The Meaning of the Chinese Character for Horse

Horses are a big part of Chinese culture. Countless ancient Chinese paintings and sculptures are of horses due to the animals importance in military excursions as well as being one of the 12 animal zodiac signs.   The word for horse also plays a large role in the Chinese language. From its use as a radical to sounding out Western names in phonetic translations, the Chinese character for the horse has a wide range of use. Learn how to write and say horse in Chinese. You will be  surprised by  how learning this simple word can help you recognize other Chinese characters and phrases with more ease.   Character Evolution The Chinese character for the horse  used today derives from a pictograph of a rearing horse with its front legs in the air and its mane flowing in the wind. Using your imagination, you can still recognize the shape of a horse when looking at the traditional character for horse,  Ã© ¦ ¬.   The horizontal strokes that make up the upper half of the character look like the horses mane. The four shorter strokes at the bottom represent four legs. And the stroke on the lower right that looks like a  hook is supposed to be the horses tail. However, the simplified form replaced the four legs with a single stroke and removed the horizontal lines on the top. In its simplified version, the character for a horse  in Chinese looks like  Ã© © ¬. Radical Chinese radicals are the part of a character that categorizes words based on definition or pronunciation. The character for horse, é ¦ ¬/é © ¬ ( mÇŽ), can also be used as a radical. The horse radical is used in more complex characters, many of which are used to describe characteristics of horses. As an example, here is a short list of characters that contain the horse radical: é ¨ µ - yuà ¡n - chestnut horse with white belly é ¨ ® / é ª  - lià º - bay horse with black mane é ¨ £ - zÃ… ng - bristles; horses mane é ¨â€˜ - fÄ“i - horse with yellow back é § ¿ / é ª  - jà ¹n - spirited horse é § ¹ - mà ¡ng - black horse with a white face é § ± / é ªâ€  - luà ² - camel é §â€ / é © µ - zÇŽng - powerful horse Mandarin Vocabulary With MÇŽ Besides vocabulary related to horses, é ¦ ¬/é © ¬ (mÇŽ) is commonly used as a phonetic in foreign names, some of which are included in this table. Traditional Characters Simplified Characters Pinyin English l b m Alabama o k l h m Oklahoma B h m the Bahamas B n m Panama bn m zebra d m sh g Damascus lu m Rome m d ji s ji Madagascar m li x y Malaysia m t ti horseshoe x m l y shn the Himalayas Y m sn Amazon

Utopian Cults Essays - 1111 Words

For many years, cults have been a subject of great controversy. A cult is a group of people that are bound together by an appreciation of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. Usually these groups keep close because of religious reasons, but their beliefs are almost always considered strange by outsiders. Cults are similar to clans or congregations, but are usually referred to as sects. There are many different categories that a cult could be sorted into. Apocalyptic, Utopian, Spiritualistic, Satanic, and Witchcraft/Voodoo cults are just some of the more basic types. While an Apocalyptic cult would focus on the end of the world, a Utopian cult would center more on a perfect land, or in other words a heaven on Earth. Spiritualistic cults†¦show more content†¦A utopia is any visionary system of political or social perfection. In Moore’s novel an ideal place to live was described and since then many people on Earth have searched to find a utopia of their own. Utopian Cults created exclusive, self-supporting communities that were completely isolated from the sinful world. In all of these cults, success of the community was most important and individual wants came second. The leader of the clan would assign jobs to his/her followers and they had to work. Assignments were usually tasks such as farming, because the cult’s community was isolated from the rest of the world and needed to feed themselves. All recorded Utopian cults have failed within 20 years of effort proving that none of them were up to the enormous challenge of perfection. The most famous Utopian cult of all time was led by Jim Jones and it was called the People’s Temple. At the age of 22, Jim Jones opened his first church, the People’s Temple in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jones taught his followers to treat all races equally which was not popular in the early fifties. To show their disapproval, many people would knock him off of his bike and some even threw dead cats into his church, but Jones kept preaching. Things turned around for Jones when the Civil Rights Movement began, his church expanding not only over Indianapolis but all over America. In 1961, Jim Jones and his family moved to Brazil where Jones served as a missionary for two years. HeShow MoreRelatedEssay Jonestown2179 Words   |  9 Pages Cults have existed throughout history since the beginning of time. A cult is defined in Webster’s dictionary as a â€Å"system of religious worship with a devoted attachment to a person, principle, etc.† Over the past thirty years numerous religious cults have caused â€Å" tens of thousands to abandon their families, friends, education’s, and careers to follow the teaching of a leader they will never meet†(Beck 78). 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Technology is ever-present in our society today. It has helped us become more efficient, more accessible, and provides us with a level of instant gratification we have not always had. These appear to be some upsides to technology. It moves and develops so quickly that oneRead More2002 Ap Dbq: Reform Movements Essay604 Words   |  3 Pagesploy to rid Southerners of troublesome free blacks and claimed it an undemocratic practice. Women also equated their limited rights and roles with that of the oppression of slaves (Doc. C), leading to reform movements that sought to eliminate the cult of domesticity and doctrine of separate spheres which created clear cut divides between the sexes. To overcome this, women began to push for legal reform for equal rights and suffrage during the womens rights movement in hopes of achieving a moreRead MoreCults Of The People s Temple1476 Words   |  6 Pagesbeginning and as far as the eye can see, cults have been and will continue to be part of human life. These small religious groups can happen anywhere and have been the cause of much debate and interest. For humans have an innate need to know why things are the way they are. Cults for one have done some rather unmoral things that lead the people to ask, Why did they do it? The People s Temple, Aum Shinrikyo, and Ku Klux Klan are extraordinary examples of wicked cults that begged the question Why? Read MoreCity, Church, A nd The Empire1627 Words   |  7 Pagesgreatly contrasts those of medieval European cities. Also, large houses were not greatly valued in Utopian cities because â€Å"every ten years they even swap houses among themselves, drawing lots to decide where they will live.† (Utopia 95) Utopian cities valued community and structured the cities around the idea of promoting community in every way possible. Medieval cities are the opposite of Utopian cities. Cities were a contributing factor to the plague outbreak that hit Europe during this time.Read MoreA Utopia And Dystopia By George Orwell1831 Words   |  8 Pagesrestaurants and theaters† (Times 1978). Through the means of propaganda and the attempt for a utopian society, an illusion of a utopia was created much like in 1984. Once the followers trusted him, they were willing to give up outside relations and invest themselves into the promised system of Jonestown. They eventually found themselves isolated from and fearful of the outside society. In the meantime, these cult members gave up all their material possessions, including money, and relocated to South America

Qualities of an Executive Chef free essay sample

Leadership Qualities of an Executive Chef Frankie Miranda Georgia Northwestern Technical College An Executive Chef is one who is in charge of the entire function of the kitchen which includes; menu creation, staff management, scheduling, payroll, ordering, and plate design. From this definition it is clear that to be a successful Executive Chef, one cannot rely on their abilities in Culinary Arts alone; they must also possess exceptional leadership qualities. A successful leader is one that able to lead a team of chefs and cooks from average to excellent. It is my belief that for anyone to be a successful leader, specifically in this discussion an Executive Chef, they should have positive characteristics in the following leadership styles: Personal, management, communication and accountability. 1. Personal Style: The Executive Chef should be excited about their work. Their team members should be inspired by them. The Executive Chef should be kind, nurturing, caring, patient, encouraging, efficient, and organized. We will write a custom essay sample on Qualities of an Executive Chef or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They should be an individual that team members are not afraid of. 2. Management Style: The Executive Chef should always lead by example and always have a positive attitude. They should always be on time, meet deadlines, pay attention to detail, be persistent, and never lose track of the basics of the Culinary Arts: Quality, service, sanitation and safety. The Executive Chef should challenge their team to display their skills and talents; challenging them to continuously improve their skills and talents. 3. Communication Style: I believe that communication is the most important leadership quality. Without communication the team is not a team; and to be a successful team, there must be communication. The Executive Chef’s communication style should begin with always informing team members of anything new or any changes. A good tool to use would be a log book that would be used to inform the team of all situations of change, upcoming events, etc. The team members would be required to read and initial the log book before starting their shift. Additional communication tools that could be used are: Daily meetings before shift and formal weekly meetings. By having these meetings, everyone would feel included in the process and it would give an opportunity to celebrate successes from the week before and to introduce the menu, events, etc. for the current week. 4. Accountability: The Executive Chef should require team members in their supervision (i. e. Lead Cook, Sous Chefs) to possess the same leadership qualities as does the Executive Chef. The reason for this is to have a team that works together. Being held accountable creates a trusting environment. To ensure accountability of team members, a good tool to implement would be job descriptions for each position. This would allow the team member to know what exactly is expected of them in their position and would allow the Executive Chef a tool to measure their performance. Two good laws that I ran across regarding accountability are: Accountability Law #1 â€Å"Whatever you accept from your least effective team member becomes the minimum acceptable standard for the whole team. † – Don Miller. Accountability Law #2 â€Å"Failure to hold team members accountable for doing their jobs in accordance with the established standards creates an unfair work environment. This unfairness can escalate to an overwhelmingly negative work environment delivering poor food, poor service, hostility and high turnover. † – Don Miller. After reading different articles and chef biographies, I have a better understanding for the need of an Executive Chef to have good leadership qualities. I understand the need for a Sous Chef, Head Chef – any chef to have good leadership qualities†¦it makes a better team in the kitchen, which serves better food to the customers, which makes for a great restaurant or food service establishment. To be a successful Executive Chef it is important to posses the qualities outlined above. It is equally important for the entire kitchen team to have very similar qualities; reason being, as stated earlier, so that the team works together. A team that works together is much stronger than one that does not. A weak team is a picture of a weak leader. No kitchen can be successful with a weak leader or a weak team.

Looking Beyond The Sexes Essays - Psychology, Ego Psychology

Looking Beyond The Sexes A woman gets pregnant, and her boyfriend leaves her. In Karen Horney's ?The Distrust Between the Sexes?, she explains how a person's psychological history causes him/her to distrust people of the opposite sex because of certain expectations they might have. Longings for happiness, childhood reflections, and childhood conflicts are all things that invent these expectations. First off, people are longing for happiness, while setting their expectations at high. Horney states, ?All of our unconscious wishes, contradictory in their nature and expanding boundlessly on all sides, are waiting here for their fulfillment? (341). Children are raised to believe that relationships with the opposite sex are their doorway to happiness. Horney says, ?The partner is supposed to be strong, and at the same time helpless, to dominate us and be dominated by us, to be ascetic and to be sensuous? (341). People expect their partners to be too many things, which will lead them to disappointment. Horney states, ?We take the magnitude of such overvaluation for the measure of our love, while in reality it merely expresses the magnitude of our expectations? (341). Society's longing for happiness has so many expectations of what love should be that, in the end, all one has is one's expectations. Next, childhood reflections cause a certain number of expectations that are handed down by generations. Horney states, ?Thus far, our reflections certainly have been neither new nor specifically analytical and have often been better formulated in the past?(341). Reflections that people have from their childhood carve the person into what they are as an adult. Horney explains, ?The paradise of childhood is most often an illusion with which adults like to deceive themselves?(341). Adults remember their childhood as a fantasy and try to live their lives around that fantasy. Horney says, ?We need only recall the capacity that children posses even in their very early years, for passionate and instinctive sexual desires similar to those of adults and yet different from them?(342). Children and adults are very different, but if a person finds the similarity, it will help them throughout their lives. Last, childhood conflicts give a person certain expectations of how the opposite sex will treat a person. Horney states, ?Let us further assume that the latter wish was repressed due to anxiety from a guilty conscience; then we have here the fundamental constellation for the formation of certain type of woman who is unable to relate to the male because she fears that every male will suspect her of wanting something from him?(343). Children have many conflicts, which affect part of their adult lives. Horney explains, ?Or by completely projecting onto him her repressed wishes, she will imagine that every male merely intends to exploit her, that he wants from her only sexual satisfaction, after which he will discard her?(343). If a person's opposite sex hurts them in any way, then that person will believe that the opposite sex will always hurt them. Horney states, ?Or let us assume that a reaction formation of excessive modesty will mask the repressed drive for power?(343). Children dev elop at different ages; therefore, modesty levels are different for the opposite sex. Distrust between the opposite sexes is the effect from psychological history because of certain standards and expectations people set for themselves and others. Expectations that contribute to the distrust between the sexes are caused by longings for happiness, childhood reflections, and childhood conflicts. Psychology

Gender Issues Essays (1349 words) - Gender Studies, Gender, LGBT

Gender Issues After reading through my gender log, during the past few weeks, I observed that many people are trained to determine their gender by their biological sex. Some of the people that I have observed and written about would probably never have doubted their sexual orientation. Others have definitely examined their sexuality. Whether this sexuality is male or female is entirely up to them. This is their true sexual identity. Still others that I noticed have actually convinced themselves, whether it is true or false that their biological gender is not, their true gender. The people who seemed that they were completely sure that their gender was solely based on their biological sex, were easy to identify for me. These are the people we have been familiar with all of our lives. These people self-categorize themselves. By acting and dressing according to their gender assignment, these people gave me the impression that they ultimately know if they are male or female. I think that they truly believe, without ever questioning their sexuality that they were born either male or female. They act out their assigned gender roles. They either see their sexuality as, black or white, with no gray areas. In my journal, I wrote about how I observed a man and a woman at a restaurant. The man automatically paid the bill. This is androcentric behavior. It is assumed in our society that the man should pay, although it is becoming more common for women to pick up the tab, or even them both. This is an example of people who believe that their biological gender is their true gender. The second type of person, the person who may have at one time or another wondered whether or not they were gay, is also pretty easy to identify, if you are able to observe and truly learn about their habits. As an example I'll use a male teenager who I went to high school with. I'll call him Joe. Joe was a very good looking male, biologically speaking. When Joe was a small child, I notice growing up with him that he had more female friends and that the boys did not like him very much. Many of the boys would often call him homo, or say go play with your girlfriends. He was very damaged by all of this. He would usually sit with the girls at lunch, but never the boys. He was often picked on in class with taunts and under the breath innuendoes. He did very well in all subjects in school but did best in art class and theater. His general body language was feminine, the way his hands moved and the way in which he would walk, talk, and even carry his books. I notice that he never tried to change his behavior to please others, which seemed to be gender assigned feminine behavior. He would also state I am not gay. His mother actually was going to sue the school to put the responsibility on the school to prevent the students from harassing her son. Joe never conformed, to his biological sexual identity being male. He was who he was and everyone believed he was gay. I don't know if he is or isn't gay because he went to art school in the city. I think he was having an identity crisis. The third type of person is a person who biologically without a doubt is male of female due to society's guidelines of gender. However, this type of person may want to be the opposite sex. They either are kidding or they want to be the opposite sex. Something about it embraces them. This brings to mind a movie I saw the other night, Silence of the Lambs, by Thomas Harris, when the serial killer believes he was born a female in a males body. These people are sexually dysmorphic, meaning that their self-concept does not fit their sexual biology. He wanted a total sex change and had many psychologists trying to help him. The psychologists did not agree with his desires and he was prohibited from having the operation because they felt he was not psychologically stable. As a result, his fixation with being female

Light And The Glory Essays - Stamp Act, Quartering Acts, Free Essays

Light And The Glory Essays - Stamp Act, Quartering Acts, Free Essays Light And The Glory The Light and the Glory The United States Constitution has been the bedrock for the longest lasting government in all history. Why is it that our constitution still exists after more than two hundred years? Is it the incredible minds of those that framed it, or is it something else? In 1620, the Pilgrims departed from Holland and set out for America. Ten years later, they were followed by the Puritans. The Puritans and the Pilgrims experienced incredible hardships, which forced their reliance on God. There was little to eat, and shelter was no more than an uninsulated log cabin. As new generations grew up, they began to learn how to grow and harvest crops, which supplied them with plenty to eat, and comfortable lives. They did not have to depend on God for their survival. Gradually, as the people strayed further away from God, there began to be witchcraft and many people with no moral standards at all. These once godly people had forgotten how God had miraculously provided for their grandparents. By the mid 1700s, America was in desperate need of a revival. This burden was laid on a mans heart whose name was Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan Edwards, a graduate of Yale at seventeen, began and sustained a revival that changed the course of American history. Along with George Whitefield and countless other circuit riding preachers, Jonathan Edwards brought America down on her knees before God in repentance. America was indeed a new nation. It was about this time that America began to view itself as one nation, not just a handful of independent colonies. The only problem was that the Americans were not the only ones who had settled in the New World. They were bordered on the north and west by the French and on the south by the Spanish. If anyone attempted to settle on the west side of the Appalachian Mountains, chances of survival were slim because of hostile Indians and cruel French trappers. America was far from having enough manpower to take on the French all by themselves. When King George III realized that his prized possession, the American colonies, was in danger of being taken over by the French, he sent troops to push the French- American boundary line deeper into the interior of the continent. This turned into an all out war known as the French and Indian War. Although the beginning of the war favored the French, the British eventually became successful in setting the French-American boundary well past the Appalachian Mountains. Along with the Great Awakening, the French and Indian War would be another turning point in American history because the colonists now realized that they were capable of building an army. The war also unveiled future heroes such as George Washington. Most of all, it brought the colonies together in unity. Relations were now beginning to change between the colonies and England. The colonists were beginning to regard themselves as Americans rather than Englishmen. The colonies were now on a much higher spiritual level than England. King George again realized that his prize possession was in danger of being lost. However, this time it was the colonists themselves that were the threat. To stop the growing rebellion in America, George III appointed a new prime minister George Grenville. Grenville decided to tighten Englands control of the colonial settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. This would result in the Proclamation of 1763 which canceled all the land grants given to the colonies in the past by other kings and parliaments. He also laid new taxes on the colonists that violated their rights because the colonists had no representatives in the English parliament. The Stamp Act and the Quartering Act were just a few of the burdens that Grenville laid on the colonists. William Pitt and Edmund Burke were two men in the English parliament who encouraged Grenville to lift the tariffs and taxes. When Grenville arrogantly refused to lift any of the tariffs or taxes, it was one of the most costly mistakes he would ever make. Burdensome taxes were enraging the colonists. They did owe England a war debt of 37,000,000 dollars, but the Quartering Act had nothing to do with paying money

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 20

Case Study - Essay Example The term Sony’s DNA also indicates the company’s unusual skill for product design and outstanding marketing tactics. This extraordinary flair for design and marketing is the key factor of its dominance in international markets. The major challenge that Sony confronted with achieving synergy was the issue related to its internal convergence. The corporation was unsure how it could achieve seamless cooperation between its subsidiary companies by selling the network vision. In addition, ‘there was little corporation between the content people in the United States and the technical wizards in Japan’. The production units like the Play Station had been enjoying exceed independence by working outside the company’s mainstream and by initiating alliance with other parties. It is uncertain if sonny can endure with this sort of ‘luxury’ in future namely in its innovative processes. Another major problem was the threat from low-cost imitators who already had pirated its content business. As compared to other competitors, Sony had to be highly concerned about factors associated with its copyright. As one of the notable challenges, Sony had been limited access to TV broadcast in USA. Th ey also lacked synergy between hardware and content side of business. Finally, Sony did not have substantial share in mobile industry. Reorganization might be the possible solution to meet these challenges in future. Sony has already identified this factor; and the organization has entered the world of digital convergence. Instead of traditional mode of management, it depends on outsourcing feasibility which allows broad and collaborative knowledge sharing and problem solving. Sony’s cooperation with Intel and Microsoft is an example for this conceptual change. Although this trend of convergence was unfamiliar to Sony, recently it has altered its tactics especially in case of product

The Implications of the Anthropogenic Global Warming Hypothesis Essay

The Implications of the Anthropogenic Global Warming Hypothesis - Essay Example Indeed, the stakes are high in the game of global warming. Trillions of dollars, our ability to compete, future energy policy, and our standard of living all hang in the balance. The national media, charged with informing the public on this important issue, has fallen into the trap of politicizing the issue, while truth has become little more that a reluctant victim of the infighting. In fact, on the issue of global warming the media has been accused of being a propaganda mouthpiece for whoever's political influence they happen to fall under. Media propaganda concerning the Anthropogenic Global Warming Hypothesis is the result of internal and external information manipulation, an inability to understand the science, and a propensity to serve the special interests that spin the narrative. Accusing the media of purveying propaganda, either knowingly or unwittingly, is a serious charge that needs to be defined and substantiated. The recitation of inaccurate information or the innocent broadcasting of a news item that is 'fed' by a special interest group may be negligent or incompetent, but does not rise to the standard of propaganda. In these cases, the propagandist is the government or organization that feeds a politically biased press release to an innocent reporter under the guise of credibility, and the news outlet is merely an unwitting dupe. Propaganda may also be in the form of information that has been skewed or spun by scientific experts who are pursuing a hidden social or political agenda. In these cases, the news organization does not have the expertise to analyze the highly technical data and they rely on the testimony of experts. Here, the experts who are using skewed science to advocate a controversial social issue are guilty of propaganda, but the media is merely their vehicle. The media rises to the level of a propaganda machine when they knowingly issue false or misleading information whose sole purpose is not to inform, but to sway public opinion to serve their own self-interest. There is little doubt that there are two deeply polarized stands on the significance of man's contribution to the global warming phenomena, and the media will promote the one that serves its best interests. The best interests of the media may be to satisfy a major advertiser, or may be to generate appeal among an audience that is sensitive to political correctness. Opponents of the hypothesis contend that science is merely placing the present in context with the recorded metrological history of about 200 years, and does not account for the natural shifts that take place over tens of thousands of years1. Indeed, advocates do rely on a limited window for their data as Houghton states, "For an understanding of the global warming issue, of most interest is the period of the last 50 years during which greenhouse gases increased substantially as did the global average temperature"2. Constrained by sound bytes and the perceived short attention span of their audience, the media does not have the resources to fully explain the implications of the widely conflicting data. The news outlet, or media source, needs to make a decision in regards to what they will tell their audience and how thoroughly they will explain it. This decision will almost assure them that they will

Has the death penalty in the United States run its course Research Paper

Has the death penalty in the United States run its course - Research Paper Example History of Death Penalty Death penalty law was first established way back in eighteenth century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon. In Britain, hanging became the most common method of executing death sentence in the tenth century A.D. However, in the following century, William the conqueror banned all method of capital punishment for any crime. Again, in the sixteenth century some 72,000 people were executed for capital offences like conducting wedding with a Jew, not admitting to a crime, and treason. Since death penalty is a severe form of punishment, the juries did not convict many defendants if the offense was not grave and this called for reforms in the death penalty in Britain. America was influenced mostly by Britain in the methods of death penalty. When the Europeans settled in the newly found land of America, they continued with their practice of capital punishment. In America, the first ever execution that took place was of Captain George Kendall in the Jamesto wn colony of Virginia in 1608. His crime was that he was a spy for Spain. All colonies did not have the same laws of death penalty. The first implementation held in Massachusetts Bay Colony was in 1630 although Capital Laws of New England were not established until years later. Duke’s Laws of 1665 were put into effect in the New York colony and under these laws capital crimes included striking one’s parents or atheism. Attempts to reform the death penalty occurred for the first time in America when Thomas Jefferson initiated a bill to review Virginia's death penalty laws. According to this law crimes that were to be punishable by death penalty were murder and treason. This law was defeated by one vote. In the nineteenth century many states of America brought down the incidence of their capital crimes. Many states like Rhode Island and Wisconsin abolished the death penalty, although most states continued with their practice of capital punishment. Some states increased t he number of offences to be liable to be punished by death penalty, mainly those committed by the slaves. During the civil war, anti slavery movement began more prominent and as such opposition to the death penalty declined. "Progressive Period" of reform began in the twentieth century in America. During the period 1907-17, death penalty was completely withdrawn in six states. Three states kept treason and first-degree murder of a law enforcement official as the only capital crimes. However, this reform did not last for long due to the chaotic atmosphere in America in the wake of the Russian revolution. In addition to that, America participated in World War I and during this period there were severe class conflicts and the socialists became a threat to capitalism. Due to this reason five of the six states which abolished death penalty again established the law of death penalty. In the 1950s, the number of death penalties made a steep drop as many allied nations either abolished or l imited the death penalty. (â€Å"History of the Death Penalty†) Cost of Execution From economic standpoint it is debatable whether death penalty is sufficiently effective for prevention of criminal activities. There are methods that have been proved to be effective for prevention of crime, but resources that are used for the implementation of death penalty are not available for establishing those methods. Costs involved in death penalty cases are much higher

Types Of Mobility For Mobile Computing Computer Science Essay

Types Of Mobility For Mobile Computing Computer Science Essay The development in last 20 years in the field of telecommunication and the integration of telecommunication with internet has promised pervasive computing infrastructure. These pervasive systems allow users to access their information on the internet irrespective of their location. In addition, the advancement in devices miniaturization increases the number of portable devices connect to the internet like mobile phone, laptops, palmtops net books, PDAs, etc. In these scenarios we can consider different types of mobility. User mobility, Terminal mobility, Mobile access to resources.  ¿Ã‚ ½User mobility requires providing users with a uniform view of their preferred working environments ¿Ã‚ ½ user preferences and subscribed services ¿Ã‚ ½independent of their current positions in the network ¿Ã‚ ½.[1]  ¿Ã‚ ½Terminal mobility allows devices to transparently move and connect to different points of attachment ¿Ã‚ ½.[1]  ¿Ã‚ ½Mobile access is an emerging issue that involves th e dynamic adaptation of mobile-aware resources and services that mobile users and terminals can automatically retrieve regardless of their current location ¿Ã‚ ½.[1] Having considered the above types of mobility, mobile computing needs an advanced infrastructure which should dynamically trace and relocate mobile users and grant coordination between mobile entities. The infrastructure should also provide proper security level based on cryptographic mechanisms and tools. According to the given research paper three mobile computing services have been proposed: user virtual environment (UVE),mobile virtual terminal (MVT), and virtual resource management (VRM).  ¿Ã‚ ½UVE provides users with a uniform view of their working environments independent of current locations and specific terminals. MVT extends traditional terminal mobility by preserving the terminal execution state for restoration at new locations, including active processes and subscribed services. VRM permits mobile users and terminals to maintain access to resources and services by automatically requalifying the bindings and moving specific resources or services to permit load balancing and replication ¿Ã‚ ½.[1] SOMA-BASED MIDDLEWARE SOMA stands for Secure and Open Mobile Agent. SOMA is a service infrastructure for developing and implementing MA-based internet applications. SOMA consist of 4 layers. As shown in figure 1: Figure 1: http://www-lia.deis.unibo.it/Software/MA/Images/Mobile1.jpg The upper most layer is for mobility support which provides UVE (User Virtual Environment), MVT(Mobile Virtual Terminal), VRM(Virtual Resource Management). The next layer provides naming, security, migration, interoperability, persistence, communication and Quality of Service. The other two layers are a JVM (JAVA Virtual Machine) and a heterogeneous distributed system. SOMA is basically a JAVA based mobile agent which has been designed to provide the requirements of mobility, scalability, dynamicity, security and openness which are the typical issues in the internet scenarios. The two main goals to develop SOMA were interoperability and security. On one side, SOMA is based on detailed security model and provide a good range of mechanisms and tools to develop and enforce true security policies with flexibility. On the other side, SOMA is able to communicate and interact with different components of applications which are designed with different programming languages and platforms. Apart from interoperability and security features, SOMA is automatically and dynamically manageable and configurable and it provides the location abstraction to achieve scalability in a global scenario. The mobility of the mobile devices has introduced new security challenges like mobile can be hacked by the execution of malicious environment, may be cloned illegally to cause DoS (denial of service), or may be denial for roaming. These issues have been overcome in SOMA implementation as SOMA permits to protect both: agents come from malicious hosts and hosts from malicious agents. During the design and implementation of SOMA, number of challenges were faced to provide interoperability like SOMA application as server of COBRA, SOMA as COBRA clients, interoperability between COBRA components and SOMA, etc On the other hand, SOMA is a bit slow because of its extra security mechanisms, it involves different tools and techniques to provide more security which makes it slow as compare to other mobile agents but off course it is more secure than other mobile agents. As the name suggest secure and open mobile agent, its openness has introduced some more challenges to it especially for e-com merce applications so there is a need to improve it as nothing is perfect. Q2: All the MA(Mobile Agent) standards seem to be a promising platforms for implementing and developing applications in distributed, heterogeneous and open environments like the Internet. MAs try to overcome most of the limits of the conventional Client/Server model because of the basic features they have, such as autonomy and flexibility and can effortlessly integrate with the internet to extend accessibility of applications. Most of the application areas, like e-commerce, network management, mobile computing and information retrieval can benefit from the use of the mobile agent technology. There has been a lot of work done in this field. Like many mobile applications have been developed like we studies SOMA, there are some other application as well like SeMoA, Aglets, fraglets, etc. There are some advantages which all the mobile agents try to provide: Dynamic adaptation, flexibility, tolerance to network errors/faults, parallel processing, etc. Dynamic adaptation is the adaptation of t he different host environments. Tolerance to network faults means ability of mobile agent to operate without an active connection between server and client. Flexibility means to only source must be updated whilst changing an action of the agent. Comparing SOMA with other mobile agents, SOMA provides more security and openness as its name says. If we talk about SeMoA (Secure Mobile Agent) it has its own limitations, such as SeMoA is not very strong against a large number of Denial of Service (DoS) attacks like memory exhaustion. On the other hand SOMA has been designed taking into account security as a main property because SOMA protects both: agents come from malicious hosts and hosts from malicious agents. Another problem with SeMoA is that there are many classes in the core package that synchronize on the object of class itself. As local classes are shared and the visibility of local classes is global so any agent that access them and acquires a lock on such class objects blocks other threads to access them. On the other hand if we compare SOMA with fraglets which is very small computer program which has been designed to serve as a part of active network instead of a mobile agent. Fraglets have the ability to execute the codes on the path the travel by such as routers or hubs. Part 2: Q1:. Pervasive computing is a dream of personal computing where future living environments are saturated with non-intrusive, flawlessly operating services available for the user. To fully understand this dream these services are to adapt to the present situation of the environments, together with the economical/social situation of the user. Systems that use data about the state of either its system, users or the environment to settle in their behavior are called context-aware systems. Realizing context-awareness has introduced problems on different level: First, defining a context. Second, how and what can be adjusted when the context changes and where the context adaptation and definition comes from? Third, identify different contexts from sensor. Fourth, how a context can be represented and processed. But before that we have to understand the definition of context. The most cited definition of context by Dey is:  ¿Ã‚ ½Context is any information that can be used to characterize the sit uation of an entity. An entity is a person, place, or object that is considered relevant to the interaction between a user and an application, including the user and applications themselves ¿Ã‚ ½.[1] Representation: Unique Identifiers: The system should be able to recognize different type of contexts and environments in the real world. Uniqueness allow the reuse of that information without conflicting between identifiers. For example, If the user is driving a car so accelerometer can be used to detect the speed of the user. Validation: Validation should always be allowed for an information taken by the sensor before performing any action with it. For example, if the accelerometer indicates that the speed of user is fast (i.e. he/she is in the car) this does not mean that he/she is driving, this information should be validated before performing any action. For instance consider the condition that if I am driving I cannot answer the calls so reject the call and send a message saying I will call you later. But if I am in the car but I am not driving than I can answer the calls so the information from the accelerometer has to be validated before rejecting the calls. Uncertainty and incomplete information: As almost all of the context information of the real world is taken from the sensors, the information can be incomplete and uncertain. If we include reasoning uncertainty of the conclusions should follow the reasoning. Simplicity, reuse, and expandability: A system should supply only as expressive representation as necessary to maintain the domain knowledge. A simple representation endorse reuse and expandability. Simplicity, flexibility and expandability are among the requirements of context representation. Generality: Generality of context representation means the ability to support all types of context information. In my estimation, generality of a context representation is mostly described by its conceptual structure. Nevertheless, the clarity of a representation language which is used to generate the context information also vary its ability to generate context information at different levels of complexity. Q2. Introduction WAP (wireless application protocol) is a protocol to offer mobile data services. WAP is an open international standard that permits users to access global information instantly through any wireless device mobile phone, PDA, etc. WAP is normally supported by all operating systems. Browsers that uses WAP are called micro-browser. The rate of transfer of data is still very lower than the normal modem. On the other hand, I-mode is a complete mobile internet service that includes a large range of internet standards such as e-mail, sports results, weather forecast, news headlines, etc. This information is provided to the user by particular services from mobile carriers who charge them for these services. As the rate of transfer of the data is lower than the average modem, i-mode is not good enough for high resolution images and videos, it is basically sufficient for simple graphics and emails. Protocols WAP uses Wireless Markup Language (WML) for communication. while on the other hand i-Mode uses a different type of HTML which is called compact HTML (c-HTML). Capabilities of Devices WAP devices have to have a specific WAP browser while i-Mode supporting devices have to be able to display data from c-HTML. WAP capable devices show only textual information while i-Mode supporting devices shows multimedia images. WAP gives navigation among layered menus while i-Mode gives navigation via hyperlinks. Architecture WAP makes use of a unique language called WML (Wireless Markup Language) for interaction between a specific protocol translation device called a Gateway of WAP (GW) and information on the Internet. The GW communicates between HTML and WML, permits supply of WAP content to a WAP supporting device. iMode obeys a dissimilar approach to allow users to access IP-based services via their portable device. i-MODE is uses packet data transmission technology, a machine using this technology is continuously online. The transfer of the data makes use of the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). Graphics: One of the most main difference that appears, are clearly the dissimilar graphic capabilities. While it is right that i-MODE only allows simple graphics, that is much more than WAP. Charges: Another main dissimilarity is the capability of being always-on in i-MODE. As consumer are not charged for how long they serve online, it doesnt seem more suitable, but also less expensive than have to pay for the time they spent online. As it is not needed that dial-up before using the a variety of services based on IP, E-mail has become an SMS (Short Message Service). Part 3: Q1:. In CCA the InfoStations system is an infrastructural system concept offering many time, many-where access to wireless data services sustaining the portable communication process. This concept enables a variety of classes of portable devices to communicate with each other and with a large number of servers. Intelligent agents operating in the portable device users domain (Personal Assistants-PAs) and the InfoStations help to facilitate a contextualized and personalized environment for the system users. System functionality is offered as a set of flexible mobile services. To assist the personalization of these services, the User Agent Profile (UAProf) and Composite Capabilities/Preference Profile (CC/PP) terms are derived to enable the Personal Assistants express capability and preference information (CPI) about both the access device and the user as well. This makes sure that the offered services are adapted to suit the device capabilities, wireless network constraints and the user as well. Behavior of infoStation: Because of the fact that nature of the connection is defused, it is important for intelligent agents to work throughout the architecture. Being a PA (Personal Assistant), the agent may function automatically in order to convince any user service needs they encounter, while in or out of interaction with other agents which are working on InfoStation Centre or the InfoStation. The service sessions may be divided between different InfoStations, the personal assistant can make a service call while within the scope of an InfoStation, and then go out of the coverage area. During this time when the user goes out from InfoStation coverage, the personal assistant functions automatically adopt the functionality of the service till the user has completed the task. The InfoStations houses the Discovery, Presentation and Rendering Self-Service module, which is used to establish connections to mobile devices which enter within range. Also housed is a cache of recently accessed user and service prof iles, as well as a repository of available services.[4] Q2: Behavior of infoStation Centre: The InfoStation Centre stands at the centre of the system, which deals with the formation and updating of contents/objects throughout the system. From InfoStation Centre which acts as a central point, service updates can be spread across the whole system. All the infoStations are connected with the InfoStation centre which acts as a server of these infoStations. InfoStation centre is aware of all the devices connected to the infoStations but it communicates with infoStations only, it does not communicate directly to the devices connected to the infoStations. For instance a mobile device wants to communicate with the other mobile device connected with different InfoStation then the device will send a request to its InfoStation then the InfoStation send this request to InfoStation Centre and then InfoStation centre sends the request to the InfoStation to which the receiver device is connected with. Q3: Bob[ Alice :: .0 ] | Alice [ Bob: ( hello ).0 ] -> Alice [ { hello > hello } ] Q4: Bob[Alice::.0] | Alice[Bob: (hello).0 ] Q6: Bob[Alice::.0 ] |Alice[Bob: (hello).0 ] |IS1[in IS4.out.0] |IS4[0 ]|IS4[in IS2.out.0 ]

Major World War I Battles Essay

1914- The First Battle of the Marne. Up until September of 1914, the German army had steadily advanced through Belgium and France and was nearing the capital of France, Paris. Luckily, in the First Battle of the Marne, six French armies and one British army were able to stave off the German advance and set the stage for trench warfare for the next four years. 1915- Second Battle of Ypres- This was the second battle for the city of Ypres, which was located in western Belgium. For the Germans, this marked their first widespread usage of poison gas during the war. At Gravenstafl, Canadian troops were able to hold off the Germans by urinating into cloths and covering their faces with it. 1916- Battle of Verdun. The Battle of Verdun was meant to be Germany’s final push to break through French lines. A common expression was â€Å"to bleed the French white†. Both sides suffered immense casualties; however there was no clear victor even though the Germans were forced to withdraw. 1917- Battle of Caporetto. In this battle, otherwise known as the 12th Battle of Isonzo, Austro-Hungarian forces reinforced by German infantry finally broke through the Italian front line and routed the entire Italian army. Poison gas and storm troopers effectively contributed to the massive collapse of the Italian army. 1918- Battle of Cantigny. This was the first major battle involving U.S. forces up until that point in World War I. While, Cantigny was a relatively easy objective and was overshadowed by larger battles occurring elsewhere on the front, this battle was significant in demonstrating that the U.S. forces could be trusted to hold their own. 1. Up until the U.S. entrance into the war, the U.S. had already been providing massive amounts of supplies to the French and British, despite their claims of neutrality. This one-sided trading led to German attacks on U.S. merchant vessels and was one of the reasons the U.S. entered the war. The American Expeditionary Force did not actually face many battles as they arrived in Germany in early 1918. They did prove their worth and strength however in the Battle of Cantigny, where solely U.S. troops were able to capture the town of Cantigny and repulse several fierce German counterattacks. 2. Women had a huge role in the war effort at home, while African Americans directly contributed to the war effort. Women filled many of the jobs men left behind, especially in factories that were now facing huge demands for war supplies and low numbers of workers. Without women rising to fill these ranks, the American war effort would have been severely hindered. African Americans, although still discriminated and segregated in units, fought bravely and fiercely in World War I and earned the respect of many soldiers around them. 3. U.S. society

Influence of culture on health care practices Essay

Current trends of an increasingly multicultural society emphasize the need for nursing education programs that effectively address cultural issues. To understand the diverse cultural backgrounds of clients, nurses must strive to be culturally competent (Marcinkiw 2003). Cultural competence requires the building of cultural awareness, knowledge, skill, encounters, and desire in the nurse. Clients will feel respected, valued, and have a greater desire to achieve mutually agreed upon health care goals if the nurse is culturally competent. The purpose of this essay is designed to show the cultural competence in the nursing profession by providing a guide that is useful for implementing cultural sensitivity in nursing education and practice. Diversity. It is a word that means something different to each and every person. Bacote, 2003 asserts that the changing demographics and economics of our growing multicultural world, and the long-standing disparities in the health status of people from culturally diverse backgrounds has challenged health care providers and organizations to consider cultural diversity as a priority. However, health care providers must realize that addressing cultural diversity goes beyond knowing the values, beliefs, practices and customs (Bacote, 2003). In addition to racial classification and national origin, there are many other faces of cultural diversity. Religious affiliation, language, physical size, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability (both physical and mental), political orientation, socio-economic status, occupational status and geographical location are but a few of the faces of diversity (Bacote, 2003). I would like to share thoughts concerning the complexities involved in caring for people from diverse cultural background; I came from different country myself. My understanding of whole Health care system in Australia was a lot different from past experience in my country of origin. As most foreigners it was just a matter of time before I could get use to the system of medical care. And skills like: listening, understanding, respect for my belief systems and ability to build trust were very important to me. Now I could tell that there is range of cultural behaviors and the need to understand people’s actions from their own cultural perspective in health and illness. Cultural values give an individual a sense of direction as well as meaning to life. These values are held on an unconscious level. There is a direct relationship between culture and health practices (Bacote, 2003). In fact, of the many factors that are known to determine health beliefs and behaviors, culture is the most influential (Bacote, 2003). Recently I heard an excellent paper where cultural supervision was discussed (Westerman 2004). There, I become more acutely aware of the importance of cultural differences vis-à  -vis Aboriginal societies. Although I had been aware of these differences before, I now came to see that there were many cultural subtleties that require specialist knowledge and approach. According to Driscoll (2007:80) there is another kind of knowledge that can only develop when one has direct and deep experience of another cultural group. Cultural groups can be ethnic groups, or groups we sometimes refer to as sub-cultures (Driscoll & Yegdich 2007). A humanistic and scientific area of formal study and practice in nursing is called transcultural nursing, it is focused upon differences and similarities among cultures with respect to human care, health, and illness based upon the people’s cultural values, beliefs, and practices, and to use this knowledge to provide cultural specific or culturally congruent nursing care to people (Leininger 1991). Leininger notes the main goal of transcultural nursing is to provide culturally specific care. But before transcultural nursing can be adequately understood, there must be a basic knowledge of key terminology such as culture, cultural values, culturally diverse nursing care, ethnocentrism, race, and ethnography. Singelis (2005:4-5) believes that to be culturally competent the nurse needs to understand his/her own world views and those of the patient, while avoiding stereotyping and misapplication of scientific knowledge. Cultural competence is obtaining cultural information and then applying that  knowledge. This cultural awareness allows you to see the entire picture and improves the quality of care and health outcomes. Adapting to different cultural beliefs and practices requires flexibility and a respect for others view points (Singelis 2005:5). Cultural competence means to really listen to the patient, to find out and learn about the patient’s beliefs of health and illness. To provide culturally appropriate care we need to know and to understand culturally influenced health behaviors (Singelis 2005:5). Also Singelis (2005) highlights that to be culturally competent the nurse needs to learn how to mix a little cultural understanding with the nursing care they offer. In some parts of the Australia culturally varied patient populations have long been the norm. But now, even in the homogeneous state of Queensland where we reside, we are seeing a dramatic increase in immigrants from all over the world. These cultural differences are affecting even the most remote settings. Since the perception of illness and disease and their causes varies by culture (Germov 2005: 155), these individual preferences affect the approaches to health care. Culture also influences how people seek health care and how they behave toward health care providers. Furthermore Germov (2005:155) asserts that how we care for patients and how patients respond to this care is greatly influenced by culture. Health care providers must possess the ability and knowledge to communicate and to understand health behaviors influenced by culture. Having this ability and knowledge can eliminate barriers to the delivery of health care (Germov 2005: 154). These issues show the need for health care organizations to develop policies, practices and procedures to deliver culturally competent care (Germov 2005). Developing culturally competent programs is an ongoing process. There seems to be no one recipe for cultural competency. It’s an ongoing evaluation, as we continually adapt and reevaluate the way things are done. For nurses, cultural diversity tests our ability to truly care for patients, to demonstrate that we are not only clinically proficient but also culturally competent, that we care. Meyer (1996) describes four major challenges for providers and cultural competency in healthcare. The first is the straightforward challenge of recognizing clinical differences among people of different ethnic and racial groups. The second, and far more complicated, challenge is communication. This deals with everything from the need for interpreters to nuances of words in various languages. Many patients, even in Western cultures, are reluctant to talk about personal matters such as sexual activity or chemical use. How do we overcome this challenge among more restricted cultures (as compared to ours)? Some patients may not have or are reluctant to use telephones. We need to plan for these types of obstacles. The third challenge is ethics (Meyer 1996). While Western medicine is among the best in the world, we do not have all the answers. Respect for the belief systems of others and the effects of those beliefs on well-being are critically important to competent care. The final challenge involves trust (Meyer 1996). For some patients, authority figures are immediately mistrusted, sometimes for good reason. Having seen or been victims of atrocities at the hands of authorities in their homelands, many people are as wary of caregivers themselves as they are of the care. Holland, Jenkins, Solomon and Whittem (2003) assert that in a multicultural society it is important for nurses to consider how to preserve the individual patient’s social, cultural, spiritual, religious and ethical needs in order to help the patient understand, agree and cooperate with any planned care. There are many traditions and beliefs associated with health and illness that can alter a person’s behavior when they become ill and the nurse must seeks to understand how this may be observed in their patients (Holland, Jenkins, Solomon and Whittem 2003). This discussion has highlighted importance of cultural diversity as a priority and that it has many other faces in life. It is clear that there is a direct relationship between culture and health practices. As individuals, nurses and health care providers, we need to learn to ask questions sensitively and to show respect for different cultural beliefs. Most important, we must listen to our patients carefully. The main source of problems in caring for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds is the  lack of understanding and tolerance. Very often, neither the nurse nor the patient understands the other’s perspective. Therefore cultural diversity tests our ability to truly care for patients, to demonstrate that we are not only clinically proficient but also culturally competent, that we care. References: Bacote, C.J. (2003) Many Faces Addressing Diversity in Health Care. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (Vol. 8:1-2). Retrieved from: http://www.nursingworld.org/ojin [05.05.07]. Driscoll, J. & Yegdich, T. (2007). Practicing Clinical Supervision. A Reflective approach for health care professionals (2d ed.). Bailliere Tindall. Elsevier. Holland, K., Jenkins, J., Solomon, J. and Whittem, S., (2003). Applying the Ropper Logan. Tierney Model in Practice. Churchill Livingstone. Germov, J. (2005). Second Opinion. An Introduction to Health Sociology (3rd ed.). Oxford. Leininger, M. (1991). Transcultural nursing: the study and practice field. Imprint, 38(2), 55-66. Retrieved from: http://www.culturediversity.org [05.05.07]. Marcinkiw, K. L. (2003). Nurse Education Today. 23(3), 174-182. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedirect.com [05.05.07]. Meyer, C.R. (1996).Medicine’s melting pot .Journal for Primary Care Physicians (79:5-5). MinnMed. Singelis, T. M. (2005). Teaching about culture, Ethnicity and Diversity: Exercises and Planned Activities. London: Sage Publications. Westerman, T. (2004). The value of unique service provision for Aboriginal people- the benefits of starting from scratch. The Mental Health Services. (Sep.1-3) Conference Inc. of Australia and New Zealand.

Summary Virtual Meeting Analyzer A web application to visualize and analyze social networks emerging in group meetings by Privitera, A., Martino, F. Gamberini, L.

Summary Virtual Meeting Analyzer A web application to visualize and analyze social networks emerging in group meetings by Privitera, A., Martino, F. Gamberini, L. This article details the aspects of a Virtual Meeting Analyzer. This is an upcoming web application that can be used to analyze the dynamics of a social meeting. According to the article, evaluating the social networks that result from meetings could help in improving communication in social meetings.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Summary: â€Å"Virtual Meeting Analyzer: A web application to visualize and analyze social networks emerging in group meetings† by Privitera, A., Martino, F. Gamberini, L. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the article notes that there are many complexities involved in this process (Privitera, Martino Gamberini, 2012). The Virtual Meeting Analyzer (VMA) is a web application that is modeled to overcome such complexities. The article begins by noting that prior to VMA social meetings were analyzed using arcs and nodes. The nodes in this case represent the social agents whil e the arcs represent the nodes’ interrelationships. According to the article, social network analysis is currently used in psychological research activities. For instance, it can be used to monitor social groups or initiate organizational interventions. VMA simplifies the analysis of small social meetings of less than thirty participants. There is no expertise in social network analysis or computer science that is required when using VMA. Other software programs that were previously used for this task did not have this element of simplicity. These programs also incorporated manual coding and this left room for errors. According to the article, VMA has four modules. Each of these four modules corresponds with the activity being performed. The four modules include configuration, recording, meeting creation, and temporal analysis. The meeting creation module allows the user to create a new meeting or load a previous one. The configuration module accounts for characteristics of t he meeting’s environment. The recording module allows the user to record all the communication events in a meeting. This module is instantaneous.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The temporal analysis module provides a temporary description of the social network. When the network develops, the temporal analysis module updates these developments. The article then outlines the considerations that were made during the development of the VMA web application program. The most important developmental consideration was that VMA could be accessed through any internet-enabled device. The article continues by claiming that VMA web applications can work with a wide range of browsers (Borgatti, Everett Freeman, 2001). The next part of the article details the application’s evaluation. According to the article, the evaluation’s main objective was meant to prove that VMA could be used by users with no technical background. The evaluation was conducted using two different scenarios to guarantee effectiveness. In the first scenario, a VMA user was presented with thirty-five questions. The questions investigated the device’s navigability, design, visibility, comprehensibility, and error handling. This second scenario investigated the effectiveness of the application’s inner workings. The article notes that both evaluations revealed positive feedback from the participants. Among the highest rated components of VMA included the application’s meeting creation and participant positioning modules. In the second scenario, participants were able to discover who the leader of the network was using VMA. The results of the evaluations have since been used to develop updates for the application. The article continues to note that most of these updates will focus on the interoperability between the application and web browsers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Summary: â€Å"Virtual Meeting Analyzer: A web application to visualize and analyze social networks emerging in group meetings† by Privitera, A., Martino, F. Gamberini, L. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The article concludes by posting the results of the evaluation conducted through the questionnaire. The replies for most of the thirty-five questions asked were positive. Impact of VMA on Psychological Research VMA technology is used as a tool of social network analysis. Social network analysis (SNA) is one of the methods used in psychological research. SNA was first used as a research methodology in 1989 (Fogg Tseng, 1999). Before that, a book published in 1934 touted for SNA’s inclusion in the research methodologies regimen. VMA represents the current trend that uses SNA methodology. The tool employs the latest technological advancements especially the advent of high-speed i nternet. VMA will have quite a significant impact on how research is conducted in the psychology field. Most of the existing SNA tools feature backdated technology that does not match the current trends. VMA is the exception to this trend. VMA will feature simplified architecture that will simplify research activities. Currently, most psychological research is not funded by external sources. This means that most psychologists have to fund their own projects (Martino, Spagnolli Gamberini, 2009). Therefore, VMA is going to assist researchers in cutting research costs. The tool also cuts back on the number of personnel required to undertake a research project.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, the tool does not require researchers to engage in further training. All these aspects are cost cutting and this could translate to more research projects in the future. For instance, the above article takes note of the ease of operation that comes with the new VMA. Another aspect of VMA that will affect research is its efficiency. According to research conducted on the VMA, it was discovered that the tool is over three times more efficient than its viable alternative. This translates into reliable research findings because of the reduced incidences of human error. The tool also includes several new components that will make researchers’ work easy. For example, VMA allows users to add notes, new participants, and even modify the content of earlier notes (Cross, Borgatti Parker, 2002). VMA is a trending research tool in psychological research. Over the next few months, its impact will start being felt. The tool will simplify current research and open avenues for futuristic research. List of References Borgatti, P., Everett, G. Freeman, C. (2001). UCINET V Network Analysis Software  Manual. Harvard, MA: Analytic Technologies. Cross, R., Borgatti, P. Parker, A. (2002). Making Invisible work visible: using social network analysis to support strategic collaboration. California  Management Review, 44(2), 25-46. Fogg, J. Tseng, S. (1999). Credibility and computing technology.  Communications of the ACM, 42(5), 39-44. Martino, F., Spagnolli, A. Gamberini, L. (2009). Presence in the age of social networks: augmenting mediated environments with feedback on group activity. Virtual Reality, 13(3), 183-194. Privitera, A., Martino, F. Gamberini, L. (2012). Virtual Meeting Analyzer: A Web application to visualize and analyze social networks emerging in group meetings. PsychNology Journal, 10(1), 39-51.

Chemicals That Could Make You Fail a TSA Swab Test

Chemicals That Could Make You Fail a TSA Swab Test If youre flying, you may get pulled aside by a TSA agent for a swab test. Also, your baggage may get swabbed. The purpose of the test is to check for chemicals that might be used as explosives. The test cant check for all the chemicals that might be used by terrorists, so it looks for two sets of compounds that can be used to make many types of bombs: nitrates and glycerin. The good news is the test is highly sensitive. The bad news is, nitrates and glycerin are found in some harmless everyday products, so you could test positive.   Getting swabbed doesnt seem to be particularly random. For example, some people get swabbed nearly every time they fly. This may be because theyve tested positive before (possibly related to a penchant for making smoke bombs and other small pyrotechnics) or because they meet some other criteria. Just expect to be swabbed and be prepared. Heres a list of common chemicals that may cause you to test positive. Avoid them or else be ready to explain the test result, because it can take a while for TSA to complete its evaluation of your belongings, which can translate into a missed flight. Common Products That Test Positive Hand soaps that contain glycerin (Rinse very thoroughly after washing your hands.)Lotions that contain glycerinCosmetics or hair products, which may contain glycerinBaby wipes, which may contain glycerinCertain medications (such as nitroglycerin and other nitrates)Lawn fertilizers (Nitrates: Wash your hands and especially your shoes.)MunitionsAccelerantsFireworks and other pyrotechnics What to Do If Youre Flagged Avoid becoming hostile and aggressive. It wont speed the process. Youre likely going to get patted down by an agent of the same gender who will also empty your bag for additional testing. Theres a chance your luggage may get pulled, although this rarely happens; its also unlikely that you will miss a flight because of the test. Be aware of chemicals in your environment and able to trace your steps to help TSA identify the source of the triggering compound. Sometimes you wont have any idea why you flagged the test. But, careful attention to hygiene may help you avoid the situation. The best advice is to arrive early enough before your flight to get through security. Try to avoid the problem, plan for it, and dont overreact if it happens to you.

Federal Bailout Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Federal Bailout - Research Paper Example With these higher unemployment numbers and the fear amongst those in the banking industry, more and more restrictions were placed upon the opportunity to guarantee new credit to consumers, while the already issued credit lines were at risk of being defaulted on. As a way to intervene in the matter, the federal government would seek to purchase existing debt from major banks, in the hopes of creating more room for new growth. Like anything else the government seeks to do, their plan for the banking industry would have its supporters, along with its vocal naysayers. With a considerable amount at stake going into the Presidential election of 2008, it would become important for both candidates to respond in their own ways, to the legislation that was being proposed by their fellow elected representatives and such legislation, that would be signed into law by the very man that each candidate was hoping to replace come November 2008. At the beginning of debate towards the end of the third quarter in 2008, the initial proposers of such action, would be then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and current Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. This action would see support from both men, the White House, along with both Presidential candidates and the Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill. Considerable opposition to the plan itself, would come from many Republicans, who felt it would be too much government control. In this case, â€Å"The first proposal for a sweeping bailout of financial institutions came at the height of the panic in mid-September, 2008. Mr. Paulson, with the backing of Mr. Bernanke, asked Congress for $700 billion to use to buy up mortgage-backed securities whose value had dropped sharply or had become impossible to sell, in what he called the Trouble Asset Relief Program, or TARP. As originally outlined, the

HRA335; Mod. 8 - Case Study- Hiring FBI Agents Essay

HRA335; Mod. 8 - Case Study- Hiring FBI Agents - Essay Example The implementation of multiple hurdle approach is most pertinent when the training activities are considerably long and expensive owing to various types of complexities (Smith & Angie, 2011). In relation to the selection procedures in FBI, the implementation of an effective set of multiple hurdle approach can be considered as an effective technique to select and recruit appropriate as well as flawless applicants for the agent posts. With reference to case, it has been observed that the recruitment and selection of agents in FBI validates a series of assessment methods while making any hiring decisions. In this regard, the implementation of an effective multiple hurdle approach will enable the department to recruit successfully, as the job roles of the agent involves various types of uncertain situations associated with different criminal activities (Phillips & Gully, 2012). However, the implementation of the approach also identified to pose certain limitations, as applicants might not qualify in each step of the assessment consecutively. The lengthy process in the assessment approach may lead to create negative attitude and behavioral characteristics of applicants due to a number of hurdles in the selection process. The selection technique in the multiple hurdle assessment approach tends to involve a wide number of assessment activities. The primary objectives of the selection approach is to clearly identify the capability of applicants in terms of managing capabilities or their ability to make effective decisions concerning various types of uncertain situations. In this regard, the approach involves multiple phases in selection procedure prior to make final hiring decisions of the applicants for any specified job roles (Smith & Angie, 2011). According to the observation of the case, it can be ascertained that the selection process in FBI involves a number of stages

The Age of Innocence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Age of Innocence - Essay Example He applies the brakes at the last minute. Among the early indications given that Archer may just defy social conventions and give in to the dictates of his heart are the kind of thoughts that run through his mind in New York as he prepares for the meeting with Ellen Olenska in Paris. This is a pivotal scene in the story, which puts Archer on a crossroad: Should he continue to live according to the strict moral code of his society, alone and unloved? Or will he dare these social tenets and be united and happy with his one true love, never mind if the tongue of society which looks down on Ellen as â€Å"different† keep wagging? Anyway, they could live in Paris if the situation calls for it. Part of Archer’s heart says the latter is the better option, since the thoughts of Ellen has persistently troubled him for most of the past 30 years and prevented him from forming liaison with any other women since his wife May died. The conditions now seem right for this decision, too. Archer’s son Dallas, who brings him to Paris for the meeting with Ellen, encourages his father to do it. Dallas confesses that before his mother May died, she told him how she knew that Archer married her with a broken heart and suggested that Dallas help his father reunite with Ellen when she is gone. This revelation only makes a renewed relationship with Ellen more attractive because Archer knows then that in so doing he would not be violating the memory of his wife May. In short, everything is set for Archer and Ellen to end up in each other’s arms. When at last Archer is in Paris about to meet Ellen, he is thus described as feeling â€Å"his heart beating with the confusion and eagerness of youth.† Meanwhile, Ellen herself is shown to be receptive to the love-is-lovelier-the-second-time-around idea as she waits â€Å"a few streets away, a few hours away,† thinking: â€Å"There was nothing now to keep her and her Archer

The different ways of researching Essay Example for Free

The different ways of researching Essay You should use this file to complete your Assessment. The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a disk Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference Then, go to HYPERLINK http://www.vision2learn.com www.vision2learn.com and send your completed Assessment to your tutor via your My Study area – make sure it is clearly marked with your name, the course title and the Unit and Assessment number. Please note that this Assessment document has 8 pages and is made up of 7 Sections. Name: Section 1 – Know the employment rights and responsibilities of the employee and employer 1. Identify four main points that would be included in a contract of employment. If possible, use an example contract to support your answer (feel free to obscure any confidential information). employees name place of work hours of work sick leave 2a) List three key points of legislation that affect employers in a business environment. Health and safety Data protection Contractual employment rights 2b) List three key points of legislation that affect employees in a business environment. pensions the equality The Working Time Regulations 3. Identify a range of places where a person can find information on employment rights and responsibilities. You should identify at least two internal and two external sources of information. internal-line managers -informed coleagues -Books and documents held within the organisation -P -Legal professionals ersonnel specialists external-Libraries -Business Link -Citizens Advice Bureau -Educational establishments 4. Describe how representative bodies can support employees. the best knowns support representative bodies are trade unions they suport emplyees by training,informing them protecting theyr rights 5. Identify employer and employee responsibilities for equality and diversity in a business environment. You should give at least two employer responsibilities and two employee responsibilities. If possible, provide relevant equality and diversity procedures from your workplace (or place of study) to support your answer. These documents should be annotated to highlight the relevant sections. Employer must ensure that line managers appreciate diversity and aplly fair treatment to all employees disregard color,race,religion.Employers must  always look for the positive attributes that people may bring to a situation. Employees have to be polite,respect the other people around him,must be willing to learn about people who are different,work with with them and treat them equal Employers and Employees have responsabilities to each other,they should also expect theyr rights to be upheld. 6. Explain the benefits of making sure equality and diversity procedures are followed in a business environment. Your answer should include one benefit for the employer, one benefit for the employee and one benefit for the overall organisation. it will benefit for the employer that the organisation is more likely to attract talented people who want to progress, the employee can learn new things be more productive in a happy enviroment,the organisation may learn new things as well from people and can become more productive. Section 2 – Understand the purpose of health, safety and security procedures in a business environment 1a. Identify employer and employee responsibilities for health and safety. The health and safety at work act set out responsabilities and right for both employees and employers.Employers are expected to abide by a range of requirements governing such aspects as providing safe machinery and equipment and carry out regular health and safety chechs.Employers must make sure the employees are trained in health and safety issues.there are responsabilities such as the expectation to work in a safe way and to have regard for the safety of work colleagues. 1b. Identify employer and employee responsibilities for security. If possible, provide relevant health, safety and security policies / documents from your workplace (or place of study) to support your answer. These documents should be annotated to highlight the relevant sections. Employers must highlight safety policies for lone and late night workers,business travelers and cash handlers,train staff in safety. Employees need to have respect for security procedures to allow thouse procedures to be effective,employees shoud make it a point to attend all security training classes and to be ready to use security procedures at all time. Employers are responsible for any visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public. Employers have responsibilities to ensure the employees personal details are respected and properly protected. Keep the personal information obtained secure; it should not normally be disclosed to another organisation without the individual’s consent. If employers are going to verify the information a person provides, make sure they know how this will be done and what information will be checked. Ensure that those who have access to employment records are aware that data protection rules apply and that personal information must be handled with respect. Employers are responsible for any visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public. Employers must give employees information about the risks in the workplace and how they are protected, also instruct and train them on how to deal with the risks. 2. Explain the purpose of following health, safety and security procedures in a business environment. The benefits of working in a healthy and safe environment is that you are less likely to risk your personel welface at work,reducing the risks and hazards in your workplace helps contribute towards this.Folowing the procedures also prevent injuries and illness to self or others. 3. Describe three different ways of maintaining a safe and secure business environment. Promptly report to the appropriate person when someone is wrong or may have a potential for causing harm but the individual cannot correct it. Being willing to take practical actions to ensure the wellbeing of yourself and others. Remaining alert,not being under the infuence of alcohol or drugs. Section 3 – Understand how to communicate effectively with others 1. Describe three different methods of communication. You should include two verbal, two non-verbal and two written methods of communication. Face to face discutions,presentations to small or large group. Facial expression,gesture,body language and posture Texting,email. for small businesses that don’t have offices, important meetings discussions of goals for the coming year or regular planning sessions should be done face-to-face. Employee evaluations should always be conducted in person. Job interviews also require face-to-face discussions, examples of written comunication by email can be sale reports,the advantage is that on the email can be added files or documents, texts comunications,well these days texts comunications is beeing used in abusive way by teenagers in stead of meeting comunicating whit people next to them,prefer texting. text comunication is good for sending to some onedetails of a adresse,a quiq list of thinks(shoppings maybe),a quiq notification that the meeting is still on. non-verbal messages allow people to reinforce or modify what is said in words. For example, people may nod their heads vigorously when saying Yes to emphasise that they agree with the other person, but a shrug of the shoulders and a sad expression when saying Im fine thanks,† may imply that things are not really fine at all 2. Using two specific examples, explain how to choose the most appropriate method of communication to meet your needs and the needs of others. for sending someone document what are needed quickly it can be done by email,is a fast instant way to send document inneed for someone who can even be in a diferent country. if is realy important and for boosting the eficiency of the mesage in stead of sending email all day can meet face to face,this tipe of comication can boost creativity.also face to face comunication is good for people who struggle with written comunication. 3. Describe at least two ways of actively listening. Provideing feedback to the speaker,focus on details,try to keep eye contact at all time. Section 4 – Understand how to work with and support colleagues 1. Explain the purpose of agreeing standards for your own work. Give at least two reasons. by agreeing the work standards ,everyone knows what is expected from them and people around them.people need work standards so they work more effectively together. 2. Explain the purpose of taking on new challenges and being able to adapt to change at work. If u are wiling to take new challenges you are more valuable to organisation.is important to adapt if we what to advance with an organisation.employees who resist or deny changes may no longer fit in with the business,in longer term it can result in people losing their jobs. The benefit for the employee is that the organisation excel at performing tasks and improve efficiency,sales grows and profit,can reduce prices,organisation can grow and hire new staff. 3. Explain the purpose of treating others with honesty and consideration. Treating other with honesty and respect as u expect to be treated gives a greater willingness to co-operate,work harder and help coleagues,also less arguments,complains.people become more motivated,energised and enjoy theyr work. Section 5 – Know how to plan own work and be accountable to others 1. Explain the purpose of meeting work standards and deadlines when completing tasks in a business environment. Is important to mantain work standards and meet deadlines in a business environment so that customers and clients get the products and service they espected.without standards being met there wil be inefficineties and delays,this can be very damaging to the organisation. 2. Identify two different methods that you can use to plan your own work in a business environment. Prioritiseing the work by urgent/not urgent and the importance of the work Deliver on time,and make sure your plan is flexible for when changes occur. 3. Describe ways of keeping other people informed about progress and compare their effectiveness. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each approach? Reporting to the manager about the outcome of a project can be written, detailed report as well as face-to-face meeting, depending on the complexity of the report and the time frame Face to face-personal,detailed,however they can be time consuming. If you need to be in more than one place in a very short space of time Memos-short notes are concise, down to the essentials,lack detail and can be vague,lack security. Section 6 – Understand the purpose of improving own performance in a business environment and how to do so 1. Explain the purpose of continuously improving your performance in a business environment. Improveing your performance help you to get better at the job and produce improved results,more likely to have the oportuniti to advance in an organisation,more likely to recieve training and promotions,continuasly improveing the performance have a positive impact on a persons long-term career prospect. 2. Describe at least two ways of improving your performance at work. Where relevant, illustrate your answer with specific examples from your own experience. can emprove your performance by learning from your mistakes,observing others can also learn from performance reviews. From own experience a mistake done once is better to learn from it and not repeat it,observing others the way they work,siting at theyr desk not doing nothing  all day and somedays just bits of work,in time the employer dont need them any more as they are not a benefit for the company.looking backward from were u started as small,and were u are now,things that helped u in this time,things that u will be needing in the future or proper training what u probably soud have done long time ago it can maybe caled a learn from mistakes or from performance reviews. From all my experience best examples of improving my self was leaving the company what was not using my skills,to a better company what needed a person with my skills,and second get better training in business and administration,so i can learn about it be better and maybe go higher. 3. Identify at least two different types of career pathways or options that may be available to you. one of the carrier i can opt is stay were i am and advance as a team leader,i am qualified for it,have the experience,people know me and respect me. second will like to get the right training in business and management and customer relations,ang look for another job,better payd,new chalange,new people to meet,as a customer service to a maybe a small company is a good place to start for building the experience. Section 7 – Understand the types of problems that may occur in a business environment and how to deal with them 1. Identify at least two different types of problems that can occur in a business environment. Equipment failure. Supplies not arriving on time. A colleague is absent or is to slow on his work and have to wait for him. 2. Describe at least two specific problems that can occur at work and explain how they can be dealt with. Equipment failure,depending how complex and sofisticated is the equipment an employees can try to solve the problem it self if he is qualified using his knowledge and experience,ask a more experience coleague,if the problem it can not be solved must inform a senior manager as soon as posible. Supplies not arrivining on time need to inform a senior manager as soon as posible. 3. List at least two problems you are able to deal with yourself and two problems you would need to refer to others to deal with. Explain how and when you would refer these problems to others. Supplies arive and need to be mooved out from the delivery truk in to the storage area quik is not finished by lunch can work true the lunch breake and complete the task your self. If working on a forklift and it breake down need to contact a manager as is need a qualified personel to repair the machine. Once you have completed all 7 Sections of this Assessment, go to HYPERLINK

Abolishing the Death Penalty Essay -- Capital Punishment Justice Essay

Abolishing the Death Penalty When taking a human life in response to a crime, a state is acting on behalf of all of its citizens. Capital punishment is an expensive procedure with permanent ramifications. It is therefore very important that the matter of capital punishment be seriously reconsidered. In order to protect all of America's citizens, I recommend that congress approve a constitutional amendment that reads: The states and the federal government shall not under any circumstances execute anyone. All prisoners currently under sentence of death shall have the right to a new trial. The reasons for such an amendment include the inherent immorality of capital punishment, its inconsistent application and its unjustified costs. The moral foundations followed today by nearly every nation were laid in 1949. With the horrors of World War II fresh in the minds of every government, nearly all of the world's nations sent delegates to San Francisco and formed the United Nations General Assembly to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These rights, it was reasoned, "are inherent in every human being. They are not privileges that may be granted by governments for good behavior and they may not be withdrawn for bad behavior" (Amnesty International 1). Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads, "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." This right to life cannot be abridged by any government because the treaty states it is one of the "inalienable rights of all members of the human family." Furthermore, Article 5 declares that no person shall be subjected to "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." It is not difficult to assume that killing someone is regarde d as degrading... ...Evolving Context of the Post-Furman Era." 1988. Social Forces: vol. 66. Porter, Phil. The Economics of Capital Punishment. 1998. <http://www.mindspring.com/~philporter/econ.html> Scalia, Antonin. A Call for reckoning: Religion and the death Penalty. Speech delivered 25 Jan. 2002. Sherrill, Robert. "Death Trip: The American Way of Execution." The Nation. 8 Jan. 2001. Thompson v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 815. 1988. Trombley, S. The Execution Protocol: Inside America's Capital Punishment Industry. New York: Crown Publishers, 1992. U.S. Bishops. "Statement on Capital Punishment." Nov. 1980. <http://www.osjspm.org/cst/cappun.htm> 21 Feb. 2003. U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. Capital Punishment 2001. 2001. <http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/cp01.txt> Weisberg, J. "This is Your Death," The New Republic, July 1, 1991.

Goddesses of the Middle East Essay

The mythical legends surrounding the Goddesses of the Middle East date back to around 2500 B. C and form a part of some of the earliest recorded literature about ancient civilizations. These legends centre around the Divine Entities worshipped and revered in various sub regions in what was once known as the Ancient Near East but today is known as the Middle East. Though the religious beliefs in these regions were distinctive and each Civilization followed their own Gods and Goddesses most of these divine entities reacted to human conditions and were a product of the cultures that created them. As these cultures evolved over time, so did the Gods and Goddesses who protected and created them. Some of the prominent religions and civilizations who’s Divine Entities were revered and worshipped in the region known as the Ancient Near East includes: (Gordon 1965) †¢ Assyro-Babylonian religion followed in most of Mesopotamia include Sumer, Assyria, Akkad †¢ Ancient Egyptian religion followed in Ancient Egypt †¢ Canaanite religion followed in most of the Levant region including Canaan, Ugarit, Ebla, Mitanni †¢ Hittite, and Hurrian Religions originating in Anatolia and followed by the Hittite Empire including Assuwa, Arzawa †¢ Minoan religion followed by the Minoan civilization including Cyprus and Crete among others. The goddess in early classical mythology has traditionally played the role of a creator. She is believed to have existed before everything and has been credited with creating both heaven and earth as well as giving birth to both other gods and subsequently to human beings. In nearly all early civilizations the Goddess symbolized noble and basic concepts such as birth, death, honour, and justice. She was revered for her divine beauty and also for protecting her husband and children. While the male gods were relegated the duties of guarding the underworld, it was the goddesses who were given the responsibilities of providing comfort and standing guard over the dead until they were given a funeral and send to the underworld. Most of the civilizations depicted above sprung up around great rivers in the Middle east including, the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, and Ganges. The presence of these rivers nourished a rich agricultural landscape and provided sustenance to agricultural gave civilizations which were predominantly matriarchal societies. (Sasson 1995) These civilizations were heavily influenced by both the blessings and ravages of nature. The rivers that they depended upon for sustenance would both give them abundant crops and wreck immense havoc and destruction in the form of devastating floods. People in these civilizations believed that there was a link between their lives and the pattern of birth –maturity death and re-birth that they observed in the plants and animals around them. The religious beliefs of most of these civilizations compelled them to worship or hold sacred what they thought provided them life and sustenance and also protected them from ravages and destruction the importance of goddesses in the myths and religious beliefs of these civilizations reflected this. The myths and legendary tales of powerful beautiful goddesses who had magical powers and controlled the various forces of nature helped t the people of these ancient civilizations understand the mysteries that pervaded their existence, birth, death, seasons, floods, harvests and drought all made so much more sense when they believed that there was a Supreme or Divine Deity who controlled it all and who they could appease through worship and prayer. In most of these matriarchal societies, this supreme deity was the Great Mother Goddess, who personified all the blessings and peculiarities of Mother Earth. Though there are countless Goddesses who were revered and worshiped in the ancient civilizations of the Middle East the most popular and common ones who were personified in the role of being creators, sustainers and the universal source of nourishment include(Christ 1998) Asherah –This is one of the names of the Sacred Goddess worshiped by the ancient Semitic Civilizations. Other names of this Great Goddess include Goddess of the Tree of Life, Goddess of the Grove. Wet-nurse of the gods. among many others This Goddess worshiped widely in Canaanite religion followed in most of the Levant region was symbolized by a multi branched tree and considered the very force of life that could be found in flocks of cattle and among groves of trees. This Goddess was often worshipped before childbirth and at planting time to grant sustenance. In popular mythology Asherah sometimes appears as curly-haired Goddess riding a sacred lion often holding lilies. Ishtar: Another very famous and popular Babylonian Goddess often known as Light of the World. Righteous judge, Forgiver of Sins and the Framer of all decrees are also few of her other roles and names that she was worshipped by. This Great Goddess is often depicted in breast-offering pose and is also known as the Mother of the fruitful breast. Inanna – was a very powerful Sumerian Goddess who was believed to provide earth with its source of life-water. Often called the Source of the Earth’s life blood it was believed by the ancient civilizations that this Goddess filled the wells, rivers and springs of the land with her own blood Isis- a very popular and powerful Goddess worshipped by the Ancient Egyptians Isis is perhaps the most famous of all Ancient Middle Eastern Goddesses. Some sources claim that her name means: â€Å"She of throne,† while other sources imply that her name means: â€Å"She of flesh. † Isis’s was revered for using her powers of magic and healing to help humanity Ashnan – She was the ancient Sumerian Goddess of Grain who controlled agricultural sustenance for the civilizations that worshipped her. Belit-Ilani – Worshipped by the ancient Babylonian this Goddess was often held in esteem as the Mistress of the gods. In popular depictions she is portrayed as a woman bearing baby on her left arm and blessing a child with her left. Anath – Worshipped by Canaanites, Amorites, Syrians, Egyptians, Hebrews and the Phoenicians. This Goddess symbolized the strength of Life and was the Queen of Heaven and also the Mistress of all the Gods. Anatu – She was the Great Mesopotamian Goddess, often considered the Ruler of the Earth and Queen of the Sky. Chaabou – was held in high reverence by the Semitic religion and relegated as Earth Mother responsible for sustenance and nourishment. Achamoth – Worshipped by the Early Gnostic Christians. She was the Mother Goddess, who was responsible for giving birth and was the effective creator of the material universe, Deborah – was the Sacred Goddess worshiped frequently in the Mycenae and Anatolia regions often identified with the Tree of Life. Erua – was the Babylonian Goddess often revered as the Queen of Heaven. She was responsible for controlling the birth of all creatures big and small in her land. Gula – was another popular Babylonian Great Goddess who was also known as the Fate Goddess and the Great Doctor who was believed to cure any kind of sickness or ailment . Lahmu- a famous Goddess in Akkadian mythology, who is considered to be the mother of â€Å"Anshar and Kishar,† who are credited to have fathered the first Gods of that great ancient civilization. Persian mythology which also plays a part of ancient Middle Eastern Mythology also held the Goddess. â€Å"Rudaba† in great esteem. This Goddess gave birth to â€Å"Rostam,† the greatest hero in Persian mythology. † Derceto –was the Babylonian Sea Goddess also known as the Goddess of Justice. Kadi –was a Babylonian Goddess believed to have the body of a Serpent and the head and breasts of a Woman. Mari –was revered as the Mother Sea, who gave birth to the gods, Shebat was worshipped as the Mesopotamian Moon Goddess responsible for bringing night after day. Tirgata – was revered as Fish Goddess of Syria who controlled the sea and all life within it As these Civilization evolved so did the role of their gods and goddesses. By 2400 B. C religious and devotional practices began to change as aggressive tribes with strong beliefs in worshipping a supreme male god began to invade the matriarchal communities whose supreme diets were Goddesses . New myths developed in which these goddesses were made evil, slain or made inferior to the patriarchal god of the conquerors. The goal in creating these myths was to defame and to dethrone the goddess from her traditional role of Creator and sustainers and to give this role to a new generation of patriarchal warrior Gods who ruled the world through valour and heroic endeavour. As a direct consequence the role of the Goddess in the Patriarchal societies underwent a change from being a loving supreme deity to a vengeful, spiteful Entity who had to be either slain or made subordinate to the male gods in order to control her powers. Many Ancient Babylonian and Mesopotamian Goddesses who were once revered as the Source of Life and Sustenance was discredited slain or made subordinate to a new patriarchal male warrior God. (Christ 1998) One example of how ancient myths of Goddesses changed in patriarchal societies is the legend of the Mesopotamian divinity Tiamat. Revered by the ancient Sumero-Babylonian civilization as a Serpent Goddess of the Watery Abyss a Mother, from whose formless body the Universe was born. She was believed to nourish all life and rule the ocean. Tiamat, in her role as Mother Goddess and Mother Earth, reflected the matriarchal civilization that created her. (Christ 1998) In a patriarchal society the role of Tiamat and the legend surrounding her changes drastically. According to these new myths The Goddess once credited with the creation of the Universe is upset when her husband Appu is slain and decides to destroy what she has created. She gives birth to a race of evil monsters to help in her quest. Together the Goddess and her army of monsters wreck chaos and havoc on all around them. There is no one who can stop Tiamat until Marduk accepts the challenge. In violent battle, Marduk manages to wedge open the mouth of the serpent goddess and fill it with winds of a horrible storm. While the serpent goddess is distracted he slains her by cutting her womb. After killing the Goddess the patriarch warrior feels glorified. He then desecrates the womb that previous mythologies and civilizations revered as the Source of All Life. The myth ends by establishing that the supreme deity is now male and that he and his cohorts of warrior Gods will now be responsible for protecting the civilization. In a patriarchal society the role of the God is relegated from giving birth and nurturing traditionally seen as motherly tasks to being the protector traditionally seen as fatherly tasks The roles of the goddesses in these societies were reduced to subservient status In the new patriarchal civilization, the myths regarding the Goddesses were recreated and often retold till they achieved credibility and became part of a new folklore designed to promote the religion of the new civilization. In this fashion countless legendary myths depicting the creative, nurturing and forgiving nature of the female goddesses were desecrated and in their place grew new myths propounding their evil deeds. In many of these myths the goddess is first discredited and then engaged in battle with the patriarch God. At the end the Patriarch God achieves victory over the Goddess and she is either slain or looses her powers. Another myth which was refashioned along these lines was that of Hathor an Ancient Egyptian Goddess. Hathor, in Ancient Egyptian mythology was revered as the goddess responsible for evoking emotions such as joy, love, dance and song. (Christ 1998) She is fabled to have provided her own nurturing milk to the living and also carried the dead to the underworld. But somewhere in mythology the Hathor who is revered for her very instincts of Love and joy is also painted as a demon that wrecks death and destruction on Humanity. Acting on the directives of the sun god, Ra, who was under the impression that some of his subjects were planning to Kill him Hathor was sent on a mission to destroy the plotters Hathor who also manifested herself in the guise of a lioness known as Sekhmet, attacked all the plotters killing them instantly. Ra was forced to intervene to stop the bloodshed by tricking Sekhmet into believing that she had killed a lot of people so by pouring a massive amount of pomegranate coloured liquid over the battlefield . Sekhmet mistook the liquid for blood stopped the slaughter and transformed back into her goddess form of Hathor. It is ironic in the least to observe that in cultures where the feminine spirit has always been seen as nurturing, loving and creative the role of goddesses of mythology is associated with evil deeds. Perhaps these mythologies have been restructured to assimilate in Patriarchal Societies where the god is associated with social order and discipline. But regardless of their role in mythology many famous Goddesses of the Middle East continue to live in popular imaginations even though the religions and cults associated with them have now been banished. Though the Middle East is now home to new religions such as Christianity Judaism and Islam and the age of idol worship and plural Gods is over, these deities have become part of the common folklore. The Worship of these Goddesses may now be defunct but their legend lives on and continues to pervade subsequent cultural practices in these regions. Works Cited Gordon, Cyrus. The Ancient Near East, 3rd Edition, Revised. W. W. Norton and Company, Inc. , New York, 1965. Christ Carol: Rebirth of the Goddess: Finding Meaning in Feminist Spirituality Routledge; 1st edition 1998 James. E. O. The Ancient Gods: The History and Diffusion of Religion in the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean, 1960. Sasson Jack: Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1995. Morton Smith, The Common Theology of the Ancient near East, Journal of Biblical Literature 1952.