A Beginners Guide to Ruby Programming Language

A Beginners Guide to Ruby Programming Language Ruby is unique among object-oriented scripting languages. In a sense, its a purists language for those who love object-oriented languages. Everything, without exception, is automatically an object, whereas in other programming languages this isnt true. What is an object? Well, in a sense you can think of it in terms of building a car. If you have a blueprint for it, then an object is whats built from that blueprint. It contains all the attributes that the object holds (i.e. make, model, color) and the actions it can perform. But, even as a pure object-oriented language, Ruby doesnt sacrifice any usability or flexibility by leaving out features that arent expressly related to object-oriented programming. Designing Ruby Rubys architect Yukihiro Matsumoto (known simply as Matz on the web) designed the language to be simple enough for beginning programmers to use while also powerful enough for experienced programmers to have all the tools theyd need. It sounds contradictory, but this dichotomy is owed to Rubys pure object-oriented design and Matzs careful selection of features from other languages such as Perl, Smalltalk, and Lisp. There are libraries for building all types of applications with Ruby: XML parsers, GUI bindings, networking protocols, game libraries and more. Ruby programmers also have access to the powerful RubyGems program. Comparable to Perls CPAN, RubyGems makes it easy to import other programmers libraries into your own programs. What Is Ruby Not? Like any programming language, Ruby has its downsides. Its not a high-performance programming language. In that regard, Pythons virtual machine design has a huge advantage. Also, if youre not a fan of the object-oriented methodology then Ruby isnt for you. Though Ruby does have some features that fall outside the realm of object-oriented languages, its not possible to create a non-trivial Ruby program without using the object-oriented features. Ruby doesnt always perform as well as other similar scripting languages in raw computing tasks. That being said, future versions will address these problems and alternate implementations, such as JRuby, are available as a workaround for these issues. How Is Ruby Used? Ruby is used in typical scripting language applications such as text processing and glue or middleware programs. Its suitable for small, ad-hoc scripting tasks that, in the past, may have been solved with Perl. Writing small programs with Ruby is as easy as importing the modules you need and writing an almost BASIC-like sequence of events type of program. Like Perl, Ruby also has first-class regular expressions, which makes text processing scripts a snap to write. The flexible syntax also aides in small scripts. With some object-oriented languages, you can get bogged down with verbose and bulky code, but Ruby leaves you free to simply worry about your script. Ruby is also suitable for larger software systems. Its most successful application is in the Ruby on Rails web framework, software which has five major subsystems, numerous minor pieces and a plethora of support scripts, database backends, and libraries. To aid the creation of larger systems, Ruby offers several layers of compartmentalization, including the class and module. Its lack of superfluous features allows programmers to write and use large software systems without any surprises. What Skills Would Be Helpful for Learning Ruby? A solid understanding of object-oriented concepts. Ruby is an object-oriented language and the object-oriented features are used throughout. Without this critical skill, youll be struggling as a Ruby programmer.A bit of functional programming knowledge. This is a plus as Ruby uses the block or closure extensively. Not having this ability isnt insurmountable, though. Creating blocks is a feature that can be learned easily enough while learning Ruby.A bit of navigational know-how. The primary way of running a Ruby script is from the command-line. Knowing how to navigate directories, run scripts and redirect input and output are essential skills to Ruby programmers. Applications and Tools Needed for Ruby The Ruby interpreterA text editor such as Notepad, Scite, or Vim. Word processors such as Wordpad or Microsoft Word are not suitable.Command-line access. Though the details of this differ from platform to platform, Linux, Windows, and OSX all have this available without any extra downloads or software installation.

Pierre Bourdieu Biography and His Work

Pierre Bourdieu Biography and His Work Pierre Bourdieu was a renowned sociologist and public intellectual who made significant contributions to  general sociological theory, theorizing the link between education and culture, and research into the intersections of taste, class, and education. He is well known for pioneering such terms as symbolic violence, cultural capital, and habitus. His book  Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste  is the most cited sociology text in recent decades. Biography Bourdieu was born August 1, 1930, in Denguin, France, and died in Paris on January 23, 2002. He grew up in a small village in the south of France and attended a public high school nearby before moving to Paris to attend  the Lycà ©e Louis-le-Grand. Following that, Bourdieu studied philosophy at the École Normale Supà ©rieure- also in Paris. Career and Later Life Upon graduation, Bourdieu taught philosophy at the high school of Moulins, a small town in mid-central France, before serving in the French army in Algeria, then taking a post as lecturer in Algiers in 1958. Bourdieu conducted ethnographic research  while the Algerian War continued. He studied the conflict via the Kabyle people, and the results of this study were published in Bourdieus first book, Sociologie de LAlgerie (The Sociology of  Algeria). Following his time in Algiers, Bourdieu returned to Paris in 1960. Shortly after he commenced teaching at the University of Lille, where he worked until 1964. It was at this time that Bourdieu became Director of Studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales and founded the Center for European Sociology. In 1975 Bourdieu helped found the interdisciplinary journal Actes de la Recherche en Sciences Sociales, which he shepherded until his death. Through this journal, Bourdieu sought to denationalize social science, to break down the preconceived notions of ordinary and scholarly common sense, and to break out of established forms of scientiï ¬ c communication by commingling analysis, raw data, ï ¬ eld documents, and pictorial illustrations. Indeed, the motto for this journal was to display and to demonstrate. Bourdieu received many honors and awards in his life, including Mà ©daille dOr du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in 1993;  the Goffman Prize from the University of California, Berkeley in 1996; and in 2001, the Huxley Medal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Influences Bourdieus work was influenced by founders of sociology, including Max Weber, Karl Marx, and Émile Durkheim, as well as by other scholars from the disciplines of anthropology and philosophy. Major Publications The School as a Conservative Force (1966)Outline of a Theory of Practice (1977)Reproduction in Education, Society, and Culture (1977)Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste (1984)Forms of Capital (1986)Language and Symbolic Power  (1991)

Matrices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Matrices - Essay Example It remains to determine if any of the 33 sub matrices of the augmented matrix (B) have a non – zero determinant. For example in a square sub matrix of order 33 of [B], namely, These system of equations are inconsistent, because the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] in which det(D) = 0. Moreover, a 3rd order square sub matrices of [B], namely, , and are such that their corresponding determinants are zero. In other words, all the 3rd order square sub matrices of the augmented matrix [B] have a zero determinant. Therefore, the rank of the augmented matrix [B] is less than 3. Since, there exists a 2nd order square sub matrix of matrix [B], such that det(H) = -120≠ 0, the rank of the augmented matrix [B] is 2. The rank of the coefficient matrix [A], whereis to be determined. Det(A) = 0. Hence, the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] is less than 3. is a square sub matrix of matrix [A] and det (J) = -3 ï‚ ¹ 0. Therefore, the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] is 2. Hence, rank of the coefficient matrix [A] = rank of the augmented matrix [B], accordingly the system of equations given by [A] [X] = [B] is consistent. Nevertheless, the rank of the coefficient matrix [A] = rank of the augmented matrix [B] < 3, therefore there are only 2 constraints; consequently, these equations have infinitely many

Lying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lying - Essay Example However, sometimes in life, one is faced with situations that require some amount of lying, or rather twisting the truth. For instance, parents do relate white lies to children, by saying that a demon would come and kidnap the baby, if he or she does not eat. A teacher might threaten a student, to prevent him or her from getting attuned to what is not morally right. One is, sometimes, forced to lie due to the turn around of circumstances. At such a juncture, one might be troubled by the question, as to whether it is right to lie or not. When is it alright, to lie and when is it not This question is one that is ethically quite perception-oriented. What might seem right to some might not to the rest. In the Indian epic of Mahabharatha, Lord Krishna says that it is alright to lie, if it translates into being committed for the welfare of the others. This, is considered ethically appropriate. If lying does not bring about harm and is more so, good for the majority, it is alright to lie. According to Buddhist scriptures, there ar

The Woman in Black Review Essay Example for Free

The Woman in Black Review Essay Upon the arrival in London my anticipation was high. My first impression of the Fortune Theatre was; it was a very old Victorian building, very small and slightly ragged. Upon entering it felt very cramped and made you feel claustrophobic. The atmosphere was eerie due to the old style of the building. This was particularly effective as the play was set in the Victorian period. This made you feel as if you were in the past. Also the narrow staircase and small seating area created effect. Before the play starts there is no background music played to set a scene or image in the audiences mind. The play starts without warning and lights go down and we are straight into the story. The play is set in a theatre and the audience see the actors rehearsing a manuscript to an empty crowd. At first the older actor was reading his story as if he was an appalling actor. This technique used was effective and gave some comic relief at the start of the play. He mumbled his words without emotion which was in total contrast to the younger actor. The younger actor was very articulate and pronounced his words properly, both characters spoke with posh accents. By doing this it lulled the audience in to an almost false sense of security. Fans blew into the theatre to make the ambience cold and chilling. Diagram of the Stage The audience were seated in front of the stage. This was so the whole audience would all see the play in the same way. Also this would ensure the woman in black wouldnt be able to be spotted. The set was open and most things on the stage were shown. There was a clothes rack which was covered, a wicker basket which was closed and some metal buckets. There was a door which was shut but we did not know to where it would lead. However during the play we discovered a whole new dimension to the stage. Behind a gauze there was another part of the stage. If this had been shown some of the creative element would have been lost as we wouldnt be surprised to see it. Also the fact the only time the audience saw the back of the stage was when the actors themselves were present there. This would link the audience to the actor and heighten the personal bond. Spotlights were used a lot in this production. It persuaded the audience to focus on one area of the stage. It also gave a creepy effect, as you could not see the whole of the stage, therefore you would not know what was happening in the black spots. Images were also shone on to a translucent curtain showing at the position of the actors. This included a crucifix. This was effective as it was a very overpowering image, which embraces the audience as it is the first scary moment of the play. The other image was of the house in which the Woman in Black haunts. It gives you a mental representation of what the building would look like. Upon seeing this building, it was obvious a catastrophe was immanent. The lighting also represented where they were. For instance the actors were on a train and the windows of another train passed. This made you jump and started a continuous pattern of many frights to come. Sometimes the lack of lighting built up the atmosphere. At one time the stage was dark until the actor lit a match which illuminated his face. The effect of this was astonishing, such a simple thing as a match built up the scene immediately. The match was very effective because it was less bright than a spotlight and would not show off the surroundings. A torch was also used in the same way as the match but was just as effective as it showed a specific area. After seeing this used I realised how effective low light can be to create suspense and confusion. Sometimes the light came as a relief for the audience. In the first half of the play whenever there was a scary part normal lighting would come in to effect and give the audience relief from the intenseness. This almost gave the audience a false sense of security. The most effective use of the lighting was the way in which the Woman in Blacks face was bright white and prominent. The audience never quite managed to see the full complexion of her face as she was not still for long. However it showed enough to keep the audience intrigued and for them to know it was a ghost. The darkness created a spooky air about a scene but there was music to accompany it. Recorded sound was also used in this play. In the same way as lighting it set the scene and emulated a climax. For instance it was used to create a scene in an office by the ticking of a clock. The main way sound was used was to build up a climax. A recorded sound of a rocking chair would always represent a terrifying image about to appear; the Woman in Black. We would associate sounds to images. It was an almost psychotic repetitive noise, which at first time of hearing may not have been distinguished as anything important. Another petrifying noise was an ear piercing, frightful scream. It sounded like it was made by someone in the utmost agonising pain who had gone insane with rage. It most certainly made the audience jump as it was played very loudly at an unexpected moment. However I considered it to be more than just a short fright. The sound was very disturbing. The way in which it died out gently also made you wonder what the person making it was feeling. It conjured up an image of someone who could not cope with what was happening to them. They let all the rage out in one long blast. It was played a number of times, each very chilling. It did not lose the effect, as it was played unexpectedly each time, thus you heard it in another situation and dimension. The other main recording was of a horse and trap coming slowly to a halt and then crashing. This is played at the end of the play and is a backbone to the plot. It is an equally disturbing noise not one you would chose to listen to regularly. This was also used to show an image you could not see and would put that picture vividly into your mind. After the crash it was followed by a dampened scream (slightly less potent than the previous, but equally as disturbing! ). The lighting and sound contributed immensely to the play. Without the immaculate and synchronized use of sound and lighting the plays ferocity (it has in copious amounts) would be lost, no matter how good the actors were. The attire used by the actors was very Victorian. They wore waistcoats and suits, making themselves look respectable. The older man would change clothes which also changed his character. This technique was effective as there were only two main actors. I saw this skill used in another play Stones in His Pockets which consisted of only two actors. The Woman in Black wore a black cloak with a bonnet to cover a lot of her face and hair. Her long cloak covered her feet most of the time giving the impression that she floated instead of walking. Accompanied by the sound and lighting was the immensely impressive acting. The younger actor gave a solid performance in his role of an actor. However many of his facial expressions were very modern and contemporary, these would not have been used in the Victorian times. Sometimes also his diction sounded very forced in comparison to the older man who had a very calm and constant accent. The older actors accent sounded like it was his own normal voice and was how he spoke. One of the younger actors most elaborate and perfect factors was his frustration when he was playing the older actor when he was young. This made you forget he was acting and made the audience accept as true the fact that he was the older actor when he was young and not actually acting him. Both actors were extremely talented, the older man was flawless. His overall performance as all the characters was outstanding. I enjoyed how he got into his first role when he puts on his glasses. The gradual transition is very effective and amusing. His acting in natural situations was actually completely natural, which made everything believable. One of my favoured characters of his was the driver Ketwick. This was very well done and brought some comic relief to the play. As in many of his characters he used his hands a lot to express himself. A very good example of this was at the end when the younger actor congratulates him on bringing a woman. The older man reacts as if he doesnt know what he is talking about. This was not strained nor was it milked, they spent just enough time to put across to the audience. A subtle sign of his perfection was the whole way through the play he never looks at the Woman in Black making the end believable. However an important role has been missed out. The Woman in Black is easy to forget as an actor and could be overshadowed by the other actors and also you think of her as an actual ghost. Her facial expressions were stern and ferocious. The audience could see the fury in her eyes. She walked concisely and smoothly almost floating. Yet at one point she ran which was petrifying, as you did not know where she was going to end up. Her facial expressions were good, a little more frightening effect could have been gained if her face was more cadaver like. Nevertheless it was clever of the director to not include her in the program and not for her to take a bow. This made you constantly scared of her, as you do not think of her as a real person. After saying how effective sound was in this play I think the lack of it was more effective. The long silences followed by a noise or person would always make you jump. The silences would always build the suspense and get you ready for something bad to happen. After the loud, unexpected sounds there were many long pauses, which added to the sinister atmosphere. In my opinion this was the most effective use of sound. By the end of the play there was still a disturbing ambience as I walked away. I had thoroughly enjoyed the play and was suitably scared. Any more and I may not have been able to sleep. I took away many aspects of acting, which could be useful in the future. The use of silence and torches in the darkness were some of my favourites. The play was enjoyable and funny but also terrorizing. One of the most amusing parts was the dog spider scene. This was hard to act as they were pretending there was a dog but it was done with the utmost ease. It was funny how the older man kicked the dog saying it does what I say. If I was a critic for a magazine my short caption would read; The Woman in Black is a play with a distressing plot, of ghastly ghostly terror. Set in the Victorian times it sends a feeling of emptiness and solitude through you, nevertheless an obvious first choice for taking the young ones to see, to appreciate and learn from the immaculate actors and use of stage crew!

St. Johns Wort...A Peculiar Name for an Interesting Plant :: Botany

St. John's Wort...A Peculiar Name for an Interesting Plant There is an illness that afflicts about 17.6 million American adults each year. In the U.S., it is the number one reason that someone consults a family physician. It costs the economy more than ulcers, diabetes, arthritis or hypertension. What is this mysterious illness? -- It is depression. Depression has been treated in the past with prescription drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, but now more and more people are turning to the herbal "remedy" known as St. John's wort (3). St. John's wort, also known as Hypericum perforatum, has grown in popularity in the last several years. Its' popularity originated in Europe where it is prescribed and treated as a drug (5). In Germany, St John's wort extract is prescribed 8 times more often than Prozac for depression (7). In the United States, retail sales of St. Johns wort climbed by almost 3,000% during the past year (5)! This herbal is effective for mild to moderate depression and can also help those who have troubles sleeping (2). Even though St. John's wort seems like the perfect remedy for mild to moderate depression, there can be drug interactions and side effects associated with it. St. John's Wort comes from a shrubby plant that has also been termed a weed. Its' flowers are yellow and are 5 petaled, 1-2 inches across, and bright yellow with dense tufts of stamens. Its' bloom period is in July. It can be found growing naturally in Kentucky and Tennessee, south to northern Florida, west to eastern Texas (4), and grows quite well in Northern California and Southern Oregon. Ancient Christian mystics named Hypericum after St. John the Baptist. "Wort" is an old English word for plant. The flowers were traditionally collected on June 24th, which is St. John's Day. The flowers were soaked in olive oil for several days to produce a blood red anointing oil, which symbolized St. John's blood (7). The active chemical in St. John's wort is hypericin. Dried extracts from harvested buds, blooms, leaves, and stems contain variable amounts of hypericin (6). It was once thought that this chemical interfered with MAO, which is an enzyme in the brain. The purpose of this enzyme is to destroy amines that make us feel good such as: serotonin, epinephrine, and dopamine. This chemical is what is responsible for the red color (3). This, however has been shown to be wrong recently. St. John's Wort...A Peculiar Name for an Interesting Plant :: Botany St. John's Wort...A Peculiar Name for an Interesting Plant There is an illness that afflicts about 17.6 million American adults each year. In the U.S., it is the number one reason that someone consults a family physician. It costs the economy more than ulcers, diabetes, arthritis or hypertension. What is this mysterious illness? -- It is depression. Depression has been treated in the past with prescription drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, but now more and more people are turning to the herbal "remedy" known as St. John's wort (3). St. John's wort, also known as Hypericum perforatum, has grown in popularity in the last several years. Its' popularity originated in Europe where it is prescribed and treated as a drug (5). In Germany, St John's wort extract is prescribed 8 times more often than Prozac for depression (7). In the United States, retail sales of St. Johns wort climbed by almost 3,000% during the past year (5)! This herbal is effective for mild to moderate depression and can also help those who have troubles sleeping (2). Even though St. John's wort seems like the perfect remedy for mild to moderate depression, there can be drug interactions and side effects associated with it. St. John's Wort comes from a shrubby plant that has also been termed a weed. Its' flowers are yellow and are 5 petaled, 1-2 inches across, and bright yellow with dense tufts of stamens. Its' bloom period is in July. It can be found growing naturally in Kentucky and Tennessee, south to northern Florida, west to eastern Texas (4), and grows quite well in Northern California and Southern Oregon. Ancient Christian mystics named Hypericum after St. John the Baptist. "Wort" is an old English word for plant. The flowers were traditionally collected on June 24th, which is St. John's Day. The flowers were soaked in olive oil for several days to produce a blood red anointing oil, which symbolized St. John's blood (7). The active chemical in St. John's wort is hypericin. Dried extracts from harvested buds, blooms, leaves, and stems contain variable amounts of hypericin (6). It was once thought that this chemical interfered with MAO, which is an enzyme in the brain. The purpose of this enzyme is to destroy amines that make us feel good such as: serotonin, epinephrine, and dopamine. This chemical is what is responsible for the red color (3). This, however has been shown to be wrong recently.

Prayer In Public Schools Essay

The pros and cons of prayer in public schools have been debated for over forty years. The foundation of the United States is based on religious tolerance. The pilgrims came to this country because they were not free to worship and serve God leading to the guarantee of religious freedom in the Constitution. In years past, it was not acceptable in this country to proclaim disbelief in God.   Prayer in schools was an integral part of religious life. During the 1940’s and 1950’s, conservatives and liberals believed religion focusing on a personal relationship with Christ should be taught in schools (Zimmerman, pg. 1). It was not until the 1960’s that individuals began to have issues with this status quote. With more and more citizens coming forward to fight for their individual religious rights, it was decided by the Supreme Court that since everyone does not believe in God (or does not believe in the same God) open prayer should be removed from public schools. This does not mean that all prayer was removed from public schools. The 1962 ruling of the Supreme Court found organized school prayer unconstitutional (Manegold, pg. 1), which means that students can still pray privately. Yet, some people still found this unacceptable. No matter what side of the issue someone sits on, the fight surrounding prayer in public schools is deep and long-running. â€Å"Separation of church and state is a fundamental premise of our Constitution and our country,† (pbs.org, pg. 1). Prayer represents church and the Supreme Court and public schools represent state. The Constitution infers that the two should never meet. Those who oppose prayer in schools, first argue that prayer in public schools bring church and state together. The 1962 decision brought a surprising number of religious supporters. Martin Luther King Jr. was one such supporter. â€Å"It’s prayer decision was sound and good,† King declared, â€Å"reaffirming something that is basic in our Constitution, namely separation of church and state† (Zimmerman, pg. 1). Pastors and proclaimed Christians supported the Supreme Court because they did not want the state or government mixing in church affairs. Another argument focuses on personal rights guaranteed by the Constitution. As citizens of the United States, every person is guaranteed certain rights and public prayer impinges on those rights. Personal religious beliefs should not be forced onto someone else. Everyone has a right to pray and believe in what they want, whenever they want. The 1st â€Å"amendment sets out the principles regarding religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.   Basically, it protects our rights to worship as we want, say what we want, publish what we want, gather in groups, and make our concerns known to the government.   It also prohibits the government from identifying with a particular religion; effectively separating church and state† (pbs.org, pg. 1). When students are allowed to prayer publicly, the issue of others imposing their personal beliefs on others will occur. Prayer in school inhibits personal and guaranteed rights.   Supporters of prayer in public schools believe the Supreme Court has overstepped its authority. â€Å"The supreme Court†¦serves to clarify, refine and test the ideals written into the Constitution (pbs.org, pg. 1). It is their job to interpret the Constitution when lawsuits are filed concerning Constitutional laws. As a result of restricted prayer in public school, supporters of prayer continue to flood Congress with proposals to â€Å"keep the issue alive†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Zimmerman, pg. 1), fighting to bring organized prayer back into public schools.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Supporters argue that the amount of violence in today’s schools is directly linked to the ban of prayer in schools. It is not just a matter of students fist fighting but violence often involve knifes and guns, resulting in deaths. â€Å"Juvenile delinquency is on the rise. America is in an advanced state of moral decline,† (Zimmerman, pg. 2). Those in favor of prayer in schools are convinced that if God is brought back into the classroom, the violence will stop. The Bible teaches against violence and teaches love and tolerance. Collective and organized prayer will bring students together and stop violence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United States is a diverse country with millions of people who believe in different religions and serve different Gods (or the same God called by different names). Students have a right to go to school and not be made to feel uncomfortable because of public prayer. The problem with supporters of prayer in public schools is that they do not understand the Supreme Court’s 1962 ruling. The Supreme Court’s ruled organized prayer is unconstitutional. Students can still pray privately. There is no reason to have public prayer unless the goal is to sway individuals to a particular way of thinking. Twenty-two years before the 1962 ruling, in 1940, the Supreme Court ruled â€Å"that a public school may require students to salute the flag and pledge allegiance even if it violates their religious scruples† (pbs.org, pg. 2).   Although this ruling was overturned three years later, it shows how the subject of school and religion has always been a murky area. The issue of prayer in school remains â€Å"unsettled† from the Supreme Court to local governments to school officials (Manegold, pg. 1). The first amendment has guaranteed everyone the right to free speech, therefore, citizens of the United States will continue to fight for rights they believe have been infringed in any way. The debate over prayer in school has not ended and is not likely to end in the near future. Works Cited    Manegold, Catherine S. February 5, 1994. Senators Take a Cautious Stand on School Prayer. New York Times. Retrieved from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html. PBS. April 5, 2001. â€Å"School and Religion.† Virginia. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june00/school_prayer.htm. Zimmerman, Jonathan. January 25, 2001. â€Å"The Other Massive Resistance: School Prayer and the Conservative Revolution, 1962-1984†. New York University. Retrieved from http://www.virginia.edu/uvanewsmakers/newsmakers/zimmerman.html.

Book cover judgments

The term ‘book cover judgments’ bears only negative connotations. It’s widely accepted in the society that a person should analyze and synthesize all the available information before arriving at any decision. People who sometimes make book cover judgments are considered shallow and hypocritical. It’s often deemed to be a sign of narrowness and over-indulged self-opinion. Psychologists struggled to prove that the first impression is frequently the most lasting and important one, yet the society still keeps to the notion that superficial judgments are the greatest evil.Upon careful investigation, it becomes evident that book cover judgments often provide the most relevant and accurate information, being an important way to organize information, which is especially relevant at the dawn of the Information Age. In many cases, book cover judgment can provide the most relevant and accurate information. It’s especially true about making up one’s mind about other people: it’s a well-known fact that the first impression can be formed from brief exposure to another, and it can last for years.It can be proven by one of the new fads, speed-dating, organized by such companies as 8MinuteDating and HurryDate, when people meet with a dozen of people for up to ten minutes and then decide on their potential companions. Its concept rests on a simple belief that a couple of minutes can be plenty of time to understand a person up and judge compatibility. It’s not a top secret that everybody evaluates each other based on immediate intuitions.Scientists are discovering that in many situations our social intuition is indeed astonishing, as we can sometimes collect a considerable amount of information about a person’s nature or abilities in just a few seconds. Initial encounters are emotionally intense events that can overwhelm us, therefore true and accurate judgments can be formed. Book cover judgments are not simple hardwi red reactions, since people are also taught how to judge others, holding our first impressions up to the light of social stereotypes. Implicit attitudes that enter into our calculations are always in place.As a consequence, sometimes book cover judgments are considered synonymous to such words as stereotypes and prejudices. Prejudices and stereotypes are schemes that assist us in comprehending the reality; when reality does not correspond to our prejudice it is easier for our mind to modify our interpretation of reality than to modify the prejudice. Prejudices help us to complement information when we do not posses at the moment. And here it’s of paramount importance to draw a line between these two concepts. From a psychological perspective, stereotypes are simply ways to organize information in your head.Having stereotypes amount to having life experience to build upon. It’s necessary to use stereotypes to draw parallel with other similar cases in the past, to avoid mistakes or use the strong sides of some employees. Stereotypes consist basically in shared beliefs or notions about a certain group or event. A stereotype is a combination of characteristics that sums up this group or event. The goal of stereotypes is to simplify reality. Prejudices, however, are judgements we make about another person or group of people without trying to understand them.They are divided into negative or positive in character, yet negative prejudices prevail. Prejudices often go along with ignorance, fear or hatred. When making judgments about groups of people, book cover judgments aren’t enough. It has been shown already that one can’t do without organizing information without help of stereotypes. This is especially true in the Information Age when people are receiving a huge amount of information every second. Information flows are continuously intensifying, and this tendency is projected to amplify in the future. In the past, people had enough time to allocate to such matters as judging and rethinking.The decline of conventional philosophy at the beginning of the 21st century is the evidence of the diminishing value of in-depth analysis. While this analysis is sometimes performed for a variety of reasons, it’s conspicuously absent from our everyday life. It’s too early to blame modern men for laziness or ignorance – without making book cover judgments, it’s impossible to make sense of all the information we have to process every day. In other words, book cover judgments are necessary for many reasons. First of all, they can quickly provide much information about a certain person just after few minutes of initial contact.Secondly, stereotypes have been proven to be an important way to organize information. Las but not least, book cover judgments are the only option available to the society living in the Information Age. The society should gradually change its negative perception of quick judgments. Psychologists have already started debunking many myths about the psychological mechanism behind making book cover judgments. Instead of trying to diminish the value of this essential psychological tool, people should be trained to handle first impressions effectively and derive maximum information possible from the first seconds of encounter.

Age Discrimination essays

Age Discrimination essays One of the worst types of discriminations next to that of racial or ethnic discrimination is age discrimination. A persons age should never be a factor in how they are treated. Once we reach the age where we can make logical conscious decisions on our own, we should be treated like everybody else. Age discrimination is predominant because the majority of this worlds inhabitants have unfair and old-fashion ideas or beliefs with respect to two age groups in particular. These two groups that are discriminated against the most are the young and old. Once a person reaches the age of eighteen in America they are given the privilege of voting. Unfortunately, at the same time they are robbed of certain rights. I have always disagreed with the law in which adults under the age of 21 cannot purchase or consume alcohol legally. This law seems completely contradictory to me; I dont understand how our government can give us the right to choose our leaders or be sent off to war and given a machine gun and told to kill the enemy but deny us the right to legally buy a case of beer. This just does not make sense. This is only one example of how the youth of America are discriminated against based on their age. Another predominant example is with respect to wages. People under the age of 21 usually get paid less than older people for doing the same job. This is a major problem in todays workplace. In order to correct this problem we need to focus our attention on paying peoples wages based on their skill and performance of their duties. If a 16 and a 43-year old both have the same skills doing the same job they should be paid the same. Some people argue that older people should be paid more than youths because they have more financial duties and responsibilities than younger people. In order to make a high amount of money you need to posses certain skills and attributes that not many other people have. This is the reas...

How to Communicate Uncertainty When Speaking Japanese

How to Communicate Uncertainty When Speaking Japanese Most English speakers are probably not familiar with the subjunctive, as it only appears very rarely there. However, speakers of Spanish or French know it well, because they communicate theoretical ideas with if, might, or maybe by conjugating subjunctive verb forms. While there is no subjunctive mood or verb form in Japanese, there are several ways to express uncertainty.  Related concepts when learning the language include the conditional or potential. Darou, Deshou, and Tabun Darou is a plain form of deshou, and means will probably. The adverb tabun (perhaps) is sometimes added. Kare wa ashita kuru deshou.Ã¥ ½ ¼Ã£  ¯Ã¦ËœÅ½Ã¦â€" ¥Ã¦  ¥Ã£â€šâ€¹Ã£  §Ã£ â€"ょ㠁†ï ½ ¡ "He will probably come tomorrow." Ashita wa hareru darou.明æâ€" ¥Ã£  ¯Ã¦â„¢ ´Ã£â€šÅ'る㠁  Ã£â€š Ã£ â€ Ã¯ ½ ¡ "It will be sunny tomorrow." Kyou haha wa tabun uchi ni iru deshou.ä »Å Ã¦â€" ¥Ã¦ ¯ Ã£  ¯Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ¶Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£ â€ Ã£  ¡Ã£  «Ã£ â€žÃ£â€šâ€¹Ã£  §Ã£ â€"ょ㠁†ï ½ ¡ "My mother will probably be home today." Darou or deshou are also used to form a tag question. In this case, you usually can tell the meaning from the context. Tsukareta deshou.çâ€" ²Ã£â€šÅ'㠁Ÿã  §Ã£ â€"ょ㠁†ï ½ ¡ "You were tired, weren't you?" Kyou wa kyuuryoubi darou.ä »Å Ã¦â€" ¥Ã£  ¯Ã§ µ ¦Ã¦â€"™æâ€" ¥Ã£   Ã£â€š Ã£ â€ Ã¯ ½ ¡ "Today is a payday, isn't it?" Ka, Kashira, Kana, and Kamoshirenai Darou ka or deshou ka are used when guessing with doubt. Kashira is used only by females. A similar expression used by both genders is kana, though it is informal. These expressions are close to I wonder in English. Emi wa mou igirisu ni itta no darou ka.ã‚ ¨Ã£Æ'Ÿã  ¯Ã£â€šâ€šÃ£ â€ Ã£â€š ¤Ã£â€š ®Ã£Æ' ªÃ£â€š ¹Ã£  «Ã¨ ¡Å'㠁 £Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ®Ã£   Ã£â€š Ã£ â€ Ã£ â€¹Ã¯ ½ ¡ "I wonder if Emi has already gone to England." Kore ikura kashira.㠁“ã‚Å'㠁„㠁 Ã£â€šâ€°Ã£ â€¹Ã£ â€"らï ½ ¡ "I wonder how much this is." Nobu wa itsu kuru no kana.㠁 ®Ã£  ¶Ã£  ¯Ã£ â€žÃ£  ¤Ã¦  ¥Ã£â€šâ€¹Ã£  ®Ã£ â€¹Ã£  ªÃ¯ ½ ¡ "I wonder when Nobu will come." Kamoshirenai is used to express a sense of probability or doubt. It shows even less certainty than darou or deshou. It is used when you dont know all the facts and are often just guessing. It is similar to the English expression might be. The formal version of kamoshirenai is kamoshiremasen. Ashita wa ame kamoshirenai.明æâ€" ¥Ã£  ¯Ã©â€º ¨Ã£ â€¹Ã£â€šâ€šÃ£ â€"ã‚Å'㠁 ªÃ£ â€žÃ¯ ½ ¡ "It might rain tomorrow." Kinyoubi desu kara, kondeiru kamoshiremasen.金æ›Å"æâ€" ¥Ã£  §Ã£ â„¢Ã£ â€¹Ã£â€šâ€°Ã¯ ½ ¤ æ · ·Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£  §Ã£ â€žÃ£â€šâ€¹Ã£ â€¹Ã£â€šâ€šÃ£ â€"ã‚Å'㠁 ¾Ã£ â€ºÃ£â€šâ€œÃ¯ ½ ¡ "Since it is Friday, it might be busy." The last thing to mention is, darou and deshou cant be used when referring to ones own actions. For example, one would never say, Ashita watashi wa Kobe ni iku darou to communicate I might go to Kobe tomorrow. This would be grammatically incorrect. Kamoshirenai can be used in these situations, instead. Ashita watashi wa Kobe niiku kamoshirenai.明æâ€" ¥Ã§ § Ã£  ¯Ã§ ¥Å¾Ã¦Ë† ¸Ã£  «Ã¨ ¡Å'㠁 Ã£ â€¹Ã£â€šâ€šÃ£ â€"ã‚Å'㠁 ªÃ£ â€žÃ¯ ½ ¡ "I might go to Kobe tomorrow." Ashita ane wa Kobe ni iku darou.明æâ€" ¥Ã¥ §â€°Ã£  ¯Ã§ ¥Å¾Ã¦Ë† ¸Ã£  «Ã¨ ¡Å'㠁 Ã£   Ã£â€š Ã£ â€ Ã¯ ½ ¡ "My sister might go to Kobe tomorrow." Practice Comparing Sentences Kare wa tabun kin-medaru o toru deshou.Ã¥ ½ ¼Ã£  ¯Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ¶Ã£â€šâ€œÃ©â€¡â€˜Ã£Æ' ¡Ã£Æ'ۋÆ' «Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€"る㠁 §Ã£ â€"ょ㠁†ï ½ ¡ "He will probably get the gold medal." Kare wa kin-medal o totta no kana.Ã¥ ½ ¼Ã£  ¯Ã©â€¡â€˜Ã£Æ' ¡Ã£Æ'ۋÆ' «Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€"㠁 £Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ®Ã£ â€¹Ã£  ªÃ¯ ½ ¡ "I wonder if he got the gold medal." Kare wa kin-medaru o toru kamoshirenai.Ã¥ ½ ¼Ã£  ¯Ã©â€¡â€˜Ã£Æ' ¡Ã£Æ'ۋÆ' «Ã£â€šâ€™Ã¥ â€"る㠁‹ã‚‚㠁â€"ã‚Å'㠁 ªÃ£ â€žÃ¯ ½ ¡ "He might get the gold medal."

Islamic Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Islamic Finance - Essay Example The value and growth demonstrated by Islamic finance, in recent years, typifies the industry’s overall potential comparative to conventional finance. The growth of Islamic finance has been observed outside conventional Islamic markets in members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This signifies the increased attention being paid to Islamic finance by policy markers, as well as other universal market participants. The point of this paper is to refute the argument that Islamic finance cannot serve as a viable alternative to conventional finance. To date, a number of non-traditional Islamic markets such as London and New York have shown increased appreciation for the value of Islamic finance. In fact, London and New York launched indices in their FTSE and Dow Jones indices with a view to offer a benchmark for equity prices attributable to investments in Islamic financial companies (Warde 141). Governments such as the UK government continue to play a major role in extending th e scope of Islamic finance by extending support, for instance, by prohibiting the imposition of double stamp duty on Islamic mortgages (Warde 54). This is indicative of the fact that modern governments and private institutions are becoming increasingly aware of the viability of Islamic finance as an alternative to conventional finance. ... Typically, Islamic finance offers financial products rooted in the doctrines of Shariah or Islamic Law (El-Gamal 94). Most of these products are offered to Muslim investors while some Islamic products also attract conventional borrowers and investors. Islamic finance centers primarily on the principles of Islamic, and as a consequence, it encompasses a two-tier system. Firstly, the banking system accepts bankers’ deposits primarily for safe-keeping purposes without the accrual of any return while demanding 100% reserves. This means that, under Islamic finance, the payment system of the economy is protected from risks. Additionally, the system also limits the capacity of the banking system to create credit, thus hindering the necessity for deposit guarantee attributed to the conventional reserve system (Iqbal, Mirakhor, Askari and Krichene 196). The second primary component of Islamic finance is the fact that investment factors that act as classical financial intermediaries tha t channel savings to appropriate investment projects, as well as events where investment deposits are deemed as equity investments, without guarantees at maturity are subject to profit and loss sharing (Warde 128). Depositors are essentially considered as investors and the collection of assets managed by the financial institution appear on the assets segment of the balance sheets. The primary difference of between the conventional financial system and financial intermediation inherent in Islamic finance is that while depositors accrue fixed and pre-determined liabilities in conventional finance, those in Islamic system are party to both profits and losses accrued by the financial institution’s assets (El-Gamal 133). This signifies that Islamic finance does away with the old