The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Research Paper Example Christians believe in the existence of a single and most powerful superpower. They use the church for worship and education purposes. The church from a Christian point of view is not just the physical building, rather it constitutes the congregation as well as the believe system of the Christians. They are followers of Christ, and therefore do everything according to the teachings of the bible. In order to perform optimally in their activities, Christians are endowed with various gifts. These abilities enable them to perform both general and specialized duties and help each other in different ways. Believably, the gifs come from God and are given by the Holy Spirit to the deserving Christians. It is against this background that this paper provides an in depth analysis of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It argues that all gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today but some have ceased and are inexistent. To ensure a coherent view, it begins by defining the concept of spiritual gifts. Defining a Spiritual Gift The concept of a spiritual gift is complex and all encompassing. A spiritual gift is akin to spirituals, implying that it belongs to the spirit. In addition to having characteristics of a holy spirit, the gift is controlled by the spirit. Generally, Boice defines it as a special capability given by God which enables Christians to serve the church effectively.1. They are supernatural in nature and Christians need them in order to fulfil different missions in the church environment. They are given graciously by God to any individual He feels can serve the church according to His wishes. From these considerations, individuals who are gifted do not earn the respective gifts. Neither do they deserve them. They are merely given sovereignty and freely by the Almighty God. They are not rewards and therefore everybody is entitled to them. Also worth appreciating is the recognition that all gifts are charismatic in nature. Put differently, all of these are given by God through the Holy Spirit. Based on the preceding explanation, it is certain that humans do not posses these gifts. They can be revoked at any time when God through the Holy Spirit feels that an individual is not using them as expected. They act as an ideal channel that the Holy Spirit uses to minister to the church. Christians in this sense are just instruments that are moulded to fit the spiritual expectations. In order to receive these gifts, the respective human soul needs to exhibit willingness. Only then can they be able to effectively utilize the gifts in line with the Godly expectations. An important characteristic of these gifts pertains to the recognition that they are closely related to natural abilities of an individual. Yet they also have a miraculous characteristic. This distinguishes them from the ‘normal’ abilities that the Christians have. To ensure optimal performance however, one is gifted with a gift that is closely related to his or her natural ability2. The gifts of the Hol y Spirit are for today. They are relevant to the church settings and used by the Christians to benefit themselves as well as the entire church. They can only be recognized and utilized when they are needed. Seemingly, some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as apostolic and the gifts of signs have ceased. To a great extent, this is attributable to the recognition that they are no longer needed by the church. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Apostleship This gift is classified under the leadership category of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. According to Gangel, an apostle is a messenger who is sent by God with orders to deliver to a specific population3. An apostle is delegated authority by God through the Holy Spirit to represent Him in especially a foreign land. Biblically, apostles were the very initial leaders of the Christian church. They were commissioned by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel and ensure that is spreads to the entire globe. In this respect, apostles were a

Chapter 8 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapter 8 - Assignment Example dictates a manufacturing plant’s materials handling equipment, such as loading and unloading equipment and the design of the receiving and shipping docks. An order-management methodology that encourages maximum consolidation of shipments between common points enables a company to give larger shipments to its carriers and take advantage of volume discounts. Customer service goals influence the type and quality of carrier and carrier service selected by the seller Transport infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports is indispensable for a country economic activity, and is characterized such that its appropriate provision justifies or calls for involvement of the public sectors. There are three principles on the question of who should bear the costs of a large-scale facility such as transport infrastructure: the user pay principle, the indirect beneficiary pay principle and public financing. Institutional arrangements for developing transport infrastructure include public corporations, special budget account and private finance initiative (PFI), which tap private sector resources. Transport infrastructure such as harbors, airports, roads are usually provided with some form of public involvement within a variety of institutional frameworks. The globalization of the world economy means that an increasing number of shipment are being transported between multiple countries. Inland water transport is relatively inexpensive to user. At one time inland water was consider to be the least expensive form of transportation when compared to rail and motor carrier transportation. On a ton mile basis, rail cost approximately twice as high as inland water carriers, whereas truck cost are approximately 20 times higher then inland water carrier. Although inland water carriers tends to focus on lower bulk commodities that can be handle by mechanical means such as pump, scoop, and conveyor, many different kind of product can be carried. Other product that move extensively

Marketing Strategy of Olpers Milk

Marketing Strategy of Olpers Milk Engro Foods (Pvt.) Limited (EFL) was established in 2005 as part of a huge diversification process at the Engro Group. Engro Group itself is one of the leading business corporation with high ventures in the fertilizer, food, power, generation, petrochemicals, automation and terminal storage industries. Engro wanted to setup a latest fertilization plant but due to certain restrictions from the government was not able to expand in the fertilization field. There, the organization decided to invest into a new market. Olpers Milk, companys first brand was launched in 2006 in major cities of Pakistan simultaneously so that product gains popularity and visibility together. By this information, we got the idea of launching a processed milk that will fulfill all the needs of a household related to the use of milk. The plan, in a very brief way describes what segments the company is going to target, how and what strategies to take on to achieve a brand position and make maximum profits. The plan also points out the strengths, weaknesses that accounts to internal factors that can affect a product and opportunities and threats, which are the external factors disturbing the product Current Marketing Situation Marketing research is an important step when a new product is to be launched into market especially for an organization with no experience in the field. There are numerous risks associated with the new product. so to reduce the risks, research is a very important step towards the launch. The research uncovered that the food industry held the maximum promise and profits if on right track. The statistics show that Pakistan is the third largest milk producing country in the world, with urban consumption of about 7 billion liters annually. There is an overall growth in the PLM sector due to awareness in health and hygiene, this coupled with an increasing dissatisfaction with the loose milk from the local doodhwala. In Punjab loose milk costs between Rs. 46 and Rs. 50 while tetra packed milk costs around 75, same is the case is in Sindh where the price difference between the fresh milk and packed milk is around 20. These are a few problems which have to be solved in order to penetrate the market to the full extent. Market description The milk sector consists of the consumers that have standardized preferences. All consumers that drink either fresh or processed milk have homogeneous and similar preferences and wants. Keeping these things in mind, it is very difficult for a new company to take on a challenge of producing on a large scale, distributing it extremely effectively and massively promoting. The preferences that the consumers want are nearly similar according to the survey. The inclination towards particular qualities milk should attain are, the milk should be white, milk should not smell, hygienically processed and is good for health and bones. Keeping these preferences Engro Foods introduced two more products besides Olpers milk: Olwell diet and Olpers cream As previously mentioned, the preferences of all the consumers demanding or wanting milk are the same. So segmentation is really a problem for the Engro Group but the preferences differ for a few consumers that prefer skimmed milk. The segmentation was done according to demographics, psychographics and behavior. Market segmentation Demographics generally refers to the age, sex and to which life cycle stage an individual or group of people comes under. There are many products which are affected by the demographics of the customers. but Olpers milk is not affected by these boundaries and limits. This product is produced for all potential buyers and users from higher or middle class families. The research suggested that the lower class families have a different attitude towards the processed milk. All the companies and groups in the milking sector are trying to change the image of the packed milk. Due to this image of the processed milk, even though not wanting to be, Olpers milk will gain an image where it will look, it is made for a special social class Psychographic in marketing refers to the personality, brand consciousness, lifestyles and values of people. Some people are more goal-oriented and passionate about their goals. As Olpers milk and Olwell both focus on a person being physically and mentally fit, so people will look upon this as a brand and will be expecting benefits which the marketers have described. Behavioral factors include on which behavioral aspects are involved when segmenting the market. As mentioned above the company has divided its market into three totally different segments according to how people respond on different stimuli. This segmentation is done on a basis that people want milk that can be used as a tea whitener so obviously the color of the milk does matter a lot. Secondly, customers want a product which they can use for all purposes, not solely for a single use. Marketers of this firm have to keep in mind that they have to compete with opponents such as Nestle and Haleeb which are in this department for a period longer than Olpers and they attain many loyal customers who will prefer the their respective brand respectively. Product Review different packaging of all the three products: Olpers milk, Olwell and Olpers cream Marketers have decided to position it as a product that can be used for all purposes that the fresh milk does UHT heated processor, that means high quality of milk 6 layers of tetra pack for extra cleanliness and protecting the preserved milk from bacteria and germs 3 months of shelf life, that means that storage of milk, or consumers can buy cartons of milk without worrying that the milk will get useless. Milk that attains all the nutrients which the fresh milk has. A product that helps weight conscious people to loose weight Helping all users to have a chance to have healthy and strong bones Olpers cream specifically tackles people who are addicted to desserts and meetha. This product can be used in desserts and cake icings and etc. Competitive review Competition is very severe in the milking sector. Although there are only a few major competition in this sector but the competition is increasing very rapidly. The major contestants which the marketers of this company will have to study and research upon are Nestle and Haleeb, both of which have grasped enough experience in this field and have acquired many brand loyal customers Nestle The market leader in this milking market is Nestle, which is producing and selling its product with the name Milkpak since 1981. They introduced the concept of processed milk and established the concept of tetra pack milk in Pakistan. This was pretty well perceived by majority in Pakistan and a synonym was attached to the Milkpak as quality milk. The company has got vast experience and is tracking growth strategies. They have got a secure financial background so they will be willing to invest both in promoting and advertising if needed. They have targeted their market to areas restricted to near proximity to urban areas and are targeting people having a middle or high social class. They have always served the milking sector up to their capacity. The product is unique due to the addition of irons, vitamins A and C in the milk. Haleeb Milk Haleeb foods was established in 1986, just after the initiation of Milkpak from Nestle. Haleeb foods is serving this country for the past 27years and have been quite successful in doing so. They were quite a competition for nestle when they launched haleeb milk in 1986, but somehow or the other they were unable to make that sort of a image that the Milkpak achieved in early 80s Haleeb milk is said to be homogenized that means that all the nutrients and minerals are spread equally in a single carton. They have pure UHT standardized milk, with 6 layered packing with a shelf life of 3 months or so. Anhaar Milk Anhaar fresh milk just turned into the milking market recently. They have entered market with a different aspect of processed milk. They turn down the idea of UHT standardized milk because according to their research UHT heated milk looses its original nutrient and minerals. Along with this the UHT heated milk lessens the advantages and over stresses the immune system This milk has a shelf life of only 3 to 4 days. They milk cow daily and the fresh milk is provided to the market soon after the milking process. Pure milk exhibits healthy digestive systems, healthy skin nails and hair, reduces chances of cancer, prevents diabetes and lowers cholesterol levels, controls blood pressure and improves immunity. So according to this firm they are providing all this to the end consumers. This can be a turnover in the milking market from UHT plant to providing farm fresh milk. Taraang milk Taraang milk joined this market to target low class families. Their main objective is to provide this class with a milk that doubles the taste and smell of tea. They have taken their way to attract people by celebrities dancing and fascinating advertisements rather than letting consumers know of how their product is different than the existing products in the market SWOT analysis Strengths Engro food is being backed up by the Engro group financially and by experience also Relationship with the farmers, as farmers are the suppliers of the milk to Engro foods Third generation plant Strong consumer and product research Positive response from the users Weaknesses Packaging low quality milk distribution milk collection centers narrow brand portfolio Olwell quite liberal ads according to our culture Opportunities Government funding for development of this sector ever increasing growth in the consumers of processed milk third largest producer of the processed milk Threats immense competition price difference Consumer behavior and perception Objectives and issues First year objective The objectives for the period starting from the launch till the end of the first year include attracting customers, changing consumers perception of processed milk, making this product a brand. Second year objective End of the second year objectives will include regular customers, with brand loyal customers as well, and break evening the production costs as well as the plant costs. Issues These objectives will be a lot difficult to achieve if the marketing department fails to promote and advertise the product to the optimum level. If the first year objectives are not met than it will be approximately impossible to get through with the second year objectives Marketing Strategy As marketing strategy means to make strategies that are customer driven and implementing them through programs and awareness programs. This way new customers will be attracted, and will help the company to make profits and help the company build profitable customer relationships. The marketers will set a position of Olpers milk according to uniqueness of the product. The marketers of this company will target middle to high social class that want a product that is as useful as its perceived value. Positioning The red color that has been chosen for the packaging of Olpers milk is quite eye-catching and distinctive than the colors that have been used in Pakistan in the milking sector till now. The product will be positioned in a way that it conveys the message that it will fulfill all the purposes of a consumer that the fresh milk does. Olwell will be positioned in a way that it will target people who are goal-oriented and focus on their careers. This will also exhibit a image that this will help people remain fit and in the same shape without worrying for the fat contents in the regular milk Product strategy Olpers milk along with the Olwell will include all the features and core values that have been mentioned so as to receive maximum consumer satisfaction. More will be given than promised so as to achieve customer delight. A massive advertisement campaign with Olpers logo on every bill board, ads and newspapers. Every marketing campaign will be utilized in order to let people know of the new product. There will be many below the line activities including free tea using Olpers milk will be provided to the potential buyers at major departmental stores for testing purposes, so that people know what type of product they will be using. Pricing strategy We would be adopting competitive pricing strategy for all the products; Olpers milk, Olwell, Olpers cream. In this type of pricing strategy, the prices of the competitors are studied and the products prices will be determined by this. As the price of Milkpak is around 70 Rs, we will introduce our milk with a price slightly lower than this and then gradually increasing it. Distribution Strategy Olpers milk will be launched in many major cities, and will number around twenty. Olpers milk will be distributed to over 80 cities very effectively in a short period of time after launch, because it is very difficult to launch a product in more than 25 cities simultaneously. The distribution strategy includes division of the country into five major regions. These regions will be Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Islamabad and Peshawar. This requires efficient transport facilities as well as warehouses and storages in different cities for the effective distribution. Trained personals will be hired who will be having an experience of at least two years in the distribution field. The dependence on technology for the distribution is necessary so new technology will be used to monitor the storages, warehouses etc. In order to attract distributors with experience a fixed commission rate of 5% will be set, that will be not be negotiable in order to avoid future fights and hassle. Sales targets will be set twice every month after discussing the market situations with the distributors. Incentives, bonuses, increments, and training will be provided to the distributors and staff for further improvement in the distribution field. Marketing research In the marketing research that we conducted after the launch of the product included interviews, questionnaires and surveys. This will enable us to improve our product and further diversify in the food field itself. The questionnaire was distributed to the customers at the local shops and departmental stores. 250 questionnaires and 50 interviews will be studied to evaluate customer satisfaction and what customers need and expect from our product. According to the survey, we found out that people between 28 to 50 use milk in tea, at the breakfast table, and youngsters drink milk when studying or going to school

John Locke :: Empiricists, Empiricism

Property cannot be made secure by natural right alone, and for the better securing of their properties men have entered into civil society. The will of the body politic, when formed, is determined by the will of the majority, and of a bare majority if there be no different express agreement. For this Locke does not give any reason but the necessity of the case; it is certain that much worse ones have been given. As a matter of fact, we now know that a majority vote has not been generally recognized in archaic societies; the difficulty of obtaining nominal unanimity was overcome (as in special cases it still has to be) by various methods, including varying elements of force and fiction. This does not apply to the original agreement to form a society, which is assumed to be unanimous, and includes only the actual parties to it. Any one who stands out may go his ways and provide for himself elsewhere. It would seem that the community is entitled to enforce his departure; it is certain, on Locke's principles, that it has not the right to detain him against his will. Could he agree to stay in an inferior capacity like that of a resident alien? But it is needless to pursue the auxiliary fictions which might be devised. A body politic, then, is formed by consent; the essential term of the agreement is that every member gives up his natural judicial and executive power to the community (not, as Hobbes maintains, to an irresponsible sovereign); and this consent is renewed, tacitly if not expressly, in the person of every new member; for one cannot accept the benefit of a settled government except on those terms on which it is offered. Locke is bold to assert that 'a child is born a subject of no country or government,' and may choose his allegiance for himself at the age of discretion: this is another opinion which no modern lawyer

Dividend Growth Model Essay

1. Dividend Growth ModelThe basic assumption in the Dividend Growth Model is that the dividend is expected to grow at a constant rate. That this growth rate will not change for the duration of the evaluated period. As a result, this may skew the resultant for companies that are experiencing rapid growth. The Dividend Growth Model is better suited for those stable companies that fit the model. Those that are growing quickly or that don’t pay dividends do not fit the assumption parameters, and thus this model cannot be used. In this model, a company may not exceed the market growth rate. In addition, since the dividend growth rate is expected to remain constant indefinitely, the other measures of performance within the company are also expected to maintain the same growth rate. If in the current state, the dividend rate is greater that earnings, in time this model will show a dividend payout greater than the earnings of the company. Conversely, if earnings are growing faster than dividends, the payout rate will converge towards zero. In summary, the Dividend Growth Model works well for those companies growing at a rate equal to or lower than that of the economy and have an established and stable dividend payout. In order to estimate the cost of equity using the Dividend Growth Model, we simply adjust the model’s equation for estimating the price of a stock, given as such:P = D1 / (r – g)Where P = the price of the stockD1 = the expected Dividend in one yearr = the required rate of returng = the expected Growth ConstantBy solving the equation for k we get the following:P(r – g) = D1r – g = D1 / Pr = (D1 / P) + gTherefore in order to estimate the cost of equity through the Dividend Growth Model, we simply add the constant growth rate and the projected dividend yield in one year. 2. Capital Asset Pricing ModelThe assumptions used in the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) are similar in that they assume an almost â€Å"perfect world† scenario. Initially, CAPM assumes that all investors have the same rational expectations of returns, and that these returns are in line with the best prediction for future returns as based on the available information. It also makes the assumption that the dividends are paid normally, that assets are fixed, and that the market is efficient and in equilibrium with no inflation or change in the interest rate. CAPM additionally makes the important assumption that the evaluated stock is properly priced and that the risk level has been properly assessed. Another major assumption is that there are no taxes, transaction fees, or arbitrage opportunities during the evaluation period. This is a huge assumption which is generally incorrect. Almost all transactions within the market have some sort of tax or fee associated with it. Within CAPM, the required rate of return is found in the following equation:r = rf + B (rm – rf)Where r = the required rate of returnrf = the risk free rateB = the stock’s Beta valuerm = The Market returnIn essence CAPM evaluates a stock based on its risk and potential return compared to a risk-free market portfolio. 3. CAPM and the Modern Portfolio TheoryModern Portfolio Theory is an attempt to balance the risks and rewards of investment portfolios through the use of diversification to lower the risk of the entire portfolio while maintaining high returns. The use of Beta is a key concept in Modern Portfolio Theory. It uses CAPM as its basis to select investments within a portfolio; seeking to mix stocks with both positive and negative Betas to construct a portfolio with a minimal Beta for the group of stocks as a whole. Theoretically, the returns from stocks with both positive and negative betas do not cancel each other out, but rather the portfolio is constructed that the returns are independent of the other stocks held, yet complimentary in accumulation of returns. 4. Estimation of Untraded Stocks. The general standard for estimating the cost of equity of a non-traded  company is through the Market Approach. The basis of this approach is that the stocks of publicly traded companies, engaged in the same of comparable business, are a valid indicator of performance for a non-traded company. Under the Market Approach, there are two commonly used valuation methods; the Guideline Public Company method, and the Merger and Acquisition Method. The Guideline Public Company method consists of finding a comparable company and applying that companies financial data to the non-traded company. A company chosen to provide a reasonable basis for comparison should ideally be in the same industry as the non-traded company. However, if there are no companies with sufficient data available, as company in a similar industry may be selected. A similar industry should be one that had identical investment characteristics such as markets, growth, and product lines. The difficulty in using this method lies in identifying a public company that is sufficiently comparable. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement onStandards for Valuation Services, the following should be considered when using guideline companies:†A. Price information of the guideline company must be related to the appropriate underlying financial data of the company evaluatedB. The valuation ratios for the guideline company and the comparative analysis of qualitative and quantitative factors should be used together to determine appropriate valuation ratios to be applied to the subject company. C. Several valuation ratios may be selected for application to the subject company, and several value indications may be obtained. The appraiser should consider the relative importance accorded to each of the value indications used in arriving at the opinion or conclusion of value. D. To the extent that adjustments for dissimilarities with respect to minority and control, or marketability, have not been made earlier, appropriate adjustments for these factors must be made, if applicable.†The key to obtaining the most accurate results when using the Guideline Company  Method is to use the most comparable company as the guideline company. The closer to the evaluated company in all areas, the more accurate the result. The merger and acquisition method evaluates a company based on actual merger and acquisition transactions that involve entire companies or controlling interests in companies. This method may include companies that were either public or private prior to the control transaction. When using this method, all of the underlying information relating to a particular merger or acquisition may not be known. The motives of the buyer or seller may cause the transaction amounts to be skewed; this will be transparent to the evaluator and can cause an inaccurate evaluation. By using either of the Market Approach methods, it is still a â€Å"best guess† based on the best available information. The more accurate and comparable the comparison study is, the better the resulting evaluation. REFERENCES 1. Booth, Laurence. Time to Pass the Old Maid? http://www.investmentreview.com/archives/1999/spring/oldmaid.html2. Damodaran, Aswath. Dividend Discount Models. New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Businesshttp://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/pdfiles/valn2ed/ch13.pdf3. Citizendium.org. Cost of equity. http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Cost_of_equity4. Ivkovic, Inya. CAPM – Where Market Theories Converge and Clash. suite101.com. Sep 29, 2007http://investment.suite101.com/article.cfm/capm_assumptions_and_limitations5. Investopedia.com. Financial Concepts: Capital Asset Pricing Model. August 2007http://www.investopedia.com/university/concepts/concepts8.asp6. Wallener, Damir. What is Modern Portfolio Theory?http://www.investopedia.com/university/concepts/concepts8.asp7. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Statement on Standards for Valuation Services. http://bvfls.aicpa.org/NR/rdonlyres/672E1DD4-2304-47CA-8F34-8C5AA64CB008/0/SSVS_Full_Version.pdf8. Wise, Richard M. Caveats in Using Guideline Company Transactional Data in Valuing a Business. Quarterly Journal of the Business Valuation Committee of the American Society of Appraisers. Vol. 22, No. 1, March 2003http://www.wbbusval.com/english/pdf/BVR4-Caveats-Guideline-Cos-March03.pdf9. Pratt, Shannon P. Business Valuation Body of Knowledge Workbook, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 978-0-471-27066-9. Paperback. 192 pages. January 2003

Group Process Paper

Doing this project on India together with Laura, Patrick, and Tsukasa has been very satisfying. I usually do not like to work in groups because I end up doing everything; however this project was truly an exception. It was a very interesting project in which you learn a lot not only from the assigned country but from the teammates. I was pretty much the leader by establishing dates and meetings, and assigning parts to everyone. Still, everyone cooperated equally and very responsibly.Patrick always had good and interesting information to share, Tsukasa did a superb effort and did her work best as she could, and Laura aided tremendously with the powerpoint presentation. Each team member was very committed and motivated, as well as optimistic. I am glad that we never had any type of conflicts; we pretty much seemed to bond and agree on everything. I guess this is not the typical team project you usually have to do. Beyond that, it is an opportunity to bond and get to know your teammates in a deep way.We were very lucky to all be international students; and nothing against Americans, but I prefer it! We even went for lunch once and talked a lot about Germany, Japan, and the Dominican Republic. If I had to choose a team for a class project, I would choose my team without thinking about it twice. It was a fun, and interactive project with excellent teammates. We all learned together about India, as well as from our different cultures!

Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids, Order Orthoptera

Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids, Order Orthoptera If youve walked through the grass on a warm summer day, youve likely encountered members of the order Orthopterathe grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Orthoptera means straight wings, but these insects would be better named for their characteristic jumping legs. Description Crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids undergo incomplete or gradual metamorphosis. Nymphs look similar to mature adults but lack fully-developed wings. Powerful hind legs, built for jumping, characterize the Orthopteran insects. The muscular legs propel grasshoppers and other members of the order for distances up to 20 times their body lengths. Insects in the order Orthoptera are known for more than their jumping skills, however. Many are accomplished singers as well. Males of some species attract mates by producing sounds with their legs or wings. This form of sound production is called stridulation and involves rubbing the upper and lower wings or the hind leg and wing together to create a vibration. When males call for mates using sounds, those species must also have ears. Dont look at the head to find them, however. Grasshoppers have auditory organs on the abdomen, while crickets and katydids listen using their front legs. Orthopterans are usually described as herbivores, but in truth, many species will scavenge other dead insects in addition to feeding on plants. The order Orthoptera is subdivided into two groupsEnsifera, the long-horned insects (with long antennae), and Caelifera, the short-horned insects. Habitat and Distribution Members of the order Orthoptera exist in terrestrial habitats throughout the world. Though often associated with fields and meadows, there are Orthopteran species that prefer caves, deserts, bogs, and seashores. Worldwide, scientists have described over 20,000 species in this group. Major Families in the Order Gryllidae - true or field cricketsAcrididae - short-horned grasshoppersTetrigidae - grouse locusts or pygmy grasshoppersGryllotalpidae - mole cricketsTettigoniidae - long-horned grasshoppers and katydids Orthopterans of Interest Oecanthus fultoni, the snowy tree cricket, chirps the temperature. Count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 40 to get the temperature in Fahrenheit.Ant crickets of the subfamily Myrmecophilidae live within ant nests and are wingless.Large lubber grasshoppers (family Romaleidae) raise their hindwings when threatened and produce a foul-smelling liquid from pores in the thorax.The Mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex) are so named for a legend. In 1848, the first crops of Mormon settlers were threatened by a swarm of these voracious eaters, only to be eaten by a flock of gulls themselves. Sources: Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity, Stephen A. MarshallKaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, Eric R. Eaton, and Kenn KaufmanOrthoptera - Dept. of Entomology, North Carolina State University

Future fiction essays

Future fiction essays In Monica Hughess story, The Price of Land, the government saw human life in dollar symbols. The story tells of a farming family who had not experienced the best of luck making money off of the farm. Money was short but there was a solution offered by the government; not too with farming or anything like that. Jim, the father figure, received a letter, with an offer that would prove hard to refuse. Jims seventy year-old mother in-law was living with him and his family. She was collecting a small pension and was a contributing member to the household. Although the penny-pinching government saw that it would be cheaper in the long run to just buy this womans life and give a cut of the money they would have spent to support her in her last years to her family. The offer sounded good to Jim, though he did feel bad, and Gran thought it would be best for the struggling young family. They went through with the deal and Gran was euthanized. Does this sound like nonsense, or could this type of thing really happen? I think it would take a severe moral breakdown in society to bring about those types of changes. But, what would it take? Heres a scenario I have thought about that is somewhat similar to the situation presented by Monica Hughes. Approximately one hundred or fewer years from now the world could see a revolution fueled by the rise of technology. Technology meaning, communications, robotics and automated computer controlled systems. Like the industrial revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, we could see a population growth that might disturb the distribution of wealth. Another possible development in the future is the robotic workforce. This in itself is quite a concept when you consider the number of jobs that could be taken away from people and given to robots. The unemployment rates could seriously damage our economy. ...

The Plea Bargain Stage of a Criminal Case

The Plea Bargain Stage of a Criminal Case Due to the overburdened criminal justice system, the vast majority of  criminal cases  are settled through a process known as plea bargaining. In a plea bargain agreement, the defendant agrees to plead guilty rather than proceeding to a jury trial. When Does Plea Bargaining Occur? In a plea bargain deal, both sides gain something from the arrangement. The prosecution gains a conviction without the time and expense of a trial, while the defendant might get a reduced sentence or have some of the charges against them dropped. In some cases (for example, the Jaycee Dugard case), the prosecution will offer a plea deal so the victim does not have to go through the drama and stress of testifying at a trial. Factors Influencing a Plea Deal Whether or not the prosecution and defense agree to enter into plea bargain negotiations depend on several factors: The seriousness of the  crime itself.The strength of the evidence against the defendant.The likelihood of a guilty verdict at trial. Criminal Court Dockets Overwhelmed If the charge is very serious and the evidence against the defendant is very strong, as in the first-degree murder case against Casey Anthony, for example, the prosecution can refuse to enter into any plea deal. However, if the evidence in a case is such that the prosecution might find it difficult to convince a juror beyond a reasonable doubt, the prosecution may be willing to negotiate a plea deal. The reason the average criminal case is settled by a plea bargain is because of the overwhelming caseload facing the court system. Only about 10 percent of criminal cases go to trial. Reduced Charges, Reduced Sentence For a guilty defendant, the advantages to a plea bargain are obvious: either reduced charges or a reduced sentence. Sometimes, a plea deal can reduce a felony charge to a misdemeanor, a significant difference for the defendant. Many plea deals have resulted in a reduced sentence for the defendant. One hitch in the plea bargain system is the fact that the judge in the case does not have to accept it. The prosecution can only recommend the agreement to the judge, but cannot guarantee that the judge will follow it. Bargaining Prohibited in Some Cases Also, some states have passed laws prohibiting plea bargaining in certain cases. Some states will not allow a drunk driving charge to be bargained down to reckless driving, for example. Other states prohibit plea bargains for sex offenders or repeat offenders who may be considered to be a danger to the public. The plea bargain itself usually takes place between the prosecutors office and the defense attorney. Rarely do prosecutors bargain directly with defendants. Victims Considered in Plea Bargains For a plea bargain to be accepted, the defendant has to knowingly waive his right to a trial by jury and the facts in the case have to support the charges to which the defendant is pleading. Some states have victims rights laws that require a prosecutor to discuss the terms of any plea deal with the victim of the crime before making the offer to the defendant.

First Paper Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

First Paper Assignment - Essay Example Thus, the thesis of this paper can be put like this: Killing in war is seriously morally wrong, because it is cruel and worthless deprivation of the most valuable one has which is human life. A number of analytical and psychological researches have been conducted on the reasons, causes, and consequences of one of group of people killing other group of people during war time. However, such appalling facts as raping and killing women and children are shocking evidence of human worst weaknesses and absence slightest responsibility for the most severe crimes. Contemplating on such problematic issue of human life as war, I would go as far as to claim that we do not need war and have to learn to live without it. Killing enemies in war, soldiers become automated machines of mass destruction which never stop even before helpless crying child (Calhoun 40). If one’s psychology is so complex that in war they do not distinguish their aims and enemies from helpless women and little childre n, then they should not engage themselves in war at all. Today, we are witnesses of revolutions and overthrowing of national leaders in the Islamic countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. One of the major claims the Colonel Qaddafi’s son has recently made proves the leader’s interests in power and his philosophy that the end justifies the means: â€Å"We will fight until the last man, until the last woman, until the last bullet† (Kirkpatrick).War politics is often based on the assumption that killing combatants in war is self-defending act. It is concluded that war and killing are acceptable. Fighting and killing for one’s country, family, rights is considered to be even honorable. Soldiers are also human beings with their rights to life. Therefore, killing is deliberate deprivation of human life (White 414). In such a chain of logical arguments, it would be reasonable to conclude that end does not justify means. There is a statement which became com monplace during war times: kill or be killed. If to look at this statement from religious perspective, to be killed is honorable, while to kill is not. Furthermore, a person who is forced to kill like a soldier whose â€Å"duty† is to kill, will always have some psychological trauma or, at least, negative images in their mind related to killing and dead bodies of their enemies. Killing in war is similar to some animal instinct for surviving. Hence, any inclination to kill even as a duty in wartime is a rudiment of our ancestors who lived as tribes in caves fighting with their human and non-human enemies for survival. It is neither right nor just to divide soldiers into guilty and not guilty, because they are all the same. They are employed by someone else to do a dirty job which is to kill during a war. Killing then is called â€Å"carrying out of mission† – a very respectful job, one might think. If to assume that killing is self-defense, many combatants are ki lled of another reason, which is their enemy’s duty, to kill (White, 415). Therefore, all the war actions which involve intentional deprivation of someone else’s life cannot be morally excusable, because in most if not all cases it is murder. Killing in war should be looked at from a perspective of immorality of war itself. Duties and responsibilities of a soldier are to be thoroughly looked through and reconsidered. Fullinwider correctly states that killing is

Reading Response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Reading Response - Assignment Example Such is a portrayal of disregard to the innate beliefs of people that require the redrafting of the legislations that govern religion and freedom of worship in the country. Offering bodies for scientific studies is a personal decision that people make in order to foster science. However, forcing a particular group to offer their dead for scientific studies discriminative, human anatomy is similar and those compelling others should take the initiative of enhancing science by offering their own bodies. The article calls for the review of laws that govern the remittance of bodies to museums and scientific institutions in order to grow science. The conflict between science and religion requires effective management in order to ensure that each enjoys relative space for growth. In cases where religion opposes specific scientific operations people must take special deliberations including revision of existing laws in order to limit the extent of the conflicts. Science offers practical answers and solutions to the social problems while religion offers spiritual answers. Both are effective in their own way. The article therefore discusses the contention that a rises when religion and science conflict. Offering human bodies for scientific studies remains contentious to most societies. In the United States, the arguments that American Indians should offer their ancestors’ bodies for scientific studies are rising amid opposition from different quarters. I agree with the ideas in the article. Religion is an instrumental cultural component that influences the lifestyles of people. Religion influences the faith of an individual thus influencing their values. As such, religion remains an important aspect of life. The values and beliefs of people are intricate aspect of their lives that the society should respect and value. This underscores the need for changing the antiques act of 1906 and the archeological resource protection act of 1979 both of which stipulated

Final Examination Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Final Examination - Assignment Example Employee X and employee Y. It say that employee X are bad employee that are not motivated by the job they are doing and need coercion to work productively. Most managers will not have incentives for employees falling in category X instead they use coercion. On the other side employee Y have natural liking of their job and little motivation can double their productivity. Other theories such as Maslow hierarchy of need indicate the progressive need of motivation. As one motivation is satisfied it means a lot to productivity and reenergize for another achievement. All motivation theories address one outcome in there explanation aspect of motivation. On the same note, every theory has a role and every theory has one way or the other that can be used by a manager to increase the productivity in the company. A good example is the comparative picture that the theory of Maslow and that of McGregor when viewed in unison they draw. On commonality, they all share one fabric: the fabric of motivation. However there approach is different. On one hand the of X and Y which is a school of thought of McGregor explains that there exist two types of employee one who is self-initiated, self-motivated and work productively under supervision and coercion. Such employee is grouped as an employee Y. In real sense such an employee could be following the ladder of hierarchy postulated by Maslow being motivated at every stage. After achieving on physiological need the self-motivation of moving to safety need arises and on and on till the self-actualization is achiev ed. Consequently, the two theory fit together. On the other side, an employee who is fixated on one step of Maslow theory tend to be frustrated or retrogress to the lower hierarchy for the purposes of feeling satisfied. These employees tend to fit in category X according to McGregor. Many other theories have a commonality point of view. Public employee determine

Marketing planning for Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Marketing planning for Starbucks - Essay Example People enjoy coffee while reading books, listening music or just gossip with friends and family. Specifically matching the regional culture and taste, the company strategically placed their products. It was one amongst the Fortune 100 top companies in the year 2005 to work for . Section 1: Marketing Audits Organizational Audit In order to understand the company’s strength and weaknesses, opportunity and threats the SWOT analysis of the firm has been performed to find the internal and the external environmental situation of the company. SWOT Analysis Strength Product diversification- huge range of products like coffee, baked foods, music cds etc. Well known developed brand image with online presence and copyright logo. The company has their own retail and international stores and don’t depend on franchisee. The locations of the stores are very strategically placed to attract more customers. †¢ The locations of the stores are very strategically placed to attract more customers. With good working environment the company possess valued and very motivated workforce. The company have good relation with the suppliers of Coffee and other requirements. Starbucks is the market leader of the Coffee industry. Customers are loyal to the brand The company is located internationally Starbucks has a very strong financial establishment which helps the company to invest in the process of expansion. Weaknesses The company is less focused in its internal processes rather it mainly concentrates on the expansion plans. The growing market and modern lifestyle of people are growing demand for new competitors in the market which can’t be controlled by the company. Too many shops within a small area can affect the business. The products offered by Starbucks are little expensive than its competitors thus it’s a weakness for the company to grab the budget market. Opportunities The company has great opportunity to enter the retail market with its expansion plan. Technological advancement can bring new techniques to manage their processes. The company can introduce new distribution channel and start delivery service for the customers directly to their place. New product development is another opportunity for the firm to grab the market with its new launch. Emerging market outside the country into developing nation can be a very good prospect for the company. Starbucks can ex pand in many more areas even within the country thus domestic market can also be a good opportunity for the firm. Threats The growing competition from restaurants, supermarkets, and other coffee shops offering same kind of products to the customers and other coffee products are the major threats for the company. The U.S market is reaching its saturation point which will restrict the firms plan for farther expansion in the market. The instability of the Coffee price in developing countries can be difficult for the firm to maintain its price policy constant for all the countries where the company operates. In supplying countries of coffee beans the farmers are not well treated and thus results in

Project management - Answering the case study Question Essay

Project management - Answering the case study Question - Essay Example The cost of each Windows 2000 workstation is $3000, where as that of Windows 2000 server is $12,000. The term labor cost refers to the cost that the employers incur in hiring incremental unit if labor. The labor cost is used for various purposes like judging the various cost levels of different labor classes (Triplett, 1983, p.4). It has been assumed that each one puts in 40 hrs per week, as per the problem. The rest of the data has been collected from the exhibit 7 & 8 of the case study. Number of hours was calculated by dividing the no. of days with 7(since there are 7 days in a week) and multiplying with 40. The critical path method is one of the several management techniques during a project planning. A project generally is made up of a number of individual activities. These activities can be divided into further activities while handling a complex web of activities. The CP model helps us to determine that how long a complex project might take for its successful completion. It also helps to identify the activities that are ‘critical’, which implies that the tasks that are important to be finished on time otherwise the project can be delayed. The tool also helps to determine whether one needs to speed up the project and for doing so which a cost effective way. This can be achieved by feeding in the data of cost of each activity and the cost of speeding up the activity in the critical path method. (Samuel L. Baker, para 1-3). According to Hiemstra (2000), the critical path analysis is logical sequence of the series of activities of a project in such a way that the most efficient route is determined. The tool helps in time management and helps the managers with sufficient information to take decisions regarding the project plan (para. 2). Planning is an important component of every project. Risk factors are always associated with project sing technology. These risks can be classified as schedule overruns, change in the technology and its

Implementing Lean Approach to Eliminate Non-value-added Activity Essay

Implementing Lean Approach to Eliminate Non-value-added Activity - Essay Example With regard to the second question, it was determined that the JIT significantly decreases the total NVA in the WSS when the huge stock level is declined. This causes the obvious reduction in the variable costs; for example, opportunity costs and warehousing costs. By contrast, the TPM results in better productivity and product quality due to the higher effectiveness of the machine, which is caused by better maintenance systems and practices. Concerning the third question, both external and internal factors are the obstacles and limitations of the Lean application. Ultimately, this pilot research study functions as a guidepost for manager’s of paperboard companies, as well as other continuous operation companies lacking adequate sufficient models, that are seeking means of applying Lean production mechanisms to their firm’s supply chain system. The term, ‘Lean Production’ or ‘Lean Manufacturing’, was first introduced in the seminal book, The Machine that Changed the World by Womack et al. (1990) in order to represent the evolutionary approach against traditional thinking from the 1920s, ‘Mass Production System (MPS)’. This method intends to add values on products or services from the customers’ perspective and enhance efficiency by eliminating wastes or non-value-added activities (NVAs) in the production or supply chain. It requires all people, both management and operational level, in the organization to take part in the improvement (Womack and Jones, 2003; Liker, 2004). The Lean was previously known as ‘Toyota Production System (TPS)’ after the company that developed it in the 1940s. This approach was behind the successful growth of Toyota and other Japanese manufacturers, especially in the 1980s (Ohno 1988; Shingo 1989; Liker, 2004).

Project management - Answering the case study Question Essay

Project management - Answering the case study Question - Essay Example The cost of each Windows 2000 workstation is $3000, where as that of Windows 2000 server is $12,000. The term labor cost refers to the cost that the employers incur in hiring incremental unit if labor. The labor cost is used for various purposes like judging the various cost levels of different labor classes (Triplett, 1983, p.4). It has been assumed that each one puts in 40 hrs per week, as per the problem. The rest of the data has been collected from the exhibit 7 & 8 of the case study. Number of hours was calculated by dividing the no. of days with 7(since there are 7 days in a week) and multiplying with 40. The critical path method is one of the several management techniques during a project planning. A project generally is made up of a number of individual activities. These activities can be divided into further activities while handling a complex web of activities. The CP model helps us to determine that how long a complex project might take for its successful completion. It also helps to identify the activities that are ‘critical’, which implies that the tasks that are important to be finished on time otherwise the project can be delayed. The tool also helps to determine whether one needs to speed up the project and for doing so which a cost effective way. This can be achieved by feeding in the data of cost of each activity and the cost of speeding up the activity in the critical path method. (Samuel L. Baker, para 1-3). According to Hiemstra (2000), the critical path analysis is logical sequence of the series of activities of a project in such a way that the most efficient route is determined. The tool helps in time management and helps the managers with sufficient information to take decisions regarding the project plan (para. 2). Planning is an important component of every project. Risk factors are always associated with project sing technology. These risks can be classified as schedule overruns, change in the technology and its

Irish history Essay Example for Free

Irish history Essay Rose Fitzgerald – wife of Joseph Kennedy, Sr. and matriarch of a U. S. political dynasty – was born of a proud Boston Irish family. Her last name however betrays origins that were other than Irish. In fact, the name â€Å"Fitz-Gerald† indicates that her first Irish ancestor to bear that name was the son of a Norman knight or nobleman who was begotten â€Å"in the wrong bed,† so to speak. Irish legends say that the island had been invaded several times before the arrival of the Celts around 250 B. C. E. (Austin, 2007). In historical times however, Ireland was virtually untouched for centuries; Romans never got to the island, nor did the early Germanic invaders that turned Romano-Celtic Britain into England starting around 450 C. E. By the time of the first Viking raid nearly 350 years later, the Celtic inhabitants of Ireland had retained their unique and ancient Celtic culture and language in a pure form for nearly a millennium. Even Christianity didn’t have a huge effect on the core culture, and there is evidence that suggests some druidic practices were integrated into early Celtic Christianity, which differed significantly from Roman Catholicism prior to the Council of Whitby (Griffin, 2000). Interestingly, Celtic languages historically are lost in the face of an invasion by a more aggressive culture. The Celtic language of Gaul was almost completely replaced by Latin, and in the face of Germanic invaders from the Continent, Brythonic (Welsh and Cornish) and Scots Gaelic retreated into the mountainous fringe of Britain. However, Scandinavians (from whom Normans were descended) invading Gaelic-speaking Ireland ultimately wound up adopting the language and the culture. This is probably due less to the durability of Irish culture than it is to Scandinavian adaptability. Wherever Scandinavian Vikings conquered and settled – from Russia to Normandy, or around the Mediterranean – they eventually became assimilated by the culture and language of those they had conquered. In the case of the early Norsemen, political conquest and colonization of Ireland was not a primary goal. For the first two centuries, raids were conducted for the purpose of booty. Only later, starting in the tenth century, did Norse Vikings begin building their port cities – Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Cork – and begin to settle in. The purposes of the towns were to serve as bases from which raids on England could be launched. Archaeological evidence suggests that over the following two centuries, the Norse who started to spread out into the countryside around their towns were â€Å"heavily Hibernicized† (Oxford Companion, 1999). In the case of the Anglo-Normans however, there were additional factors – political, social and environmental – that led to the decline of their dominance and subsequent assimilation into Irish culture. The first Anglo-Normans in Ireland actually arrived as mercenaries two years prior to the â€Å"official† date of 1169. They had been hired by the ousted King of Leinster, Dermot MacMurrough in order to reclaim his throne. At the time, their was a great deal of internecine warfare in Ireland at the time over the throne and title of High King, providing what was basically an opportunity for the bastard offspring of Norman knights who otherwise would remain landless. Anglo-Norman intervention began in earnest with the arrival of over five hundred fighters between May of 1169 and August of 1170 (Oxford Companion, 17). Eventually – and despite attempted intervention (with papal blessing) on the part of King Henry II, Norman families such as Le Gros, Prendergast, FitzStephen, FitzGerald, FitzHenry and Le Poer had secured virtual kingdoms for themselves by 1200 (Wikipedia, 2007). Events in Ireland during the early 13th Century eventually led to the dissolution of these Norman principalities as the native Gaelic-speaking Irish began to reassert themselves. Part of the reduction of Norman influence in Ireland had to do with inheritance laws; land was divided among all sons, not just the eldest, which led to the reduction in size and power of Norman lands. Periodic famines also served to reduce Norman power in Ireland. Over the next hundred and fifty years, two additional events led to the decline of Norman power in Ireland. First was the invasion of Scottish king Edward Bruce, who rallied the Gaelic nobility against the Sassunach. The other was the Black Death 0f 1347-1350. This plague reduced the population of Europe by a third. Urban dwellers – such as the Anglo-Normans of Ireland – were affected in much greater numbers than those living in the countryside, which was the case of Gaelic-speaking Irish. As the English-controlled areas became confined to the lands in and around Dublin (called â€Å"The Pale†), the Hiberno-Norman lords in the hinterlands began to adopt the Irish language, allying themselves with the native Irish in politics and warfare, and remained Catholic despite the Reformation (Barry, 1988) . This process of â€Å"Hibernicization† was well underway by 1400; it so troubled the English authorities in Dublin that they passed laws in 1367 in an attempt to stop those of English (Norman) descent from intermarrying with the Irish and adopting the language and culture. The statutes had little effect, however because of the Dublin government’s limited authority outside of The Pale. Archaeological evidence of Norman occupation of the Irish countryside includes the remains of numerous â€Å"mottes,† or remains of castles, scattered throughout the country. However, there are some places where Normans are indicated to have lived in written records such as the Irish Annals, where remains of these â€Å"mottes† are not found. It is possible that â€Å"ringworks† – earthen forts – may have been present in these areas (McNeill, 1999). An archaeological dig at Caherguillamore in County Limerick sheds some light on daily life in Ireland during the late Middle Ages. The construction and layout of the houses discovered in this area is similar to those on feudal Norman manors one would expect to find in France and England (Barry, 1988). They appear to be long houses with a central hearth, typical of Scandinavian construction which Normans retained long after becoming culturally and linguistically French. A coin found at the site from the reign of Edward I dates the houses’ construction to the decades on either side of 1300. There does not appear to have been any sort of genre as â€Å"Norman-Irish† or â€Å"Norman-Gaelic† literature, although the latter term was used in the 1940’s by Austin Clarke to describe poetry such as Feuch fein an obair-se a Aodh , which, while strongly Irish in its subject matter and structure, bears some resemblance to the â€Å"courtly love† poems of the French troubadours, which whom most Norman nobility would have had some familiarity with (Carney, 1955). This cross-pollination seems to have gone both ways; Bebedeit’s Voyage of Saint Brendan, dedicated to the wives of Henry I, was adapted from the Irish saga Navigatio Sanctis Brendani, an account of what may have been an early Irish voyage to North America in the 5th Century (Harper-Bill, 2003). Beyond this, there is little in the way of true â€Å"Anglo-Norman-Irish† literature or prose. According to an article in The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, there were three reasons for this. First of all, the vernacular language of Ireland – Irish Gaelic – was difficult for English speakers then as now, and very few inside The Pale would have bothered to learn it. Secondly, those Norman-English living within The Pale were busy trying to hold on to what they had in the face of rebellion by the native Gaels. The Third reason has to do with the entire assimilation issue: separated from their kinsmen in England and on the Continent, surrounded by native Irish speakers, it was inevitable that the Anglo Normans living outside The Pale should be drawn away from the Anglo-French literary traditions and into the Irish Gaelic forms (Bartleby, 2005). The Scandinavian influence – particularly that of the Normans – on European history can hardly be underestimated. The Vikings and their Norman descendants were a dynamic people who, for all their violent ways, created energetic societies wherever they went. Had William the Conqueror failed in 1066, English would presently sound a great like Dutch or German, and the socio-political landscape would look very different today. This energy may be exactly what has allowed Irish culture to survive, despite seven centuries of what was often harsh, cruel and even murderous oppression on the part of the Protestant English beginning around 1600. This vigorous culture was ultimately transplanted to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the U. S. especially, people of Irish descent read like a â€Å"Who’s Who† of American history. The fact that the Irish who came to the U. S. – who were initially despised and discriminated against violently – eventually rose to prominence and produced some of the greatest political leaders and literary figures in the nation owe their energy in part to the contribution of Scandinavians and their Anglo-Norman descendants. Works Cited The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. (1907–21). (Vol. XIV). The Oxford Companion to Irish History. (1999). ). Oxford: Oxford University Press A Companion To The Anglo Norman World.(2003). ). Suffolk: Boydell Press. Norman Ireland. (2007). Wikipedia. Retrieved 2 April 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Norman_Ireland Barry, T. B. (1988). The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland. London: Routledge. Carney, J. (1955). Studies in Irish Literature and History. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. Griffith, P. (2000). Celtic Cross Development. Retrieved 2 April 2007, from http://www. bluhorizonlines. org/cros/cros2. html Mcneill, T. (1999). Castles in Ireland: Feudal Power in a Gaelic World. London: Routledge.

Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) Origin and Features

Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) Origin and Features Leandri Venteru Mid- African Rift: Is there a geographical/spatial control on the nature of volcanism in Cameroon? Essay Volcanism in Cameroon occurs mainly on the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL), with the largest and most active volcano being Mount Cameroon (Fitton, 1980). The CVL, representing alkaline volcanoes, shows an easy recognisable Y-shape, with volcanic centres in both the oceanic and continental sectors of the African plate (Fitton Dunlop, 1985). Consensus regarding the driving forces of these volcanoes has yet to be reached. However, a wide variety of theories and hypotheses addressing the origin and nature of the CVL have been published over the last few decades. The CVL is a 1600km long magmatic sequence, stretching from Pagalu Island in the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) to Lank Chad on the main land of Cameroon on the western African continent (Dà ©ruelle, Ngounouno Demaiffe, 2007). Geographically the CVL is situated almost parallel to the Benue Trough, and follows the length of the Ngaoundà ©rà © Fault (Ballentine, Lee Halliday, 1997). The northern limb of the CVL overlaps with the Chad rift, which marks the northern rift of the Benue Trough (Fitton, 1980). Although volcanism is still active along the CVL is it not a neogene feature and has been active since the beginning of the Tertiary period. The rocks from the CVL are classified as mainly alkaline, intermediate and felsic. The felsic and basaltic lavas increase inlands towards the branches of the CVL in a volumetric ratio (Dà ©ruelle, Ngounouno Demaiffe, 2007). One of Africa’s largest volcanoes, Mount Cameroon, is a volcanic horst, with an approximate height of 4075m. T he volcano of Mount Cameroon is the most active volcano on the CVL. The latest eruption of Mount Cameroon was in the year 2000 (Herrero-Bervera et al. 2004). Scientists tried various methods over the years in an attempt to clarify the origin and dynamics of the CVL. During the 1980’s Fitton (1980) proposed a simple model to explain the geological features of the CVL. Fitton (1980) noted that although there is no evidence for rift faulting there are signs of regional uplift of the basin. The continental sector of the CVL is characterized by strato-volcanoes (Mount Cameroon), central volcanic massifs and even calderas in some areas. Collapsed plains filled by sediments, single magnetic volcanoes and flood basalts ( Ngaoundà ©rà © Plateau) are also prominent on the continental sector (Nkouathio et al. 2008). The volcanism is not influenced by fractures, which existed before the volcanism in the basement (Fitton, 1980). The origin of the CVL is explained by hand of the striking relationship between the CVL and the Benue Trough features. Fitton (1980) suggested that the CVL and the Benue Trough are superimposed by rotating one feature by 7 ° in relation to the other, about an axis. The axis is described to run with a north eastern strike into the country of Sudan. The reason for the relative rotation of the CVL and the Benue Trough is speculated to be as a result of the clockwise rotation of Africa (ca. 80Ma – 65Ma) (Fitton, 1980). This clockwise rotation might provide evidence for three features. Firstly, on the origin, the size and Y-shaped geometry of the CVL, secondly the rotation might support reason for the absence of recent volcanism in the Benue Trough. Thirdly, the rotational theory might provide evidence for the folding of the Benue Trough sediments. There were some speculations that the volcanism presently active in the CVL was once active in the Benue Trough. If the volcanic line had migrated from the Benue Though to its current position a systematic migration of a hot-spot is implied. Ngako et al. (2006) used remote sensing data as proposed by Moreau et al. (1987) to suggest that the relati onship between stress regimes and intraplate alkaline magmatism in the CVL is controlled by lithospheric structures. Ubangoh et al. (2005) argued that the presence of numerous recent volcanic cones and craters along the CVL is an indication of a strong geothermal gradient beneath the volcanic line, although there are no data that proves an increased supply of heat. By using a geochemical study on the basaltic rocks of the CVL and a K-Ar dating programme, Fitton and Dunlop (1985) searched for evidence to prove a systematic migration of the CVL volcanoes. Since the CVL is situated in such a unique geological setting, Fitton and Dunlop (1985) reasoned that they can determine the source of the CVL magmas by comparing the isotopic ratios of alkali basalts on the oceanic sector with the isotopic data of the alkali basalts on the continental sector of the volcanic line. Fitton and Dunlop have found that both the major element compositions as well as the isotopic ratios are indistinguishable when comparing the oceanic and continental sectors. What the K-Ar data did prove was that multiple volcanoes were ac tive along the line in more or less the same time period. When Ballentine, Lee and Halliday (1997) compared the ages of the oceanic sector volcanoes, they found that there is a consistency between the rotation of the Cretaceous African plate (Fitton, 1980) and the ages of the earlier exposed rocks on the islands. The ages of the early exposed lavas decrease from the continental side towards the ocean, placing Principe at 31Ma and Pagalu at 4.8Ma. The systematic age decrease of the islands support the mantle plume model for the oceanic sector of the CVL, but does not include the continental sector. Other causes of volcanism, such as rift faulting and pre-existing basement fractures were at first discarded due to failure to collect supportive evidence. The volcanoes on the ocean floor showed no changes due to the faults they passes through, thus one can assume that the source of these volcanoes are from mantle processes and is not affected by structures occurring in the crust (Fitton, 1980).Research based on the age and chemistry of the CVL basalts, indicated that the CVL is a young rift associated with the Benue Trough rather than a hot-spot trail. The depth at which a volcano is tapping its magma can be determined by the radioactive decay of helium isotopes in crustal rock (Aka, et al. 2003). Helium serves as a geochemical tracer that could be used to investigate the alteration of magma over a period of time. It is generally accepted that ocean island basalts (OIB) show a wide range of 3He/4He (Zindler Hart, 1986) and that 3He/4He ratios from mid ocean ridge basalts (MORB) are uniform (Graham et al. 1992a). The 3He/4He ratio of the CVL ranges from 3.05Ra to 8.31Ra. Hotspots in general have much higher 3He/4He ratios (Hilton et al. 1999). Aka et al. (2003) was the first to identify that the distribution of the 3He/4He ratios on the CVL could be due to spatial control, and suggested that the helium isotopic distribution an essential characteristic of the CVL is. These findings are argued as prove that the CVL volcanoes doesn’t tap their material directly from hotspots. Aka et al. (2003) is further backed up by work Fitto n and Dunlop (1985) did on K-Ar dating and the consistency to the Pb-isotope model proposed by Halliday et al. (1990).The above mentioned data and the long-lasting volcanism of the CVL volcanoes supports the conclusion reached by Fitton and Dunlop (1985) that the magma driving the volcanoes on the continental sector could not originate from a deep mantle source. Therefore the CVL shows no evidence of a mantle plume in the continental sector, but rather signatures convection of the upper mantle (Fitton Dunlop, 1985). 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb isotope ratios showed a slight decrease to either sides of the volcanic line from the centred volcano, Mt. Cameroon, which lies on the lithospheric continental-oceanic boundary (COB) (Ballentine, Lee Halliday, 1997). Basalts from the COB volcanoes, such as Mount Cameroon and Mount Etinde are more radiogenic with 206Pb/204Pb ratios of approximately 20.52 and 208Pb/204Pb ratios of 40.34 (Dà ©ruelle, Ngounouno Demaiffe, 2007). The Pb ratios of the COB volcanoes show a strong contrast to the lower radiogenic ratios of the island volcanoes. Basalts from the island located far south from the COB, Pagalu Island, have the lowest 206Pb/204Pb ratio of 19.01 and a 208Pb/204Pb ratio of 38.83. The Pb isotope data proves that there occurred no consistent major change in the magma over a period of time. The Nd and Sr isotopes of the basalts from both the continental and oceanic regions are similar in composition. The resemblance of the geochemical and isotopic data be tween oceanic and continental basalts provide evidence that the source and composition of the magma was not influenced by the continental crust, and therefore, the magma does not originate from the lithosphere (Dà ©ruelle, Ngounouno Demaiffe, 2007). The magma, as speculated by Ballentine, Lee and Halliday (1997), originate from a sub-lithospheric source, because of the similar compositions of the oceanic and continental magmas. Nkouathio et al. (2008) argued that since the lavas of the entire CVL have a shallow asthensopheric mantle source a depleted MORB mantle and a metasomatosed mantle, the alkaline lavas are consistent with the asthensopheric upwelling of a hot-spot. Halliday et al. (1990) argued that the isotopic decreases could infer re-melting of an enriched mantle plume located beneath the COB. Halliday further argues that the plume possibly shifted (from its position underneath the Benue Trough) to its current location during the continental breakup between the African an d South American plates as well as the rotation of the cooler lithosphere relative to the asthenosphere (Ballentine, Lee Halliday, 1997). Ballentine, Lee and Halliday (1997) made it clear that although the isotopic data supports the mantle plume theory, the mantle plume is only a part of the explanation of a more complex volcanic setting. Detailed isotopic data demonstrated that many theories proposed in the past were too inconsistent to explain the origin of the CVL. The data includes many classical theories, however only three will be mentioned. Firstly, the reactivation of the Ngaoundere fault which in turn caused the volcanism on the CVL (Moreau et al. 1987). A second classical theory involves membrane tectonics which produced the extensional CVL feature (Freeth, 1979). Thirdly, it is suggested that the various active volcanic centres are inconsistent with the ‘textbook’ model of hotspots (Fitton Dunlop, 1985), (Ballentine, Lee Halliday, 1997).Keeping the above mentioned theories in mind, Ballentine, Lee and Halliday (1997) used a ‘technique of inductively coupled plasma magnetic sector multiple collector mass spectrometry’ (Ballentine, Lee Halliday, 1997 pp 111)to acquire new data. From the data Ballentine, Lee and Halliday (1997) concluded that the CVL does not show a mentionable dif ference in Hf and Nd isotopic compositions in neither the continental margin nor in the oceanic sectors. However, a very significant difference in Pb and Sr isotopic compositions were detected (Ballentine, Lee Halliday, 1997). The consistent Hf and Nd isotopic compositions in the ocean island basalts (OIB) are indicative of a similar behaviour of the Sm/Nd and Lu/Hf parent-daughter ratios in the source of the OIB (Ballentine, Lee Halliday, 1997). Further, the continental sector shows a similar Hf-isotopic make-up than the oceanic sector. Ballentine, Lee and Halliday (1997), argued that the distinct variability in the Pb isotopic composition can be explained by the recycling of the oceanic crust, since Pb and Sr have increased mobility in the oceanic lithosphere. Kamgang et al. (2008) used a more localized approach, by investigating the geochemical isotopic data of the Bamenda Mountains in Cameroon. Since the previous isotopic studies performed by Ballentine, Lee and Halliday (1997), focussed on the entire CVL, Kamgang et al. (2008) proposed a ‘zoomed in’ investigation by focussing on one area of the CVL and try to explain the origin of the magma in that area. Kamgang et al. (2008) performed geochemical and geochronological studies of the mafic rocks from the Bamenda Mountains. His aim was to gain a better perspective of the composition of the CVL magma source. K-Ar dating performed on older, crust contaminated, samples of the CVL showed no systematic variation over time. However, insight on the chemical composition of the mantle source of magma is provided by the high Eu, Sr and Ba concentrations (Kamgang et al. 2008). The high concentrations are not a result of crustal contamination, because these concentrations do not correlat e to the Sr and Nd isotopic compostitions or the MgO contents or the La/Nb ratios of the rocks. Kamgang et al. (2008) suggested that these high concentrations rather have to do with the composition of the magma origin. The major element composition shows consistency with fractional crystallization processes. Sr and Nd isotopic values of the Bamenda Mountains coincide with the isotopic data published by Ballentine, Lee and Halliday in 1997. Kamgang et al. (2008) pointed out that the positive correlations observed between the Pb and Nd isotopic ratios and the negative Pb/ Sr isotopic correlation indicate either contamination by the continental crust (Ngounouno, Dà ©ruelle Demaiffe, 2000) or the effect of an enriched lithospheric mantle (Rankenburg, Lassiter Brey, 2005)( Kamgang et al,2008). Structural causes of volcanism have been discarded due to failure to prove structural influences with supportive evidence. There are three main structural units present in the Pan- African basement, namely shear zones, fold zones and thrust zones from which the shear zones indicating lithospheric faults stands out (Ngako et al. 2006).The volcanoes on the ocean floor show no changes due to the faults they passes through, thus one can assume that the source of these volcanoes are from mantle processes and is not affected by structures occurring in the crust (Fitton, 1980). It was also speculated that the CVL is rather a young rift associated with the Benue Trough. Nkouathio et al. (2008) suggested that the CVL is an alternating structure consisting of horsts and grabens. As a large shear zone, the CVL is structurally subdivided by a sequence of faults indicative of an alternating horst and graben system (Nkouathio et al. 2008). Considering other tectonic models, Ngako et al. (2006) suggested that the magmatism of the CVL is a complex interaction of multiple mantle plumes and fractures in the lithosphere. Ngako et al. (2006) further speculate that the complex interaction may cause the new magmatic complexes to be diagonally aligned. By expanding the study area form only the CVL to other large scale magmatic provinces on the African continental plate, Ngako et al. (2006) tries to illustrate a complex interaction between hotspots and Precambrian faults. The aim is to provide alternative explanations to classical hotspot models. Ngako et al. (2006) used three provinces, namely the Niger- Nigeria super province (Plaeozoic to Mesozoic era), the Benue Trough (Cretaceous period) and the Cameroon Volcanic Line (Cenozoic era to present) to prove a time-space migration of the West-Central African alkaline magmatism. The ages of rocks sampled, decrease from the northern Niger- Nigeria province southwards through the Be nue Trough to the CVL. The decreasing age of the plutonic provinces may suggest an interaction between tectonics and a hotspot system. Ngako et al. (2006) noted that the crustal and elastic thickness of the lithosphere on the continental sector of the CVL is unusually thin. This lithospheric thinning is argued as a position of a hotspot. Nkouathio et al. (2008) suggested that the evolution of the CVL magmas could be explained by the pattern of tectonic stresses and volcanic structures. In contradiction, Milelli, Fourel and Jaupart (2012) suggested that the Y-shape of the CVL was unaffected by plate motions and therefore implies that the magma source is attached to the continent. Geophysical surveys performed on the crust of the CVL concluded that differentiation between the Pan-African belts and neither the structural features nor the thickness of the crust is possible (Milelli, Fourel Jaupart, 2012). The crust underneath the CVL is very thin (ca. 35-39km) and the failure to distinguish between the Pan-African belts and the CVL indicates that the long period of magmatism (for approximately 70 Myr) on the CVL, has not have significant effects on the crust in the CVL region (Tokam et al. 2010). The absence of a seismic velocity anomaly at depths greater than ~300km, confirm the presence of the uniform mantle transition zone (Reusch et al. 2010)(Milelli, Fourel Jaupart, 2012). Milelli, Fourel and Jaupart (2012) explored the buoyancy of the lithospheric origin, because the lithosphere is made up of depleted mantle material, relative to the asthenosphere as a basis for their experiment on lithospheric instabilities. Since the lithosphere is buoyant on the asthe nosphere, the system is in equilibrium. However, if the lithosphere would experience cooling from the top, a convective instability might be triggered (Milelli, Fourel Jaupart, 2012). The latest trend is that researchers consider the CVL as a hot line tapping its resources from a sub-lithospheric mantle through openings in the lithosphere (Dà ©ruelle, Ngounouno Demaiffe, 2007). Crustal uplift in both continental and oceanic areas proposed by Meyers et al. (1998) contributes to the theory of lithospheric instability proved by Milelli, Fourel and Jaupart (2012) via laboratory experiments. Milelli, Fourel and Jaupart (2012) studied the lithospheric instability due to cooling from the crust downwards. The lithospheric instability is speculated to occur within the sub-continental lithospheric mantle. The laboratory experiments performed by Milelli, Fourel and Jaupart (2012) were based on the principle that materials with a viscosity that is independent of temperature will react the same when cooling from either the top or the bottom was induced. A ‘continents’ were created by using different viscosity fluids and fixing certain variables. These experiment s, that’s been fully described and discussed by Milelli, focussed on the instabilities created at the continental margin. Milelli, Fourel and Jaupart (2012) documented that the buoyancy factor causes downwellings that eventually return to the surface. This cycle of downwellings and upwellings creates a stress regime where compressional stresses were identified at the downwellings and corresponding extentional stresses, creating rifting fractures, at the upwellings. Fracture patterns on the surface of the experimental ‘continent’ formed in a combination of hexagons and distorted squares (Milelli, Fourel Jaupart, 2012). The conclusion of these experiments serve as proof that that continental lithospheric cooling can result in the geometrical Y-shape of the CVL, independent of the size and shape of the continental mass. Further proof is presented by Dà ©ruelle, Ngounouno and Demaiffe (2007) with supporting data on seismic and gravimetric surveys of the oceanic sec tion of the CVL.

Capital Punishment Essay: Its Fair and Effective -- Argumentative Pe

Capital Punishment - It's Fair and Effective   Ã‚  Ã‚   Confronting head-on two of the most prominent objections to the death penalty is the object of this paper: Is the death penalty a miscarriage of justice? And Does it Deter Crime?    It's a miscarraige of justice. In a survey Professors Hugo Adam Bedau and Michael Radelet found that 7000 persons were executed in the United States between 1900 and 1985 and that 35 were innocent of capital crimes (1). Among the innocents they list Sacco and Vanzetti as well as Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Although their data may be questionable, I do not doubt that, over a long enough period, miscarriages of justice will occur even in capital cases. Despite precautions, nearly all human activities, such as trucking, lighting, or construction, cost the lives of some innocent bystanders. We do not give up these activities, because the advantages, moral or material, outweigh the unintended losses (2). Analogously, for those who think the death penalty just, miscarriages of justice are offset by the moral benefits and the usefulness of doing justice. For those who think death penalty unjust even when it does not miscarry, miscarriages can hardly be decisive.    Is it a deterrent? Despite much recent work, there has been no conclusive statistical demonstration that the death penalty is a better deterrent than are alternative punishments (3). However, deterrence is less than decisive for either side. Most abolitionists acknowledge that they would continue to favor abolition even if the death penalty were shown to deter more murders than alternatives could deter (4). Abolitionists appear to value the life of a convicted murderer or, at least, his non-execution, more highly than they v... ...n, however just, of murderers. But although there is a lively discussion of the subject, not serious evidence exists to support the hypothesis that executions produce a higher murder rate. Cf. Phllips, the deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment: New Evidence on an Old Controversy, 86 Am. J. Soc. 139 (1980) (arguing that murder rates drop immediately after executions of criminals). 6 H. Gross, A Theory of Criminal Justice 489 (1979) (attributing this passage to Sir James Fitzjames Stephen). 7 Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349 (1910) suggest that penalties be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime - a common theme in criminal law. Murder, therefore, demands more that life imprisonment. In modern times, our sensibility requires that the range of punishments be narrower than the range of crime - but not so narrow as to exclude the death penalty.   

Defending Longinos Social Epistemology :: Science Scientific Philosophical Papers

Defending Longino's Social Epistemology (1) ABSTRACT: Though many agree that we need to account for the role that social factors play in inquiry, developing a viable social epistemology has proved to be a difficult task. According to Longino, it is the processes that make inquiry possible that are aptly described as social, for they require a number of people to sustain them. These processes not only facilitate inquiry, but also ensure that the results of inquiry are more than mere subjective opinions, and thus deserve to be called knowledge. In this paper, I explain Longino’s epistemology and defend it against criticisms recently raised by Kitcher, Schmitt and Solomon. Longino rightly recognizes that not all social factors have the same (adverse) effect on inquiry. She also recommends that we reconceptualize ‘knowledge,’ distinguishing knowledge from opinion by reference to a social standard. Though it is agreed that epistemologists need to account for the role social factors play in inquiry, developing a viable social epistemology has proved to be a difficult task. According to Longino, it is the processes that make inquiry possible that are social, requiring a number of people to sustain them. These processes, she claims, not only facilitate inquiry, but also ensure that the results of inquiry are more than mere subjective opinions, and thus deserve to be called "knowledge." Here, I want to both explain and defend Longino's epistemology. I Longino defines her account of scientific knowledge relative to positivist and wholist accounts. Though many regard positivism as offering an untenable account of science, because "no comparable sweeping and detailed philosophical view has replaced it," Longino believes that it still needs to be reckoned with (L1990, 21). Wholists are significant because they have been the greatest critics of positivism. After presenting these accounts, and explaining the difficulties that Longino has with them, I will present Longino's own account of scientific knowledge and inquiry. This discussion focuses on two issues: the relationship between evidence and hypotheses; and, the role of "contextual" values in inquiry. Longino contrasts contextual values with constitutive values. The latter, the "values generated from an understanding of the goals of scientific inquiry," "are the source of the rules determining what constitutes acceptable scientific practice or scientific method" (L1990, 4). That these values influence inquiry is not a problem. But the former, "personal, social, and cultural values," are thought to threaten the integrity of scientific inquiry (L1990, 4-5). According to positivists, "the fundamental base of inquiry, the source of confirming or disconfirming instances, is a set of .

Ageplay

Gentry, Kristin Jennifer Cherry English 101. 04 Spring 2012 Ageplay: Emotionally Gratifying, Socially Taboo! Ageplay, or the often sexually- taboo act of role playing, where one consenting adult personifies a minor child, while the other serves as a caretaker for the â€Å"minor child†, is a highly common phenomenon that shocks and perplexes many, but serves as profound emotional fulfillment for those who participate in the lifestyle. Throughout the following pages it is my intent to explore the many facets of age play and especially dissect, with integrity, the â€Å"why† behind this unique subject matter.Overwhelmed with a wealth of information, I have broken down the subtopics, for convenience and ease in reading. I have incorporated a variety or research sources varying from books written by esteemed sexologists to personal interviews from age players right here in the community. To protect their identity some have chosen to anonymously contribute to the paper while others have allowed me to use and alias. What is this age play thing all about? Ageplay is type of role playing mostly practiced amongst the kink community.In some cases, ageplayers will limit â€Å"sceneing† or â€Å"play† to the â€Å"vanilla† world, sexless, or seemingly blase, 9-5, mundane life, but, it is far less frequent than the sexually- driven alternative. There are three common age ranges that are explored in this kink. The first is Adolescentilism, where a relationship is formed around a person who identifies as a young adult or high school aged person. Often, a â€Å"naughty school girl† fantasy falls into this category.Authors Gloria and William Brame and Jon Jacobs, educated Sexologists and experts in the BDSM arena, wrote about this in the candid, wildly-popular book: Different Loving: The World of Sexual Domination and Submission. On page 129 it reads â€Å"[in this type of ageplay] the fantasy is likely of only temporary duration. â₠¬  Paul Rulof, a lifestyle educator and conference presenter raises a good, supportive point in his writings that suggests why this might be true. On page 52 of his first book, he sheds a new perspective about this particular age range of role play.He notes the following: â€Å"The teenage years are often ones of exploration of the self-identity, interactions with others, and many different experiences. Many firsts often happen during this time: first kiss, first date and first romantic partner. † The attraction of new and exciting events is most likely short-lived once those first experiences have occurred. When prompted during an interview, â€Å"Draven†, a Bloomington-Normal based Daddy had to say this about the appeal of this age range. The naive instincts of a pre-teen appeal to the hero complex that most men possess. We like to be needed and especially when we can offer our insight about sexual discovery. I personally enjoy watching my baby girl grow emotionally and become a sweet young lady as a result of my influence. † The next age group fetish mentioned in the trio-penned â€Å"Different Loving† was the Juvenilism range. This includes littles who personify, or emotionally connect with 6-12 years of age.Punishment is a cornerstone of functionality in this age range. Littles who identify as a juvenile are typically more sensitive and require great emotional care. Most littles who have a bratty, or disobedient streak, fall into this group, thus the frequency in punishment for these preteen boys and girls. Brame, Brame and Jacobs had this to say about unique, therapeutic punishment tactics for littles in this age range, â€Å"The parent figure may ask embarrassing questions about the submissive’s personal or sexual habits.By stripping away the submissive’s privacy, the dominant exposes not only the submissive’s body but also her inner nakedness and vulnerability. In some juvenilist scenarios the dominant role plays as the erotic guide. † Surprisingly, despite the small amount of littles who fall into the pre-teen category, the Juvenilism age range is not the most popular. The last age fetish, Infantilism, or â€Å"ABDL†s (Adult Baby/Diaper Lovers), is the most commonly known age play fetish (Different Loving, p 137).This class of ageplayers is, by far, the most controversial and is what has been most depicted in the media, in documentaries, and even on reality shows since the 1980’s when a Phil Donahue episode practically turned daytime television viewers inside out with discomfort. The episode featured an adult baby, his Mommy and clips of footage showing his daily routines as an ABDL. Visions of an adult willingly soiling himself or fully relying on another adult to feed him, when he was physically capable to feed himself, shocked the studio audience, and home viewers, alike.Very young myself at the time, less than 9 years old, I had so many questions and the i mages burned into my memory, mostly from fascination and wonder. I was so very confused and yet, so afraid to ask my very judgmental and cynical grandmother why everyone was yelling at this big baby and his Mommy. I filed the images away into the back of my mind and, on occasion, when I hear stories of bigotry and discrimination surrounding ageplayers, that particular story comes flooding back to me.The controversy behind age play absolutely stuck me for over two decades. During my research for this paper I was surprised to find that two of the interviewees, a couple, not involved in the lifestyle in any way, for the Brames’ and Jacobs’ book referenced the same Donahue show in their testimonial: â€Å"We saw a [Phil] Donahue [show] about infantilism and were amazed at the outrage that some people felt about infantilists, who are engaged in something completely innocent.They enjoy being in baby clothes and get a certain amount of satisfaction from recreating their earl y childhood. Statistically, nobody knows whether it’s normal or not. The psychiatrist on the show was very clear on the fact that these people were doing nothing wrong. † (p137) The experts who scripted â€Å"Different Loving† had this to say about this controversial group of littles: â€Å"Many D&Sers ( BDSM participants) express discomfort with infantilism, as well, perhaps because it is difficult to understand why someone would wish to be as helpless as and infant. (p137) History has taught us that anger and fear are products of ignorance. I believe that this is a solid explanation for the public’s response to ABDLs in the media. The intolerance is most likely fueled, further, by the notion that most adult babies are typically of male gender, which contradicts, completely, the general standard of patriarchy in our society. Unfortunately, with minimal awareness and exposure I do not see a wave of acceptance and empathy any time soon from the greater pop ulation.Despite the negative talk about adult babies, and/or their caretakers, and the lifestyles that they lead, of the three categories, Infantilism offers one unique aspect that neither of the other two can offer. The ABDL model is the perfect erotic outlet for those that are afflicted with disabilities that affect fine and gross motor skills and mobility, as well as neurological conditions that may affect the ability to control bodily functions.In all age ranges the caretaker will make decisions and approach their relationship with their little as they would a person who is biologically the age that their little feels. This includes physical and emotional care. In my observation of a social setting, where several couples were gathered for a kinky birthday party for a local Daddy, I saw first-hand how this plays out between a top (the roleplayer of authority) and the bottom ( the role player with the least amount of obvious power), or in this case, a Daddy and his daughter.During the birthday party the little was feeling feisty and apparently a little bratty. Much like an over-stimulated, attention-seeking, sugary-cake-filled six year old would, the little aimed to be the center of attention and repeatedly was speaking over her Daddy and interrupting him as he attempted to make announcements about the food to his party guests. Excited, the little would bounce up and down in front of him in attempt to get him to listen to her not-at-all-related-to-birthday-cake story.Despite the Daddy’s firm verbal prompts to calm down and fully fueled by an adoring on-looking crowd, the little continued to be a nuisance. Finally, the Daddy grabbed the little by the arm, guided her to a nearby chair, firmly guided her bottom into the seat, bent over to her eye level and sternly ordered to her sit down, stop talking and to make no attempt to get up without his permission. It looked like a scene I have seen a million times myself as a parent and former preschool classro om assistant.The little was petite in stature and sported short, pink hair in a pixie styled haircut and natural looking make-up. It was certainly believable to the party attendees and understandably so. The little was acting like a typical child the age the same age of her inner little would act and her Daddy was acting like any loving parent would. For Bigs and littles, this relationship is not a scripted, â€Å"fairytale-esque† , theatrical experience. The bond between the pair and their interactions are easily solidified by a fascinating concept called â€Å"headspace†.Once a scene begins between a caretaker and a little, the reality and natural roles melt away and, almost like a person with multiple personalities, the emotions, thoughts, habits, preferences, and behaviors of the inner personality surfaces and the person that they function as during their vanilla life dissipates, even if for a little while. It is very much trance-like in some cases, and almost alwa ys, in sexual scenes. In order to best understand what age play is all about there are terms that one should become familiar with.These terms are pivotal to communicating with those who identify as minors or caretakers. The lifestyle breeds a whole new language of its own and knowing the lingo fosters a relatable nature when building trust amongst the kink community members. You will note new definitions and terms you have most likely not been introduced to prior to the reading of this paper. For example, the most common term is â€Å" a/the little†, referring to the person who identifies as the minor.The term â€Å"Big† is intentionally capitalized, and can refer to the little when they are functioning as their genuine, or â€Å"real life† age; it can also be used as a term to describe the caretaker, or counterpart to the little. Another popular word often heard in conversations about age play is â€Å"inner little†. This refers to the distinct feeling o f being â€Å"small†, or younger, than one’s true age, a separate entity, if you will, from who they are forced to be every day in their â€Å"adult life†. There have been great debates when it comes to phrasing the description of littles and their personal connection with their inner little.I recently surveyed a group of littles, in a discussion forum, online ( that shall not be named for the protection of the contributors), as to how they speak of their inner little. The great phrasing debate is typically split between themselves as â€Å"having a little† or â€Å"being a little†, while on a rare occasion, some will say that they â€Å"are little†. This particular description is the least common as very few people desire, or are able, to live the lifestyle 24/7. When I posed the question: â€Å"How do you refer to your relationship with your little? in a discussion forum, open only to littles, I was bombarded with an avalanche of response s. After filtering through and reading the ample list of opinions over 50% of the littles speak of ownership of their little, as if their body hosts a shell for their little to live and safely surface when the need strikes. Slightly over 25% of the all-female responders would represent their little by saying â€Å"I am a little â€Å", while the rest commented that they do not ever leave the feeling of being little therefore it is senseless to refer to it at all.Littles have preferences, much different than their Big (in this case I am referencing the vanilla person who â€Å"hosts† the inner little), in everything from hobbies, to fashion, to sleep habits, to comfort rituals, to sexual fantasies, to even how they talk, behave and relate to those around them. In most things ageplay when a debate arises, there is no consensus, as the ageplay community is still evolving. It is adaptable, based on personal preference and relationship history, to whatever extent the partners ar e comfortable with, in any facet that they so choose.There are no societal expectations with ageplay, as there are with traditional parent/child roles. There are no social norms to adhere to within the community. The world of ageplay is very pliable and the appeal is very transparent once you begin to take a close look at the logistics of ageplay. Who age plays? As someone who is rarely surprised by taboo or kinky concepts and ideas, I am generally taken back by the diversity of those involved in the ageplay community. No one is excluded from having unique sexual preferences and, certainly, no one is ever exempt from personal hurt and â€Å"baggage†.In ageplay, the egalitarian roles serve as unconventional, therapeutic tool for people from all walks of life. In my personal interviews and connections that were made with the local ageplayers I have met everyone from the college-educated, pre-med student all the way the blue collar, entry-level, fast food worker. Like profession or education level, other demographics do not limit who participates in such a lifestyle. I have met participants as young as 18 years old and as old as 72. Sexual kinks and taboos are not dictated by demographics and age play is no exception.Why age play? The beauty in this way of life is that it is customizable to individual needs. As an aspiring sex therapist I find immeasurable worth in personalizing what works for healing old hurts and sorting through hang ups with the tools you have before you. If someone is to grow from their pain and rise above it the method has to be something they believe in and trust will work. With ageplay, both partners steer the ship, so to speak, and the whole intent is to do so with their partner’s well-being in mind.The caretaker, also referred to as the â€Å"top†, â€Å"master†, â€Å"Daddy†, â€Å"Mommy†, or â€Å"Big†, depending on those involved and to what extent they interact, parents the little with loving guidance and reassurance while the little fills a need to almost â€Å"ego stroke† their Big and construct a confidence and self-esteem boost within them. There is a mutual understanding, and a simultaneous bond between the two, that buffs out the unfulfilled emotional needs of each other and brings great joy and liberation from those wounds. During an e-mail conversation with â€Å"Mr.Beck†, a local Daddy and leader in the BDSM social scene here in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois , that I have had the fortune of befriending, I discovered that the â€Å"why† is a sensitive topic that some choose not explore for themselves. In response to a question asking if he thought there was a direct link between trauma and eroticism (a personal attempt to deconstruct Sexologist Gloria Brame’s theory on the matter, stating that there is no direct link ( Different Loving, p127) he responded as follows: â€Å"I believe that every form of sexual expression exists o n a spectrum.Some people are gay with only one person. Some people are into the â€Å"lifestyle† only with younger people. So on and so on. There isn't a one size fits all with any form of sexual expression. There are littles working out issues, of course. I have been with a little who had been groped by her father but wanted to call me â€Å"Daddy† during sex. When I asked she was clear that her biological father and the â€Å"Daddy† figure of her fantasies were completely different people. I think that age play is, at the heart of it, about finding a role that makes sense and embracing it.There are â€Å"kittens† and experts are not rushing out to find out what role the family cat played in their upbringing. Those who are attempting to push age play out into the realms of the broken homes and disquieted minds are, in my opinion, wanting to push uncomfortable questions, about their own sexual landscape, out at arm’s length. † This particular Daddy is what is called a â€Å"24/7 Daddy†, or a Daddy who lives the lifestyle around the clock, at every opportunity. There aren’t many spaces where he would edit his words or interactions with his little. When questioned about his version of the â€Å"why ageplay? He seemed to be passive aggressive in his response, and evasive to a complete, personal answer. I would say that he was defensive in his wording and not at all comfortable in examining his personal motivation for entering a relationship of the age play nature. For some members of the kink community doing self-reflective exercises unveils some scary and uncomfortable truths that are too intense in nature to comprehend and deal with. This is a common issue when looking at most taboo practices. Many age players share in Mr. Beck’s mentality mentioned in his interview.The idea behind trying to understand the origin for the kink is usually â€Å"just go with it and embrace it†¦it is what it is. à ¢â‚¬  For those like myself and Paul Rulof, Chicago- based age play educator and Daddy, we believe that there is a certain, natural connection, through ageplay, to â€Å"righting the wrongs† of the past that children have no control over. Rulof speaks to this theory in his book: â€Å"Ageplay: From Diapers to Diplomas â€Å"when he wrote: â€Å"For many, ageplay is an opportunity to connect with an aspect of themselves that they have forgotten or set aside†¦some people like to explore alternate models of who they could have been with ageplay. p. 65) As a researcher of this social phenomenon I am on the fence about making a claim that 100% of ageplayers are motivated by deep, unmet, emotional need. I would still say that the majority of ageplayers are gaining a sense of control over an area in their life that they felt they lost early on, but I don’t ever care to categorize any group of people, in its entirety, and attach it to one label or judgment, no matter how concrete the evidence is proving that the label is justified.Rulof listed some of his thoughts on the reasons why people partake of this lifestyle, some sexually motivated, some not. His reasons were listed, as follows, on pages 19-34, the biggest chapter in the book: The participants get to: * Relive their childhood – â€Å"†¦ a great number of people have experienced childhoods that they look back upon as desirable or ideal times†. Paul goes on to write that adult life can be viewed as boring and mundane, whereas childhood is generally the complete opposite. Mr.Rulof paints this point as an obvious motivator for ageplaying. (p19) * Rewriting their childhood – â€Å"For littles, rewriting or re-envisioning their childhood is one reason that ageplay might be appealing. However, ageplay is not simply a reaction to one’s own childhood events. Some ageplayer’s own personal childhood or possible negative events may not influence their play mu ch at all†¦Everyone has something in their childhood that they would like to change: disappointments, lacks, incompletion and missed opportunities. (p19) I felt that the author seems to have waivered in his stance on this particular justification, however, at a closer look, and full reading of his book, his claim strongly supports that point I mentioned earlier about how subjective this lifestyle truly is. Sure! Some people do use the little part of themselves to mend the past through conscious actions as an adult while others may focus more on specific hurtful events and relationships. The third option is that ageplay benefits them in some way not at all linked to negative childhood experiences.This group of participants, I gather, based on my interviews, are the ones that are working to address something they would improve about themselves in their current phase of life, be it confidence, the ability to connect with others, building trust in intimate relationships, mastering discipline and will power issues, or just filling a need to be needed†¦which brings me to Paul’s next theory for reasoning. * Practicing Caregiving – â€Å"When caregivers play, they are able to explore the naturally ingrained caregiving traits that they have. (p23) I view this as playing â€Å"grown up house†, or maturing the favored childhood role play game to better hone in on nurturing skills in a less threatening way than what usually occurs in vanilla relationships. * Exploring Gendered Childhoods – â€Å"Especially for transgendered individuals, ageplay provides opportunities to explore childhood experiences as the gender they feel more closely associated with and different than their biological sex. † (p23) During my research I found a podcast whose subject matter is solely based on ageplay.One of the hosts, a lively and entertaining male, â€Å"scenes†, or role plays, as a female baby. Spacey, the host is one of three regular hosts of the show. He recently helped produce an episode of the podcast that completely focused on â€Å"sissies†, or male adults who roleplay as young, adolescent or baby girls. The guests on the show were two â€Å"sissies†, one of which who exercises his civil rights, even in instances of airport pat downs, to live his sissy life around the clock.The gentleman went by the name â€Å"Sissy Stephanie† and he spoke about some of the challenges he encounters living the lifestyle but felt that they emotional payoff is worth the attacks. The second guest, â€Å"Bunny†, talked about his transgendered ageplay and how his youthful, female persona serves as a mechanism to relate to others through a sweet and vulnerable personality, as his vanilla, male self struggles with connection, relatability and trust, typically. Taking Different Options – Much like rewriting your childhood, this theory talks supports the idea that there are particular details in the ageplayer’s childhood that they would like to â€Å"re-do†. Paul writes, on page 24: â€Å"For example, ‘good girls’ can be tease, tramps, or hang out with the â€Å"wrong type of guys†. He went on to offer that some littles appreciate the chance to earn praise for poor or disappointing choices from their past, or even a shot at living on the wild side and pushing boundaries that were obviously unsafe to do as children, such as actually going with the creepy neighbor who offers little kids candy. Shrinking Childhoods – This point was very interesting me, as I had never heard of such an idea about role playing as a minor, but Mr. Rulof wrote about how one might be dissatisfied with their timing of hitting developmental, social or emotional milestones in their childhood and ageplay offers them the a shot at restoring their self-image and confidence in their abilities. * Innocence – â€Å"†¦the loss of a childlike innocence and be coming jaded with the world seems to be a reoccurring theme with some ageplayers.The realization that there are not magical places, fanciful creatures, and happy endings is difficult for some to accept. The desire to regain innocence and escape adult responsibilities could factor in to a desire for ageplay. † (p25) * Relaxing and Enjoyable – Page 26 of Paul Rulof’s book highlights how ageplay encompasses the simplicity and carefree nature of childhood and how the escape from everyday adulthood is sometimes just enough reason, alone, to partake in a non-sexual form of age play. A combination of Popular Fetishes – Paul, not only an author and educator, is a creator of CAPcon, Central Illinois’ premiere ageplay convention. He has a wealth of knowledge on the subject matter and did fervent research, himself, while penning his book and the statistics he uncovered proved to be helpful in supporting this point. Page 27, in Ageplay, describes how this form of role playing is ranked 51st, out of the 100 top favored fetishes. Three of the main components that make for good role play are fetishes in themselves and were also ranked on the top 100 list.Upon reaching out to Mr. Rulof, I discovered that his statistics came from a kinky social networking site, much like Facebook; it is a hub, the high ground, for those in the kink community at large. The site listed role-play itself as the 23rd most popular fetish, followed by cuddling in 81st place and costumes barely squeezing in under the 100 mark as the 92nd most practiced kink. These items were ranked in order based upon serving as the number one kink choice for the site members. For example, Mrs.Smith may like to be spanked during intercourse but being bitten is her favorite fetish so biting would have been her vote. This supports how well age play involves three majorly ranked fetishes, out of thousands, literally, and wraps them up into one kinky, therapeutic ball of goodness. * Enhan cing Roles – â€Å"Ageplay presents a different mental framework through which you can view your partners or others. † Paul wrote for three pages examples that show how a dominant personality or a submissive personality can flourish in this type of role play.People who may not typically be drawn to this type of play just may participate because of the ability to fine-tune egalitarian roles in this medium. * Filling Psychological Needs – I am a huge fan of how the author referenced â€Å"Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs† to prove, what I personally see as the greatest motivator for role playing as a Big or little. There are essential human physical and emotional needs that human’s require fulfillment of to develop in a healthy and productive fashion. Much like ageplay, there is a parallel between the progression of human development from birth to adulthood and beyond.Many ageplayers will identify with multiple ages and, depending on their mood, re quire different things from their caregiver. Often, littles will not â€Å"morph†, for a lack of a better term, into a different age until they feel satisfied with their needs being met at their current age. In Maslow’s model, humans cannot progress or develop in the natural way without having their basic needs met at their current stage in life. * Playing with the Taboo – This idea hones in the basic human calling to be rebellious, or go against the grain, if you will.There is something engrained in us, as a society formed from hunters and gatherers ages ago, that tugs at our moral compass and prods us to be daring and bold and to break the mold of what is socially acceptable. Men especially are often deduced to a walking set of procreating DNA who lack in the ability to make ethically-upstanding choices without challenge. This set up allows all role players to abandon what is socially acceptable and what is defined as â€Å"normal† and escape to a place where it is ok to break the rules and enjoy it. Fetishes -Different from the supporting point earlier that highlighted similarly ranked fetishes, this last reason speaks to the flexibility for exploration into other, new kinks, that ageplay allows. Because of the disciplinary aspects of ageplay there are countless punishment-based fetishes that could be brought into a scene, as well breast-feeding, diapering, play date, schoolgirl, dollification, and many, many other adjacent fetishes for those who wish to dabble in new sexual discovery.Ageplay is often a starting point for kinksters who wish to slowly introduce themselves to harsher, less – nurturing-based fetishes. Though the BDSM pioneer took a seminal approach in analyzing the logic and motivation behind â€Å"sceneing† with ageplay principles, is all truly speculation and the reasoning varies for each individual. In addition to varied gains between top and bottom roles, personal needs manifest from each role play er, independently, and there rarely a clear understanding of why this is such a comforting, natural expression for anyone.The reasons for entering this lifestyle can be many and completely askew, much like rewards. The Power Exchange Book series, written by Dr. Bob Rubel, includes a book about ageplay. The Doctor shared first-hand accounts and experiences from fellow ageplayers that he interviewed during his research for the literature. The most profound and beautifully moving words were from a woman who goes by â€Å"Bethie Hope O. †. On page 70, the next to last page of the book, these words were composed what following her heart and investing in her Daddy has added to her life: I remember the first few times I visited my Daddy, looking at him or being around him, or even just talking to him on the phone felt like someone was shining a light into the world that was not there before. It was like the world was covered in clouds all the time and when he was around the clouds p arted and the sun came out and shone down on everything and I felt warm. I remember the days before my Daddy like a kind of dream, and really, that is how I lived, like I was sleepwalking. I got by, but I did not thrive. Now I feel like I truly live, like the sun is shining on me all of the time.Part of the reason for that is because I’ve learned so much about myself and I’ve found the freedom to just be me, and to do what makes me happy. Part of the reason is my Daddy and how he is with me and how he makes me feel. Part of it is how I love him and how loving someone so much makes me feel. People seem to think that it’s an unhealthy thing to have such strong attachments to just one person and maybe it is but my Daddy is my everything. He is my Daddy, my Master, My partner, my best friend, my confidant, my lover†¦I love him as if I were bore from his own body! †