Vietnam, World War I, Opium Wars, Persian Wars, and the Cuban Missile Essay

Vietnam, World War I, Opium Wars, Persian Wars, and the Cuban Missile Crisis - Essay Example Throughout history, the importance of war became a major component of a state's foreign policy as demonstrated by myriad of instances showing armed conflict. In the field of international relation particularly on the concept of conflict versus cooperation, war represents a vital option in one extreme of the dimension. With certain peculiarities of different events involving war, resort to force by a state almost always forms part of the foreign policy a country. When diplomacy, negotiation and other peaceful means of settling dispute fails, war can serve as a remedy to determine the final outcome of conflicting sides in an issue. The discussion in this paper will cover five incidents of interstates wars, namely, (1) the Vietnam War, (2) the Opium War, (3) World War I, (4) the Persian Wars, and (5) the Peloponnesian War. The causes mentioned herein may not be the only reasons for the outbreak of the war or the commencement of the conflict situation discussed but is compelling enough to be considered in the extensive study of the subject matter. Analyzing the above mentioned wars, it can be seen that they share certain similar cause although in a different form or peculiar way. Although, the warring states or the participants involved were diverse, still, there were some that appears common among the wars to be discussed. What is therefore the implication of having different participants for every event of war This means varying interest involved for the reason that the acts of a state is presumed to be in accordance with its interest within the context of its national and international policy. For a better understanding of the causes of the war in those five events and ultimately to support the response to the question of why states go to war, it is imperative to start with a general framework. This general framework will serve as the thesis to the proposition of state engaging in war in the cases herein discussed as well as to the proposition of the difficulty in withdrawing from the war once they resort to violence. From this framework, other supporting analysis will be discussed and expounded in the subsequent pages of this paper. From the ancient war days involving the Peloponnesian war and the Persian wars, down to the economic nature of the Opium war, leading to the large scale conflict in World War I, and finally to the ideologically driven Vietnam War, one thesis stands out why they resorted still to violence to further advance whatever interest they may declare - the Desire for POWER. In the words of realist advocates in international politics, this is appropriately stated as interest defined in the concept of power. Power is defined as the actual or potential influence or coercion a state (or other actors)an assert relative to other actors or non-state actors because of the political, geographic, economic and financial, technological, military, social, cultural or other capabilities it possesses.2 The definition of power involves a variety of interest and generally embodies every aspect of a state's policy from which its capabilities is premised. It is not therefore surprising that the behavior of a state is immensely affected by its desire to increase power or when the power it has is being threatened of reduction. This framework does not confine its operation to states but can also be used in analyzing the behavior of

Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care Practice and Policy Essay

Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care Practice and Policy - Essay Example question of abortion, perhaps one of the most controversial topics in the field, has always been a subject of discussion, given its complex legal and ethical implications, pitting health care professionals against each other and against members of the public. Whereas it may be legal for health care practitioners to perform an abortion today, other health care professionals and members of the public still consider it unethical to do so, thereby creating an ethical dilemma in the field (Wallace, Wiegand & Warren 1997, p.586). Apart from that, other ethical dilemmas emerge at the end of life point, when health care professionals have to make the critical decision of switching off the life-support machines to permit death to occur. As if that is not enough, the issues of confidentiality, patient/practitioner relationship as well as matters to do with consent as in the treatment of underage patients often present numerous ethical dilemmas to health care professionals (Greenwood, 2014). Th is paper explores the ethical and legal issues that are relevant to health care practice and policy while incorporating critical application of selected theoretical perspectives applicable to ethics in health. Relevant ethical arguments and legal perspectives will be applied to a specific practice situation in reference to the adult learning theory of Knowles (1990). Eventually, this paper will explore the issue related to ethical and legal issues in health care incorporating professional body guidance (NMC code) and legal acts, as well as the views of theorists and philosophers. The term â€Å"ethics† has been conceptualized as â€Å"social values†, â€Å"morals† or â€Å"principles† that enable people in distinguishing between the acceptable and unacceptable social behaviour (Corning 2002, p.6); ethical values form the basis for social interaction because they are deeply entrenched in people. Health care professionals need to know ethical standards or principles and the professional

New Technologies for Gas Turbine Blades

New Technologies for Gas Turbine Blades After second world war, gas turbine became an important technology for its application in aerospace and industrial sectors. At the origin materials used for engine construction are greater incisively. When compared to materials used in compressor and gas turbine- blades. But could not endure more than few hours at then relatively modest temperatures and low power settings; then again reliability and thermodynamics efficiency were comparatively low,so it bringing out some accidents stimulating damage to parts and harms to the people In this report, new technologies for increasing the functioning, reliability and emission in gas turbine blades referable improvements materials, are discussed and executed. Introduction: The gas turbine engine is a machine bearing mechanical energy using gaseous fluent. Its an internal combustion engine as though the reciprocating petrol and disel engines with the major deviation that the working fluent through the gas turbine ceaselessly and not intermittent.the uninterrupted flow of the working fluid needs the compression, heat intake, and expansion to take place in distinguish parts. Since that cause a gas turbine consists of various parts work unitedly and contemporized ready to accomplish production of mechanical energy in caution of industrial purpose, or force, when those machines are used for aerospace purposes.[4],[5] C:UsersSenthilDesktopCapture.PNG Components location of typical gas turbine Throughout gas turbine procedure, air is carried from the atmosphere and is absorbed by the first row of compressor blades. From time to time the working liquid receives mechanical energy from the compressor getting that pressure and temperature increase rapidly. In this special moment ,air accepts proper condition to be send combustion chamber; parts responsible for mixing the incoming air with fuel, producing combustion and high temperature -flue-gases with temperature adequate to 1400 °-1500 °C.the accomplishment of that high window temperature intends that material and design of those components requires special branch; ascribable the area settled between combustion chamber exit and the turbine s intake is considered as the most reasonable and ambitious desire for gas turbine technology.[4],[5] Temperature and pressure profile in gas turbine While flue gases have down from the combustion chamber , they driven to the turbine rows; parts responsible for distilling power from gases in form of mechanical-rotational energy, which drive the compressor and developing extra energy to drive system or generating force. Afterwards, flue gases are freed to the atmosphere through the existing nozzle and its having a temperature about 550 °C.[5] Operating conditions for turbine blades: In gas turbine manufacture, the blade of the high pressure turbine has recede the highest care of the research workers since the challenge it provides. The power to run at growingly high gas temperatures has resulted from a combining of material improvements and the growth of more advanced arrangements for inner and outer cooling system; for example at present high pressure turbine blades experience compressed air bled from the compressor and its came in to the turbine blades although little holes drilled on them, with the aim to establish a covering layer on the border of the blades and assured that hot flue gases fired directly.[4] High pressure turbine blades with internal cooling Material used in gas turbine blades: Advanced gas turbine have the most modern and convoluted technology in all faces; construction materials are not the exclusion referable their extreme operating conditions. Because it has been noted before, the most hard and challenging point is the one settled at the turbine inlet, because, there are various difficulties related to it; like utmost temperature (1400 °C-1500 °C),high pressure, high rotational speed, vibration, small circulation area, and so forth. The aforesaid hasten features produces effects on the blades that are demonstrated on the table.[2] Table shows asperity of the several surface-related problems for gas turbine application Ready to overcome those barriers, gas turbine blades are made using advanced materials and modern alloys (super alloys) that contains adequate to ten significant alloying elements, only its microstructure is very simple; comprised of rectangular blocks of stone piled in a regular align with narrow circles of cement to hold them together. the material (cement) has been changed since in the past,intermetallic form of titanium employed in it, but now days titanium was replaced by tantalum.[3] This change gave afforded high temperature strength, also improved high resistance. Still, the greatest change has happened in the nickel, where high degree of tungsten and rhenium are present. These elements are very efficient in solution strengthening.[3] After 1950 s the evolution from moulded to conventionally cast to directionally solidified to single crystal turbine blades has conceded a 250 °C rise in allowable metal temperatures. On other side cooling developments have repeated this value in terms of turbine entry gas temperature. An important recent part has come from the alignment of the alloy grain in the single crystal blade, which has appropriated the elastic properties of the material to be controlled very closely. so these properties successively control the natural frequency of the blade[2] If metallurgical development can be tapped by reducing the cooling air quantity this is a potentially important performance foil, as for example the Rolls-Royce engine employs about 5% of compressor air to cool its row of high pressure turbine blades. On other side single crystal alloy, is able to campaign about 35 °Chotter than its precursor. Its seem a small increase, but it has permitted the course intermediate pressure turbine blade to stay uncooled[2] : Capture1.PNG CES GRAPH FOR MATERIAL SELECTION DENSITY VS PRICE Capture mcpvs thermal.PNG FATIGUE STRENGTH VS THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY Capture2.PNG Continuing Development: In the past several decades, thermally deposited ceramic coatings on metallic turbine blades have look turbine engine to operate at higher temperature,and agreeing to the law of thermodynamics, higher efficiencies.[6] Ceramic thermal barrier coating have got improved performance in turbines engines for propulsion and also for power generation. Enforcing a coating of refractory insulation ceramic to metal turbine blades and vanes allows the engine to run at higher temperature as belittling hurtful effects on the metal blades.[1] On going, an advance in high-tech materials is allowing even more opportunities in these areas. By mixing these new materials with a adept understanding of coating engineering precepts and application technologies, coating industries will be able to extend an additional performance improvements in the future. To amend coating performance, various engineering concepts must be believed concerning the quality of the ceramic coating. First, the coating material should be selected so that it is refractory enough to protest the higher temperature at the surface and have a low bulge thermal conductivity to derogate heat transfer to the metallic blade below. in adequate ,the thermal expansion of selected material should nearly match that of the metallic substratum to understate potential stresses.Yttria stabilized Zirconia(YSZ) is the manufacture standard first generation coating material are applying nowadays[1]. However, in second generation coating must have grain and pore structure that will minimize thermal-conduction to the metal-ceramic interaction. A low-density coating is normally made using state-of the-art deposition processes and is splendid of allowing an insulating barrier. The coating should have plenty porosity, hence it cuts the thermal conductivity at the same time it adhering to the metal turbine bond-coat layer. Substantial amount of micro structural engineering in thermal barrier coating is ongoing, example of this reality, is the accessibility of double and triple-layered microstructures for special application.[1],[2],[3] At last, the coating should bind to the turbine blade during operation. Failure of the adhesion(spalling) would suddenly disclose the metallic blade to high temperature, doing austere corrosion , settled creep or melting. In general, a metallic bond coat that shows good adhesion to both the metallic turbine and the ceramic coating is enforced. [4] Creation of thermal barrier coatings: It is also significant that the ceramic coating be homogenously used to the surface of the turbine blade. This is accomplished by either ELECTRON BEAM PHYSICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION (EB-PVD) or ARC PLASAMA SPRAYABLE (APS) powder method. [1] EB-PVD is the process presently advocated for high quality coating. In this proficiency a cylindrical metal bar of the coating, material is vapour with an electron beam, and the vapour uniformly condenses on the surface on the turbine blade. One of the significant advantages of the EB-PVD process is the strain-tolerant coating that is developed. This columnar strain-elastic structure is said to cut down the elastic modulus in the flat of coating to values nearing to zero, thereby raising the lifespan in term of flight hours or cycles of the coating. Early advantages of the EB-PVD ceramic coatings admit fantabulous adherence to both polish and crude surfaces. The final coating is also smooth, requiring no surface finishing. Additionally, the vapour deposition sue could not plug air-cooling holes in turbine blades during deposition. [1], [2], [3] Fig 4 Schematic EBPVD process, the entire fabrication would be under vacuum. Rotation of the electron beam is received by magnetic field vertical to the drawing Fig 5 Schematic microstructure of a thermal barrier coating (TBC)obtained by electron beam physical vapour deposition(EBPVD).the columnar microstructure substantially raises the strain resistance and hence this thermal cycling life. In the APS powder application method, the ceramic material is in the form of a flow powder that is fed in to plasma torch and dispersed molten on to the surface of the metallic substrate. Drops of molten material form†³ splats†³ on the metallic substrate. Sprayed coatings have half the thermal conductivity of the EB-PVD coatings and are hence isolators that are more beneficial. [1],[2],[3] Fig 6 Schematic microstructure of thermal spray coating, it shows only a elite layer of particles The †³splats†³ form a thin plate (lamella) structure of thermal coating of fissures with a non-uniform density and pore size. Fig 7. Schematic microstructure of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) received by air plasma spray (APS). In contrast to EB-PVD coatings, APS coatings need a rough deposition surface for adept adhesion. In addition, thermal sprayed coatings are more prostrate to spalling, cutting the operation lifespan of the coating relative to EB-PVD coatings. Thermal -sprayed parts are also not as reclaimable as part coated by EB-PVD since the wide spalling and extrinsic cracking do the APS coated components to be damaged beyond repair. Still the equipment, movability and lower production cost of APS frequently makes the process more commercially attractive than EB-PVD.[1],[2],[3] Importance of the coating source: In the thermal barrier coating job, is significant to believe the material source (block of metal) associates to the quality of the final coating. For example metal bar for EB-PVD must have a high purity (over 99.5%) and a coherent and uniform density and pore structure. If the ingots are too dumb, they will undergo serious thermal shock when they find electron beam. [4] In a ingot of in homogenous density of porosity, closed porosity may exist. In this case, the release of cornered gas may also do spitting of eruptions. Molten patters, when trapped in the coating, will cause defects and potential failure sites. The optimum density for an EB-PVD barrier coating ingot is usually in the range of 60-70% of theoretical density. If the density is lower than the previously mentioned values, the efficiency of the process is reduced. [4] Arc -plasma spray able powder must have a particle size large sufficiency to flow through the plasma torch but not so prominent that the entire particle is not melted coming out of the plasma gun. Inadequate to the composition, the particle size dispersion and flow ability are major considerations for APS thermal spray powder. [4] While YSZ has been the industry standard first generation coating material, it has a number of retreats that block the improvement of thermal barrier coatings. One trouble is its lack of phase stability at high temperatures. Three commonly formed phases gets out in the zirconia-rich section of the zirconia-yttria binary system: cubic, tetragonal and monolithic. Under operation or making conditions, phase transformations can occur that cause mechanical stress and promote sapling or bond coat failure. In addition, although YSZ has a low thermal conductivity (2.4 W/m K), a refractory ceramic material with a lower thermal conductivity than the YSZ would be suitable. If the coating liberally forms and compactness as in service, the thermal conductivity will slightly increase by thermal shock sensitivity. Hence, materials at least as refractory as YSZ are wanted. It can also be difficult to cope with the thermal expansion of YSZ-comprising coatings to the bond coat layer and the metal subs trate. A great allot of research is currently under way of determine improved materials for thermal barrier coatings. Ready to answer to that requirement, a class of lanthanide zircon ate pyrochlorides(Lnà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Zrà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Oà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬ ¡) [1],[4] These materials have lower thermal conductivity than YSZ (1.5-1.8 W/m k), as well as improved phase stability above a broad range of compositions and temperatures. In action they are less liable than YSZ to sintering during operation, hence showing a thermal expansion agree to the bond-coat layer as adept as of better than YSZ. the decreased thermal conductivity of the coating made with these material could admit the turbine to carry at higher temperature and therefore the efficiency should be increased .it could also permit the turbine blade to stay cooler, checking those thermal processes that conduct to coating failure and increasing utile lifespan of the turbine. Fig 8. Micrographs of Laà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Zrà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Oà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ and YSZ coating 7. Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs): Advance increasing in temperature are likely to attain the development of ceramic matrix composites. A number of merely shaped static parts for military and civil applications are in the engine development phase and guide vanes for axial compressors had been produced to demonstrate process potentiality, such proficiencies involve advanced textile handling and chemical vapour infiltration that provide the quality challenge. It will finally appear because the advantages are so high, but it would take much longer to contribute it to an acceptable standard than was anticipated a couple of decades back. [1], [4] Ceramic matrix composites are at cutting edge of advanced material technology since their lightweight, high strength and toughness, high temperature potentialities, and elegant failure under loading. Research work has focused for many years on fibre-reinforced ceramics for this application, as contradicted to monolithic materials, which own enough strength at high temperature but the disable of poor impact resistance. Now commercially available ceramic composites utilize silicon carbide fibres in a ceramic matrix such as silicon carbide or alumina. These materials are able of uncooled operation at temperature up to 1200 °C, hardly outside the capacity of the current best-coated nickel alloy systems. un cooled turbine applications will attain an all oxide ceramic material system, to assure the long-run stableness at the very high temperature in oxidizing atmosphere. An early example of such a system is alumina matrix. To earn the ultimate load carrying capacities at high temperatures, single crystal oxide fibres may be used, giving the opening to operate under temperature of 1400 °C. Higher operating temperatures for gas turbine engines are ceaselessly attempted in order to increase their efficiency. Still operating temperatures increase, the high temperature durability of the components of the engine must correspondingly increase. Substantial advances in high temperatures capacities have been accomplished through preparation of iron, nickel and cobalt-base super alloys. When super alloys have detected broad use for components across gas turbines, options materials have been aimed. Materials holding silicon, particularly those with silicon carbide (SIC) as a matrix material and/or as a reinforcing material are currently being dealt for high temperature applications, such as combustor and some hot section components of gas turbine engines; like combustion chamber, transition duct (which take the combustion products and directs them for the turbine section), the nozzle guide vanes the surrounding cover section and others. CONCLUSION: Gas turbines establish a broad and beneficial choice for power generation used for both, industrial and aerospace applications. This technology calling for better and more reliable materials to use mostly in those section in which temperatures are highly like first row of turbines and combustion chamber. Blades materials for turbine section in gas turbine have encouraged rapidly in last few years. At present, those blades are constructed using special alloys and are protected by some special coats. Those changes are meant to increase the allowed temperature up to 1500 °C without cooling. In this way, overall efficiency increases. Ceramic coating is employed to the surface of the turbine blade using several methods. The most significant ones are ELECTRON BEAM PHYSICAL VAPOUR DEPOSTION (EB-PVD) and ARC PLASMA SPARYABLE (APS) powder method. Like wise the technology aspired to produce better coats, material science is presently working extensile in CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES, organized basically by silicon carbide fibres and special fabrics in order to increase the temperature gap in emplacements specially sensible for gas turbine operation. [1], [2], [3]

Cryptography :: essays research papers

Cryptography is one way you can keep information secure. A person who does not know the method used to change the information to keep it secure cannot copy the method used or reverse the change. The basic components of cryptographic systems are used to encipher (scramble) information so that it is difficult to determine the meaning without the appropriate key or key(s) to decipher (unscramble) the information. The components include cryptographic algorithms (mathematical functions) for enciphering or deciphering information and keys. Symmetric and asymmetric are two examples of cryptographic systems. Symmetric systems use the same key to encipher and decipher. Asymmetric systems generate and use different keys to encipher and decipher a secure key pair. With this key pair, consisting of a public key and a private key, only one key can decipher what the other enciphers. Merely knowing one key does not make it very likely that someone will be able to figure out the other key. Asymmetric key pairs are used in creating digital signatures and transporting symmetric keys. In the past, most encryption systems only used symmetric cryptography. The problem with symmetric cryptography though, is the difficulty encountered in distributing keys to certain people. Since symmetric cryptography uses the same key for enciphering and deciphering, a person has to use creative and difficult means to prevent someone from intercepting the key. If a third party were to intercept the key, they could use it to decipher anything it was used to encipher. A solution to this problem is public key cryptography which uses asymmetric cryptography to transport symmetric keys.

Nike-High End Shoe Market Survey in Bangladesh.Doc

This report was collected from : [email  protected] com 01. INTRODUCTION 1. 1 Consumer Behavior The term consumer behavior is defined as the behavior that consumers display in searching for purchasing, using, evaluating & disposing of products & services that they expect will satisfy their needs. Consumer behavior focuses on how individuals make decisions to spend their available resources (time, money, effort) on consumption related items. That includes what they buy, why they buy it, when they buy it, where they buy it, how often they buy it, how often they use it, how they evaluate it after the purchase and impact of such evaluation on future purchases & disposal. Nike shoes are sold worldwide at high price. People tend to associate high price positively with good quality & maximum performance. Because of the high price, before buying Nike shoes, people undergo extensive information processing, i. e. – ask friends or search the internet to find information about the product. 1. Origin of Report The report has been prepared for Mr. Junaid Khan, faculty at School of Business in North South University as a requirement of MKT344 course. This report is compulsory for students majoring in marketing. 1. 3 Limitations We had faced many obstacles whilst carrying out the survey. Some of the limitations faced were as (a). The survey sample was 50 persons, which was a negligible amount to obtain accurate answer. (b). Peop le were not eager to disclose their true income. (c). The survey was carried out in a posh area of Dhaka city i. . – in Banani, thus leaving a huge number of respondents outside the survey. (d). Some people didn’t read the questionnaire carefully and they gave results which may not reflect their true opinion. 02. RESEARCH STRUCTURE 2. 1 Methodology In preparing this report we have used both qualitative & quantitative method. (a). Primary Data We collected primary data by carrying out a survey on 50 people. In the survey there were 16 questions, all of them close ended. We carried out the survey in three days. (b). Secondary Data We collected secondary data from the retail outlets. We collected a price list of Nike, Reebok & Adidas shoes from these outlets. 2. 2 Questionnaire Design The target sample was set up first before preparing the survey questionnaire. We choose the middle class & upper class educated people as our respondents. That’s why we distributed our questionnaires among the students, faculties & people in North South University. The survey questionnaire was divided in three major parts i. e. – demography, perception about Nike & perceptual mapping of Nike. In the demographic part we asked questions to determine the social class, age group & profession. In the perception section we developed questions in a way to identify consumer perception about Nike itself, usage of Nike & Nike users. In the last part, perceptual mapping we requested the respondents to rank (i. e. – 1, 2, 3 etc) Nike in terms of price, quality & performance compared with other leading brands. Also we asked the respondents to rank features (in order of importance i. e. – 1, 2, 3, 4 etc) that they would consider in buying Nike. 03. WHAT IS PERCEPTION? 3. 1 Perception Perception is defined as the process by which an individual select, organizes & interprets stimuli into a meaningful & coherent picture of the world. It can be described as ‘how see the world around us’. Indeed the study of perception is largely the study of what we subconsciously add to or subtract from raw sensory input to produce our own private picture of the world. Suppose two people being exposed to the same Nike product may perceive differently. One might perceive Nike shoes to be high in performance if he/she is satisfied using it, while the other person may perceive the same Nike shoe having low performance. This proves that perception varies from person to person. 3. 2 Product Positioning The essence of successful marketing is the image that a product or service has in the minds of consumers – that is, its positioning. Positioning is more important to the ultimate success of a product than are its actual characteristics. The core of effective positioning is a unique position that the product occupies in the minds of the consumer. (a). Positioning of Nike itself (1 = Very High, 2 = High, 3 = Average, 4 = Low, 5 = Poor) |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 | |Price |46% |42% |4% |2% |6% | |Brand Image |54% |42% |4% |0% |0% | |Quality |36% |42% |22% |0% |0% | |Satisfaction |26% |40% |30% |4% |0% | |Smartness |30% |42% |18% |2% |8% | (b). Positioning of Nike in terms of users (1 = Strongly Agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly Disagree) |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 | |Rich People |50% |42% |8% |0% |0% | |Athletes |44% |40% |16% |0% |0% | |Satisfied Past Users |28% |38% |24% |10% |0% | |Brand Loyal C ustomers |30% |38% |20% |4% |8% | (c). Positioning of Nike in terms of use Nike shoes are suitable for ( + 4 = Strongly agree, + 2 = Agree, 0 = Neither agree nor disagree, – 2 = Disagree, – 4 = Strongly Disagree) |+ 4 |+ 2 |0 |- 2 |- 4 | |Only Sport activities |24% |44% |8% |12% |12% | |Only Work activities |8% |12% |42% |16% |22% | |Sports & work |26% |40% |26% |4% |4% | 3. 3 Perception & Purchase Based on perception the consumers purchase intentions occurs. How consumer perceives a product in terms of price, quality & status has a strong influence on purchase intentions & purchase satisfaction. In this section we have figured out only the future purchase intention of consumer about Nike. (a). Perception & Purchase ( + 4 = Definitely, + 2 = Probably, 0 = Uncertain, – 2 = Probably will not, – 4 = Definitely Will not) |+ 4 |+ 2 |0 |- 2 |- 4 | |I will buy Nike next time I buy a shoe |10% |14% |44% |14% |18% | |I will buy a Nike shoe during next 6 months |10 % |4% |36% |18% |32% | |I will recommend others to buy Nike |12% |24% |48% |6% |10% | |I will buy Nike for sports activities |20% |28% |20% |12% |20% | 04. PERCEPTUAL MAPPING 4. 1 Perceptual Mapping The technique of perceptual mapping helps marketers determine just how their products or service appears to consumers in relation to competitive brands on one or more relevant characteristics. It enables them to see gaps in the positioning of all brands in the product or service class and to identify areas in which consumer needs are not being adequately met. 4. 2 Price vs. Quality How consumers perceive the quality of a product is important factor in determining the purchase intention. If the product is not one of high quality the consumer may not be interested in patronizing the product. Besides the quality of a product is a factor that sets the price that consumers are willing to pay. |Fila |Reebok |Puma |Nike |Adidas |Others | |Price |5 |2 |4 |1 |3 |6 | |Quality |5 |3 |4 |1 |2 |6 | [pic] Figure (price vs. quality) From the diagram it is inferred that people perceive Nike as a high priced shoe with high quality. 4. 3 Price vs. Performance How a product is perceived by consumers in terms of performance (output) is a factor that affects the brand equity of the product and influence repeat purchase intention of consumers. If the consumer is not satisfied with the performance of a product, then it is likely that purchase will not be repeated & the manufacturer will not be able to maintain brand loyal customers. | |Fila |Reebok |Puma |Nike |Adidas |Others | |Price |5 |2 |4 |1 |3 |6 | |Performance |4 |2 |5 |1 |3 |6 | [pic] Figure (price vs. performance) From the diagram it seen that Nike is perceived as a high priced shoe with high performance. 05. FINDINGS (a). Demographic Part 01. Gender Male |Female | |66% |34% | 02. Age Group |19-30 |31-45 |>45 | |80% |16% |4% | 03. Marital Status |Married |Unmarried | |8% |92% | 04. Education Level |HSC |A level |Graduate |Post Graduate |Doctoral | |38% |10% |40% |10% |2% | 05. Gross monthly family income (In Taka) |25,000-39,999 |40,000-54,999 |55,000-69,9999 |>70,000 | |30% |22% |20% |28% | 06. Profession Student |Government Service |Private Service |Business |Self Employed | |76% |0% |18% |0% |6% | 07. I live in a |Rented House |Own Apartment |Rented Apartment |Government |Own House |Hostel | | | | |House | | | |16% |26% |16% |6% |32% |4% | 08. I reside in Motijheel |Purana Paltan |Segunbagicha |Shantinagar |Malibagh | |0% |8% |2% |0% |4% | |Dhanmondi |Mohammadpur |Lalmatia |Mirpur |Gulshan | |8% |8% |0% |10% |8% | |Banani |DOHS |Baridhara |Uttara |Others | |4% |2% |2% |14% |30% | (b). General Part 09. I recognize Nike by Logo |Name |Logo & Name | |30% |6% |64% | 14. I know about Nike from (Rank in order of importance i. e. – 1,2,3 etc) |TV |Newspaper |Billboards |Magazine |Internet |Friends | |1 |6 |5 |2 |3 |4 | 15. If I buy Nike the most important fe ature to me would be (Rank in order of importance i. e. – 1,2,3 ) Self Image |Style |Color |Status | |6 |5 |4 |3 | |Price |Need Fulfillment |Original |Country of Origin | |8 |2 |1 |7 | 16. Please rank the following brands based on price, quality & performance (i. e. – 1, 2, 3 etc) |Fila |Reebok |Puma |Nike |Adidas |Others | |Price |5 |2 |4 |1 |3 |6 | |Quality |5 |3 |4 |1 |2 |6 | |Performance |4 |2 |5 |1 |3 |6 | 06. SURVEY ANALYSIS Most of our respondents said they recognize Nike by logo and name, because Nike symbols along with their name are stamped on shoes worldwide and also on various garments. The advertising emphasis of the use of Nike shoes by prominent sportsmen tends to make consumers feel that wearing Nike shoes is a form of smartness. The brand image is high because people who wear Nike shoes in general, are convinced that Nike keeps up to its standard and also after using Nike shoes, they are satisfied with the quality of the shoes and the purpose for which they bought the shoes. People think that price of Nike is high, because in comparison to other brands like Adidas, Reebok, Puma and Fila, the price is a bit on the high side. The price data collected from the outlets proved people’s perception to be true. Rich people because of their attempt to enhance their status symbol usually buy goods of reputed brands, so more rich people tend to buy Nike shoes. Athletes tend to buy Nike shoes because of the comfort and Nike has always promoted itself as being a sports oriented shoe company. In its advertisement, Nike has used mostly sportsmen like Andre Agassi and Michel Jordan to convey this message. Nike shoes ensure high performance for various sports activities and are smooth when it comes to running or playing sports and are durable, so people tend to think that Nike is suitable mostly for sports activities. Brand loyal customers are used to the comfort in using Nike brand, but when using other brands they don’t feel the same level of comfort or satisfaction that they get from Nike. As a reason they stick to using Nike shoes and for them it is a status symbol. Majority of our respondents were reluctant to buy Nike shoe, although they perceived Nike having a high brand image, maybe of the high pricing of Nike shoes. Since they do not have much disposable income, they cannot afford to buy Nike shoe (yet they wish to buy) and resort to buying cheaper brands like Fila and Puma, although they know that the quality of Nike is much better. In Bangladesh because of the cable television, people are exposed to enormous amount of foreign medium. People are exposed to Nike shoes advertisement on foreign channels, so majority said they came to know about Nike shoes first on television. Also in Bangladesh a lot of foreign magazines including sports magazines are available. From these magazines, in hich Nike ads are depicted, people came to know a great deal about Nike shoes. In the Bangladeshi newspapers, there are hardly any ads of Nike shoes, so only a tiny portion of our respondents came to know about Nike shoes from newspaper The people in Banglades h who intend to buy Nike first see whether the Nike shoe is original. Consumers want original shoes because of their status and self-esteem and it helps them fulfill their ego need. Price comes last for these customers, because most consumers can afford the price. 07. CONCLUSION Nike manufacturers have tried to create a distinct positioning of the Nike shoe in terms of quality and satisfaction in comparison to its other competitors i. e. – Adidas, Reebok etc. People in Bangladesh have found Nike to be of high quality and to be of great satisfaction to them, but due to their income limitations, most of people are uncertain as to whether they will buy a Nike shoe now or in the near future. Manufacturers have tried to create a distinct image of Nike in consumers mind, which proved to be successful according to our survey result. From the survey we found that Nike is perceived as a high priced & high brand image shoe in the consumers mind. Thus it can be said that Nike is a mega brand in Bangladesh, like it is in other parts of the world. 08. BIBLIOGRAPHY (i). www. nike. com (ii). Consumer Behavior, LEON, G. SCHIFFMAN AND LESLIE LAZAR, 8th Ed, Pearson Education, Singapore.

The Value and Nature of Music

In this essay I wish to portray the value of music firstly to me and then to people I have asked and also what different styles of music do for them and my self and I will also ask what is the nature of the music that they like and how it affects them on a day to day basis and the question I will ask them is what music means to them and what values does it hold. I will ask 10 people and use there answers to write this essay. I would like to start by saying that all people in this essay were asked prior to writing about them and that I am not using any of the people's real names for confidentiality. I value music very much as I have always played and listened to various styles of music. On my shelf at home I have different styles of music ranging from classical to R n B to rock. So I feel I have a wide taste in music. I have also played many different styles on my 3 main instruments as I play clarinet I have played classical and jazz on that. I also play bass guitar and I have played blues, rock n roll, heavy rock etc. on that and I am a drummer and I have played samba, rock, funk, jazz and many other styles of music. I enjoy playing all of these as I find it helps me to relax and control my emotions as I let my emotion out in the style of music I play, music is an age old way of expressing emotions through sound right back from the cave man days to the times of Jesus and the Tudors and Victorians right through to today's music. The most popular style changes from generation to generation but we would still call it â€Å"pop† music as that's what is popular at the time. Their for the nature of the music I choose to play is one of my emotions thus giving the listener (if any) the sense that I am happy or sad or excited for example, if I played some twelve bar blues on my bass it would probably remind you of sadness or the slave trade that would up set you but if I played some funk it would probably lift your emotions to make you happy like a major or minor chord has that effect different styles of music also have that effect. Other people I asked gave me different responses. One guy said that he only values his own style of music and that all other music has no value. This person is defiantly close minded about the type of music he likes and that all other music is I quote â€Å"crap† and that the nature of his music was the way of life. Looking at the way the guy was dressed I think he listened to hardcore rock music and that he was a bit gothic (I say a bit I actually mean a lot) I also got told by some people that they find the nature of some music unsuitable for children as x-rated lyrics stop younger children listening to it. I agree with this as music is for everyone not just the over 18's so music that includes x rated lyrics should not be aloud to be produced, and of the 10 people I have spoken two 8 agree with me. In the nature of music i would say that on a day to day basis I listen to approximately 4 – 5 hours of different styles of music. And with my choice of track my mood changes and so does the quality of the work I am doing at the time. For example I am currently listening to some drum and bass. So I am typing quite fast and my mood is bouncy, But if I was to listen to some more relaxing music such as some r n b or some blues music the speed I type would slow down and the mood I am in would drop from being quite happy to a bit down and lazy feeling so I would probably take a break from my work. I asked the same 10 people how they use music in the nature of their life. Below are some of the responses I received 1) I use music at work because it helps me through the day 2) I don't use music in my life (to which I replied not even in the shower when your humming or whistling a song the response I got is repeatable) 3) I study music as a degree so it is in my life â€Å"big time† 4) I listen to music in the morning in my car 5) Er,,,,,,, music you mean like heavy rock (this person was a bit dence) These responses were my favourite as it shows what different peoples views are on music. Overall I think that the value and nature of music affects everyone is completely different and the question I am asking is does different styles of music affect the way you behave in society?

10 Facts About the Geography of the Pacific Northwest

10 Facts About the Geography of the Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest is the region of the western United States located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. It runs north to south from British Columbia, Canada, to Oregon. Idaho, parts of Montana, northern California, and southeastern Alaska are also listed as parts of the Pacific Northwest in some accounts. Much of the Pacific Northwest consists of rural forested land; however, there are several large population centers which include Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Portland, Oregon. The region of the Pacific Northwest has a long history that was mainly occupied by various Native American groups. Most of these groups are believed to have been engaged in hunting and gathering as well as fishing. Today, there are still visible artifacts from the Pacific Northwests early inhabitants as well as thousands of descendants that still practice historic Native American culture. What to Know About the Pacific Northwest One of the first United States claims to the lands of the Pacific Northwest region came after Lewis and Clark explored the area in the early 1800s.The Pacific Northwest is highly active geologically. The region is dotted with several large active volcanoes in the Cascade Mountain Range. Such volcanoes include such Mount Shasta in northern California, Mount Hood in Oregon, Mount Saint Helens and Rainier in Washington and Mount Garibaldi in British Columbia.There are four mountain ranges dominating the Pacific Northwest. They are the Cascade Range, the Olympic Range, the Coast Range and parts of the Rocky Mountains.Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in the Pacific Northwest at 14,410 feet (4,392 m).The Columbia River, which begins in the Columbia Plateau in western Idaho and flows through the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean, has the second-largest flow of water (behind the Mississippi River) than any other river in the lower 48 states.In general, the Pacific Northwest has a wet and co ol climate which has led to the growth of extensive forests featuring some of the largest trees in the world. The regions coastal forests are considered temperate rainforests. More inland, however, the climate can be drier with more harsh winters and warmer summers. The economy of the Pacific Northwest is varied, but some of the worlds largest and most successful technology companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Expedia, and Amazon.com are located in the region.Aerospace is also an important industry in the Pacific Northwest as Boeing was founded in Seattle and currently  some of its operations  in the Seattle area. Air Canada has a large hub at the Vancouver International Airport.The Pacific Northwest is considered an educational center for both the United States and Canada as large universities such as the University of Washington, the University of Oregon and the University of British Columbia are located there.The dominant ethnic groups of the Pacific Northwest are Caucasian, Mexican and Chinese.

Free Essays on Unrecognizble Ignorance

of a Manasquan High School student during history class Friday the 18th. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't believe what I had heard. We were on the subject of how America is giving food to Afghanistan; Most of the class disagreed to these events taking place. Many made very horrifying comments on how the American government should do away with these countries. They were heartless and selfish about the good deeds America has been doing. â€Å"What about us? What about the people who lost lives in the World Trade Center?†. My reply to all this was, â€Å"We are being taking care of behind the scenes. There are many people in these countries that have nothing to do with the terrorism. The United States has gone soft on many things but this isn‘t your typical WWII, This needs to be handled with different tactics. My question to you is, do you not have any intelligence of morals? † I continued on saying that the people in Afghanistan have nothing and nothing is an understatement. How dare they be so self consumed and not tell the difference between the two? I mentioned that the poverty of the United States would be a royal castle to those in Afghanistan under the Taliban. I was flabbergasted with the uproar of these ignorant opinions. Have they not been taught the rights and wrongs? This is racial profiling. I understand the Americans want revenge. However, why go against your own country morals and standard and stoop down to a low level? This is Manasquan High School, the school that has frequently been praised and has had little criticism. Why are so many students under the same opinion? Has it not been taught enough by the parents? Or has it just not been expressed enough through the school systems of today? That Friday afternoon I went to an administrator to bring this incident... Free Essays on Unrecognizble Ignorance Free Essays on Unrecognizble Ignorance Unrecognizable Ignorance October 18,2001 â€Å"If I saw an Afghanistan kid walking down the street I would just shoot him in the face†. Were the words of a Manasquan High School student during history class Friday the 18th. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't believe what I had heard. We were on the subject of how America is giving food to Afghanistan; Most of the class disagreed to these events taking place. Many made very horrifying comments on how the American government should do away with these countries. They were heartless and selfish about the good deeds America has been doing. â€Å"What about us? What about the people who lost lives in the World Trade Center?†. My reply to all this was, â€Å"We are being taking care of behind the scenes. There are many people in these countries that have nothing to do with the terrorism. The United States has gone soft on many things but this isn‘t your typical WWII, This needs to be handled with different tactics. My question to you is, do you not have any intelligence of morals? † I continued on saying that the people in Afghanistan have nothing and nothing is an understatement. How dare they be so self consumed and not tell the difference between the two? I mentioned that the poverty of the United States would be a royal castle to those in Afghanistan under the Taliban. I was flabbergasted with the uproar of these ignorant opinions. Have they not been taught the rights and wrongs? This is racial profiling. I understand the Americans want revenge. However, why go against your own country morals and standard and stoop down to a low level? This is Manasquan High School, the school that has frequently been praised and has had little criticism. Why are so many students under the same opinion? Has it not been taught enough by the parents? Or has it just not been expressed enough through the school systems of today? That Friday afternoon I went to an administrator to bring this incident...

Billie Holiday Biography

African American jazz singer and songwriter. Her singing style, strongly inspired by Jazz musicians, lead too new way of using word choice and rhythm. A critic named John Bush once wrote that Holiday changed the art of American pop vocals forever. She only co-wrote a few songs, but a number of them have become Jazz standards that many musicians strive to live up to. Some of these standards were set by songs of hers such as God Bless he Child, Dont Explain, Fine and Mellow, and Lady Sings the Blues.She also became famous for singing Easy Living, Good Morning Heartache, and Strange Fruit, a protest song which became one of her standards and was made famous with her 1 939 recording. In Harlem she started slang In various night clubs. Holiday Hammond arranged for Holiday to make her recording debut, at age 18, In November 1933 with Benny Goodman, singing two songs: Your Mothers Son-Len-Law and Riffing; the Scotch. The latter being her first big hit.Son-in-Lawn sold 300 records, but Riffle the Scotch, sold 5,000 records. Hammond was very impressed by Holidays visualization style. He said of Holiday that, Her singing almost changed my music tastes and my musical life; because she was the first girl singer Id come across who actually sang like an improvising Jazz genius. Hammond compared Holiday positively to Armstrong and said she had a good sense of lyrics at her young age. In early 1 959 Holiday found out that she had cirrhosis of the liver.The doctor told her to stop drinking, which she did for a short time, but soon returned to heavy drinking. Some of her friends tried to get her to check into a hospital, but she did not go. On May 31, 1959, Holiday was forcibly taken to Metropolitan Hospital in New York suffering from liver and heart disease. She was arrested for having drugs with her as she lay dying, and her hospital room was invaded by the police. Police officers were stationed at the door to her room because of her drugs.Holiday remained under Alice guard at the hospital until she died from pulmonary edema and heart failure caused by cirrhosis of the liver on July 17, 1959. In the final years of her life, she had been gradually tricked out of her earnings because of her drug and alcohol addictions. She died with seventy cents in the bank and seven-hundred fifty dollar tabloid fee. Billie Holiday Biography By Congregant 1 Billie Holiday (born Eleanor Harris (1915-1959) was an African American Jazz singer her 1939 recording.In Harlem she started singing in various night clubs. Holiday took her professional pen name from Billie Dove, an actress she admired, and the musician Clarence Holiday, thus was born Billie Holiday. The producer John Hammond arranged for Holiday to make her recording debut, at age 18, in November Riffing the Scotch. The latter being her first big hit. Son-in-Law sold 300 records, but Riffing the Scotch, sold 5,000 records. Hammond was very impressed by early 1959 Holiday found out that she had cirrhosis of the liver.

PUBLIC AUTHORITY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PUBLIC AUTHORITY - Essay Example ation certain critical scenarios that have been recognised in the case, it is observed that two younger children of Shirley, Charlie and Danni used to play together in the street all day long. Both of them seemed to be quite unwashed and untidy. According to Mrs. Smith, Charlie is particularly aggressive in nature and acts violently towards other young children playing in the street. On the other hand, the speaking habit of Danni was very offensive for a girl of her age and the other girl Emily looked to be pregnant at such a tender age. These children appeared to not attend their school on a regular basis. Moreover, as Mr. Smith heard some noises and cries from the house and also did not see the mother of the children for few weeks, she decided get into the matter more precisely by inviting one of the children i.e. Danni to her daughter’s birthday party. This was not accepted by Shirley, the mother of three children replying that Danni was unwell and cannot attend the party. During the conversation Mrs. Smith asked Shirley, about her arm which was on a sling. In the mean time, Donald arrived at the door and aggressively shut the door in front of Mrs. Smith by telling that she should distance herself from the activities undergoing in the Barrett family. This attitude was not taken kindly by Mrs. Smith, as she decided to discuss the matter with her colleagues in her workplace. According to her, something was quite wrong in the Barrett family. In this regard, it was decided that the Local Authority is to be informed for revealing the facts appropriately. In response to the case mentioned above, it is the responsibility of the Local Authority to know what the real story behind the problems is. The Local Authority should discuss the matter with both the family members to resolve the problems and advise them to a lead a healthy life. As the Barnett family is staying in a rented house, it is obligatory for the landlord to look into the matter and try to resolve the

Management research methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Management research methods - Assignment Example However, from the point of view of the consumers, it is of vital concern that the personal motivations that prompt them to make better use of the internet as shopping venue be ascertained. While many, if not all, the products sold online are also available from brick and mortar stores and other conventional venues such as through the televised home shopping network, the motivations for customers to purchase online appears to be influenced by a special set of factors which pertains exclusively to the online technology. The individual must have a strong sense of confidence in trusting the system, because (1) he/she has not physically examined the product he/she is actually buying, only being able to view a product replica on his/her monitor or screen; (2) he/she is transacting with a business entity he/she only sees onscreen, and which may be located elsewhere on the globe. Without a physical store to go to, he or she may not know how to reach the vendor if his/her claim is unsatisfied ; (3) the customer has to have his/her payment transmitted before delivery of the purchased item, thus sending the cash through electronic means is a leap of faith; and (4) release of the customer’s bank account or credit card number is a risky act which may be the source of identity fraud and electronic theft. These are significant issues to which high risks are attached, and savvy consumers will be usually cautious about engaging in these acts. It is therefore the result of strong motivational forces that consumers would agree to undertaking these risks in order to shop online. The survey conducted here therefore has the specific purpose of determining what the important factors are that influence an individual’s desire to purchase items online, despite the attendant risks. Design of the survey The survey is designed to be answered by respondents who have personally transacted a purchase over the internet. The respondents may be of any age, of either gender, and of a ny walk of life. The only disqualifying attribute is if the individual has not experienced purchasing something over the internet. In this sense, internet or online shopping includes all e-commerce facilities for retail customers online, from ordering merchandise from particular retailers, to buying something from other customers in online auctions such as the e-Bay site. The population thus includes everybody who has shopped online at least once. The size of the sample is ideally one that is representative; however, since internet shopping involves an indeterminate number of people, most likely running into the hundreds of thousands or millions with multiple transactions, then it is difficult to ascertain a representative number. The survey should therefore aim for a large number, and from observing the sample sizes shown in the different academic studies, a good number would be 250 to 350 respondents. It is also important to make sure that the locations surveyed represent as equal ly as possible all the area intended to be covered by the study. The sample selection method must ensure the highest chances of getting a representative sample, while ensuring that the intended respondents are reached and their existence and qualifications verified. Inasmuch as those who are qualified to respond to this survey are those who are exposed to and confident

Account Balance and Budget Balance in United States of America, Assignment

Account Balance and Budget Balance in United States of America, Australia and Indonesia - Assignment Example From the visual representation, it can be observed that over the four years, Indonesia has had a surplus in its current account balances, this means that Indonesia is saving most of its resources than investing those resources. For the case of Australia and the USA, both countries experienced a deficit in their current account, but Australia has gradually improved its current balance. This implies that these countries are investing more than they are saving and thus, they are utilizing resources sourced from other economies in order to finance domestic consumption. Twin deficit refers to a situation a deficit in the national budget leads to an expanded deficit in the current account. Twin deficit proposition, argues that a large budget deficit has a negative impact on the national saving of the country, this, in turn, leads to souring the current account deficit. Although, some economist that this proposition is so weak in explaining this phenomenon (Hansen, 2003). A twin deficit exi sts in the case of the United States of America where the budget deficit has led to expanding the current account deficit. This implies that the United States acts as the net debtor to other global economies. Therefore, the United States is investing extra resources to other world economies than saving and in return use resources from world economies to fund the domestic consumption. Indonesia has the largest economy in the southeast of Asia, this economy  is characterized by a major development in the information technology sector thus having a comparative advantage over countries in the region. Indonesia was worst hit by the recent global financial crisis that hit the world giant economies like the United States. Thus Indonesia has put up measures so to try and shield its citizen from the financial crisis souring economic conditions in the country. The national government of Indonesia has embarked in various fiscal policy stances so to stabilize the economy. In the effort to sta bilize the economy the government has decided to increase its expenditure, in this case, the government has decided to offer a subsidy to the citizen so as shield them from the soaring commodities prices. Indonesia government will more spend in the current year in subsiding the fuel prices.

Learning The Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Learning The Portfolio - Essay Example The cost of maintaining the program, personal cost, and the startup cost are examples of expenses that a DE student may encounter during his learning program. However, the success at the university would have a substantial effect on my life. As a practicing nurse, the success in GER 401 would give out a certification of my profession. This means that, without this achievement, I may not be able to advance into my profession. This post will respond to a post that was made by one of my classmates in regards to my earlier post. In his post, Greg argued that despite the fact that distance education students face a number of challenges, startup cost may not be regarded as one of the challenges. He added that the cost of starting up a distance education learning program only depends on the parents and administrators of the program. Even though the cost of starting a distance education is lower than the expected benefits, the startup cost is still extremely high to the students and their fa milies. Aside from the tuition fee for the program, there are other factors like the cost of accessing the Internet, cost of purchasing books and other study materials which may appear to be high to many students. This is a critical concern and should, therefore, never be ignored especially if the challenge of the DE students needs to be addressed. Portfolio Task 2 After locating the given article (Resistance training and older adults’ beliefs about psychological benefits: The importance of self-efficacy and social interaction. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 29(6), 723–746), the two selected sources from the reference list include: I. Takeshima, N., Rogers, N., Rogers, M., et al. (2008). Functional fitness in older adults varies depending on the mode of exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 39, 2036–2043. II. Layne, J., Sampson, S., Mallio, C., et al. (2008). Success disseminating a strength community-based training program for old adults by professional le aders: the People Exercise Program. Journal of Am Geriatr Society, 56, 2323–2329. The first article was selected because it is an article which targets are similar to that of the given article. This means that both the first article and the given article to discuss the old adults. The second article was also selected since it discusses training just like the given article. Portfolio Task 3 The keyword used while searching for the database: exercise and the aged The database was chosen because it is an academic search premier (EBSCOhost): This database covers arts and literature and medical sciences. The two articles selected include I. McCormack, J. (2000). Looking back and moving forward? Ageing in Australia 2000. Ageing and Society, 20, 623–631. II. Brandon, L, Boyette, L, Lloyd, A, & Gaasch, D. (2004). Resistive training and long-term functions in an old adult. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 11, 10–28. Portfolio Task 4 In the article â€Å"The Crisi s of Our Ageing Population and Other Fairytales,† David Gould argues that there existed a prosperous and rich land. The people who lived in that land were growing to be old. In this case, the residents of that land drained the treasure of the country until everything was exhausted (COM, 2002). These people spent their remaining years in misery and poverty, transforming a wasteland economy to their children.

Physiology and Function Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Physiology and Function - Essay Example Ovum is a single celled female egg which carries the feminine genetic material to be passed on to the offspring. For this egg to develop into a zygote, a male seed usually carried by the sperm has to be introduced into it (Rogers, 2011). An ovum physiology is very detailed. Its development is induced at the follicle by a specialized hormone (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) while upon maturity; luteinizing hormone induces its release from the ovary into the mouth of the fallopian tube. An ovum is related to the reproductive system in that without an ovum fusion of gametes cannot take place (Heffner & Schust, 2010). Each ovum is haploid leaving the other half to come from the sperm; this would constitute a diploid molecule, the zygote which grows to become a fetus. Corpus Luteum (CL) is a yellow mass resulting from rapture of the ovarian follicle which produces the ovum. The principal physiological function of CL is inhibition of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone in case implantation occurs. Its characteristic yellow color is because of high content of carotenoids. This component is crucial to the reproductive system in that it supplies high level of progesterone which supports the zygote in the early stages of development (Rogers, 2011). Incase implantation never occurs, corpus Luteum degenerates. Scrotum only functions as a sack to hold the testes, which are the male gamete secreting centers. Scrotum is essential in the reproductive system because it offers a sack cooler than the normal body temperature, which is adept for spermatogenesis. According to Rogers (2011), fallopian tubes function as conveyor tubes connecting the ovaries and the uterus. They have correct balances of ph and fluid as well as supply of Celia to convey the ovum safely to the uterus. They are important in the reproductive system in that they act as fertilization sites before the zygote could implant in the uterus. Ovulation has been

Account Balance and Budget Balance in United States of America, Assignment

Account Balance and Budget Balance in United States of America, Australia and Indonesia - Assignment Example From the visual representation, it can be observed that over the four years, Indonesia has had a surplus in its current account balances, this means that Indonesia is saving most of its resources than investing those resources. For the case of Australia and the USA, both countries experienced a deficit in their current account, but Australia has gradually improved its current balance. This implies that these countries are investing more than they are saving and thus, they are utilizing resources sourced from other economies in order to finance domestic consumption. Twin deficit refers to a situation a deficit in the national budget leads to an expanded deficit in the current account. Twin deficit proposition, argues that a large budget deficit has a negative impact on the national saving of the country, this, in turn, leads to souring the current account deficit. Although, some economist that this proposition is so weak in explaining this phenomenon (Hansen, 2003). A twin deficit exi sts in the case of the United States of America where the budget deficit has led to expanding the current account deficit. This implies that the United States acts as the net debtor to other global economies. Therefore, the United States is investing extra resources to other world economies than saving and in return use resources from world economies to fund the domestic consumption. Indonesia has the largest economy in the southeast of Asia, this economy  is characterized by a major development in the information technology sector thus having a comparative advantage over countries in the region. Indonesia was worst hit by the recent global financial crisis that hit the world giant economies like the United States. Thus Indonesia has put up measures so to try and shield its citizen from the financial crisis souring economic conditions in the country. The national government of Indonesia has embarked in various fiscal policy stances so to stabilize the economy. In the effort to sta bilize the economy the government has decided to increase its expenditure, in this case, the government has decided to offer a subsidy to the citizen so as shield them from the soaring commodities prices. Indonesia government will more spend in the current year in subsiding the fuel prices.

Physiology and Function Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Physiology and Function - Essay Example Ovum is a single celled female egg which carries the feminine genetic material to be passed on to the offspring. For this egg to develop into a zygote, a male seed usually carried by the sperm has to be introduced into it (Rogers, 2011). An ovum physiology is very detailed. Its development is induced at the follicle by a specialized hormone (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) while upon maturity; luteinizing hormone induces its release from the ovary into the mouth of the fallopian tube. An ovum is related to the reproductive system in that without an ovum fusion of gametes cannot take place (Heffner & Schust, 2010). Each ovum is haploid leaving the other half to come from the sperm; this would constitute a diploid molecule, the zygote which grows to become a fetus. Corpus Luteum (CL) is a yellow mass resulting from rapture of the ovarian follicle which produces the ovum. The principal physiological function of CL is inhibition of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone in case implantation occurs. Its characteristic yellow color is because of high content of carotenoids. This component is crucial to the reproductive system in that it supplies high level of progesterone which supports the zygote in the early stages of development (Rogers, 2011). Incase implantation never occurs, corpus Luteum degenerates. Scrotum only functions as a sack to hold the testes, which are the male gamete secreting centers. Scrotum is essential in the reproductive system because it offers a sack cooler than the normal body temperature, which is adept for spermatogenesis. According to Rogers (2011), fallopian tubes function as conveyor tubes connecting the ovaries and the uterus. They have correct balances of ph and fluid as well as supply of Celia to convey the ovum safely to the uterus. They are important in the reproductive system in that they act as fertilization sites before the zygote could implant in the uterus. Ovulation has been

Relativism and Morality Essay Example for Free

Relativism and Morality Essay We frequently make moral judgments about the actions of others. We proclaim that things like removing a wallet from someone else’s pocketbook on a crowded train; flying airplanes into the Twin Towers; and intervening (or not) in the Syrian war are wrong. According to Gilbert Harman, such judgments about people’s actions are defective because they lack relativity to the individual’s moral framework. (Harman, 1975) In ‘Some Moral Minima’ Goodman argues that â€Å"there are certain things that are simply wrong. † (Goodman, 2010) I contend that right and wrong are subjective, based upon elements of an individual’s belief system, and dependent upon the situation. In this paper, I will discuss theory based arguments to justify my disagreement with Goodman’s contention. When considering the theories of right and wrong, it is customary to think of them as absolute. If it’s wrong, it can’t be right or if it’s right, it can’t be wrong. It is only when we stop looking at these theories as absolutes that we can begin to explore the possibilities of moral, subjective and cultural relativity. I submit that a person’s actions are only right or wrong relative to their particular moral framework. It is wrong to kill is a statement that could be made by one based on his moral and/or cultural beliefs, thereby making it a true statement. However, the image becomes blurred when that same man is responsible for administering drugs to prisoners sentenced to death. Some would conclude that such acts raze his moral framework and change the truthfulness of the statement. I submit that, to make such a judgment absent the benefit of knowing the full extent of his moral beliefs would be flawed. There is the possibility that he defines killing and carrying out a death row sentence differently. Harman asserts that it is possible that when one says â€Å"It is wrong to steal† s/he is saying something true, but that when another says â€Å"It is wrong to steal† s/he is saying something false (Harman Jarvis Thomson, 1996). This theory, known as subjective relativity, is based on individual beliefs and on interpretation. An example of subjectivity in moral truth can be found in the classic tale of Robin Hood. On the one hand, Robin Hood describes the King’s taxation of the poor as stealing and states that it is excessive and, therefore, wrong. The judgment, based on his moral beliefs, is true. Robin Hood, however, justifies his own acts of stealing as charity, e. g. stealing from the rich to give to the poor. In this scenario, for Robin Hood to say stealing is wrong, he is stating a fact that is neither truthful, nor based on his moral beliefs. On the other hand, when looking upon Robin Hood’s acts of stealing through the King’s eyes, to conclude that Robin Hood is stealing and that stealing is wrong would be a true statement made by one who believes that stealing is wrong regardless of the situation. These examples are supported by both individualistic and subjective relativism. Richard Joyce contends that â€Å"individualistic relativism sees the vital difference as lying in the persons making the utterance. † (Joyce, 2007). In the Confucian school of thought, Mencius developed his philosophical theory on the contention that man’s nature is inherently good (Chan, 1996). Chan maintains that based on Mencius’ philosophy, â€Å"all men have a mind that cannot bear human suffering. † According to Chan, Mencius expounded on this position in the following excerpt. [w]hen men suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they all have the feeling of alarm and distress, not in order to gain friendship with the childs parents, nor to seek the praise of their neighbors and friends, nor because they dislike the reputation (for being un-virtuous)†¦[t]he feeling of commiseration is the beginning of the feeling of love; the feeling of shame and dislike is the beginning of righteousness; the feeling of deference and complaisance is the beginning of wisdom. Men have these four beginnings just as they have four limbs. These four, love, righteousness, propriety and wisdom are not drilled into us from outside. We are originally provided with them. † (Chan) In light of the information presented herein, the theories of right and wrong are subject to cultural beliefs and moral individuality. It is my belief that subjectivity is most prevalent in making this determination.

The Importance of Narrative Analysis in a Fake News World

The Importance of Narrative Analysis in a Fake News World Heroes, Villains, and Strangers: The Importance of Narrative Analysis in a Fake News World In When Narrative Matters More Than Fact, Ashley Lamb-Sinclair argues that Facts [ ] mean very little to people caught up in storylines. When it comes to creating ideologies and perceptions about the world, narrative is more powerful than facts and figures. Human beings tend to believe ideas that arise out of internal narratives, and these narratives are often based on limited personal experience. In an era of fake news, there is a tendency for teachers to focus on fact-checking as a way for students to combat erroneous information. Lamb-Sinclair argues that fact-checking is not the most effective approach to addressing errors in perception. Rather than placing an emphasis on facts and figures, adults should teach young people to analyze narratives and identify unreliable narrators, as well as heroes and villains. Lamb-Sinclair argues that narratives shape beliefs, and minds are changed when narratives change. The author draws upon her own experiences and provides two examples of the way that narrative has affected her own views. In high school, a love of historical narrative affected the author so deeply that she chose to study history in college. Perhaps even more significantly, Sinclairs youth experience working with two Latino men who were a little more flirty than is probably appropriate to be toward a 17-year-old girl became the source of her own temporary prejudice against older Latino males. It wasnt until she moved to Southern California and became sisters with Latina women in a sorority that she was able to form a new image of Latino men. While in the sorority, she went on dates with several men, and had the best carne asada from the father of her Latino friend. These new experiences caused her internal narrative about Latino men to shift, and her perceptions changed along with the n arrative. The author also points out that in an era of fake news, an emphasis on fact-checking and trying to persuade people through facts is largely unsuccessful. Narrative is rooted in the human experience, and will always be more compelling than a collection of facts. Even when people are not conscious of being involved in narrative, they want to connect with characters and to follow a plot to its end through multiple layers of conflict. The fascination with story and narrative structure means that emphasizing the extent to which a statement is factual has little impact on someone, if that person has already formed a narrative that contradicts the facts. Lamb-Sinclair offers an alternative to fact-checking: The best way to teach true understanding is not by teaching students facts (although that is still a valuable lesson); it is to teach them to analyze, as one does with elements of narrative. The recent U.S. general election provides an example of how this alternative approach might be ef fective. Simply pointing out that Donald Trump didnt help save 2,100 jobs with the Carrier deal may not be persuasive for someone who has lost a job and gotten it back. Creating a new narrative that challenges someones pre-existing narrative is far more likely to have an impact on causing someone to question her or his pre-existing views. Lamb-Sinclair sees adults, and particularly teachers, as playing an important role in teaching younger people how to analyze narratives. Teachers must not only teach students how to be critical thinkers who question the validity of facts, but also how to dissect a narrative and to identify unreliable narrators. Teachers must expose students to various types of characters and plotlines from many perspectives, both fictional and real in order for students to develop the analytical skills necessary to engage with real-world narratives. The author suggests that if students are familiar with heroes and villains from literature and history, they will be equipped to recognize heroes and villains in real life situations. Sinclair illustrates her own commitment to narrative by omitting facts and figures from her article and relying on personal narratives to illustrate her points. The efficacy of this approach poignantly demonstrates how susceptible readers are to being swept up in a narrative that makes use of only personal stories and recent events. Sinclair never refers to any statistics or facts when describing the way that her perceptions of Latino men shifted over time, yet her story resonates with the reader and felt trustworthy and factual. The author states that while no one had presented [her] with the facts, she understood much more of the story. Sinclair is critically aware that she has simply rewritten the original narrative, implying that the story is ever changing and another set of experiences could quickly alter what she believes. Lamb-Sinclair recognizes that not everyone has the opportunity to shift internal narratives through exposure to diverse people groups or experiences. The author states that while she was lucky enough to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ experience other cultures, the general population is not so fortunate. For that reason, Lamb-Sinclair writes to encourage the education system to teach students analytical skills to avoid another generation where the facts mean very little. If teachers and other responsible adults fail to teach young people how to recognize unreliable narratives and real-world heroes or villains, prejudice and bigotry may take root in our society and permeate the ideologies of future generations.

Intranets :: essays research papers fc

Intranets These days Intranets are becoming more and more popular throughout the business world and other types of organizations. Many companies and organizations are already making this change and many more are considering it. The advantages offered by Intranets when compared to other types of networks are many, at a reduced cost for the owner. Less maintenance, less programming and more flexibility on the network platform make this change interesting. Unlike other types of networks, Intranets allow different types of machines and operating systems already at hand to be operating on the same network platform. This reduces the cost when trying to implement this type of network because the machines and operating systems already at hand can still be used throughout the network without conflicting with one another. Quick access and easy programming is also another consideration that is made when considering this type of network. Intranets have just started to be implemented throughout the world and already a big change is being noticed. Companies are keeping track of all of their important information on web sites, which are restricted to users, unless they have the security code to access them. Thanks to Internet technology, companies and other types of organizations are able to keep all of their information organized and easily accessible with a click of a button. The Internet, how has it changed the world around us? Government, education, business is all wrapping around it. Is this because of all of the information on it, simplicity or is it the quickness, with a simple point and click and the information appears on the screen. The first intention of the Web, as it is referred to, was not to create a sea of web servers and surfers. The Department of Defense created it for it's own use, to keep contact with all of the locations throughout the world, making it easier for them to retrieve and send information when desired. As businesses, government and education discover the advantages of the Internet and web technologies they are starting to implement it for internal use. This is better known as an Intranet, which represents a new model for internal information management, distribution and collaborative computing and offers a simplistic but powerful implementation of client/server computing. Intranets are private Web-based networks, usually within corporation firewalls, that connect employees and business partners to vital corporate information. Thousands of organizations are finding that Intranets can help empower their employees through more timely and less costly information flow. They let companies speed information and software to employees and business partners. Intranets provide users with capabilities like looking up information, sending

Our War Against Terrorism is Justified Essay -- September 11 Terrorism

Our War Against Terrorism is Justified    This essay will address the question whether the war against terrorism declared by President George W. Bush is a just war.    According to the September 22nd edition of Star-Ledger, Professor Richard Falk, of Princeton University said   Ã¢â‚¬Å"the mainstream media have turned into a 'war-mobilizing mechanism' leading to intense indoctrination of the public in support of a military response." "We are living in a society that is so convinced of its own innocence that it is ready to embark on its own 'holy war,'" Falk said. He said that if and when the United States decides to use force, it should do so only in conformance with international law and according to the principles of a "just" war. "These would include making it illegal to target non-military sites or people, making sure the response is proportionate and ensuring that no unnecessary pain is inflicted. "In Bush's address (Thursday night) I saw no signs of sensitivity to any of these limits, no deference to the authority of the United Nations," Falk said.    Contrary to what Prof. Falk suggested, our country does consider before undertaking such actions whether it complies with the description of a "just war." We had such a discussion, for example, before moving to turn back Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. There was a good interview on the CNN website on the topic of a just war.    I don't believe there is any disagreement that non-violent methods of resolving conflicts must always be used when they are possible. But this is not always possible. Therefore the first thing to note is that there is such a thing as a "just war." The tradition goes back to St. Augustine and has been highly developed over the cent... ... While moving against bin Laden and the ruling Taliban which protects him, Pres. Bush and his advisers have clearly stated that we have no quarrel with the Afghan people. Instead of dropping bombs on them, our government has started to airlift food to alleviate the acute distress caused by more than twenty years of uninterrupted war. There has not been any military action merely for the sake of taking action or assuaging any supposed public desire for revenge.    Thus I conclude that the war against terrorism meets all four criteria of a "just war."   Sanity, virtue, and a sense of humor all depend, though in different ways, on having a proper sense of proportion. I suggest that early critics of the war on terrorism lack the necessary sense of proportion. They take themselves too seriously, and the situation and the ideas it contains not seriously enough.

Diversity Among Society Essay

The United States is made up of millions of people that come from different backgrounds, religions and cultures. These differences are what make America the type of place it is today, because without these differences we would be just like every other country in the world. One of the biggest resources that we would have to help find information on Diversity would be the internet and this is mainly because we can find out almost anything that we would need on a certain race or culture. An article from US Life-U. S Department of State had a quote from former U. S.  Secretary of State Colin Powell that states, â€Å"America is a nation of nations, made up of people from every land, of every race and practicing every faith. Our diversity is not a source of weakness; it is a source of strength, it is a source of our success. † That quote alone can explain the true meaning behind the diversity in America and why we are the way we are. Through all the information that I acquired during this course, I have come to a better understanding of my racial and ethnical background. I have learned that according to the American Community Survey conducted by the U.  S. Census Bureau there are roughly over 36 million Americans that claimed there American heritage and that great political figures such as John F. Kennedy had an Irish background. I have also learned that it was never easy for Irish settlers years ago, because in the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s Irish immigrants were considered poor trash and were treated as such. It took many years for the Irish to establish a good name in America and over time people would stop hiding their Irish heritage and proudly display out in the open the love of their background. It is very hard to tell what the U. S. will look like in the year 2050, because we are constantly changing and we will continue to do this throughout our time. One thing that I can say is that we will have more humans then we know what to do with, because modern medicine is figuring out new ways to help people live longer and stay healthier. As for the demographics in the U. S. go, I would have to say that all raciest will be about equal in population and the white race will no longer be the dominant race. There will be more diversity in olitics and in the media, because as of right now we have a black president and that is just the beginning of what the future will be like. It’s hard to say if there will ever be any big race wars in America, because in today’s modern world everything seems ok, but no one is ever really sure what lies beneath the surface of individual groups. There could be a great race war that might happen in the future, or everybody will finally start to accept each other and we could live a beautiful existence. The challenge that the United States faces with diversity is that everyone is diverse and the want to be proud and show there true diversity. The main problem with that is that some other cultures don’t agree with them and they might want them to change their ways, or leave. This has always been a big challenge for the United States, because as time goes on we should be comfortable with diversity and accepting it along with ours, but there always will be certain people out there that will never change and they will make sure that they are heard within any means necessary. On the other side there are many great benefits that Untied States could benefit from with being such a diverse place. The fact that there are so many different views and opinions in America of the world around them, they could never truly run out of ideas. So many cultures offer such good things to America and they will continue to keeping adding on to that list. In today’s modern society certain individuals still feel the need for racial security and what that means is that someone might still feel more comfortable around their own kind. For example; a white family starts to pack up out of their home and move away from a changing neighborhood. The family finds a place that is more suitable towards their own security which is an all white suburb. The enroll their kids in an all white school and feel that nothing bad will happen to them. Little do they know is that their son’s new friend from school is a thief and deals drugs throughout the school. As time moves on the family starts to see a change in their child’s behavior, as if he was on some sort of drug, they ignore it, because they are amongst white people are they think that things like that couldn’t happen. Fast forward a little more and the child is grown up and in jail for armed robbery. The parents are clueless and confuse, because they never thought that it would happen in an all white neighborhood. Now the point to that story is that in order to foster a climate for acceptance we need to understand that not every other race is bad or will corrupt their race; in fact if each race got together and helped one another out with this kind of problem they could share their experiences and find a proper solution for the problem. The issue with racial profiling in the media is that the reader does not understand what is going on and assumes that a certain situation is a result of that entire race. A perfect example would be the 9/11 tragedy, because after that the media and the people reading the media pretty much made it seem that the situation was a result of all Muslims, when in fact it was only a handful of people that had hateful opinions towards America. The media may not be all bad and include nothing but racial profiling; in fact the media can also showcase the coming together of different races. The media recognized that we would have a black president and that many different races had voted for him, because they felt that he could do the job right regardless of color or background. If everyone in America could understand the power that we have and this is not because we have missiles or a great army, instead it is because we have so many different cultures that bring many different things to our Nation. We would have the power of America’s spirit on our side and it would be hard to break the spirit and will power of that many different people. I am also one that sadly shown my negativity towards another race at one time and it might of not been violent, because it was only in my head, but it goes to show that almost everyone in some way and another will or have experienced that and the best way to overcome that barrio is to understand, research and understand another cultures meaning to behind what they do and then an alliance with each other could happen and we could one day become brothers and sisters of the world again.

Reality and the Existence of God Essay

When Descartes decided to tear down his beliefs and start fresh, he needed a foundation upon which to build his ideology. When judging what reality is, God must be considered. He/she must be taken out of a religious concept and proven to exist, exist in a way in which we cannot be deceived into only thinking is real. The proof of the existence of God in this way forms the backbone of Descartes’ further forays into proving what is reality. God, being the supremely powerful, all-knowing all-seeing force that created the world and everything in it, was central in most 17th century philosophies. When investigating the importance of god in Descartes’ philosophy, one must first understand the science of the times. The basic principle of mechanism is that everything in the universe could eventually be explained in terms of mechanical laws, and with these laws there is no free will. The universe moves like a complex clock, with everything pre-determined and in accordance with the laws of matter. Pierre Simon de Laplace stated â€Å"We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect of the past and the cause of the future. An intellect which at any given moment knew all of the forces that animate nature and the mutual positions of the beings that compose it, if this intellect were vast enough to submit the data to analysis, could condense into a single formula the movement of the greatest bodies of the universe and that of the lightest atom; for such an intellect nothing could be uncertain and the future just like the past would be present before its eyes. † (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mechanism_%28philosophy%29) Unfortunately for mechanism, the mind is impossible to define in mechanical terms, as it is not a corporeal substance that can be measured. Descartes responds to this problem with dualism, saying that the mind is a â€Å"thinking thing† which is the essence of himself. This â€Å"thing† doubts, believes, hopes and thinks, all the while existing only in a metaphysical sense as a non-extended, thinking thing; while the body is a non-thinking, extended thing. With this he had a clear and distinct idea of both mind and body, and whatever he could conceive, God could create. This led him to believe that the mind could be separate from the body, a substance whose essence was thought. Thus the idea of dualism was founded by the existence of God. As Descartes did not completely agree with mechanism or materialism, he had to essentially obliterate all his beliefs, wipe his proverbial slate clean, and start again. To reevaluate what was real and what was false, Descartes had to doubt everything, including the existence of God, and if he/she exists, whether or not God was a deceiver. Descartes put forward the question of whether or not there are any attributes to the idea of God which couldn’t have originated in himself, God being â€Å"infinite, eternal, unchangeable, independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He came to the conclusion that none of these attributes could have come from him alone, as he possesses none of them. In this sense, God must exist. He then postulates the hierarchy argument, where the idea of God could not have been thought of by him, or man in general, as the attributes seen in God belong to some higher form. It does not matter that he cannot â€Å"grasp the infinite†, or touch the attributes of God as he himself is finite; the very nature of something being infinite is that it cannot be grasped by something finite. Thus, since the ideas of God are in some higher form, they must be the truest and most clear and distinct of all Descartes’ ideas. He then decided to ask how he could have received the idea of a perfect being from God, as he has never encountered such from the senses. He comes up with the idea of a craftsman, who, when he invents something, may fiddle and change parts of his creation as he chooses. The idea of God, in Descartes’ mind, could not be changed or interfered with; therefore he could not have created it himself. This leads to the belief in the idea of God being innate in him. He again uses the idea of a craftsman, with the idea of God as a â€Å"mark of the craftsman† stamped on his work, man. Descartes’ then postulated that he could not exist with the innate idea of God in his mind without God existing. This fostered his belief that God could not possibly be a deceiver, since for something to be fraudulent or deceitful it has to have some defect, which in God there is none. This began to form the foundation on which Descartes would continue to prove existence through methodical doubt. After he determined that yes, God exists, Descartes turned his attention to truth and falsity. He has determined that God would never deceive him, as wanting to deceive is a sign of malice or weakness, traits not pertaining to God. If God, then, does not deceive him, errors on his part must be of his own judgment. He uses God as a benchmark, saying he is somewhere between God and nothingness, between supreme being and non-being. In meditation number four, again he uses the craftsman analogy, that the more skilled the craftsman, the more perfect the creation. Since God created Descartes, he must be perfect, which leads him to believe that his making mistakes may be better than not doing so. Human free will is an issue that philosophers of every generation tackle in some form or another, and Descartes was no exception. When dealing with will, he believed that will is simply one’s ability to do or not do something, to accept or reject a proposition. This will is such that when a decision is presented to us, we have no sense that we are pushed one way or another by any external forces. He believed that freedom is strengthened by natural knowledge and divine grace, and that since God gave him the power of willing, it cannot be the cause of his mistakes. Simply, a mistake is made when one’s will extends beyond their intellect, when one applies will to matters they do not understand. This philosophy states that God has given him the freedom to choose his destiny in situations of which he does not have complete understanding, a view quite inconsistent with the beliefs of the time. Descartes could not have been an atheist and have come to the conclusions he did. The science of the time was a rigid belief that everything in the universe was bound by the laws of matter, and that it moved like a complex clock, everything pre-determined from the time it was created. A strong supporter of the idea of dualism, Descartes believed that the mind was not bound by the laws of matter and was intangible, a substance whose essence was thought. Since God created him, whatever he could conceive could also be created by God which is the founding principle of dualism. When he began to tear down his belief system, he needed a foundation on which to build his new knowledge. He proved the existence of God by using the hierarchy theory, that since none of the traits of God could be attributed to himself, they must have come from God. With this knowledge, Descartes tackled truth and falsity, the essence and existence of material things, and the real distinction between mind and body. All of which in some for or another were based on his foundation: that God exists and is not a deceiver. If he could prove the existence of God through methodical doubt, he could prove anything. He made this quite clear near the end of his fifth meditation; â€Å"I see plainly that the certainty and truth of all knowledge depends strictly on my awareness of the true God. So much that until I became aware of him I couldn’t perfectly know anything.