Thursday, October 31, 2019

The Navy has an integrity problem in the ranks of its Commanding Essay

The Navy has an integrity problem in the ranks of its Commanding Officers and it needs to be fixed - Essay Example Therefore, this moral dilemma on the character of naval leadership needs to be resolved this early to restore the public’s esteem to their organization. From January to June of this year alone, the naval community as reported by the Navy Times has fired 21 high-ranking officials. The list are composed of several commanding officers, a handful of senior enlisted leaders and an executive officer who were all terminated for reasons ranging from administrative neglect and loss of integrity to lead, to personal misconduct such as sexual harassment, drunkenness, and fraternization, among others. Note that the said officers are not the newly graduated and amateur types; instead, they possess credentials of the experienced, skilled and decorated leaders (â€Å"Commanding Officer†, 2012). This statistics is startling considering that the list only composed of 17 Navy commanding officers in 2010 and soared to 31 in 2011 (â€Å"Navy Commanding†, 2011). The Career Progression Division of the Naval Personnel Command presented a similar data showing an increasing trend of dismissal of commanding officers in the Navy from 1999 to 201 0 citing misconduct, a significant event, unsatisfactory performance over time, and loss of confidence in the officer’s ability to command, as categories. The accused officials were not only relieved from their posts but were â€Å"detached for cause† as well. Although the portion of the pie under the category of personal misconduct is small, it still is significantly high and disquieting (Light, 2012). The above information is essential in viewing the modern shift of the degree of leadership and responsibility in the naval forces. Among all the competent candidates for high ranks, it is noticeable that even the individuals who are inclined to misbehave get the position. The question then lies to the competence and

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Clifford thinks Pascal and James are wrong Essay

Clifford thinks Pascal and James are wrong - Essay Example This needs explanations: if we believe in God and God exists, we remain innocent; if we believe in God and God does not exists, we still remain innocent; if we do not believe in God and God does not exist, we can’t be sure that we remain innocent as we can’t know for sure if God exists; if we do not believe in God and God exists, we are guilty. Thus, it is better to believe in God, than not to believe and therefore, according to Blaise Pascal, everybody should believe in God. The William James has a similar point of view. He also states that we should believe in God and waiting for evidence is not right for humans. Waiting for any evidence to decide if to believe or not may lead us to much losses. According to the philosopher, if a man hesitates to propose to a woman waiting for evidence that she is his ideal, he risks to lose her as she may accept the proposition of someone else. The same is with religion and belief. James states that those people who believe may enjoy the life of religious people and those who do not may lose this chance. Blaize Pascal and William James are sure that people should believe in God. William Clifford can’t agree with them. It does not mean that this philosopher states that we should not believe in God, but he call us to involve some doubt and states that it is necessary as it is our duty. He provides an example to explain why: a ship-owner had an old ship. He knew that it was old and he also knew that some people were going to have a voyage on its board. He did not have any time or facilities to repair his ship and he preferred to pin his hopes on Providence that would not have allowed people to die. As a result these people died as the ship was broken. This testifies that blind belief in Providence may lead to disaster. â€Å"If a man, holding a belief which he was taught in childhood or persuaded of afterwards, keeps down and pushes away any

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Analysis Of Arden Of Faversham

Analysis Of Arden Of Faversham As Arden of Faversham opens the audience is aware that the crime dramatised is a fait accompli; thus the bulk of the play is suspended between the perspicacity of Ardens murder and its inevitable realization. Several failed attempts are made to murder Arden and again in Scene xiii Arden escapes injury during his clash with Mosby. This extended deferment is crucial to the objectives of the play, permitting an exploration of both motives and character; exploring tensions surrounding the essence of marriage and Renaissance social structure, it demonstrates Alice as challenging the conventions of Elizabethan society through her standpoint on marriage and religion; and points to Arden as contradicting perceived male roles. Alice begins her seduction employing the language of lovers: thou and thee emphasis the intimacy of marriage in Alices first question: Couldst thou not see us friendly smile on thee? The adjective, simultaneously, an ironic clue to Alice and Mosbys true intentions. Continuing with her strategy of interrogation; Alice poses several rhetorical questions, diverting attention from her own indiscretion, to accuse Arden of imprudence and mistrust: Hast thou not lately found me over-kind? / Didst thou not hear me cry they murder thee? / Called I not help to set my husband free? The manipulation of sentence structure is reflective of Alices intensions; the pleonasm over-kind testament to Alices efforts to appease Arden whilst at the same time suggestive of the charade she is playing. The culminating rhyming couplet lays emphasis to both her attempt to engender Ardens trust and the link between her lack of sexual freedom and Arden. Confirming her disloyal nature, Alice is willing to allow Ard en to see Mosby, Shakebag and BlackWill as treacherous whilst she protests her innocence. The power dynamic at play here is reminiscent of the exchange between Alice and Mosby in Scene 1 Line 175 225; Alice cunning and manipulative works to dominate. Alices duplicity, both chilling and enthralling at the same time, is further enhanced by the fact that Alices role would have been played by a boy on the Elizabethan stage a reflection on how women were often presented by playwrights of the time. Lines 108 -111, heavily accented through antithesis and anaphora, too emphasise this duplicity: If I be merry, thou straightways thinks me light; If sad, thou sayest the sullens trouble me; If well attrired, thou thinks I will be gadding; If homely, I seem sluttish in thine eye. The parallel juxtaposition in each line allows Alice to present herself in a positive light as merry; sad; well attired and homely and then counter each declaration with an accusation that Arden regards her as light; sullen; gadding and sluttish. These are not accusations Arden has voiced against Alice but accusations Alice is charging him with making. The anaphoric repetition of the conjunctive marks the irony inherent in Alices presentation of these two versions of herself; antithesis emphasising the disparity between these two versions. Claiming that there is nothing she can do to change Ardens unjust opinion of her, Alice quick to play the victim, equates her life to a living death, heavily emphasised through rhyme and synecdoche: I seem sluttish in thine eye / Thus am I still, and shall be while I die, / Poor wench abused by thy misgovernment. Accusation Arden of treating her as if she were of a lower social standing, Alice claims she is ill-treated and poorly presided over; end ing the line with the word she most wants to stress her misgovernment; alluding to Ardens lack of authority as head of the household and, read in a boarder context, her thoughts on marriage. Love is God and marriage is but words, Alices words in Scene 1 Line 101-102 confirm that she believes love to be of greater significance than marriage; reinforced when she claims: Oaths are words, and words is wind. One of the principally explored themes in Arden of Faversham is the Renaissance perception of marriage. Alice likens her role as wife to that of slave: Henceforth Ill be thy slave, no more thy wife. Syntactic placement and rhythm lay further emphasis on the metaphor. The rhetoric of slavery is further expounded in line 105; the Paronomasia emphasising the imagery of a chain and Alice as enslaved by Arden. Alices exclamation here marks a tonal shift, her strategy changes from persuading Arden to doubt himself to a dramatic passionate outburst when she exclaims No, ears and all were witched. Ah me accursed, / To link in liking with a frantic man! Alices protestations are further embellished with an analogy to witchcraft, the syntax accursed at the end of the line emphasis ing Alices claim that she is cursed and chained, alliteration laying focus on her enslavement to a frantic man whos senses (ears) are bewitched. As Alice becomes more passionate so Arden becomes more compliant. Alliteration and rhythm stress the irony in line 107: For with that name I never shall content thee. On the one hand Alice claims Arden will never be content with her as a wife because what he really wants is a slave, but Alice too will never be content as long as she shares Ardens name. Alices challenge to marriage can be expounded to include Elizabethan ideology, a world view suspended from a strict social structure monarch as head of state; husband as head of the household. In Elizabethan England, to kill ones husband was a political crime; it struck to heart of Renaissance Ideology and questioned the Elizabethan patriarchal dominant configuration. Alices appeal to a need for sexual freedom is central to her motivation as upheld by her words in Scene 1 Line 274-276: But Mosbys love. / Might I without control / Enjoy thee still, then Arden should not die. On some level Alice holds not only Arden but Elizabethan society at large responsible for her transgressions; if she were not bound by a loveless marriage she would not be false, manipulative and murderous. In some respects this two reflects the idea that Arden is in some sense to blame for his own death. Alices response to Arden in line 116: The heavens can witness of our harmless thoughts would have been considered blasphemous by an Elizabethan audience. Again alliteration draws attention to Alices reference to heaven, and since the audience is aware of her falsehood also to her lack of reverence for all that the concept signifies; challenging ideas of providence. Challenges to the existing social order recur as a predominant thread throughout the play. An Elizabethan mans social standing could be influenced by his wifes chastity and sexual integrity; in light of this Arden would have been viewed as a Cuckold; implying public scandal and raising disquieting social and political intimation. Arden appears to be a fundamentally conflicted character as on the one hand he appears to be a naive cuckold, whilst on the other he is described as a man of affairs, worldly and proficient. Unremittingly ambitious, Arden is arrogant and regards his social standing above Mosby as proof that he is the better man. It is Mosbys taunting of Ardens horns which sparks the violent altercation immediately preceding this extract. Ardens motives speak to his true feelings for Alice; Arden does not fight Mosby to retain Alice, but rather to protect his social standing; lending justification to Alices notion of a loveless marriage. In this light Arden is show as both vi ctim and villain. Ardens response to Alices accusations is as Alice intended it to be, he doubts himself: But is it for truth that neither thou nor he / Intendedst malice in your misdemeanour? Alliteration highlights the contrast between malice and misdemeanour again there is the sense of weighing up the situation. Arden is convinced by Alices ploy; thereby confirming his Cuckoldry and apparent gullibility in the face of his wifes affair with Mosby. Arden would be seen by an Elizabethan viewer as relinquishing appropriate control of his household thereby committing a disloyalty to the conventional notion of masculine status and undermining social parameters. Ardens complacence raises questions as to his motives for assuaging Alice, appeasing her for the sake of her social standing and wealth, a consequence of his ambition and materialism. Alice describes Arden as frantic a man distracted by emotion might Alice here be referring not only to Ardens suspicions but also to his pursui t of materialism? Ardens situation is summed up in more ways than one in lines 117 -120. He implores Alice to pardon him and, stressed by alliteration, to forgive and forget his fault. Ironically his fault is not in accusing Alice but in forgiving her. He goes even further to suggest that Alice Impose [me] penance, and I will perform it, once more highlighted through alliteration; Alice plans to extract the ultimate penance from Arden, the irony further developed in lines 120-122, accentuated through the triplex: For in thy discontent I find a death, / A death tormenting more than death itself. It is precisely Ardens complacence and Alices discontent and that will lead to his death.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Use of Symbolism in Goldings Lord of the Flies Essay example -- Lord

Use of Symbolism in Golding's Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies, a suggestive name for the Devil, a devil whose name proposes that he is devoted to decay, destruction, demoralization and panic, exactly what William Golding had in mind when using symbolism in this novel. The Lord of the Flies (1954), is a novel in which interpretating the symbols are a main key to not only understanding, but also enjoying the novel. After tying many of the symbols together, you can figure out more about what the author is trying to depict, the overall scene. This story takes place during World War II on a deserted island. After a plane, transporting about a dozen young boys, gets shot down, they are trapped on an island without any adults. Throughout a few week period, they become separated through many difficult, and trying times. Each character and object that is frequently used, are symbols that represent a small part in the big picture. Through the symbols, the author portrays what each boy contributes, or burdens, the island with during their struggle to escape. The first thing I encountered and saw as a symbol when reading, was the island itself. This island had become their world. For as long as they were been on that island, that was the only thing they had, the only thing they knew. It was a world free from adults, laws and civilized society and full of responsibility. This set the picture of the boys, having to learn to survive by themselves, and shows you how important it is that they all come together. Ralph is a fairly quiet twelve year old with blond hair, and is the most influential of the group. He is the first one William talked about in the book. He was presented as a logical boy, and as the story progresses, you ... ... light the fire again later, You should have been with us. We had a smashing time" (69). This fire, their only hope of getting off the island, escaping this world, was out and there was no way for Ralph to start it. He was the only one who was sound enough to use the fire to get off, and the tribe had stolen it from him. While all this built up and eventually turned into a war, the anarchy of the world actually freed them from what they had been living. When rebellion and chaos had tried to catch order and destroy it, they started a fire, a new hope, that saved them from the island. Interpretating and understanding these characters and objects as symbols, bring a whole new light to the novel. As you read this, or any other story, let it get inside your head a little and try to find out if there's a Devil, one devoted to decay, destruction and demoralization.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Overview of Information Systems and Technology Essay

Corporations rely heavily on their internal business systems. These business systems consist of departments such as finance and accounting, human resource, legal, sales/marketing, and operations. Riordan Manufacturing, Inc. contains all the necessary business systems to operate for day to day activities. Riordan, a manufacturing company HRIS system is dated back in 1992 and as part of the financial system, it tracks the employee information such as pay rate, hire date, personal tax exemption purposes, seniority date, vacation hours for none exempted employees, organizational information such as manager’s name and department for budget purposes, and personal information with inclusion of addresses, birth dates and names. The company’s HRIS system was installed in 1992. It is a part of the financial systems package and keeps track of the following employee information: †¢Personal information (such as name, address, marital status, birth date, etc.) †¢Pay rate †¢Personal exemptions for tax purposes †¢Hire date †¢Seniority date (which is sometimes different than the hire date) †¢Organizational information (department for budget purposes, manager’s name, etc.) †¢Vacation hours (for non-exempt employees) Changes to this information are submitted in writing (on special forms) by the employee’s manager and are entered into the system by the payroll clerk. Training and development records are kept in an Excel worksheet by the training and development specialist. Each recruiter maintains applicant information for open positions. Rà ©sumà ©s are filed in a central storage area, and an Excel spreadsheet is used to track the status of applicants. Workers’ compensation is managed by a third-party provider, which keeps its own records. Employee files are kept by individual managers; there is no central employee file area. Managers are also responsible for tracking FMLA absences and any requests for accommodation under the ADA. The compensation manager keeps an Excel spreadsheet with the results of job analyses, salary surveys and individual compensation decisions. Employee relations specialists track information about complaints, grievances, harassment complaints, etc. in  locked files in their offices.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Is Texting and Driving as bad as Drinking and Driving Essay

There are many dangers when both drinking while driving and texting while driving. In this essay the two will be compared and contrasted to find why people do them even with the dangerous consequences. Drivers think they can text while driving and also drink while driving because they think they can get away with it because nothing has affected them in the past while doing it. Michael Austin states, â€Å"Texting, also known as SMS (for short message service), is on the rise, up from 9.8 billion messages a month in December ’05 to 110.4 billion in December ’08†. What does it mean to all drivers to text and drive, or even drink and drive? Why would somebody text and drive? Why would somebody drink and drive? Are the consequences great enough to make a change? Driving is already dangerous when the driver isn’t impaired, so when they add the risk of being impaired it increases their chances of getting hurt or damaging their car. Not only could they kill thems elves, but they could also kill somebody else and that’s not fair to the other people that are doing nothing wrong if it isn’t their fault. Drivers may want to pay close attention when they have their children because if they are texting while driving or drinking while drive when their children are in the car, the children will pick up the habits that are being influenced and think that it is okay. Larry Copeland states in USA today, although they’re otherwise protective of their young children, the survey finds, 78% of mothers with children under age 2 acknowledge talking on the phone while driving with their babies; 26% say they text or check their e-mail (Larry Copeland, 2013). What it means to text while driving is that the driver is on their phone emailing, texting, or searching the web while their attention should be on the road aware of their surroundings. All drivers should constantly be focused on the road and other cars instead of their phones. But is texting while driving as bad as drinking while driving? What it means to drink while  driving is that the driver has possession and is consuming alcohol while operating a motor vehicle at the same time. Although they are both different they have one thing in common, they both impair the driver. Micheal Austin states, â€Å"Intern Brown’s baseline reaction time at 35 mph of 0.45 second worsened to 0.57 while reading a text, improved to 0.52 while writing a text, and returned almost to the baseline while impaired by alcohol, at 0.46. At 70 mph, his baseline reaction was 0.39 second, while the reading (0.50), texting (0.48), and drinking (0.50) numbers were similar†. A huge difference betwe en the two is that when a driver drinks they are constantly impaired as they are driving. But when a driver is texting and driving there are usually impaired for less than a minute. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, â€Å"five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field. Also a texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into an accident than a non-texting driver.† (NHTSA, n.d). Even though texting and driving and drinking while driving are very dangerous one can be more harmful than the other at times. Everybody has received a phone call, email or text while driving one time or another. As soon as the driver gets the notification that somebody is trying to reach them they feel the urge to check their phone. Our phones have become a major addiction and people cannot resist the temptation to check their phones every minute they get. A driver feels like it won’t matter if they just happen to look down at their phone for a moment as they take their attention off of the road. Nothing has happened before as they’ve done it many times, so why would something happen now? But little do they know it could impact their lives in many ways. According to drivesafely.net, only 60% or more have admitted to texting and driving when the results are closer to 80% in reality (drive-safely.net, 2011). There may be more than one reason why people feel like it is okay to drink in drive. One of those reasons may be that they are so impaired that they aren’t aware of the dangers of get ting behind the wheel. In some situations a driver could get pulled over by a police officer and he would give a breathalyzer test that the driver would most likely fail. Then the driver would be taken away to  jail in hand cuffs and treated like a criminal. Another reason is that the driver feels as if they can drink as much as they would like and still be able to drive because they have done it in the past. Also drivers don’t want to feel intimidated by the alcohol in their system; they believe they are still capable of doing the same things they did when they weren’t under the influence. After you’re put in jail you will have to face a judge or jury and depending on your alcohol level you’ll be sentenced. If it’s okay to drink and drive, is it okay to text and drive? Neither option is okay. But people feel as if texting and driving is a lot more minor then drinking in driving. Drivers look at driving as a dangerous thing already and most think adding alcohol to the equation makes it more dangerous. But is it worse than drinking and driving? Teenagers and adults don’t think so. Drivers feel as if they can hide their phone when they are texting or talking on it and the police officer will not se e them or take the time to pull them over. Especially since the consequences aren’t that great. The current texting fine is around $150, if you bump that up to about $300 I’m sure people would be more careful. Also having insurance nowadays is a MUST. If insurance companies decided to stop covering these crashes I’m sure they would decrease. In both situations drivers feel they have the ability to drive while taking these actions even though they are wrong and a danger to all other drivers. Regardless of these situations a responsible driver should never drive impaired in any way. Texting while driving and drinking while driving both have their down falls. And no responsible driver should ever take part in either action. Drivers think they can get away with a quick text or a little alcohol while driving because it may have not affected them in the past. They aren’t aware of the true danger and consequences of these actions when things go horribly wrong. In my essay I hit three main points; what it means to do these things, followed by the reasons people do it, and also the consequences of doing it. In the end the roads are only as safe as we make them. WORK CITED PAGE http://www.caranddriver.com/features/texting-while-driving-how-dangerous-is-it-the-results-page-2