The Rapids

The Rapids Today was my last day at work, which was very sad. Well, lets go with bittersweet. Trust me when I say that I deal with all kinds of insanity at that place on a daily basis. (Im a lifeguard at a waterpark, for those of you just tuning in.) You think you deal with rude customers at Old Navy? Psh. I have to argue with parents to put lifejackets on their kids, and youd be surprised how often the argument, It could save his/her life doesnt work. Of course, if you have the right amount of perspective in life (i.e. a lot) you can make it through the day and in fact an entire summer by finding all of this very, very amusing. Plus I work with some awesome people and my job can be a lot of fun. Very entertaining and whatnot. So leaving was bittersweet. To commemorate the day, I thought Id share with you some pictures of the waterpark I work at. I mean, I know youve all been picturing it in your heads all summer and are just dying to know what the place actually looks like. Right. So here it is, Runaway Rapids Waterpark: This is the kiddie section. Its full of about 3 million different things that spray water around in a myriad of different ways. Its kind of a fun place, unless you happen to be under the bucket when it drops. That thing is brutal. Oh, its also not too much fun if youre a lifeguard. Because then all you do is stand there and repeat the phrase Dont run about three bajillion times. And thats not really the glamorous part of the job, you know? The ten foot pool. Where I get to be awesome and actually save lives. For real. I know, I know, youre thinking, But, why would you have to save anyones life? I mean, why would anyone who doesnt know how to swim jump into a pool ten feet deep??? Thats an excellent question, and I wish I knew the answer. The affectionately nick-named triples. Some people have trouble with this, but watch as I make it all make sense: there are three slides. Triples. Ta-da. Anyway, triples is where all the action is. There may only be three and a half feet of water in that pool, but all kinds of chaos unfolds there nonetheless. Today, for example, in one hour alone I had to handle one accident on the slide and jump in to save two different kids. So thats my job. Or rather, my former job. I have the weekend to hang out with friends and family, then a three day vacation in Atlantic City (most of which I intend to spend on the beach), followed by two days to shop and pack, a trip to Shea Stadium for my first Met game all season (!!!), and then its back to MIT a week from tomorrow. Whos excited?

The Effects of Patterns and Anomalies on the Gaining of...

Through the pursuit of a greater understanding of the known universe, our forefathers encountered patterns and anomalies which, through their extensive study, they were able to further their understanding of the universe which so intrigued them. Patterns are a reliable sample of traits, tendencies, or other observable characteristics of a person, group or institution. They are a combination of qualities, acts or tendencies that form a consistent or characteristic arrangement. Their counterparts, Anomalies are irregularities. They are a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement or form. In other words, they are deviations from what is considered to be the norm, socially or scientifically. Patterns and anomalies have occurred within several instances in history. Dating back to the study of the heliocentric (the earth is round) nature of our planet by the famous Italian mathematician, physicist, philosopher and astronomer Galileo, man has always had a deep interest in the pursui t of knowledge to further our understanding of the natural world. And even as far back as the 17th century, patterns and anomalies had begun to arise and would later shape the way knowledge is gathered. Within Theory of Knowledge, patterns and anomalies have also occurred in the pursuit of knowledge. But first, what is this enigma we know to be knowledge. Knowledge can be said to be the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension. It is theShow MoreRelatedKnowledge Management and Decision Support System6463 Words   |  26 PagesDecision Support Systems 31 Ã… ½2001. 127–137 www.elsevier.comrlocaterdsw Knowledge management and data mining for marketing Michael J. 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Evolution Of Evolution And Natural Selection - 967 Words

Evolution and Revolution What do a sponge and bird have in common? Believe it or not, they share a common origin. In the film, Darwin s Tree of Life, the narrator, David Attenborough, presents the audience with the theory of evolution as documented by Charles Darwin in the 1800 s. The video is based on Darwin s perspective of evolution and natural selection. Darwin s findings were revolutionary and caused out-rage among the religious who believed in the story of creation beginning with Adam and Eve. In the video, Darwin s Tree of Life, Darwin s theory of evolution and natural selection proved the tree of life explains our evolution from a molecule to mammal. Charles Darwin devoted his adult life to trying to understand the process of evolution. At 22 years of age, he sailed off to South America to study various species of plants and animals. Darwin spent many years researching and documenting what he believed was a logical and scientific explanation of our existence. He felt strongly that life started in t he simplest form and then later became more complex with each species over generations. Darwin was a radical of sorts. In the article, Darwin, published by the American Museum of Natural History (2005-2006), he was referred to as a revolutionary, and even though he was hesitant to do so because he knew it would cause outrage; he changed our view of the natural world (para. 3). In the video, Attenborough portrays Charles Darwin as a exceptionally inquisitiveShow MoreRelatedEvolution Of Natural Selection Evolution1005 Words   |  5 PagesNatural Selection-Evolution Natural selection is the evolutionary process through which factors in the environment exert pressure, favoring some individuals over others to produce the next generation. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) formulated this theory that has stood the test of time. Natural selection is important to anthropology for understanding how species change. 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Transparency of Business and Proposed Management Practices Free Essays

Firms and the managers within them are always looking for the next source of competitive advantage, while at the same time combating the current internal inefficiencies, conflicts and performance issues. With one foot in the present to address the issues of the day, in the planning and preparation for a successful future is a constant dilemma now facing the manager.Historically, higher transparency of an ethic of practice for the third partAnalysis of the financial situation and practices of an institution, however, the largest study of business ethics and organizational behavior, to demonstrate transparency as a management practice that both the everyday problems of management are dealt with, and even an internal source of a sustainable competitive advantage is difficult for competitors to imitate. We will write a custom essay sample on Transparency of Business and Proposed Management Practices or any similar topic only for you Order Now This article will examine the concept of transparency of business and proposed management practices in the areas ofThe development and implementation of strategy, decision making and performance management to ensure transparency, to improve performance. and a source of sustainable competitive advantage. Transparency Transparency is used as a confidence-building mechanism in general, to â€Å"open† books or practice of an organization concerned with a â€Å"right to know that. Much has been written about the transparency in public enterprises and governments, but also with the importance of trust in all businessTransactions and relationships is very little about how to use this mechanism for building trust, which will be published to improve organizational performance at the operational level. If true, the employees know how and why behind the organizational strategy, decision making and performance management, usually feel more confident in managing their organization and may be more involved and engaged in their work.Although the fear of strategic information from falling into the hands of competitorsinternal sources may limit the potential for complete transparency, strategic and operational coordination of internal information can build confidence in the system and a knowledge of how each player contributes and is influenced by the system. The structure and the need for transparency and exchange of information at a strategic level, decision making and performance management is an environment that is in the goals and the tools and practices with which to that end, be moreCooperation and performance.Transparency in strategy Drawing on resources based on the view of the strategy (see Barney 1991) and the concept of strategic management (see Ireland and Hitt, 2001), managers can build a competitive advantage and do a better job of choosing between alternatives competition, and the alignment of internal resources than their competitors. A high level of these breaks to communicate openly and to align organizational priorities, area visibility functionContributions to these priorities for those who need to know, and a visible link between the work of each employee and organizational priorities for action.This is not only affecting an executive, but to all officers and employees is critical to the success of this strategy, which can be achieved only on the level of functional or team, in the absence of organizational support. However, if all managers and employees including the organization’s priorities andFor information on how they will contribute to them, and these contributions directly in line with the contributions on labor income, can get the teamwork and performance.Transparency in strategy can always be achieved, but the best place to start is during the annual cycle of planning and budgeting, especially executives and managers are the goals that are the model for quarterly bonuses into account. Too often this critical time is a rush of activity, butalmost no exchange of information and coordination from above or below functional area manager. The cable worst case of a wide range of independent or conflicting objectives, which reflect the stated priorities of the organization or implied.Best case would be managers who have the major priorities and performance objectives of the team, and therefore the contributions of each functional area to negotiate on these results. Critical to the succ ess of these negotiations is the sole ownerTargets and firm commitments from all managers on the factors of production that provide the other as a result. A common example of this would be an organizational priority revenue up 20%, a sales target of 1,000 units per month, and to undertake measures the transformation of the number of sales of a number of standard files per month. The same procedure applies to projects that do not follow-basic operations, and these obligations are the basis for bonus objectives andBudgets. Information is the operations of strategic planning throughout the organization to those who need to know, â€Å"divided,† and is the core responsibility of the agenda for the regular (weekly monthly) /, group meetings and staff and an important measure for the evaluation of alternatives in decision-making .. How to cite Transparency of Business and Proposed Management Practices, Papers

Tamed Shrews And Twelfth Nights The Role Of Women In Shakespeare Essa

Tamed Shrews and Twelfth Nights: The Role of Women In Shakespeare Tamed Shrews and Twelfth Nights: The Role of Women In Shakespeare It is curious to note the role of women in Shakespearean literature. Many critics have lambasted the female characters in his plays as two-dimensional and unrealistic portrayals of subservient women. Others have asserted that the roles of women in his plays were prominent for the time and culture that he lived in. That such contrasting views could be held in regards to the same topic is academic. It is only with close examination of his works that we are able to suppose his intent in creating characters that inspire so much controversy. Two works, Taming of the Shrew, and Twelfth Night, stand out particularly well in regards to Shakespeare's use of female characters. After examining these two plays, one will see that Shakespeare, though conforming to contemporary attitudes of women, circumvented them by creating resolute female characters with a strong sense of self. The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, and has weathered well into our modern era with adaptations into popular television series such as Moonlighting. For all the praises it has garnered throughout the centuries, it is curious to note that many have considered it to be one of his most controversial in his treatment of women. The "taming" of Katherine has been contended as being excessively cruel by many writers and critics of the modern era. George Bernard Shaw himself pressed for its banning during the 19th century (Peralta). The subservience of Katherine has been labeled as barbaric, antiquated, and generally demeaning. The play centers on her and her lack of suitors. It establishes in the first act her shrewish demeanor and its repercussions on her family. It is only with the introduction of the witty Petruchio as her suitor, that one begins to see an evolution in her character. Through an elaborate charade of humiliating behavior, Petruchio humbles her and by the end of the play, she will instruct other women on the nature of being a good and dutiful wife. In direct contrast to Shrew, is Twelfth Night, whose main female protagonist is by far the strongest character in the play. The main character Viola, has been stranded in a foreign land and adopts the identity of her brother so that she might live independently without a husband or guardian. She serves as a courtier to a young, lovesick nobleman named Orsino. Throughout the play she plays as a go-between for him to the woman he loves. In the course of her service, she falls in love with him. Only at the end, does she renounce her male identity and declares her love for him. Both plays portray female characters unwilling to accept the female role of passivity. Katherine rebels against this stereotype by becoming a "shrew", a violently tempered and belligerent woman. Viola disguises herself as a man for most of the play in order to preserve her state of free will. Katherine endures reprimands, chiding, and humiliation in the course of her chosen rebellion. Viola enjoys life and position as a man, and does not reveal who she is until the last scene of the play. Curiously enough, both women voluntarily accept the roles that society would impose on them again at the close of the plays. It is important to note though, that they freely resume these roles, and that they do so out of their own sense of self. For each woman, it is a personal choice based on their desires. In the case of Katherine, she realizes that propriety is as much a signature of self-respect as respect for others, and she has a husband whom she need prove nothing to because he already respects her. In the case of Viola, she is in love with the young Orsino. Having found the man she would be willing to wed, the pretense of her male identity is no longer necessary, as she desires to be his wife. Having seen the similarities between Viola and Katherine, one should take notice that they do have different circumstances regarding their behavior. The reason for Katherine's shrewish demeanor is never given in the play, though many directors have interpreted it as an act to discourage suitors, much like Hamlet's feigned madness. Others have attributed it to sibling rivalry between Katherine and her sister Bianca. In any case, no clear rationale is given to the audience as to the reason for Katherine's behavior. It is enough to say that the actions of her father and sister

The Salience of Moral Character essay

The Salience of Moral Character essay The Salience of Moral Character essay The Salience of Moral Character essayI have found that the article â€Å"The Salience of Moral Character† by Jon Garthoff is informative and interesting to read and analyze. I agree with many ideas presented by the author in the article. In the article â€Å"The Salience of Moral Character†, Jon Garthoff discusses the nature and role of two notions – moral obligation and first personal moral judgment, which refer to morality. I really appreciate the author’s work, his style of writing and language, the structure of the article, and other aspects of his work, which contribute to revealing the significance of the issue discussed by Jon Gathoff. Morality has always been recognized as an important issue to study because moral ideals lie in the basis of human nature. The author of the article suggests that moral rights are understood as â€Å"corresponding to rules of moral salience which occasion explicit judgment whenever a morally competent person in a stat e of nature considers killing someone, invading his person, or taking his things† (Gathoff 20). The major goal of the author is to prove the fact that the rules of moral salience play an important role in human life, as these rules ensure the appropriate action-guidance that is accomplished not by natural moral rules, but by some different type of rights that are suitable for a particular social environment or context.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I agree with Jon Gathoff that the following notions are crucial in understanding morality and moral cognition: â€Å"moral rules†, â€Å"rules of moral salience†, â€Å"maxims of action†, â€Å"moral worth†, â€Å"moral character†, â€Å"conflicting rules† and â€Å"social rules†. The author’s statement â€Å"The Ten Commandments and other prescriptions drawn from canonized religious texts are treated by many as paradigms of moral content, and guiding oneself by this sort of prescription is treated by many as a paradigm of moral judgment† is true (Garthoff 1). People highly value the Bible and try to use its principles to live honestly. I believe that an individual code of conduct depends on both religious and social rules. Moral thinking helps people to act in a proper way, without committing crimes or demonstrating aggression.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Besides, I agree with the author of the article in his evaluation of moral theory. He writes, â€Å"Since rules are commonplace in ordinary moral thinking, a moral theory must illuminate the proper place of rules in moral thought† (Garthoff 1). I believe that morality is based on the established moral rules and principles that should be formulated and observed by all members of our society.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, the author provides much evidence to support his arguments. He uses the writings of the outstanding philosophers, R oss and Kant, whose philosophic thought helps to explain the wrongness of making false promises; committing immoral actions, etc. Moral rules should be produced to direct all domains of human life. Kant’s moral theory has nothing common with Barbara Herman’s rules of moral salience, which allow human beings to be focused on occasion deliberation. I believe that the author’s flow of thought is clear and comprehensive. He gives explanation to some atypical situations, which require atypical decisions. In this case, â€Å"routine action may be inappropriate† (Garthoff 4).In conclusion, I can say that I enjoyed reading this article because it allowed me to ponder over some significant issues our society face today.   The article also allowed me to provide critical reflection upon some important points of the research on morality. Jon Gathoff presented many comprehensive points that could help students to be focused on future research more profoundly.

Abortion Issues - How They Affect American Politics

Abortion Issues - How They Affect American Politics Abortion issues surface in almost every American election, whether its a local race for school board, a statewide race for governor or a federal contest for Congress or the White House. Abortion issues have polarized American society since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the procedure. On one side are those who believe women are not entitled to end the life of an unborn child. On the other are those who believe women have the right to decide what happens to their body. Often there is no room for debate between the side. Related Story: Is Abortion the Right Thing to Do? In general, most Democrats support a womans right to have an abortion and most Republicans oppose it. There are notable exceptions, though, including some politicians who have waffled on the issue. Some Democrats who are conservative when it comes to social issues such oppose abortion rights, and some moderate Republicans are open to allowing women to have the procedure. A 2016 Pew Research Survey  found that 59 percent of Republicans believe abortion should be illegal, and 70 percent of Democrats believe the procure should be allowed. Overall, though, a narrow majority of Americans - 56 percent in the Pew poll  -   support legalized abortion and 41 percent oppose it.  In both cases, these figures have remained relatively stable for at least two decades, the Pew Researchers found. When Abortion Is Legal In the United States Abortion refers to the voluntary termination of a pregnancy, resulting in the death of the fetus or embryo. Abortions performed prior to the third trimester are legal in the United States.Abortion-rights advocates believe a woman should have access to whatever health care she needs and that she should have control over her own body. Opponents of abortion rights believe an embryo or fetus is alive and thus abortion is tantamount to murder.   Current Status The most controversial of abortion issues is the so-called partial birth abortion, a rare procedure. Beginning in the mid-90s, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate introduced legislation to ban partial birth abortions. In late 2003, Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.This law was drafted after the Supreme Court ruled Nebraskas partial birth abortion law unconstitutional because it did not allow a doctor to use the procedure even if it were the best method to preserve the health of the mother. Congress attempted to circumvent this ruling by declaring that the procedure is never medically necessary. History Abortion has existed in almost every society and was legal under Roman law, which also condoned infanticide. Today, almost two-thirds of the women in the world may obtain a legal abortion.When America was founded, abortion was legal. Laws prohibiting abortion were introduced in the mid-1800s, and, by 1900, most had been outlawed. Outlawing abortion did nothing to prevent pregnancy, and some estimates put the number of annual illegal abortions from 200,000 to 1.2 million in the 1950s and 1960s.States began liberalizing abortion laws in the 1960s, reflecting changed societal mores and, perhaps, the number of illegal abortions.  In 1965, the Supreme Court introduced the idea of a right to privacy in Griswold v. Connecticut as it struck down laws that banned the sale of condoms to married people.Abortion was legalized in 1973 when the U.S.Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that during the first trimester, a woman has the right to decide what happens to her body. This landmark decision rested on the right to privacy which was introduced in 1965. In addition, the Court ruled that the state could intervene in the second trimester and could ban abortions in the third trimester. However, a central issue, which the Court declined to address, is whether human life begins at conception, at birth, or at some point in between.In 1992, in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the court overturned Roes trimester approach and introduced the concept of viability. Today, approximately 90% of all abortions occur in the first 12 weeks.In the 1980s and 1990s, anti-abortion activism spurred on by opposition from Roman Catholics and conservative Christian groups turned from legal challenges to the streets. The organization Operation Rescue organized blockades and protests around abortion clinics. Many of these techniques were prohibited by the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Pros Most polls suggest that Americans, by a slim majority, call themselves pro-choice rather than pro-life. That does not mean, however, that everyone who is pro-choice believes that abortion is acceptable under any circumstance. A majority support at least minor restrictions, which the Court found reasonable as well under Roe.Thus the pro-choice faction contains a range of beliefs from no restrictions (the classic position) to restrictions for minors (parental consent) ... from support when a womans life is endangered or when the pregnancy is the result of rape to opposition just because a woman is poor or unmarried.Principle organizations include the Center for Reproductive Rights, The National Organization for Women (NOW), National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), Planned Parenthood, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Cons The pro-life movement is thought of as more black-and-white in its range of opinions than the pro-choice faction. Those who support life are more concerned with the embryo or fetus and believe that abortion is murder. Gallup polls starting in 1975 consistently show that only a minority of Americans (12-19 percent) believe that all abortions should be banned.Nevertheless, pro-life groups have taken a strategic approach to their mission, lobbying for mandated waiting periods, prohibitions on public funding and denial of public facilities.In addition, some sociologists suggest that abortion has become a symbol of the changing status of women in society and of changing sexual mores. In this context, pro-life supporters may reflect a backlash against the womens movement.Principle organizations include the Catholic Church, Concerned Women for America, Focus on the Family, and National Right to Life Committee. Where It Stands President George W. Bush supported and signed the constitutionally questionable partial-birth abortion ban and, as Governor of Texas, vowed to put an end to abortion. Immediately after taking office, Bush eliminated U.S. funding to any international family planning organization that provided abortion counseling or services even if they did so with private funds.There was no easily-accessed issue statement about abortion on the 2004 candidate web site. However, in an editorial entitled The War Against Women the New York Times wrote: The lengthening string of anti-choice executive orders, regulations, legal briefs, legislative maneuvers, and key appointments emanating from his administration suggests that undermining the reproductive freedom essential to womens health, privacy and equality is a major preoccupation of his administration - second only, perhaps, to the war on terrorism.