My Problems Essays - Acute Pain, Nociception, Pain, Suffering

My Problems BACK PROBLEMS I am a 21 year old male with back problems, It just seems like I have had this all my life. I cant remember what caused it. But I remember when it started. Four years ago is when I started to feel back pains, mostly in my lower back. It took me a long time to deal with it and quit being macho about it. I used to try to ignore the pain while I played sports, during school, and even at work. Even though the pain is unbearable. The pain is so painful it sometimes knocks the nerve out of my right knee. Which is weird because I receive the pain in the bottom left side. So I am feeling pain on opposite sides, which is dramatically painful. I felt that if I quit the game that I love so much I will never be able to look at myself in the mirror or wonder what it could have been. I still remember my last hockey game as a goalie. My team and I were up by two goals in the start of the third period (last period) when from out of nowhere I felt a tingly sensation in my spine. This always meant that my back problem was starting to come back. I remember telling myself that I just had to last until the third period was over when suddenly there was a breakaway (this is when an opposing team player has the puck and no one else is around him). As I skated out to cut down the angle, the opposing teams player shoot and as I went down to block it, I felt a popping sensation and a overwhelming pain went to my back. It hurt like hell but luckily he shot it right at my position and I covered it up. To make matters worse the guy that shot the puck tripped and started sliding uncontrollably towards me. When he made contact with me I was on my knees and when we collided, all his weight caused to fall backwards onto the ice. The only sound that I heard was my own voice screaming in pain. My teammates tried to help me up but my back wouldnt support my weight. So I limped off the ice, so angry that I throw my helmet to the ground. I ended up watching game on the bench. No one knew this was my last game but me, but luckily we won the game by one. After the game I went to the hospital and the doctor told me that I had pinched nerve and that this would be with me for the rest of my life. Not even surgery could fix this problem. He then told me the news that hurt almost as much as my back, I had to quit the game that I loved so much for my health. The doctor gave me two prescriptions and sent me on my way. One was supposed to be a muscle relaxer and the other one a painkiller. Both medicines helped for awhile, but after a year or so, my body became immune to them and I was forced to live with my unbearable pain. In conclusion, even though some people may say that Im too young to experience back problems, I can personally say that age doesnt matter. Chronic back problems are something that thousands of people deal with everyday, both young and old. Health Care

Kerosene in Diesel Engine Question

Kerosene in Diesel Engine Question Scott, you are right, we had discussed the clear liquid shortening and I thought I had stayed away from it until I saw the cubies. Yesterday, I went back to my supplier and commented about the mixing of Clear Liquid Oil and Clear Liquid Shortening. Undoubtedly, the grill cook was not aware the oil had been mixed until I saw it on the cubies and so Ive been told they have a new supplier and it will be only Clear Liquid Oil. I have asked them to keep the empty cubies for me, so I can use them for storage, etc. I will wait and see what happens. The kero I had mentioned mixing with my biodiesel is considered highway kero with taxes paid on it at the pump. In N.C. all of our kero is dyed, as well as off road diesel. Our DOT will spot check big rigs, but so far I havent heard of them checking small diesels. However, I never use dyed fuel in my pickup. Next door in S.C. all of the fuel is cheaper due to our state taxes being lower so the kero is actually cheaper than their diesel. Our kero is higher than our diesel and the diesel is 20 to 40 cents higher per gallon than our unleaded. Several years ago, I had an Olds with a GM diesel (converted gasoline to diesel) and the book allowed me to use 10 percent gasoline during the winter to keep the diesel from gelling. Do you think that would be wise to use gasoline in biodiesel during the winter? My friend that I was splitting the oil with has backed out of using SVO I think mainly due to the mods he would have to do to his truck. Anyway, he left me with some literature he had pulled off the internet about using SVO and unleaded gasoline. Im thinking that would be a great way to blow an engine or at least coke it pretty heavily in a short time. Looks like there is a little of everything on the net. Have a great day. Tom Hey Tom,As long as you can get highway kero, and its cheaper, go ahead and run it with a mixture of at least B20 to keep the lubricity up. Kerosene is often used as a thinning (viscosity reducing) agent to help prevent diesel (middle distillate grade #2) and biodiesel fuel gelling in cold weather, but it does reduce the fuels lubricity as well. Since biodiesel has a very high level of lubricity, the reduction from mixing with kerosene is minimal. With regular petro diesel, care must be taken to avoid over-thinning. To avoid this problem, most fuel distribution centers carry winter diesel (light distillate grade #1) for delivery to fueling stations in cold climates. Diesel engines, however, are remarkably tolerant of fuel formulations and can run on just about any low volatility oil based fuel, but of course that doesnt mean they should or that it is even legal (tax wise) or beneficial to do so. While the engines themselves (pistons and valves) are more or less indifferent to fuel types, the emissions and injection controls on modern clean diesel engines would likely be damaged by using any fuel other than ULSD or B5. For illustration purposes only, following is a (mostly complete) list of fuels that can be burned in a diesel engine: Diesel #1 Diesel #2 Diesel #4 ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) Biodiesel (from B5 to B100) Kerosene Home heating oil Civil jet fuel (Jet A-1, Jet A, Jet B) Military jet fuel(JP-4,JP-5,JP-8) SVO (Straight Vegetable And this is interesting- your fuel prices in the Carolinas are different than ours further north. In central PA as of 05-20-08: No, the E85 price is not a typo. Ethanol based fuel has been about a buck a gallon cheaper for the last several years. Ive been experimenting with varying percentages of E85 in my gasoline powered 5.7-liter 1994 Chevy Silverado. A story about my results as well as doing a full conversion to E85 is in the plans. Which brings me to your question about running a gasoline and SVO (straight vegetable oil) mixture in a diesel. I would steer clear for the very reasons you mentioned as well as others from horror stories Ive heard. Diesels are compression ignition engines designed for dense, low volatility oil based fuels (diesel, biodiesel and kerosene). Gasoline style engines are spark ignited and require light and highly volatile fuels (gasoline, alcohol and E85). It doesnt take a stretch of the imagination to understand that an improperly-mixed amount of gasoline and vegetable oil (too much gasoline) could easily prematurely ignite (detonate) and destroy a diesel engines pistons and/or va lvetrain. Reciprocally, Ive heard stories of mixtures with too much veggie oil gumming up and clogging filters, pumps and injectors. In my opinion, there are only two safe methods to run vegetable oil in a diesel engine: Use properly manufactured biodiesel, or install a conversion kit that heats (thus reducing viscosity) the SVO before introduction to the fuel pump and injectors. As always, Tom, thanks for the great comments and questions. Best,Scott

Questions to Help You Choose Your College Major

Questions to Help You Choose Your College Major When you were in high school, everyone wanted to know where you were going to go to college. Now that youre there, everyone wants to know what youre going to major in. If youre having problems deciding, try asking yourself these five questions. What Do I Love? Knowing what really engages you is critically important when picking a major. If you think you want to be a doctor but cant wait until chemistry ends because it means you can head straight to your Shakespeare class, pay attention to that. No matter what major you choose, if youre like everyone else, youll end up changing careers several times during your lifetime. So pick something that speaks to the fire in your belly and that will get you excited, regardless of the context in which its presented. What am I Good At? Do students in your residence hall always come to you for help with their biology homework? Do you always earn rave reviews for your performances or art work? Majoring in something that you have a natural inclination toward can speak to where your interests and skills are, and, if youre particularly skilled in a specific subject, can possibly lead to further study (abroad, in graduate school, or with a fellowship after graduation). What Do I Want to Do? Have you always wanted to be a doctor? A teacher? A lawyer? Dont limit yourself to only doing what is traditional for those fields. If you want to be a doctor but have a love of Spanish literature, make sure you take your pre-med requirements ... and look into majoring in Spanish. Having college goals and exploring your interests along the way can be a bonus on your graduate school applications. Similarly, if you know youve always wanted to work on Wall Street, make sure youre adequately prepared with the coursework youll need to get your foot in the door. Your major and your preparation for a professional field dont always have to be the exact same thing. What Skills Do I Want to Learn? If you love theater and are hoping to pursue it full-time after you graduate, remember to keep in mind the additional skills youll need to do so. If you want to run your own theater company someday, youll need to know about all kinds things about business rules, ethics, marketing, writing, public relations, and customer service. Pick a major that is intellectually interesting and that also provides you with the practical training you may need later. What Life Factors Do I Need to Consider? Many students have additional factors influencing their college choices: family, financial obligations, cultural expectations. While exploring your own path is highly important, its also important to keep in mind that these external forces will have an influence on your post-college life in one way or another. Finding a major that can provide balance for your internal dreams and desires with external expectations can make an overwhelming situation sometimes feel more manageable.

Should animals be used in Sports and entertainment Research Paper

Should animals be used in Sports and entertainment - Research Paper Example The side in favor of using animals for sports and entertainment present their views that involvement of animals in activities of sports and entertainment is a normal practice and it has been used for centuries in cultural activities. There are a number of cultural events in Spain and South America which use bulls who end up either running on the roads and striking whoever comes in their way, or trying to hit the waving cloth. These activities do not cause harm to the participating animals in any way and therefore there is nothing unethical about this. (Debatepedia) On the other side, the opposing side argues that such cultural activities are what promote the use of animals in a brutal way. They argue that humans tend to go a step further and involve the animals in a cruel game or way. According to them, if the use of animals in simple sports and entertainment is banned, then the brutal games will be finished itself. The side against the involvement of animals for means of sports and entertainment also argues that animals should also not be used for showing skills and displaying their trained nature to the public. Such activities are performed in the circus where the wild animals are trained to behave in an unnatural way of publicly accepted attitude by the force of a whip (RSPCA Victoria). Also they see the elephant rides as unethical as this means that the commercial purpose promoters are using the animals as a means to an end and not as an end themselves. This is according to the categorical imperative introduced by Immanuel Kant (Kant). In this context, it can be related to the fact that the animals are used for commercial purposes and not taken care of because they are animals. In response to this, the side in favor of utilization of animals for entertainment and sports present their views that the circus is where the public, particularly children, experience these animals. When the general public watches and experiences these animals, only then they fall in love with these animals. They argue that one can only love an object or living being if he or she watches and experiences it. When these people see these animals in circus or in zoo, they fall in love with them and then they take care of them. Therefore, usually circus and zoo turns out to be the first step of taking care of the animals on the part of general public and eventually falling in love with them. Most people do not go on safari rides or jungles to see the wildlife and therefore their only chance of watching these animals is in zoo or circus. Therefore, it is also fair to the humans to experience the gifts of nature in the shape of animals, and also there is nothing wrong in doing this. Humans who like to play and enjoy usually tend to feel good when they are involved in sporting activities. When a person who loves to play football play well end up in a good mood when it plays football. Also jolly people who like to enjoy feel happy when they are involved in an act of entertainment as this makes them and others laugh and enjoy. Similar to people are animals who also feel happy when they play and provide entertainment. Most of the animals have playful personalities and

Workplace Stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Workplace Stress - Essay Example The stress and strain day in and day out may result in broken families and relationships. It can also cause depression, anxiety and mental ill-health. Ever since the creation of the Law Enforcement Administration in 1968, tremendous amount of research on policing, police departments and police officers in the United States, has been carried out. Examining the effects of service, work and gender activities of the perception of officers of the workplace and their general work world, revealed that this perception is closely related to what they do than who they are ( Winfree, Jr. Guiterman & Mays, 1997). Police work tends to be regarded as inherently stressful because of the personal risk of being exposed to violence, confrontation, and the day to day involvement in various traumatic incidents. The stress faced by the police officers has been referred to as the "police paradox" (Cullen et. al. 1983) because both the safe and unsafe aspects of the job combine to produce the stress symptoms. Policing is considered to be a highly stressful job especially for female police officers, who are caught up between the increasing threats of violence on our streets. In a research focusing on the workplace stress problems for both men and women in the police force, a survey carried out in 25 departments revealed that although both men and women experienced many similar problems, the gendered nature of the police organizations cause unique stresses for women (Morash & Haarr, 1995). Work stress is observed to be associated with depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress symptoms and chronic back pain (Gershon, Lin & Li Xianbin, 2002). They also assessed that work characterized stress, coping strategies and health related outcomes from a sample of police officers aged 50. The findings suggested that older officers especially the female police officers are at an increasing risk of being subjected to work stress related health problems, if they rely on risky health behaviors in order to cope with stress. Although both the male and the female police officers are exposed to relatively the same types of work stressors, but the female officers report higher rates of sex discrimination and prejudice which contributes to psychological distress. Another work stressor to be taken into consideration is that there are more chances of the female police officers and detectives to be involved with sexual offenders or victims of violence. This causes higher levels of self-perceived stress in females than faced by male police officers (Brown & Fielding, 1993). The results also showed that uniformed women constables were less likely to be exposed to police operational stressors which involved the chances for violence, but in case of such exposure, the reactions reported by female officers were brutal than those from uniformed policemen. In addition to that the organizational issues such as the demands of work intruding upon the life at home, lack of communication and consultation, lack of control over the workload, insufficient support and excess of workload in general; are major work stressors. It is also observed that both personal and occupational stressors in female police officers from personality constraints appeared to be more stress-prone. All these stressors are symptoms of

Sociology of Education Essay Example for Free

Sociology of Education Essay Education is a social institution that sociologists are very interested in studying. This includes teaching formal knowledge such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well as teaching other things such as morals, values, and ethics. Education prepares young people for entry into society and is thus a form of socialization. Sociologists want to know how this form of socialization affects and is affected by other social structures, experiences, and outcomes. Sociology of education is a field that focuses on two separate levels of analysis. At a macro-level, sociologists work to identify how various social forces, such as politics, economics, culture, etc. , creates variation in schools. In other words, what effects do other social institutions have on the educational system? At a micro-level, sociologists look to identify how variation in school practices lead to differences in individual-level student outcomes. That is, when schools have different teaching methods or have different practices, how does that affect the individual students and what are the individual outcomes? Example of Sociological Studies on Education A classic study by sociologist James Coleman done in 1966, known as the â€Å"Coleman Report† looked at the performance of over 150,000 students and found that student background and socioeconomic status were much more important in determining educational outcomes than were differences in school resources, such as per pupil spending. He also found that socially disadvantaged black students benefited and did better in school when they were in racially mixed classrooms rather than black only classrooms. This ignited controversy that still continues today. Major Sociological Theories of Education Like any other topic in sociology, the three major theoretical perspectives (functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interaction theory) each have different views on education. The functionalist perspective argues that education serves many important functions in society. First, it socializes children and prepares them for life in society. This is not only done by teaching â€Å"book knowledge,† but also teaching the society’s culture, including moral values, ethics, politics, religious beliefs, habits, and norms. Second, education provides occupational training, especially in industrialized societies such as the United States. Unlike in less complex societies or in the United States prior to 1900 when most jobs and training were passed on from father to son, most jobs in the United States today require at least a high school education, and many professions require a college or post-graduate degree. The third function that education serves, according to functionalist theorists, is social control, or the regulation of deviant behavior. By requiring young people to attend school, this keeps them off the streets and out of trouble. The symbolic interaction view of education focuses on interactions during the schooling process and the outcomes of those interactions. For instance, interactions between students and teachers can create expectations on both parts. The teacher begins to expect certain behaviors from students, which in turn can actually create that very behavior. This is called the â€Å"teacher expectancy effect. † For example, if a White teacher expects a black student to perform below average on a math test when compared to White students, over time the teacher may act in ways that encourage the black students to get below average math scores. Conflict theory looks at the disintegrative and disruptive aspects of education. These theorists argue that education is unequally distributed through society and is used to separate groups (based on class, gender, or race). Educational level is therefore a mechanism for producing and reproducing inequality in our society. Educational level, according to conflict theorists, can also be used as a tool for discrimination, such as when potential employers require certain educational credentials that may or may not be important for the job. It discriminates against minorities, working-class people, and women – those who are often less educated and least likely to have credentials because of discriminatory practices within the educational system. The sociology of education is the study of how public institutions and individual experiences affect education and its outcomes. Educational Sociology and Sociology of Education are two branches of study that are sometimes understood as one and the same branch, but they are actually not so. They indeed show some differences between them when it comes to the subjects of their study and the nature of the branches f study On the other hand educational sociology is the branch of study that deals with the various methods providing better education to society through an in depth research of our culture and society. Educational sociology is a subject that has to take both the sociologists and the educationists into consideration. This makes the subject an invaluable asset to all the students and researchers of social sciences, particularly sociology and education. It is a general belief that such of those who are involved in a deep study of education will benefit more from the branch of educational sociology In the poem of Okot p Biteks â€Å"My Husbands Tongue is Bitter† is evident in its use of the self  and other. The speaker of the poem is a black woman talking to her husband. The husband sees their colonizers as modern, progressive, civilized and educated. He considers learning English and following their acts would also make him one of them (colonizers), and by doing so, he will acquire the identity of the self. On the other hand, he offended his wife and his own people by citing and ennumerating their deeds as backward, primitive and ignorant.

Should the Internet be Censored? Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ximenes 1 Should the Internet Be Censored? â€Å"No bones about it, the Internet needs to be censored†. At least according to Gerry Morgan, president of an Internet contents provider and a parent, he among other non-denominational Christian parents claims that they have found â€Å"the only realistic answer to the Internet porn-crisis†. They’ve created a program where all Web sites are pre-screened, avoiding any material that can be harmful to kids (Watson). They say that the Internet has to be censored because it has material, especially pornography, which can and will be offensive to others. But not everybody agrees with that. The censorship of the Internet is still a very controversial issue, and people all over the world debate whether or not this is a case against free speech. While Morgan states that by censoring the Internet we’ll be protecting ourselves and our children, Mr. Jeffrey Pollock, a Republican from Oregon who used to think the same, recently changed his mind when he found out that his own site had been blocked by an Internet filter. After the incident, Mr. Pollock expressed that â€Å"To mandate the federal government to legislate morality, I find abhorrent†(Schwartz). The disagreement on this issue continues and every person has a different opinion on what would be a satisfying solution to it. Even though I agree that it is not any parent’s desire for his/her children to have access to pornography or other potentially offensive material on the Internet, it is not worth jeopardizing our right to free speech in the name of morality. The truth is we cannot protect our children from all the violence or pornography available in today’s world just as our parents could not protect us. Ximenes 2 The interest and curiosity that children and adolescents have on what we, as a society, may rule as immoral did not begin with the Internet. Similarly, the government’s attempts in determining the public’s thoughts also began before the Internet. In fact, governments around the world had been trying to control the people’s minds for a long time and some of them are still trying to do so by filtering information. There is a report from the comprehensive survey of print and electronic news media that shows that nearly two-thirds of countries restrict press freedom, that would be... ...e effective than regulatory control†. Ximenes 4 There are also ways in which government or other agencies may provide Internet control without censorship. For example, it may be necessary to implement laws which require of all Internet servers that provide pornography to have their sites’ names clearly stating the content of the material about to be seen. This would at least prevent children from accessing such sites accidentally. By doing that the government would be helping the parents who don't want their kids to see that kind of material, but would not be interfering on the right to free speech that the Constitution assure us to have. In summary, censoring the Internet falls into the controversial category of censoring free speech. Therefore, it is a violation of the Constitution to apply censorship to such a commonly used source of information. Instead of banning material from the Internet we should make sure that we have clearly stated information. Perhaps government intervention may be necessary to assure that Internet servers comply with regulations. However, parental guidance and control still remain the most reliable ways of protection against misuse of the cyberspace.

Reflection Paper on Anthem (by Ayn Rand)

University of the Philippines Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga Reflection Paper Anthem by: Ayn Rand Jemima Micah T. Sadsad 2012-20252 BS Business Management Submitted to: Sir Aoux Santos It’s a sin to not write this. For finishing this will allow me to acquire one fourth of my grade on the most-anticipated subject—A subject that is hard, yet easy; A subject able to be both loved and despised; A subject whose aim is to know thy self, yet, when thoroughly studied, you would end up losing what you think is yours.This subject I am babbling about is not just a subject; It is the subject: Philosophy. ~ Well, at first look, this is how I comprehended the novella â€Å"Anthem†. Simple message relayed through tough words, when really that’s not the point of it. Anthem is about a boy who was born with the curse of knowing things more superior than most of his society—a society that does not accept progress unle ss approved by everyone. This boy then meets a girl with qualities like her, and later falls in love with her. Even though their society forbids a love like theirs, they didn’t mind and kept it a secret.He tried to help their society through his discoveries, though ended up escaping it, and trying to create a new one of his own. It has a typical story line with a dystopian theme. Aside from that there’s nothing really more from it. Or is there? *** *** Having read the book again (while trying hard to read between the lines; picking up every lesson I could make use of), I have reflected on a few new things which I did not find during my first read. I have reflected on individuals present in the story and how they relate to me, the society howed in â€Å"Anthem† and how it could be reflected to my country, and my general motion and conclusion on what the story is all about. One very prominent element that I could reflect on are the main characters in the story. Th e main characters present in the story are Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000. Equality 7-2521 (also known as â€Å"The Unconquered† or â€Å"Prometheus†) – The main character is a brave, curious, strong, and intelligent street sweeper who thinks of himself as cursed. He knows that he is cursed, yet knows not how to resist it. He believes in individualism and rejects the collectivist society around him.Learning was too easy for him because of his quick head. He asks too many questions that his teachers forbade him from asking. â€Å"He only wishes to know. Equality 7-2521 represents the superiority of a singular intellect to the homogeneity of the masses, who cannot think for themselves—the society of shapeless people who are indistinguishable from one another. At first read, I thought to myself, he (Equality) is too self-centered, thinking that he is far superior than his society, and that his only flaw is the society’s disapproval of him.Also, I don’t like how he came up with his conclusion of his ego being the center of his universe (though, I’m not saying that the conclusion is wrong). It’s just so unthinkable how without knowing what the word â€Å"I† really means, he suddenly knows what it is and how to use it. On the other hand, I like how his curiosity always gets the better of him. I like how he is eager to know and discover things even though he knows that it is forbidden to do so. I love how Equality 7-2521 takes risks to justify his thirst of knowing more.These character traits of Equality 702521 made me reflect more on the adventures of learning, rather than the concept of individualism. I like how his quest full of myriad mischief turned out to be an amazing discovery of the light bulb (which for me symbolizes progress and/or change). I love how he soon realizes that his learning is not really for the society, but rather for him and him alone. One thing I also admire about Equality 7 -2521 is his love for Liberty 5-3000, that even though it is forbidden, they still chose to continue their love. Selfish indeed, but selfishness is not always a bad thing.Another main character on the book that I have reflected on is Liberty 5-3000 (also known as â€Å"The Golden One† or â€Å"Gaea†) – This character is a peasant that has eyes with no signs of fear in it, whom Equality 7-25521 falls in love with. She is Beautiful, proud, and strong like Equality 7-2521. She loves Equality 7-2521 because he is different from everyone around him. And Equality 7-2521 loves her back for the same reason. For me, Liberty 5-3000 is a little bit too submissive. Her mix of independent pride and devoted submission to Equality 7-2521 seems contradictory.Prometheus’ universe may have his own ego as its center, but for Liberty 5-3000? I don’t think so. Liberty 5-3000’s character is a perfect counter-example of Ayn Rand’s main thought of: â€Å"I is my god†. Gaea is more of a: â€Å"Equality 7-2521 is my god†. (Liberty 5300 to Equality 7-2521: â€Å"Your will be done†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Although I hate how she submits herself too much to Equality 7-2521, I like her for standing out of the crowd. I like how fierce she can be trying to put what she loves first before what others dictate her to. I also like her show of courage by following the one she loves even though it might place her in great danger.However, I think the author somehow just took a shot of presenting a true epitome of a perfect woman with great courage and confidence, but only with the weakness of her beloved. Unfortunately, Ayn Rand failed trying, for instead she just created a weak and submissive leading lady. Gaea apparently became just an object of Prometheus’ with no say on things at all. These two main characters made me reflect on how not all people are alike (which was the point of the whole story: Individualism). Not everyone is as s trong or as smart as Prometheus. Neither are they all of beauty and devotion as Liberty 5-3000.The story also made me reflect on the concept of solitude, and how not all people find happiness in solitude. In fact, even in the story itself, Equality 7-2521 is not alone, for he finds happiness in the presence of Liberty 5-3000. Absolute solitude is inconceivable. Different people have different purposes. They might find their purposes with others, or they might find their purposes of for themselves alone. And even if they find their purposes for themselves, still, it will influence their society, because one cannot live without another. No man is an island.As for me, I find happiness in having loved ones beside me; I’m not saying that I let them think for me though. I am currently a conformist and non-conformist. I am a conformist in that I conform to my God and with His teachings. A non-conformist in that, like Liberty, I submit myself to my beliefs and resist things of its op posite (although at times, they may overlap with each other). I conform to my God, and so try not to conform to the world. I conform to my government, yet reject on them trying to take over me. I succumb to, yet I resist. Also, I could consider myself to have hints of Equality 7-2521 in my personality.I love learning as much as I love taking risks. I remember the story of my 4 yr old self. My mom used to tell this story every time she remembers it and every single time we would laugh at it. So here’s how it goes: It was an ordinary day, we were travelling by a car. My mom was driving and her sister (my aunt) was in the front seat. I, my 2 sisters, and my cousin were at the back seat. I was the closest to the door handle, and that was when the inner curiosity of me sparked! â€Å"Now, what is this thing for? † and voila, I was playing with the car door handle and suddenly I found myself rolling on the ground of an uphill highway.While the action was happening, my mom an d aunt were also caught in an intense activity: Gossiping. Yup, they were there chit-chatting while I was outside, rip rolling. Since my two sisters and my cousin saw my fall, they panicked and then started shouting, â€Å"Ma! Si Ima, nahulog! †, but since my mom’s activity was more interesting than mine, they had to shut the kids up, â€Å"Kids, quiet! †. Then my sisters started crying. That’s when my mom and aunt started to notice my absence. And at last, they panicked too. They went chasing for me, trying to save me from the rushing cars. But wait!They forgot to turn on the brakes! Oh no, our car is sliding down the hill! What to do? Oh my— ~ Well, I’m here now so you know I was saved. It was a very long day, indeed. One day my mom would never ever forget. But hey, I learned. (I now know what that ‘thing’ is for! And I now know when to and when not to use those car locks, thank you. ) Anyway, I find myself having a little bit of Equality 7-2521 also because I often find pride in things I know I have done well in. Passing the UPCAT is one of the perfect examples. Having my family congratulate me, I find pride in myself.I know that I have done well, and I know that I could do more, and so the learning continues. Moving on from the main characters, another prominent concept in the novella was the society. The society presented on Anthem is so wrong. The people there are under so much fear and are dehumanized. Their society promotes absolute collectivism where they are all one and one is all. They accept few, if not none at all, changes. Everyone is of equal importance as everyone. Freedom of speech is cut off. Men can’t speak to women, they were not able to show their emotions to them, and they can’t even have houses of their own!Though it could be classified as a utopian society on other perspectives, description from Equality 7-2521 made it totally a dystopian society. â€Å"We are nothing . Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by, and for our brothers who are the state. Amen. † –Palace of the World Council Their society reminded me of how North Korea is today. Although I may not know what their actual situation is at the moment, description from the media around the world truly rings the bell. It brings fear deep down my bones.Society of no social stratification, no freedom of speech, everything and nothing is owned by everyone and no one. A society completely isolated from the rest of the world, North Korea could well focus on itself and not worry on how other countries are doing, and since they focus on themselves, no one would be left starving, everybody will be of equal rights with everyone. I think this is what North Korea claims itself to be though I’m pretty sure ‘country without social stratification’ is pretty far from what they are now. The government and society in Anthem also made me think of the government and the society of our own country.As for the Philippines, I don’t think the concept of Anthem’s society might be applicable because of the fact that freedom of speech is already presented and is of practice today in the Philippines. Also, the presence of a free and nationwide media in our country made it more liberal than that of Anthem’s. The fact that Philippines is a democracy, too, can be of great evidence that our country is not with the like of that of Anthem’s. Everyone of the right mind is free to vote and free to speak. Take this reflection paper for example; I have every right to say what I want to, though I know I would suffer the consequences of my actions.Everyone is allowed to think otherwise. Everyone has the right to choose for themselves what their â€Å"rights† and â€Å"wrongs† are. Men are allowed to merry another and have kids of their own. Families are able to build houses they can live in and start a new life. Filipinos, along with other people of other countries, could study whenever they want to and work whenever as long as time and money permits. They have the free will of choosing their school, acquiring their jobs, and retiring after they do. Everyone is allowed to choose their religion. Everyone is allowed to love without being asked why.Chickens could cross the street without their motives being questioned. However, I may not completely forget the fact that, somehow, there might be some resemblances from Anthem’s society with the Philippines’. â€Å"The Home of the Useless†, â€Å"The Palace of Corrective Detention†, â€Å"The Palace of Mating†, â€Å"The Home of the Students†Ã¢â‚¬â€ All of which symbolizes branches of our system, though might be different in intensity than Anthem’s. Also, the home of the scholars could be of comparison with our senate system. We could be compared to them in terms of pr ogress and how slow our system could be.Although I know that we are still on the verge of growing and improving more, I have not lost my hopes for the Philippines. As for whether or not this society is possible on earth in the future, I don’t think so. I don’t think such absolute collectivism/communism is possible to be achieved. I believe that in achieving this society, first we’ll be in need of restarting; restarting everything from Adam and Eve. No one should know anything. Every book must be burned and every data on the internet must be erased. The whole world should go back to zero, or else absolute collectivism (like with the story Anthem) would be inconceivable. ———————————————— ————————————————- Anthem, in general, taught me how colle ctivism could be of destruction to a society. I reflected on few things about concepts such as collectivism, individualism, finding your true self, and finding your true purpose. I have made use of my new learnings about these things, and I know that would use them at one point in my life where I could be searching for answers on whether or not, why or why nots. These concepts could be of new references that I know I could consider whenever I am learning. ———————————————— ————————————————- I have a general feel of gloom and depression through-out the story. With how Equality 7-2521 dictates his society to us, I felt sorry for him and also for the society. In a nutshell, I liked the story. I enjoyed it and have reflected a lot of things from it. Although, what I d id not like about the book was not the story but the author’s philosophy itself. By the end of the novella, Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 have run away from their society to discover their own truth and start a new society of their own.This truth leads to self-worshipping and calling themselves gods, and further stating that they have no obligation to other men. I have to strongly disagree with this idea. I am sorry to say Ayn Rand started with a great idea of individualism and ended in a train wreck of selfish isolation. *I would like to recommend this book to anyone who would want to reflect and re-evaluate their existences on certain aspects. This book presented a different outlook of the concept â€Å"I†, which you could reflect on greatly. Though, I’m not saying that this is the best book possible, it is still worth the read.

Why Don’t We Listen Better

Practical Book Review Why Don’t We Listen Better? Communicating & Connecting in Relationships Melvin Ballard 22274758 Dr. Marcus Tanner In partial fulfillment of the requirements of Introduction to Pastoral Counseling PACO 500 Liberty Baptist Seminary Lynchburg, VA 4/7/2013 SUMMATION James C. Petersen book, Why don’t we listen better? Communicating and Connecting in Relationships surmised good communication skills can be achieved through active listening, understanding from the part of the talker and the attitude of the listener.This process of sharing and connecting can be attained through our acceptance and valuing one another. The word communication derives from the root to â€Å"commune†, it has at least two levels- sharing information and connecting with others (Petersen, 2007, 18). Active listening allows a person to actually hear what is being said; this invites the talker to feel as though they are valued. By active listening gives a person the ability to interact and communicate that will bring about healthy and fruitful relationships.This book is a road map to helping people learn to engage in positive communication and foster wholesome relationships. Petersen explored how one can become a better communicator by using various tools; the flat-brain theory, the talker-listener card and exploring various listening techniques. Petersen explained the concept flat-brain theory as emotions that are displayed in our stomach, heart and brain. The brain is the central area of our communication this is where we find and form our words to say.The head functions incorporate thinking, planning, remembering, reviewing, deciding, rationalizing, what we consider the logical part of us (Petersen, 12). Petersen describes the stomach as the emotional area where we contain past hurt feelings, feelings of inadequacy, worry, anxiety which leads to not being able to store anything too many new things (23). The heart is the functionality of a person. How we function depends on how our heart is whether healthy or unhealthy. When our system goes out of whack Petersen refers to it as the Flat-brain syndrome.He describes it as our stomach expand with mixed emotions which cause our heart to turn into bricks sending our relating ability to respond inappropriately and ultimately the upward expansion from our heart causes our brains to flatten to the top of our head (23). A good communicator is able to balance these stimuli’s that causes one to become out of kilter. Petersen uses examples of how to make sure one is able to stay in control of his emotions, his actions and his arguments. The talker-listener process engages people to take turn in talking and listening.Petersen developed the talker-listener card in hope of promoting individuals to improve the ability to interact and communicate better. The card is placed in between two people or groups and the side that has talker that person or group will talk while the other side liste ns. After the talker finishes the card is turned around to give the other an opportunity to talk while the other side or person listens. This tool keeps a person or a group from talking while others are talking i. e. everyone is talking and no one is listening. As the saying goes we can all sing at the same time but we all cannot talk at the same time.Petersen formulated this idea in order to stop flat-brain tango. The rest of Why Don’t we Listen Better? Communicating and Connecting in Relationships deals with techniques in the development of good communication skills. However, Petersen notes that good communication hinges on authentic listening techniques (115). REFLECTION I started playing sports when I was five years old; I have always had a competitive nature about myself. I guess it has to do with having an identical twin brother, always trying to outdo him. With that competitive nature I always wanted to win.In reading Petersen’s book I realized my competitive na ture causes me to win battles but lose the war. Even in discussions (arguments) I have to win. Petersen states, this is unhealthy when I choose not to respect the feelings of others moving from a friend to a victor (40). The book describes the feeling of a ‘thud’ this is the initial clue that a person feels when they sense they are being attacked. I know the feeling; it causes me to react in a defensive way. In college I actually lost a girl friend and did not realize she was trying to help me and it was for my own good and benefit. I saw it as her thinking she was better than me.Petersen declares that instead of reacting negatively but acknowledging what can be bother the other person begins the downshift from anger to resentment (43). I know what they are feeling, so why do I respond in a negative manner because I view the person as attacking me. In defense I strike back. On many times and different occasions I found myself using words that were not helpful but hurtfu l. I assumed they were attacking me with their words so in return I felt justified to attack them. INVESTIGATION The new terminology Petersen uses to describe the feeling within a person is refreshing and appreciative.He does not use the typical therapeutic terms but uses everyday layman words to discuss and explain his scenarios. Petersen has brought a new fresh perspective in the communication model. Petersen uses such basic elementary techniques that will help a person to become a better communicator. Petersen encourages you to use the finger method when you are bothered with someone in order for you not to be accusing or blaming. Wow, how simple but profound at the same time. The Talker-Listener card is a great tool to use to promote healthy communication skills.He uses the card as a game in which individuals or groups can play in order to have an effective moment of sharing. As we look at our total man; spirit, soul and body dealing with our soulically part, which our emotions lies we can connect with Petersen as by utilizing his concept. When we feel like someone is harming us through words before we react allow the Holy Spirit to control our tongue. The Book of James 3:6; calls the tongue a fire, a world of iniquity it is the unruly untamable member of the body. Applying Petersen’s techniques and concepts will help us to control our tongue.We cannot be imitators’ of Christ if we allow our words to destroy and not build up. Jesus edified using words. His words ministered grace to the hearers. As representatives of Christ we must not grieve the Holy Spirit which seals us to the day of redemption. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we allow corrupt communication that come out of our mouth, which does not edify or minister grace to the hearer (Eph. 4:29). APPLICATION Why Don’t we Listen Better? Communicating and Connecting in Relationships has challenged me to change my habit of not actively engaging in good communication.Being a good liste ner will afford me to take focus to other’s interest and not just mine. I had an opportunity after reading in applying what I learned. Petersen is right I was able to use it successfully a few times and not at other times. I have already purposed in my heart to change my mind about the way I choose to communicate. This book has confronted me with developing my communication skills through active listening and recognizing how I can be able to help someone in their time of need. It will be beneficial for me to put this card in my wallet look at it when I feel I’m feeling that action in my stomach.This will allow me to focus on the needs of the other rather than my feelings. I will not be a good communicator if I choose to allow my emotions to control my actions that will ultimately alter my argument. I must realize through the Holy Spirit’s leading, when He nudges me, I must began to change my attitude and put in use techniques that will allow me to become a bette r participant in communicating with others. Once I have learned this method I will be able to share it with others who find themselves hurling harmful, hurtful, and hideous words at a love one.As proverbs 15:1, reminds us; grievous words stir up anger but a soft answer turns away wrath. A good communicator learns to hear with his inner ear, the Holy Spirit. Petersen, James C. 2007. Why Don’t We Listen Better? Communicating & Connecting in Relationships: Portland, OR: Petersen Publication Practical Book Review Grading Rubric Name: Criteria| Points Possible| Points Earned| General| Paper adheres to TRS formatting (title page, in-text citations, References page, etc. ) Correct File Name. Rubric pasted in. 10| | Writing is clear with appropriate grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Headings are appropriately labeled. | 10| | Summation (no more than 500 words)| The author and chapter(s) are identified. | 10| | Concise summation with no personal reflection on content is provided. | 10| | Reflection (no more than 250 words)| Personal life experience is applied. 1st person usage (â€Å"I† is used). | 10| | Investigation (no more than 300 words)| Discussion regarding how the material interfaces with model of personhood and assessment is present| 10| | Thought-provoking questions are posed. 10| | Positives and negatives are discussed. | 10| | Application (no more than 300 words)| Details are included concerning how this information informs the process of checking/controlling student’s particular DISC relational style. 1st person (â€Å"I) usage is appropriate. | 10| | There is a description that indicates what action will be taken or what change the student are going to make to influence his/her personal and professional growth and development. 1st person (â€Å"I†) usage is appropriate| 10| | Total:| 100| | Instructor’s comments:

Evaluate Arlie Hoshschilds Social Therory of Human Emotions essays

Evaluate Arlie Hoshschild's Social Therory of Human Emotions essays Evaluate Arlie Hochschild ¡s social theory of human emotions. The study of emotion is relatively new to the sociological arena. Writers have, in the past touched on the subject in relation to their particular theories. Marx for example uses the concept of alienation as a key part to his meta-theory of society. However, it was not until recently, that a 'sociology of emotion ¡ had been studied as an isolated concept. The American writer and social theorist, Arlie Hochschild is seen as one of the key writers to address the social aspects of emotion in a more direct way than previous writers. Hochschild ¡s work raises a number of important points that go towards a social study of emotions. 'Emotion management ¡, 'feeling rules ¡ and 'emotional labour ¡ are just some of the concepts Hochschild has brought to the debate. This paper will attempt to provide a critique of Hochschild ¡s social theory of human emotions. Firstly, the paper will highlight the key concepts and ideas that Hochschild raises in her theory. The second part of the paper will draw on a number of key writers on the subject, in an attempt to bring to light the main problems in her work. These criticisms will be centred on the idea that Hochschild ¡s work is, over-simplistic and ahistorical. It will also attempt to show that 'emotion management ¡ is nothing new to human society that has always, to some degree, relied on the management of emotion. Many writers see Hochschild ¡s work as foundational to the development of a 'sociology of emotions ¡. Stemming from the writings of Goffman and other 'symbolic interactionists ¡, her work has managed to clarify many of the problems social theory has encountered when seeking a social, as opposed to psychological explanation for our emotions. There is also a Marxist element to her work, which rejuvenates his theory of Alienation, this time with reference to 'emotional ¡ labour. In her analysis of flight attendants she bel...

Boston Consulting Group on Strategy Conformity

Today, management of various organizations are obligated to ensure success is achieved despite the plexity and dynamism of the current business environment. It thus largely depends on the organization structure as well as the appropriateness of the strategies formulated by the management. Apparently, the business strategies need planning gurus who can align business projections with short term and long term objectives. Besides, group influence plays a critical role in one’s ability to formulate decisions. In most cases, an individual may decide to take a particular decision just to conform to group norms. This discussion, therefore, has addressed Yves Morieux contributions on organization strategy and Asch conformity experiment to examine individual conformity to group thinking. Yves Monrieux assertion concerning structure and strategy conforms to the current management imperatives (Yves & Peter, 2014). Today, the success of business greatly relies on the ability of the management to establish effective operational and strategic aims. These goals are supposed to be timely instituted, and affirmative action is taken to ensure they have implemented accordingly. The success needs an administration structure that is flexible and making new decisions based on the situation. There should be smooth coordination and understanding within the departments to enhance a mon focus on the organizational objectives. Thus, it is notable that the blog presents the following ideas: Soundness of the management to the success of the business. The importance of the enactment of effective goals. The relevance of flexibility in the administrative structure. The management levels matter most in determining the responsible authorities in handling various issues. A good administration structure should be the one that roles are clearly assigned and everyone better knows the power to report to (Carl and Michael, 2006, p. 162-190). The ever-changing business environment requires sound business strategies to maintain a petitive edge.   With the consumers varying needs, measures need to be established to ensure the pany is fully satisfying their needs. To remain petitive, businesses are investing in technology, and further encouraging creativity and innovation among staffs to ensure profit is maximized. Notably, a good organization structure enacts operational strategies based on the research and findings. The support of such initiatives is only experienced in an organization where individuals work as a team towards a mon purpose (Lim, et al. 2010).   People hold positions based on the qualifications and capability. And it significantly helps the management understands plans that are relevant to the business, set aside appropriate financial resources and further monitor and evaluate the plans accordingly. Good administrative structures empower employees through training programs, coaching and more to make them relevant to organization needs. Good strategies borrow from the management tools such as SWOT and PESTLE. A thorough understanding both internal and external business environment aids in the formulation of the right business plan (Butler, 2000, p. 39-43). Therefore, it is imperative for the current managers to ensure that the administration structure put in place facilitates the achievement of the business goals and objectives. The structure should facilitate faster decision making, support productive activities intended to propel the organization towards prosperity and that gives the pany petitive edge (Haslam, et al. 2011, p. 23-67). Usually, human beings have various characters and behave differently based on the situation. Getting a plete understanding of an individual regarding how he/she will respond to different scenarios is quite difficult (Griggs, 2015, p. 137). Based on the blog, the following ideas can be extracted: People are influenced by circumstances in making decisions. Personal decisions can also be influenced by individuals around us. One should remain objective in formulating decisions while holding management positions. Group conformity is real and can be avoided if one is required to disclose a solution via writing and further if the matter is a subject of personal accountability. People are however, influenced by various factors in making a personal decision. For example, the student can respond to a perceptual question posed by the instructor, based on the other bright student suggestion even if he know the answer is wrong (Aronson, et al. 2010, p. 99-120). Therefore, personal decision making depends on the circumstances facing the individuals and the people around. Before I discovered my capabilities, I used to make decisions based on views from my friends and individuals around. Even if I knew they were wrong, I just planned according to their suggestions to conform and fit the group. This group conformity justifies Asch Conformity Experiment regarding the power of the group. In most cases, the primary forces that determined my decision making when I was in a group were normative and informational factors (Eysenck, 2004, p. 345-370). The primary reason why I conformed to group norms was to avert punishments, rejection and further gain from social rewards associated with the members. Also, lack of information due to unfocused minds in class used to affect my conscience in answering perceptual questions. Thus, I could just stick on what a group member’s opinion. Currently, I make a decision based on the objective. The knowledge I have gained in the university is significant to allow me stand alone but stick to the truth. The present organization's requirements need leaders who understand themselves and have abilities to align the business goals with strategic plans. Therefore, buying groups’ suggestions just to be accepted at the expense of the firm can lead to business failure (Breckler, et al. 2006, p. 126). Usually, some people who lack leadership qualities and cannot stand alone from a group are susceptible to conformity to group norms. This conformity should not be the case. If we realize the relevance of staying objective to every matter in the organization set up, elements like creativity and innovation will be natured.   As a result, individuals can grow and always feel free to contribute to the organizational management. However, a group can force an individual to conform to its norms because of the following factors: Difficulty of the task, ambiguous situation, lack of information and identification purposes. First, when a group discovers that the job is tough, it can force a knowledgeable member to take the groups’ stand so that they cannot be judged as failures (Turner, 2005, p. 1-22). Secondly, an ambiguous situation may make a group to require its members to behave in the same way. Further, when a group lacks adequate information about a subject, it may force members to adopt one stand. Finally, a group can force a member to conform to the norms for identification purposes. Appearing different may portray a wrong image of the group. To sum up, organization strategy is a roadmap that guides the management about the organization priorities. The establishment of the right strategies and strict implementation increases the chances of business success. However, the effectiveness of the strategies depends on the administration structure and the support it has regarding the organization objectives. Besides, group conformity is real, and members conform because of various reason. Managers should thus, always focus on organization needs than following workers thought just to be accepted. Aronson, T. D.,Wilson, R. M., Akert, E. (2010). Social Psychology (7 ed.). Pearson.p. 99-120 Butler Jr., J.K. (2000). A global view of informal organization: Academy of Management Journal, 51, 3, 39-43. Breckler, S. J., Olson, J. M., & Wiggins, E. C. (2006). Social Psychology Alive. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, p.126 Carl W. Stern and Michael S. Deimler. (2006). The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy: A collection of articles on strategy and management, p. 162-190 Eysenck, M. W. (2004). Psychology: An International Perspective. New York: Psychology Press, LTD, p.345-370 Griggs, R. A. (2015). "The Disappearance of Independence in Textbook Coverage of Asch's Social Pressure Experiments":   Teaching of Psychology, 42 (2): 137. Haslam, S., Reicher, S.D., Platow, M. J. (2011). The new psychology of leadership: Identity, influence and power. New York, NY: Psychology Press, 23-67 Lim, M., G. Griffiths, and S. Sambrook. (2010). Organizational structure for the twenty-first century: Presented the annual meeting of The Institute for Operations Research and The Management Sciences, Austin. Turner, J. C. (2005). "Explaining the nature of power: A three-process theory": European Journal of Social Psychology. 35: 1–22. Yves Morieux & Peter T. (2014). Six Simple Rules: How to Manage plexity without Getting plicated, 87-100.

Euthyphro (Platos Early Dialogues) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Euthyphro (Platos Early Dialogues) - Essay Example Does God call something right or moral because it is right or moral or does is something right or moral because God calls it moral? Therefore, if God calls an act moral because it is moral, then morality or goodness will be seen as priori to Gods Command and thus, it is independent of God. On the other hand, if an act is moral because God says it is moral or right, then it implies that whatever God says it is right (Hamilton and Cairns 37). In addition, this also implies that Gods command of what is moral is arbitrary since the same God could have willed contrary commands. The dialogue presents the challenge that was intended to make us think about the nature of morality. Therefore, when Socrates asks Euthyphro about his definition of the word piety, Euthyphro was required to identify the nature of virtue or morality by establishing on what ground does morality or virtue stand on. It is difficult for an atheist to discover the ground on which morality stands on because they claim tha t they can have ethics or morals without God. Certainly, an atheist can behave in a way that people perceive moral or good but it is really hard to define what the term ultimately means (Plato 10a). It may imply complying with objective standard of morality or good, a policy or law given by legitimate authority without involving a transcendent law maker-the gods. This means that there can be no transcendent law maker and no corresponding duty to be good. Most Christians oppose the argument that there is an arbitrary role of God’s power and rejects the idea that there is no law or policy over God. Then, where does morality stands? Morality can be said to be grounded in the divine and immutable character of God who is perfectly good in that his commands are not whims but planted in his holiness. Christians argue that any bad things that happen are not commanded by God because his character is that he is holy and merciful. For Christians, morality is rooted in God’s chara cter which expresses itself in the commands of God and it is not above him. In sum, whatever is good is always commanded by God not that it is good so that God commands it to be good (Cooper 41). Christians argue that God ultimately determines the pious or morality and that the commands of God are expression of his desires and will for what human beings ought to do. This is because such argument presents a metaphysical foundation of piety or morality. Human beings need to be committed to the existence of moral truths in order for them to live in accordance with the will of God. This means the existence of moral truths for people since they have moral obligation to obey what God commands. This is so because Christians believe that their moral obligation comes from God in form of commands. Thus, people ought to be moral because they are morally accountable to God in that those people who do not obey him will be punished and good people will receive rewards (Plato 10b). Plato’s dialogue regarding the nature of morality or goodness is still being raised even today as a challenge to Christianity in that many Christians ask themselves is an action or act good or right because God says it is right or does god say it is good or right because the act is right. The Euthyphro dilemma is traced in