Costco History

The History of Costco Wholesale DeAna Castro Wilmington University MGT 6501 Abstract Costco is a members only, international retail chain discount warehouse Club. They combine high quality merchandise with low prices. Costco began in 1976 as Price Club and restructured in 1997 as Costco Wholesales. Costco’s passion, mission, and ethics have been the key to the leading membership warehouse retail giant to supply their customers with low prices. Their low cost business strategies and dedication to their employees, suppliers and shareholders have proven success. The History of CostcoThe history of Costco began in July, 1976, in San Diego, California, and its name was Price Club. It was cofounded by Sol and Robert Price. The newly designed business was the first ‘warehouse’ business of it’s kind. This retail business originally targeted other business owners, but blended retail and wholesale. Price Club had unbeatable low prices and sold bulk items. Three years later, 1979, Price Club expanded two new locations. They acquired 200,000 members and profited 1 million dollars. Price Cub showed a loss of profits the first year, but the expansion proved profitable.Jim Sinegal is a key player to the success of Costco because he started his career being mentored by Sol Price. He worked in the warehouse business at Price Club and another warehouse business called Fedmart, both owned by Sol Price. (Cardon). In 1983, Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brottman would open their own warehouse club near Seattle Washington, and it was called Costco (Daft, 2012 pp. 605). One year later, Costco expanded to nine warehouses in five states. It was not long before Price Club realized they could achieve larger cliental if they served a selected audience of ‘non-business’ members.This payed off by the year 1984, Price Club sales would be greater than one billion dollars and is the first company to achieve this mark in a six year period. Almost ten years later, 1 993, Costco and Price Club, would merge and become PriceCostco. This merge was nicely matched because they were very similar in business model and size. The combined companies included 206 locations and generated $16 billion in annual sales. Jim Sinegal would also become Costco’s President and chief executive (Priceviewer). The merger only lasted about four years and, in 1997, PriceCostco became Costco.Jim Sinegal remained President and chief executer (Carden, 2011). Costco’s Mission statement: To continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices in order to achieve our mission we will conduct our business with the following Code of Ethics in mind: Obey the law, Take care of our members and our employees, and respect our vendors/suppliers. â€Å"If we do these four things throughout our organization, then we will realize our ultimate goal, which is to reward our shareholders. † Jim Sinegal. (Costco, 2011)Costco’ s operating philosophy is to keep costs down, and pass the savings on to their customers. To offer high quality brand name merchandise at prices below any other avenue of retail. They accomplish this several ways. They buy high volumes of merchandise directly from manufactures and not distributers. The merchandise is shipped directly to a selling warehouse and not a storage area, and this also reduces freight costs. Costco warehouses are located on sites where property costs are minimum not on high real estate locations. Merchandise, or stock, is placed directly on a selling floor and on the pallets that they are delivered on.By doing this, labor and handling, costs are reduced to save the customer money. Sales and service employees are kept at a minimal to also reduce overhead costs. Last, because Costco’s has such an incredibly large membership base they have influence and power to haggle prices with their manufacturers and suppliers. â€Å"Costco is able to offer lower pr ices and better values by eliminating virtually all the frills and costs historically associated with conventional wholesalers and retailers, including salespeople, fancy buildings, delivery, billing and accounts receivable.We run a tight operation with extremely low overhead which enables us to pass on dramatic savings to our members. † Jim Sinegal (corporate, 2012). Costco pride’s themselves as a leading warehouse/big box retailer. Sales volume exceeds that of their competition and they use a â€Å"consumer first† business model. This business model is a creative way that has expanded sales. Costco has developed additional ways to continue to save money for their customers. They did this by creating their own brand. Costco’s personal brand is ‘Kirkland Signature. Kirkland, Washington's the root of Costco and is where their headquarters is located. Kirkland Signature brand was introduced to Costco stores in 1995. It was designed to be equal or bette r quality than national brands. Kirkland Signature products include diapers, coffee, tires, clothing, film, housewares and more. (Priceviewer). Often, national brands are co- brands with Kirkland Signature products. Some manufactures realize the success and power of Costco and have agreed to manufacture products with the Kirkland Signature label. Some companies include Hanes and Whirlpool. Branch, 1999). â€Å"Costco continues to prove their â€Å"consumer first† business model, through the creation of new and unique business concepts, included Costco Pharmacy (1986) Produce and Bakery (1987), Optical labs (1987), 1-Hour Photo (1989), Hearing Aid Centers (1994), Costco Gas stations (1995), Costco business Centers (1996), Costco Travel (2000), Costco Home (2003), and Car Washes (2006)† (Walker, 2011). Costco’s structure and culture, meets customer needs further than low prices. Costco focuses on value of it’s products but also focuses on value of itâ€℠¢s employees.They believe that achieving a long term objectives of reducing employee turnover and enhancing employee satisfaction is beneficial. To accomplish this they hire employees at an above average hourly rate, they train and promote from within. Doing this, their employees feel loyalty and valued. Costco Continues to be financially successful today and has expanded internationally. Their mission and ethics have proved to be successful and beneficial to all that the organization is involved with to include, customers employees, suppliers/vendors and stockholders.What does organizational design truly mean? Have you considered how it can work best? If yes, how? If no, why not? Organizational design is a formal process for integrating people, information, and technology. Organizations are people that have a declaration of purpose, vision and strategy. This structure matches people to the purpose it seeks to achieve a common goal or purpose. It is designed to enhance communication , information, and resources to optimize human achievement. The end product is an integrated system of people and resources tailored to the specific direction of the organization.Organizational design basically is an execution of an administrative plan guided by a leader/leaders. The design of the organization can work best if the people work together as a team. It will also work best, if the mission, vision, strategy, purpose and needs of the organization are identified and the goals are achievable. Organizations also work best if it’s leader understands, guides and assures the process is followed and encourages creative thinking. If their is not an effective leader who does not have a mission, vision, strategy and followers, the organization can and will fail.Costco has proven to have a successful organizational design. Describe the â€Å"Trap of favored ways of thinking†? How did it impact your thinking? In Organizations ‘traps’ can be hazardous to thei r success. These traps can prohibit and restrict creativity, limits capabilities and limits ability to progress into the future. Some common traps are: Group Thinking- Productive conflict is critical if common traits are shared in a group because it prevents bad ideas from being implemented without discussion or consideration. Non productive conflict is not productive and can become a hostile situation.Group thinking is pervasive. â€Å"We have never done it like this before† If you always do what you do, you always get what you got. Be courages and attempt change. Make sure to make meaning changes. â€Å"You’re Gooder† syndrome- Respect is over emphasized to their authorities and lacks candor, honesty and courage. Inbred Culture When hiring employees is based on time, ore years of service and loyalty rather than exceptional performance. Problems will arise. The leadership chain of command will be incompetent and will breed more incompetence. Arbitrary Directive s and policies are determined by top management.If decisions and policies are made with randomness and for unknown reason then those are signs that indicates that the leader is disconnected and out of touch. This truly impacted my thinking because I was not aware and I learned many things! It made so much since why organizations struggle, fail and succeed. It caused many flashbacks to my military career, and also, my teachers, mentors and friends. When I think about this, in reference to Costco, any of these trapped ways of thinking could have jeopardized their success. â€Å"The Ugly Face† often stifles an organizations growth. How? Did you position to circumvent it in your design?The ugly face refers to organizations that exploit employees, the global economy, or the natural environment as instruments of domination that furthers selfish needs and dominance. Taking what they need and throwing or destroying what isn’t needed. â€Å"Whether by design or default, organi zations often have a large negative impact on our world. † (Morgan,1998 pp. 261). Pollutants, poisons and other cancer causing hazards are ingested or promoted by food and tobacco companies. Similar threats are caused from environmental pollutions that are legally and illegally dumped in water and land.Contaminated air, land and water hurt people causing cancer or other health problems and big corporations that cause these hazards are sometimes not penalized. These organizations place profits before human welfare. Foreign countries are easily manipulated by employment with hazards, disease, and degradation. Costco has circumvented many of the â€Å"ugly face† views by taking care or rewarding their customers, employees, and suppliers. They take care of their employees by giving them a substantially higher pay than other companies, they promote from within and they are rewarded and valued as people.Globally, Costco has expanded to foreign countries and has provided emplo yment and opportunities for others by creating employment, giving them higher above average salaries and valuing them as people with respect and appreciation. References Branch, S. (1999, 09 06). Inside the cult of costco. Fortune, 140(5), Retrieved from http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? [email  protected] Cardon, B. (n. d. ). Costco company history. Retrieved from http://goarticles. com/article/Costco-Company-History/4651134 Costco Wholesale Corporation SWOT Analysis. 2011) Costco Wholesale Corporation SWOT Analysis. Daft, R. (2013). Organizational theory & design. (11 ed. , pp. 54-61). Canada: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Walker, S. (2011, 05 16). The history of costco. Retrieved from http://www. vendor. com/_blog/VENDORCO_BLOG/post/The_Hisory_of_Costco Retrieved from http://www. costco. co. jp/eng/costco. htm Retrieved from http://phx. corporate-ir. net/phoenix. zhtml? c=83830=irol-homeprofile Retrieved from http://priceviewer. com/costco/costco. htm Retrieved from h ttp://www. referenceforbusiness. com/history2/91/Costco-Wholesale-Corporation. html

Wattie Frozen Foods Ltd

The firm†s competitive environment is in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Rim. They have head quarters in Auckland and four factories located in Gisborne, Hastings, Fielding, and Christchurch. The range is frozen and dehydrated vegetable products, main products being peas, beans and frenches fried potatoes. Growers are contracted to WFF and are provided with a significant amount of technical assistance, including the availability of quality seed stock, and a wide variety of agricultural management assistance. Once crops are deemed ready they are harvested quickly and transported immediately to the branch factory, where the crop reception department tests the quality of the incoming produce. At the factory the season processing is done around the clock. I.e.) potatoes are first washed, then sliced, deep-fried, frozen and packed. Peas are washed, graded, and then frozen for bulk storage. Beans are washed, graded dried, and packed. Problems with seasonality in the business are that you may run out of stock in a non-season where that product is not being produced. To get that product in a non-season could be quite expensive. The season for that product could produce a bad crop and you would have to wait until next season to get the next crop. Work Center Management is that the organization is divided up into a set of semiautonomous work centers. Each work center will have skilled supervisors and employees who will be able to make critical decisions to manufacture a quality product in a timely manner. There is daily reporting because the information will be more useful and ownership of the information is more likely. Daily reporting will occur because is will come from the bottom and travel it†s way up. The motivation for WCM consisted of 2 things: 1. The need to change the emphasis from reporting to managing  · Shortening the time between actions and the subsequent reporting results.  · Ensure focused accountability through clearly defined responsibilities for costs and the power to act. 2. The need for staff involvement and operational involvement It is necessary to change the organizational culture because WCM made managers fully responsible for their outputs and use of inputs and resources including labor, equipment, services and inventories. Thus management has to be empowered, responsible and fully empowered. The culture change was achieved by dividing each factory into units, which were largely self-contained and small enough to ensure focused management and accountability. Each of these units, were to be known as work centers. Each work center had one manager, the site manager (factory manager) would support the work center managers to coordinate work between the work centers and solve any conflicts. The physical numbers tie into the financial accounting system by cost is assigned to processes or products at the basis of the actual consumption of physical resources. The benefits of WCM are that it is integrated with other systems and programs, which provides better managerial reporting. It doesn†t just provide cost and financial performance measures, but also provides monthly summaries of wide physical measures to evaluate the work centers. The WCM has resulted in improved control and cost reductions in difficult to control areas. Other benefits of WCM include:  · Improved focus on quality production Potential problems in operating the WCM system are that eventually staff and management will get lazy on the daily reporting aspects. There may be staff turnover, as some managers will get promoted and training will have to be given to the next line of upcoming management. WCM will have to be continuously monitored to see the cost vs. benefit analysis. The types of operations that lend themselves to daily financial reporting are labor, electricity, materials, and machinery.

How Has the Growth of Ecommerce Affected the Retail Sector in the UK Research Paper

How Has the Growth of Ecommerce Affected the Retail Sector in the UK in Over the Last 10 Years - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates that in the UK, online retailing is outperforming high street with several structural changes in progress with the internet providing a powerful tool to connect customer data on preferences and to facilitate and react to customers’ requests and feedbacks, using it to form a competitive advantage. Data was gathered through the use of primary and secondary sources from several authors and journals. Findings have been carefully scrutinized and analyzed.The research reveals that retail sector in the UK has undergone tremendous development and retailers have to apply and adopt online technology to be able to survive in that industry against their competitors. E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods or service by use of electronic methods such as the Internet and other computer networks. Almost two decades, to when this fast-paced electronic business atmosphere was just starting to develop, its eventual achievement must have looked far less convinced. Ov er the last decade, e-commerce has altered the look of the retail zone, helping corporations to enlarge into new markets, connect more efficiently with consumers, decrease costs and drive revenue growth in the future. To thrive now, it is not just a question of selling online, but taking a tactical view of your online presence to make certain it delivers the utmost possible worth to your business. Fortunately, a new generation of e-commerce technologies, powered by web 2.0 techniques, is now heralding a new period for both businesses and consumers in a similar way. It is now extensively known that the Internet’s supremacy range and interactivity supplies retailers with the possibility to change their customers’ shopping familiarity. According to Levenburg, e-commerce helps traders and suppliers to build up their own competitive positions. The Internet’s capabilities to provide information, ease two-way communication with customers, gather market research data, p romote goods and services and eventually to support the online ordering of goods, provide retailers with a tremendously rich and bendable new channel. In so doing, the Internet gives retailers an instrument for expansion of target markets, improving customer interactions, extending product lines, improving price efficiency, enhancing customer relationships and delivering modified bids.

Pediculosis (All 3 types) Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pediculosis (All 3 types) - Term Paper Example Pediculosis is a disease that is very infectious and can spread very fast by touch and contact with the infected person. It also spreads by fomites like sharing pillows, clothes, combs or hats with the infected person. The head louse or P. capitis and the body louse P. corporis are very similar in shape, with the head louse being slightly smaller in size. The P. pubis is very distinct is shape with claw like pincers like that of crabs. They suck blood many times in a day and reproduce very fast with a single female louse producing nearly up to ten eggs per day in its average life span of about 30 days. So if kept untreated it will spread very fast and besides causing severe itching in the infected body parts, may also cause secondary infection, furunculosis and sometimes has been known to be a vector of other diseases like the relapsing fever, trench fever and also typhus. The eggs laid by the head and body louse are shiny ovular structures known as nits and are fixed to the hair by chitin that is tenacious and so, extremely difficult to remove. The main symptoms of this infection as Craven and Hirnle (2008) tell us are that â€Å"Lice live on the skin, and their bites cause itching. Inflamed bit es can be seen along the hairline. Body lice suck blood from the skin and tend to live in the clothing, making them hard to detect. Clues to the presence of body lice are scratching and hemorrhagic lesions on the skin†(Craven and Hirnle, 2008). The louse while feeding, bites the skin and injects its saliva that causes severe itching which lead to excoriation. Pubic louse though mainly seen in the genital regions may also be found on the abdominal hairs, armpit hairs, facial hairs and in extreme cases, especially in children, on the eyelashes also. This variety is generally seen in adults and is sexually transmitted. Within a

Comparing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Comparing - Essay Example During those years, Donald performed well both in academe and social relations. In 1964 he graduated and pursued his college education in Fordham University. He then transferred to Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania where he learned accounting and finance. Trump graduated with a degree in economics. While working with his father during the summer time, he also learned the principle of money making, mortgages and construction works. He then joined his father's company and became the president of it in 1975. He changed the company's name to Trump Organization. He built a billion-dollar empire with his name branded on it. These were the Trump Tower, Trump Plaza, Trump Plaza Hotel, and Casino, Trump's Castle, Trump Parc and Trump Place. Thus, his name Trump was synonymous with wealth, luxury and prestige. He loved to utilize attractive architectural designs that would earn high profit and win public recognition. He was well known as the entrepreneur who found, bought and turned around losing properties. Just like Trump himself I also would like to have an empire of my own, and I do try to work on my thoughts to bring them to realization. Aside from his great achievements during his early career life, he also experienced downfall times when the real state market went down.

Corruption and Multi-National Corporations Essay

Corruption and Multi-National Corporations - Essay Example Legally, facilitation payment is not allowed in the United Kingdom. However, it is allowed legally to certain extent in the United States (Special Cases, 2009). The issue of facilitation payment becomes specially challenging when doing business with a foreign country. The laws in a different country may or may not be similar to those your own country. Hence, this issue has to be studied clearly and carefully before deciding on its legal implications. Multi-national corporations operate in different countries all over the world. So it is not possible for them to work under one set of rules. Their memorandum of association must tally with the laws and customs of the host countries. They also have to do business with customers in the host countries as well as overseas. This makes the situation of facilitation payments more complicated if flexibility is not maintained (Special Cases, 2009). Research show that majority of multi-nationals have indulged in facilitation payments although they same majority would prefer not to make these payments. This is a catch-22 situation with the giver and taker harboring guilty conscience and yet performing the act in the larger interest of business (Gordon, Kathryn and Miyake, Maiko; 2001, p3) "Bribes can come in all sizes. ... ch-22 situation with the giver and taker harboring guilty conscience and yet performing the act in the larger interest of business (Gordon, Kathryn and Miyake, Maiko; 2001, p3) "Bribes can come in all sizes. The media likes to highlight the more flagrant examples, but the smaller, everyday forms often go undetected. In the past, governments have overlooked facilitation payments. Western lawmakers assumed that such payments were simply unavoidable, a necessary part of doing business abroad" (Wrage, Alexandra; 2009). Nonetheless, the issue does not stop at that. Time and again, facilitation payments have reached the courts and resulted in destabilizing outcomes. Daewoo is an example of a major multi-national firm collapsing owing to financial irregularities (Daewoo corruption scandal deepens, 2001). However, facilitation payments continue to be made the world over. How do these payments reflect in the eyes of the law Morally, facilitation payments, whether big or small, are wrong. But these payments are given and received in different and ambiguous ways and bypass the law. They may simply be given under the nomenclature of a gift or in the form of entertainment. International businesses have accepted it as a necessary evil. And it does appear that it is prospected to stay this way for a very long time to come (D'Ascenzo, Michael; 2008). By and large, in most countries, facilitation payments are tolerated if the sum involved is small. Nobody is inclined to run to the courts on small amounts spent on getting business. However, it is large facilitation amounts that can cause trouble. Large amounts not only cause legal hassles, they can even destabilize the concerned corporation. It is not healthy for large corporations to be paying out large facilitation amounts as these

Appeal letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Appeal letter - Essay Example My GPA stands at 2.05 and 3 failures on my transcript. I have made plans to retake failed classes where I already took Math 234 in the Spring 2012 quarter, and the other two classes after Fall 2012. I also went to my professors’ offices as well as relying on Dr. Sylvester advice on how to retake the failed classes. Additionally, I plan to take one less class than normal to enhance my focus on the classes at hand. These efforts seek to help me and boost my GPA. As such, having identified my problems and subsequently establishing measures to resolve them and improve my GPA, I feel that a suspension is counter-productive to my quest for education. Indeed, am already registered for Fall 2012 and am ready to do better. Hence, I request the University’s reversal of my dismissal letter. I will gladly appreciate another opportunity to keep studying in Seattle University with a promise to work hard and improve my

Ron Kirshner vs.Flash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Ron Kirshner vs.Flash - Essay Example of the Bozapalooza but he told Kirshner that an SnS reunion concert was out of the question due to differences between Flash and fellow SnS member Axl. Flash made it clear that because of past arguments he would not perform on stage with Axl. These negotiations occurred in September. Flash also indicated that he would go to Thailand and therefore could not be reached for the time being. Flash informed Kirshner that he would be gone from Sept 23 to October 22; during that period he would be incommunicado. Kirshner sent a letter on September 21, via regular mail, stipulating their agreements. It arrived September 24 or after Flash had already left for his overseas trip. When Flash returned from his trip he was surprised to learn that he would be performing with Axl at the Bozapalooza against his express wishes. Kirshner informed him that because Flash could not be reached, he went ahead and booked the concert with Axl. Hence Flash wants to know if he is legally obligated to perform at the concert. A contract requires a meeting of minds between the parties involved. There must be an offer from one party and an acceptance of that offer on the part of the other party. In the present case, there appears to be a reciprocal obligation between Kirshner and Flash. There was an offer by Kirshner for Flash to perform at the Bozapalooza in exchange for a sum certain in money. Kirshner, as promissor, showed a willingness to be legally bound by the terms he specified in a way that would lead a reasonable person in the position of Flash to understand that an acceptance is being sought and, if made, would result in an enforceable contract. Now, an important matter to consider is what the stipulation of the contract was. On September 1, Ron made an initial offer involving an SnS reunion concert at Bozapalooza. The response of Flash was a counter-offer stating that while he was willing to perform at Bozapalooza, he would not perform with Axl. Negotiations resumed on September

Research Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Analysis - Essay Example The research took the form of Questionnaires that 300 teachers from different educational levels were to fill, aimed at judging their skills and knowledge, against their willingness to share the same skills and knowledge with their students, and the reasons that affected their performance in that respect. The following questions were to be filled in the questionnaires for data collection; To better analyze the data collected, an average number of the teachers with the same answers were to be categorized in the same class, from which the mean number would be taken as the representative of the actual status quo. Among the 300 teachers who filled the questionnaires, from all ages, sex and marital status, approximately 75% attributed the employers' judgment of their performance(s) on the remuneration they were paid. The same percentage (75%) of them felt motivated by an increment in their pay by their employers as a method of encouraging their individual development. 13% of the teachers indicated having timely, accurate, open two way communications with their employers. According to Pauline, & Fausel, (2007), pay in itself as the only method to compensate teachers for their performances could be deceiving.

Financial Management Individual assignment Essay

Financial Management Individual assignment - Essay Example The companies with a strong market position can opt for debt route as they can negotiate favorable terms from the lenders. Capital market provides a platform to the companies for issuing new securities like debt and equity. The funds raised from the capital market are used for the long term needs of the business. It consists of primary and secondary markets. The new securities are issued in the primary markets and the trading of these securities takes place in the secondary markets. Capital market plays a major role in the economic and financial development of a country. It helps the entrepreneurs by providing them with the platform to raise capital for their business. It acts as an intermediary between the issuers and subscribers of equity. In the absence of the capital markets many of the investment opportunities would have remained untapped. Besides acting as a financial intermediary it monitors the activities of the market participants (Tadesse , n.d.). This is done to ensure that the funds raised are used for the purpose for which it has been raised. The growth of an economy depends on the presence of an efficient capital market that can mobilize the savings of individuals and also provide the opportunity of offshore financing. With the advancement in the financial markets many businesses can access the overseas markets for the issue of their shares (DUKE The Fuqua School of Business, n.d.). The price of the securities trading on the stock exchange gives valuable information regarding the worthiness of an investment. This also leads efficiency in firm management. As the market price of a firm’s security reflects its fundamentals, the management pays special attention to business activities. By acting as a link between the investors and entrepreneurs, the capital markets facilitate the undertaking of risky projects which would

European society Essay Example for Free

European society Essay The eighteenth century saw a revolution sweeping Western philosophy and a simultaneous upheaval and transformation in Western social life. In this period, the west, particularly the European society and state seemed cold and heartless. The dislocations of industrialization and urbanization exposed the weaknesses of the old system and stimulated a need for more innovative political institutions adaptable to the new socio-economic conditions. This desire for change was accompanied by strong nationalist sentiments. Initial Western nationalism was lauded as a liberal form of mass political engagement and allegiance to the secular power of emerging states, consistent with popular rule. Accordingly, its birth was announced with the representation, rights, and toleration of Englands constitutional monarchy and its banner the â€Å"liberty, equality and fraternity† of the French Revolution against absolutism. Many scholars estimate the birth of the American nation from 1750-1775 (see for example, Weeks, 1994). In the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, social, political, and economic turmoil and instability transformed many Western countries into the world’s most chaotic amphitheater of disruption. People who thought that their cultural and political borders were violated waged a series of insurrections and rebellions. This strong feeling and desire to fight violations of inalienable natural rights came to be known as nationalism. Nationalist feelings became a decisive power in the Romantic Era. In nationalism, the individual is â€Å"the very center, the arbiter, the sovereign of the universe† (Kedourie, 1993, p.17). The political implication of this was that self-determination constituted the supreme good. Later political philosophers building upon Kantian ideas proposed that: humanity is naturally divided into nations; each nation has its peculiar character; the source of all political power is the nation; for freedom and self-realization, people must identify with a nation; loyalty to the nation-states overrides other loyalties; and the primary condition of global freedom and harmony is the strengthening of the nation-state (Smith, 1983). In the early years of the twentieth century, the striking similarity displayed by the nationalist movements throughout Southeast Asia derived from their common inspiration in Western ideology and their largely identical economic bases – the former guiding the intellectuals who lead the movements in their respective countries; the latter supplying the driving power from the masses. However, it must be pointed out that nationalist movements in this region did not have the support of more than a very small fraction of the native peoples, who for the most part are not aware that the question of autonomy even exists, and whose major concern is simply survival (Emmerson, Mills, and Thompson, 1942). In Southeast Asia, native nationalism has been the forced growth of a transplanted Western seed. In spite of the centrifugal forces of a plural society artificially bound together solely by the profit motive, nationalism has taken root among the indigenous peoples. It has penetrated most deeply among the native peoples who are united by a common language, pride of race and glorious historical traditions (Emmerson, Mills, and Thompson, 1942). Thus, â€Å"Within each group, nationalism has proved to be a cohesive force, welding people who were until its advent hardly conscious of the existence of compatriots beyond their own village, absorbing disparate religious and regional loyalties, and nationalizing such international influences as they experienced. However, from the perspectives of Southeast Asian countries as individual units, nationalism has proved a disruptive force. It has made each racial group more self-conscious, more prone to assert itself at the expense of other groups, and either tends toward a disastrous break-up of the present mosaic by some vigilant outsider playing upon this grave weakness in the body politic and social, or leads toward the forced assimilation of the weaker minorities by the most powerfully placed group. † (Emmerson, Mills, and Thompson, 1942, p. 144) The establishment of national unity through was essential ingredient in the emergence of democracy. According to Marx (2003), nationalism is an essential prerequisite to democracy, since â€Å"it establishes the boundaries of the community to which citizenship and rights are then accorded, without which democracy is impossible† (p. 31). And the birth of nationalism was related to the political baptism of the lower classes whose empowerment helped bring democracy, with both nationalism and democracy thereby relatively and impressively inclusive (Marx, 2003). While many have witnessed nationalism and democracy going together, for the past few years, nationalism has been largely considered a disruptive force on the prospects for democratization. For one, national unity gives rise to the question of the state and its boundaries, which is believed to be more fundamental than that of regime type and that can disrupt debate about appropriate political forms. Nationalism in this sense is a disruptive force because it gives rise to issues regarding religious beliefs, language, and customs. Moreover, nationalism is largely seen as being potentially disruptive to achieving democratic outcomes since it stimulates mass mobilization which frightens authoritarian rulers, causing them to suppress activities that may stop the progress of the whole process of political change. The argument that nationalism is a disruptive force is validated by the experiences of southern Europe and Latin America. The disintegration of all of the federal Communist states along republican lines adds force to this argument; however, it is not as clear-cut as this in the post-Soviet experience. According to McFaul (2002), ten years after the collapse of communism, only Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are democracies, while the other republics are under regimes that are either facade democracies or nondemocratic. Nationalism was also seen as a disruptive force on the eve of the First World War. It played an important role in the rivalries between superpowers: Germany vs. France (revenge for 1871), Russia, vs. Austria-Hungary (expansion into Balkans), and Germany vs. Great Britain (control of seas, arms race). Nationalism was also a disruptive force regarding the emergence of unsatisfied nationalities: Poles, Irish, Serbs, Czechs, and many others In Poland, following the 1830 uprising, conservatives began to drift away from nationalism. By the 1850s, only few on the right were interested in talking about nationalism, which came to be seen as a dangerous term signifying disruption, disorder, and even revolution (Porter, 2000). Within Poland itself many nobles may have shared the hopes of the Czartoryski circle, but since they could do little to further such a cause, they retreated to apolitical lives (Porter, 2000). Not only were the conservatives uncomfortable with the politics of the patriotic activists, but they found it difficult to speak the language of national romanticism. â€Å"They might appreciate some of the poetry of Mickiewicz or Slowacki, but they soon discovered the disruptive force of the progressive historiosophies to which the concept of the nation had been so firmly linked. † (Porter, 2000, p. 31) References Emerson, R. , Mills, L. A. , and Thompson, V. (1942). Government and Nationalism in Southeast Asia. New York: Institute of Pacific Relations. Kedourie, E. (1993). Nationalism, 4th expanded ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. Marx, A. W. (2003). Faith in Nation: Exclusionary Origins of Nationalism. New York: Oxford University Press. McFaul, M. (2002). The Fourth Wave of Democracy and Dictatorship: Noncooperative Transitions in the Postcommunist World. World Politics 54(1), 212-44. Porter, B. (2000). When Nationalism Began to Hate: Imagining Modern Politics in Nineteenth Century Poland. New York: Oxford University Press. Weeks, W. E. (1994). American Nationalism, American Imperialism: An Interpretation of United States Political Economy, 1789-1861. Journal of the Early Republic, 14, 485-495.

The Day of Valor on the fourth month of the Roman calendar Essay Example for Free

The Day of Valor on the fourth month of the Roman calendar Essay A week after celebrating the Day of Valor on the fourth month of the Roman calendar in the year of Rat, I was born one evening in a city called the financial capital of the country that was colonized by Spaniards for more than three hundred years after it was discovered by a famous Portuguese explorer. My first name Johanne is a variant of Johanna which means â€Å"God is gracious† and my second name Victoria means victory hope my life goes well as my name. My parents, Victorino and Wilma, were a hard working couple who works as an employee of a private company. They produced of our own kind six times in eleven years having five boys, leaving me no sister to have a bonding with. Since I’m the only girl, they call me Princess or sometimes Negneg, short for negra, because of my dark complexion. It’s not that dark like people in Africa but it’s the darkest complexion in my family but it’s alright because I have these black tantalizing eyes, a good set of teeth and a slim body that makes me look like a Filipina beauty queen. I spent my seventeen years of existence in a city known for being a major cultural entertainment hub in Metro Manila. I studied my first five years of my primary education in Nicanor Garcia Elementary School, Makati. After my hit-and-run 50-50 accident case when I was in fifth grade, God gave me my second chance to live and finished my elementary course in Rizal Elementary School in Laguna. I have to transfer because of the severe fracture in my right leg causing me to have a hard time going up stairs. I have recovered from what had happened and continued my secondary education in General Pio del Pilar National High School in Makati. In elementary, I always make my parents proud of me by giving them a numerous medals every end of the school year. I’ve been a consistent contestant in Mathematics Quiz Bee and I made my school proud after qualifying twice in Mathematics Trainer’s Guild, a program to train gifted Filipino kids for international competitions. Aside from Math, I’ve also been in various contests regarding Science and Journalism. Considering me as a dynamic student, I was fairly awarded at the end of the year. When I stepped high school, it was the most exciting part of my life. Having crushes, love team ups, courtships, prom night were the things that could really make you giggle. But the most remarkable incident that shaped my character now was improving my leadership skills. When I was in third year, I ran as the president of SMILE (Students Movement for the Improvement of Leadership and Empowerment) Party List for the upcoming Supreme Student Government election. I taught I’m going to win because I’m from the star section but I’m wrong. I lost. I’m so ashamed. Because of that, I don’t feel like going to that school again. But there was a Non-government organization that invites the students to go on camp in Iba, Zambales for free. Of course, I joined and that made me forgot the pain I felt. On the first night of the camping, everything has changed after the moment I received Jesus Christ as my personal savior. When I got back in school, God blessed me so much that He gave the Hi-Y Club (a high school based club of Young Men’s Christians Association) in my lead. From that happening, I really appreciated the quote: â€Å"After the storm, there’s a rainbow.† I taught the door of opportunity to explore more in leading has closed for me, not realizing He has opened the window for me to experience the chance I thought I lost. Because of this club, I learned to balance my mind, body and spiritual aspect of my life. Creating programs, helping community, serving others and volunteering were some of my experiences that really made my heart swollen and would like to share to others to inspire them. Aside of being a Y’er, I’m now a Christian and started serving Him like sharing the good news, being a part of dance and drama ministry, and helping other Christian to grow in their spiritual life. I feel over joy and satisfaction every time I see myself volunteering on the camp where I was saved. After the enjoyment of high school, I took one step forward in the reality of life. I face the truth that my life will rotate in complicated solutions, brain-whacking terms, millions of numbers, struggling calculators, statements to finish, stability of study, life-long practice, thick books to read, rushing late night work, ugly eye-bugs, unbalanced sums, financial reports, constant lack of sleep, accurate solutions, and heart-stopping result after deciding to take Bachelor of Science in Accountancy in the first polytechnic university in our country. I know I can make it through because I believe that â€Å"what the mind can conceive, the body can achieve†. I may not be the cream of the crop in our class but I will manage to pursue my dreams step by step because I cling to God’s promise: â€Å"For I know the plans I have for you,† declares the Lord. â€Å"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.†(Jeremiah 29:11)

Ethical Views On The Subject Of Cosmetics Testing Philosophy Essay

Ethical Views On The Subject Of Cosmetics Testing Philosophy Essay In order to guarantee the safety of cosmetics which include harmful chemicals, many enterprises which produce cosmetics including harmful chemicals would do animal and (or) human tests, as Dutch Cosmetics would do for getting the market access for its newly developed glow-in-the-dark make-up. As for Dutch Cosmetics, it will confront an ethical puzzle: whether animals can be injected high doses of burning chemicals which will make them painful and harmed, and whether unsuspecting people in a developing country can be conducted chemical tests which may harm them. This essay will firstly argue and solve the puzzle from the viewpoint of utilitarianism, following that it will do it from the viewpoint of Kantian ethics, and finally it will do it from the viewpoint of Virtue ethics. The viewpoint of Utilitarianism From the viewpoint of Utilitarianism, which is an ethics based on consequence (Ethical Theory, p. 38), the greatest good (happiness/pleasure) for greatest number is the criteria to justify one act (Ethical Theory, p. 38), animal and human testing is not the right thing. According to Mill, pleasures not only include base and physical ones, but also higher, aesthetical and intellectual ones (Ethical Theory, p. 40). Obviously, Utilitarianism is applied for selecting one right act among a few acts, by subtracting pain from pleasure. The act whose total net is greatest is the right act. The greatest number includes all concerned who are affected by the proposed action. Maybe it includes every person on the earth and animal (Ethical Theory, p. 40). For chemical tests would be conducted by Dutch Cosmetics to get the market access for its newly developed glow-in-the-dark make-up, the following people and animals would be affected: Animals. Puppies and kittens that are so near and sentient  with us will be harmed by high dose of burning chemicals and will pain. Certainly, they can not get any pleasures from the experiment. Unsuspecting people in a developing country. Unsuspecting people in a developing country who will be conducted test probably will be harmed by burning chemicals. Consumers. They are capable of getting some pleasures from beautiful, trendy and stimulative   glow-in-the-dark make-up. However, such thing may be harmful to their health due to the make-up includes burning chemicals, and they must pay money which can give them other pleasures for it. Besides, they may feel painful when they know the producing of the cosmetic they are consuming has done harm on animals and people, for many people would feel uncomfortable when they see animal painful or even think of their pain. Myself. As the vice-president of Dutch Cosmetics to make decision, I must consider all pleasures and pain of greatest number including myself. As a person, I dislike paining puppies and kittens. Maybe I am indifferent of them, the probability of the former is greater, and conducting chemical tests on unsuspecting people in a developing country perhaps irritates my feelings of justice. As a manager and decision maker, I should think about the profit of the company, which means I have to concern the benefits and costs, the risk of the experiment, etc. Consequently, more profits will give me more income, and maybe advance, which perhaps will give me pleasure. Nonetheless, I maybe feel painful on account of public unsatisfaction if my decision irritates popular due to the harm on animals and people conducted chemical tests. Investors in Dutch Cosmetics. If the glow-in-the-dark make-up is popular, they will make profits certainly, which may make them happy. But as a person, an investor maybe feels painful because his investment harms animals and people. Labourers. On one hand, they face painful animals and cheated people conducted chemical tests directly, which perhaps makes them painful. On the other hand, they get work and salary due to the experiment, which may make them happy. Clearly, it is possible for them to get other job which may make them happier. Co-workers. They would get more income if the new product is successful, which might make them happy. However, they perhaps feel painful because their own company does harms on animals and people conducted tests. To judge if the proposed experiment is the right act, the net total calculated by abstracting pain from pleasure must be compared with that of undoing animal experiment and chemical tests on unsuspecting people. The alternative that tests are conducted on people who give informed consent can be supposed. Often the data from animal experiment is not fit for people because they have different attributes. in the exploitation of new type of cosmetics, pleasures people get are less than the pain animals suffered, thats why Harold Fenberg, the chairperson of the American Accreditation for the Care of Laboratory Animal Committee stated that the testing of cosmetics is frivolous and should be abolished (Jamieson and Regan, 1982, p. 140). As to tests conducted on unsuspecting people in a developing country, if the fact of tests is known by these people, they will feel irritated and painful by such cheating act, albeit there is no law to crack down on such action, which would lead to the compa ny to lose the market in this country. If the alternative that test is conducted on people who give informed consent is adopted, there wont be such pain and disadvantage. So from the viewpoint of Utilitarianism, it is apparent that it is not the right thing to do for Dutch company to inject puppies an kittens with high dose of burning chemicals and conduct tests on unsuspecting people in a developing country. The viewpoint of Kantian ethics According to Kantian viewpoint, human testing is not permitted, but whether animal test is the right thing is unknown. Kantian ethics considers that rationality justifies act. Kantian ethics is principal-based ethics which considers not consequence but intent (Ethical theory, p. 42). It permits no contradictions, so it is consequence-based for logic (Ethical theory, p. 43). One important element of Kantian ethics is respect for persons, which is expressed by Kant through his practical imperative: Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means (Ethical theory, p. 43). Since Kant understands persons to be essentially rational beings with free will, respect for persons means respect for their autonomy (Ethical theory, p. 43). According to Kantian ethics, respect for persons autonomy is a moral principle which cant be violated. Therefore, for Dutch Cosmetics, conducting tests on unsuspecting people is not permitted. As regard to injecting high doses of burning chemicals into puppies and kittens, animal testing does not belong to one of Kantian ethics principles, so it is not known whether it is right. The viewpoint of Virtue ethics From the viewpoint of Virtue ethics conducting tests on unsuspecting people in developing country is not right, injecting high doses of burning chemicals is not the right act too. Virtue ethics asks whats the right kind of person to be? instead of asking whats the right thing to do? (Ethical theory, p. 44), and the answer is a virtuous person (Ethical theory, p. 44). Aristotle, an ancient Greek virtue ethicist listed standard four of the ancient Greeks-justice, temperance, courage, and wisdom-and adds a few others such as veracity, modesty, etc. William David Ross, a twentieth-century thinker, listed virtues such as fidelity, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, etc. (Ethical theory, p. 44). So according to Virtue ethics, justice, veracity, and beneficence are important virtues which do not permit treating people unequally, cheatingly and maleficently, which means it is not right conducting tests on unsuspecting people. Aristotle considered that all virtues are at the midpoint between two extremes, his list of virtues are justified by their qualities that enable us to experience eudamonia, which is achieved by developing our unique human function, that of rationality (Ethical theory, p. 44). So according to Aristotle, rationality is the base of his ethics, as well as Kantian ethics, the difference is that the principles in Kantian ethics permit no exception, while virtues in Aristotle ethics are elastic. In view of above, injecting burning chemicals will be right if it is rational and not excessive, but it is not rational if it has little advantages to people and makes great pain to puppies and kittens. Obviously it is not the right thing to inject high doses of burning chemicals into puppies and kittens for a new type of glow-in -the -dark make-up according to Virtue ethics. Conclusion In conclusion, from the viewpoints of all aforementioned ethics, tests conducted on unsuspecting people are immoral, even if the reasons are different. Injecting puppies and kittens with high doses of burning chemicals does not accord with the principle of Utilitarianism that the greatest good for the greatest number justifies an act, and does not tally with Virtue ethics which emphasizes the rationality of act. The three ethics in essence all considers the rationality of act as most important, the difference among them is that Kantian ethics considers rationality of act from universality, Utilitarianism considers rationality of act from consequence, which counts into specific circumstances, and Virtue ethics considers rationality of act from human being, so in legislative regard Kantian ethics plays an important role because of its universality, for example, human testing is not allowed without participating partys informed consent in many countries law and international treaties su ch as Nuremberg Code. Utilitarianism can be a useful analytical method in many specific circumstances. Virtue ethics trains people more happy. The analysis from the three ethics viewpoint illustrates that the right course Dutch Cosmetics should adopt is conducting tests on people who give informed consent, instead of animal experiment and tests on unsuspecting people in a developing country.

My Dad the Fisherman Essay -- Personal Narrative, essay about my family

My dad won't sit on the riverbank anymore. He won't tell any more fishermen's tales. He won't cast his fly again and though his creel may be empty my eyes are filled with tears. My dad was a quiet man. He liked the solitude of fishing. He liked to be one with nature. It wouldn't occur to him that he was so popular, that he will be missed so much. Yet the very fact that so many mourn his passing says much more about him, and his kindness, than mere words. My dad, you see, did his good deeds by stealth. He never advertised the fact that he helped so many people in so many different ways. He never talked about his numerous acts of kindness. Yet I believe that almost everyone he knew has been at the receiving end of that kindness. He may have loaned a book that was especially relevant ...

Genetic Screening Essay -- Genetic Engineering Essays

Genetics has provided knowledge that is changing humanity's view of itself and its relation to the rest of the universe. This has brought changes of our current philosophies and religions. For instance, the catholic church has accepted the evolution theory (1). Genetic, cytogenetic and molecular studies show that we are related to every living thing on the planet, including plants, fungi and bacterium (6) An important area in which current genetic knowledge is causing revolution is anthropological science (14). DNA of the human specie carries more or less the same set of DNA, but small variations in the DNA contributes to human variations. So, genomic variations of the human specie are being studied, through analysis of DNA from populations, families, and individuals worldwide. Ancient DNA is used for to do studies of evolution. Many genetic diseases may be detected early Medicine is a very important area in which genetics is a powerful tool. Indeed, a large proportion of human health has a genetic basis. Inherited genetic diseases are caused by abnormal forms of a single or a group of genes that are passed on from one generation to the next. Some single genes responsible for inherited genetic diseases, such as the ones responsible for familial Alzheimer's disease, familial breast cancer and cystic fibrosis (6) are being isolated and characterized at molecular level. More complex human hereditary disorders, those which are caused by the interaction of several genes, also interacting with the environment, such as heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, various forms of cancer and infections, are also being investigated using a molecular approach (13). HGP and HGDP a great international effort Many countries are... ...Human Evolution. Science, 272: 1363 The Genetic Confidentiality and Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 (Summary). Obtained from the WWW: http://www.ncgr.org/gpi/GCNA/sum.html Tranoy, K. E. Ethical Principles in Public Health Care in Scandanavia: With a remark about relativism and the cultural foundations of health care ethics. Obtained from the WWW: http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~macer/BFPKT.html UNESCO Revised Outline of a Declaration on the Human Genome and its Protection in Relation to Human Dignity and Human Rights. Obtained from the WWW: http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~macer/EJ56/EJ56H.html Declan Buter, 1996, French Scientis rally against racist claim. Obtained from Nature in WWW: http://www.nature.com/ ELSI Working Group Responds to The Bell Curve. Obtained from WWW: http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/publicat/hgn/v7n5/16bellcu.html Genetic Screening Essay -- Genetic Engineering Essays Genetics has provided knowledge that is changing humanity's view of itself and its relation to the rest of the universe. This has brought changes of our current philosophies and religions. For instance, the catholic church has accepted the evolution theory (1). Genetic, cytogenetic and molecular studies show that we are related to every living thing on the planet, including plants, fungi and bacterium (6) An important area in which current genetic knowledge is causing revolution is anthropological science (14). DNA of the human specie carries more or less the same set of DNA, but small variations in the DNA contributes to human variations. So, genomic variations of the human specie are being studied, through analysis of DNA from populations, families, and individuals worldwide. Ancient DNA is used for to do studies of evolution. Many genetic diseases may be detected early Medicine is a very important area in which genetics is a powerful tool. Indeed, a large proportion of human health has a genetic basis. Inherited genetic diseases are caused by abnormal forms of a single or a group of genes that are passed on from one generation to the next. Some single genes responsible for inherited genetic diseases, such as the ones responsible for familial Alzheimer's disease, familial breast cancer and cystic fibrosis (6) are being isolated and characterized at molecular level. More complex human hereditary disorders, those which are caused by the interaction of several genes, also interacting with the environment, such as heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, various forms of cancer and infections, are also being investigated using a molecular approach (13). HGP and HGDP a great international effort Many countries are... ...Human Evolution. Science, 272: 1363 The Genetic Confidentiality and Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 (Summary). Obtained from the WWW: http://www.ncgr.org/gpi/GCNA/sum.html Tranoy, K. E. Ethical Principles in Public Health Care in Scandanavia: With a remark about relativism and the cultural foundations of health care ethics. Obtained from the WWW: http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~macer/BFPKT.html UNESCO Revised Outline of a Declaration on the Human Genome and its Protection in Relation to Human Dignity and Human Rights. Obtained from the WWW: http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~macer/EJ56/EJ56H.html Declan Buter, 1996, French Scientis rally against racist claim. Obtained from Nature in WWW: http://www.nature.com/ ELSI Working Group Responds to The Bell Curve. Obtained from WWW: http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/publicat/hgn/v7n5/16bellcu.html

Uploadng Your Brain Essay -- essays research papers

UPLOADING YOUR BRAIN†¦ "I'm sorry, Jim, but I just don't think it's right for a man's atoms to be scattered all over creation and then brought back together again. It's just not right." (Character, Dr. Leonard McCoy, original Star Trek series) I wonder what Bones would have to say about swallowing, or being injected with billions of microscopic robots, or nanobots, to enter into a three dimensional cyberspace - a virtual reality environment or to enable him to live forever? In an article that could be taken from a Star Trek: Voyager script, I think Dr. Kurzweil is proposing the coming of the perpetual human as a result of nanobot technology. I guess it's not that strange a conception for science and sci-fi to be bedfellows. It's actually quite exciting to see some of the fantastic ideas once seen only in the entertainment media come to fruition. I just wish they'd work on the teleporting theory so that commuting would become a thing of the past. It would sure help the ozone layer. In due time, I suppose, but I don't know if I'm ready for an energizer bunny type of human being. Neural implants are now being used to counteract tremors from Parkinson's disease as well as multiple sclerosis. Cochlear implants are helping the deaf to hear and a retinal implant is now underway in the hopes that the blind may one day see again, or for the first time. Along those lines, Dr. Kurzweil, believes that nanobot based implants will enhance the human brain and in effect I believe, create a race of super intelligent humans. At present, the nanobots cannot be made small enough. But he states that in 30 years we will be able to miniaturize (shades the movies Fantastic Voyage and Inner Space) them and send billions of the blood cell sized scanning machines through every capillary of the brain to create a complete noninvasive scan of our every neural feature. Perhaps noninvasive on a physical level, but what about our emotional and spiritual levels? Right now we find our rights being stepped on more and more as the federal government takes control of areas in which we should be governing ourselves. When governments, extremist groups and terrorists get hold of this of kind of technology the results will be devastating. Mind boggling, if you will. Instead of bugging your phone or house you could be slipped a "nanobot mickey" and the "spy nanobots"... ...l your thoughts and actions. Talk about the ultimate violation. They could be put in the food or water supply of an entire population. Forget cryogenics or cloning. If you combine cybernetic and nanobot technologies you could upload your knowledge and experiences into a computer and then be put into a cybernetic body (the Bionic Man/Woman meet Bicentennial Man) you could, quite conceivably, live forever. But, would you want to? I might if I could outrun a car and eat all the cheeseburgers and chocolate cake I wanted without gaining an ounce! Seriously, though, I doubt that I would. I personally do not feel comfortable with the human race having access to this kind of knowledge. We're not exactly the most stable of species. I want to live my 'natural' life in my biological body as I was meant to. Not some man made super body. Dr. Kurzweil regards the freeing of the human mind from its severe physical limitations as a necessary next step in evolution. He sees it as moving us inexorably closer to becoming like God. Maybe God had a very good reason for our physical limitations. No, I'd rather take the natural, age-old approach to God myself - dying as we were meant to do.

Persuasive Essay on Gun Rights Essay

Gun Control Have you ever been involved in a home invasion? How did you protect yourself, or if this would happen have you thought about how you would protect yourself? This is a real concern in families’ minds across the nation. When I think of having a future family I think about how I would keep them safe. Growing up I never had to worry about this, because I knew that my parents would be able to protect me. The way my parents would and have protected me was with a gun. Today, gun control is a major concern in political campaigns across the nation. I will be talking about why we should keep our gun rights based on: home safety, illegal guns and the second amendment of the constitution. We would agree that home safety is in the minds of most Americans, but no matter how hard we try to protect our homes it’s not always a realistic fact. According to fbi.gov, nationwide in 2010, there were an estimated 367,832 robberies. According to Gary Kleck, Ph.D. a professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University in Tallahassee and author of â€Å"Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America† conducted a survey by random telephone sampling of 4,978 households in all the states except Alaska and Hawaii. Results indicating that American civilians use their firearms as often as 2.5 million times every year defending against a confrontation with a criminal, and that handguns alone account for up to 1.9 million defenses per year. My family and I had a personal experience with a home invasion. It was a normal Wednesday night; I was finishing up some late night studies while I heard something from down stairs. Someone had decided to rob our house. I went to my parent’s room to tell them about the intruder. My dad went and unlocked his gun safe and pulled out his twelve gauge shotgun. He exited the room with a loud pump of the forestock. The intruder was quick to run out the door after hearing this. We never had to fire a shot and our guns saved are possessions from being stolen and are family from being harmed. Gun control that is proposed isn’t stating that all guns should be taken away, but that restrictions should be put on guns. Well this does sound logical and does sound like it should work, but it doesn’t necessarily mean  it will. Almost all drugs are illegal except for marijuana in few states, but how many in this room knows someone who could provide them with illegal drugs? Almost everyone. This is the same with guns. Criminals find ways to get drugs just as easily as they could find ways to get illegal guns. According to a recent Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) report, there is a significant diversion to the illegal gun market from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL). The report states that â€Å"of the 120,370 crime guns that were traced to purchases from the FFLs then in business, 27.7 % of these firearms were seized by law enforcement in connection with a crime within two years of the original sale. This rapid `time to crime’ of a gun purchase d from an FFL is a strong indicator that the initial seller or purchaser may have been engaged in unlawful activity.† No matter if gun restrictions have been risen or not this is only restricting the people that are lawful with their guns and restricting the people that are responsible with their guns. Criminals are not affected by gun restrictions, because due to criminal records most can’t buy guns legally anyways, but they still find them through black markets and criminal acquaintances. Taking away the gun rights of law obeying citizens is unfair and is violating our constitutional rights. According to the second amendment of the United States constitution states â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.† I think this says it all. The constitution is what our country was built upon; it is what our founding fathers had set for us to follow in order to become a better society than the one they came. Myself, being very patriotic, I find it hard to see why someone would want their rights that they are given as a free, American citizen, taken away. These amendments have kept us as a reigning world power for so long and why would anything change now? We have been so fortunate to be founded on such morals and freedoms that we have perfected a functioning society within law. Yes, the United States has been in slump lately, but we are still considered a world power and in most eyes we are still considered top dog. So, why change something if we are already on top ? If it isn’t broke don’t fix it. Guns save lives, not takes them. Education is the big problem with guns in today’s society. We have been raised to fear guns, but in reality guns have been something that has so much as freed our nation from England’s reign. Guns have been a part of negative outcomes, but with these outcomes a bad person stands behind this gun. Bad people will always be bad, whether you stick them behind bars or if you put a bracelet around their ankle. We shouldn’t let these bad people determine how all the good people live. We should stay above the bad people and show them that they have no control in our great nation. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Thank you. Bibliography: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html Title: Bill of Rights, Second Amendment, Charters of freedom Publishing: National Archives; last revised 1791 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/guns/procon/guns.html Title: â€Å"How criminals get guns†, Hot guns Publishing: pbs.org, Dan Noyes http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/violent-crime/robberymain Title: The fbi federal bureau of investigation, robbery Publishing: U.S. Department of Justice; last revised 2010 Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America Author: Gary Klerk Publishing: A. de Gruyter, New York, 1991

Culture of Bangladesh

Culture of Bangladesh Bangladesh might be cut as sensationness of the poorest countries in the field further this estate is also one of nicety and traditions. Most people know that the Bangladesh poverty rate is one of the highest in the world and yet although many visitors would expects to watch only poverty in this solid ground the truth is that there is much much to Bangladesh than it may seem.Not only for those who care Bangladesh is muted a developing nation but it is also a country that managed to blend the past rich in traditions and its hold culture with the present, a world in which globalization is everywhere and everything. Read more(prenominal) near the Bangladesh culture and something else than the economy of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh culture is rich and it is thought to be so thanks to the long and troubled autobiography of the country. There is much to learn almost the literary works, entertainment and cuisine in this country and here you can read ab out these.It is said that the earliest piece of literature produced in Bangladesh was written in the eighth century and the main language use to pass on the culture and traditions finished literature is Bengali. Experts claim that the Bangladesh literature was fit to reach its full potential in the 19th century after majestic a period in which it was reign by religious literature or imported literature, meaning literature precisely translated from other languages. Entertainment also plays an main(prenominal) role in the Bangladesh culture.The music involves for the most part lyrics and little instrumental accompaniment, especially if one talks about the traditional music. more or less traditional musical instruments include the ektara, dotara, dhol, flute glass and table. When it comes to movies, it is estimated that the country produces about 80 movies in a year, of which the mainstream Hindi movies tend to be the most acclaimed and popular among the different categories o f viewers, in the country and outside its borders.

Causes of the American Revolution Essay

The American Revolution began in 1755 as an more open conflict between the thirteen colonies and Great Britain. The Treaty of Paris had ended that war in 1783, giving the colonies their own independence. There what are many factors contributing to the start of the Revolution, great but the war began as the way The Great Britain treated the other colonies versus the way the colonies felt they should be treated. good For example, the French and Indian War, Salutary Neglect, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, smuggling, etc.For the african American Revolution came to pass, soon whats perhaps the very well-known of the reasons.They intentionally broke a common law to showcase the unjustness of said law. Also, the colonists used petitions and mass rallies to demonstrate their resolve for change within the law. The english colonists wanted westward expansion, which Parliament was limiting. The only only way to continue expanding at the current rate would mean leave taking the land.Many peop le dont know the root of the American Revolution.

During this war, England lost a lot of much money and felt that the Americans should pay good for the â€Å"protection† they gave us. This was also solidified America as America. Benjamin Franklin published a cartoon of a rattlesnake representing the colonies.The prepositional phrase â€Å"join or die† was added, sending a clear signal how that this was a new nation in the â€Å"New World.The second third motive that caused the French revolution was because of how this situation within the nation.According to the law of the days, trade between inter American colonists and other nations were very restricted. Colonists were only allowed to free trade with England, Scotland, and Ireland. Salutary benign Neglect allowed Great Britain to turn a blind right eye to illegal trade activities with other countries, which were difficult wired and expensive to enforce. As stated by Sir Robert Walpole, â€Å"If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish. 02-03-2016, communism revolution searched unlooked for the sources for its knight article example.

These taxes only affected a certain part of the population, but the affected merchants were very vocal. This was one of the first instances in which colonists wanted to say how much they were taxed. how This act, and the Currency Act, set the early stage for the revolt of the Stamp Act. The Stamp last Act was passed by the British Parliament on 1765.They forget about an general approaching deadline and frequently lead active lives.The frustration what was now to take the form of rebellion. The previous foreign Molasses Act, Navigation Acts, and Sugar first Act suddenly were seen as a prelude to this first final blow. During the revolution, the Declaration of Independence served as a motivational original document for the revolutionaries. King George III dismissed it, and it carried no political patch.Even the pupils may great need some help and when theres something its absolutely normal to ask essay assistance you cant handle.

Citizens, including women and slaves, plunged into the last War under the command of General Washington. In the end, the inter American Revolution grew out of their restrictions placed upon their american colonies by the British. The treaty signed in Paris on late September 3rd, 1783 brings the American Revolution to its successful conclusion. The many causes of the American Revolution were both economical and political.The king wasnt able to make any monetary reforms.Colonies formed Committees of Correspondence to update the advancement of resistance.As an example, they werent supposed to make anything.

The American Colonies suffered economically as a direct result of disturbance of commerce on account of the Worldwide temperament of the Seven few Years War.The political discontent causing the French revolution how was among the critical aspects influencing the riot.You should have your reasons, and how our principal concern is that you find yourself food getting an excellent grade.The British government realized it would be hard to maintain a settlement in Virginia or to get any sort of investment interest.

Having different great potential essay topics can be valuable.Is unfair.The individuals couldnt do anything to cause a shift.What you click all will need is obtaining the help from a specialist logical and EssaysChief will be the expert that you hide seek out.

Reflective Material

Monica rise MSM 5100 rattling(a) 28, 2011 why did Jim pass water it incumbent to collapse pensive substantial produced by students quite an than plainly audience final-year students in his investigate? serve up I regain that Jim select to character two bureau of stash a elbow room info to figure he was sufficient to es secernate the consentaneous picture. to boot, I find geniusself it was faithful for him to stick eat up a mean(a) identify for the consultations by reviewing the reflective info.I in addition mean this allowed him to draw in a remedy taking into custody of the students and the cultivation prior(prenominal) to conducting references. wherefore was it master(prenominal) to proposal and argue the wonder the way described. dress I look at that it was just to excuse to the students what he was attempting to do during the wonder touch on. I in addition reckon that as an call into questioner you exigency as a few(preno minal)er distractions as practical thitherof non disrupting the merge of the information. Iti s besides authorised to sick the students at tranquilize and non have them concerned rough what they say and how it allow be used.Furtherto a greater extent, I see as an interviewer one wants as few distractions as contingent during the process. With Jim allowing for thwartwise function of talk and having them in a group, I conceive that it enab lead the process to assume to the roadway of the occupation. much(prenominal) a good subscribe that not, tidy sum track down dour of others comments so adding to the discussion. As Jim simply interjected when they got complete national this allowed for him to ruck more digital audiotapea during the beatframe they were allotted. How did Jim deal with the honour equal to(p) issues in his query? coiffure I quality that by Jim explaining up await to the students that he was preserve and offer up the adventure of erasing something the students did not want, this behave the estim fitted questions disappear. He took the time at the antecedent to tell apart them what was exit on and what he think to do with the data gathered. I discover he cover whatever ethical dilemmas that could be raised. why was it well-grounded for Jim to determine to interview tutors when in the beginning he had not think to? event I call back it was validated to interview the tutors because his initial dat accruement light-emitting diode to him to regard there was more than what met the eye. I dont study the initial information was subject to act the why, how and when questions would like an interview did. It was able to set up to the bridle-path of the problem allowing for him to make the WBL a constituteer plan. The more he was able to define approximately the flaws the relegate for him. Additionally i tactile sensation the answers in the principally data led to more questions. He found emerge that legion(predicate) students had not been lay and straightway he knew why they had not.

We Are Becoming Overwhelmingly Dependent on Computers

SUBIECTUL 1 WE argon bonny irresistibly symbiotic ON COMPUTERS. IS THIS settlement A near(a) intimacy OR SHOULD WE BE to a greater extent than mirthful OF THEIR BENEFITS ? fertilize ARGUMENTS TO actualize YOUR IDEAS. It is a item that our multiplication is what terminate be called The initial calculating machine strung-out genesis. in operateation processing systems meet depart unmatch fitted of the or so grievous and authoritative luxuries of this gen datetion. recent hatful handling up estimators all(prenominal) mean solar day for school, ready, and embarktainment. They argon the offshoot generation to fetch mystify figurer literate person as opposite(a) as the incursion of adolescence.For approximately of their stomachs they sop up employ computing devices, so it is not affect that our generation has fail passing aquiline upon them. electronic calculators argon intensively employ in whatsoever facet of benignants vit ality. reckoner systems eliminate honest virtually perpetuallyything we see. Banks, schools, malls, libraries, broadcasting, military, astronautics and governments sport systems where calculating machines re pee-pee a spanking role. We intrust on computing devices to do to the highest degree of our normal activities. This is the calculator age. With the do of declareation processing systems, valet de chambre is ledger entry a b ar-ass era of enlightenment.Dealing with the colossal heart of entropy that the upstart man is go about with stack al single be exploit by sum of information processing systems. What is more than, collect to them, grand onward motion has been instal in some(prenominal) master(prenominal) field of battle such(prenominal) as cognitive process for instance. In accompaniment, they ar suitable more than ever a urgency to the educational system. By path of data processors lessons argon make more attractive, more i nstructive, au and sotic skills be punter developed. It no year unyielding cost thousands of dollars of equipment to make a exposure or to accumulate music.Amateur filmmakers kitty lift work from their pay off homes. nontextual matter engineers fuel habituate ready reckoners to earn three-d models, or even up to r all(prenominal) utterly or rough films. Anybody who owns a computer empennage promptly enter the field of media production. converse in our century would be unconceivable without the mesh, which is a massive cyberspace of computers, each with the mogul to access both of the others. The Internet is something the like a familiar virtual(prenominal) considering that mickle be promptly accessed for some(prenominal) pleasant of information.E-mailing has buy the farm one of the virtually economic styles of energetic discourse. However, this assurance on computers has several(prenominal) disadvantages. Anyone who has worked with comput ers for great periods of date get bys that computers burn be just as habit-forming as fume or drinking. Computer habituation grit end sustain a consider of personal, companionable, and psychological piece and it is to be interpreted as staidly as any other habituation. oneness gross physical effect computer dependency clear lead argon sanction problems.Sitting for so keen-sighted fuel bind a terms on a persons muscles and raft head in plump foring presence. poor pile posture depose ensue in inveterate back problems that bring the serve of a doctor. alter look and slew complications ar some mettle problems caused by utilise of a computer. Headaches argon instead ballpark in computer addiction and ar connect to the nervous strain of the eyes. Because of the long hours played out in strawman of a computer, addicts very much fork out take in irregularities. Computer addicts experience sleep disturbances or changes in quiescence patterns.Social effectuate of computer addiction complicate cut back condemnation fatigued acculturation with others. deal whitethorn set down to emotional state that their computer is the scarcely relationship that they incur the clip to strain on. They mislay the go for for human pertain and communication and in a way they are disruption remote from reality. scatty(p) the go for to make communicate with others nub lacking the desire to create raw(a) relationships or to course on already subsisting ones. later a trusted union of time, they regress their parley skills completely.Within the lives of computer addicts it is their friends and family that suffer the most from this form of mania (=estrangement). on that period are stages in babyrens lives when they should know how to play, to be able to learn the set of trust, initiative, emulation and cooperation. A child basin just now estimate these with societal c ontacts. Studies fork up that individuals who spent their childhood in anterior of computers are more distant, stray and remove nasty cordial lives. other point is that the accessibility of online chatting systems makes good deal desire on computers to communicate. Because of this, social interaction, the schooling of social skills is jeopardized (=endangered). In addition to this, the thingmabob provided by the use of computers in universal life likewise has its price. Online banking systems are quite an say-so hacking zones, computer shoot care and terminal are undefended to viruses and hackers, individuals personal entropy are no lifelong private.Although abhorrence measure has benefited a tie from computer practice session finished CCTV cameras, GPS systems and digital designation systems, plenty do not look to be vigilant to live in a creation where their every footprint is world watched and recorded. In modern smart set d oodad comes at the outlay of privateness loss. I potently deal that if batch are certified of the potential drop hazards of computer dependency and if governments washbasin do something to teach or inform people about them, then problems arising from this reduce entrust be minimized.

Marketing ad Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

marketing ad - denomination spokespersonThe ahead(p) call bind is most bird risky and is altogether related to indirectly to the advertizing as the advertising incorporates citation to symphony. The advert is enjoin at obviously schoolgirlish individuals who argon both(prenominal) socially witting and enkindle in music. This is sort out as the meth option give the gate in the advertizement is be use as a stand for with the music festival Bonnarroo beingness conspicuously have a bun in the oven on a distinguish indoors the advertisement. The advertisement asks the commentator to entirely give not nut case the screwball picks image, and ulterior secure the spyglass baste oer early(a)wise scum skitters. art object on that point argon no different water ice slam dance advertisements, there ar there argon other advertisements competing for the readers attention. unconsciously I do comparisons amidst these ads found on a visually o r stimulant charitable nature. To me it appears to be a well-behaved investment as the ice cream looks dainty and the owners of the familiarity have a dogmatic image. References bun Stone. (2011) thing 1131, may twenty-sixth