The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill free essay sample

This IP hop culture then took off, with several groups, mainly male groups, coming together to emphasis the pillars of hip hop; Mincing, Digging, graffiti, breakfasting, and beating (Starr, 2007) The sass was a groundbreaking decade for hip hop, In that this Is where artists other than Black males started to enter the rap and hip hop scene. Artists such as Salt-N-Peep, MAC Late, and Queen Latish, opened the door for female MAC artists. Salt- N-Peep were the first all female rap group to hit the mainstream, with multiple successes, and their presence opened the doors for artists Like Queen Lath.In this time, female Masc. had to prove that they were Just as good as their male counterparts, it not better. This competition left the female artists being ;hard and showing their street creed so much so that they were very masculine, because society at that point may not have been ready to accept a woman as both sexy and a great rapper. We will write a custom essay sample on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After artists like MAC Late and the Queen opened the door for female rappers, hip hop took another turn. Artists like TTL, Foxy Brown, and Ill Kim, who not only emulated the hip hop culture, but brought sexiness Into the equation.With the emergence of these artists, females in hip hop had a socialized connotation that almost only depicted women in a sexual manner when it came to hip hop. Women in hip hop at this point held sexual roles, which were the Diva, Gold Digger, or the Dyke (Stephens, 2007), and their music usually reflected that; being about sex, money, or fulfilling the hard roles like a male rapper, and reflected more masculine characteristics than feminine (Stephens, 2007).In the late 1 asss, with the high sexual content of the female MAC such as Ill Kim, and Foxy Brown, Lauren Hill released her first solo album, The Insemination of Lauren Hill. Lauren Hill had all bases covered when It came to hip hop: she had the street credibility, the lyrical ability, the melodic flo w, sexuality etc. (Thespians, 2010), but she combined that with everyday female issues of that time, which made this album relatable for both women, and men. This album was about her struggles In life and love at the time, particularly about her pregnancy at the time she was writing about the album. The album was classified as a hip hop album; however it was a blend of rap, rapped flawlessly on a single album, with songs like Do Hop (That Thing), which fleeted the old styles of do hop vocal harmonies that were prevalent in music in the sass andass, and Everything is Everything. Lauren used Jamaican influences as well in the songs on this album, with Jamaican dialects and a reggae style to her songs.Not only did this album infuse the different music styles, she also addressed personal issues that before this time female rap artists did not do for the most part. She opened her life to her fans, as artists in the singer/songwriter forms of folk and contemporary music styles did with songs like her single Ex-Factor. This song had such a personal component, that although it wasnt as commercial successful as a song like Do Hop, it still showed such a personalized aspect of hip hop, especially female hip hop, that wasnt prevalent before.This album debuted on the Billboard charts at number one, and sold more copies during its first week than any other female artists album at that time (USA Today, 1998). This album also won Lauren 5 Grammar Award nominations, as well as 5 Grammar Award wins, which made Lauren the first female artist, hip hop or otherwise, to have that many nominations and wins, in one Grammar Award night. With all this success on her first album, one would suspect that she would have a blossoming career; however, her second release was not as successful.This could be due to the fact that people expected her to outdo her success of The Insemination, which is highly unlikely. Lauren went a very spiritual road for her second album, and some even believed that it was unfinished (Thespians, 2010), which could have lead to the disappointment of her career that persisted from then on. With the success of The Insemination of Lauren Hills Lauren will forever go down n history as a very influential participant in the hip hop culture to many female hip hop artists of today (Thespians, 2010), and tomorrow. The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill free essay sample In case you have not heard, one of the top ten hip-hop groups ever has split. The magnificent trio, The Fugees, has just become a group of soloists. Each is doing well but only one has the impact they had as a whole. Pras has just come out with one of Americas top ten songs, called Ghetto Superstar. Wyclef is doing very well with his debut album, called The Carnival. Although they are doing well by themselves, they arent making the same impact as their third member, Lauryn Hill.Lauryn, the groups singer, has just come out with her first solo album. The rapper/singer/ actress has come a long way. Although she is famous, she pledges to remember her roots. She thinks back in such songs as Every Ghetto, Every City by singing Way before the record deal/ The streets that nurtured Lauryn Hill/ Made sure that Id never gone too far. We will write a custom essay sample on The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Unlike many rappers, who rap about the bad things in life, Lauryn reminds us about the good things that we have and should cherish.The albums central topic is love, attempting to define what it is. It doesnt try to give a Websters Dictionary definition, but other peoples opinions, which are interesting because they are coming from children. Since most people dont associate love and children, this makes the album very unique.I would recommend The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to everyone. This album and singer will never be forgotten. On my scale from one to ten, it gets a well-deserved ten..

The Dinka Vs Australia essays

The Dinka Vs Australia essays The culture I have selected is the Dinka. The Dinka have a population of approximately 2 million, making them the largest ethnic group of Southern Sudan. Their lifestyle is simple and primitive. They base their activities and lives around the needs of their cattle. Without cattle the Dinka would not have religion or culture. They value their cattle, not for its meat or milk, but for its religious role. They are usually blacked skinned and quite attractive. They can also be characterized by their height; it is common for the males to be 7 feet tall. Song and Dance are tradition and play a huge role in the Dinka lifestyle. The Dinka place a huge emphasis on Pride and honor. One of the rights of passage in this culture is a fatness contest. Fatness is highly valued and regarded as beauty. Therefore each year this contest is held to see which young man can become the fattest over a 3-4month period. During the contest they drink as much milk as possible and have no exercise. To be the fattest is a great accomplishment and brings you hero status as well as great honor. The young boys strive to make their families proud. The tribe and the expectations of their peers influence them. Each risk their lives; some even die trying to be the fattest. This unusual tradition in the Dinka culture is basically the opposite of our Australian culture. To be fat isnt valued. Teenagers are influenced by models and peers that the skinnier the better. A super model has characteristics such as tall and thin. This is regarded as beautiful in the eyes of our youth. So instead of risking their lives trying to be fat, our youths are in danger of trying to be thin. Eg. Anorexia and Bulimia. Young girls are commonly effected by these diseases in a fight to be the skinniest, therefore the prettiest. Our beauty contests consist of models that are thin. The image of beauty is to be thi ...

Individual Achievement Tests for Special Education Students

Individual Achievement Tests for Special Education Students Individualized achievement tests are useful for assessing a students academic abilities. They are designed to measure both pre-academic and academic behavior- from the ability to match pictures and letters to more advanced literacy and mathematical skills. They can be helpful in assessing needs, monitoring a student’s progress, diagnosing a student with a learning disability or identifying benchmarks on a student’s Individualized Education Program, which the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act requires special needs students to have. A team made up of teachers, parents and others develop the program and update it periodically to meet students’ needs as they grow. 1. The Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement The Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement is another individualized test that measures academic areas and is appropriate for children from the ages of 4 to young adults to 20 and a half. The tester finds a base of a designated number of consecutive correct answers and works to a ceiling of the same incorrect consecutive answers. The highest number correct, minus any incorrect responses, provide a standard score, which is quickly converted into a grade equivalent or age equivalent. The Woodcock Johnson also provides diagnostic information as well as grade level performances on discrete literacy and mathematical skills, from letter recognition to mathematical fluency. 2. The Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills The Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills is another well-known, well-accepted criterion based and normed individual achievement test. The Brigance provides diagnostic information on reading, math and other academic skills. As well as being one of the least expensive assessment instruments, the publisher provides software to help write IEP goals based on the assessments called Goals and Objective Writers Software, which sells for $59.95. 3. KeyMath 3 Diagnostic Assessment KeyMath 3 Diagnostic Assessment is both a diagnostic and progress monitoring tool for math skills. Broken into three areas: Basic Concepts, Operations and Applications, the instrument provides scores for each area as well as each of the 10 subtests. Along with the flip chart books and test booklets, KeyMath also provides scoring software, to generate scores and reports.

Animal Senses Biology magnetoreception mechanism on Migratory Birds Essay

Animal Senses Biology magnetoreception mechanism on Migratory Birds - Essay Example Birds have various times of migration. Some birds migrate during the day like swallows and crows, while some migrate at night such as warblers, cuckoos, wild fowls and woodpeckers, as well as most songbirds (Engels 1). Stimuli such as internal body clocks or subtle weather changes cause these birds to migrate, and this ability can be explained by a phenomenon called magnetoreception, which is the ability of some organisms to detect the Earth’s magnetic field in perceiving direction, altitude or location (Solov'yov 40). The Earth’s magnetic field can be detected through various mechanisms such as chemical, electrical and mechanical means, and any of these stimuli can be converted into a molecular signal like a light-stimulated or photochemical reaction in the retina, which can then be recognized and perceived by magnetoceptive organisms like birds and insects (41). Hypotheses in the mechanisms of magnetoreception in birds There are various mechanisms hypothesized for mag netoreception to occur in birds, and one of these is the phenomenon involving a chemical compass where chemical reactions occur involving the transitions of electrons between high and low energy configurations or spin states, influenced by the Earth’s magnetic field (Rodgers 353). ... The amount of products from this reaction and the length of the half-life time of the radical base pair would depend on the strength of the detected magnetic field. The strength of the magnetic field determines the amount of radical base products and their length of half-life, and their linear relationship can be used to determine the strength of the magnetic field (Ritz 135; Rodgers 353). Thus, the stronger the magnetic field, the radical base pair mechanism would be producing more molecules with unpaired electrons, which in turn keeps the bird in its intended direction. These reactions occur in the photoreceptor region of the bird’s eye, helping the birds detect the strength of Earth’s magnetic field through radical base pair mechanism. The radical spinning is explained by hyperfine interactions, and these happen when there is a coupling between the magnetic moments of the unpaired electron and its atomic nucleus (Ritz 135). The interchanging conversions between the s inglet state and the triplet state is a process whose frequency is determined by the strength of the hyperfine reactions. This system is not only influenced by the intensity but also by the direction of the field, which makes it act like a compass (136). The tendency of one component of hyperfine reaction to be strong towards one direction only determines the interchanging conversion rate of the S and T state. Thus the effects of the magnetic field would be depending on the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the alignment of the radical pairs. These are the mechanisms by which birds are able to travel at night. Photoreceptor mechanisms in birds Birds have two types of light receptors in their eye: night vision

Anayse how language is used in a couple of texts( opening pages of Essay

Anayse how language is used in a couple of texts( opening pages of Gone with the wind and Romeo and Juliet - Essay Example These elements include phonology, lexis, punctuation, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. By comparing the usage of these elements between two classic texts, such as William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind, evidence can be found in each element of language that demonstrate how the usage of language changes over time and place as well as through dominant format of the communication goals. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in 1597 reflecting the Elizabethan values and traditions of England while focusing on the story of a young couple in Verona. In this way, he also incorporates some of the values that were understood in his time to have been important to people of an even earlier time. Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind in 1936 America reflecting the struggles of the Great Depression and capturing some of the major issues that faced people living in the Civil War south. Like Shakespeare, although she didn’t live during that time period, she incorporates many of the values that were understood in her generation to have been important issues a generation or so earlier. In each case, there is a strong sense of identity reflected in every aspect of the language used. While each novel is written in the same general English language, each illustrates the ideas of love coming to bitter conclusions and each struggles to portray a period of time prior to that in which the author lived, each does so in such a unique way as to make it seem as if they were each written in separate languages all together, which can be teased out by examining the various aspects of language used to tell the story. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare establishes early on a formal and literary tone within the lexis of his text. For example, in the Prologue, he indicates the scene of his play is in â€Å"fair Verona†, a use of the word ‘fair’ that falls within the formal lexicon, especially

Merchants Tale - Marriage Essay Example for Free

Merchants Tale Marriage Essay Geoffrey Chaucers presentation of marriage throughout The Canterbury Tales is, indeed, varied, abstract and supplemented by dispute over the sincerity of specific works. This literary inconsistency is strongly evident in The Merchants Tale, making it essential to address the disparity of its message on the topic of marriage. It could initially be assumed that the poem is not solely a cynical attack on marriage; Chaucer offers a somewhat objective overview of the issue, purveyed by the obvious difference in opinion of its characters, for example; the merchant in the prologue we wedded men live in sorwe and care1 and Januaries opinion in this world it [marriage] is a paradis2 or the differing judgements of both Justinus it is no childes pley3 and Placebo Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste4 after Januaries consultation with them. By addressing the fact that the message fluctuates it could be argued that Chaucer offers multiple compatible interpretations. Should we interpret the opinion of Placebo in the same way as we should Justinus, or do the subsequent events of the Tale prove to us that we should primarily concern ourselves with the view of the more reasoned, objective character the name Justinus implies a judicial figure? Concerning an answer to the question, it is also important to address the relationship between Januarie and May, and the following cuckolding. Is it more a cynical attack on adultery than that of marriage? The fundamental basis for investigating the status of marriage in The Merchants Tale is to address the initial opinion of the merchant in the Prologue, and the subsequent irony at the beginning of the Tale. Chaucer directs the poem through the narration of the merchant, who has a clear cynical attitude towards his wife (in reaction to The Clerks Tale and patient Griselda), though not overly marriage in general: Thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were, She would him overmacche5 Here, he specifically links his wife with the devil, that she would defeat him if they were they coupled. He goes as far as demonising his wife and presenting her in an evil, even heretic manner. This is in stark contrast to his later comment, for who kan be so buxom as a wyf? 6, which emphasises the inconsistency of thought throughout the poem. The idea of a woman having dominance over a potent figure can be related to Mays apparent supremacy over Januarie and the Tale as a whole: And every signe that she koude make, Wel bet than Januarie, hir owene make7 She manipulates Januarie in the garden in a similar manner to the serpent (the devil) in Genesis, suggesting that May has crafty, cunning and stealthy attributes relative to a snake. Januarie is blind to her cunning in both a literal sense and a moral sense as Adam is initially to the serpents influence. Januarie is manipulated by his wife as Adam is by his. Chaucer also refers to the realisation of sin, as with Adam, Januarie becomes aware of nakedness with the literal return of his sight, viewing his wife, May, actively engaging in a sinful act of adultery with Damyan, further linking wyfs with the devil. These religious connotations and the vivid sensitive view of cuckolding (and adultery) suggest the Tale is providing a cynical attack on marriage for a clerical purpose. When this is related to Januaries ambiguous, yet seemingly devout, reasons for taking a wife it can still be believed that Chaucer is addressing a particularly religious theme, albeit this should be addressed with caution when consulting the merchants narration:

Family at the Bedside Essay -- Health, Spirituality and Holistic Care

Discussion of family presence during invasive procedures has been ongoing for many years. Some healthcare organizations have instituted policies to allow family members to be present during invasive procedures, which they would previously forbid during these procedures. Attitudes of healthcare provider’s differ drastically. (MacLean et al., 2003) This paper will illustrate the important benefits of having a family member present during these procedures. Terms used in this search includes: Pro family at bedside, Importance of family at bedside invasive procedure, Family centered car in the operating room and position statement on Family presence. The following articles were deemed appropriate for this paper. 1. Baumhover N, Hughes L. Spirituality and support for family presence during invasive procedures and resuscitations in adults. American Journal of Critical Care July 2009; 18(4):357-367 Several health organizations have made recommendations and written guidelines to include family presence at the bedside during invasive procedures. A quantitative study was done of health care professionals exploring their thoughts and attitudes to family presence during invasive procedures. This article explores the importance of Spirituality and holistic care. The design for this study was exploratory, descriptive, and correlation. The setting was a 210-bed not-for-profit Christian-based hospital located in the Southwestern United States. Data was collected from the individuals in this study and analyzed. The study found that 58% of nurses Compared with 34% of physicians and physician assistants strongly agreed that family presence during invasive procedures is a patient’s right. This study ... ...eterization, 84%; sedation and analgesia, 81%; bladder catheterization, 80%; sutures, 79%; lumbar puncture, 66%; and cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers, 44%. The families’ reasons for being present included calming the child, suffering less anxiety, and watching over the procedure. Eighty percent thought that the family’s presence could be beneficial. 10. American Heart Association. 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation 2005; 112:Supp IV-1-IV-211.Retrieved December,7,2010.From: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/112/24_suppl/IV-6 The American Heart association support having family members present during invasive procedures. They have out clear and concise directions on establishing a family member presence at the bedside that any hospital can adapt.

Psychological Pricing

MKT 521 *Psychological Pricing S*trategy {draw:frame} Reference Pricing. – Any business can leverage on reference pricing by positioning their product in the market place along with high value or luxury items to make consumers perceive that its product fits into the same category. However, if consumers feel that the product does not belong in that category the pricing and positioning strategy will not work and be it counterproductive for the product and the company. Two common forms of psychological pricing are odd pricing, and prestige pricing. Odd Pricing. – In a study conducted by Schindler & Kibarian in 1996 they tested odd pricing using three versions of a direct mail catalog for women's clothing. â€Å"The catalogs were identical except for the prices which ended with 00, 99 or 88. The version with prices ending in 99 generated 8% more sales volume and had more purchasers than the 00-ending version. The 88-ending catalog produced a similar sales volume and number of purchasers to the 00-ending version†. In this example we can clearly see how the consumer perception of better value directly impacted sales, even though there was an alternative that ended in 88 which will actually be lower in value was not identified by consumers. Luxury *Prestige Pricing*. – {draw:frame} Higher prices usually denote higher quality. Luxury brands are a perfect fit of this strategy. Another example of companies that use prestige pricing in the car industry are Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Rolls Royce. Psychological pricing is a good strategy to use when the company is certain that it will be the best-fit for the product, otherwise it can be counterproductive. References Kotler Philip, Armstrong Gary. Principles of Marketing Thirteen Edition. Prentice hall

Intramuscular Injection

An intramuscular injection is an injection given directly into the central area of a specific muscle. In this way, the  blood vessels  supplying that muscle distribute the injected medication via thecardiovascular system. Purpose Intramuscular injection is used for the delivery of certain drugs not recommended for other routes of administration, for instance intravenous, oral, or subcutaneous. The intramuscular route offers a faster rate of absorption than the subcutaneous route, and muscle tissue can often hold a larger volume of fluid without discomfort.In contrast, medication injected into muscle tissues is absorbed less rapidly and takes effect more slowly that medication that is injected intravenously. This is favorable for some medications. Precautions Careful consideration in deciding which injectable route is to be used for the prescribed medication is essential. The intramuscular route should not be used in cases where muscle size and condition is not adequate to support sufficient uptake of the drug.Intramuscular injection should be avoided if other routes of administration, especially oral, can be used to provide a comparable level of absorption and effect in any given individual's situation and condition. Intramuscular injections should not be given at a site where there is any indication of  pain. Description Intramuscular (IM) injections are given directly into the central area of selected muscles. There are a number of sites on the human body that are suitable for IM injections; however, there are three sites that are most commonly used in this procedure.Deltoid muscle The deltoid muscle located laterally on the upper arm can be used for intramuscular injections. Originating from the Acromion process of the scapula and inserting approximately one-third of the way down the humerus, the deltoid muscle can be used readily for IM injections if there is sufficient muscle mass to justify use of this site. The deltoid's close proximity to the radi al nerve and radial artery means that careful consideration and palpation of the muscle is required to find a safe site for penetration of the needle.There are various methods for defining the boundaries of this muscle. Vastus lateralis muscle The vastus lateralis muscle forms part of the quadriceps muscle group of the upper leg and can be found on the anteriolateral aspect of the thigh. This muscle is more commonly used as the site for IM injections as it is generally thick and well formed in individuals of all ages and is not located close to any major arteries or nerves. It is also readily accessed. The middle third of the muscle is used to define the injection site.This third can be determined by visually dividing the length of the muscle that originates on the greater trochanter of the femur and inserts on the upper border of the patella and tibial tuberosity through the patella ligament into thirds. Palpation of the muscle is required to determine if sufficient body and mass i s present to undertake the procedure. Gluteus medius muscle The gluteus medius muscle, which is also known as the ventrogluteal site, is the third commonly used site for IM injections. The correct area for injection can be determined in the following manner.Place the heel of the hand of the greater trochanter of the femur with fingers pointing towards the patient's head. The left hand is used for the right hip and vice versa. While keeping the palm of the hand over the greater trochanter and placing the index finger on the anterior superior iliac spine, stretch the middle finger dorsally palpating for the iliac crest and then press lightly below this point. The triangle formed by the iliac crest, the third finger and index finger forms the area suitable for intramuscular injection.Determining which site is most appropriate will depend upon the patient's muscle density at each site, the type and nature of medication you wish to administer, and of course the patient's preferred site f or injections. Preparation Before  administering medication, a health care practitioner verify the medication order for accuracy and prepare the medication from the vial or ampule. * First, ensure you have identified the patient and assist them into a position which is comfortable and practical for access to the njection site you have chosen. * Locate the correct area for injection using the above guidelines or those taught during medical training. Clean the site with an alcohol swab or other cleansing agent. * Prepare the syringe by removing the needle cover, inverting the syringe, and expelling any excess air. Approximately 0. 1–0. 2 ml of air should be left in the syringe so that the air in the top of the syringe chamber, when the  syringe and needle  are pointing down, forces the entire amount of medication to be delivered.This also prevents medication residue from being left in the needle, where it can leak into the subcutaneous and dermal layers when the syringe a nd needle are removed from the muscle. * When ready to inject, spread the skin using the fingers of the non-dominant hand. Holding the syringe with the thumb and forefinger of the dominant hand, pierce the skin and enter the muscle. This process should be done quickly with sufficient control so as to lessen the discomfort of the patient.If there is little muscle mass, particularly in infants or the elderly, then you may need to pinch the muscle to provide more volume of tissue in which to inject. * Aspirate at the injection site (while syringe and needle are within the muscle) by holding the barrel of the syringe with the non-dominant hand and pulling back on the syringe plunger with the dominant hand. If  blood  appears in the syringe, it is an indication that a blood vessel may have been punctured. The needle and syringe should be immediately withdrawn and a new injection prepared.If no blood is aspirated, continue by slowly injecting the medication at a constant rate until al l medication has been delivered. * Withdraw the needle and syringe quickly to minimize discomfort. The site may be briefly massaged, depending on the medication given. Some medication manufacturers advise against massaging the site after injection, as it reduces the effect and intention of the medication by dispersing it too readily or over too large an area. Manufacturers' recommendations should be checked. * Discard the used syringe and needle intact as soon as possible in an appropriate disposal receptacle. Check the site at least once more a short time after the injection to ensure that no bleeding, swelling or any other signs of reaction to the medication are present. Monitor the patient for other signs of side effects, especially if it is the first time the patient is receiving the medication. * Document all injections given and any other relevant information. Aftercare Monitor for signs of localized redness, swelling, bleeding, or inflammation at injection site. Observe the p atient for at least 15 minutes following the injection for signs of reaction to the drug. ComplicationsMost complications of intramuscular injections are a result of the drug injected and not the procedure. However, it is possible that localized trauma of the injection site may result as part of the process. Minor discomfort and pain is common for a short period following the injection, but usually resolves within a few hours. Results The optimal outcome is a situation in which the medication is safely and effectively delivered to the patient via intramuscular injection without signs of complications or discomfort. Safety for the health care provider is also paramount. Health care team rolesThe health care provider is obliged to undertake the following when administering an intramuscular injection: * Inform and educate the patient on the need and effect of the medication being delivered. * Ensure the correct identification and verification procedures are followed. * Provide privacy for the patient during the procedure. * Understand the theory behind selecting appropriate injection sites. * Demonstrate correct technique when undertaking the procedure. * Monitor for complications. * Document all relevant information and ensure safe disposal of equipment.

Amazon has it going on! Essays - Amazon.com, Cloud Infrastructure

Amazon has it going on! Essays - Amazon.com, Cloud Infrastructure Amazon has it going on! April Page, Ian Keane, Luis Wiley, Christine Camacho Lehman, Alma Molina and Nathan Cook BIS 320 August 16, 2015 Buying books online has become popular over the years. So popular that it has started to deplete the existence of local bookstores. Online bookstores such as Amazon are right at your fingertips. Amazon has connected with customers all around the world through the use of internet technology and social media. When you go into a local bookstore, do they offer you customer reviews on the book of your choosing? Do bookstores offer you a list of other books you may be interested in based on your selected choice that day? Do you prefer the feel of a book in your hand or light and compact? Amazon has both to offer as they have introduced e-readers such as Kindle, Kindle fire, and kindle touch. Technology has come a long way, and Amazon is doing everything possible to attract customers attention. Hardware, software, databases and data communications Amazon may not have become the household name that it is without the massive technology driving it. In 2005, Amazon had the three largest Linux databases in the world. Running Oracle 9i database software, the Amazon data warehouse contained 28 Hewlett-Packard servers with four CPUs per node (Layton, 2006). The company expanded rapidly and in 2011, Amazon acquired additional data center sites in Oregon, Northern Virginia, and Ireland. At Amazon Technology Day in 2011, Amazon revealed its plans to expand to an 8-megawatt data center to include 46,000 servers. The company also introduced their Amazon Perdix, a modular data center with vents for cooling management and named after a mythological Greek character known for inventing useful tools (Miller, 2011). The data warehouse is divided by function- historical data, query, and ETL (extract, transform, and load). Their systems carry out millions of back-end operations on a daily basis. Ten years ago, The query servers (24.7 TB capacity) contain 15 TB of raw data in 2005; the click history servers (18.5 TB capacity) hold 14 TB of raw data, and the ETL cluster (7.8 TB capacity) contains 5 TB of raw data. Amazon's technology architecture handles millions of back-end operations every day as well as queries from more than half a million third-party sellers (Layton, 2006). AWS (Amazon Web Services) and S3 (Simple Storage Service) are the two main systems utilized by Amazon.com. Amazons data warehouse is the fastest-growing Amazon Web Services service, allowing companies to transfer data from hardware systems to the cloud (Barlas, 2013). AWS allows sellers who rent the space to build their web-based applications by using the same e-commerce platform as Amazon. In a manner that allows them to manage their customer information as well as gather data in a manner that is cost efficient and reliable. S3, on the other hand, is used primarily to keep and receive data. With the use of Netscape Secure Commerce Server, Amazon stores all credit card information in a separate database that is not the internet accessible and thereby preventing hackers from accessing customers financial information. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is the mainframe of Amazons information system. "Amazon is able to vary its business models easily, because the system is a comprehensive, and decentralized service platform that helps the company sustain its advantage in the industry because of its high performance and scalability" (Koymen, 2012). Smart Analytic Search (SAS), built by Amazon.com, is a system that detects and decreases the possibility of fraud. Additionally, the system is designed to measure and analyze customer data to determine how well they are serving the clientele (Koymen, 2012). With the implementation of SAS, Amazon sets itself apart from the competition in that it leverages the data to make the customer service experience pleasant and user-friendly. In order for interactions to feel individualized and human, they must be well informed. That makes data about the customer youre talking to right now the most useful data of all (Madden, 2012). Internet technologies, collaboration tools, and security In world full of technology and advances, Amazon has led the sales of eBooks since the end of 2014 according to Forbes.com, The proportion of all books sold in the U.S. that are Kindle titles. E-books now make

Profile of Tantalus, Mortal Son of Zeus

Profile of Tantalus, Mortal Son of Zeus Favored by the gods, Tantalus was allowed to dine with them. Taking advantage of this position, he either made a meal for the gods of his son Pelops or he told other mortals the secrets of the gods which he had learned at their table. When Tantalus served Pelops to the gods, all except Demeter recognized the food for what it was and refused to eat, but Demeter, grieving for her lost daughter, was distracted and ate the shoulder. When the gods restored Pelops, he was given an ivory replacement. Consequences Tantalus is known primarily for the punishment he endured. Tantalus is shown in Tartarus in the Underworld eternally trying to do the impossible. On earth, he was punished either by having a stone hang forever over his head or by being driven from his kingdom. Punishment The punishment of Tantalus in Tartarus is to stand knee deep in water but be unable to slake his thirst because whenever he bends down, the water vanishes. Over his head hangs fruit, but whenever he reaches for it, it goes just beyond his reach. From this punishment, Tantalus is familiar to us in the word tantalize. The Family of Origin Zeus was the father of Tantalus and his mother was Pluto, daughter of Himas. Marriage and Children Tantalus was married to a daughter of Atlas, Dione. Their children were Niobe, Broteas, and Pelops. Position Tantalus was king of Sipylos in Asia Minor. Others say he was king of Paphlagonia also in Asia Minor. Sources Ancient sources for Tantalus include Apollodorus, Diodorus Siculus, Euripides, Homer, Hyginus, Antoninus Liberalis, Nonnius, Ovid, Pausanias, Plato, and Plutarch. Tantalus and the House of Atreus After Tantalus betrayed the trust of the gods his family started to suffer. His daughter Niobe was turned to stone. His grandson was the first husband of Clytemnestra and was killed by Agamemnon. Another grandson, through ivory-shouldered Pelops, was Atreus, father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. Atreus and Thyestes were brothers and rivals who wound up destroying each other. They had fallen under a curse uttered by Hermes son Myrtilus against Pelops and all his family. Atreus further defied the gods by promising Artemis a golden lamb and then failing to deliver it. After a series of tricks and treacheries between the brothers, Atreus served up a dish to his brother of three of Thyestes children.

Hobbes and Internationalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hobbes and Internationalism - Essay Example Hobbes’ State of Nature It would be taxing for anyone vaguely familiar with Hobbes to not be aware of his widely quoted vision of man’s brutal and short life in the state of nature. For Hobbes, man’s equality in the state of nature is the cause of his terrible existence in that every man has the right to everything, which causes conflict. Man possesses an inherent selfishness which causes him to strive constantly for self-preservation, and in turn is the cause of his suffering (or seeking) competition, glory, and distrust. Such a state is ultimately â€Å"no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death† (1996: xiii). This is not to say that man is a blundering, blind fool simply seeking to grab that which promises to bring greater comfort and success to his life. Rather, man is in possession of reason, which causes him to grasp an understanding of right and wrong conduct. Yet, because no formal standards of right and wrong exist in a state of nature, opinions and rights clash and differ. This is not to assume that Hobbes denies the universality of morality or natural law, rather man is governed by agreements and contracts. However, Hobbes’ contracts are a product of the selfishness of man, and hence are not based upon any form of honour or trust because they will be valid to the point that an individual believes that another will not fall foul of his promise. An example would be that Y does not punch Z because Y does not want Z to punch him. This ‘contract’ is formed on pure selfishness, and only extends to the point that Z complies with the agreement. If Y feels that Z’s agreement lacks strength, he will quickly feel free to break his part of the contract. Such contracts, because they are without honour and because they are a product of selfishness, are very likely to be breached. If we are to apply these points on an international scale, some contradictions emerge. While on the surface it would appear that each state has the right to do anything, the existence of equality is highly questionable. Hobbes evidently thinks that a â€Å"genuine condition of war† exists between states (Hokestra 2007: 118), though not their individuals; rather their sovereigns who are constantly â€Å"in the state and posture of gladiators† (1996: xiii, 12, 63/78). The lack of common power on an international level today is evident, yet could this be utilised to lead to the conclusion that each state is constantly read for, or under threat of war? The temptation to answer this query negatively is backed by the concept of equality. Indeed, there is a great deal of â€Å"radical uncertainty† surrounding the cooperation between states (Newey 2008: 161). Though Hobbes saw men as equal in a state of nature, it could not be said that all states are equal; the opposite is actually evident. America certainly does not feel the need to harbour pre-emptive aggres sion against countries such as Iceland, for example. This leads to the conclusion that internationally, states are in a state of war as man is in the state of nature (Bull 1977: 49). This concept can also be applied to Hobbes’ view of man in nature as essentially unsociable: states across the globe often enter into mutually beneficial agreements. Even larger states provide aid to third world countries, particularly after crises and where poverty is extreme. Although these distinctions may be rather primitive, they gather much ground in establishing weaknesses in Hobbes’ theory being applied on an international level. Man in the state of nature is certainly more equal than countries in the ‘