Christian Theology in A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay

â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† by Flannery O’Conner reflects the Christian belief that even the most unlikely of people can be recipients of God’s grace. The grandmother and the Misfit, both â€Å"bad† in their own ways, are each unlikely and undeserving recipients of grace. According to Christian theology, humans are granted salvation through God’s grace, which can be bestowed upon to even the most unlikely. The grandmother’s and the Misfit’s moral codes they live by that affect their actions, decisions and perceptions. The term â€Å"moral† doesn’t necessarily mean good, but is simply the way people choose to live their lives. At first it seems as if it is the Misfit who lacks guidance as he continuously murders people. It is the grandmother whose moral code is weak and inconsistent. She has built her morals solely on what she believes make people â€Å"good.† She pays a great amount of attention in being a lady, repeatedly deceives her family, and lacks a clear standpoint on the world around her. She boasts about her love for Christianity, but does not seem to be able to pray when she finds herself in crisis. She even begins to question the power and divinity of Jesus. It is clear the grandmother is not sincere and aware of her actions. The Misfit has a strong and consistent moral code. The Misfit believes that the punishments he received from his exp erience of being a convicted criminal were always disproportional to his crime, and the crime doesn’t even matter at the end. He also shows a genuine curiosity about religion. The grandmother accepts faith unquestioningly while the Misfit challenges these beliefs and thinks deeply on how he should follow them or not. The Misfit has chosen to live under his assumption that religion is pointless and goes with his own belief â€Å"No pleasure but meanness.† (O’Conner 941). The Misfit only wishes he was present to see Jesus rise from the dead so he could know the events were factual. It is obvious the grandmother in â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† lies to her grandchildren, manipulates her son, and makes several remarks as to why the  past times have superiority to the present. She believes she is morally superior to those younger than her. She also believes she has the right to judge the goodness of others and tell them how to live their lives. The grandmother seems quite oblivious to reality as she heads the family to somewhere completely different than where she thought they were. Th e tragic wreck was all due to the grandmother’s ignorance. Towards the final moments of her life, she instructs the Misfit to pray, despite the fact she lacks the sincere qualities herself necessary to form a prayer. As she grows afraid of what will happen to her, she agrees with the Misfit and changes her mind about Jesus rising from the dead. Her doing so reflects she is confused and unsure of her beliefs making her a very unlikely recipient of grace. The Misfit is an unrepentant murderer who finds no pleasure in anything but meanness. He shows no remorse for his actions. The Misfit was aware of Jesus being crucified, but felt that he would have had to see it to believe it for sure. Both characters show habitual sins and ultimately are each undeserving recipients of grace. Even people like the grandmother and the Misfit have potential to be saved by God, according to Christian Theology. The grandmother experiences a moment of grace after the Misfit’s wish to know for sure what Jesus did and didn’t do. Her head clears momentarily and she says â€Å"Why you’re one of my babies. You’re one of my own children!† (O’Conner 948). This suggests that the grandmother is realizing that they both are of the same kind. Given the circumstances, her comment seems pretty insane, but this is the g randmother’s clearest moment in the story. She shows compassion which implies that God has granted her grace just before she is shot by the Misfit. The Misfit too, is open to grace at this moment. He claims earlier in the story there was â€Å"no pleasure but meanness† in life, and now denies there is any pleasure in life at all after killing the grandmother. All his killings have quit giving him happiness, suggesting that he, too, may foster the possibility to change. â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† has a strong, somewhat harsh portrayal of religion. The characters in this story are both awakened and their faith is altered. The Christian idea of moments of grace in this story apply to real life. It is believed among many Christian followers that God’s grace is very powerful, unlike any other human could give to another. Most people misunderstand this and think that blessings are granted upon those who do good works and  punishments through bad works. The use of grace has nothing to do with any kinds of works, which is where most people are mistaken. Rather, the principle to the Christian theology of grace is recognized in the bible by Solomon. He said it is vain to judge God on matters of good or bad works. God can surely do as he pleases and His ways are opposite of man’s ways. Solomon says: â€Å"There is vanity that is done under the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous: I said that this is also vanity.† (Ecclesiastes 5:14) This quote suggests that despite the actions one may do, it is up to the grace of God that determines what that person deserves or does not deserve. The use of grace is all part of God’s plan for humans. No matter how many men judge a person, it is only God’s judgment that determines who receives grace. The grandmother and Misfit have been awarded the positive aspects of grace, which is not dependent on works of any kind. According to Christian theology, humans are commanded to be righteous and not evil. It says in the bible that God loves his creations so intensely he gave his only son to die for all human sins, which was a big question mark for the Misfit. If only he had known for sure maybe he would have never committed the immoral crimes he did. If the Misfit would have only known that according to Christian theology, all humans are destined by God’s divine grace no matter what deeds that have been done on earth, he would have made wiser decisions. If only th e grandmother had been shot every day all of her life, according to the Misfit, would she have been a better lady. When thinking of Christian theology, one would agree it just pertains to religion and God. Theology is the study of religion, and God’s relation to the world. Theology is based upon the Old and New Testament in the Bible, as well as historic traditions practiced by Christians. It has been practiced for thousands of years. People have always tried to make justifications to argue, examine, clarify, defend or promote Christianity. The Misfit seems to know most aspects when it comes to the Christian religion, as he talks about all of Christ’s works in the story. The way he viewed Christian beliefs was all an outcome on how he lived his life. â€Å"Our concepts about the divine  inform our lives more deeply than most people can trace. Whether God is viewed as distant or near, as gracious or capricious, as concerned or apathetic, the conclusions we reach—whether the result of careful reflection or negligent assumptions—guide our lives.† (Kapic 1) The wa y people live their lives depends on an individuals’ belief about theology and the way God relates to the world. It is the beliefs people choose to accept that ultimately guides everyday lives. Whether people choose to accept or deny that there is a God, it is all based on individual experiences and beliefs. The grandmother seemed to have thought she knew all about Christianity, but judging by her actions, it is clear she did not genuinely live righteously. There is no factual evidence that Jesus is real, but many have come to receive grace in their final moments, as shown in â€Å"A Good Man.† Believers of Christian faith are thought out to be hypocritical and this stereotype fits the grandmother’s character in â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find.† Just like the grandmother and Misfit in the story, it is grace that enabled them to come to Christ sincerely. The final lines in the story depict both the grandmother’s and Misfit’s realizations as if they have received answers to all questions about life. â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† reflects the Christian theology of grace. The grace of God is a gift, and if willing to accept it, even when undeserving, humans can be granted salvation like the grandmother was. The grace of God has been shown not to bestow upon the mere form of actions, but onto ones who are open to Christ, according to â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find.† Works Cited New King James Version. Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1982. Print. Kapic, Kelly M. A Little Book for New Theologians. InterVarsity Press, 2012. Print. O’Conner, Flannery. â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find.† The Writer’s Presence. Bedford/St. Martin’s; Fourth Edition, 2003. 931-943. Print.

Recycled Plastic Bio-Composites in the Consumer Industry

Consumer Industry The adaptation of natural fiber composites in the consumer industry has not had the same explosive growth as with the transportation or even the construction industry. The benefits of cost savings and weight reduction that can be obtained with natural fiber composites played a significant role for the proliferation into those respective industries. But in the consumer market, stemming from the rise of synthetic fibers starting in the 1940’s, glass fiber and carbon fibers have dominated the market for composites due to their superior mechanical properties.From the 1970’s onward, petroleum-based fibers replaced natural fiber so that, worldwide, the cropping of natural fibers entered into steep decline, causing economic stagnation in the producer regions. In addition to the competition with synthetic fibers, innovation in transport facilities also contributed to the decline of natural fibers, particularly the advent of commodity bulk handling facilities i n long distance trade, which eliminated the use of food-grade sacks altogether.Jute has always been the most important natural fiber but it too suffered long decline. In 1990, 2. 1 million hectares were planted in jute, which fell to 1. 6 million in 2000 and is projected to slump to 1. 2 million hectares by 2010, a retraction of about 3% a year. During the same period, production also fell from 3. 3 million tons to 2. 6 million tons and is projected to diminish to 2. 3 million tons by 2010. During this period jute consumed in the developed countries fell by 40% and that consumed in developing countries by 10%. 1) During the past two decades, there has been a renewed interest in development of natural fiber plastic composites for the consumer industry. Two of the most prominent factors that are fueling this resurgence originate from the environmental impact of using these composites and the technological advances that address the disadvantages of fiber composite production and usage. Natural fibers have assumed considerable environmental importance in function of being produced with renewable energy sources, consuming less energy to produce and being biodegradable and recyclable. 2) In the traditional furniture, shoe, and textile manufacturing sectors, natural fibers are increasingly being used as a substitute for fiber glass. Natural fibers have several advantages as compared to conventional plastic, such as being from 10% to 30% cheaper; having lower density, superior thermal properties and low embodied energy; involving lower tool wear in the moulding process; producing better acoustic proprieties and reducing irritation to the skin and respiratory system (3).Ironically, a number of the perceived advantages of natural fibers in composite polymers were cited in the past as disadvantages which led to the substitution of natural fiber by synthetics. Natural fibers were said to be inferior because they were not water resistant, were porous and breathable, were b iodegradable and were not adaptable to automatic sack filling. The water resistance problem has been overcome by surface modification of fibers, creating hydrophobic coatings that allow for a moisture barrier as well as better adhesion with the matrix resin.Breathability is now seen to be an advantage in reducing heat and impregnating odors, particularly in textiles. Similarly, bio-degradability is highly desirable today as well as the characteristic of being recyclable. All of these characteristics now perceived to be desirable have stimulated a good deal of research into finding other industrial applications which could cause fiber production to expand even further. (4) 1. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2003. Medium-Term Prospects for Agricultural Commodities: Projections to the Year 2010.Rome. 2. Jan, E. G. 2009. Environmental Benefits of Natural Fibre Production and Use. In Discover Natural Fibres: Proceedings of the Symposium on Natural Fibres, p. 3- 17. Rome: FAO. 3. Suddell, B. C. 2009. Industrial Fibres: Recent and Current Developments. Discover Natural Fibres: Proceedings of the Symposium on Natural Fibres, p. 71-82. Rome: FAO. 4. Bicalho, A. M. 2009. Agricultural-Industrial Integration and New Applications of Natural Fibers: Jute Floodplain Cropping in the Amazon Reborn. Brazil

Games Theory Essay

In game theory, Nash equilibrium (named after John Forbes Nash, who proposed it) is a solution concept of a game involving two or more players, in which each player is assumed to know the equilibrium strategies of the other players, and no player has anything to gain by changing only his own strategy unilaterally. If each player has chosen a strategy and no player can benefit by changing his or her strategy while the other players keep theirs unchanged, then the current set of strategy choices and the corresponding payoffs constitute Nash equilibrium. Stated simply, Amy and Phil are in Nash equilibrium if Amy is making the best decision she can, taking into account Phil’s decision, and Phil is making the best decision he can, taking into account Amy’s decision. Likewise, a group of players is in Nash equilibrium if each one is making the best decision that he or she can, taking into account the decisions of the others. However, Nash equilibrium does not necessarily mean the best payoff for all the players involved; in many cases, all the players might improve their payoffs if they could somehow agree on strategies different from the Nash equilibrium: e.g., competing businesses forming a cartel in order to increase their profits. The prisoner’s dilemma is a fundamental problem in game theory that demonstrates why two people might not cooperate even if it is in both their best interests to do so. It was originally framed by Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher working at RAND in 1950. Albert W. Tucker formalized the game with prison sentence payoffs and gave it the â€Å"prisoner’s dilemma† name (Poundstone, 1992). A classic example of the prisoner’s dilemma (PD) is presented as follows: Two suspects are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and, having separated the prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal. If one testifies for the prosecution against the other (defects) and the other remains silent (cooperates), the defector goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full one-year sentence. If both remain silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only one month in jail for a minor charge. If each betrays the other, each receives a three-month sentence. Each prisoner must choose to betray the other or to remain silent. Each one is assured that the other would not know about the betrayal before the end of the investigation. How should the prisoners act? If we assume that each player cares only about minimizing his or her own time in jail, then the prisoner’s dilemma forms a non-zero-sum game in which two players may each either cooperate with or defect from (betray) the other player. In this game, as in most game theory, the only concern of each individual player (prisoner) is maximizing his or her own payoff, without any concern for the other player’s payoff. The unique equilibrium for this game is a Pareto-suboptimal solution, that is, rational choice leads the two players to both play defect, even though each player’s individual reward would be greater if they both played cooperatively. In the classic form of this game, cooperating is strictly dominated by defecting, so that the only possible equilibrium for the game is for all players to defect. No matter what the other player does, one player will always gain a greater payoff by playing defect. Since in any situation playing defect is more beneficial than cooperating, all rational players will play defect, all things being equal. In the iterated prisoner’s dilemma, the game is played repeatedly. Thus each player has an opportunity to punish the other player for previous non-cooperative play. If the number of steps is known by both players in advance, economic theory says that the two players should defect again and again, no matter how many times the game is played. Only when the players play an indefinite or random number of times can cooperation be an equilibrium (technically a subgame perfect equilibrium), meaning that both players defecting always remains an equilibrium and there are many other equilibrium outcomes. In this case, the incentive to defect can be overcome by the threat of punishment. In casual usage, the label â€Å"prisoner’s dilemma† may be applied to situations not strictly matching the formal criteria of the classic or iterative games, for instance, those in which two entities could gain important benefits from cooperating or suffer from the failure to do so, but find it merely difficult or expensive, not necessarily impossible, to coordinate their activities to achieve cooperation. Strategy for the classic prisoner’s dilemma The classical prisoner’s dilemma can be summarized thus: Prisoner B stays silent (cooperates) Prisoner B confesses (defects) Prisoner A stays silent (cooperates) Each serves 1 month Prisoner A: 1 year Prisoner B: goes free Prisoner A confesses (defects) Prisoner A: goes free Prisoner B: 1 year Each serves 3 months Imagine you are player A. If player B decides to stay silent about committing the crime then you are better off confessing, because then you will get off free. Similarly, if player B confesses then you will be better off confessing, since then you get a sentence of 3 months rather than a sentence of 1 year. From this point of view, regardless of what player B does, as player A you are better off confessing. One says that confessing (defecting) is the dominant strategy. As Prisoner A, you can accurately say, â€Å"No matter what Prisoner B does, I personally am better off confessing than staying silent. Therefore, for my own sake, I should confess.† However, if the other player acts similarly then you both confess and both get a worse sentence than you would have gotten by both staying silent. That is, the seemingly rational self-interested decisions lead to worse sentences—hence the seeming dilemma. In game theory, this demonstrates that in a non-zero-sum game a Nash equilibrium need not be a Pareto optimum. Although they are not permitted to communicate, if the prisoners trust each other then they can both rationally choose to remain silent, lessening the penalty for both of them. We can expose the skeleton of the game by stripping it of the prisoner framing device. The generalized form of the game has been used frequently in experimental economics. The following rules give a typical realization of the game. There are two players and a banker. Each player holds a set of two cards, one printed with the word â€Å"Cooperate† (as in, with each other), the other printed with â€Å"Defect† (the standard terminology for the game). Each player puts one card face-down in front of the banker. By laying them face down, the possibility of a player knowing the other player’s selection in advance is eliminated (although revealing one’s move does not affect the dominance analysis[1]). At the end of the turn, the banker turns over both cards and gives out the payments accordingly. Given two players, â€Å"red† and â€Å"blue†: if the red player defects and the blue player cooperates, the red player gets the Temptation to Defect payoff of 5 points while the blue player receives the Sucker’s payoff of 0 points. If both cooperate they get the Reward for Mutual Cooperation payoff of 3 points each, while if they both defect they get the Punishment for Mutual Defection payoff of 1 point. The checker board payoff matrix showing the payoffs is given below. These point assignments are given arbitrarily for illustration. It is possible to generalize them, as follows: Canonical PD payoff matrix Cooperate Defect Cooperate R, R S, T Defect T, S P, PWhere T stands for Temptation to defect, R for Reward for mutual cooperation, P for Punishment for mutual defection and S for Sucker’s payoff. To be defined as prisoner’s dilemma, the following inequalities must hold: T > R > P > S This condition ensures that the equilibrium outcome is defection, but that cooperation Pareto dominates equilibrium play. In addition to the above condition, if the game is repeatedly played by two players, the following condition should be added.[2] 2 R > T + S If that condition does not hold, then full cooperation is not necessarily Pareto optimal, as the players are collectively better off by having each player alternate between Cooperate and Defect. These rules were established by cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter and form the formal canonical description of a typical game of prisoner’s dilemma. A simple special case occurs when the advantage of defection over cooperation is independent of what the co-player does and cost of the co-player’s defection is independent of one’s own action, i.e. T+S = P+R. The iterated prisoner’s dilemma If two players play prisoner’s dilemma more than once in succession and they remember previous actions of their opponent and change their strategy accordingly, the game is called iterated prisoner’s dilemma. The iterated prisoner’s dilemma game is fundamental to certain theories of human cooperation and trust. On the assumption that the game can model transactions between two people requiring trust, cooperative behaviour in populations may be modelled by a multi-player, iterated, version of the game. It has, consequently, fascinated many scholars over the years. In 1975, Grofman and Pool estimated the count of scholarly articles devoted to it at over 2,000. The iterated prisoner’s dilemma has also been referred to as the â€Å"Peace-War game†. If the game is played exactly N times and both players know this, then it is always game theoretically optimal to defect in all rounds. The only possible Nash equilibrium is to always defect. The proof is inductive: one might as well defect on the last turn, since the opponent will not have a chance to punish the player. Therefore, both will defect on the last turn. Thus, the player might as well defect on the second-to-last turn, since the opponent will defect on the last no matter what is done, and so on. The same applies if the game length is unknown but has a known upper limit. Unlike the standard prisoner’s dilemma, in the iterated prisoner’s dilemma the defection strategy is counterintuitive and fails badly to predict the behavior of human players. Within standard economic theory, though, this is the only correct answer. The superrational strategy in the iterated prisoners dilemma with fixed N is to cooperate against a superrational opponent, and in the limit of large N, experimental results on strategies agree with the superrational version, not the game-theoretic rational one. For cooperation to emerge between game theoretic rational players, the total number of rounds N must be random, or at least unknown to the players. In this case always defect may no longer be a strictly dominant strategy, only a Nash equilibrium. Amongst results shown by Nobel Prize winner Robert Aumann in his 1959 paper, rational players repeatedly interacting for indefinitely long games can sustain the cooperative outcome.

Computer Platforms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Computer Platforms - Essay Example This paper is will discuss various types of computers, comparing tin terms of processor speeds, Read Access Memory, Storage capabilities and Internet capabilities. These were the first computers in the mankind invasion, which currently are almost extinct. However, unlike digital computers, they perform numerous mathematical operations simultaneously. They are unique in terms of operation as they utilize continuous variables for the purpose of computing mathematical data. They have an advantage of utilizing mechanical, hydraulic and electrical energy during operation (Beskeen, 2009) As the name suggests, they are a combination of both Analogue and Digital computers. The most important thing about the Digital computers, they work under the principal of a binary digit system of â€Å"0† and â€Å"1† which gives very accurate and precise results. However, these computers are too slow, hence, cannot handle large operations of mathematical computing. The Digital computers perform Robotics and Process control by the converted analog signals. These types of computers are the most bulky and with a great deal of advanced technology, though they are almost becoming extinct. They can cover an entire room and costs millions of dollars. Mainframe computers are referred to as the predecessor of servers because they support multi-users efficiently. They are used in complex of research, meteorological calculations, engineering works, graphics and other advanced operations in Banks and government operations. They constitute UNIX and IBMs z/OS, and others. A supercomputer is one of the modern computers that is capable of handling speedy mathematical computing and calculations. They are the fastest with the highest processing speeds. For that reason, they are employed in specialized applications that require large scale amounts of mathematical calculations; they are preferred in producing animation graphics, weather

Evidence based case study on hyperosomar hyperglycaemia state patient Essay

Evidence based case study on hyperosomar hyperglycaemia state patient - Essay Example Hyperosomar hyperglycaemia state is a state whereby alteration of sensation may often be present without comma, and it may consist of moderate to variable degrees of clinical ketosis. Therefore, Emergency Department nurses should be keen when assessing for diabetes because older patients may in hyperosomar hyperglycaemia condition. This paper reflects the aspects of care that were provided to a patient, Mr. B, in the Accident and Emergency department, while applying triage, A-G assessment, ECG and fluid management competencies. Triage Triage involves the separation of a patient who requires prioritized care because of the severity his or her condition. This applies most in the Emergency Departments, where doctors and nurses have to determine who gets care first. According to the English Dictionary, the term triage refers to the process of determining the most important people or things from among a large number that requires attention (Oxford University Press, 2013). In medical use, triage is the assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties. Since every day, Emergency Departments have to attend to a large number of patients who suffer from a wide range of problems, it is essential to have a system that ensures that these patients are seen in order of their clinical need, rather than in order of attendance. Triage manages a patient flow safely when clinical needs exceed capacity. It involves identification of the problem, determination of the alternatives and selection of the most appropriate alternative (Manchester Triage Group, 2008, p, 7). Identification of the problem involves obtaining information from the patients, their careers and any pre-hospital care personnel. (Manchester Triage Group, 2008). The Emergency Department acts as a transfer station through which the casualties should pass, as quickly as possible, on their way to surgery, intensive care, or a ward (Nutbe am & Boylan, 2013, p, 181). In this case, the patient was triaged by an experienced emergency nurse who has undergone specialist training. In the problem identification phase, information was collected from the patient’s son who provided past history of the patient. From the history, it was established that the patient experienced sudden onsets of lethargy, strange behaviour such as waking up at three in the morning to have a shower, reduced frequency in mitcuration and reduced drinking. When the patient was examined, it was found that the patient was alert, did not exhibit limb weakness, and was quiet, which is unusual. Besides, the patient was not clammy or sweaty. The vital signs awarded an early-warning score of 1, given that a tachycardia of 112 beats per minute was exhibited. Consequently, the patient was placed into priority category three, as per the Manchester Triage System. This required the patient to see the doctor within one hour. However, the patient was seen by a doctor, four hours after triage, which is against the requirements of priority three allocations, at triage. Furthermore, due to lack of trolleys and large volume of patients in the department, the patient was allocated on majors’ chairs instead of trolley. A-G Assessment A-G assessment is essential in facilitating the diagnosis and administration of severe and chronic primary health problems that are found in adult clients, especially the aging

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of progressivism Essay - 1

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of progressivism - Essay Example First, progressivism facilitated transparency in national governance. For instance, it led to the introduction of democratic elections in many American cities hence reducing the effects of partisan elections, which was a norm before the ideology.1 Additionally, the doctrine introduced referendum as a means of getting public consent before making changes to universally critical laws. Still on governance, people got control of the nation government through electing senators and other public office bearers for fair representation in government. Typically, the foundation and principles of democracy currently existing in the U.S had its origin back to the progressivism era. Secondly, progressive movement diluted the much negativity witnessed during the industrial growth since it was a post-industrial revolution ideology. For instance, despite the economic boom happening during that time, wealth was in the hands of a few wealthy people in the U.S locking out a primary part of the population from sharing the national cake. Consequently, progressivism introduced law reforms that enhanced equitable distribution of wealth to ensure that the majority of the people enjoyed national wealth. Additionally, the industrial revolution era promoted child labor and poor working conditions that risked the lives of many American citizens.2 Therefore, progressivism introduced child labor laws, minimum weekly working hours to 40 and minimum wage amongst other labor reforms. Thirdly, progressive movement facilitated the emergence of revolutionary public leaders who cared more about reforms than their individual gains.3 For instance, many government officials from political and non-political Circle worked towards ending corruption in municipal councils, public transportation, law enforcement and other public services. Moreover, the politicians ensured they enacted legislation that gave power to the people to control elected leaders. For instance, a law was passed that

Self esteem development in the classroom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Self esteem development in the classroom - Essay Example Initially acknowledged by James (1890), self-esteem is defined as a ‘belief and self-confidence in your own ability and value.† Thus, self-esteem is increasingly becoming better described and might be understood as an evaluative process by which individuals assess the differences between self-image (how we are) and, the ideal-self (how we want to be). Figure 1 The Structure of Self-Esteem Defining Self-Esteem Coppersmith (1967) considers self-esteem to be "the evaluation that the individual makes and customarily maintains with regard to him/herself. It expresses an attitude of approval or disapproval and indicates the extent to which the individual believes him/herself to be capable, significant and worthy". The definitions described above illustrate that an individual's level of self-esteem is determined mainly by the feedback received from the social environment, including home and school. It is important to note that all the beliefs and images which individuals possess as an essential part of their self-concept are not an innate element of an individual's self concept. Individuals are all born with certain observable physical attributes and untouched capability, but no one was born with completely developed understandings that s/he is gifted or stupid, ugly or good looking, extrovert or introvert. Most of the images and beliefs which one possesses about oneself as adults are acquired before adulthood. The source of an individual’s self-concept starts from how others treat them and what they tell them about the individuals. Newborns develop an overall impression in relation to whether they are cherished or not based on the extent to which they are treated. In early childhood, the development of children's self-concept is effected to a large extent by non-verbal communication. In adolescence, when the language skills are developed, they begin to decipher those general expressions into words and expressions (O’Toole, 1995). Childrenâ⠂¬â„¢s self-concept is further formed when they enter school. At this level children become alert of the fact whether they are approved by others and are included in activities or because they are disliked and are often left alone. Children also become conscious of their talents and limitations from the feedback they get from teachers and fellow students (O’Toole, 1995). Two psychological processes deal with the evaluation of social feedback that includes self-evaluation and self-worth. For each person, the real-self and the ideal-self are different because the ideal-self includes what a person would like to turn into. This difference is vital, however, because without some level of goal, children and adults become inadequately adjusted. It is normal, and in far praiseworthy, for a person to be constantly working hard. Yet, the smaller the difference between the real-self and the ideal-self, the greater confidence the individual will have, and the greater will be his/her abil ity to attain a high level of self-esteem. On the other hand, when there is a huge difference between the real-self and ideal-self, the individual is more prone to have a low self-esteem (O’Toole, 1995). Global Self-Esteem Global Self-Esteem Academic Non-Academic English Math Science Other Social Physical Parents Others Appearance Skill Figure 2 The Self-Esteem Hierarchy Global self-esteem is a person’s total feeling of self-esteem which becomes steady as the child grows (Marsh et al., 1984). Tasks that do not

How does the specific geographical location of this particular country Essay

How does the specific geographical location of this particular country influence and inform its foreign policy aims and objectiv - Essay Example Curling away from the mainland China to neighboring Japan, Korea has been the area across which invading armies have coursed back and forth. At the same time, the invasions did not prevent Korea from retaining a high degree of homogeneity in ethnic sense. This â€Å"Koreanness†, as Feffer calls it, makes the division in two states painful for citizens in either part (Feffer, 2011: 22). For South Korea, its geographic location close to North Korea is the major factor that shapes its foreign policy. At the same time, surrounded by water, this country is located around 200 kilometers from two Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. Closeness to Japan and China has its own impact on the foreign policy of South Korea. As for the geographical identity of South Korea, it is conditioned by South Korea’s location on one half of the Korean Peninsula, the one that is southern and has a land border with the only state - North Korea. This paper investigates how geography of South Kor ea shapes and informs its foreign policy aims and impacts its geographical identity. First, let us explore the geographical location of Republic of South Korea in detail. While South Korea hosts more than 45 million people, its size is slightly bigger than that of Indiana in the United States and is similar to the size of Hungary (about 93.000 square kilometers) and Jordan (around 97.700) (AsiaInfo, 2013: no page). Its territory is 99.391 square kilometers (Davis, 1999: 7). This accounts for 45% of the overall territory of the peninsula. The capital is Seoul. The land of the country covers the southern part of the Korean Peninsula; it is surrounded by water on its three sides. The Korean Peninsula stretches to the South from the east coast of Asia. Its second half is occupied by North Korea. The territory of South Korea encompasses nearly 3.000 islands which are located predominantly around the sea known as the Yellow Sea. Few islands lie of the East Sea. The largest and most import ant islands in South Korea are: Ullungdo (in the East Sea, serves a key fishery base), Tokdo (hosts a major fishery base, too), and Chejudo (the biggest island in size, is located off the southwest corner of the Korean Peninsula). Historically, the two countries on the Korean Peninsula used to be a single country under the name Korea. Yet, for political reasons, Korea got divided and became two countries. Specifically, with the end of World War 2, the overall territory got divided in two zones: the northern one got occupied by the military forces of the USSR; the southern part, in its turn, got occupied by the American army. The boundary between the two military zones was fixed at the 38th parallel. Back in 1953, the boundary was more or less fixed by the marked DMZ, which is 4-kilometer wide land strip running along the cease-fire lines from one coast to another (from the eastern part to the western part). That strip is around 241 kilometers east to west; it was fixed on a semi-per manent basis (AsianInfo, 2013: no page). The territory of South Korea is covered mostly with mountains and forests. Along its southern and western coasts, there stretch low and flat lands. South Korean climate is largely shaped by monsoons, which bring wet weather in summer season and dry weather in winter (Davis, 1999: 7).

Marketing Techniques and Market Products in two Organizations Coursework

Marketing Techniques and Market Products in two Organizations - Coursework Example Some of the marketing techniques employed by Tesco Company include branding, relationship marketing, growth and survival strategies and brand building and positioning. The company creates a unique name and image for its products it is connected with strap lines; logos brand promise, colors and related benefits. Tesco has chosen various brands such as Tesco finest, Tesco value, Tesco organic, Tesco standard and Tesco Whole foods. Tesco is trying to ensure that they make profits in all aspects of their branding. On the other hand, Apple brand is leading in the computer industry with its Macintosh computers and the consumer electronics industry. It has built its brand and positioning through advertising campaigns through promotions such as event sponsorships. Apple Company has a brand personality that emphasizes in making people’s lives much easier by making its products readily accessible to customers. Both companies utilize the use of relationship marketing to build a relationship with their clients, encourage and reward those who are loyal, as they convince them to buy more products. When it comes to market penetration, product development, and diversification, Tesco has increased its sale in the existing markets, launched its product as Tesco Everyday Value and modified its existing products to appeal the existing market. The company has diversified into other services such as home insurance, mortgages, car insurance and other services. Marketers are faced with various challenges while doing their marketing activities. For instance, they are confronted with legal constraints. This means that the marketers have to comply with the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which empowers the consumer to claim back the money if they find a product to be faulty. The marketers are, therefore, tasked with the challenge of meeting the standards of their goods sold as prescribed by the sale of Goods Act. This  Act requires that a trader has to sell goods of good quality and as they are described.

Cause marketing costs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cause marketing costs - Essay Example However, there are emerging issues even as multinational companies seek to maximize profits. Corporate social responsibility, international labor law, ethical issues and level competitive ground are the realities that companies have to address. Owing to the relatively tight competition in different industries, for-profit companies have to embrace non-price competitive strategies. Reconciling the increasing cost of production and profit margin explains the redefinition of value chain process. The source of the product does not matter in the current society as long as the brand is known. The companies are majoring on marketing and brand quality. Exploiting technology differences, labor and input factor cost variations across countries has become useful in surviving by the companies(Cullen & Parboteeah, 2014). Public image of the company is closely related to its product brand and this can be evidenced in the market size scramble by firms of the same products like Nike, Puma and Adidas among others in the sports and apparel industry. It can therefore be noted that globalization has restructured the socio-economic and political behavior of people which is reflected in the companies’ competitive trend and consumer

Juvenil Crimes Essay Example for Free

Juvenil Crimes Essay They look at Juveniles on how unreliable and inconsistent they are on making bad decisions. But often minors bring unparticular brutally attracting impulsive claims on their behalfs on their crimes. Though the mind of a teenagers brain is pretty much dazed out, meaning how would you think they could handle prison. Well people say if they can handle committing crimes they should put up with what should be disserved. This brought a concern to society should Juveniles be charge as adults? In the article assertions from Liptak, Lundstrom, Krikorian, and Thompson, bring us vidence of how Juveniles are being tried as adults. These Journalists bring concerning information on how teens react to hatred crimes that they commit. Liptak and Lundstrom consideration against ones opinion on how Juveniles crimes should be thought are at most similar to one anothers thoughts. Liptak thinks that Juveniles should be brought to thought, that they commit crimes to diminish their responsibilities to some of what of danger to themselves and others. Lundstrom says that theyre only kids until they mess up and commit crimes, then were more eager to all them adults. Krikorian believes that teens are seriously impaired, are less likely to recognizes the risks and dont really think about the consequences. Thompson finds that mathematical the brain system grows little until puberty corresponding with abstract concepts before then. Krikorian and Thompson have the agreement that teens are at a stage were they really dont think because they are still kids and that they dont know better. In the article Supreme Court to rule on Executing Young Killers By Adam Liptak, Robert Acuna was convicted of killing two elderly eighbors referring to Execution Style then stealing a car. Mr. Acuna was the latest person to be convicted with a death row sentence before the age of 18. In Kids Are Kids until They Commit Crimes by Marlie Lundstrom writers about a 12 year-old savagely beated a 6 year-old girl to death, Lionel Tate said he was imitating his world wrestler icon. In April. Nathaniel Braizl was charged with first-degree murder at the age of 14, for shooting an English teacher that didnt let him say goodbye to two girls on the last day of school. In Many Kids Called Unfit for Adult trial y Greg Krikorian researched that teens are emotionally or intellectually unable to contribute to their own defense in court. In studies shown thousands of Juveniles went to an adult trail when they shouldnt because of their inability to stand the courts proceeding. In Startling finds on Teenage Brains by Paul Thompson discovers that the patterns of brain growth in children and teenagers. The brain is like a puzzle that grows fast at the point of learning skills. Also, that the massive loss of brain tissue happens in teenage years at risk taking, controlling impulses, and self-control. The Supreme Young Juveniles are incompetent on being well behaved as what Krikorian says Seriously Impaired or is that Just an excuse? But knowing that you took a life is Just unimaginable and horrifying. So if you did the crime now youre going to pay the time. Even though your seriously impaired if you know that then why you take advance of that abuse and commit crimes. If you blame the teens youre basically blaming the parents for unfit parenting their children. They dont teach their kids form right or wrong and dont control their kids. So minors are what so to be unished for what inconsiderable parenting. Many Juveniles are sentenced as adults for the crimes they commit at a young age being irresponsible. Their for theyre the ones who should pay for the price they commit if they went against the law so the law should be put to Justices. Teens are impulsive when it comes to things that are serious at times which they cant really control themselves either. Juveniles commit crimes today like Homicides, Murder, First-degree murder, Second-degree murder, Voluntary manslaughter, and Involuntary manslaughter. People who commit uch horrible crimes should be taken seriously and let it be brought to Justices. It doesnt matter what characteristics makes a person an adult, a Juvenile, or a child if you committed the crime at any age you should be held responsible for what you did so you should be tired no matter what. Juveniles are able to commit crimes but then, so they should be punished the same way as adults. Teens try to be like adult but they do it in an unfair manner to make them seem cool so when they acted like adults why not try them as adults give them what they want.

Molecules Shine Individually on Camera Essay Example for Free

Molecules Shine Individually on Camera Essay In a science news article by the Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, an innovative discovery on a certain combination of technique for studying individual molecules undergoing reactions was presented. The article entitled â€Å"Electron Give-and-take Lets Molecules Shine Individually on Camera† was actually adopted from an article in the journal Chemical Communications by Chenghong Lei and Dehong Hu. The original title of the journal article was â€Å"Single-molecule Fluorescence Spectroelectrochemistry of Cresyl Violet. † Basically, the article reports a new technique of studying the electron transfer reactions of molecules. Through the use of the new combination of techniques, scientists have found a way of viewing individual molecules as the reaction proceeds which was traditionally impossible. Due to this breakthrough, scientists can now conduct further research to modify and even create proteins that possesses maximum reaction rates which could generate more energy than their counterparts (DOE 2008). Electron transfer reactions are crucial in the life-giving processes that occur in plants and animals. They are responsible in generating energy as well as sustaining the life of an organism such as in photosynthesis. To understand how such electron transfer reactions occur, it is possible that chemists and engineers can find ways on how to recreate such maximal energy generation which is typical of nature’s electron transfer reactions (DOE 2008). In light of these efforts, there have been several techniques of observing the mechanisms behind the reactions of biomolecules. One of these techniques is fluorescence spectroelectrochemistry. However, although fluorescence has been of great help in the field of chemistry, like other traditional techniques it only allows for the observation and analysis of bulk molecules. Therefore, in search for a method of analyzing individual molecules, scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Library have devised an instrument wherein the power of creating electric fields to initiate reactions and that of focusing into a single molecule was developed (DOE 2008). This was successfully done by combining fluorescence spectroelectrochemistry with that of single-molecule fluorescence microscope. Using the new instrument, scientists then studied electron transfer reactions in individual cases. They have found that although majority of the molecules undergo electron transfer reactions, there are some individual molecules that contradict the way other molecules behave. Upon fluorescence using cresyl violet dye, some molecules that should have been lit were not while upon removing the electric current, some molecules continued to give of fluorescence where they should have blinked off (DOE 2008). Such discovery thus account for the sub maximum energy generation of some reactions that occur. Using the same instrument, scientists can now find out why these particular molecules behave in such a way. To control the reactions could then be a great advantage for many of our chemists (DOE). Further studies are now being conducted to achieve this goal. The fusion of two important instruments used in chemistry and microbiology was actually a novel contribution to both fields. Essentially, fluorescence spectroelectrochemistry is a technique used by chemists to manipulate reactions in their study of the mechanisms molecules follow whereas single-molecule fluorescence microscopy is employed in microbiology for the study of fluorescent microorganisms. By combining the two techniques, new research ventures can now be accomplished both in the fields of chemistry and microbiology. Furthermore, the innovative instrument has somehow created a bridge between the two fields of science, one of which is primarily concerned with the minute elements of the abiotic world while the other is concerned with the minute elements of the biotic world. The information about the new combination of instrument is quite useful. Having learned of this new apparatus, it is then possible that future endeavors that might be undertaken by the readers employ the use of the device. Furthermore, the data obtained from the electron transfer reactions up close is an excellent explanation of why molecules generate as much energy only as they are able to. The plan of scientists to expand the study is also very interesting since it will clarify why molecules behave the way they do. The reader could say that the information is convincing as well as organized. Although there are no detailed descriptions of the results of the study, the presentation of the valuable outcomes is meaningful and reliable. This is due to the fact that the article is an adaptation of a reliable journal article. However, it would have been more engaging if the scientists include some data tables, graphs or pictures on the behavior of the individual molecules that were studied instead of generalizing the data presentation. The article is highly recommended to people in the field of biofuels research. As has been mentioned in the article, if engineers will find out how to control the behavior of molecules during electron transfer reactions, they may increase the energy generated by biofuels by utilizing the maximum limit of each individual molecule (DOE 2008). By doing so, engineers will obtain a large amount of energy with the least raw product input increasing efficiency and production as well as lowering costs and expenses. References DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. (2008, September 24). Electron Give-and-take Lets Molecules Shine Individually on Camera. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 27, 2008, from http//www. sciencedaily. com/releases/2008/09/080925094. htm.

How Firms Decide Between Risk Retention And Transfer Finance Essay

How Firms Decide Between Risk Retention And Transfer Finance Essay Generally, the purpose of risk management is value maximization for a for-profit organization. In other words, risk management aims to maximize value by minimizing the cost of risk. Total costs of pure risk include costs of control and costs of financing. This essay focuses on risk financing. There are two broad methods of risk financing: risk retention and risk transfer. Risk transfer contains insurance and other contractual risk transfers. At the beginning of this assay, I am going to introduce the concept of retention, insurance, and contractual risk transfers, and their advantages and disadvantages. Then I will discuss how a firm should decide between risk retention and risk transfer, if a captive insurer is not to be employed. Finally, I will discuss how a firm, having a captive insurer, should finance its pure risk losses. With retention, a business retains the obligation to pay for part or all of the losses. When coupled with a formal plan to fund losses for medium-to-large businesses, retention often is called self-insurance. (Harrington and Niehaus 1999 Page 12) Retention can be financed via a captive insurance company (an insurance company owned by a non-insurance company which is also its customer), a risk retention group, cash flows from ongoing activities, and general working capital (the excess of the firms liquid assets over its short-term liabilities). In addition, firms can also obtain funds by borrowing, loans, issuing new stock and selling other business asset, such as buildings and cars. Funds to pay retained losses should be large so that there is enough money to pay retained losses. In addition, the retained losses are unpredictable, and they may be large or small. However, there is an opportunity cost for a fund. The opportunity cost is the difference between the return on the fund and the firms normal rate of return. As a result of this, if funds are large, the opportunity costs will be large; if funds are small, they may fail to pay all losses. In addition, there may also be costs incurred in converting non-liquid assets into cash for settling losses. (Dr. David Ayling 2009) Risk transfer includes insurance and contractual risk transfers. Insurance is a form of risk management primarily. A firm could purchase insurance contacts to cover risk losses. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for a premium, and can be thought of as a guaranteed and known small loss to prevent a large, possibly devastating loss. An insurer is a company selling the insurance; an insured or policyholder is the person or entity buying the insurance. (Web 1) Firms can transfer some of risk losses to insurance company by insurance contracts. According to Dr. David Ayling (2009), the benefits of insurance include reduction of uncertainty, loss control advice, liquidity of company protected, long term planning mire feasible, and access to large risk combination services. On the other hands, insurance does not cover loss of goodwill, loss of market share, lost customers and suppliers, and so no. In addition, some r isks are not insurable, such as risk losses are too large, risks are not measurable, risks are not predictable, and so on. Firms can also use some contractual risk transfers to transfer risk to another party. For example, if a firm wants to build a house, and hire a construction company to build the house, it could perform some task routinely into contracts, such as if workers or pedestrians are injured by accidence when the house is building, the construction company pay for these losses; and if the house crashes after it is completed, the construction company will be responsible for it. Having introduced risk retention and risk transfer, the following will discuss how a firm should decide between risk retention and risk transfer, if a captive insurer is not to be employed. Both risk retention and risk transfer is important and primary methods for risk financing. How should a firm decide the methods of risk management? The severity and frequency probability of risk losses determine which method should be used to finance risk losses. According to Dr. David Ayling (2009), when the frequency probabilities of pure risks are low and their severities are high, then the method of risk transfer would be better to finance the risk losses, because the severities are high, which means the risk losses may be large. If using risk retention, they need large funds to finance the risk losses so that the opportunity costs of the funds will be large. As a result, the risks could be transferred to insurer or another party by buying insurance or making contracts. However, risk retention may be better, if the frequency probabilities of pure risks are low and their severities are low. Because they need only small funds to cover the risks as both frequency probabilities and s everities are low. In addition, the insurance may be expensive; commonly the price of the insurance is high than the opportunity cost of retention. Even more, the risk losses may not be covered by insurance. When the frequency probabilities of risk losses are high, both retention and insurance are not better methods, because the risk losses will continually happen. As a result, if the severities of the risk losses are high, we should avoid these risks. In the other words, we should abandon these businesses, because they are too dangerous; if the severities of the risk losses are low, we should control it by increasing precautions and limits on risk activity designed to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents. (Harrington and Niehaus 1999 Page 23) There is an important factor that may affect firms decision between retention and insurance. The factor is tax. When calculating its taxable income, a noninsurance company can only deduct losses that were paid during the year. In contrast, an insurer can deduct the discounted value of incurred losses, which equals losses paid during the year plus the change during the year in the discounted value of its liability for unpaid claims. This distinction essentially allows insurers to deduct losses earlier than noninsurance companies, which all else equal increases the present value of expected tax deductions if a loss exposure is insured. Although the tax break is granted to insurers, competition among insurers for business will cause most or even the entire tax break to be given to policyholders through lower premiums. (Harrington and Niehaus 1999 Page 218) In practice, many large companies have established captive insurance companies. These companies make payment to their captive insurers, which then pay losses to the large companies. It is an important method of financing losses for large firms, and can be viewed as a special type of retention and self-insurance. If a firm has a captive insurer, the firm should finance risk losses by buy insurance from its captive insurer. A firm could benefit a lot by using a captive insurer. To begin with, the parent company could reduce expected tax payments relative to retention. As I have discussed before, insurance has a tax advantage compared with retention. In addition, Dr. David Ayling (2009) mentioned that the parent company could access to the reinsurance markets through its captive. The parent first buys insurance through its captive, which then purchases reinsurance. Finally, Harrington and Niehaus (1999) said captive also can be used to reduce risk. The parents risk exposures will be poo led with other unrelated companies exposures, if its captive sells insurance or reinsurance to other unrelated companies. Consequently, a large firm will benefit from its captive insurer in reducing expected tax payments, accessing to the reinsurance markets, and reducing risk through the captives transaction. In conclusion, as retention and insurance have their own advantages and disadvantages, the frequency probabilities and severities of risks determine which methods of risk financing should be used. Insurance is a good risk financing method for a low frequency and high severity risk; in contrast, retention is a good risk financing method for a low frequency and low severity risk. For many large companies, using a captive insurer becomes an important method of financing losses. Captives could benefit their parent company from reducing expected tax payments, accessing to the reinsurance markets, and reducing risk through the captives transaction. However, according to Dr. David Ayling (2009), if risk losses could be transferred to someone other than an insurer at a cheaper cost, or can be prevented or reduced at a cost cheaper than insurance, insurance and retention are not the best methods of risk losses financing, because risk management aims to maximize value by minimizing the cost of risk. Bibliography and Reference Dr. David Ayling (2009) Corporate Risk Managements handout, Bangor University. Harrington, S. E, Niehaus, G. R, (1999) Risk Management and Insurance, Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. Web 1: Wikipedia (2009) Insurance (Online) Wikimedia Foundations, Inc: USA. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance (Accessed 8/12/09)

Essay --

In 1877, Elias moved to California, when he met his wife flora, in 1890 they moved to Chicago, they had 5 children, Herbert Arthur, Raymond Arnold, Roy Oliver, Walter "Walt" Elias Disney, and Ruth Flora Disney. Walt was born in Chicago in 1901, 4 years later his parents moved to Marceline, which was the most important phase in his life, it was his hometown, and they lived on a farm. Walt had special feelings towards animals. The first time I heard Walt Disney’s story, was in this class, and it was told in a creative way by my professor. At the beginning of each class, our instructor played us a minute or two of Walt Disney’s songs, which brought back happy and comforting memories of my childhood. Walt lived in Marceline, a perfect small town. He attended the town’s school where he showed interest in things that other kids didn’t. As soon as he learned how to use a pencil, he fell in love with drawing. He also liked acting; the first role he played was Peter Pan, who then became an inspiration to him. When Walt was ten years old, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. His father Elias had sold his farm for 5175$ and bought a distributorship for the morning Times and the Star newspaper. Walt and his brother then started working for their father. They used to wake up early in the morning and deliver papers before going to school. In 1917, Elias moved his family back to Chicago. Walt went to high school there and became the cartoonist for the school’s paper. During his lecture, our instructor showed us a small part of Walt’s documentary movie, how he used to make cartoons come to life, as well as techniques he had used. Walt wanted to go to Europe and join the army, but his father was against his idea and was refusing to si... ...come source, he met with the head of Universal picture; this man gave him an idea about re-releasing his old films, like Snow White, it was re-released almost 10 times. Walt Disney was a true inspiration to children as well as adults, he made dreams come true, and every single one of his films was a success. He built an empire following his dreams, and achieved his main goal, which was entertaining people all over the world. Walt Disney was one of the most successful men in our era. He built an Empire following his dream; entertaining people. His achievements made him an inspiration for children as well as adults to never give up on their dreams. Unfortunately his addiction to nicotine, lead to a tumor in his lungs that took over his life on December 15th 1966 when he was only 65 years old. Although he’s passed away one can’t deny that he’s still a living legacy.

America’s Insatiable Appetite for Cocaine Essay -- Exploratory Essays

America’s Insatiable Appetite for Cocaine Where does Coca-Cola get its name? Why was it created? In 1886, the Georgia pharmacist, John Pemberton, designed Coca-Cola as a headache remedy and a stimulant. The original beverage contained cocaine and was used both as an intoxicating beverage and a medically useful tonic. The effects of the drink helped make it popular. Only in the early twentieth century was the drug eliminated from the Coca-Cola recipe and replaced with increased amounts of caffeine.[1]   Cocaine has a long history which also involves the once condoned use for medicinal purposes in the 1890's to being one of the most widespread abused drug today. Cocaine was the first effective local anesthetic for use in minor surgery. Before being used in medicine, the Inca civilization of Peru confined the use of coca to the royal classes and priesthood because the leaves were considered a symbol of divinity, a gift bestowed by the sun god. They clearly appreciated its pharmacological effects: deflecting fatigue and hunger, enhancing endurance, and promoting a sense of happiness.[1] Other civilizations gave cocaine to their slaves and workers instead of food and rest. "There is ample evidence that Indians under the influence of coca can withstand exceptional hardships and perform heavy labor, without requiring proper nourishment during that time....[By] using coca the Indians are able to travel on foot for hundreds of hours and run faster than horses without showing signs of fatigu e."[11] What is cocaine? How does cocaine increase alertness and decrease one's appetite? It is all in the head, more accurately, in the brain.   Cocaine is derived from the coca plant Erythroxylon coca in a white crystalline alkaloid powder. ... .... 5. Holden, Constance. "Cocaine Shrinks Your Brain?" Science. 248: April 1990, p. 167. 6. Cowen, Ron. "Cocaine and the Nervous System." Science News. 137: April 1990, p. 238. 7. Mendelson, Jack H., M.d. et al. "Anterior, Adrenal, and Gonadal Hormones During Cocaine Withdrawal." The American Journal of Psychiatry. 145: September 1988, p. 1095. 8. Volkow, Nora D., M.D. et al. "Changes in Brain Glucose Metabolism in Cocaine Dependence and Withdrawal." The American Journal of Psychiatry. 148: May 1991, p. 621. 9. Satel, Sally L., M.D. et al. "Clinical Phenomenology and Neurobiology of Cocaine Abstinence: A Prospective Inpatient Study." The American Journal of Psychiatry. 148: December 1991. P. 1713. 10. Gawin, Frank H. "Cocaine Addiction: Psychology and Neurophysiology." Science. 251: March 1991. P. 1580. 11. Freud, Sigmund. "Uber Coca." July 1884.

The Importance of Education Essay -- Personal Narratives Education Sch

The Importance of Education â€Å"Come on sweetie, you can do it!† These words have constantly been spoken to me ever since I was a child, and by my parents enforcing these words towards me they inspired me to achieve all that I am able too. In the Mexican culture there are many of us who yearn to learn new things yet there are many of our people who instead of lending a helping hand they thrust each other downward. With this key fact in mind I push myself to become an educated person with a degree so that I can prove to myself that if you want it you will get it. My family has always been very keen on education. One of my childhood memories is that of my father telling us â€Å"The only great inheritance I can leave you with is that of your education, because nobody can take that what you have learned away from you.† My mother also told us that if there came a day in which we had to leave our husbands for any type of abuse we would not be empty-handed since we could be able to support o ur self as well as our families. With my parents always asking me â€Å"how was school today,† or attending all (well not all) but most PTA meetings they showed me that they care a lot for my future. I wish to make them happy and to know that they did a good job in raising me since education is one of my top priorities. Another top priority that I believe influences me is to read, from books about magic sorcerers to Biology or chem. Textbooks, (Who knew right?) I love to explore new things and meet different people. Reading is the key element (I believe) of wisdom since it opens new boundaries to ones mind. I remember in 5th grade the new accelerated reader program was barely starting and the excitement of it was breathtaking. ( not really but i... ...assignments were this past year. My senior year my teacher was named Joanna Schmidt, she inspired us too write many different literature works. We read many Shakespearean works as well as books by Alice Walker, some of the amazing stories we were contained satire and we were asked to identify it in the different books. Gulliver’s Travels, Brave New World, and the movie Gatttica, were mainly written with satire. This was interesting to me because we had to really use our brains and analyze what the author was trying to get across to us as the reader. Now that I am in college I look forward to learning new things and I am glad that I have made in this far with an extreme amount of hard work yet my race is not over. I wish to add more inspirations to my list so that when I am older my children can look up to me for the enjoyment of learning I provide them with.

Disadvantage of democracy Essay

The primary disadvantages of democracy are a general lack of accountability, the prospect of personal interest becoming the predominant factor in decisions, and negative financial implications. A democracy lays the power to make decisions in the hands of the majority. This, ironically, places an emphasis on both individual and group power. A group controls the decision-making process, but an influential individual can control the group. The issue with democracy, in spite of the power of the people to control the decision-making process, is that there is no sense of accountability when the group makes a decision that turns out to be a bad one. Even particularly influential individuals in the group who may have persuaded the majority to vote for what led to the bad decision is free from blame because, ultimately, everyone in the group is responsible for his or her choice. In this way democracy, although a group-oriented approach, can become very much about what individuals believe is best for themselves and not for the majority. This type of decision-making also can be very expensive and have negative financial implications. First, a considerable amount of money can be spent in persuading voters to support an idea or cause. Second, voters may embrace an idea or cause, such as lowering taxes, because it sounds ideal when, in practice, it could lead to financial disaster. Disadvantages of Democracy Making the wrong choice In a democratic country, it is the common man who has the supreme right to choose their legislature and their prevailing authorities. As per a general study, not all the people are completely conscious of the political circumstances in their nation. The common masses may not be acquainted of the political matters in their society. This may lead to common man taking an erroneous selection during election. Authorities May Lose focus As the government is bound to changes and modification after each election tenure, the authorities may function with a interim objective. Since they have to go through an election procedure after the conclusion of each tenure, they may lose focus on functioning effectively for the citizens and  instead might concentrate on winning elections. Hordes Have Influence A further disadvantage of democracy is that hordes can manipulate citizens. People may vote in support of a party under the pressure of the bulk. Constrained or influenced by the ideas of those around, an individual may not put across his/her accurate judgment. Democracy averts radicalism and encourages teamwork and synchronization. It also slows things down, stops those in authority doing what they wish regardless of the majority’s desires. Since the military incursion into the Nigerian political scene on January 15, 1966, all the woes of this country are placed on the military. Most Nigerians do not want to hear the word â€Å"military†. They see the military as synonymous with evil. But does the military symbolize evil? Colonel Muamma Gaddafi is a military officer who seized power from the Libyan Monarch in 1969. Colonel Muamma Gaddafi as a military leader, was able to transform Libya to the envy of the world so much that other nationals including Nigerians are queuing at the Libyan embassy for her visa. Under a military leadership in Libya, Nigerians are rushing to the country on a daily basis because the country has a lower inflation of 1% than that of Nigeria which is 20% and a per capita of $8,400 while Nigeria’s per capital is $50. If military regime is synonymous with evil, why are Nigerians running from a country that is under civil rule to a country which is under a military leader? Ghana, our neighbouring West African country was also transformed from a corrupt and poverty stricken nation it was, to a transparent and an accountable nation by a military officer, Flight lieutenant, John Jerry Rawlings. At the moment, Nigerians are running to live in Ghana because the country has improved tremendously in terms of economy and infrastructural development. Ghana has also attained democratic growth and stability having transited from one democratically elected government to another two times. However, let us now compare and contrast the difference between military and civil rules in Nigeria. Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. Out of the 50 years of Nigeria’s existence as an independent  nation, the military has ruled the country for 29 years. Within the 29 years the military ruled the country, 3 years were used to prosecute the Nigerian civil war, between 1967 to 1970, this means the military actually spent 26 years to rule the country. Out of the 50 years of the nation’s existence, civilians have ruled for 21 years. So, the difference between the years the military have ruled the country and those of civilians nine years. The questions one is asking are, if the military has destroyed the country within the space of 29 years as claimed by the civil leaders, can’t the civil leaders repair it within a space of 21 years? How long does it take to repair what is damaged? What has the civilian leaders be able to remedy since they have been ruling the country? Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, we are still hearing the same old song by politicians, â€Å"You know the military have destroyed the country and you know that it is not easy to repair what has been destroyed†. I find this excuse unacceptable to the Nigerian people because something that was destroyed can be repaired. For instance, Germany, France, Austria etc were devastated during the first and second World War but today they have rebuilt to enviable status. Of all the things the military destroyed, which of them has the civilian leaders been able to put right? Some politicians who are out to deceive the poor masses will say that â€Å"the worst civilian regime is better than military regime.† But is it always true that the worst civilian regime is better than military regime? Politicians are also quick to say that â€Å"at least we can talk now that we are in a civilian regime and that we could not talk during the military administrations.† I found this argument very amusing because our mouths were not muzzled by the military during their administrations. I make bold to say that we spoke more during the military administrations than we do today because then we all saw the military as our common enemy and were united to fight against them. There were so many civil society organizations such as National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which was headed by late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Campaign for Democracy headed by late Dr. Beko Ransom Kuti, Civil Liberties Organization headed by former President of Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA ), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Afenifere, the Yoruba socio- cultural group headed by late Pa Abraham Adesanya, Association of Senior Staff Union of Uni versities, headed by the INEC Chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN ), headed by Chief Frank Ovie Kokori etc. These civil society groups spoke openly against the ills of the military and sent them back to the barracks. At that time too, journalists engaged in revolutionary journalism which made the press very vibrant and added impetus to the voice of the masses. During the military era, television and radio stations were mostly owned by both states and the federal governments. DAAR communications, owner of African Independent Television and Ray power Radio station and Minaj television and FM radio station which started in 1994 were the only privately owned broadcast organizations in the country, the rest belonged to both the states and federal governments. Would the governments have allowed the masses to use their media to criticize them? There is no government that allows such a thing in any part of the world. Let us assume that we did not talk during military administrations, what have we achieved since 1999 that we have been talking? Have those who claimed to be representing us both in th e State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly ever taken our advise? We said the National Assembly should pass the Freedom of Information Bill into law, have they done it since it was introduced into the house? We said the Justice Mohammed Uwais recommendations on Electoral Reform be adopted by the National Assembly, have they adopted them? The Federal Government has earmarked #6.6 billion towards the celebration of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary, which the masses condemned in totality, yet the Federal Government is bent on wasting such amount of money on the celebration of failure. Will the States and Federal Governments ever listen to the masses? We said the huge allowances our so call representatives are receiving should be reduced, did they agree to reduce their allowances? A senator receives #45 million allowance quarterly, while each member of the House of Representatives receives #27.2 million allowance quarterly. Each senator receives #500 million constituency development allowance yearly which is not accounted for. Their salaries and other benefits are not included these allowances. Is there justification for such huge allowances considering the fact that they sit for 180 days in a year? Can we say with a sense of pride that the lives of Nigerians have improved positively since we returned to democracy in 1999? Let me make it clear that democracy is not just about having freedom to talk, it goes beyond mere talking. Democracy is about quality leadership that translates  into accelerated development and growth in all areas of human aspirations. Democracy goes beyond just having civilians in government. Any administration, be it military or civil government that cannot better or improve the lives of the people is a monumental failure. The main purpose of governance is to coordinate and harness the wealth of the people for an effective development that will enhance the standard of living of the people. Have we seen such achievements and development since 1999? Let us compare and contrast civil administrations since 1999 till date and military administrations from 1985 till 1999 when the military handed over the reins of power to civilians. We shall start this comparison with the economy. Before the civilians took over government in 1999, a 50 kg bag of rice was sold for N2,500, today it is selling for N8,000. A small bag of beans that was sold for N1,800, now sells for as much as N7,000. Is this not outrageous. Before the commencement of the Obasanjo’s regime in 1999, Nigerians were able to eat twice daily. Morning and night, which was popularly called one –zero-one. At present, most Nigerians eat once daily, which is popularly called zero – one- zero. Is this not regression? If the agricultural sector is well funded and productive, why are prices of foodstuffs on the increase? The unemployment rate has gone up drastically because many industries are closing down while some are relocating to our neighbouring countries due to lack of regular supply of electricity. The Obasanjo’s regime in 1999, inherited 3,500 megawatts of electricity from the military, today it has reduced to a mere 2,500 megawatts for a population of 150 million people. The problems of industries and other organizations that consume large quantity of electricity are compounded as a result of the high cost of petroleum products such as petrol and diesel. These products are used to power generators which provide alternative power for industries. As at the time Nigeria return to democracy in 1999, the prices of petroleum product were cheap. But before ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, who also doubled as petroleum minister, left office in 2007, he had increased the prices of these products eleven times. A litre of kerosene that cost N9.00 in 1999, now sells for N125.00. Petrol that cost N11.00 at that time, now goes for N65.00 while diesel that cost N10.00 then now sells for N120 per litre.

Mexican Educational System Essay

The Mexican Constitution, established in 1917, outlined the necessity for public education, creating a definitive forum for addressing the educational needs of the country at the beginning of the century (Althaus 1). Though the Constitution addressed the issue of education, it did not provide a directive for promoting educational systems, and Mexico has had to address the difficult problem of providing an educational system for hundreds of different indigenous languages and cultures (Improving 1). Though the Mexican governments of the last two decades have attempted to address educational reform, there are a number of difficulties that have presented themselves, including a growing school-aged population and the issues of language and culture, which have prevented any major widespread changes to take hold. As for the United States, the American education is hard to single out. The United States does not have a national school system; so a single school draws resources from several di fferent public and private institutions (USIA 1). Mexico’s current educational system is one of free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 14 (Saleem). In order to provide for the requirements of this educational system, the Mexican government has had to focus on social infrastructures in rural as well as urban communities in order to support the national programs. Mexico has been definitively more successful in implementing educational reforms in urban settings, especially in constantly increasing low-income urban areas. But over the past two decades, the focus has been on bringing primary schools to even the most isolated villages. Nearly ninety percent of the students in America attend public elementary and secondary schools. All states require young adults to attend school. Although the age limit may vary, most states require attendance until the age of 16, and some states until the age of 18. Every child in America will receive a minimum of eleven years of education regardless of their sex, race , religion, learning problems, physical handicaps, ability to speak English, citizenship, or status of immigrant (USIA 1-2). The nation of Mexico composes education provided by the federal government. The government spends approximately 25.3 percent of its budget on education. Education is divided into four different levels; the first two sections are mandatory which includes primary school that holds grades one to six, and secondary school that are grades seven to nine (Educational 1). School attendance through sixth grade was obligatory until 1993, now children are required by law to complete the entire nine years of education. In larger cities students must past an entrance exam before advancing to the next grade (Althaus 2). Then a student can go to either college prep school for three more years or to a vocational school which he or she can learn a skill or trade. Then finally comes the university level, this section is qualified for students that have graduated from either a preparatory or vocational school. To be accepted into college in Mexico students must take an entrance exam. State colleges and universities charge Mexican citizens an ostensible tuition, although some charge more. Private colleges are not superior to the public schools but are more expensive (Educational 1). In the past two decades Mexico’s educational system has made major strides to improve their average of schooling years. â€Å"In 1970, a child received an average of four years of schooling. By 1990, the average was six to seven years† (Althaus 1). â€Å"‘In 1960, 5 million schoolchildren enrolled in Mexico’s public school system’, says educator Guevara. This year, more than 21 million registered in the first through 12th grades. More than 14.5 million children go to primary school, and another .5 million attend junior high† (Althaus 2). In 1989 President George Bush and the governors of all 50 states gave the movement to reform American education a new impetus when they set six goals to be achieved by the year 2000: That all children will start school ready to learn; that 90 percent of all high school students will graduate; that all students will achieve competence in core subjects at certain key points in their progress; that American students will be first in the world in math and science achievement; that every American adult will be literate and have the skills to function as a citizen and a worker; That all schools will be free of drugs and violence and offer a disciplined environment that is  conducive to learning. (USIA 3) The normality’s of education as well as the planning, programming, and selecting  the content were the responsibility of the Mexican government. The intention and educational decisions made by this central organ were standardized for all the children and were to be equally applied throughout the entire nation. For many years Mexican education was prearranged, synchronized, directed, and supervised by a central educational agency located in Mexico City (Erdmann 136). The management and control of the public as well as private educational sectors did not allow for any individual accommodations; therefore, children who differed from the majority in any way were not offered opportunities in general education settings. Teaching principles and materials were used regardless of the location, population, ethnic and cultural values, and regional particularities. Private schools were allowed to teach another language, only after the principles and mandates imposed by the board of education (Erdmann 136). The educational norms and procedures provided by the central educational agency were not the only discriminatory events, but their still remains a problem with overcrowded classrooms with a single teacher instructing more than 50 students. In the last few years, the Mexican Ministry of Public Education has openly recognized the following four educational problems as priorities: The greater demand for education in relation to nationwide availability; the uneven quality of education among different regions in the country; the number of children who fail to learn appropriately and who, as a result, are retained in the same grade at then end of each school year; the number of children who drop out of school before finishing their elementary-school education. (Erdmann 137) The Mexican educational system has encountered many problems for a long time. These unresolved issues prevail in spite of the enactment of the general  education law and present a challenge to the successful implementation of the new law. Currently the educational decentralization law gave way for Mexican states to have the power to control their on educational plans, programs, and select their on contents according to their students needs. In addition, American schools have encountered problems. â€Å"The schools must cope with an influx of immigrant children, many of whom speak little or no English. The schools must make sure that students develop basic skills for the job market, and they must consider the needs of nontraditional students, such as teen-age mothers† (USIA 4). In conclusion, Education is a dynamic field in both the United States and in Mexico (Erdmann 135). The United States has mandated inclusive education since 1975, and 18 years later Mexico took the same position with the new education law of 1993. â€Å"For Mexico, a country that has gone through three profound economic crises in the last twenty years and has experiences a substantial increase in its population, the challenge to provide appropriate education for all of its children has become and enormous task† (Erdmann 144). Works Cited Althaus, Dudley. 1995. Twilight’s Children. Houston Chroncicle: 1-3. The Educational System. http://www.isep.org/handbooks/mexico/mexico.htm.: 1-2. Improving Rural Primary Education: the Mexican Experience. http://www.idrc.ca/nayudamma/CEEmx_84e.htm: 1-2. Reich-Erdmann, Georgina. 1998. Educational Opportunities For Children With Disabilities. Ebscohost: 135-46. Saleem. El-Hajj Malik. http://www/csudh.edu/global_options/375Students Sp96/Mexico/EducSys.htm. USIA: Portrait of the USA, ch.6. http://www.usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/ch6.htm.: 1-5.

How did Tolstoy have such a fascinating insight to every level of society?

Leo Tolstoy, -a Russian novelist, a social and moral philosopher and one of the greatest writers of all time- lived during the period of realism. Most of his works present the reader to Russian life in the early 19th century and some of them deal with Russia's past history or social system. How did Tolstoy have such a fascinating insight to every level of society? How did history or the people around him influence his writing? In what ways did he, himself influence people through his writing? Why do people, today read his works all over the world? Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828, at Yasnaya Polyana, his parents' estate close to Moscow. His mother died when he was two years old. His father was a landowning nobleman, and he died when his son turned nine. Orphaned at an early age, Tolstoy was raised by his aunt, a deeply religious woman. The young Tolstoy received his first education from German and French tutors who taught him at home. Having a good education seemed really important in his eyes, so he attended a university where he studied law and languages. After having lost interest and disagreeing with some of the teachers, he left without a degree and went back to his family's old estate to continue the family tradition. (McGraw-Hill, p. 481) There he set out to reform the imperfect Russian society. During his college years Tolstoy came across some famous works of Jean Jacques Rousseau. The words of the French political thinker, who lived during the years of Enlightment, made a huge impact on the young Tolstoy. Rousseau had great trust in the common people, those who were mostly looked down by higher society. He argued in favor of equality and called for the abolition of all titles of rank and nobility. Tolstoy liked these views and agreed with most of them. He, too, had had faith in the lower classes and clearly saw the faults of nobility. â€Å"Man is born free, and everywhere is in chains,† was his favorite quote from Rousseau. (World History, p. 435) But never would he have imagined what kind of a conflict he got himself into by expressing his views on society. Tolstoy saw the dissipation and extravagance of high society, and also the injustices and poverty of serfs. Serfs were the people forced to work on the land in Russia's feudal system. The feudal system in Russia meant that poor families received land, food and housing from a nobleman, and they worked and served him in return. These people were treated very badly, they lived among horrible conditions and they had no hope of ever improving their condition of life because they never received any education. Tolstoy clearly saw the injustices of this situation and he was saddened to see generations of people sentenced to working for someone else with no way out. He was determined to become a model farmer and a â€Å"father† to his serfs. (McGraw-Hill, p. 481) He traveled to France and Germany and visited several dozen elementary schools across Europe. Finally, Tolstoy set up a school for peasant children, giving them a way to escape their destiny. Because of these actions Tolstoy became in conflict with higher society, which was not happy about the increasing awareness of serfs. His family also limited his generosity; his wife was especially annoyed because of her husband's charity towards the poor. Tolstoy married his wife when he was 34 and Sofya Andreyevna Bers was 16 years younger then her husband. She was a very intelligent, strong-willed woman who gave Tolstoy great happiness and 13 children. Tolstoy continued to work with his serfs and convinced his friends and other people around him to try and better the life of the work force. To everyone's astonishment his estate thrived under the new system where serfs were paid and given education and they lived among better conditions. By making these changes in his estate's economic life and managing it successfully, he convinced many other landowners to improve, too. After the birth of his children, Tolstoy had his own family to think about. Although he never had financial problems, he had to provide a living for his quickly growing family. In the next 15 years he raised a large family and as an escape from everyday problems into the past he wrote his two greatest novels: War and Peace and Anna Karenina. War and Peace represents a high point in Tolstoy's life. It is the story of 1812 when Napoleon, a French general attacked Russia. The story contains 559 characters; important military battles and portrays of historically famous people. The main theme, however is the changing lives of four Russian aristocratic families. Its general message is love of life in all circumstances which was inspired by Tolstoy's personal happiness. The shorter novel of Anna Karenina also deals with high Russian society, but it is more of a psychological work than any of his other pieces. This novel gives the reader the idea that Tolstoy greatly disapproves of intellectuality and urban sophistication and is tormented by the mission of humans in this world (http://www. geocities. com/Athens/Acropolis/6681/tolstoyb. tm). War and Peace and Anna Karenina realistically portrays Russian society in the early 19th century and probably that is the reason why every generations of people all over the world enjoy Tolstoy's works. The next 15 years were spent with seeking the ultimate meaning of life. Tolstoy went through a serious, long-lasting spiritual crisis that gave birth to two of his lesser- known works: Confession and Critique of Dogmatic The ology. In these writings he bravely attacked social inequality and the ultimate powers of government and church. His life was more and more dominated by the desire to achieve social justice and an acceptable system of moral principles. At this time he became involved with public matters and participated in many social events. During this period Tolstoy's relationship with his family became estranged. He planned on giving away all his wealth, but his wife would not hear of it. She would not share the thought of her husband that by doing good things to others might help you achieve understanding of the meaning of life. Finally, they reached a compromise and Sofya received the copyright to all his works before 1881. McGraw-Hill, p. 483) Tolstoy's last years were filled with his worldwide celebration, but they bought him great unhappiness. During these years he lived far from the world, and led a quiet life. Rejecting the foundations of Russian society and religion he established his own religion in which he explained that God lives in all people. The Eastern Orthodox Church for his view of God excommunicated Tolstoy. At the age of 82, in 1910, increasingly tormented by his personal beliefs, religious persecution, his personal wealth and by the hopeless quarrels with his wife, he decided to leave his family. He set out on his last pilgrimage in search of justification and truth. Three days later he fell ill and died on November 20, in the home of a station manager. He was later buried at his dear Yasnaya Polyana, where he spent most of his happiest years. Tolstoy benefitted from many things he received in his childhood. When foreign teachers tutored him he learned their languages completely. Therefore he knew Russian, his native language, and he spoke French and German perfectly, too. He later applied this knowledge in his books, writing in all three languages. The concept of God and the purpose and meaning of religion troubled Tolstoy throughout his life. He had always been in search of the concept of right or wrong, but never could achieve an understanding of the matter. Tolstoy' on ideas on religion and on nonresistance to evil influenced Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Both of these men fought nonviolently for rights and the well being of their people: Gandhi in India against the British and Luther King for equality for blacks. Other famous Russian authors of this period were Fyodor Dostoevsky and Ivan Turgenev. McGraw-Hill, p. 484) Tolstoy's life seems a little bit of struggle at some points, but he really gave a lot to this world. He made a huge difference by getting rid of his convictions and doing what he thought was best for society. He even had the courage to express his views that were not welcomed by most of the people around him. Tolstoy is known for his books, however, that bought him worldwide acclaim in his living, but he is still celebrated today as one of the world's greatest author of all times.