisfaction described by Joseph Campbell of the Hero as he reaches the mythological setting. Once onboard the ship after much jostling with a rather obnoxious severed head, Guybrush must recover a magic root that enables the player to mix a potion that has the power to defeat the ghost pirates. This idea of obtaining a magical agent is representative of the fruit that Gilgamesh pursues a convention also seen in countless other myths. It is described by Campbell as a Symbol of knowledge and life, however in Monkey island it is of course a way to make some root beer, which we all know is deadly to ghost pirates. This discovery and return to Melee Island coincides with the return of the Villain, LeChuck. Along with the return of LeChuck comes with it the feeling of terror and danger, this neatly coincides with the return to the darkness of M elee Island, creating a daunting scene for the imminent and fast approaching climax. This meeting of the Hero and Villain is often depicted as a battle, which only the Hero can overcome. However with the wit and satire that LucasArts bring to the genre of point and click, we learn that in fact Governor Marley is still more competent that all the other characters combined. This further cements her place as the divine female, whilst Guybrush defeating LeChuck reflects his role as the hero of the piece. In his book The Hero With A Thousand Faces, Campbell goes on to explain: It is obvious that the infantile fantasies which we all cherish still in the unconscious play continually into myth, fairy tale, and the teachings of the church, as symbols of indestructible beingsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦but the circumstance is obstructive too, for the feelings come to rest in the symbols and resist passionately every effort to go beyond. And this could be described as the result of Monkey Island. It explains why it is ultimately such a well loved and critically acclaimed game. It has taken the conventions and structure of Mythology that we all subconsciously know, love and understand and combined it to create a comedic, fulfilling and rich story for its audience. The creators understood what makes story work due to their extensive experience in the film industry, in the creation of Monkey Island they crafted an interactive experience that breathed further life into conventions and structure that have been integrated in mans stories for thousands of years. They proved that games arent necessarily all about the graphical elements, by allowing the player to truly engross themselves into a story and character they felt that they already knew they could create a game that would be permanently associated with a genre and a generation for years to come. SECTION 3 Failings of the PAC genre, 3d gaming. During the mid 1990s society was very much engrossed in emerging technologies and the age of the computer. Technology was progressing faster than ever before, with home PCs becoming more and more powerful. Computers were beginning to really show the world, specifically the mass media audiences, just what they could achieve. In 1995 Toy Story was released as the first solely 3D rendered feature film. It set a benchmark for the industry and firmly put a stamp on the market, showing just what computers were able to achieve. Meanwhile, in the games industry, the market at this time was in somewhat of a battle between the home consoles. At the time the only real contenders in the race to win the hearts of the consumer were the firmly established Nintendo and new kid on the block, Sega. Nintendo had dominated the market of home consoles since the advent of the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) in 1985, some 5 years later Nintendos command of the home video game business appeared unassailable. However in the early 1990s a challenger emerged. Armed with much faster technologies, riskier games and a more aggressive marketing strategy, Sega arrived on the scene with the MegaDrive. As Kline, Dyer-Witheford and De Peuter explain in their book Digital Play (2003), this console war pathed the way for the future of home video gaming: The contest between Sega and Nintendo revolutionised video gaming, propelling new extremes of technical innovation, marketing intensity, and cultural audacity and opening the way for other contenders This new competitive edge to the video game industry had never been seen prior to this first big clash between rivaling factions. The point and click genres main contributors, companies such as LucasArts and Sierra, began to get left in the wake of these quickly growing gaming giants. In an interview with the gaming blog Rock Paper Shotgun, Ron Gilbert, one of the original co-creators of Monkey Island and inventor of the SCUMM engine, aired his feelings on how the rest of the industry took off and left action adventure behind. He stated that games such as Doom and Tomb Raider appeared and injected adrenaline and new types of energy into video games, an energy that Point and Click simply wouldnt be able to contend with. This suggests that within the inner circle of those involved in developing point and click it was felt that the genre was beginning to dwindle. As Monkey Island writer Tim Schaefer stated in an independent interview: It felt very much, as if the genre we loved and helped to create and nurture had been infected. We all knew what was wrong but were powerless to help However, before the effects of the console war could be felt, whilst the home console was in its early years, The Action Adventure genre was allowed an environment in which to flourish. With its already established SCUMM system, created in 1987, LucasArts led the way in cutting edge narrative based action adventures. With titles such as Maniac Mansion being such a huge success, the genre continued to go from strength to strength whilst not paying too much attention to the ongoing battle between the Japanese contenders. As a genre, Point and Click offered something to gamers that, at the time, only the movie industry could offer, its ability to connect with its audience through the use of in-depth and immersive story and narrative. However they offered something new in story-telling, the unique quality of video games meant for a potential revolution, breaking the shackles of the standard linear storytelling. LucasArts had a strong team of developers behind the titles such as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. The likes of Ron Gilbert and Tim Schaefer were strong believers in story telling. Story as a medium of communication has been on this earth since the dawn of our species, so the implementation of this fundamental value of human society should be an easy one. However, this isnt always the case. Many games created after the point and click generation in some circles are thought to have neglected these story-telling elements in favour of highly polished graphics or over indulgent gameplay elements. This was never more apparent than in the period after the boom of the first fully 3d games. With the release of hugely successful titles after their first release Maniac Mansion, including Day of the Tentacle, Monkey Island and Sam and Max it could be said that LucasArts and other leading point and click developers were sitting pretty at the top of the pile of PC game developers. However, the video game industry is not one where a company is allowed to rest on their laurels, there is always someone waiting in the wings to challenge you and take the top spot. This landed in the hands of another Japanese technological giant, Sony. In 1995 the Sony Playstation was released with huge commercial success. This was the beginning of the boom in home consoles and the eventual progression into fully 3D gaming environments. The first major title to bring the concept of 3D environments to the forefront was Core Designs Tomb Raider, released in 1996 on three platforms, including PC, Tomb Raider would become one of Playstations most successful titles, whilst playing a large role in the 3 D revolution of video gaming. In order to fully comprehend the success of 3D video games, it is important to understand why the consumer wanted to be a part of them. As mentioned in the earlier chapter, Video games up until this point were 2D based arcade games, or more narrative driven titles such as the point and click. What the 3D revolution allowed developers to do was to take this story based game type and mould it into something with higher levels of realism. The creation of 3D worlds arguably allowed for a greater level of immersion for the player. Realistic soundscapes, voice-overs and sound effects, also worked to heighten the players sense of involvement. Immersion is a word banded about within the arena of video games, but it is important to fully understand its different forms and how they affect the player. Were Point and click games just not immersive enough? Or did the marketing led phenomena of progressively increased visuals and graphical aesthetics bring about the end for the un-advancing genre? When looking at where the point and click failed, it is important to focus on how the industry changed. As previously mentioned with the advancements in 3D graphics, PC games were slowly being left behind, requiring a multitude of upgrades in order to play titles that were easily running on the more compact home consoles such as the Playstation. With the advent of 3D gaming, came a new generation of gamer. It was the era of instant gratification. Conclusion There is no government approved starting place. Sometimes its story, other times its setting or a lead character. It all evolves in concert with each other. (Ron Gilbert, 2007) These are the words of Ron Gilbert one of the co-creators of Monkey Island, arguably the most popular Point adventure game ever made. Much like his hypothesis for creating video games, this Dissertation doesnt necessarily begin with a setting or a main character

Bio-diesel Oil :: Renewable Energy Environment Fuel Driving

Bio-diesel Oil Vincent Lamaunt, our hypothetical character, is a five star general in the armed forces and has given his life to serve and protect in Iraq. Recently, bravery and courage on the battlefield, has given him the privilege to return home; he’s been told to report at headquarters at 0700 hours the next day. Transported in a truck by a fellow officer, he learns he is officially relieved of his duties in Iraq after his one last mission to bring, from Baghdad, a convoy of four hummers, two trucks, and two support helicopters into Kuwait. Days later he soon found himself traveling by train, boat, and plane to finally reach his final destination, New York City. Vincent was greeted with a halo of happiness as his family came to bring him home in their Ford F-150. Imagine now, all these vehicles, the cars, trucks, helicopters, trains, boats, planes are no longer fueled by petroleum oil, but from bio-diesel oil. Amazingly, bio-diesel is no longer an imagination, but a close reality as this renewable fuel is vastly becoming the next best alternative source for replacing the old and diminishing fossil fuels. The soybean plant has been apart of US history for decades as an important product of American agriculture. Today, soybeans are Americas’ number one export crop, and for nearly 30 years beginning in the 50’s, the US was producing about 75 percent of the worlds soybean crop (Soypower). The oil that is extracted from this simple bean has found its way into some of our common household products, such as shortening and salad dressings. Weight-loss products, baby formulas, and sports drinks also contain soy proteins, which provide us all nine essential amino acids. Even with all the important and interesting capabilities the soybean has been able to bring to us, none may be as significant as biodiesel fuel that some have been raving about. â€Å"Is it compatible with current technology?† I believe an important and very relevant question to be answered before ever implementing an invention like bio-diesel oil into society is: A computer becomes more dynamic every year, but it is still designed in such a way to be compatible with floppy disks, zip disks, CD’s, and now, the Flash chips. The same must be true for bio-diesel oil or a very complicated issue would be at stake. Thankfully, for us, bio-diesel oil has been tweaked in such a way that petro-diesel oil and bio-diesel oil could be used simultaneously in practically every current diesel engine there is.

Legalization :: essays research papers

Marijuana and other â€Å"pleasure† drug are outlawed completely under Federal Statues, banned by virtually every state as well†¦   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is not likely that excessive use of marijuana does fog the brain and causes other harm, as its enemies claim†¦   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But this isn’t crucial point being interpreted. The key point is that if you accept the Libertarian promise that your life is your own and not the state’s, the government doesn’t have any business telling you what you can and can not do. With the exception of prohibiting you from using force or fraud against others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marijuana, the flowering tops of the cannabis plant should be legalized. Marijuana and Hemp has many benefits including medical, economical, libertarian, and political.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marijuana, or cannabis, is commonly described as a recreational drug. In the Unites States, it has been considered an illegal narcotic for the past sixty to seventy years. Cannabis presently is a political issue. The public and officials everywhere are discussing many issues, which concern it. When smoked or ingested, it produces a physical or mental psychological affect. The government considers the narcotic to be harmful to the nation. They believe that the drug causes health problems and accidents. Until recently, these laws have been unarguable in every state. In 1996 Propositions 215 and 200 were voted into effect in the states of California and Arizona. The propositions amend consisting laws allowing physicians to recommend marijuana as medicine and patients to grow, posses, and use it. Hemp is a form of cannabis that has been rediscovered as a natural resource. It was also banned in the 1930’s.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Propositions 215 amend laws to allow patients to grow and posses marijuana with doctor’s recommendation. People suffering or dying can receive a written or oral recommendation, if their doctor feels it will help them physically or mentally. In California, proposition 215 is called the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. It’s proposal won 56 % to 44% among California citizens and is beginning to take effect now. In Arizona, a similar act was passed called proposition 200. Many people, including doctors, law officials, political officials, and AIDS patients argue in favor of the proposition. They claim that cannabis is very effective in treating cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS, as well as many other illnesses. They see no reason why doctors are allowed to prescribe addictive, powerful, and lethal drugs like morphine, but are prohibited to distribute or recommend marijuana.

Technology in the Classroom Essay -- Education School Computers

Technology in the Classroom Technology is everywhere and used in every part of life. Practically every job uses some form of technology. It is important for students to learn how to use technology in order to function in this technology-based country. But it is also extremely important for students to learn using technology. Technology has the capability of opening all students eyes to a world of mathematics that they never before could have even began to imagine or understand. The U.S Department of Education is developing a plan, The National Education Technology Plan, to incorporate technology properly into the classroom. The goal of this plan is to improve student learning and to prepare students for the world we live in today. The Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, feels that ?America?s prosperity in the 21st century rests largely upon the success of our education system to equip citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in our global economy. As innovation drives economic growth, it is incumbent upon us to explore innovative means of improving learning and instruction. Education is no longer limited to our early years; it is now a life-long pursuit and we need new systems and tools to meet this need. We are barely scratching the surface of technology?s potential to transform the way we learn.? I believe that technology can improve student learning and achievement if used correctly. It can help students to develop the knowledge and skills Rod Paige discusses. Understanding key math points is essential to being successful in our world. Technology can put an image to a word problem, a 3-D shape to an equation, a solution to an ?impossible? example. There are many things technology can do, a... ...ass notes and assignments so that when my students are sick they aren?t held behind. I feel that parent/teacher communication is very important, because as a teacher, I cannot follow my students home and make sure they do their homework. But if a parent sees that their child?s grades are suffering in the homework section or if they read on the website there is a homework assignment, then they can make sure their child does his/her homework. Technology will help me as a teacher in the future and is helping teachers as they teach now. As technology changes, hopefully I will be able to incorporate new types of technology into my classroom as needed. Students will also become better learners using technology as it is beginning to be more and more incorporated into the classroom. Technology can have a very powerful positive effect on learning as well as teaching. Technology in the Classroom Essay -- Education School Computers Technology in the Classroom Technology is everywhere and used in every part of life. Practically every job uses some form of technology. It is important for students to learn how to use technology in order to function in this technology-based country. But it is also extremely important for students to learn using technology. Technology has the capability of opening all students eyes to a world of mathematics that they never before could have even began to imagine or understand. The U.S Department of Education is developing a plan, The National Education Technology Plan, to incorporate technology properly into the classroom. The goal of this plan is to improve student learning and to prepare students for the world we live in today. The Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, feels that ?America?s prosperity in the 21st century rests largely upon the success of our education system to equip citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in our global economy. As innovation drives economic growth, it is incumbent upon us to explore innovative means of improving learning and instruction. Education is no longer limited to our early years; it is now a life-long pursuit and we need new systems and tools to meet this need. We are barely scratching the surface of technology?s potential to transform the way we learn.? I believe that technology can improve student learning and achievement if used correctly. It can help students to develop the knowledge and skills Rod Paige discusses. Understanding key math points is essential to being successful in our world. Technology can put an image to a word problem, a 3-D shape to an equation, a solution to an ?impossible? example. There are many things technology can do, a... ...ass notes and assignments so that when my students are sick they aren?t held behind. I feel that parent/teacher communication is very important, because as a teacher, I cannot follow my students home and make sure they do their homework. But if a parent sees that their child?s grades are suffering in the homework section or if they read on the website there is a homework assignment, then they can make sure their child does his/her homework. Technology will help me as a teacher in the future and is helping teachers as they teach now. As technology changes, hopefully I will be able to incorporate new types of technology into my classroom as needed. Students will also become better learners using technology as it is beginning to be more and more incorporated into the classroom. Technology can have a very powerful positive effect on learning as well as teaching.

“Analyzing Political Discourses” Theory and Practice

The use of metaphors, repetition of words and biblical references in Obama’s speech of inauguration based on â€Å"Analyzing Political Discourses† Theory and Practice by Paul Chilton Number of Words: 2589 Introduction: Political discourses are made to impress, persuade and to underline ideas to change a country. Politicians use specialized writers to write for them their discourses or use a lot of time to write one, as political discourses are important for the future outcome. For example: To be voted by the people or explain bad situation on an adequate way so that the people don’t offended.To achieve this goal, several methods are used. But in this essay I will focus on metaphors, the repetition of specified words and the use of Biblical references, using methods given by Paul Chilton in his book â€Å"Analyzing Political Discourse, Theory and Practice†. As experimental territory I used the inaugural speech of Barrack Obama, which he used for his first c andidature to become the president of the United States of America. The Speech by Barrack Obama can be found in the Appendix. My goal is not only to see what and how he used the methods but also what goal he tried to achieve.It is important to have some background information and what the people thought of him. As for America and other parts in the world, Obama stands for a new ideology, he promises America better healthcare, the end of the War and solutions to many problems, always emphasizing that this goal can only achieved as a team/nation but does he succeed to give us this image? What tricks did he use? What is a metaphor? Metaphors are used in political discourses to replace words that the audience doesn’t want to hear or could react badly. But what is a metaphor?In literary use, a metaphor (from the Greek: metapherin rhetorical trope)[1] is defined as an indirect comparison between two or more subjects that are typically linked by a â€Å"is a† to join the two subjects. As an example we can take following sentence: † This Man is a beast â€Å". This is an elliptical form to emphasize the sentence that the Man is like a beast. Paul Chilton is the opinion that, Metaphors, qua models of political realities, as he calls them, are part of political discourses of today and used as vehicles to bring an opinion to a target. [2] We realize now that all of us speak in metaphors whether we realize it or not.For example Mark Johnson, a philosopher, suggests that metaphors not only make our thoughts more vivid and interesting but that they actually structure and individualize our perceptions and understanding such that each person has a different understanding and thoughts about a common subject. [3] Metaphor is for many people a device of poetic and rhetorical imagination and development rather than the ordinary language, which is wrong as proven above. Metaphor analysis in Barrack Obama’s Speech: In the following points I will reveal s everal metaphors Obama used and will try to reveal why he used them.But also the Biblical references used as a metaphor, or as a bridge to transfer his Ideas. 1. CHANGE IS A MOVEMENT Citation out of the Speech: 1) â€Å"Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. â€Å" 2) â€Å"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works – whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. †In the first citation â€Å"rising tides† and â€Å"still waters† are used as source domains, whereas the target domain is the word â€Å"prosperity† and â€Å"peace†. As it can be seen in the phrases: â€Å"rising tides of prosperity† and â€Å"the still waters of peace† here, the movement is a change of location (rising) or a stationary moment (still). If it involves a movement as change of location, it can be associated with the words: forward, backward, upward, downward, etc†¦ so different directions and movements. The â€Å"rising tide of prosperity† can be seen as a state of prosperity that has moved and is changing, while peace has still not changed.This movement of which Obama is talking about can also be seen as a: flow of natural force (â€Å"the rising tides†) and substance (â€Å"still waters†). In the metaphorical expression in citation 2) the part which acts as source is the phrase â€Å"We intend to move forward† and â€Å"programs will end† where Obama is talking about the ideas of the US-government to provide jobs and a better social warranty. [4] In both metaphorical expressions, I think Obama wants to tell us that all presidents of America had taken the presidenti al oath to develop America.All of their effort had the aim of raising economic development and prosperity and that all of these can only be achieved as a nation with a strong political support from the people. So, the â€Å"WE† as a nation, which he uses a lot in his speeches. 2. POLITIC IS A JOURNEY 1) This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. 2) Our journey has never been one of short cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted – for those who prefer leisure to work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things – some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, which have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. In the metaphorical expression of the first citation the part which acts as a source domain is the phrase: â€Å"This is the journey we continue todayâ €  whereas the focus of the citation is the American Political life. By saying the sentence â€Å"This is the journey we continue today† gave me the impression that the American people are compared to travelers having a journey to a certain destination.Even though we know that politics is no journey as such but can be seen as such in a metaphorical way. In the metaphorical expression of the second citation the part that interacts as source is the phrase â€Å"Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted† whereas the target is also the American political life, like in the first citation with another connotation but keeping the idea of a journey in mind. We can see that in both citations have the same idea of a journey which is given to the audience.The idea behind is that the audiences who are involved in political life are like travelers on a journey, with their common need in life seen as the goal of this journey. The political activities and relation is their vehicle used to reach the goal of common interest. [5] 3. BIBLICAL REFERANCES AS A LIFESTYLE The citations I used here are taken again in a separate chapter using the theoretical rapprochement given by Paul Chilton in part III chapter 10. 1)â€Å"We remain a young nation, but, in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. † 2) â€Å"Love is patient, love is kind.It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. † In the 1st citation the source domain given is the phrase â€Å"time has come to set aside childish things† where he targets the lifestyle of the Americans. It gives the impression that the fights they had about poli tical problems are childish and that they should focus to strive a common goal.In the second citation he uses the same idea, again using a citation out of a religious text using as source domain â€Å"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking† like before the target is the lifestyle of the Americans which Obama criticizes. It is clear that through these citations Obama tries to reason the population quoting biblical references. Comparing America with childhood and telling them that through love only, again the idea of working together, all goals can be achieved.I wont go deeper into this comparison as I will come back to it later on in the text. Frequency of words: To see what words Obama used in his speech frequently and how many times we had to know how many words are in his whole speech, which lies around 2403 words. As such I was able to give the percentage of the most used words. The word O bama laid the most emphasizes is â€Å"WE† which he used 62 times, which can be understood as his speech is about working together as a nation and is also a word used in his slogan: â€Å"Yes WE can†. Other words he used frequently are:[6] KeywordRepeatsDensity Nation 12 0,50 New 11 0,46America 9 0,37 Today 7 0,29 People 7 0,29 The repetition of these words sticks with the listeners as such the listener will always remember this words and will combine them with the discourse of Obama. As for mind manipulation it is the repetition that stays in our mind. [7]When we are learning or looking at advertisements or when we are learning a song, we always repeat them until we know them by heart. In the case of marketing the advertisements are kept easy and shown more than one so that they stick in our minds and when we have to choose between two product we will chose the one we â€Å"know† or that we can remember of.The same is in political discourses. The more often it is repeated the more we will remember them and believe them. In Obama’s case using the words Nation, New etc†¦ he tries to underline the idea of freshness in the United States and that it can only work as a NATION. As all presidents the repetition of AMERICA, motivates the American listeners and they feel directly talked to, strengthening also the bond between the people and the nation. Paul Chilton underlines in his book that discourses often use a container concept, which is created by the words used.This container ideology is divided in three structures: in interior and a exterior which are defined by a boundary which are formed in political discourses to a container- nation with political borders given by the speech. As such it is able for politicians to give the fault to others, outside of the container while securing the interior of the container. Analysis of Biblical references Apparently it is customary in American political discourse to employ biblical language[ 8], which is an inherent part of the old American public way of speaking.However, given that Obama is a non-traditional and liberal candidate for president,[9] it is even more interesting to analyze the biblical references he used and give possible explanations why used following citations for his speech. â€Å"We remain a young nation, but, in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. † Obama quoted here, the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 13:11, dealing with St. Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth.The goal he tried to achieve of this particular example is to also aims at the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and non-believing Americans, to include them too into the speech, for it is a text that is usually read at wedding ceremonies and is not specified to one religion specifically, as it speaks about true love in the following manner: â€Å"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is n ot self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes an always perseveres.Love never fails. † (1 Corinthians, 13:4) â€Å"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. † (1 Corinthians, 13:11) These Letters were written by St. Paul to the church in Corinth in the times of internal struggles and divisions in the church, and when the church was hreatened by immoral influences surrounding the community. St. Paul’s letter was a letter of criticism and implorement to the Corinthians to stop the arguing and fighting around different problems and embrace, what he called, the most important virtue: love. [10] The choice of this particular biblical reference could be perceived as Obama’s attempt to spread the ideology of love â€Å"loving thy neighbor† so that the American people can embrace a notion of racial inclusiveness and ideological diversity, necessary in the time of economic and international crises.Again we can find the idea of a â€Å"WE†. Conclusion: It is now obvious that Paul Chilton theory can be applied. We can see that it is the play together of the different methods and many more make a discourse unique and manipulative. But it is important to know in which context the discourse has been written as the context can change the words, emotions and message in a political discourse. In Obama’s speech we can find the concept of pragmatism, liberalism, inclusiveness, acceptance of religious and ethnic diversity and unity. As such the result of keywords of hi s run for presidency.This is shown by the prominent words employed by Obama: nation, new and America, and a overall dominance of the personal pronoun We understood as necessary in the time of national peril†¦ The results of the biblical references, which Paul Chilton explains as â€Å"only† way to motivate and capture America’s population, have shown that Obama’s choice of citations (quoting the Corinthians) was to strengthen the notion of unity and brotherly love among the various members of the American diverse society. As such we can see that his methods were well used and can be found by the methods of Paul Chilton.Obama stands for his candidature through his speech and ideology, world wide as a new wind for America that will rebuild and strengthen the country. And we have to remember that Obama is the first president that has been accepted as young and black person as president. Sources Primary source: Analyzing Political Discourse, Theory and Practice , Paul Chilton, Routledge, 2004 Bibliography: – Article Discourse Society January 1993 vol. 4 no. 1 7-31 : Metaphor in Political Discourse: The Case of the `Common European House' by Paul Chilton and Mikhail Ilyin Moral Imagination: Implications of Cognitive Science for Ethics, University of Chicago, 1993. Secondary Sources: – University of Louisville, Article by Judith D. Fischer: http://www. law. louisville. edu/node/2720 – Online Document, Critical Discourse Analysis by Juraj Harvath: https://docs. google. com/viewer? a=v=cache:j-4vhWbO6a8J:www. pulib. sk/elpub2/FF/Ferencik2/pdf_doc/6. pdf+=de=lu=bl=ADGEESgDn7GSv6cJcZ6acGq5vk-rpp0mNE_qyGy5vUUCMEdg4d1M9efiWLiSgl3CRzYChNf3gQkZQ-saUZib0C5oBU-XVpDkee3pDul94RL3VlIR6nWc4j-OIJTNBkD9oZuSmxh4ybhM=AHIEtbRfcX_PIha4KZfnvwVFTzxPnRNSDA – Obama, the Lion in Winter: ttp://www. exec-comms. com/blog/2009/01/20/obama-the-lion-in-winter/ -5 Speechwriting Lessons from Obama’s Inaugural Speech by Andrew Dlugan: http: //sixminutes. dlugan. com/inauguration-speech-analysis-barack-obama-inaugural/ – Online Document: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Barack Obama’s Speeches By Junling Wang: https://docs. google. com/viewer? a=v=cache:HzMPBXpzbW8J:ojs. academypublisher. com/index. php/jltr/article/download/0103254261/1807+=de=lu=bl=ADGEEShaYaCyse11UxuFQk1KY0Zb0oOh15Ng1vgnuIdLSpdkL4Ia5nqoDh1DV-aO46J-bKQV9Fyfc3mz1MrZ5VTIrAnm85bmHXzt4cJZgNLYXFeuExE4wl1-SjUvUuEWd78WR0jiI5aV=AHIEtbT3Yd_sOMwtzg1_LtcSsaQh2FbYGw – Wikipedia article about metaphors: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Metaphor visited on 21 November 2012 – St Paul’s Letters: http://biblescripture. net/1Corinthians. html Apendix: The whole speech of Obama can be found on BBC: http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646. stm ———————– [1] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Metaphor, visited on 21 November 2012 [2] Paul Chilton, Analyzing politi cal discourses, Page 49 [3] Moral Imagination: Implications of Cognitive Science for Ethics, University of Chicago, 1993. 4] Obama, the Lion in Winter: http://www. exec-comms. com/blog/2009/01/20/obama-the-lion-in-winter/ [5] Paul Chilton, Analyzing political discourses, Page 51 [6] Statistics taken out of: Critical discourse analysis by Juraj Harvath (controlled by myself again) [7] A Critical Discourse Analysis of Barack Obama’s Speeches By Junling Wang [8] Paul Chilton, Analyzing political discourses, Page 174 [9] Obama, the Lion in Winter: http://www. exec-comms. com/blog/2009/01/20/obama-the-lion-in-winter/ [10] St Paul’s Letters: http://biblescripture. net/1Corinthians. html