The Truman Show Essay - 764 Words

The Truman Show Utopia - A perfect world. Trumans world was an utopia. Everything, including the weather, was controlled in a huge Hollywood dome. Truman grew up having no idea he was being watched every hour of the day, and that every step he took was being viewed by millions all over the globe. As the show progressed, it became clear how much media influenced Trumans life, and also how Christof played a huge role in Trumans well-being. First, the influence of media affects our lives in many ways. As The Truman Show ran 24/7, there were no commercials. Therefore, the show had to generate an income by advertising products to the viewers. For example, when Trumans wife showed off her recent purchase, a Chef Pal, she†¦show more content†¦Everything in Seahaven was operated by machines and computers. These computers were basically controlled my Christofs orders. Early in his life, Truman was traumatized by his fathers death at sea. He grew up thinking it was his fault. Because of Christofs planning of the death, Truman was always scared of water. The only way off of Seahaven was by boat, therefore Christof knew he would be able to keep Truman under his control. Christof also did a good job of increasing his audience numbers. When viewers saw the heart-felt moment of Truman reuniting with his father years later, the number of viewers increased. Christof made the scene stand out by changing camera ang les and playing background music. In addition, since Truman wanted to make his way to Fiji, Christof strategically planned different events in order to slow Truman down so he wouldnt leave the island. An example of this is when Truman went to purchase a plane ticket, but the flights were all sold out for over a month. Also, when the bus he was going to ride broke down. This proves that Christof manipulated Truman for his own purpose. Christof controlled everything in Trumans life from the weather to who Truman was going to spend his life with. All these points prove how Truman was being used for Christofs benefit; to increase the shows ratings and to gain an income. TheShow MoreRelated The Truman Show Essay904 Words   |  4 Pages The Truman Show is a film which has been developed through a range of images. Peter Weir has creatively directed a film portraying the media and its impact on society. Within this film we see the effectiveness of techniques, which include camera angles, framing, shot types, camera movement, style of music, costuming and sequencing. By using a range of different techniques Weir is able to create emotive images and portray three different worlds to the audience. Image is everything in today’s societyRead MoreEssay on The Truman Show3520 Words   |  15 Pages The Truman Show is the story of a baby who is bought by a television company at birth. He becomes the star of the television programme, but he has no idea that his life is being filmed. All the people in his life, such as his wife, best friend, and colleagues are actors. There are no set scripts. There are three different worlds shown in the film: Trumans world, the producers world, and the real world when we see the viewers watching the programme in the homes. Read MoreEssay on Truman Show608 Words   |  3 PagesThe Truman Show Manipulation and delusion are at the heart of the movie The Truman Show. Carefully crafted, this movie portrays television and its producers as producing a fake environment with a â€Å"real person† designed to appeal to the American masses. The smooth packaging lulls the audience into being in on the joke, but perhaps the joke is on the audience to even sit through the almost two hours of bland entertainment. In fact, the story of Truman Burbank is small town boring, takingRead MoreTruman Show and Pleasantville Essay2023 Words   |  9 PagesThe Truman Show and Pleasantville essay Satire is defined as biting wit, irony or sarcasm used to expose vice or folly. Many literary or theatrical and cinematic works have these qualities. They make ridicule of any fault or foolish act in society, often in the form of comedy. In the films The Truman Show and Pleasantville, satire is used to portray many faults as well as different aspects of modern society. Cinematography is the art or technique of movie photography, including both the shootingRead More 1984 And The Truman Show Essay873 Words   |  4 Pages1984, by George Orwell, and the film The Truman Show, directed by Peter Wier, the readers and viewers are presented with a negative utopian society. A negative utopian society is a perfect world that somewhere has gone wrong. The controllers in the novel and film succeeded in achieving complete control and power, which was their attempt to make the ideal society. Each controller has a different threat, in 1984 it is association while in the film, The Truman Show, it i s separation from the outside worldRead MoreAnalyzing the Truman Show Essay760 Words   |  4 PagesAnalyzing the Truman Show One physical feature of Seahaven that reeks of a movie-set, is the disorder or absence of, that typical life indubitably suffers from. Everything from the dog to the cars, the window cleaner to the mother pushing the pram is set by the director Christoff on a preset course round and round their particular area or doing the same job over and over again. This prevents any chaos from erupting and wipes out the need for policemen, which we obviouslyRead MoreReality and the Movie The Truman Show Essay example1038 Words   |  5 PagesThe reality of the world and the truth of it is questioned everyday, especially when something goes wrong. This is shown in the Truman show, when Truman finally starts to question the reality of the world and the truth of the people that surrounds him. So we need to ask to following questions to understand what the film is essentially about. Firstly, do we agree with the statement- We accept the reality of the world which we are presented? Secondly, what messages is the director trying to give usRead MoreTruman Show: Ethical or Unethical? Essay1547 Words   |  7 Pageswhat if this perfect life was a lie and the story of your life was actually a TV show? That is the life of Truman Burbank, who was born and raised on a set his entire life without any knowledge of it. So the question is asked: is Trumans lifestyle an abuse of human rights? Two characters a rise to form two sides of the argument. Christof is the creator/producer/director of The Truman Show and has watched over Truman since before he was born. Christof believes that his actions are justified throughRead MoreEssay about 1984 and the Truman Show906 Words   |  4 Pages by George Orwell, and the film The Truman Show, directed by Peter Wier, the readers and viewers are presented with a negative utopian society. A negative utopian society is a perfect world that somewhere has gone wrong. The controllers in the novel and film succeeded in achieving complete control and power, which was their attempt to make the ideal society. Each controller has a different threat, in 1984 it is association while in the film, The Truman Show, it is separation from the outside worldRead MoreThe Truman Show vs Rear Window Essay1695 Words   |  7 PagesThe intention of this essay is to discuss both films (The Truman Show, 1998 and Rear Window, 1954) alongside established theoretical cri ticism (Laura Mulvey and Norman K. Denzin) in an attempt to demonstrate how the issues of watching and voyeurism, as seen in todays mainstream Hollywood cinema, both engages and entices the spectator and to look at how the definition of the voyeur has changed. Before entering into a discussion about voyeurism in Rear Window and The Truman Show, an understanding of

Civic Responsibility in Nursing - 699 Words

Nursing’s Civic Responsibility As young American adults turn eighteen, they are reminded that it is their civic duty and responsibility to register to vote, to be aware of the current policies and to make educated decisions in the voting booth. As some of these young adults become active in the nursing profession, they are taught that their ultimate responsibility is to advocate for their patients; they are to ensure their safety and well-being. That being said, does this responsibility stop at the bedside? Should nurses take an active role in the policy making that directly affects the healthcare of their patients? Conn and Armer (2012) stated that â€Å"nurses must be prepared to use multiple and varied strategies to influence public policy so that optimal health outcomes can be achieved† (p. 296). This statement alone implies that nursing’s responsibility extends beyond direct patient care. Unfortunately, today’s nurses have not been educated to view themselves as â€Å"policy develop ment activists† (Wolf Robinson, 2013, p. 16). In light of this statement, I took a â€Å"Political Astuteness Inventory† and was quite surprised at my score, for I could only honestly check mark 17 of the 34 statements. My 17 checkmarks are clustered mainly around my civic duty of registering to vote as well as making decisions and working collaboratively in my workplace. I do not actively participate in influencing the legislative policy makers’ decisions. â€Å"Political astuteness is defined asShow MoreRelatedCollege Of Nursing And Health Innovation1191 Words   |  5 PagesArizona State University (ASU) College of Nursing Health Innovation’s (CON) undergraduate program has ten undergraduate program completion outcomes. ASU’s outcomes are brief but concise reflecting the Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP) recommendations, nursing courses and the mission statement. The language utilized in the outcomes appropriately describes student beha viors and describe learning outcomes not processes (UCONN, n.d.). According to Davenport, Spath, and Blauvelt (2009) Read MoreNursing and Social Responsibility1468 Words   |  6 Pagesprincipals of care and justice and also motivates certain civic action. Social responsibility is â€Å"strongly linked to the values of professions in general and nursing in particular† and that â€Å"the underlying constructs of social responsibility, communication and teamwork are woven into the fabric of nursing s history and its code of ethics†(Kelley,2008). Communication, social responsibility and teamwork, are an integral part of the nursing profession. 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Nagar Nigam Gorakhpur has taken initiative in providing door-to-door collection service to its residents but only 4.6 % of the households are covered which is a very small proportion. Door to door collection service has to be provided to householdsRead MoreHealth Care Delivery Needs Provide Clinical Nurse Specialists With Unique And Interesting Daily Responsibilities1221 Words   |  5 PagesUnpredictable care delivery needs provide clinical nurse specialists with unique and interesting daily responsibilities. The role is the ideal career for nursing professionals who enjoy variety and challenge. Due to their enhanced skill sets and responsibilities, clinical nurse specialists make significant impacts on caregiving. 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Further discussion examines the three professional articles related to my chosen learning objective and provides a brief synopsis of these articles. Finally I will summarize the implications that I learned from my Course Readings and Review of Literature on Learning Objectives as it relates to my nursing practice. ChosenRead MoreCivic Engagement : An Important Role Of The Government Ensuring The Well Being Of Society2779 Words   |  12 Pagesvoluntarism and civic engagement, a role that can complement and replace the role of the government ensuring the well-being of society. Civic engagement involves â€Å"working to form a distinction at intervals the civic life of one’s community and developing the combination of information, skills, values and motivation to form that distinction. It suggests that promoting the quality of life throughout a community, through every political and non-political process† (Erlich, 2000). Civic engagement includesRead MoreVolunteering At The Nursing Home2743 Words   |  11 PagesPace July 18, 2015 Volunteering at Nursing Home My project relates to the course objectives twelve and seven this is because it talks about inclusion, in which all types of diversity are respected, appreciated, and valued in America. As well as the vital role of the people in creating and maintaining a society through voluntarism and civic engagement, a role that can complement and replace the role of the government ensuring the well-being of society. Civic engagement involves â€Å"working to formRead MoreSocial Justice, The Fair Distribution Of Societys Benefits And Responsibilities And Their Consequences1386 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Justice is defined as â€Å"The fair distribution of society’s benefits and responsibilities and their consequences. It focuses on the relative position of one social group in relation to others in society, as well as the root causes of disparities and what can be done to eliminate them† CNA (as cited in CNO, 2009). Social Justice is very important in community health care. A hea lthcare worker/Nurse makes relationship with several different patients in the community who are divided based on age

Folgers(Secondary Research Paper) Final free essay sample

Folgers Coffee (Secondary Research) Myra Correa Jan. 18, 2011 COFFEE INDUSTRY Coffee is the second largest commodity market next to oil, and growth is expected to continue at a strong pace. The US coffee market is approximately US$40 billion (inclusive of both retail and food services sales). The US ground coffee market is about US$1. 9 billion and it is estimated to grow up to 2. 8 billion by 2012. Folgers retail sales is 44% of the overall ground coffee market.? B. Target Market: 54% of adults living in the USA drank coffee every day, about 166 million people. Another 29% occasionally consume coffee and 17% do not drink coffee. Regular coffee drinkers in the USA have about three cups dailythats about 336 million cups of coffee. However, college Students drink far less coffee than their baby boomer parents, and, when they do, its more likely to be on the go. Only 37% of young American adults 18-to-24 drink coffee, compared with 60% of those 40-to-59 and 74% of those 60 and over. Folgers will focus on College Students because they have the largest potential for growth. Within 5 years they will be married and will have less disposable income but they will want to maintain their premium coffee consumption, but without paying the high price. C. Target Market Growth: College students continue to grow at a steady pace, at nearly 13%, Business workers continue to add value and growing at 5%, Seniors are becoming an important part of consumers, growing at almost 2%. Therefore, college students represent the most lucrative opportunity. COMPANY OUTLOOK3: Since Folgers merger with J. M. Smucker Co. , the company has been financially successful. Folgers had added 856 million in sale and 241 million in profit during fiscal year 2010. Our strength is our everyday affordability and trusted name. We now have a first place market share of 44. 8% of home brewed coffee market, followed by Maxwell house and Nestle. However, we realized that our major consumers are adults over the age of 40 and the college students consists only 13% of our sales. We believe this is due to our brand image of being family/ senior brand and the fact that college students tend to buy coffees on the go. This group will soon become family/ office drinkers and we must take this opportunity to capture this market now. Our goal is to increase market share of college students by 2% in the first year and 1. 5% in the second year. In order to meet our objectives, we will 1) Introduce new packaging to change the image, maintaining current product line 2) Increase distribution to college students; 3) Hold promotions and events at college/ universities. Controls will be measured before and after the campaign with customer satisfaction surveys and vendor statistics to analyze sales patterns. Competition Review4: : Folgers coffee competes for retail shelf space with other coffee product producers, both branded and private label. Folgers is confident in its ability to be a strong competitor because of its brand, high quality, varied offerings, innovations, and distribution network #1 Folgers: $856 million in sales: Since the acquisition sales have doubled the Folgers’s market cap, this proves we are the leaders in selling coffee by far with a market share of 44. 8%. #2 Maxwell House: $660 million in sales: The second largest coffee brand, with a market share of 34. %, Maxwell House offers ground caffeinated, ground decaf, flavored coffee and instant coffee. #3 Nescafe Taster’s Choice $391 million in sales: Nescafe Taster’s Choice offers original and decaffeinated brand, Gourmet Roast. Their largest size is 12 oz. jar Flavor Coffee like Vanilla and Hazelnut are sold as the single serve packets. Nescafe has a market share of 20. 5%. S. W. O. T ANALYSIS A . Strengths: Affordability: Folgers Classic Roast is an excellent affordable option for ground coffee when trying to make smart money decisions in today’s economy. Compared to its competitors Maxwell and Nescafe, Folgers offers a low affordable brand without sacrificing quality. Consumers won’t feel as though they had just spent a fortune on coffee. Established and trusted name: Having been in the market since 1850, Folgers has developed a trusted brand name. Throughout all these years, Folgers has been a constant in people’s lives, providing coffee to start one’s day or as an afternoon drink. Through successful past and current advertising campaigns, Folgers is known as â€Å"the best part of waking up. † This slogan has stuck with consumers since the jingle premiered in 1984. B. Weaknesses: Distribution: Folgers has a dominant role in the older demographics of the coffee market but lacks as strong of a presence among the younger generation, especially college students. The coffee that college students are introduced to, at a time where the majority of them become regular coffee drinkers for the first time, may be the one they stick to in their later years. Elderly and slow-paced image: Folgers has successfully marketed itself to mothers and fathers and the elderly through its â€Å"best part of waking up† campaign. These have focused on family members waking up to the aroma of coffee to begin their day. However, Folgers has not created a marketing campaign geared towards college students who perceive coffee as an â€Å"anytime drink,† whether in the morning to get their day going, a pick-me-up in the afternoon, or a late night drink to keep oneself up while studying for finals. Folgers’ image is a leisurely-paced drink and has not expanded to a fast-paced coffee image. Graphics/packaging: Currently, packaging consists of the rising sun in the morning, signalizing the beginning of a day with Folgers coffee. However, these graphics are not applicable to the college students who are asleep during the day and stay up late at night when there is no longer any sun. C. Opportunities: Universities and college students: Folgers has opportunities to capture more of the market that it does not currently lead. Through partnerships with universities, Folgers can become the vendor to them, ensuring that their products will be advertised and bought on campus. Folgers can also have contracts with on-campus restaurants and shops to be their coffee supplier. D. Threats: End to home-brewing: As our society increasingly becomes more fast-paced, consumers tend to lean towards products that advertise themselves as ‘quick† and â€Å"on-the-go. † If people no longer had time to wait for a pot of home-brewed coffee, they will steer towards instant or coffee stores. This could be potentially a significant threat to the ground coffee market and especially to Folgers. Competitors Lower Prices: If Folgers’ competitors lowered their prices, a threat would exist to Folgers affordability. Currently, Folgers is the best economic choice in terms of price for ground coffee. If a leading competitor were to beat Folgers’ price, it could be detrimental to Folgers’ market shares. Market Research: Here is the market research strategy: * Sales and market share by areas and demographics (Secondary research) * Target markets and its demographics (Secondary research) * Brand awareness test and Study measuring ANT, Trier’s, CP and Laps purchases in order to find out consumers’ behavior and predict future growth * Blind taste tests (New Folgers vs. Original Folgers vs. Maxwell house vs. Nescafe) * Emotional bonding test to find out brand image * Price elasticity test by segments, and study deeply in college segment * Package test for the newly designed package targeting college students * Concept product test to find out if our new package and product matches the expectation * Test market done by simulation at Folgers warehouse * Ad test for new campaign for college students (TV, online advertisement, banners and SNS) In order to measure the impact, I plan to do following research along the way. * Increase in overall sales and market share by areas and segments * Increase in sales in the new distribution areas targeting college students * Sales of newly designed package coffee * Brand awareness test and study to analyze how much ANT moved to Trier’s, CP vs. Laps * Ad test using Neilson (Number of people who saw the ad vs. how many actually purchased) * Emotional bonding test asking college students vs. ther target markets. (We need to make sure our current markets are not feeling unhappy about targeting college students. ) * Number of text entries we had from the campus sampling event. CONCLUSION: In conclusion I find that Folgers Coffee is brand you can trust. In order for this brand to continue to be trustworthy and #1 in the market place it needs to connect with the new younger generation but also maintain the same brand awareness that loyal consumers know and love. Market Research will provide the insight and will give Folgers a new strategy to obtain this new target audience and grow their brand. [ 1 ]. http://www. allbusiness. com/professional-scientific/specialized-design/445615-1. html [ 2 ]. National Coffee Association http://www. ncausa. org/i4a/pages/index. cfm? pageid=39 [ 3 ]. Folgers http://folgers. com/products 4 Annual Report: http://phx. corporae-ir. net/External. File? item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MzQyODkzfENoaWxkSUQ9MzI5MzkwfFR5cGU9MQ==t=1

The Negative Effects of the Rapid Increase in Human Population in the World

Introduction The world population has increased to over six billion people in the last century. This rapid increase is attributed to improvements in social and economic development in the last five decades, which led to improved standards of living. However, the rapid increase in human population has had several negative effects on the world’s resources. In this paper, the negative effects of the rapid increase in human population on the world’s resources will be discussed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Negative Effects of the Rapid Increase in Human Population in the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Effects on Resources To begin with, increase in human population has negatively affected natural resources in various parts of the world. Natural resources such as forests, wetlands, and wildlife have been destroyed in order to create land for human settlement (Easton 67). Additionally, ther e has been overexploitation of natural resources such as minerals, especially, in countries with poor regulation of the use of natural resources. This has led to land degradation. For instance, abandoned minefields in most parts of Africa have huge trenches and holes, which make it difficult to use the land for other activities (Aggrawal 32). Moreover, increased mining activities have resulted into destruction of wildlife habitats. The rapid increase in human population has led to increased industrial production in nearly all countries. Despite its positive contributions to economic development, industrial production has had severe effects on the environment. In particular, toxic industrial wastes are often discharged into the ambient environment. This has resulted into extinction of several plant and animal species in various ecosystems (Aggrawal 45). Furthermore, industrial production has led to increased emission of greenhouse gases due to the use of fossil fuel in factories and transportation. Consequently, the rate of global warming has increased significantly in the last three decades. Increased industrial production has also resulted into a reduction in the availability of energy. In most countries, the available non-renewable sources of energy such as oil and natural gas cannot meet the energy needs of the ever-increasing population. Food production has also been affected negatively by the expansion of the human population. The amount of fertile land that is available for farming or food production has reduced greatly due to changes in land use. Rapid urbanization has caused a shift in land use from food production to real estate and commercial developments (Easton 71). Additionally, land fertility in most countries has reduced due to the pollution caused by industrial production. Global warming continuous to cause adverse climatic changes, which include draughts, floods, strong wind, and high temperatures. These changes not only endanger the survival of food crops, but also promote the multiplication of pathogens and weeds that destroy crops in the fields.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In response to the declining food production, modern agricultural technologies such as the use of fertilizers and irrigation have been introduced. However, these technologies negatively affect the environment, thereby reducing food production in the long-run. For instance, irrigation leads to overexploitation of natural water sources such as rivers and lakes. On the other hand, scientific research has shown that the use of fertilizers reduces soil quality (Easton 97). Conclusion The rapid increase in human population has severely affected the world’s resources in several ways. These include reduction in food production, overexploitation of minerals, and destruction of various species of animals. In addition, environmental degrad ation has increased. Consequently, the growth rate of the world population should be controlled. Works Cited Aggrawal, Vijay. Environmental Studies . London: Butterworth-Heinneman , 2010. Print. Easton, Thomas. Environmental Studies. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print. This essay on The Negative Effects of the Rapid Increase in Human Population in the World was written and submitted by user Brady W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Plastic Definition and Examples in Chemistry

Plastic Definition and Examples in Chemistry Have you ever wondered about the chemical composition of plastic or how it is made? Heres a look at what plastic is and how it is formed. Plastic Definition and Composition Plastic is any synthetic or semisynthetic organic polymer. In other words, while other elements might be present, plastics always include carbon and hydrogen. While plastics may be made from just about any organic polymer, most industrial plastic is made from petrochemicals. Thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers are the two types of plastic. The name plastic refers to the property of plasticity, the ability to deform without breaking. The polymer used to make a plastic is almost always mixed with additives, including colorants, plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, and reinforcements. These additives affect the chemical composition, chemical properties, and mechanical properties of a plastic, along with its cost. Thermosets and Thermoplastics Thermosetting polymers, also known as thermosets, solidify into a permanent shape. They are amorphous and are considered to have infinite molecular weight. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, can be heated and remolded over and over again. Some thermoplastics are amorphous, while some have a partially crystalline structure. Thermoplastics typically have a molecular weight between 20,000 to 500,000 amu. Examples of Plastics Plastics are often referred to by the acronyms for their chemical formulas: Polyethylene terephthalate: PET or PETEHigh-density polyethylene: HDPEPolyvinyl chloride: PVCPolypropylene: PPPolystyrene: PSLow-density polyethylene: LDPE Properties of Plastics The properties of plastics depend on the chemical composition of the subunits, the arrangement of these subunits, and the processing method. All plastics are polymers, but not all polymers are plastic. Plastic polymers consist of chains of linked subunits, called monomers. If identical monomers are joined, it forms a homopolymer. Difference monomers link to form copolymers. Homopolymers and copolymers may be either straight chains or branched chains. Here are some other properties: Plastics are usually solids. They may be amorphous solids, crystalline solids, or semicrystalline solids (crystallites).Plastics are usually poor conductors of heat and electricity. Most are insulators with a high dielectric strength.Glassy polymers tend to be stiff (e.g., polystyrene). However, thin sheets of these polymers can be used as films (e.g., polyethylene).Nearly all plastics display elongation when they are stressed that is not recovered after the stress is removed. This is called creep.  Plastics tend to be durable, with a slow rate of degradation. Interesting Plastic Facts Additional facts about plastics: The first completely synthetic plastic was Bakelite, made in 1907 by Leo Baekeland. Baekeland also coined the word plastics.The word plastic comes from the Greek word plastikos, which means that it can be shaped or molded.Approximately a third of the plastic that is produced is used to make packaging. Another third is used for siding and piping.Pure plastics are generally insoluble in water and nontoxic. However, many of the additives in plastics are toxic and may leach into the environment. Examples of toxic additives include phthalates. Nontoxic polymers may also degrade into chemicals when they are heated.

How to Declare and Initialize Constant Arrays in Delphi

How to Declare and Initialize Constant Arrays in Delphi In Delphi, the versatile web-programming language,  arrays allow a developer to refer to a series of variables by the same name and to use a number- an index- to tell them apart. In most scenarios, you declare an array as a variable, which allows  for array elements to be changed at run-time. However, sometimes you need to declare a constant array- a read-only array. You cannot change the value of a constant or a read-only variable. Therefore, while declaring a constant array, you must also initialize it. Example Declaration of Three Constant Arrays This code example declares and initializes three constant arrays, named Days, CursorMode, and Items. Days is a string array of six elements. Days[1] returns the Mon string.CursorMode is an  array of two elements, whereby declaration CursorMode[false] crHourGlass and CursorMode crSQLWait. cr* constants can be used to change the current screen cursor.Items defines an array of three TShopItem  records. type   Ã‚   TShopItem record   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Name : string;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Price : currency;   Ã‚   end; const   Ã‚   Days : array[0..6] of string   Ã‚   (   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thu, Fri, Sat   Ã‚   ) ;   Ã‚   CursorMode : array[boolean] of TCursor   Ã‚   (   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   crHourGlass, crSQLWait   Ã‚   ) ;   Ã‚   Items : array[1..3] of TShopItem   Ã‚   (   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Name : Clock; Price : 20.99),   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Name : Pencil; Price : 15.75),   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Name : Board; Price : 42.96)   Ã‚   ) ; Trying to assign a value for an item in a constant array raises the Left side cannot be assigned to compile time error. For example, the following code does not successfully execute: Items[1].Name : Watch; //will not compile

Economics of Construction is the class... i need a 3 page paper on Essay

Economics of Construction is the class... i need a 3 page paper on Describe the federal reserve system and the various ways it effects the market economy - Essay Example The V and Q are fixed so that any change in M causes a proportionate change in P. To control P, it is therefore necessary that M be brought under control. Any policy with respect to this is known as monetary policy. Amongst various instruments available with central bank are interest rates, reserve requirements, interventions in the credit market and so on. These instruments are used to influence the demand for liquidity and, thus, M could be controlled. In fact, Federal Reserve uses several policy instruments to reduce the adverse effects of fluctuations in income. An important instrument used to influence money supply is interest rate, which is signaled by Federal Rate. In the transaction motive for money, there is an inverse relationship between opportunity cost of money that is interest rate and demand for liquidity. As such, if Federal targets inflation, it would have to increase interest rate so that liquidity is removed from the system. Any increase in interest rate would induce people to part away liquidity and thereby bring about stability in the price level. Second mechanism operates through credit market. It is assumed that borrowing from credit market finances entire investment spending. Credit expansion is an important mechanism for money creation; thus, if credit expansion is controlled, money supply can be controlled and so price could be controlled. Federal could use interest rate directly to influence credit creation. A necessary and sufficient condition for investment to take place is that marginal efficiency of capital, measured by rate of return, should be at least or equal to cost of capital, given by interest rate. With every increase in Federal rate, the Federal Reserve indirectly increases cost of capital such that the basic condition for investment spending gets violated. This reduces incentives for private investment resulting is lack demand for credit. Similarly, if the economy has slowed down, they could reduce

Coca cola Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Coca cola - Essay Example alone recorded more than US$15 billion in 2006 (Kent, para 2-3). In the same year, market consumption volumes for the same product were more than thirty billion liters. This is usually not the same story with many multinationals. Company Overview Coca-Cola Company headquartered in Atlanta Georgia and specializes in soft beverage drinks. The company has operations in more than 200 countries. The plant in Atlanta produces the concentrate and sells it to certified Coca-Cola bottlers worldwide. Bottlers hold agreements with the Coca Cola Corporation, which permit them to produce the finished products. After which bottlers distribute and sell Coca-Cola products to retail stores and vending machines, who in turn sell the products to consumers. Advantages of Coca Cola Differentiated marketing method The most noticeable positional strategy of the Coca Cola Company is differentiated marketing method. This method has enabled the organization to satisfy the needs of a wide range of markets. For instance, it has bottled water products for any of its target segments. It also has Diet Coke which is specifically targeted for the aged or elderly people and those people who are drifting towards a healthier feeding lifestyle. Product levels One of the main advantages of Coca Cola Company over its rivals is that it offers products on three distinctive levels: the core product, the actual product, and the augmented product. In general, features and even materials used make the actual products which in the end avails the core product (Petretti 2-17). Consumers are attracted by Coca Cola products because of their high quality coupled with unsurpassed company standards. As consumers take the products they also end up getting the augmented product which is the extra or additional benefits the consumer derive from the product or the company. However, given that soft beverages are consumables, there is a tendency to pose limits on the augmented level. To counter this, Coca Cola Company not only provides its products in various quantities, it also provides its products in different tastes and coloration to enable the consumer to switch products without crossing over to competitor products. A good example is Diet Coke which is offered in various quantities like the Lagasse Diet Coke, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke, and Chaser Diet Coke basing on the consumer preferences. Global brand Unlike many of its competitors, Coca Cola Company is the leading manufacturer, marketer and even distributor of nonalcoholic drinks worldwide. Presently, the organization has operations in more than 200 countries. The company is a marketplace innovation driver and a solidified investor in local economies. At present, Coca Cola Company commands the beverage industry globally with over 500 beverage brands including about four brands out of the top-five sparkling brands on the planet (Kent, para. 4-6). Coca-Cola Company market share versus other soft drink companies worldwide in 2011, based on sa les value Source: Globalization and Health, Statistica. Disadvantages of Coca Cola Positioned as a monopoly The company has established itself as a monopoly in many countries. As a monopoly, there are many things that are attributed to the company are not encouraging. For instance, the company is likely to produce products that are substance. A case in point, in 2006, in Canada and India, the company was accused on producing

Legal Considerations in the Business Environment Essay Example for Free

Legal Considerations in the Business Environment Essay While there are many legal factors to consider as XYZ Construction (XYZ) transforms from a private to a publicly owned company and expands operations globally, this paper will focus on the employment and labor laws, along with legal considerations that influence company operations. It is important to keep in mind that XYZ uses a mix of manning methodologies throughout the company; a full time staff as the core of the company, while maximizing the use of contracted labor in the execution of projects. Employment Law Employment law is a broad category of law that encompasses all areas regarding employee/employer relationships except for the negotiation process and collective bargaining, which is covered by the narrower focused category of labor law. Employment laws consist of thousands of federal and state statutes, regulations, and judicial decisions that are designed to govern the rights and duties of employers and workers. The US Department of Labor (USDOL) reports that there are 180 federal laws alone managed by 28 different agencies within the department. (United States Department of Labor [USDOL], 2014) Employment laws are focused on providing a safe and fair work place for employees and employers, alike, and have their origins in the constitution. They were founded based on public outcry against oppressive practices during the industrial revolution. The first laws founded in the 1920s were focused on fair wages, compensation for injuries, a standard work week, and on eliminating child labor. In the 1960s and 70s, statutes focused on anti-discrimination and unsafe work environments. Current issues involve employee health care, equal pay for men and women and the current debate on raising the federal minimum wage. There were also several issues addressed by the US Supreme Court of great importance to employment law including workplace discrimination and retaliation (Brill et al, 2013). The predominance of employment law disputes fall into two categories: wage and hour violations and discrimination in the workplace. Federal law provides for baseline rules regarding wage and hour standards, to include a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and 40 hours as the standard work week. Many states have passed laws that establish a higher minimum wage, which is within their constitutional right. In these situations, XYZ is compelled to pay the higher minimum wage of that state. There is an emerging effort across the United States to raise the federal minimum wage to $9.50 per hour. In some  cases, this will place the federal wage higher than some states, meaning XYZ would have to pay the federal wage as it would trump the state legislation. It is prudent for XYZ to negotiate appropriate compensation on multiyear contracts as this new legislation works through the process. The standard work week, on the other hand, is prevalent across the United States and any worker that exceeds this threshold is entitled to overtime pay compensation. These rules exist to control the work environment for employees and mandates that time and a half be paid on every hour exceeding 40 within a given work week. The law also stipulates that XYZ will maintain basic payroll records and post notices to the workers regarding changes in the work environment. As XYZ experiences delays within projects, the pressure to push the work crews to make up these delays grows. While working overtime to meet customer requirements and project timelines are acceptable, supervisors must ensure adherence to the various employment laws; not doing so could lead to unfair labor practice disputes and costly legal battles (Brill et al, 2013). Another area that is a basis of employment law disputes is discrimination in the workplace. Prohibiting discrimination based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, age, or disability was established with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and refined with subsequent legislation throughout the years. The Supreme Court handed down two significant decisions in 2013 that clarify evidentiary standards for discrimination claims, both are viewed as beneficial to the employer. First, the courts ruled that retaliation with discrimination as a motivating factor was not sufficient. The plaintiff must prove that discrimination was the basis for the retaliation, making the burden of proof much greater (Brill et al, 2013). Second, the courts clarified the definition of a supervisor under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. They ruled that the title of â€Å"supervisor† is limited to those who have authority to take a tangible employment action, meaning â€Å"a significant change in employment status, such as hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassignment with significantly different responsibilities, or a decision causing a significant change in benefits.† (Brill et al, 2013, p.4). Having the authority to direct daily work was not sufficient to link the supervisor to the company in regard to damages or actions tied to a law suit or dispute. However, the company is still liable for discriminatory actions of non-supervisory employees,  especially if it was notified and failed to take action to stop the behavior. This is significant considering that the majority of XYZ’s work force is contracted labor. As such it is imperative that XYZ maintain viable and proactive policies focused on preventing workplace discrimination and include a review of these policies prior to initiating any employment agreement. Labor Law Conducting business in a union environment provides for another layer of complexity to company operations. XYZ’s leadership must be aware of and understand the basics of labor law and the collective agreements negotiated with the unions representing the workforce. Failure to operate within the parameters of the agreement will result in an unfair labor practice dispute, which affects the profit margins of the shareholders. Labor law, also governed by federal law, state law and judicial decisions, provides statutes that mediate the relationship between workers, employers, unions, and the government with the goal of equalizing the bargaining power between employers and employee (Legal Information Institute [LII], 2014). Collective labor laws focus on the rights of employees to unionize, collectively bargain, arbitrate, and strike, while individual labor law focuses on employment contracts between employers and employees (Caraway, 2009). Collective bargaining consists of negotiations between an employer and a group of employees, typically represented by a union, to determine the conditions of employment and results in a collective agreement. The main body of law governing collective bargaining is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which was passed in 1935 (â€Å"Executive Concepts†, 2011). It explicitly grants employees the right to collectively bargain and join trade unions. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is the entity that hears disputes between employers and employees that falls under the purview of the NLRA. The General Council, established by the NLRA, independently investigates and prosecutes cases against violators of the act before the NLRB (LII, 2014). Another aspect of labor law is the act of arbitration, a method of dispute resolution, which is commonly used as an alternative to litigation. A third party arbiter is designated and has binding decision authority for the dispute. While the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) is not applicable to employment contracts, the Uniform Arbitration Act of 1956 was  adopted by 49 states making arbitration enforceable under state and federal law (LII, 2014). There were two key decisions rendered by the Supreme Court that impact labor law, specifically arbitration clauses and class action waivers in contracts (Brill et al, 2013). The Court held that the FAA directive to arbitrate and the arbitration clauses written into employment contracts take precedence over federal requirements to prosecute disputes through the courts. Additionally, this decision strengthens the ability to enforce class waivers written into contracts. While this appears detrimental to employers, the Court balanced this decision with language further defining the rules surrounding class waivers. The court ruled that a class dispute (one brought by more than one plaintiff) can be settled if the primary plaintiff reaches settlement (Brill et al, 2013). In essence, if an XYZ employee files a dispute that is then applied to a class of employees, but a settlement is reached with the initial plaintiff, then the class action is terminated. Effectively, the Supreme Court ruling strengthens the company’s position in regard to employment contracts and protects the company from overzealous claims. As such, arbitration agreements written into XYZ employment contracts should be carefully worded in order to take full advantage of the Court’s decision. Laws specific to the construction industry Several Department of Labor agencies administer programs that are specifically related to the construction industry. Specifically, the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), the Wage and Hour Division, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance all have specified areas of emphasis that regulate XYZ’s primary line of business. OSHA administers all the occupational safety and health standards for the industry. Given the risk to employees across XYZ’s work sites, OSHA regulations are critical to maintain and pose a significant element of cost to the company. While it is prudent to conduct cost-benefit analysis on enacting safety and health policies, sacrificing employee welfare for the bottom line is a dangerous endeavor and can result in unfair labor practices or criminal charges in the extreme. As XYZ competes and wins government construction contracts, there are several statutes that dictate certain conditions for doing business with the federal government that are administered by the USDOL Wage and Hour  Division and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance. The Davis-Bacon Act requires that companies pay the prevailing wages and benefits of the region. Wage rates and other labor standards for employees are set by the McNamara-O-Hara Service Contract Act. The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act requires materials and supply contractors to pay minimum wages and meet other labor standards. Executive Order 11246 requires equal employment opportunity by all construction contractor firms. Lastly, the Copeland Act’s anti-kickback section precludes any persuasion of an employee to sacrifice any part of their required compensation (USDOL, 2014). These dictated standards all affect the cost of projects and, if not accounted for in the bid and estimation process, will detrimentally impact the profit margins of the company as federal construction contracts are executed. Legal Considerations As XYZ begins the global expansion, it is important to realize that US labor laws are not binding in other countries in regard to foreign workers; the host country laws are in play (â€Å"Executive Concepts†, 2011, p.938). However, Congress expressly extended three US labor laws to expatriates working abroad for US firms. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and Title VII all extend extraterritorially (Nie, 2012). While XYZ’s staff is well versed in US employment and labor law, foreign labor law is country dependent and it is prudent to conduct targeted research on the specific country’s legal environment considered for expansion. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has drafted 182 conventions and 190 recommendations in their effort to standardize labor practices globally. Enforcement of these efforts is a country responsibility, and as such, there are still large gaps in adoption and application of the various standards (â€Å"Executive Concepts†, 2011). While it is enticing to reduce expenses by sacrificing some of the more costly US labor law practices while abroad, this practice could damage the company’s sterling reputation negatively affecting all future business ventures. As countries in Asia make the transition to democratic states, the door has been opened for improvements in collective and individual labor law, resulting in the creation of unions and the strengthening of workers’ rights. However, unions in developing counties depend upon government  support and, as such, are politically focused keeping the gap between internationally acceptable collective labor practices and reality relatively large (Caraway, 2009). Across Asia, individual labor rights are in a better position. There is a direct correlation between the wealth of a country and the enforced rights of its workers (Caraway, 2009). The most notable impact of this situation is the prevailing wage in each country and the impact on XYZ’s financial position on projects. Using the field support offices at the forward locations to gather this information is crucial to accurate project estimation and contract bidding. As the company transitions from privately owned to publicly held, there are considerations to keep in mind. First, corporate governance will adjust to account for a larger base of stockholders. There is risk that the focus of the company will also shift to a more stockholder centric view, discounting the requirements of the stakeholders (the employees) (Ecchia et al, 2012). This has the potential to lead to the creation of unfair labor practices as priority shifts from maintaining collective agreements to maintaining larger profit margins for the stockholders. Second, shareholders with large equities could pressure the company to offload portions of the workforce or reduce the employee’s benefits in order to improve profitability (Ecchia et al, 2012). As the union leadership monitors corporate business practices, this could lead to a revolt in the workforce and create an environment ripe for a strike thereby shutting down operations until resolved. Any financial gains made by the reduction would be lost to stagnated operations, and as such should be managed carefully. Conclusion Conducting business in the 21st Century is comparable to traversing the proverbial minefield. Legal missteps can cause insurmountable fines and legal fees as a company struggles to maintain good business practices. Understanding employment and labor law is paramount to maintaining a strong and viable company through transformation and expansion that produces profits for its shareholders. References Banks, K. (2011). Trade, Labor and International Governance: An Inquiry into the Potential Effectiveness of the New International Labor Law. Berkeley Journal Of Employment Labor Law, 32(1), 45-142. Business Source Complete, Accession Number: 67233021 Barnum, Darold T. (1971) From Private to Public Relations in Urban Transit. Industrial Labor Relations Review. 25(1), 95-115. Business Source Complete, Accession Number: 4459252. Brill, Edward A., Fant, Laura M., and Baddish, Noa M. (2013) U.S. Supreme Court Wrap-Up: Hot Topics in Labor and Employment Law. Employee Relations Law Journal. 39(3), 3-8. Business Source Complete, Accession Numbe:r 91640070 Caraway, Tara L. (2009). Labor Rights in East Asia: Progress or Regress?. Journal of East Asian Studies, 9(2), 153-186. ProQuest Research Library, Accession Number: 43381256 Ecchia, Giulio, Gelter, Martin, and Pasotti, Piero. (2012) Corporate Governance, Corporate and Employment Law, and the Costs of Expropriation. Review of Law Economics. 8(2), 457-486. DOI: 10.1515/1555-5879.1357 Katten, Betsy. (2013) U.S. Supreme Court to Address Labor and Employment Matters in 2013-2014 Term. Employee Relations Law Journal. 39(3), 48-51. Business Source Complete, Accession Number: 91640075 Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School. Retrieved from: http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/employment Nie, Carrie. (2012). Extraterritorial Application of U.S. Employment Laws: Clearing the Murky Conflicting Foreign Laws Defense. International Lawyer, 46(4), 1027-1043, OmniFile, Accession Number: 90233860 Northcentral University (2011). SKS 7000-Executive Concepts in Business Strategy. Custom edition. Retrieved from: http://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/ United States Department of Labor. (2014) Retrieved from: http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/lawsprog.htm

Great Political Leaders of the Twentieth Century :: World History

Great Political Leaders of the Twentieth Century The history of the 20th century can be defined by the biographies of six men: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Vladimir Lenin, Adolf Hitler, Mao Tse Tung, and Josef Stalin. Each of these men had a lasting significant involvement in world affairs. This essay will focus on the significance each individual had on the ideologies of Democracy and Totalitarianism. Four of the six individuals were leaders of a totalitarianistic state, and three of these led a communist country. Also four of the six leaders were in power during the Second World War. The profiles of these six men formed the world that we live in today. Vladimir Illich Lenin was the first individual to put Marxist ideologies to work. In April 1917 Lenin returned to Russia from his exile in Switzerland to give his 'April Theses.' It was here that Lenin outlined how his revolution was to take place, the Bolshevik Revolution began on November 6 1917. Within a week the Bolsheviks were in control of most of European Russia, and immediately Lenin ordered that the Russians abandon the war against Germany. After abandoning her allies in World War One the Russians were hurled into a civil war. It is here that we first see the ideologies of Totalitarianism and Democracy clash. The democracies of Britain, France, and the United States all sent troops to Russia in the support of the 'Whites,' or enemies of the Bolsheviks. Lenin took the poor country of Russia and turned it into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or U.S.S.R. Through his policies of War Communism and its replacement the NEP Lenin was able to stand the newly formed U.S.S.R. o n its own two feet. One of Lenin's ideas was 'International Socialism,' it was under this idea that he set up the Comintern with the purpose of spreading communism throughout the world. His successor, Josef Stalin took a different approach in his ideas of 'Socialism in one country." Josef Stalin led the U.S.S.R. from the death of Lenin to his own in 1953. Stalin led the Soviets through the betrayal of the Germans in the Nazi-Soviet Pact, he turned back the Nazis on the Eastern front, and brought the U.S.S.R. out of the Second World War as one of the only two superpowers in the world. After the end of the World War Two Stalin spread the Soviet sphere of influence to include East Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Alabania, Poland, and Czechoslovakia.

Law Self Reflection for Mgt388 Module

Self-Reflection I didn’t think that management and law were important to me before I came to the UK. I did accounting in my high school but it was all just about getting high marks. This is because I have always been studying scientific things and I didn’t think that the lack of knowledge about law and finance would affect or bother me. This was until I moved into a house, and the landlord refused to pay me back my deposit as we only had an oral agreement; no contract was made. Furthermore, I started a business on eBay. I discovered I managed my business poorly as I didn’t keep any records.From that moment, I felt that I needed to improve my ability to manage my money and be professional with my future jobs. MGT388, this module gave me a chance to study something that I indeed wanted to learn. Learning: This module gave me a chance to learn things in another field I haven’t touched before. I felt challenged, but I was excited. I attended every lecture and most of the tutorials in the 10 weeks, and studied hard by reading extra information as I knew the importance of this module related to my present and my future career. I found out that taking notes in colourful pens and doing mind maps helps me a lot in learning.Experience: I enjoyed the law tutorials. We discussed with the tutor based on real scenarios. It was not the traditional learning pattern, it was more interactive. We had a chance to say what we thought and judge the colleagues' opinion too. The tutor in my tutorial is a really nice lady, she is very patient and explains things really clearly. Reflection: The coursework and the online tests are the best reflections from the module. The team coursework not only revised what we have studied, it also improved my leadership and communication skill.It helped me develop more understanding about company management and contract. I found that the four management accounting tests were really helpful; I did each test two times so that I understand where I went wrong. I always improved on the second test as I read the comment of the question and reconsidered the situation in the question. Abstraction: From MGT388, I learnt many new things that I think would help me a lot for my career in the future. The module is an overview of management and law, but the topics in the module are carefully chosen for engineering students.This changes my viewpoint about engineering. Sometimes engineering is not only about calculations and designs. Sometimes, costs and avenues are important too for a company to survive. Learning: In the future, I will apply the knowledge I learnt from this module to my eBay business, and try to get a better management experience from my small business. This is a small practise before I go to a real company for work. Maybe I am going to make mistakes, but I think this module gives me the ability to study and review more information and knowledge.

Oryx & Crake Summary Essay

Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another such as from pigs to humans ( Medical grafting). Such cells, tissues or organs are called xenografts or xenotransplants. The term allotransplantation refers to a same-species transplant. Human xenotransplantation offers a potential treatment for end-stage organ failure, a significant health problem in parts of the industrialized world and worldwide shortage of organs for clinical implantation. It also raises many novel medical, legal and ethical issues. A continuing concern is that pigs have different lifespans than humans and their tissues age at a different rate. Disease transmission (xenozoonosis) and permanent alteration to the genetic code of animals are a cause for concern. Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/ manipulation (GM) and gene splicing are terms that are applied to the manipulation of genes. It involves the isolation, manipulation and reintroduction of DNA into cells or model organisms, usually express a protein to reach desired effects. Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of something. Genetic recombination is the process by which a strand of DNA is broken and then joined to the end of a different DNA molecule. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using the genetic engineering techniques generally known as recombinant DNA technology. Why Oryx and Crake Was Written â€Å"Every novel begins with a what if and then sets forth its axiom. The what if of Oryx and Crake is simply What if we continue down the road we’re already on? How slippery is the slope? What is our saving graces? Who’s got the will to stop us?† –Margaret Atwood Settings in Oryx and Crake Pre-Catastrophic Society: Games With Virtual Reality And Virtual Violence Society Fixated on Physical Perfection and Longevity, Virtual Elimination Of The Middle Class (produced a gap between rich and poor), Disappearance Of Safe Public Space, People Live In Either Tightly Controlled Compounds Of The Elites Or Dangerous Pleebands, Almost Everything Is For Sale, Medical Advancements, Life Is In The Hands Of Large Corporations, Private Security Forces, Scientific Advancements: Genetic Engineering & Xenotransplant, Technologically Driven, Extreme commercialization and commodification of life and the commodification of human life and sexuality in prostitution and online child pornography. Jimmy and Crake spend a lot of their free time playing online computer games such as Kwiktime Osama (a reference to Osama bin Laden) and Blood and Roses, or watching live executions, Noodie News, frog squashing, graphic surgery and child pornography. Post-Catastrophic Society: Naturalistic society Science vs. Anti-Science â€Å"Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that Oryx and Crake is anti-science. Science is a way of knowing, and a tool. Like all ways of knowing and tools, it can be turned to bad uses. And it can be bought and sold, and it often is. But it is not in itself bad. Like electricity, it’s neutral. The driving force in the world today is the human heart – that is, human emotions. (Yeats, Blake – every poet, come to think of it – has always told us that.) Our tools have become very powerful. Hate, not bombs, destroys cities. Desire, not bricks, rebuilds them.† –Margaret Atwood Plot Summary of Oryx and Crake The protagonist of Oryx and Crake is Snowman, clad only in a bed sheet and a Red Sox cap, who appears to be the last human being on Earth. He’s not entirely alone, however; strange hybrid beasts such as wolvogs, pigoons and rakunks are roaming freely. As well, a group of what he calls Crakers—strange human-like creatures—lives nearby. They bring Snowman food and consult him on matters that surpass their understanding; thus, Snowman comes across as a post-apocalyptic hermit guru. As the story develops, these assorted lifeforms are revealed to be the products of genetic engineering. In flashbacks, we learn that Snowman was once a young boy named Jimmy, who grew up in the early 21st century. His world was dominated by multinational corporations which kept their employees’ families in privileged compounds separated from a global lower moiety of pleeblands. Shortly after Jimmy’s family moved to the HelthWyzer corporate compound (where his father worked a s a genographer) Jimmy met and befriended Glenn (later known as Crake), a brilliant science student. Atwood’s satirical take on current society is presented most pointedly in the jaded activities of these two youths. Jimmy and Crake spend a lot of their free time playing online computer games such as Kwiktime Osama (a reference to Osama bin Laden) and Blood and Roses, or watching live executions, Noodie News, frog squashing, graphic surgery and child pornography. One of Glenn’s favourite pastimes is an online game called Extinctathon, a trivia game which requires immense knowledge of extinct animal and plant species. Using the codenames Thickney (Jimmy) and Crake (Glenn), they both play as teenagers. It is not until they are both in university that Jimmy discovers that Crake has worked his way up to become a Grandmaster. On another trip through the dark underbelly of the Web, they come across an Asian child pornography site, where Jimmy is struck and haunted by the eyes of a young girl. Unknown to Jimmy, Crake is similarly affected by the sig ht of this young girl. Crake eventually finds this girl (or a woman who could be her) and hires her, as both a prostitute and a teacher of the Crakers. Her name is Oryx. Jimmy identifies the haunting memory of the young girl with Oryx, though it is never made clear as to whether or not the two are the same person. Oryx eventually becomes intimately involved in the lives of Jimmy and Crake, and both fall in love with her. Oryx, however, views their relationship as strictly professional and only admires Crake as a scientist and â€Å"great man†. For fun and affection she turns to Jimmy, though her feelings for him are not as clear. The two hide their relationship from Crake, and Jimmy is often plagued with the thought of Crake finding out about his betrayal. Crake uses his prominent position at a biotech corporation to launch a project to create the Crakers. His goal is to create a peaceful society that will live harmoniously with each other and nature. These genetically engine ered humans are leaf-eating herbivores and they only have sexual intercourse during limited breeding seasons when they are polyandrous. Thus, many of the apparent conflicts in human culture are replaced with a mockery of intelligent design. At the same time, Crake creates a virulent genetic pandemic that, apparently, killed off all humans except for Jimmy. Jimmy was unknowingly vaccinated with the intention of acting as a guardian for the Crakers. Thus, Crake represents a mad scientist; he is maddened by the troubled society that he lives in. His rationale is that he is heroically saving intelligent life from an inevitably dying society. In the story’s climax, Crake’s perfected â€Å"hot bioform,† present in one of his company’s products, is activated and spreads throughout the world. When called to account for his actions by Jimmy, Crake kills Oryx by slitting her throat. In rage and panic, Jimmy shoots Crake, resulting in his being left to obsess over his vanished world and unanswered questions. Jimmy contemplates abandoning the Crakers but is constantly haunted by the voice of Oryx, and reminded of his promise to her to watch over them. Though Crake opposed and belittled human religion, Sn owman instills the Crakers with his own invented religion revolving around Crake and Oryx. Oryx becomes the guardian of the animals and Crake the creator god. Crake suffers from unremembered night terrors. During visits, Jimmy hears Crake screaming in his sleep. Crake claims to not remember them. This forms one of the book’s most profound ironies. Crake is a leader in the most advanced (and corrupt) health care system in human history, and Jimmy is unable to save humanity by simply getting Crake’s head examined. At the same time, however, Crake attends a university referred to as Asperger’s U, referring to the university’s high population of incredibly intelligent, socially awkward people, which might suggest that his idea was not the product of insanity or something ‘wrong’ with him, but rather the knowledge that everything else around him was wrong. During Snowman’s journey to scavenge supplies, he is uncomfortable wearing shoes now that his feet have become toughened without them. He cuts his foot on a tiny sliver of glass. Infected by who-knows-what descendant of transgenic experiments, his body cannot fight back, and his leg becomes inflamed.Returning to the Crakers, he learns that three ragged true humans have camped nearby. He follows the smoke from the fire and watches as they cook a rakunk. Uncertain of how he should approach them (Blast them to bits to protect the Crakers? Approach with open arms?) he checks his now unworking watch and thinks, â€Å"Time to go,† leaving the reader to speculate as to what his actions and future will be. Literay Works Coral Ann Howells argues that Oryx and Crake is in some ways a sequel to Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in that it carries the national catastrophe in the earlier novel to global level[5]. A major reference seems to be to the â€Å"Last Man† topos in science fiction, which was inaugurated by Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, also a post-apocalyptic novel, whose main character is the only survivor of a plague that has killed off all other humans. George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) had a working title that relates it to Shelley’s book: â€Å"The Last Man in Europe†[6]. Other references, of course, include Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818/1831) as well as Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels[7] (1626/1635). Gulliver’s Travels is also the source of one of the two epigraphs and puts emphasis on the claim that the speculation about the near future in Oryx and Crake serves to make a point about the present state of the world. Swift’s speaker as quoted by Atwood says: â€Å"my principal design was to inform you, and not to amuse you† (Oryx and Crake, Epigraph). The second quotation from Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse (1927) refers to the absence of safety in the word, pointing to Snowman’s existence in the world af ter Crake’s catastrophe.

Jehovahs Witnesses Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Jehovahs Witnesses Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Jehovahs Witnesses There is more to Jehovah's Witnesses than we may believe. When we think of them as people who go door to door ringing doorbells and talking about religion. This particular faith is a separate part of the religion related to Christianity. They have their own thoughts about life and after life. They also have their own views on issues dealing on a worldly basis. The founder of Jehovah's Witnesses is Charles Taze Russell. The faith is simple and is derived from Orthodox Christianity. This faith is led by the Watchtower Society, whose headquarter is in Brooklyn, New York. They believe in Almighty God, whom they refer to as Jehovah. They believe that Christ is God's son and is inferior to him. There will be a kingdom under Christ, and he will rule it in peace. They believe that the Earth as we know it today will be changed after the battle of Armageddon. At the end of everything, the wicked people will be destroyed, the good people will live on Earth, and 144,000 people will go to heaven (Fama 1). In 1884, Russell founded the Watchtower Society. This was the early name for Jehovah's Witnesses. This society is what leads and governs the religion. The Society believes that they are the sole channel between God and humanity (Campbell 1). The headquarter for the Witnesses is located in Brooklyn, New York. Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to go to meetings at local Society meetings within their own local community at least three times a week. The Society is what the followers are a part of. Going to meetings held by the Society is a big part of their faith. It makes up and determines many laws for the followers. One major issue that the Watchtower Society is to make predictions. They had many predictions in the past. A few are as follows: In 1874, they believed that Jesus had come back to Earth to set up his invisible kingdom. In 1914, Jesus would judge the Earth and its good and bad people; they then looked forward to momentous events in 1918 (Campbell1). By the time it hit 1925, and nothing supernatural happened, the Watchtower Society had lost three-fourths of its members (Campbell 1). The Society makes predictions for the battle of Armageddon and the ending of the world. They believe that a generation lasts eighty years. After each marking point of a generation something can happen. The ending of the last generation was in 1994, 1914 plus 1998 equals eighty, eighty years after the prediction was expected. They say this because they believe that the average lifespan of a human in eighty years according to the psalms. The Society does a lot of ruling and regulates the religion (Campbell 2). The followers are expected to abide by the laws of the Watchtower Society, and there are no exceptions for this. They are to do what they are advised and told to do so. Any member not obeying can be reported to by another member and later be shunned or get a punishment set by the Watchtower Society (Shaun 1). The role of Christ in this religion is quite large. They believe that Christ is the Son of God and inferior to him, and that Christ was first of God's creations. They also believe that Christ's human life was paid as ransom for obedient humans. They say that Jesus inspected their organization in 1919 and found a faithful and discreet slave class, dispensing fine spiritual food to true believers (Fama 1). Right now they believe that Christ is present, but in the form of a spirit. According to the witnesses Christ's kingdom is here but invisible to all. A lot of what they believe about life after death has to do with him. They believe that his death, being sacrificed, saved humanity and this sacrifice is what is letting humanity survive today (Fama 1). Although they do not believe that Jesus has died on a cross, but rather he died on a stake. This is why it is prohibited for them to wear or own a cross because it goes against what they believe about Jesus dying on a stake. One aspect important to this faith is

The Basic Guide to Integers on SAT Math

The Basic Guide to Integers on SAT Math SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many SAT math questions involve the use of integers, especially in the early and middle ranges of each math section. This means that integers are a foundational element to SAT math and you should have a solid understanding of what integers are and how they work if you want to do well on the SAT math section. This guide will cover the basics of integers- what they are, how they relate to one another, and how you’ll see them on the test. For the more advanced integer concepts (including prime numbers, absolute values, exponents, and roots), check out our advanced guide to SAT integers. What is an Integer? An integer is a whole number. This means an integer is any number that is NOT expressed via a decimal or a fraction. Integers include all negative whole numbers, all positive whole numbers, and zero. Examples of Integers: -55, -2, 0, 14, 10,699 NOT integers: $Ï€$, $2/3$, 0.787 Think of integers as something you cannot split. For example, you cannot have half a marble in a box (unless you are either very strong or very careless). Positive and Negative Integers A number line is used to demonstrate how numbers relate to each other and to zero. All numbers to the right of zero are positive numbers. All numbers to the left of zero are negative numbers. Positive numbers get larger the farther they are from zero For example, 154 is larger than 12 because 154 is farther away from zero along the number line in a positive direction (to the right). Negative numbers get smaller the farther away they are from zero For example, -154 is smaller than -12 because -154 is a farther away from zero along the number line in a negative direction (to the left). A positive number is always larger than any negative number. For example, 1 is larger than -1,109. Typical Integer Questions on SAT Math Most SAT integer questions are a combination of word problem and equation problem. The test makers will tell you that the problem involves integers by explicitly using the word "integer" in the passage. You will then be asked to solve a given equation or identify whether or not certain equations are true. You must know that an integer means a whole number (and that integers include negative numbers and zero) to solve these problems. We will go through the rules of how integers behave with one another in order to make sense of these kinds of questions. Sometimes you’ll have to answer more abstract questions about how integers relate to one another when you add, subtract, multiply and divide them. You do not need to find a numerical answer for these types of questions, but you must instead identify whether certain equations will be even or odd, positive or negative. If $a$ is an odd integer and $b$ is an even integer, which of the following is an odd integer? A) $3b$B) $a+3$C) $2(a+b)$D) $a+2b$E) $2a+b$ There are two ways to go about solving these kinds of questions- you can either memorize how integers interact, or you can plug in your own sample numbers. For example, in the charts below, you'll see that: $\a\positive\number * \a\positive\number$ will always result in a positive number. If you forget this rule, you can always try it by saying $2 * 3 = 6$. Because you can always find these results by plugging in your own numbers, these rules are categorized as "good to know," not "necessary to know." negative * negative = positive $-2 * -3 = 6$ positive * positive = positive $2 * 3 = 6$ negative * positive = negative $-2 * 3 = -6$ Another way to think of this is, "When multiplying numbers, the result is always positive unless you’re multiplying a positive number and a negative number." odd * odd = odd $3 * 5 = 15$ even * even = even $2 * 4 = 8$ odd * even = even $3 * 4 = 12$ Another way to think of this is, "When multiplying numbers, the result is always even unless multiplying an odd number and an odd number." odd +/- odd = even $5 + 7 = 12$ even +/- even = even $10 - 6 = 4$ odd +/- even = odd $5 + 6 = 11$ Another way to think of this is, "When adding or subtracting numbers, the result is always even unless adding or subtracting an odd number and an even number." By understanding these rules (and/or by testing them out using your own numbers), you will be able to answer more complicated theoretical questions. Why is six afraid of seven? Because 7, 8, 9! Hardy-har-har. If we revisit the question above, knowing what we do now about number relationships, we can go through our answer choices to find the correct answer: If $a$ is an odd integer and $b$ is an even integer, which of the following is an odd integer? A) $3b$B) $a+3$C) $2(a+b)$D) $a+2b$E) $2a+b$ Choice A is incorrect, because $b$is an even integer. And we know that an even number * an odd number = an even number. Choice B is incorrect because $a$is an odd integer. And we know that an odd number + an odd number = an even number. Choice C is incorrect because $a$is an odd integer and $b$is an even integer. An even number + an odd number = an odd number. And an odd number * an even number (in this case 2) = an even number. Choice D is correct. Twice $b$ will be even, because an even number * an even number = an even number. And the final result will be odd because an odd number ($a$) + an even number ($2b$) = an odd number. Choice E is incorrect. Twice an odd number ($a$) will be an even number, because an even number * an odd number = an even number. And an even number + an even number = an even number. So your final answer is D, $a + 2b$. You can see how you could also solve this by double-checking these rules by using your own numbers. If you assign an odd number to $a$ and an even number to $b$, you can test out each option in about the same amount of time it would take you to go through your rules like this. So for this question, you could have said $a$ was 3 and $b$ was 4. Then option D would have looked like this: $3 + 2(4) = 11$ Again, because you can figure out these kinds of questions using real numbers, these rules are classified as "good to know," not "necessary to know." So let's look at how to put all the clues together to solve integer questions. Steps to Solving an SAT Math Integer Problem #1: Identify if the problem is, in fact, an integer problem. The SAT will always explicitly use the word "integer" to let you know if your answer must be in integers or if you can only use integers while solving the problem. For any problem that doesn’t specify that the variables (or the solution) are "integers," your answer or example numbers can be in decimals or fractions. Because the problem specifically uses the word "integer," we know we must only work with whole numbers. #2: If the problem asks you to identify equations that are always true, test out multiple different kinds of integers. If the question asks you to identify whether certain equations or inequalities are true for ALL integers, the equation must work equally with 10 as with 0 and -5. A good rule of thumb is to try -1, 0, and 1 with variable questions like these. These numbers often have special properties that make or break conditions. I'll explain what that means with a practice example. If $x$is an integer, which of the following equations MUST be true? I. $x^3 ≠¥ (-x)^3$ II. $x^3/x ≠¥ x^2/x$ III. $x(x + 1) ≠¤ -x + x^3$ A) I onlyB) II onlyC) III onlyD) I and III onlyE) I, II, and III For questions like these, we should test out our sample numbers, as it can get confusing to use our rules of integer behaviors with complex problems such as these. So for option I, let use our test numbers of -1, 0, and 1. $-1^3 = (-1)(-1)(-1) = -1$ $(1)^3$ = $1^3 = (1)(1)(1) = 1$ -1 is NOT greater than +1. This automatically eliminates option I. And by eliminating option I, we can eliminate answer choices A, D, and E right away. Now let's look at choice II with our same test numbers. ${(-1)^3}/{-1} = {(-1)(-1)(-1)}/{-1} = {-1}/{-1} = 1$ ${(-1)^2}/{-1} = {(-1)(-1)}/{-1} = {1}/{-1} = -1$ 1 -1. This means that option II works so far when we use a negative number. So let's try it with our positive number, 1. $1^3/1 = {(1)(1)(1)}/1 = 1/1 = 1$ $1^2/1 = {(1)(1)}/ 1 = 1/1 = 1$ 1 = 1. So option II still works. Lastly, we should test if the equation still works with 0. $0^3/0 = 0$ $0^2/0 = 0$ Option II works for all answer choices, so our final answer is B, II only. Because we know that option I does not work, we have eliminated all other answer choices. But if you want to make absolutely sure you did not make a mistake somewhere, you can test out option III as well. $-1(-1 + 1) = 0$ $-(-1) + (-1)^3 = 1 + (-1)(-1)(-1) = 1 + -1 = 0$ $0 = 0$ The two are equal, which means that option III works so far. Now let's try it with 1. $1(1 + 1) = 2$ $-1 + 1^3 = -1 + (1)(1)(1) = -1 + 1 = 0$ $2 0$ When we used a positive number, the equation was incorrect. This means that answer choice C is eliminated and our choice of B has been confirmed to be the only correct answer. #3: If the problem asks you to find the answer to long calculations, use your rules that you learned above or test it out with smaller numbers. $a, b, c, d, e, f$ are odd integers such that $a b c d e f$. Which statement(s) must be true? I. $abcdef$ is odd II. $a + b + c + d + e + f$ is odd III. $a(b + c + d + e + f)$ is odd A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I and III only E. I, II, and III Now you can approach this problem in one of two ways: by using your number rules or by using your own numbers. First, let's use our number rules to test option I. We know that each letter represents an odd integer and that the product of an odd number and another odd number is an odd number. Because an odd * an odd will always be odd, we know that option I is true. This means we can also eliminate answer choices B and C. Now let's look at option II. We know that an odd number + an odd number = an even number. We also know that an even number + an even number = an even number. So if we split $a + b + c + d + e + f$ into pairs of numbers, we'll have $(a + b) + (c + d) + (e + f)$. We know that each pair of numbers will have an even sum, so we're left with: an even number + an even number + an even number, which will give us an even final result. So option II is incorrect. This means we can eliminate answer choice E. Finally, let's look at option III. As we saw before, when we have six odd numbers (in other words, an even number of odd numbers), the sum will be even. Now, our parenthesis holds five (an odd number) of odd numbers, and an even number + an odd number = an odd number. So we know the number in the parenthesis will be odd. We also know that an odd number ($a$) * an odd number (the sum of $b, c, d, e, f$) = an odd number. So option III is correct. This means that our final answer is D, I and III only. The other way you could solve this problem would be to test out these rules with small numbers and extrapolate to find the larger answer. In other words, use small numbers in place of the variables. So for option I, if you didn't know an odd * an odd = an odd, you could replace $a$and $b$with the numbers 5 and 3. $5 * 3 = 15$, so you know that an odd * an odd = an odd number, no matter how many times you multiply it. So option I is correct. For option II, again test it out with smaller numbers. $7 + 5 = 12$, and $7 + 5 + 3 = 15$. So you know that adding odd numbers an even number of times gets you an even answer and adding odd numbers an odd number of times gets you an odd answer. There are six odd numbers, so the final answer must be even. Option II is incorrect. Taking what you learned by testing option II, you know that adding odd numbers an even number of times gets you an odd answer. And, taking what you learned from testing option I, you know that an odd number * an odd number = an odd number. This means your final answer must be odd, so option III is correct. This means the final answer is D, I and III only. Always remember that there are several ways to solve integer problems. So use real numbers and don't give up if it looks too complicated. The Take-Aways Simply by understanding what an integer is, you will be able to solve many SAT questions. Integer questions are often fairly straightforward if you know what numbers are included in the definition of an "integer" and which are not. If you remember to experiment with your own numbers when presented with the more abstract SAT questions and pay attention to when you must use integers and when you’re free to use any number, you will be able to solve most of the basic SAT integer questions. For the more advanced integer concepts- absolute values, exponents, etc.- be sure to check out our advanced guide to SAT integers. What's Next? Now that you’ve learned about what integers are, you may want to check out the advanced guide to SAT integers where we will go through absolute values, prime numbers, and exponents (among other concepts). Make sure that you also have a solid understanding of all the SAT math formulas you're both given and not given. Running out of time on SAT math? Check out our article on how to buy yourself those extra precious seconds and minutes and complete your SAT math problems before time’s up. Feeling overwhelmed? Start by figuring out your ideal score and check out how to improve a low SAT math score. Already have pretty good scores and looking to get a perfect 800? Check out our article on how to get a perfect score written by a perfect SAT-scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Summarize chapter 22 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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China and Japan's environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Astrology and Pagan Symbolism in Christianity

Astrology and Pagan Symbolism in Christianity Astrology and Pagan Symbolism in Christianity First of all we shall start the definitions of the key words as used in the research question. Astrology can be defined as the study of how events on earth correspond to the positions and movements of astronomical bodies which are the moon, sun, planets and the stars. Paganism in general is a term for the ancient and modern religions which identify nature as the body of the divine e.g. Taoism is the paganism of China, Hinduism is the Paganism of India, Shinto the paganism of Japan and Santeria, Voudon Macumba are the paganisms of the African Diaspora; etc On the other hand symbolism is the applied use of symbols i.e iconic representations that carry particular conventional meanings. Symbolism also refers to a way of choosing representative symbols that are in line with the abstract rather than literal properties, allowing for the broader interpretation of a carried meaning than more literal concept-representations can allow. A religion can be described as a language of concepts related to human spirituality. Symbolism hence is an important aspect of most religions. Christianity is the monotheistic system of beliefs and practices that are based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and that emphasizes the role of Jesus as savior and Christ. Discussion Zodiac is one of the oldest conceptual images in human history. It reflects the sun as it figuratively passes through the 12 major constellations over the course of a year. It also reflects the 12 months of the year, the 4 seasons, and the solstices and equinoxes. The term Zodiac relates to the fact that constellations were anthropomorphized, or personified, as figures, or animals. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary on December 25th/a> in Bethlehem, his birth was symbolized by a star in the east which three kings or magi followed to locate and adorn the new savior. He was a child teacher at age 12 and at the age of 30 he was baptized by John the Baptist, and thus began the ministry. Jesus had 12 disciples whom he traveled about with performing miracles such as healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, he was also known as the King of Kings, the Son of God, the Light of the World, the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb of God e.g. After being betrayed by Judas his disciple and sold for 30 pieces of silver, he was crucified, placed in a tomb and after 3 days resurrected and ascended to Heaven. The birth sequence of Jesus is completely astrological. The star in the east is Sirius, the brightest star in the sky at night, which on December 24th aligns with the three brightest stars in Orions Belt. These three bright stars are referred today what they were called in ancient times, The Three Kings. The Three Kings and the brightest star Sirius, all point to the place of the sunrise on December 25th. This is why the Three Kings follow the star in the east, in order to locate the sunrise or the birth of the sun. Virgin Mary is the constellation Virgo, also known as the Virgo the Virgin which in Latin means virgin. The ancient glyph for Virgo is the altered m. This is why Mary with other virgin mothers, such as Adoniss mother Myrrha and Buddhas mother Maya begin with an M. Virgo is also referred to as the House of Bread, and the represents of virgin holding a sheaf of wheat. The House of Bread and its symbol of wheat represent August and September, the time of harvest. In turn, Bethlehem literally translates to house of bread. Bethlehem therefore refers to the constellation Virgo, a place in the sky, not on Earth. Another very interesting phenomenon that occurs around December 25th is that from the summer solstice to the winter solstice, the days become shorter and colder. From the northern hemisphere perspective, the sun appears to move south gets smaller and more scarce. The shortening of days and the expiration of the crops when approaching the winter solstice symbolizes the process of death to the ancients. By December 22nd, the Suns demise was fully realized, for the Sun having moved south continually for 6 months, makes it to its lowest point in the sky. And here a curious thing occurs, the Sun stops moving south, at least for 3 days. In the three day pause, the Sun stays in the vicinity of the Southern Cross, or Crux, the constellation. After this time on December 25th, the Sun moves 1 degree, this time north, foreshadowing longer days, spring and warmth. And thus it was said, the Sun died on the cross, was dead for 3 days, only to be resurrected or born again. This is why Jesus and num erous other Sun Gods share the crucifixion, 3 day death, and resurrection concept. It’s the Suns transition period before it shifts its direction back towards the Northern Hemisphere bringing spring and thus salvation. However, they didn’t celebrate the resurrection of the Sun until the spring equinox, or Easter. This is because at the spring equinox, the Sun officially overpowers the evil darkness, as daytime thereafter becomes longer in duration than night, and the revitalizing conditions of spring emerge. Therefore the obvious astrological symbolism around Jesus regards the 12 disciples. They are simply the 12 constellations of the Zodiac, which Jesus, being the Sun, travels about with. In fact, the number 12 is seen more often throughout the Bible which has more to do with astrology than anything else. Looking at the cross of the Zodiac, the figurative life of the Sun, this was not an artistic expression or tool to track the Suns movements. It is a Pagan adaptation of the cross of the Zodiac. That is why Jesus in early occult art is shown with his head on the cross the Sun of God, the Light of the World, the Risen Savior, who will come again, as it is every morning, the Glory of God who battles against the works of darkness, as he is born again every morning, and can be seen coming in the clouds, up in Heaven, with his Crown of Thorns, or, sun rays. Now, of the many astrological-astronomical metaphors in the Bible, the most important has to do with the ages. In the scriptures there are numerous references ‘Age’. To understand this, we need to familiarize with the phenomenon called the precession of the equinoxes. Ancient Egyptians along with cultures long before them recognized that approximately for every 2150 years the sunrise on the morning of the spring equinox would occur at a different sign of the Zodiac. This is concerned with the slow angular wobble that the Earth maintains as it rotates on its axis. It’s called a precession because the constellations go backwards, rather than through the normal annual cycle. The time that it takes for the precession to go through all 12 signs is roughly 25 to 765 years. This is also called the Great Year, and ancient societies were very aware of this. Each 2150 year period was called an age. From 4300 b.c. to 2150 b.c., it was called the Age of Taurus, the Bull. From 2150 b.c. to 1 a.d., it was called the Age of Aries, the Ram, and from 1 a.d. to 2150 a.d. it was called the Age of Pisces, the age we are still in to date, and in and around 2150, we shall enter the new age called the Age of Aquarius. The Bible reflects a symbolic movement through 3 ages, while foreshadowing a 4th. In the Old Testament when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the 10 Commandments, he was very upset to see his people worshiping a golden bull calf. He reacted by shattering the stone tablets and instructing his people to kill each other in order to purify themselves. I would attribute this anger to the fact that the Israelites were worshiping a false idol or something to that effect. The fact is that the golden bull is Taurus the Bull, and Moses represents the new Age of Aries the Ram. That is why Jews even today still blow the Rams horn. Moses represents the new Age of Aries, and upon the new age, everyone should shed the old age. Other deities mark these transitions as well, a pre-Christian god who kills the bull, in the same symbol. Jesus is the figure who ushers in the age following Aries, the Age of Pisces the two Fish. Fish symbolism is very repetitive in the New Testament. Jesus fed 5000 people with bread and 2 fish. When he began his ministry walking along Galilee, he befriends 2 fishermen, who followed him. I have seen Jesus-fish on the backs of peoples cars. Yet they do not know what it actually means. It is a Pagan astrological symbolism for the Suns Kingdom during the Age of Pisces. Also, Jesus assumed birth date is essentially the start of this age. In Luke 22:10 when Jesus is asked by his disciples where the next Passover will be, Jesus replied ‘Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water follow him into the house where he entereth in.’ this scripture is one of the most revealing of all the astrological references. The man carrying a pitcher of water is Aquarius, the water bearer, who is always seen as a man pouring out a pitcher of water. He represents the age after Pisces, and when the Sun leaves the Age of Pisces (Jesus), it will go into the House of Aquarius, as Aquarius follows Pisces in the precession of the equinoxes. Also what Jesus is that after the Age of Pisces will come the Age of Aquarius. We have all heard about the end times and the end of the world. Apart from the depictions in the Book of Revelation, the main source of this idea comes from Matthew 28:20, where Jesus says ‘I will be with you even to the end of the world.’ Otherwise, in King James Version, ‘the world’ is a mistranslation, among many mistranslations. The actual word being used is aeon, which means ‘age.’ ‘I will be with you even to the end of the age.’ Which is true, as Jesus Solar Piscean representation will end when the Sun enters the Age of Aquarius. The entire concept of end times and the end of the world is a misinterpreted astrological allegation. Lets tell that to the approximately 100 million people in America who believe the end of the world is coming. Furthermore, Jesus character, a literary and astrological hybrid, is most explicitly similar to the Egyptian Sun god Horus e.g., inscribed about 3500 years ago on the walls of the Temple of Luxor in Egypt are images of the enunciation of the immaculate conception, the birth, and the adoration of Horus. The images begin with Thaw announcing to the virgin Isis that she will conceive Horus, then Nef the holy ghost shall impregnant the virgin Isis, and then the virgin birth and the adoration. This exactly entails Jesus’ miracle conception. In fact, the literary similarities between the Egyptian religion and the Christian religion are staggering. The plagiarism is continuous. The story of Noah and the Ark is taken directly from the traditions. The concept of a Great Flood is common throughout the ancient world, with over 200 different cited claims in different periods and times. However, one needs look no further for a pre-Christian source than the Epic of Gilgamesh, written in 2600 b.c. In this story is told of a Great Flood commanded by God, an Ark with saved animals on it, and even the release and return of a dove, all held in common with the biblical story, among many other similar occurrences. Then there is the plagiarized story of Moses. Upon Moses birth, it is said that he was placed in a reed basket and set adrift in a river in order to avoid infanticide. He was later rescued by a daughter of a king and raised by her as a Prince. This baby in a basket story was lifted directly from the myth of Sargon of Akkad of around 2250 b.c. Sargon was born, placed in a reed basket in order to avoid infanticide, and set adrift in a river. He was in turn rescued and raised by Akki, a royal mid-wife. Furthermore, Moses is known as the giver of the Ten Commandments. However, the idea of a Law being passed from God to a prophet on a mountain is also a very old motif. Moses is just a law giver in a series of law givers in mythological history. In India, Manou was the great law giver. In Crete, Minos ascended Mount Dicta, where Zeus gave him the sacred laws. While in Egypt there was Mises, who carried stone tablets and upon them the laws of god were written. The Ten Commandments are taken outright from Spell 125 of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. What the Book of the Dead phrased I have not killed Thou shall not kill, I have not told lies became Thou shall not bear false witness I have not stolen became Thou shall not steal,† and so forth. In fact, the Egyptian religion is likely the primary foundational basis for the Judeo-Christian theology. Baptism, afterlife, final judgment, virgin birth and resurrection, crucifixion, the Ark of the Covenant, circumcision, saviors, Holy Communion, the great flood, Easter, Christmas, Passover, and many more, are all attributes of Egyptian ideas, long predating Christianity and Judaism. Justin Martyr, one of the first Christian historians and defenders, said: When we say that Jesus Christ, our teacher, was produced without sexual union, was crucified and died, and rose again, and ascended into Heaven, we propound nothing different from what you believe regarding those who you esteem Sons of Jupiter. In a different writing, Justin Martyr said He was born of a virgin; accept this in similarity with what you believe of Perseus. Its quite obvious that Justin and other early Christians knew how similar Christianity was to the Pagan religions and practices. However, Justin had a solution, as far as he was concerned, the Devil did it. The Devil had the foresight to come before Christ, and create these characteristics in the Pagan world. The Bible is just but an astro-theological literary fold hybrid, just like nearly all religious myths before it. In fact, the aspect of transference, of one characters attributes to a new character, can be found within the bible itself. In the Old Testament theres the story of Joseph. Joseph was a prototype for Jesus. Joseph was born of a miracle birth; Jesus was born of a miracle birth. Joseph was of 12 brothers, Jesus had 12 disciples. Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver; Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Brother Judah suggests the sale of Joseph, disciple Judas suggests the sale of Jesus. Joseph began his work at the age of 30; Jesus began his work at the age of 30. The parallels go on and on. At the time of Jesus, the Mediterranean world was ruled by the Roman Empire. The Romans were pagans, who had their own gods namely; Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and so on. The names of these gods have survived to date in the names of the planets, the days of the week, names of months and general linguistic usage. The other cultures in the area also had their own gods and goddesses, who corresponded more or less to the Roman pantheon. Greek was the language of culture in the Middle East; the main centre was Alexandria in Egypt and the Roman world was one in which trade and religion passed rapidly between the cities and towns along the marvello. Celebrating the Solstice was forbidden by the Church, but many customs survived anyway. In the 4th Century, Pope Julius I declared that 25th December was Jesus birthday and so celebrations were in order. This effectively transformed the Pagan occasion into a Christian holy day (holiday). This was not, however, merely a convenient way to Christianize a Pagan celebration. There is no historical evidence to prove what date Jesus was born on, or the season, or even the year. But after many years of calculation, contemplation and argument, 25th December was assigned. And since the why is more important than the when, that date has been good enough for Christians ever since. Conclusion Paganism has a wider influence on our lives than we might care to think. Take for example, the simple wedding ring. This has profound Pagan origins yet is considered an essential part of the wedding ceremony by many Christians. Overemphasizing the relevance and importance of religious symbols can lead to conflict. Consider the tensions that rose in France during 2004/5, following the banning of Muslim headscarves, Sikh turbans, Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crucifixes, and other conspicuous religious symbols that dont blend into secular state schools5. The headscarf issue resulted in just a handful of school expulsions but more damagingly generated ill-feeling, divided the country and achieved nothing positive. Paganism has had a wide influence on Christianity given the many examples of rites and regalia that support this assertion. And this raises the question: So what? Christians should be cautious about condemning practices as Pagan, just because of their origins. The origins may be interesting, but not so important. What is really important, however, is what we do with these things. References: J. G. Frazer (1993) The Golden Bough, Macmillan Co. Ltd, London R. Graves (1961) the white Goddess, Faber Faber, London A. His lop: (1990) The Two Babylon’s, Loizeaux Brothers; 2nd edition. M. D. Magee Sun Gods as Atoning Saviors an online resource investigating the origins of Christian and Jewish teachings Strabo:( 1982) The Geography of Strabo, Loeb Classical Library Tertullian:( 870) Adversus Judaeos, trans. Rev. S. Thelwall, 1870 B. G. Walker 🙠 1983) the Womans Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, Harper Row, NY