Convey the story Essay Example for Free

Convey the story Essay Heloise and Abelard by James Burger has its place among the most famous biographies that were written about the pair of lovers who lived in Medieval Age, and which is based on the correspondence the two held. It opens a new perspective on the life of the Dark Ages, on its institutions and philosophies, and most of all, on its theology. The lovers who became the victims of the religious age they lived in, that could not admit their love, or any other type of love, for that matter, except religious love. The characters themselves are besides the initiators of free love, the ones who foresee the escape from the too rigid, rule-based religion of the Medieval centuries: â€Å"Let us read after this the famous Colloquy of Erasmus, The Franciscan, and we will find repeated all the essential ideas of Heloise: Christ preached but one religion, the same for layfolk and monks; the Christian renounces the world and professes to live only for Christ, and St. Paul did not preach this doctrine for monks but for everyone; layfolk, even the married, are bound to chastity and poverty quite as much as monks; in short, the only rule binding the Christian is the Gospel. Once she has adopted this course, Heloises frank and direct reason would not let her stop. Carried away by her own logic she was to touch, one after the other, almost all the critical points on which the humanists and reformers of the sixteenth century are so insistent. Why forbid meat to monks? Meat in itself is neither good nor bad. Let us not attach religious importance to things which in fact have none. Nothing counts save what can lead us to the kingdom of God. Let us forget, then, these exterior practices common to truly pious souls and to hypocrites, It is only interior acts that really count for the Christian. The rest is Judaism. † (Gilson, 132) Thus, the point that the story of Heloise and Abelard is trying to make, is that theirs was the one of the most tragic examples of the many failures of the Medieval Age, which persecuted through religion and rigid commandments, trough enclosing monasteries and punishments of all kind, instead of opening the road to what true spirituality means. The touching and tragic story of the lovers impresses because of the nobility of their thoughts and feelings, and also to the spectacular love story, which remains intense throughout their lives. Love is blended with the Christian doctrine, and the lovers try to find a bridge between the two, something that will only be found later in the history or religion, with the advent of humanism. 2. Explain who Heloise and Abelard were. What is their background and upbringing? What brings their paths together? Heloise and Abelard form one of the most famous couples known for their romantic love, so often compared to such immortal stories like that of Romeo and Juliet. However, their story is the real account of a twelfth century couple that lasted throughout the centuries both because of the unusual love story that united them, and also because of the startling sincerity and openness of the letters that favors a clear view of their characters and lives, and of the circumstances of the century they lived in. Pierre Abelard was a well-known philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages, whose studies have been concerned with mainly with logic and dialectics in the early years, and then with ethics and theology later on in his life. Of the account he himself gives of his early life in the letter addressed to his friend Philintus, we find that in his early youth he discovered his â€Å"natural genius for study†, and became â€Å"smitten with love for books†, so much so that he decided to renounce at once the fortune that father had bestowed on him as his eldest son, to his brothers and to dedicate himself entirely to learning. His passion and ambition to become a great logician soon brought him notoriety inside the circles of scholars, and he stood out as one of the most reputed teachers of his time. It is in the midst of his glory as a philosopher that the event that will change his life forever occurs: he sees Heloise, the niece of a certain Fulbert. She is belongs to a lower social class than he but she is equal in all else to him: she is literate and very learned, perhaps even surpassing him in depth of thought and feeling. All these were unique and very rare qualities in a medieval woman. Abelard concocts the perfect means of making her acquaintance, with a clear intention to conquer her and make her his mistress. He talks to the uncle, and after having offered him a sum of money, he obtains the latter’s assent to instruct his daughter as her teacher. Heloise, who has reason enough to admire him for his knowledge and brilliant mind, soon falls in love with him and becomes his lover, without the slightest resistance. It is here that their fascinating but tragic story actually begins. 3. Who was William of Champeaux? Discuss his influence in the life of Abelard. Why did Abelard achieve both acclaim and notoriety? Abelard has been, because of his originality of thought, in controversy with many of the philosophers of the age, among these, William of Champeaux, who began by being his teacher, but who was soon outwitted in the lectures he gave by his student. This naturally created animosity between the two, and it became even more founded when Abelard started teaching himself, and drew to his side most of the students that formerly had been instructed by Champeaux: â€Å"I put myself under the direction of one Champeaux, a professor who had acquired the character of the most skilful philosopher of his age, but by negative excellencies only as being the least ignorant! He received me with great demonstrations of kindness, but I was not so happy as to please him long; for I was too knowing in the subjects he discoursed upon, and I often confuted his notions. Frequently in our disputations I pushed a good argument so home that all his subtlety was not able to elude its force. It was impossible he should see himself surpassed by his scholar without resentment. It is sometimes dangerous to have too much merit. Envy increased against me in proportion to my reputation. † ( I) Abelard was many times an envied scholar, and later on, he was even accused of heresy for his ideas, by the enemies he always made in his circle. But, nevertheless, he became more and more notorious, because of the originality and novelty of his ideas, and especially because of his passion and ability for logic and argumentation. 4. How do Heloise and Abelard fall in love? What challenges must their relationship overcome? What were the consequences for both Abelard and Heloise? What is transcendent or universal about their love story? Together in the house of Heloise’s uncle, under the assumed masks of teacher and student, Heloise and Abelard begin their love story. As it becomes clear from Abelard’s own confessions in the letters to her, and from the imputations she brings on him, in her turn, the beginning of their of their affair was due more to his lust and incontinence rather than to his feelings for her: â€Å"Was it not the sole thought of pleasure which engaged you to me? And has not my tenderness, by leaving you nothing to wish for, extinguished your desires? Wretched Heloise! you could please when you wished to avoid it; you merited incense when you could remove to a distance the hand that offered it: but since your heart has been softened and has yielded, since you have devoted and sacrificed yourself, you are deserted and forgotten! † (II) Heloise however, seems to have given herself completely to her feelings to him, from beginning to end of their love story. After they remained together for the space of a few months, but their love was son discovered by Heloise’s uncle, who, enraged, demanded compensation from Abelard for his offense against the family honor. Abelard decides to marry Heloise, and when the latter becomes pregnant he sends her away to Britanny, to the care of his sister. The actual situation of the two lovers can not be fully comprehended without placing it in the Medieval context. Thus, it would perhaps seem natural to a modern reader that marriage be a solution for Abelard and Heloise, one that would confer legitimacy on their bond, both from the point of view of religion and from that of moral. However, this was not the case at all, for a few clear reasons. First of all, both Abelard and Heloise were both learned people, with such strict and high spiritual aspirations that they were incompatible with the idea of lay marriage. Abelard wanted for himself the kind of pure life that he admired in Saint Jerome or Seneca, and which would bring him the glory he longed for. For Heloise his glory would have been her glory too, so she was actually the one who withstood all she could the idea of marriage. In the strict sense of the world, according to the Medieval moral and religious laws, Abelard had the right to marry, without losing by this act the right to teach or his clerical dignity. The actual danger was that they, as all Medieval scholars, regarded marriage as a form of weakness and incontinence, that would inevitably and permanently drive a scholar away from his prayers and philosophical inquiries. Marriage was therefore considered degrading, and not a lot better than fornication for the ones who aspired to become theologians, because it had the same consequences – surrendering to sensual pleasures and forgetting one’s duty to God: â€Å"If therefore laymen and pagans have lived thus, without the restrictions of a religious profession, how much the more is it your duty to do so, you who are a cleric and a canon, lest you should come to prefer shameful pleasures to the divine service, lest you cast yourself into the gulf of Charybdis and perish, lest you should destroy yourself in these obscenities to the mockery of the whole world. (III) It is precisely in this conflict between their great passion and their aspiration for spiritual heroism, that the tragedy of Heloise and Abelard begins, even more so, when we consider that the spiritual ideals they tried to attain were not imposed on them from the outside, but were their own, and therefore as powerful as their love. It is this context that makes possible the famous and extraordinary statement of Heloise to Abelard, in which she declares that she would rather be his mistress or his prostitute than his wife: â€Å"You cannot but be entirely persuaded of this by the extreme unwillingness I showed to marry you, though I knew that the name of wife was honorable in the world and holy in religion; yet the name of your mistress had greater charms because it was freer. The bonds of matrimony, however honorable, still bear with them a necessary engagement and I was very unwilling to be necessitated to love always a man who would perhaps not always love me. † (II) As she herself declares it, Heloise believed in the disinteresedness of love, and considered, ahead of the time she lived in, that marriage does nothing to preserve the purity of love, but, on the contrary, makes it the slave of ambition or other advantages that are not love itself. Love is not to be confused with mere life or be put under the same necessities as the latter, as it would happen in a marriage, and this is seemingly what the story of Heloise and Abelard signified: a love that surpassed in intensity and nobility the limitations of simple life: â€Å"You have very justly observed in your letter that I esteemed those public engagements insipid which form alliances only to be dissolved by death, and which put life and love under the same unhappy necessity. ( )With what ease did you compose verses! And yet those ingenious trifles, which were but a recreation to you, are still the entertainment and delight of persons of the best taste. The smallest song, the least sketch of anything you made for me, had a thousand beauties capable of making it last as long as there are lovers in the world. Thus those songs will be sung in honor of other women which you designed only for me, and those tender and natural expressions which spoke your love will help others to explain their passion with much more advantage than they themselves are capable of. † (IV) Heloise already takes pride in their love story as something universal that will be used as a ground for comparison for future couples who will be bound by so great a love. The two loved each other with such great ardor and nobility, that their love is pure in spite of their sin. In spite of Heloise’s noble attitude that can not consent either to the loss of glory by the man she loves or to the degrading of noble and free love by binding it to the hearse of marriage, the two eventually contract a â€Å"secret marriage†, a compromise imposed by Abelard, so as not to lose Heloise but at the same time, to maintain his respectfulness in public. Abelard sends his wife to the monastery of Argenteuil to avoid further rumors about their marriage, already dressing her in the nun habit, without knowing that she will wear it forever afterwards . The climax of these happenings comes with the barbaric act of revenge that Heloise’s uncle commits. He bribes the servants of Abelard and these allow for someone to enter the room of their master by night and castrate him. This terrible and symbolic revenge is perhaps what made the love story between Heloise and Abelard legendary. Afterwards, they both retire in convents, Heloise being the first to put on the veil, at Abelard’s command, who not being able to posses her anymore, shuts her up from the world in his jealousy, so that she might never belong to anyone else. This is perhaps the greatest and incontestable act of love and sacrifice she performs for him, surrendering herself completely, and renouncing the greatest thing for him: not the world, as he thought, but him, the man she loved. Their love becomes transcendental and universal through the very passion that fettered them when they were together, but which also manifested itself in their acts of renouncement.

Middle School and Happiness Essay Example for Free

Middle School and Happiness Essay Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes. What makes you happy may not make someone else happy. The idea of happiness may not be the same for any two people, or maybe not for anyone you come across with. Happiness is an emotion causes by thousands of things. It is an abstract idea that cannot be fully described. What makes you happy changes as you get older, you do not like the same things your whole life so it is normal that your interests start to change. Like mentioned before not everyone has the same interests and cannot feel happiness from the same things. From firsthand experience I can say that I am the perfect example of finding different happiness. They have changed from my years in elementary school, middle school, and high school. Let’s start with elementary school. When I was in elementary school what brought me happiness was having time to spend at my friend’s house after school. Because I lived far away from the school that I attended I didn’t really know anyone in my neighborhood. There were days though that my parents would let me go to a friend’s house and stay there for a few hours while they got out of work. I didn’t have to be at my grandma’s house bored so that made me really happy, and I had a lot of fun while I was there so that made it even better. Another thing that made me feel happiness was being able to go two days out of the week to band practice. I liked being able to play my instrument and making beautiful sound come out of something so little. Playing with the band was my thing I could not stop smiling and feeling all this joy inside as I played. When the director put his arms up and signaled us to start playing was so thrilling knowing that we were about to make beautiful music all together. I think back and see how simple things made me really happy as a child. Now let’s talk about middle school. While I was in middle school I was still in band and yes it still brought me happiness. The main thing that brought me happiness while I was in middle school was being a little more free from home and my parents. If I remember correctly it was seventh grade that I went to my first dance, you can imagine my excitement. When I was at the dance my friends and I were having a great time, we were laughing and  dancing the whole time. Because it was my first dance it was a very fun time, and it brought so much happiness to be able to share that experience with my friends. When I was in high school all of my interests changed and even now I have the same interests. I found my passion for singing so I auditioned to join the school choir and I made it. Being in choir class was the best thing that I did when I was in high school. The happiness that I felt when I walked into that class every day I have no words to describe it. To top it all off when I started to sing and hear the chords we would all make together gave me the chills. There was not a single day that passed where hearing myself and others around me sing was not magical. When I would have a bad day I waited for third period to talk into class grab my folder from my cubic and start to sing and just forget about everything. Music was my escape from being upset, it was the way for me to forget about what was going on in my life. The happiness I felt was so great, even now I turn to music for help and comfort. In conclusion, happiness is an abstract emotion that cannot be easily defined. Not everyone feels happiness in the exact same way or from the same things. But no matter where our happiness comes from we all feel it. We feel it as kids, as teenagers, and as adults. Even though what causes us happiness may change the characteristics of it do not. The smile, the giggle, and the butterflies in your stomach do not disappear. From firsthand experience I know that we all go through phases, but not matter how old we get, we are always going to be happy.

Is Globalization Good or Bad Essay

Is Globalization Good or Bad Essay Through the global interconnectedness among people, globalization has been appeared. Globalization refers the integration of global economies, societies and cultures through the communication, transportation and trade. During this period of this process, one question has been raised whether is globalization bad or good? And according to this question, it is proved that globalization is playing a fundamental role to make progress to many sections including economies, culture and religion, public services and living standard, and technology. In economics, Globalization refers to the increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of the growing scale of cross-border trade of commodities and services, flow of international capital and wide and rapid spread of technologies. It shows the market expansion and integration, and it is an unchangeable tendency for international economic development. In economy, globalization is playing a significant role to make advancement to this sector over the world. Globalization has created widely the international economy, integration of markets and the flow or movement in the world, all of which make escalations in global movement. There are many importance of globalization on economy for many years. Improvement in technology has a essential effect in decreasing the costs of transportation, communication and commodity also lowering the price of data processing and information storage. There is a sign of the modern technology like electric mail, the internet, and World Wide Web. And with technological development, laptop computer in contemporary time is more powerful than the very large powerful computer in twenty five years ago and the price level in 1990 was only about 1/125 compared to that in 1960. Later on in 1998, the computer price wars reduced about 80% more. Furthermore, because of the advancement of technological innovation, we see that the price of ocean transportation is only a half compared to that in 1930, recent aircraft transpo rtation 1/6, and cost only 1% in telecommunication today. At the same time, the price of international trade and investment are decreased by the effect of improvement of technological creativity. Thus, global production is available to manage and coordinate. For instance, Fords Lyman car is designed in Germany, its gearing system made in Korea, pump in USA and machine in Australia. It is undeniable that the development of technology make available of these global commodity. Moreover, a large number of enterprises are grown rapidly with the progressing of networking-based economy, making unimportant of the principle of national boundaries and distance of economic action (Michael, 2003). Globalization makes trade liberalization or economic liberalization available and this has reduced the trade protection and become liberal world economic system. In World War II and the Great Depression this process has been delayed severely. And later on, after the end of World War II through the tendency to trade liberalization and the participation of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT) that has developed into the World Trade Organization (WTO), this trade liberalization happened again. With this reemergence, the tax and many barriers were decreased to make ease to the goods transportation and services. Furthermore, liberalization has a active role to increase the capital flow and production movement. It has been recommended by some economists and historians that world economy in this contemporary time is not better than that in late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. During that period of time, many economic countries relied on the international trade and bu siness as part of colonial system. As a result, with the openness of the border, there was a great migration of people and large international capital movements. This is an opinion of British scholars during the British occupation as a colonial power over world economy. However, in this late nineteenth century did not prove the advancement of technology that makes the world economy globalized like today (Michael, 2003). Globalization has made important effects on national economies. First is the development of foreign direct investment (FDI) at the incredible rate that is more significant than the growing of international trade. In fact, the technological movement, industrial organizing and the creation of world enterprises which have a marvelous effect on national economies have been stimulated by the foreign direct investment. Second is the effect of globalization on the advancement of technology. As indicated before, technological progress acts in an active role in globalization, but technology has become more progressive and widespread rapidly because of globalization and encouragement of marketing competition in foreign direct investment. Third is the acceleration of services, concluding financial, legal, managerial and information services. And this has become the most important section of the international business. In 1970, the service exportation in foreign direct investment was less than c ompared to that today and it is anticipated to increase further in the future. During the growth of services in national and international market, some people called this period the age of competence that underline the educational significance and human capital business in economic sector of every countries. However, globalization also makes some problems on international economies. Globalization creates regional or world economic fragility and vulnerability because of mutual interconnectedness of economies on the world. For instance, downturn in finances and exchange rate that started from Thailand 1997 had a bad impact on Southeast Asian economies and even Southeast Korea. But this problem above can be solved effectively by the improvement of new institution, many organization and international cooperation. Many institutions especially the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could mitigate even address efficiently on this problem through the promotion to the countries that have faced or discovered the national economic fragility and instability. For example, in the period of peso crisis in Mexico, IMF played a critical role to help as well as promote on this nation. Furthermore, during financial recession in East Asia, IMF made an accord to support South Korea. Thus IMF increased substan tially its resources to ensure that these problems could be addressed in transparency. International cooperation also plays a valuable role to the practice of Tobin Tax that is a small tax on foreign exchange business. Tobin Tax has an effect on the limitation on the trading of weak currency. Meanwhile, Tobin Tax also allocates the fund to the international organization. Globalization has promoted to the escalation of the marketing competition on the international economies. We see that the marketing competition brings many advantageous purposes in resulted in the augmentation of quantity and quality of production. On the market system, Adam Smith and many classical economists stated that the specialization and the division of labor were formed by the marketing expansion the rivalry. With specialization and the division of labor, production is augmented not only in a country, but also in the international basis. Other importance of specialization and division of labor is the decrease of the costs of commodities and services, and this condition allows the continual advancement in economic sector. With the advantage of globalization, both parties such as individuals, firms other organization, nation, trading bloc, continents or other entities can get benefits in the economic exchange. For many years, globalization has promoted the augmentation of produ ctivity through the rationalization of production on a world scale, the technological expansion and creativity-needed competition on the international basis. In general, globalization has formed the marketing competition that has significant influence in enhancing all groups position, with the scope of increased yield or better salaries and higher living standard. Thus, with these benefits, the potential of human welfare has been improved worldwide. On the other hand, globalization has been proved as unpleasant impact on the sovereign government. It has been stated that the globalization forces are jeopardizing the sovereign nation because the management of the national economic sector has been changed from national government to other institutions, including multinational or international companies and international institution or organization. This transformation can make a sovereign state lose its capacity to determine on policies of its economies. However, the globalization requires not making loss to the national sovereignty. In fact, sovereignty of a country or state and the proper duty of the political leaders remain stable because of the international cooperation. It is like the side being divided separately into two sides. One side for the governmental leaders and other side for international organization, multinational or international company. Moreover, the presence of these institution in addressing the problems or r isks stemming by the globalization forces has supported the government leaders especially in politics to keep and even to determine its position in the world economic society. Furthermore, cooperation between the sovereign state and international institution can lead to the progressing through cooperative action. In general, there are many methods of cooperation in addressing with the problems of globalization. First is the keep the existing organization and institution stable and strong. Second is the formation of new institution, as in the case of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to settle the disagreement especially stemming from the globalization. Third is the foundation of larger institution such as the European Union (EU), G-8 or the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Thus, according to the proof of globalization benefits mentioned above, we can conclude that the process of globalization is really fundamental in promoting the economic advancement not only in a natio n but also in the whole world. Globalization also has a lot of impacts on culture and religion around the world. It spreads from countries to another through Medias and import of production. The media, of course, owned by developed countries that tried to introduce their culture into the other countries around the world. This spread of cultural treads is the most effective way than the others. Ex, people amazed, interested, and inspired by the foreign culture through TV, radio, and especially internet; people, especially teenager, around the world quickly adopted the foreign cultures. Globalization also introduced the Modernization into developing countries which made them consume more luxury production. Those demands of production required the import of other production into their countries. This trade of production also helped to spread foreign culture into other countries too. Ex, the uses of other production differed from their culture would made them try to adapt to the natural culture of the production, such as the way they eat in luxury restaurant, the use of mobile phone, etc. Moreover, Globalization also suggested Democracy to other countries too. Democracy promotes human rights, equality among men and women, freedom of press and expression, and the rights to vote to choose their leaders. Because of these prosperities and freedom of Democracy, it attracted millions of people to realize and demand for justice, freedom, and changes in policy of autocratic states. Ex, In Burma, people hate the autocratic system of government and they love democracy, so they protest against the government to change the system or resign from the position. This spread of foreign cultures also affected the indigenous religions that had been rooted thousands of years ago in most Asian countries. Most people cant stand the cruel treat of some religion that have done to them, so they wanted to let go of their religion and adopt foreign culture or religion. Ex, In Islamic states, women have to wear mask to hid e their face when they go out in public. And other example is that men can marry as many wives as they want too. Most Islamic people in Iraq and Afghanistan believed that become the suicide bomber for the sake of their country will bring them to heaven to live with god. All of these treatment to people is cruel and unfair for them that why people want to change and get away from it. All in all of the effects of globalization in culture helped to promote peace, cooperation and unity among people around them by understanding each other through the same culture. However, some people believed that the spread of globalization gradually made them lost their cultural identities. Of course, the spread of globalization changed some of their culture and belief but globalization didnt force them to do so. It is all up to people choices to choose their way to live their life. People adapted only the culture that they believed to suit them well and they forbad the inappropriate culture. Some oth er people continued to argue that globalization made Asian people disrespect the elder and tended to commit more crimes. But these activities got nothing to do with globalization, in fact, controlling the behavior of people and children are the duty of their parents and government. Living standard also promoted by globalization through the education and health care. Education is necessary  for people to  sharing experiences, skills and intellectual assets. According to Sadegh and Shajar (2006), globalization is creating opportunities for sharing knowledge, technology, social values, and behavioral norms and promoting developments at different level including individual, organization, communities and societies across different countries and culture. Moreover, people can articulate human right through the education. If  all  people can know clearly about human right, it will decrease the violation in the country. As Sadegh and Dhajar stated that, education also means that populations became aware of their right and obligation as citizens and management of life in their communities. In addition, globalization leads to have modern materials for people  to study. Nowadays, people can search books or any topic of assignments through the internet, it facilitates student to reduce time  for  going to the libraries. By using LCD, it can make teachers to explain more easily and it doesnt waste time to write on white board. As well as, globalization can increase access to education for women and poor people, unlike the history that women cannot go to school or go outside, they can do only housework. According to United Nations, to follow the role of UNDP, government ought to build up human capital through education and ensuring that the poor have access to education (2001). But Bloom said that, the need for higher education in developing countries is going largely unmet. In much of the developing world, higher education delivery is woefully unsuited to the demands of globalization (2002). Furthermore, another point that can improve living standard is health care service. Because of globalization, people can get advance technology of surgery ad innovative medical.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  When the health care increase, people can consult for their health easily, improve treatment and prevention of all kinds of illness and disease. These also lead to increase life expectancy. Moreover, through globalization,  the country open freely for all organization to set up there. Some organizations are providing health care to people like WHO. The World Health Organization aims to assist government to strengthen health service and its role is promoting health to all men kind by providing  technical support and building sustainable institutional capacity. However,  some author stated  that globalization promoted health care for people, but its also the one who spread diseases. Like Woodward, Drager, Beaglehole and Lipson response that globalization offers the potential both to improve the health effects of globalization itself and to provide broader benefits to health worldwide. Thus, education and health care offers vast potential for improving living standard through gl obalization. As we move further and further into the 21st century, we can clearly see that technology is changing into a new dimension. Technology plays an important and significant role of globalization through its many ways. Technology promotes the development of a global telecommunications infrastructure and greater cross-border data flow by using Internet, communication satellites, fiber optic cable and wireless technology. We can see the advantages of globalization in the Internet. The integration and merging the people of the world have been emerged over the past decade and make the true global communication exist through the Internet technology. For example, someone in the United States can talk or email to someone in Cambodia. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the emergence of the Internet as a tool of low-cost global connectivityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦This sudden revolution in connectivity constituted a major flattening force (Friedman, 2007). Internet allows us to take our own digital contents and send it anywher e at very low cost or sometimes for free so that people around the world could share whatever they want to share to the world. Through the Internet technology, social media such as social networking and online conference also bring a big impact on globalization. Social networking such as Facebook and Twitter has integrated people around the world and their community with many advantages for them. For instance, some people have formed new business, enhanced their existing business and sold products through marketing on social networking. Some people also received assistance from their friends or others when they are in trouble, and they also make new friends and improve the friendship through chatting, commenting, posting, calling and video calling. They could also read news and join any contests available on the social media. In addition, the impacts of technology on globalization also include modernization and business field on a global base (Zunairah, 2008). The process of electro nic transaction is being improved with business integration, and broadcasting of information over the Internet makes people gain instant access to new information and communication technologies. In business, many companies are enjoying many benefits from the technological research and innovation. For example, business meeting or business production process can be communicated through the Internet and it is possible to communicate with other people and companies across the continents and oceans. The Internet turned into an important part of doing business. Instead of face to face meeting with clients, the managers or chairman could see communicate remotely to their clients via the Internet. However, if there are any mistakes on the communication process through the Internet, many people will suffer and lost benefits from their business. According to BBC News, Skype, which is the most dominant software that many companies use it to communicate with their clients, was crashed by the so ftware bugs and server overloading. Millions of Skype users around the world cannot log in for several hours and it was very disappointing to those users because they suffered and lost some process of their business. Thats why the communication through the Internet is very important for business. Open-sourcing also integrates the people of the world. It involves self-organizing communities or groups that modify and improve open software so that it can be accessed by anyone around the world. For example, Wikipedia uses the open-sourcing principle so that anyone is able to add and edit it. Linux or Mozillas Firefox web browser is also open source software that is free to download. It also has the power of cooperation that everybody can work together to solve a given problem. However, globalization on technology cannot reach or benefits the less developing countries. They dont have Internet connection or sometimes telecommunication. Therefore, these disadvantages can be reduced if the flow of the Internet and Information Technology are introduced to those less developing countries and they can develop their progress in the future. There can be a wonderful impact on globalization as communication process between individuals, institutions and states in different areas of the world and promote the political, social, economic, and cultural aspects of a state. In conclusion, globalization has critical effects on the advancement on economies, culture and religion, public services and living standard, and technology not only in a nation but also in the whole world. Although globalization shows a manifestation of disadvantage effects, the benefits of globalization still remain as priority in the international society.

Fannie Flaggs Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe :: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe

Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe My first impression of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafà © was that it was a â€Å"woman’s'; novel. This was because the movie, which was more popular than the book, was advertised as a â€Å"chick flick';. To say the least, I was wrong. The novel poses many issues that face the people of the 1920’s and 30’s, and makes one think about what people have struggled through. The novel addresses the issue of racism before the time of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. It tells of the struggles women must go through when they reach menopause; the big change. However, the main plot line tells the story of two women, Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison, and the trials and tribulations of their life in the 1920’s and 30’s. Idgie and Ruth are business partners, best friends, and in the eyes of many, also lesbians. â€Å"[Fried Green Tomatoes] represents around the issue of lesbianism, depicting a strong and intense friendship between two white women (the tomboy Idgie Threadgoode and the fern Ruth Jamison), but never committing itself one way or another'; (Pelligrini 7). There have not been many stories written about homosexuality in the first half of the twentieth century. That is why Fannie Flagg does not just come out and say that Idgie and Ruth are lesbians. In turn, the idea that Idgie and Ruth are lesbians is a subject that has been under heated debate. However, there are many episodes between Idgie and Ruth that are undeniable proof that they are homosexuals. The idea that Idgie and Ruth are lesbians is rampant throughout the story. It is evidenced by the way they speak to each other and act towards each other, but the idea is subverted due to the fact that everyone in the town sees Idgie as a man. The idea that Idgie and Ruth are lesbians can be misunderstood. To say that they are a lesbian couple does mean that they are sexually involved with each other. However, whether or not Idgie and Ruth are sexually involved is a decision that is left up to the reader. Flagg does not describe in the novel any sexual experiences between Idgie and Ruth. This is because the idea of lesbianism is a touchy subject and could have changed the idea that novel was trying to get across.

Run Like the Wind: A Geographical Look at Kenyan Supremacy in Long Di :: essays research papers fc

Run Like the Wind: A Geographical Look At Kenyan Supremacy in Long Distance Running In East Africa, there is an area know as the Great Rift Valley. It is in this Great Rift Valley, where the world’s most dominant long distance runners come from, Kenya. In the past three decades, runners from Kenya have simply dominated the sport of long distance running in all facets including cross-country, track, and the marathon. In the world rankings for marathon running, Kenyans hold 8 of the top 10 spots for the men and 6 of the top ten spots in women’s rankings. (Entine, Par. 2) But how can one country be so overpowering in a sport that anyone can participate in? There are a number of factors that all work together to make Kenyan runners the best of the best. Rigorous training regimens, the physical geography of Kenya, country and world support of the athletes, genetics and early participation of children are all factors in the study of why Kenyan runners are by far the best long distance runners in the world. To start off, you must look at the physical geograph y in which the Kenyans train.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kenya is located in East Africa and is dominated by the Great Rift Valley. A rift valley developed from faulting caused by tension in the earth’s crust. The sides of the valley are usually steep and can be up to 2,000 meters high. The Great Rift Valley gives Kenya areas of great elevation. This elevation equals thinning of the air as you get to higher and higher altitudes, which makes it more difficult to breath, especially when running. This altitude plus the equatorial latitudes creates and ideal climate for sustained outdoor activity – comfortably warm days, cool nights, low humidity. That with the altitude’s aerobic benefits, show how Kenya’s highlands are ideal for distance running. It should also be noted that every one of the country’s world-class runners is a highlander. â€Å"In an hour and 40 minutes they run more than 15 miles over uneven red clay, dodging small herds of cattle and donkeys laden with sacks of potatoes†¦The route climbs more that 3,000 feet, from and elevation of slightly more than 6,500 feet at the river to nearly 10,000 at the peak, where oxygen is precious and a cruel wind slices across the face of the hill.† (Layden, par. 2) It is in this environment that the Kenyan runners perform their grueling training regimens.

Solomon Northups Twelve Years A Slave Essay -- Essays on Twelve Years

After reading Solomon Northup's Twelve Years A Slave, I was overwhelmed with his experience. He was born a free man in New York in 1808. In 1841 he was tricked, captured, and sold into slavery in Washington, D.C. Throughout his book, Solomon goes into details describing his life as a slave, which validates our critique of slavery. As abolitionists, it is our duty to do something about slavery. Although, as abolitionists, we have a history of disagreements among us, it time to put a stop to our arguments and start fighting for something we all believe in - to abolish slavery. While the growing cotton economy has made slavery more attractive than ever before to most southern people, slavery has to be abolished based on these reasons: first, because slaves are treated inhumanly; second, because it makes southern white society savage and cruel, and third, it turns southern whites into greedy and lazy people. One of the main reasons that slavery should be abolished is because masters treat their slaves inhumanly. Masters disregard the idea of family among slaves. Although they encourage slave marriage, they do so out of selfish reasons. Slaves who have families are likely to have kids, who will become property of the master after birth, and at the same time they are least likely to run away. In addition, the actual law does not provide any protection or recognition of slave marriage or family, which discourages the formation of family among slaves . Just like the law, masters do not take families into consideration and are reluctant to break slave families by sale. For example when Eliza was sold, she begged her new master to purchase her daughter as well. However, Freeman would not sell Emily, because "there were piles... ...e Declaration of the Independence. After reading Twelve Years A Slave, I was sad to find out about how people struggle; however, at the same time I was excited because it would open up people's eyes about the mistreatment of African-Americans. It provides examples of how slaves are treated on daily basis; it also shows how whites in the South are breaking the law, which fails to serve justice even if they are caught in the act. It also shows how people in the South are turning into a barbaric and uncivilized society. Therefore as abolitionists, we feel that unless slavery is abolished, the goal of this country to make all men free and equal has failed. So if our fight for freedom has failed, what is left of our country? Works Cited: Northup, Solomon. Twelve Years a Slave. 1853. Ed. Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1975.

Web – Based Library System

Overview of the Current State of Technology 1. 2. Local Literature De La Salle University Library System Migration: A Strategic Decision Library automation at DLSU-Manila had undergone a gradual but steady development. It started in 1985 when it implemented the MINISIS software/Hewlett Packard 3000 hardware package. The system was able to create 11,000 bibliographic records for Filipiniana and Reference collections. The massive hardware maintenance problem led to a management decision to phase out the system in 1988. At the later part of the same year MINISIS was replaced by its micro version known as CDS-ISIS.The software with one stand-alone XT computer facility automated the indexing of articles from more than 100 locally published periodicals including newspapers, magazines, and journals. Additional databases were created as the number of computers increased. The index became searchable simultaneously by several users when the computer facilities were networked in 1992. In the sa me year the CD-ROM technology was introduced for information retrieval of selected indexes and abstracts.Perla T. Garcia, Director of DLSU Library (2004) states the reasons for changes: * Technical Development and Vendor Stability Networking * Expansion of Databases â€Å"Despite the struggle the DLSU Library encountered in running the system during the first two years the circulation module was successfully implemented in February 1997. Toward the end of the decade the system was upgraded incorporating the suggestions made by the participating libraries. The new version was renamed T-Series which enhanced the loan process and improved the other information management functions of the earlier edition. † [1] The upgraded version of the system has become an inevitable feature at DLSU Library.However, when it was established that the vendor of the system has closed shop and has merged with another company, the University Library started to work on the future of the library syste m that can be considered to replace T-Series. These reasons are provided for the new system that will replace the T-series. Ateneo De Manila University Professional Library Information System The Library Information System uses a Local Area Network (LAN) for data retrieval handled by five file servers housed in the Intermediate Distribution Function Room (IDFR).Its resources can be accessed thru 24 client stations strategically distributed within the Library and other stations located in different offices in APS such as AHRC, CLE and the Dean of the Law School. In-house databases and commercial databases on CD-ROMs can be accessed by pressing the key letter guide displayed alongside each menu. In the Reference Services, the reference librarian also provides reference assistance to library clients in the most effective use of the library resources and services, aside from conducting guidance to legal bibliography for law students.To provide a plentiful supply of good and useful books in support of its academic curricula is the main goal of the library. Teresita C. Moran, APS Chief Librarian (2004) states the APS Library system features: Online Public Access Catalog This is a catalog where library books, theses, computer files, law materials housed at the Teehankee Library inclusive of uncatalogued but accessioned materials such as serials, law and business periodicals, cases decided by the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Philippine laws. Features: Search limits to format (any,books, maps, computer files, etc. ) – Search limits to field (any title,author, subject, etc. ) – Use both simple and complex algorithm using Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT, etc. ) -It provides user-controlled sort (by title,author,publisher, etc. ) – Work in conjunction with other modules – Provide safe environment to deal with potentially malicious users – Easily update for users convenience and accommodate their library needs – It provides sel ection and print options – Browse matches found in brief and full detail OPAC users are able to benefit greatly from up-to-date information – Patron can see actual Circulation status whether the item is on shelf, on loan, etc. – Password protected [2] WebPAC The Web Public Access Catalog is a guide to all the information sources to all the information sources of the library: books, compact discs, educational video tapes, theses, journals/serials, laws, legal cases and journal articles through simple search by author, title and subject.Features: – It enables the user to search any author, subject, title and publisher – Specify year from-to Get current information from the library’s local database – Includes matches found in your query – Full MARC record display – Applies to any standard internet browser (e. g. Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer) [3] The APS Library operates in an open stack set up. It adapted two ma jor systems of classifying book collections: first is the Library of Congress (LC) Classification system. This system is applied to Business and Information Technology holdings; second is the Los Angeles County Law Library Classifications (LACCLLC) scheme, which applies to the law holdings.Business and law journals are not classified as such but simply arranged alphabetically by title. The â€Å"The† code is the general classification used for both business and law theses. University of the Philippines iLib (Integrated Library System) â€Å"Technically, iLib is implemented in client-server architecture. In this configuration, all application programs run in the server (except for JavaScripts) and the user communicates with the server using a web browser, called the â€Å"thin client† in this architecture. No application is required to be installed in the user’s workstation other than the web browser to be able to use the system.All software updates, bug fixes, and enhancements are implemented in the server which can take effect immediately without requiring any updates or adjustments from the user’s end. † [4] Just like any common web-based systems, users can interact with the iLib system using a keyboard and mouse. Most interfaces in iLib require the user to key-in information in HTML forms using the keyboard and submit form data by clicking the â€Å"submit† buttons with a mouse. In most cases, hitting the â€Å"Enter† key (carriage return) from the keyboard can also trigger form submission.Arellano University Library System â€Å"The University Library comprises the following collections and services: Circulation Unit (foreign books on all fields of interest); Filipiniana Unit (books locally published in the Philippines, books written by Filipino author and books about the Philippines); Periodicals Unit (collection includes journals and magazines in various fields of interest); Reference Unit (collection of reference materials such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbook, almanac, geographical sources, etc. ; Audio-Visual Unit (a collection of audio-visual materials such as CD-ROM, VHS tapes & cassette tapes) and the Graduate School Unit (collection of books for post graduate level together with the thesis collection for reference purposes). As part of the library system, the adoption of computerized version of card catalog commonly known as OPAC (On-line Public Access Catalog) is used by the patrons as a medium of searching the library collection. † Arellano University library system offers different amenities and learning tools in comfortable environments which is intended for the greater benefit and convenience of its students.That is why they have improved their library with the use of OPAC to provide the users easiness and swiftly find what they are looking for. Far Eastern University Library System â€Å"The University Library is an indispensable educational and cultu ral repository. Refurbished and inaugurated on February 16, 1991 it has a book collection of more than 96,988 volumes and subscription to thousands of titles of magazines and journals in hard copies and in electronic format accessible through the EBSCO host Research Databases.The collection of books and other information resources fall under the following areas (easily accessible through the Online Public Access Catalog. † The FEU University Library aspires to be a leading academic information resource center and to be a dynamic partner in the University’s vision to develop responsible and well informed professionals who can contribute to the advancement of the global society. As usual nowadays, they provide an OPAC for easier researching of information from their libraries. 1. Foreign Literature Proposal for a University of Tennessee Digital Library Center James B. Lloyd (Special Collections Librarian and Chair, Digital Library Committee) and Bill Britten (Head of Libr ary Systems, John C. Hodges Library) (2001) states: â€Å"All students, faculty, and researchers would benefit in a variety of ways because the digital format broadens and deepens access exponentially. All of the digital library content would be available to any number of authorized users at one time, no matter their location.Materials would be available for distance research and distance education. Access to digital content could be provided in ways that are simply not possible in the traditional environment. Text can be available fully searchable through natural language, multimedia can be nested, references can be linked to other references, reference tools can be digitized and used to organize digital collections, etc. A digital library serves all of the constituents of the University in new and better ways by enhancing the research potential ofUniversity faculty on all campuses while also serving the needs of distance education. † [3] The DLC will be a catalyst for chang e by creating the organizational and technical building blocks that allow the campus to conceive of new ways of creating, accessing, and applying information resources to research and teaching. It will select, produce, and maintain a wide range of networked resources for scholars and students at UT and elsewhere.It will collaborate with University information technology professionals and research faculty to capitalize on institutional capabilities by focusing University resources on digital library projects that support the teaching and research of UT faculty, support the learning and research of UT students, and foster research about the digital library. An Intelligent Digital Library System for Biological Data Jeffrey E. Stone et al (2005) To make personalized service possible, a â€Å"user profile† representing the preferences of an individual user is constructed based upon past activities, goals indicated by the user, and options. Utilizing these user profiles, our system will make relevant information available to the user in an appropriate form, amount, and level of detail, and especially with minimal user effort. † [4] Due to the goal to serve the users better, a â€Å"user profile† is provided in the system. The user can personalized it and will have the ability to explore the system without much effort.It also allows the user to make feedbacks about the system, so that the system will know about the user’s areas of interest. The system is designed to act as a helper for the user who visits the digital library to find relevant information, with particular attention to the newly developed and modified documents in it. State University of New York Library System The Office of Library and Information Services in SUNY (1999) states their objectives about the library system.It includes: * Consortia-based capabilities such as union catalog and non-mediated requesting of library materials. * Excellent performance for all participati ng libraries. * Ability of the consortia to distribute the system across different servers, provide real-time mirroring of essential data, and permit the pooling of systems staff across the libraries. * The ability for the system to support the combined transaction load of SUNY libraries on all 64 campuses. A state-of-the-art integrated library system that provides access to public services, collection management, and technical services functions.* A system that enables each campus to view and maintain its own data with local control of profile and security configurations. * The ability to effectively convert data from the existing library systems into a new format that will preserve and insure its continued development and preservation, as well as the ability to migrate data to new generations of library systems. Allow for the integration of electronic resources that are made available through the SUNYConnect initiative (e. g. , bibliographic and full-text databases, image database s, electronic journals, etc. ). * To provide a means of, or an interface to, user authentication and user authorization vis-a-vis the SUNY-wide borrowing of library materials.* The ability to exploit emerging technologies and information resources to raise the level of library services, facilitate an increase in staff productivity, and improve effectiveness. 5] These objectives are made because SUNY is committed to providing exceptional library and information services to the university community by implementing an integrated library management system of superior functionality and cost efficiency. These are the type of functionality the SUNY libraries are seeking to incorporate. In short, this proposed system is part of the SUNYConnect virtual library initiative to provide access to the entire SUNY library collection via a common library management system and to enable patron-initiated remote borrowing.Harvard’s Library Digital Initiative: Building a First Generation Digital Library Infrastructure â€Å"Harvard University has funded a 5-year project to build a first generation production infrastructure to support digital library collections. Key project activities include education and consulting on core digital library issues (metadata, technical formats, reformatting, legal issues, preservation, interfaces and access), defining an overall technical framework, and the development of a core set of systems to support digital collections (catalogs and access tools, repositories, user interfaces, access management, and naming).A significant portion of the funding has been allocated to grants to University units for contents projects, intended to inform and test the developing infrastructure. † [6] Harvard University has a large and unusually decentralized library system. Information technology and shared information systems have been used increasingly in the past two decades to bring coherence to library services while maintaining the independence o f the University's hundred or so libraries.Two years ago a task force of faculty, librarians, and administrative deans proposed that the University administration fund a project to: (1) make Harvard's growing digital collections coherent and easy to use, through the development of a common framework and infrastructure, through communication and coordination, and through the use of incentives for collaborative work; (2) avoid wasteful duplicative development of digital library systems across the many independent departments of the University; (3) help curators build digital research collections through education, expert advice, the provision of core services, and the development of a technical infrastructure; and (4) integrate the new digital collections with Harvard's strong traditional collections. Tokyo University Library System â€Å"OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) / Multilingual OPAC You can search the resources using the OPAC system for journals held in entire University l ibraries, and books acquired in/after 1985. They are currently in the process of incorporating the materials acquired before 1985 into their electronic system. † [7]The  University of Tokyo Library  in Tokyo, Japan, consists of the General Library, which provides services for all students and researchers affiliated with the university, Komaba Library, which supports the studies of the first two years of undergraduate education, Kashiwa Library, which functions as the back number center for natural science materials, as well as more than 60 faculty/institution libraries in various academic fields. The library has the largest collection in  Japan, holding a total of over 8,000,000 books. Using the OPAC, the students can easily find what they need for their research and studies. The university is still maintaining the system to improve the services to provide for the users.