The Growing Threat Of Computer Crime Essays - Cybercrime

The Growing Threat Of Computer Crime Running head: THE GROWING THREAT OF COMPUTER CRIME The Growing Threat of Computer Crime Diana Ritter Baker College of Cadillac May 9, 2001 Abstract Computers have been used for most kinds of crime, including fraud, theft, larceny, embezzlement, burglary, sabotage, espionage, murder, and forgery, since the first cases were reported in 1958. One study of 1,500 computer crimes established that most of them were committed by trusted computer users within businesses; persons with the requisite skills, knowledge, access, and resources. With the arrival of personal computers to manipulate information and access computers by telephone, increasing numbers of crimes--electronic trespassing, copyrighted-information piracy, vandalism--have been committed by computer hobbyists, known as hackers, who display a high level of technical expertise. For many years, the term hacker defined someone who was a wizard with computers and programming. It was a challenge to all hackers, and an honor to be considered a hacker. But when a few hackers began to use their skills to break into private computer systems and steal money, or interfere with the syst em's operations, the word acquired its current negative meaning. With the growing use of computers and the increase in computer crimes, early detection, deterring computer crimes, and new laws regulating and punishing these computer crimes are necessary. Without it, chaos will be the end result. The Growing Threat of Computer Crime Do you think your companys computer systems are secure? Think again. Billions of dollars in losses have already been discovered due to computer crimes. Billions more have gone undetected. Trillions more will be stolen, most without detection, by the emerging master criminal of the twenty first century --The computer crime offender. Whats worse yet is that anyone with a computer can become a computer criminal. Crimes such as embezzlement, fraud and money laundering are not new. However, each of these crimes now has a new partner in crime-the computer. Crimes that have become unique due to the availability and widespread use of computers include: a. unauthorized use, access, modification, copying, and destruction of software or data; b. theft of money by altering computer records of theft of computer time; c. theft or destruction of hardware; d. use or conspiracy to use computer resources to commit a felony; e. intent to obtain information or tangible property, illegally through use of the computer. (Fraud Survey Results, 1993) Although incidents in this second category of crimes do present a serious problem, embezzlement is by far the major threat to small businesses. This is evident by the frequency of reports in the local media. Cash is the most vulnerable asset as it is the easiest for the perpetrator to convert to personal use. Firms most vulnerable to theft of money are firms that must rely on one individual to perform the duties of office manager and bookkeeper. Having more than one employee in the office provides an opportunity to effect certain internal controls, particularly separation of duties. Small business owners should review their insurance coverage for employee dishonesty. While there are no standards to determine precisely the amount of coverage necessary, the marginal cost of adding an extra $1,000 of coverage decreases as the coverage increases. A business owner should consult with an insurance agent and err on the side of caution, just to be safe. Although theft of money is a major subject when speaking of computer crime, there are also many other areas to be concerned about. Some of the computer crimes for the 21st century will include: Communication crimes (cellular theft and telephone fraud). Low-tech thieves in airports and bus terminals use binoculars to steal calling card access numbers. Thieves will park their vans along busy interstate highways and use specialized equipment to steal cellular telephone access codes from the air. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Business. Most banking today is done by electronic impulse. Therefore, access to business computers equals access to money (and lots of it). Convicted computer hacker, John Lee, a founder of the infamous Masters of Deception hacker group stated that he could change credit card records and bank balances, get free limousines, airplane tickets, and hotel rooms (without anyone being billed), change utility and rent rates, distribute computer software programs free to all over the internet, and easily obtain

How to Get Better at Writing Five-Paragraph Essays

How to Get Better at Writing Five-Paragraph Essays Five-Paragraph Essay Writing for Standardized Tests Almost all standardized tests in schools and colleges include writing assignments. Although theres nothing extra difficult about writing, it may cause genuine feelings of fear and anxiety among those who arent strong with these types of assignments. If you learn how to write five-paragraph essays properly, you will be ready to tackle writing assignments without fear. Why five-paragraph essays? Because they are usually a part of college standardized tests that you will need to face. For these tests, students are required to write five-paragraph essay from 500 to 800 words. Structure of the essay includes an introductory paragraph, three paragraphs in the body of paper and one paragraph for conclusion thats why its called a five-paragraph essay. Introductory Paragraph In the first paragraph, you give the direction to your essay and you also have a chance to engage your readers and get them interested in reading your work. Here are some tips to write a great introduction paragraph: Describe the main idea of your essay in one sentence. Develop a thesis statement. In case your writing prompt was the question then the thesis statement could be the answer to this question. Mention three points that will give evidential support to your thesis statement. List them in order of importance. Introductory paragraph is ready! Supporting Paragraphs The following three paragraphs should support your thesis statement with solid evidence including facts, quotes, details, experts opinions, statistics and other relevant data. Now use each paragraph to prove and explain arguments that you have mentioned in the introductory part. Heres how exactly you should do it: Compose a topic sentence summarizing your point this would be the first sentence of your paragraph. Write your argument, which proves that topic sentence is true. Give evidence (quotes, facts, examples etc.) to reinforce your argument. This would be your first body paragraph. Repeat the same procedure for remaining two paragraphs and your supporting paragraphs are ready. Conclusion Paragraph The fifth paragraph of your essay should be dedicated to summarizing your work. You should prove your thesis statement once again using the evidence that you have provided in supporting paragraphs. You shouldnt just copy-paste phrases from your essay, but make a new, bold restatement of your thesis which would give your readers a final impression about your work. When writing a five-paragraph essay for a standardized test it would be very useful to review it before time is up. Reread it carefully one or two times to see if there are any grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Apply corrections if you find errors and also make sure that your essay isnt weak in terms of logic and structure. Now you know how to write five-paragraph essays and writing for standardized tests shouldnt cause you any more anxiety.

Decisions in Paradise, Part III Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Decisions in Paradise, Part III - Essay Example As the Business School in Kava can surely cover ARS Corp’s CSR and also has the Kava’s market is optimal for a Business School with good number of target customers, it can surely go ahead with its plan. In addition, there is good support from the Kava Government as well as its people for the establishment of the Business School because it fulfills their key necessity in relation to education. Although, these favorable points can push the ARS Corp to initiate the establishment, starting with the flow of needed funds from its headquarters, there are some key factors which need to be analyzed. These key factors could impact the establishment process, and so to positively and beneficially manage those impacts, apt resources has to be considered and implemented. Even then, there could be ethical issues, which need to be managed aptly for the success of the Business School. Factors affecting decision implementation and the proposed solution The factors that may affect ARS Cor p’s decision to go for a business school can be seen in both its internal environment and also its external environment. Both these factors could impact or even negatively affect the decision of ARS Corp to go for a Business School. When one focuses on the external environment, the main factor is the continuing problems with natural disasters in Kava. Kava is located precariously in the Pacific Ocean and is facing most of the natural disasters known to man. That is, Pacific Ocean countries or islands will always face heightened natural disasters because of its problematic geographical location, with major tectonic plates passing through and with many hurricanes and tornadoes arising and passing through that region. Island nations in the Pacific Ocean experience natural disasters associated with typhoons, and because of their proximity to the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire" – (the term refers to the Pacific region where high numbers of earthquakes as well as volcanic eru ptions occur). (Przyborski and Platnick, 2008). On the same lines, in Kava, many natural and even man-made disasters happen quite often and that includes Tornadoes, Floods, Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, Fires, etc. These natural disasters could very well destroy ARS Corp’s Business School if it crosses the location of the school, or if the epicenter of impact is near to the school. â€Å"That’s why the mess all around here. Some disaster hit this place. Right?† (Case Scenario). Although, ARS Corp could try building its Business School, incorporating various inbuilt protections, based on structural techniques and other technologies, skeptics still point out it cannot be foolproof. If this skepticism spreads to ARS Corp hierarchy both in the Kava as well as in the headquarters, then there will be big question mark over the project. Resources and actions required The decision to build the Business School can be carried forward with confidence as there are quite few resources to counter the natural disasters. One of the first steps to counter natural disasters is finding a somewhat safe or even strategic location inside Kava, where there will be minimum impact of natural disasters. Although, Kava is fully exposed to natural disasters, there may be some locations, even deep inside the Island, where the impact of the natural disasters could be toned down. The first duty of ARS Corp is to search and corner in on such a location, even while taking into

Planet of Slums Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Planet of Slums - Essay Example The purpose of the report is to provide detailed analysis on reflection of the author on global slums and its ecological, economic, political and social consequences of urban poverty and the roots of slums in the post-modern time. The ambitious book of Mike Davies portrays a massive humanity exiled from the official economy of world and warehoused in shantytowns.The author discovers the future of an explosively unbalanced and radically incapable urban world. The rise of informal urban proletariat is also argued by Mike Davis. The author provides a global discussion about different aspects of slums. He also discuss about the diversity and necessity of housing across diverse lives of people. A number of different property arrangement and tenure in slums are also discussed in the book. The key objective of the book is to provide knowledge to readers about the transformation and growth of slums across the world. The major upheavals industrialization and imperialism are echoed by the contemporary third world urban poor. The core of the book resembled the painful moments due to industrialization in terms of conditions of living. The main argument presented by author is about negative aspects and roots of global slums. At start, the rising mega slums are being neglected by Davis from core program of political considerations. But, it can be realized from latter part of the book that author tries to provide vivid description of the cause of urban poverty on global scale. The author is looking in case of historical context and global scale rather than existing conditions and local governments (Davis 38). The influential book of Mike Davis is on the enormous growth of settlements all over the world. The overall purpose of the book is to provide a statement to the people that they are a planet of slums.The values of Davis is to provide statistical data and effective detailed analyzed work which can help readers to

Global Logistics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Logistics - Assignment Example Now the main reason behind this feasibility study is that an optimum route and port has to be selected for the transport and shipment of goods from factory and port to the warehouse at Jabel Ali. Also the transportation cost has to be kept in mind so that it doesn’t put load on the cost of the product. The transportation vehicles, their cost and size has to be aligned with the size of the lot produced and the cost incurred in transporting goods to the port in the longer run. This measure will be calculated by comparing lot size, minimum expenditure and time that will be incurred in transportation of material as time is the most critical factor in many cases. Also there are various type of options available during logistics and shipments of goods and various costs incurred with these. The main reason for mentioning this is that the new Factories have been established in territories which are new for the company and the company is not familiar with working of transportation, shi pment and labor costs of these regions. For this survey of these regions has to be done so that a tentative cost structure could be drafted. On formulation of this cost structure further measures will be taken to select an optimum line up or partners so the process of collection of goods from the manufacturing site to its transportation to port through logistic partners and then shipment to the distribution through freight forwarding partners is cost effective and has optimum time line. PROCEDURES (selection of Partners) : Next a suitable selection of trustful Freight forwarders will be done who shall transport the goods from India and Brazil. Now the selection shall involve various steps which shall be quite critical in finding the most suitable freight forwarder. First phase shall include pooling of such forwarders who have a reputable name in the industry and are capable enough to ship the given amount of container each week so that no delay is faced and no risk of inventory stoc k out is faced at the warehouse in Jabel Ali. Now this phase shall give us an opportunity to gather contact with forwarders which shall be useful in future and we’ll have a thorough idea of the market rates. In the next phase the forwarders will be requested to submit their bids for contract. These bids will be thoroughly checked and the one best suited to company’s policy shall be short listed. The criteria for short listing will not be only limited to the best rates given to us but actually the freight forwarding companies who have more inclination to make us their clients rather than just try to get this order. Third phase shall require short listing of the companies and terms will be dealt with them to form long term strategic alliance which shall be mutually beneficial for our company and the forwarding partner. Final phase will be to decide the most trustworthy and beneficial company to partner with. After final agreements and terms are settled the chosen forward er is given contract of forwarding the containers and in return the company promises us the best service. SELECTION OF PORT The selection of port shall be quite critical as it’ll decide the time required to ship container from source to destination i.e. from India and Sao Paolo to Jabel Ali. The main reason behind this step being the most critical is that even if every process i.e. production, logistics etc are following proper schedule but the port selected is a little far away than it’

Shopping in Malls in India

Shopping in Malls in India INTRODUCTION: The concept of shopping in malls in India is undergoing a dramatic change. A few years back, people just used to visit a lot of stores for their needs, but off late every shopping mall seems to be overflowing with people of different ages- from children to adults. With globalization at its peak and paving a way for the international brands, people now feel that they can get anything that they want in these shopping malls be it electronic goods, apparel and consumer durables. For the past few years researchers have been working to establish a relationship between shopping in malls and the income level of people. The reason for conducting such a research is to find out which sections of the society (lower middle class or higher middle class) do a lot of shopping in the malls. But yet, not many people will be comfortable in sharing their income details as it is personal. This is the area which tests the researchers, as to how they will be able to establish a positive relationship between the two. BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF STUDY: This study will be conducted with the aim to develop a relationship between shopping in malls and the income level of people. The study primarily focuses on the consumers buying behavior in a mall. It helps us to understand the mindset of the consumers, by which we can develop more products according to their needs. For this study the Spencers Plaza mall will be chosen. Primary data, which is the feedback received directly from the consumers, will be collected and represented in statistical form. The outcome so obtained will be analyzed and possible conclusions will be drawn. Recently, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of shopping malls in Chennai. The reason for the sudden upheaval of so many shopping malls can be related to globalization taking its pace. The growth factors for the shopping malls are the conscious citizens who prefer a sophisticated environment to shop and also with so many international brands making its presence in India, it has created the need to establish a place which has everything within one roof. The concept of shopping malls in India is largely gaining popularity as it attracts customers by way of excellent ambience, style and elegance, having the potential to make one shop and enjoy the experience as well. Spencers Plaza, Big Bazzar, Ampa skywalk, City Centre are the big players today. Adding to the list are the upcoming Chennai Central, Ramee Mall etc. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY: To conduct an in depth study on consumer buying behavior in a shopping mall To identify the relation between the income pattern and shopping in the mall among the selected samples. To know what the average consumer prefers to buy today from the samples selected. To gain information regarding consumers monthly income, general buying preferences, visiting preferences and the expectations of a mall among the selected samples. To establish a correlation between consumers income level and shopping in malls. HYPOTHESIS: Null Hypothesis: Ho: Shopping in the mall and consumer income is not related. Alternate Hypothesis: Ha: Shopping and consumer income is related METHODOLOGY: SAMPLING DESIGN AND TOOLS: The study will be conducted among people visiting Spencers Plaza mall. The type of sampling used for the study will be Stratified Sampling, as there will be a difference among the people pertaining to age, occupation and income level. Data will be collected by way of Primary and Secondary data. Primary data will be collected by way of a questionnaire, and a field survey of a sample will be conducted in some of the busiest areas in Chennai such as T. Nagar, Adyar, Nungambakkam and Alwarpet. Consumers will be directly approached and presented with a questionnaire which will be designed to gain information on their monthly income, general buying preferences, visiting preferences and expectations of a mall. Secondary source of data will be collected by way of magazines, internet news articles, journals and other sites. The type of the research carried out will be an exploratory research, as it gives first hand information, which is primary data and often more reliable than secondary data . The data collected from samples will be tabulated, analyzed and interpreted for results. DATA ANALYSIS: The collected data will be analyzed statistically. The ‘Chi- Square test or the ‘Goodness of fit test will be used to test the null hypothesis. The Chi Square test will be of help in determining the difference between the observed and the expected values. A ‘Correlation analysis will be done to test the relationship between shopping in malls and consumers income level. For simplifying the analysis of the collected data, the data will be tabulated and presented graphically for easier understanding as well. POSSIBLE OUTCOMES: A clear understanding of consumer dimensions and mindset Customer loyalty programs to be emphasized upon as it is a significant factors A clear picture of the indicators which creates a drive to purchase in the consumers can be understood. The relationship between shopping in malls and income level, if any, will be established LIMITATIONS OF STUDY: While working on this project I will have to face some difficulties while collecting data. The samples will be collected only from one shopping mall, and hence preference of mall cannot be generalized. People may not be interested and comfortable in providing family income details. They may consider it to be personal to disclose such details. It may be difficult to get all the respondents to answer in the sample, as they may not be willing to spend time to answer the questionnaire. Time constraint will also be one of the limitations of the study as verification of all the responses collected from consumers will not be possible.

Chicago’s Cabrini-Green Housing Project Essay -- Poverty Ghetto Chicag

Chicago’s Cabrini-Green public housing project is notorious in the United States for being the most impoverished and crime-ridden public housing development ever established. Originally established as inexpensive housing in the 1940’s, it soon became a vast complex of unsightly concrete low and high-rise apartment structures. Originally touted as a giant step forward in the development of public housing, it quickly changed from a racially and economically diverse housing complex to a predominantly black, extremely poor ghetto. As it was left to rot, so to speak, Cabrini-Green harbored drug dealers, gangs and prostitution. It continued its downward spiral of despair until the mid 1990’s when the Federal Government assumed control the Chicago Housing Authority, the organization responsible for this abomination. Cabrini-Green has slowly been recovering from its dismal state of affairs recently, with developers building mixed-income and subsidized housing. The Chica go Housing Authority has also been demolishing the monolithic concrete high-rise slums, replacing them with public housing aimed at not repeating the mistakes of the past. Fortunately, a new era of public housing has dawned from the mistakes that were made, and the lessons that were learned from the things that went on for half a century in Cabrini-Green. In 1942, a public housing development went up on Chicago’s near north side to house veterans returning from World War II. They were known as the Francis Cabrini Homes, and â€Å"were built in an area that had undergone massive slum clearance†. They consisted of fifty-five two and three story redbrick buildings arranged as row houses, resembling army barracks. The Francis Cabrini Homes housed 600 racially diverse families un... ...live in. A lesson has been learned, and it should not be forgotten. Works Cited Chicago Housing Authority. Plan for Transformation, Year 3, Moving to Work, Annual Plan FY2002. 16 Oct. 2001. â€Å"Chicago’s Public Housing Projects.† University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire. 15 Aug. 2000. Krieger, Shoshana. The CHA and the American Dream. Columbia University, New York. 19 Nov. 2002. Phillips, E. Barbara. City Lights: Urban-Suburban Life in the Global Society. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Reuters. â€Å"Chicago’s Cabrini-Green public housing project to be reborn.† CNN.com. 15 Aug. 2000. Roder, David, and Spielman, Fran. â€Å"Condo, town houses planned near Cabrini-Green.† Chicago Sun Times. 30 May 2002.

Othello: Literary Essay on Iago Essay

Humans are born with a natural capacity for good and evil. As an individual develops, he or she is taught to distinguish between the two in order to strengthen a sense of right and wrong. Through Shakespeare’s play, ‘Othello’ (Heinemann Advanced Shakespeare, 2000) we are introduced to a meticulously devious character, Iago. Ironically affiliated with the military, a substandard moral compass, channels his unreasonable code of conduct. Well educated on human behaviour, his lack of ethics enables his character to exploit this skill set to deceive those around him, ultimately disguising his true character. Between self-perception, opposing character perceptions and audience perception, Iago portrays a brilliantly, manipulative villain whose two dimensional nature is concealed beneath sheets of false sympathy, integrity and empathy. Beyond all else, Iago considers himself a man of true wit and distinction. In Act I, he furiously declares, â€Å"I know my price† (p. 3). By this statement, he admits to Rodrigo, that upon oversight for the position of first lieutenant, his dedicated service and efforts have been in vain. Having served at the front lines of the war, Iago adamantly deems that his echelon of experience proves him a more deserving candidate, than young Cassio. More so, an over confidence in his abilities, lead to the belief that he is of a superior authority, â€Å"I am worth no worse a place† (ibid). Continuing his argument of non promotion, Iago sees it unbearable, even shameful that he has been regarded with such insignificance. A man of his status and self imposed importance should not be degraded to such a pitiable standard. In having lost out on the appointment, Iago’s pride and dignity have been considerably impaired. Once a devoted soldier under Othello’s command, Iago believed it was his rightful place to gain promotion to lieutenant. When these expectations were not met, it brought out the worst in Iago and the decision was interpreted as a personal offence to his proficiency. Although having already, risen to adequate ranks, Iago could not fathom the injustice. His superior and extensive knowledge had been undermined. In comparison to the present era, this form of ‘injustice’ is experienced frequently in professions where favoured parties lose out on coveted positions to seemingly less experienced oppositions. Victims feel at loss and that their competence has been jeopardised. Due to varying circumstances, these conceited opinions cannot be voiced as it translates into bad character and conduct. Consequently, Iago set out on a conquest for supremacy. Uncannily, abiding by modern day author, Robert Greene’s, â€Å"[Law] 3: Conceal your intentions†, of â€Å"The 48 Laws of Power’ (1998), detailing observational aspects profitable in a rise to command. Within the community of Cyprus, Iago gave no obvious reason for opposing characters to suspect his cunning. In this respect, he was constantly referred to as â€Å"Honest Iago† (p. 41). Specifically, Othello, affectionately used the term, â€Å"Honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leave to thee. I prithee let thy wife attend to her† (ibid). Not only does Othello impart trust with ease, but he mistakes Iago as a dear friend. One who would never think to bring harm to Desdemona or he. This misplacement of faith encourages Iago in his surreptitious endeavours. On several more occasions we witness other characters mistakenly confer with and about Iago’s sincere nature. Following a grave night for Cassio, he bids a farewell of, â€Å"Good night, honest Iago† (p. 99) unaware of Iago’s key role in his ruin. Desdemona continues the chain of mistrust when she speaks, â€Å"O, that’s an honest fellow† (p. 113) of Iago’s phony grievances of Ca ssio’s unfortunate predicament. An individual’s nature can be concealed in various forms within the company he keeps, â€Å"Law 12: Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victims† (Greene, 1998). Iago, around such company manipulates and deceives his companions that he is faithful. Having grasped an understanding of human behavior, this wisdom is disposed through cruelty and brutality. In persuading the Cyprus population of his sincerity, unknown to the other characters, Iago fuels his perception of his superiority. Such is his wit that for a much of the play, his deceit goes undetected. When it appears that a character may unknowingly expose Iago’s ulterior motives, he buries the potential realisation beneath artificial concern. Among the audience, the consensus is that Iago is purely composed of arrogance, jealousy and hostility. Triumphant in his succession to provide false evidence of Cassio’s incompetence, Iago announces, â€Å"And what’s he then that says I play the villain, When this advice is free I give and honest†(Shakespeare, p. 99). Arrogance radiates from his gloating manner, of having provided Cassio with ingenious and true advice. Jealousy held as incentive to which Iago brought about the demotion and discredit of Cassio. Moreover, this envy fuelled his ploy in planting a seed of convincing doubt to which Othello was wrongly mislead that his wife, Desdemona, was unfaithful. Not only in determining the detriment of the Moor’s marriage, Iago displayed hostility through his own relationship with Emilia, â€Å"To have a foolish wife† (p. 133), consistent with yet another law, â€Å"Law 20: Do not commit to anyone†, (Greene, 1998). Only to the audience is Iago’s evil nature revealed for a significant portion of the play. We are exposed to his ulterior motives, lies and ultimate betrayal, â€Å"I follow him to serve my turn upon him† (Shakespeare, p. 5). Unlike any other character in the play, Iago is not fazed by the level of destruction he causes, neither to whom. In subsequent scenes, viewers witness the steady yet gradual downfall of the Moor. Unsuspecting, characters, indirectly aid Iago’s cause, particularly his ignorant, praise seeking wife, Emilia, which furthermore increases his arrogance of his unmatched brilliance. To the audience each move Iago makes is calculated methodically and only adds to the current chaos of the present scene. Iago possesses an astute two dimensional disposition. His objective throughout the play is to ensure the Moor’s eventual ruin. He becomes the bane of Othello’s existence, through conniving, unforgivable means, only recognized by the audience if not himself. Born of a natural capacity for good and evil, it is evident that Iago acquires no good, a concept hidden from other characters within the play. In relation to the present, Iago demonstrates the extremity to which an individual will go in order to sabotage the happiness and prosperity of an enemy. Persecutors hold a high opinion of themselves, as Iago displayed. Yet, by all means this strategy to pursue such an attack is achieved through clandestine, surreptitious modes. Iago can distinguish between right and wrong but still, he opts for the latter. As Nobel Prize laureate, William Golding, once said, â€Å"We need more humanity, more care, more love. There are those who expect a political system to produce that; and others who expect the love to produce the system.† (Nobel Lecture, Dec 7, 1983). Humanity is defenceless against the erroneous nature of individuals like Iago. Repeatedly throughout ‘Othello’ (Shakespeare, 2000), his master scheme endures unnoticed. As children, we are prompted to ‘recognise virtue and vice’ (Zak. J. P. The Moral Molecule, 2011) to instil a sense of ethicality, nonetheless, alongside such vindictive figures like Iago, the ‘system’ (Nobel Lecture, 1983), political or military, regresses on any potential advancement, stunting ‘humanity, more care, more love’ (ibid). Humanity is susceptible to evil, regardless encouragement otherwise. As long as rouges exist, an eternal battle will ensue between good and bad, unmistakably demonstrated through I ago’s performance. Bibliography Novel References Gray, C. (Series 2000). Othello. Heinemann Advanced Shakespeare. London: Briddles Ltd. Website References Golding, G. W. (Dec 7, 1983). Nobel Lecture. Retrieved Aug 27, 2013, from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1983/golding-lecture.html Keltner, D. (2007-08). The Power Paradox. Retrieved Aug 28, 2013 from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/power_paradox Unknown Author. (No date). The 48 Laws of Power. Retrieved Aug 28, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_48_Laws_of_Power Zak, J. P. (Feb 10, 2011). The Moral Molecule: Are Humans Good or Evil?. Retrieved Aug 28, 2013 from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moral-molecule/201102/are-humans-good-or-evil

Food Additives Essays - Food And Drug Administration, Food Additives

Food Additives Essays - Food And Drug Administration, Food Additives Food Additives Food Additives Food additives have been used for thousands of years. In prehistoric times, salt was probably used to preserve meat and fish. Our ancestors also found that large amounts of sugar helped preserve fruit and that cucumbers could be preserved in a vinegar solution. The ancient Egyptians used sulfites to stop bacterial growth and fermentation in wine. They also used extracts from beetles for food coloring. Vegetable dyes from juniper fruits or beech-root juice were popular colorings in the Middle Ages, although wary kings began to employ garglers to test their mealsperhaps for additives that did not originate in the kitchen (Editors of Prevention Magazine 1993). Today, salt, sugar, and corn syrup are by far the most widely used additives. The role of food additives has become more prominent in recent years, due in part to the increased production of prepared, processed, and convenience foods. At the same time, consumers, scientists, and others have raised questions about the necessity and safety of these substances. Although limited amounts of food additives are necessary to guarantee adequate food supplies for a growing population, their use is strictly controlled by laws that assure consumers that foods are safe to eat and accurately labeled (FDA/IFIC 1998). Many people tend to think of any additive added to foods as a complex chemical compound but that ideology is quite wrong. A food additive is a substance or mixture of substances, other than basic foodstuffs, present in food as a result of any aspect of production, processing, storage, or packaging (Winter 1984). Salt, baking soda, vanilla, and yeast are all food additives and are commonly used in processed foods today. By law, the label must identify the food product in a language the consumer can understand. It must indicate the manufacturer, the packer, or distributor, and declare the quantity of contents either in net weight or volume, and the ingredients must be declared on the label in order of predominance (Winter 1984). The useful functions of food additives are often taken for granted, but their purpose is as varied as the foods in which they are used. Additives prevent salad dressings from separating, salt from becoming lumpy, and packaged goods from spoiling on the grocery shelf. They keep cured meat products safe to eat and give margarine its yellow color. The addition of vitamins and minerals to milk, flour, cereals, and breads was a key factor in the disappearance of diseases such as goiter, rickets, pellagra, and beriberi in the United States over the last fifty years. Since most people today are concentrated in big cities and their suburbs, additives help keep the nutritional and aesthetic quality of food from degrading while en route to markets. Additives also improve the nutritional value of certain foods and can make them more appealing by improving their taste, texture, consistency, or color (FDA/IFIC 1998). Some additives could be eliminated if we were willing to grow our own food, harvest and grind it, spend many hours cooking and canning, or accept increased risks of food spoilage. Most people have come to rely on the many technological, aesthetic, and convenience benefits that additives provide in food (FDA/IFIC 1998). We want pretty foods because consumers have been subjected to the beautiful pictures of foods in popular magazines and on television. Food purveyors are only responding to the changes in society (Winter 1984). Additives are used in foods for five main reasons. (1) To provide leavening or control acidity/alkalinity. (2) To enhance flavor or impart desired color. (3) To maintain product consistency. (4) To maintain palatability and wholesomeness. (5) To improve or maintain nutritional value (FDA/IFIC 1998). Many substances added to food may seem odd when seen listed on the ingredient label, but these chemicals that sound so intimidating are actually quite familiar. It is helpful to remember that all food is simply made of Carbon, Hydrogen and other chemical elements like Oxygen and Nitrogen. Dr. Melvin A. Benarde feels that the public is being widely misinformed about the chemical additives in processed foods. He points out that without these chemical additives, many of the convenience foods we use would not be available (Benarde 1971). Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the term food additive is defined as any

Pragmatics Gives Context to Language

Pragmatics Gives Context to Language Pragmatics is a branch of linguistics concerned with the use of language in social  contexts  and the ways people produce and comprehend meanings through language. The term pragmatics was coined in the 1930s by psychologist and philosopher Charles Morris. Pragmatics was developed as a subfield of linguistics in the 1970s. Background Pragmatics has its roots in philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. Morris drew on his background when he laid out his theory of pragmatics in his book Signs, Language and Behavior, explaining that the linguistic term deals with the origins, uses, and effects of signs within the total behavior of the interpreters of signs. In terms of pragmatics, signs refers not to physical signs but to the subtle movements, gestures, tone of voice, and body language that often accompany speech. Sociology- the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society- and anthropology played large roles in the development of pragmatics. Morris based his theory on his earlier work editing the writings and lectures of George Herbert Mead, an American philosopher, sociologist, and psychologist, in the book Mind, Self, and Society: From the Standpoint of a Social Behaviorist, writes John Shook in  Pragmatism Cybrary, an online pragmatism encyclopedia. Mead, whose work also drew heavily on anthropology- the study of human societies and cultures and their development- explained how communication involves much more than just the words people use: It involves the all-important social signs people make when they communicate. Pragmatics vs. Semantics Morris explained that pragmatics is different from  semantics, which  concerns the relations between signs and the objects they signify. Semantics refers to the specific meaning of language; pragmatics involves all the social cues that accompany language. Pragmatics focuses not on  what  people say but  how  they say it and how others interpret their  utterances  in social contexts, says Geoffrey Finch in Linguistic Terms and Concepts. Utterances are literally the units of sound you make when you talk, but the signs that accompany those utterances give the sounds their true meaning. Pragmatics in Action The  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association  (ASHA) gives two examples of how pragmatics influences language and its interpretation. In the first, ASHA notes: You invited your friend over for dinner. Your child sees your friend reach for some cookies and says, Better not take those, or youll get even bigger. You cant believe your child could be so rude. In a literal sense, the daughter is simply saying that eating cookies can make you gain weight. But due to the social context, the mother interprets that sentence to mean that her daughter is calling her friend fat. The first sentence in this explanation refers to the semantics- the literal meaning of the sentence. The second and third refer  to the pragmatics, the actual meaning of the words as interpreted by a listener based on social context. In another example, ASHA notes: You talk with a neighbor about his new car. He has trouble staying on topic and starts talking about his favorite TV show. He doesnt look at you when you talk and doesnt laugh at your jokes. He keeps talking, even when you look at your watch and say, Wow. Its getting late. You finally leave, thinking about how hard it is to talk with him. In this scenario, the speaker is just talking about a new car and his favorite TV show. But the listener interprets the signs the speaker is using- not looking at the listener and not laughing at his jokes- as the speaker being unaware of the listeners views (let alone his presence) and monopolizing his time. Youve likely been in this kind of situation before, where the speaker is talking about perfectly reasonable, simple subjects but is unaware of your presence and your need to escape. While the speaker sees the talk as a simple sharing of information (the semantics), you see it as a rude monopolization of your time (the pragmatics). Pragmatics has proved helpful in working with children with  autism.  Beverly Vicker, a speech and language pathologist writing on the  Autism Support Network  website, notes that many children with autism find it difficult to pick up on what she and other autism theorists describe as social pragmatics, which refers to: ...the ability to effectively use and adjust communication messages for a variety of purposes with an array of communication partners within diverse circumstances. When educators, speech pathologists, and other interventionists teach these explicit communication skills, or  social pragmatics, to children with autism spectrum disorder, the results are often profound and can have a big  impact in improving their conversational interaction skills. Importance of Pragmatics Pragmatics is the meaning minus semantics, says  Frank Brisard in his essay Introduction: Meaning and Use in Grammar, published in Grammar, Meaning and Pragmatics. Semantics, as noted, refers to the literal meaning of a spoken utterance. Grammar, Brisard says, involves the rules defining how the language is put together. Pragmatics takes  context  into account to complement the contributions that semantics and grammar make to meaning, he says. David Lodge, writing in the Paradise News, says that pragmatics gives humans a fuller, deeper, and generally more reasonable account of human language behavior. Without pragmatics, there is often  no understanding of what language actually means, or what a person truly means when she is speaking. The context- the social signs, body language, and tone of voice (the pragmatics)- is what makes utterances clear or unclear to the speaker and her listeners.

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Finance - Essay Example People, processes and systems need to be flexible to respond to conflicts and changes in the environment. It is in this regard that this essay is written to present pertinent changes in organizational processes or systems brought about by investment to adjust to the requirements of efficiency in assuring compliance to attendance protocols of a health care organization. In a specific health care organization, attendance is being monitored by a system of logging in and out utilizing time cards that allow you to punch in and out and are needed as a basis for salary payments. In addition, an access card is used to enter buildings. The problem is many personnel are punching other employees out when they already left hours earlier. Personnel are punching other colleagues in when they never came to work. This is an on going issue and there really is no way to detect it. This system is prone to loopholes and dishonesty because as peers develop teambuilding, employees belonging in the same department or team are susceptible to connivance in relation to attendance and payment requirements. As called for in this situation, change is necessary to achieve a new and higher level of performance and efficiency – as well as to lessen the tedious system of effecting the needed monitoring schemes. Technological advancement made improvements in the system of logging in and out to ensure accurate attendance of employees. This system is called biometrics. According to SearchSecurity.com (2008), â€Å"biometrics is the science and technology of measuring and analyzing biological data. In information technology, biometrics refers to technologies that measure and analyze human body characteristics, such as fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements, for authentication purposes.† These have several applications including time attendance, access control, identification

Reformed Epistemology Insulates Religious Faith from Scientific Essay - 1

Reformed Epistemology Insulates Religious Faith from Scientific Scrutiny - Essay Example Religion also attempts to answer life’s existential questions in comforting, understandable ways. But does this all mean that religion is so mysterious in its nature that it must never be questioned, and that its doctrines take precedence over the laws by which we choose to be governed? This is the territory Leiter explores in his paper - at least, he explores it to the extent that religion brushes up against secular laws. It is an interesting point of view. We all know people whose religious affiliations have exempted them, from time to time, from duties or obligations that, had they not claimed a particular religious affiliation, they would have been expected to fulfill. And we, for the most part, in the name of freedom of religion, tolerate these exemptions. But why? Why are religious individuals accorded this toleration? And if we cannot answer this question, should we continue, in fact, to tolerate their exemptions, even in the face of no reasonable evidence? Any person who has taken an American history class or studied for his or her citizenship exam is well-acquainted with the Amendment concerning freedom of religion – but perhaps it is now time to re-evaluate the concept. Leiter would have us believe that the re-evaluation is long overdue. He even go es so far as to delineate a difference between toleration and respect. This paper will explore his logic, analyze some of his examples and draw a conclusion as to whether or not he has successfully made his case with regard to tolerating religion.