Literature and Online College Newspaper

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel that depicts the life of a female coming to age during a time of war and violence in Iranian. The editor of The Ithacan, an online college newspaper, criticized this work of literature as being nothing more than an â€Å"advanced comic book† and â€Å"not too challenging. † He argues that Persepolis and similar literary works do not encourage intellectual advancement and does not benefit college freshmen. Despite the more basic vocabulary, the side narratives, unique dialogues, and use of illustrations evoke understanding and compassion for not only the narrator, but also the underlying themes.Generally speaking, a novel about Iranian politics and war is a topic that is hard for most young people to grasp or to find interesting because subjects such as these are very foreign to American readers. Persepolis assists in making this topic more relatable. By using graphics to depict the character’s expressions, settings and actions it is easier for the reader to connect. For example, on page 53, Satrapi illustrates the many ways in which Iranian young people express their feelings about the violent atmosphere.They cope with this situation by turning to family, friends and God. In addition, the author shows the children creating games and a fantasy world that compares their lives to the lives of the tortured. An example of the effectiveness of the illustrations and narrative is shown on page 116. The frame depicts soldiers amidst bombs, gunshots and smoke with multiple soldiers lying on the ground, dead. Marjane, the narrator, is standing in the upper left corner appearing helpless. Marjane is then shown exiting the frame stating that the situation could have been avoided.This is a powerful message because it relates to the current situation in the Middle East where American soldiers and innocent civilians are killed everyday. The value of Satrapi’s use of dialogue to enrich the narrative is evident on page 197. In response to overhearing her collogues prejudiced comments, she angrily retorts â€Å"I am Iranian and proud of it! † (197). This simple statement shows that proud of her nationality and will not tolerate negative statements applied to it. On this page she then states her comprehension of her grandmother’s advice. If [she] wasn’t comfortable with [herself], [she] would never be comfortable† (197). This is indicative of her self-growth and acceptance of her ethnicity. Literature comes in many forms and styles. These include novels, memoirs, plays, poetry and non-fiction. Graphic novels are just another medium in which authors can express their viewpoint and influence readers. One type of literature is not better than another; the vocabulary, sentence structure and degree of difficulty does not correlate to the books worth.What is more important is how it influences a reader and the thought process and intellectual stimulation that co mes about. Therefore, Persepolis is more than an â€Å"advanced comic book†. It is an engaging, enlightening piece of literature that portrays a violent time period in the Middle East that can be universally applied to other situations in the world today. Works Cited Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. Illus. Marjan Satrapi. New York: Pantheon Books, 2007. Print. â€Å"Taking Initiative: Graphic novel reading selection furthers declined reading comprehension. † The Ithacan 6 Mar. 2008: 1. The Ithacan. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. .

Mobile marketing trends

Mobile marketing trends in India Marketing is the social process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others. The marketing concept is a philosophy. It makes the customer, and the satisfaction of his or her needs, the focal point of all business activities. It is driven by senior managers, passionate about delighting their customers. Marketing Is a mall element for the successful sale of any product.Products like a soap or toothpaste or a car and lots more require a good marketing strategy. Mobile phone is most commonly found product and which does require marketing plans to Improve its sale. Mobile marketing requires high funds and therefore the funds are sanctioned. Samsung, MicroVAX, spice, and many other Internationally recognized brands spend a lot of money for mobile marketing. Under marketing plans mobile marketing has gained a huge exposure and is one the most popular marketing. What is mobile m arketing?Using different techniques of marketing like manners or advertisements or newspaper pictures or clippings or banners on buses or rickshaws to increase the sale of the mobile phone is mobile marketing. The purpose of this essay Is therefore to analyze the ways in which mobile marketing works and the factors that led to the huge success behind It. Whilst it is clear that there are many factors, which influence a particular decision, in a similar way many factors influence marketing of a mobile phone. Factor such as substitute or complementary goods for mobile phone will surely affect marketing strategy of a particular mobile phone.If tablets or Pads have better marketing plans then It will definitely create an Impact on the consumers. The sale of mobile phones will see a downfall. Another such factor would be the special Influences and then the main factor is the tastes and preferences. Producers have found out the taste of the consumers or the main objective behind buying su ch devices and create different marketing plans based on the consumers interest. They try to attack the weakness of the consumer and somehow convince them to buy the mobile.Mobile phones use the social networking APS and special plans created by the outwork carriers, which help the poor to buy a mobile phone too. Social networking APS are the main target. Social networking basically is – Interpersonal interaction is the gathering of people into particular gatherings, in the same way as little provincial groups or an area subdivision, in the event that you will. Albeit person-to-person communication is conceivable In individual, particularly in the work environment, colleges, and secondary schools, It Is most famous on the web.This Is on the grounds web is loaded with a large number of people who are looking to meet other individuals, to accumulate and impart direct data and encounters about cooking, playing golf, planting, creating companionship proficient collusions, discove ring occupation, business-to-business Advertising and even gatherings offering data about preparing treats to the Flourish Development. The points and premiums are as differed and rich as the story of our universe. Regarding online long-range interpersonal communication, sites are ordinarily utilized.These sites are known as social locales. The most used social networking sites are backbone, twitter, IBM. These social networking sites have their APS, which can be installed in the smart phones and phones. Mobile marketing trends have been dominating the early 2014 (business insider INDIA). The way social networking sites have created a huge impact on the mobile marketing trends are somewhat like, better gee targeting. Gee focusing on or area based portable Promoting is truly energize for advertisers and has picked up massive prevalence throughout the last few years.This is a vital pattern that truly brings quality to shoppers by giving them a chance to discover items and administrati ons in their area when they need. Gee focusing on is one of the heavenly vessels of specialty focusing for advertisers in light of the fact that it makes your brand pertinent to the buyers, helping it to addition footing. Inns, restaurants and stores are the leaders in terms of gaining by the area-based administrations. Time for nonirritating and micro content are also very different trends that commonly are known. Nonirritating alludes to focusing on a particular set of individuals from a given gathering.For instance, while arriving at crowds on a social outworking stage like Backbone one can thin down the intended interest group focused around their experience, demographic, areas, and so forth. Case in point, assume you are beginning up with operations Just in India couple of neighboring nations, then why squander your valuable Advertising bucks on arriving at everybody. Simply narrowest! Make a fight for the individuals in these geologies and receive the best in return. Nonirrita ting will be considerably more vital in the following few months to come as substance with setting is getting to be more critical by the day.Portable promoting makes it much simpler. 3 Concerning substance in the versatile advertising space, it has gotten shorter and will keep on getting shorter. That is the manner by which it better speaks to versatile viewers. A six second feature or a snatch photograph with a reasonable message is fit for doing a ton greater to your brand than one can envision. 3 Mobile instant messaging is the aspect that has been targeted and is still used by the producers to gain the attention of the consumers. There is a gigantic surge in the quantity of dynamic clients of versatile based social informing applications likeWeight, Watchstrap, Trek Errand person, and so on. This plainly shows that buyers are truly snared on by the testing versatile applications and there lies an extraordinary as far as making messages that achieve buyers and are pertinent to th em and not interrupting. 3 Personalization and customization and increasing interest in the wearable technology are another two most different trends, which contribute, in the marketing strategy. While versatile purchasing of items is not a huge pattern yet, there is a solid pattern of scrutinizing items for portable and afterward set disconnected from the et to purchase them.This is at the end of the day a gigantic open door. This is the place customized and modified offers can assume an incredible part. Advertisers can utilize customized offers to change over these searchers into real purchasers. For instance, if a purchaser is perusing and investigating travel ends of the line in Europe, he or she will perceive ads blazing with less expensive flight tickets AND Inns in those goals. 3 All things considered, simply a couple of years back wearable engineering may have quite recently seemed like an extravagant thing from a science fiction motion picture, et not any longer.With items like Google Glass and save. â€Å"y' watches, wearable innovation is changing a considerable measure as far as the way purchasers carry on. While the wearable engineering may not be a pattern yet, however it unquestionably is getting up to speed. When it turns into a piece of day-by-day lives of buyers, there will be entire better approach to charm them. 3 Another trend on which the focus can go would be emails. This trend isn't much popular but it still contributes. Messages may have begun decade's prior as PC- centered correspondence, however they aren't that any longer.

Incurable disease AIDS

Today, the world is worst alarmed by an incurable disease AIDS. AIDS has been spreading in the world like a wild fire. AIDS is a global problem and there should be a global solution found by the entire international community. It is really scary to see and imagine our world fall into pieces because we refuse to share and put in the common vestiges of our civilizations. â€Å"It could be said that the AIDS pandemic is a classic own-goal scored by the human race against itself. † – Princess Anne, Ireland. The Origin of Aids: -AIDS is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which originated in non-human primates in Sub-Saharan Africa and was transferred to humans during the late 19th or early 20th century. Two types of HIV infect humans: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is more virulent, is more easily transmitted and is the cause of the vast majority of HIV infections globally. The pandemic strain of HIV-1 is closely related to a virus found in the chimpanzees of the subspecies Pan troglodytes, which lives in the forests of the Central African nations of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Central African Republic. HIV-2 is less transmittable and is largely confined to West Africa, along with its closest relative, a virus of the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys) an Old World monkey inhabiting southern Senegal, Guinea, and western Ivory Coast. â€Å"It is clear before God and man that the entire war on HIV and AIDS has not been waged with any degree of piety, responsibility and care. †| Symptoms of Aids: -The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the result of conditions that do not normally develop in individuals with healthy immune systems. Most of these conditions are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that are normally controlled by the elements of the immune system that HIV damages. Opportunistic infections are common in people with AIDS. These infections affect nearly every organ system. That’s what prompted James Ander ton to say that, Everywhere I go I see increasing evidence of people swirling about in a human cesspit of their own making. | People with AIDS have had their immune system damaged by HIV and are very susceptible to these opportunistic infections. Common symptoms are: * Chills * Fever * Sweats (particularly at night) Swollen lymph glands * Weakness * Weight loss Causes for Aids: -Reckless life style is the major cause for HIV. The virus can be spread (transmitted): * Through sexual contact — including oral, vaginal, and anal sex * Through blood — via blood transfusions or needle sharing * From mother to child — a pregnant woman can transmit the viru s to her foetus through their shared blood circulation, or a nursing mother can transmit it to her baby in her breast milk Other methods of spreading the virus are rare and include accidental needle injury, artificial insemination with infected donated semen, and organ transplantation with infected organs. However considering the patients to be untouchable is unconditionally disgraceful. Sometimes I have a terrible feeling that I am dying not from the virus, but from being untouchable. – Amanda Heggs| HIV infection is NOT spread by: * Casual contact such as hugging * Mosquitoes * Participation in sports * Touching items that were touched by a person infected with the virus Aids and blood or organ donation: -AIDS is NOT transmitted to a person who DONATES blood or organs. People who donate organs are never in direct contact with people who receive them. Likewise, a person who donates blood is never in contact with the person receiving it. In all these procedures, sterile needles and instruments are used. However, HIV can be transmitted to a person RECEIVING blood or organs from an infected donor. To reduce this risk, blood banks and organ donor programs screen donors, blood, and tissues thoroughly. What is necessary to change a person, is to change his awareness of himself. -Abraham Maslow. Aids Awareness programmes: – * AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among people ages 25 – 44 in the United States, down from number one in 1995. * The World Health Organization estimates that more than 25 million people worldwide have died from this infection since the start of the epidemic. * In 2008, there were approximately 33. 4 million people around the world living with HIV/AIDS, including 2. 1 million children under age 15. Complete extinction of impure thought is impossible without ceaseless penance. Mahatma Gandhi | The government has drawn up a strategy to fight AIDS that seeks to unite all sectors in a common programme. The national health department is the main driver of a strategic plan to coordinate the fight against AIDS by the whole country. These include traditional healers, business and religious organisations. The priority areas in this plan are: * Prevention; * Treatment, care and support; * Legal and human rights; * Monitoring, research and evaluation Conclusion: -As of now, there is no cure for AIDS, though there are drugs that prolong a patient’s life. There is a huge amount of research going on in this regard, especially in the US, and hopefully, a cure (or a vaccine) will be discovered. However, moral life alone is the best medicine to prevent AIDS. As a nation we should commit ourselves not only to the fight against terrorism, but to economic justice, defeat of the AIDS epidemic and vestiges of discriminatory policies of all kinds.

The US Government Framework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The US Government Framework - Assignment Example President Obama’s entry into the presidency came at a time when the economy was taking a turn for the worst and the spoils for the Iraq War was being reaped.   Thus, the American public gave its support for the time being in the hopes that everything will turn out better. Being a great orator, Obama was able to capture the attention and the hearts of the people.   However, most things are easily said than done. And if even they can be achieved it usually takes time to do it, which most people affected by the failing economy cannot appreciate.Officials in public office, especially the President experiences a decline in popularity mainly because of his decisions, which the majority of the public does not agree with.   And most of his decisions regarding the economy and an unpopular war may either increase or decrease his level of popularity.   If during his term in office, the economy becomes good he will generally have a high level of approval; and if he engages in a wa r that makes the country look like the defender of democracy then normally his ratings will surge upward (King).   It is unfortunate that President Obama’s administration had to deal with a failing economy almost at the start o his term in office and like wise quite unfortunate that the popularity polls have been conducted at a time when the surveyed group was not in favor of the President’s actions and decision. Hence a decline in popularity rating was eminent but not entirely new in the world of politics, since past presidents also went through the same dilemma during their time (King).The veto power of the Texas governor gives him or her authority to reverse budget appropriation items, resolutions and bills passed by the legislation in session.   The President likewise has the veto power to invalidate resolutions and bills forwarded by the legislative body of the national government.   Additionally, the vetoes of the President and the Texas Governor have limit s since they are normally given ten days from receipt of a bill to sign or veto it.  

Describe the international efforts to combat the trafficking of Essay

Describe the international efforts to combat the trafficking of cocaine, heroin and cannabis before evaluating their success using both qualitative and quantitative data - Essay Example According to Boivin (2013), international drug trafficking could be attributed to an interplay of geographic, economic, political and cultural factors. Over 40% of trade in cocaine, heroin and marijuana occurs in peripheral countries, with the 2006/2007 United Kingdom Threat Assessment of Serious Organised Crime indicating that criminals drawn from particular ethnicities, Turkish and Columbian traffickers common in the UK case, are largely involved in trafficking. Interestingly, a majority of countries postulated to benefit from the trade in drugs rarely appear among the top global economies. Drug trafficking, and indeed drug abuse, has been associated with negative socio-economic effects among nations (Lyman 2014). Therefore, drug trafficking has been fought against by the international community for many years now. Cocaine heroin and cannabis are among the most common forms of drugs that international focus has been given to prevent cultivation and distribution. Even with such efforts, drug trafficking still remains a rampant practice in a majority of countries across the world. Whereas governments have institutionalised programmes aimed at dismantling the illicit trade, no meaningful reduction in the trade has been experienced. Thus, this paper evaluates some of these efforts to determine their effectiveness. Nations around the world have adopted critical strategies to combat international trafficking of drugs. According to the Maxwell Knowledge Group (2007), four pillars have been adopted in a majority of these cases. As borrowed from the UK Drug Strategy, these pillars encompass prevention of young people from being drug users, reduction of crimes related to drugs, increasing the number of those who could access drugs and reduction of supply of illicit drugs. Combined together, these four efforts seek to eliminate drug trafficking across

Engaging in Evidence Based Practice and Clinical Effectiveness Essay

Engaging in Evidence Based Practice and Clinical Effectiveness - Essay Example (Parahoo, 1997) EBP is also a key factor in the NMC (2008) Code of Professional Conduct, which states that nursing professionals are personally accountable for their quality of care giving, and must provide the highest quality of service to patients that is consistent with evidence-based research. In 2005, NICE was combined with the Health Development Agency as an independent organization to deliver quality healthcare based on professional standards of medical practice in a standardized manner across public healthcare institutions and in order to assist with government programs intended to improve the quality of service in the industry. Nurses are increasingly expected to base their practice on empirical medical research data represented in scientific literature or established medical treatment practices that are generated through research publications (Burns & Grove 1999). The purpose of this report is to apply the principles of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) to the use of supplemental oxygen (O2) in hospitals as a treatment response for myocardial infarction (MI). The rationale for this search is that supplemental oxygen is used in hospitals and clinics traditionally in ways that is inconsistent with latest medical research and this has led to a recent change in practice in healthcare institutions as well as in public policy that still may not be represented in everyday nursing practice. By applying EBP principles, a nurse can review the medical literature and research regarding the use of oxygen in MIs by focusing on the most recent clinical trials. By understanding the use and contra-indications of supplemental O2 in MIs as accepted in published literature, nurses on coronary care units (CCU) can be more prepared for work in the workplace. In order to effectively search the topic of oxygen use in clinical applications related to heart treatment, it w as important to clearly define the research by using the PICO framework (Patients, Interventions, Comparisons and Outcomes) to develop the areas of inquiry. The search criteria focused on were based initially the keywords: â€Å"Myocardial, Infarction, Hyperoxic, Coronary, and Oxygen†. Published papers were identified through a search of online databases via the University of Plymouth intranet site including; CINAHL, MEDLINE, SwetsWise, Taylor & Francis, Oxford Journals & ScienceDirect. In the search, very few original research studies published between 2001 to 2011 were found, it was required to revise the search to include a more specialized use of keywords, all relating to â€Å"oxygen and myocardial function†. Five research papers were then selected as representative of consensus in medical research through peer review and implementation in cardiac treatment programs. CRITICAL REVIEW OF LITERATURE Previously oxygen was given as a standard aspect of MI treatment, re gardless of the patient’s level of oxygen saturation level, as part of the standard response of health practitioners to a critical care emergency such as a heart attack. Although NICE (2010) have amended their guidelines to recommend that patients only be given oxygen if their blood saturation level is below 94% , many nurses on general wards are still giving oxygen to critical heart attack patients as a regular aspect of treatment, as they are unaware of its detrimental effects in counter-indications or the latest research on the topic. Since many hospitals are

Effects of ADHD Medication and Student Performance Essay

Effects of ADHD Medication and Student Performance - Essay Example A baseline will be established for each student prior to the study based on the pretests. The study will be conducted for four months during the academic year. This experimental research design utilizes quantitative methodology with a randomized pretest-posttest control group and treatment group. The research will include 60 students from a fourth grade elementary school who will be randomly assigned to either an experimental treatment or control group, consisting of 30 students in each group. Table of Contents Main Body I. Problem to be investigated 4-5 A. Purpose of the study 4 a. Assumptions 4 B. Justification of the study 5 C. Research question and null hypothesis 5 D. Definition of Terms 6 a. Constitutive Definitions 6 b. Operational Definitions 6 E. Brief overview of the study 7 II. Background and review of related literature 8 A. Theory 9 B. Studies directly related 9-10 C. Studies tangentially related 10-11 References 12 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a d isorder characterized by lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior (PubMed Health, 2011). Due to these characteristics, children with ADHD have difficulty in school, possibly due to multiple factors. Children with ADHD may be unable to keep up with the lessons due to lack of concentration, or they may be seen as disruptive by their teachers. Consequently, they may be deemed unfit to progress in their schooling and be retained in their current grade, which is something that may have grave consequences on the children’s educational and global development. Parents and teachers must recognize that ADHD is not something to be taken against a child, but a disorder that can be overcome with proper and adequate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Teaching interventions that are more suitable for children with ADHD may help enormously with the children’s proper education and development. Poor outcomes may also be seen in children diagnosed with ADH D who do not receive medication. The goal of this research project is to determine the effectiveness of pharmacologic medication in improving academic outcomes of children diagnosed with ADHD. In the following sections, topics related to the issues discussed above will be addressed. The sections include: the purpose of the study and related assumptions, justification of the study, research question(s) and hypothesis, definition of terms, a brief overview of the study, and a conclusion. Problem to be Investigated The problem to be investigated is determining effective solutions to ensure students diagnosed with ADHD do not suffer academically. Stimulant medication has been suggested as one such solution. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of ADHD stimulant medication on improving the academic achievement of students diagnosed with ADHD. Assumptions The following assumptions will be made during the study: 1. This sample is representative of the population of elementary students. 2. The instrument used will measure the desired outcome of the research study. 3. The predictive information from this study will be used by counselors, teachers and parents. Justification of the Study Children who are diagnosed often exhibit problem behaviors in the classroom such as inattentiveness,

The last king of Scotland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The last king of Scotland - Essay Example Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), a young Scottish doctor, happens to be in the closest circle of Amin’s followers. In the beginning of the film, Nicholas is inspired by passionate speeches Amin gives at every occasion. People believe Amin hoping that he will lead Uganda to success. Nicholas also sees a prospective leader who can change the country and make it prosperous. Amin produces the same impression on his foreign partners. It is revealed that he comes to power with the help of British ambassadors. Amin promises people that he will take care of them. Ironically, he is aimed at taking care of his life. Uganda’s budget is spent on posh cars, palaces and parties Amin organizes for his friends. He likes people who flatter him. He likes British because he served in the British Army. He has the best cars, modernized hospitals, fashionable clothing while people die from starvation. Amin is an eccentric leader; his personality has something comic and frightening in it. His closest followers have to laugh when he is laughing. His reactions are unpredictable. He likes different medals and titles to such an extent that he claims that he is the last king of Scotland. His tyranny is represented not in politics only but in his relationships with his wives. One of the children of his third wife Kay (Kerry Washington) is epileptic. However, Amin does not allow keeping him in the hospital. He insists that his wife has to lead isolated way of life in order to fact this shameful fact from other people. General Amin is afraid of being killed. He suspects all people that they can poison his food or stand him up. He believes nobody. People who can express their opinion are not appreciated in Amin’s palace. It is the reason why Nicholas is excluded from Amin’s friends circle. His opinions become too humiliating for Amin, who wants to be the best. Nicholas becomes one of the prisoners of Amin’s regime. He is not allowed to leave the

Business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 19

Business law - Essay Example volve around arguing the fact about considering ‘veil of incorporation’ as one of the decisive notions in the field of Company Law with a focus on the case of Salomon v A Salomon & Co Ltd [1897] AC 22 as well as the practical consequences that are derived from being a separate legal entity. Moreover, the lifting of ‘veil of incorporation’, which ignores the doctrine of separate legal entity, will also be discussed in this essay. According to the doctrine of ‘veil of incorporation’, a company is considered as a separate lawful body, thereby possessing its own rights, duties and obligations. However, by considering the case of Salomon v A Salomon & Co Ltd [1897] AC 22, the concept of ‘veil of incorporation’ can be understood in a clear manner. In relation to the case, Salomon had a leather boot business and acquired the maximum share by incorporating a company (Palma, 1897). A few days later, the company suffered from financial crisis and thus a third party named Mr. Broderip decided to provide a loan to the company. The amount realised from liquidation was allocated to Mr. Salomon and thus Mr. Broderip was to be repaid. However, after repaying him, it was found that a minimal amount is left to be distributed amid the unsecured creditors and the external shareholders. The Court of Appeal was in favour of the liquidators but the House of Lords argued that Mr. Salomon was not responsib le personally even though he was the sole owner of the company (Palma, 1897). There lay certain practical consequences of separate lawful personality. A company is completely liable to pay the liabilities and the debts to the creditors and the preference shareholders, as it is a separate lawful unit. They tend to lose their money in case the company fails to repay their amounts. Thus, if a shareholder dies, his/her share is transferred to someone else, but the business still continues to conduct its activities. A company may be closed only if the partners of a company

Collapse Contractual Issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Collapse Contractual Issues - Research Paper Example Additionally, the staff who worked for Illinois’ Home services program would receive their payment through federal Medicaid funding, which operated as a personal assistant for individuals who needed care. The court ruled that the employees were no supposed to be forced to join the Union because they were not fully-fledged state employees. The ethical dimension in the case is that people have the will and freedom to choose what they want and that there was no violation of the First Amendment. The matter was settled in court where the court decided that the workers could not be compelled to join the union on the basis that the members were not fully-fledged state employees because employees are fired and hired by individual patients through Medicaid. Additionally, the decision of the court did not invalidate the compulsory union membership for the bigger population of public employees. As an administrator, I would have convinced the employees to join the labor unions in order to benefit from the full benefits. This would have been done by creating awareness in the workplace and help the employees understand the meaning of being in a labor union (Pozgar, 2014). By so doing, the matter would not have gone to court and the problem would be prevented in

Significance of John Brown and Harpers Ferry Essay Example for Free

Significance of John Brown and Harpers Ferry Essay Since the Battle of Fort Sumpter, three months later, the first major battle during the civil war began on July 21, 1861 which was called The First Battle of Bull Run in Manassas. During this major battle, General Irvin McDowell commanded the large Union army while General Pierre G.T. Beauregard commanded the Confederate army. The Union perceived that they would make a quick and swift victory with very little loss, but it was the opposite. At the time both sides had inexperienced soldiers. When this war was happening the hundred of Manassas citizens left their homes to watch the battle unfold. Cannons and muskets would be fired all over and some misfires would end up at the civilians homes. At the start the Union was able a push the Confederates back to Henry Hill, but they would have their comeback. Beauregard make a strong defensive line controlled by General Thomas J. Jackson. Jackson held his ground successfully and gained the name Stonewall Jackson. The Confederates were able to capture Union artillery and chose to counterattack the Union soldiers. But it quickly lashed back at them when Union forces on the hill came down and broke the Confederates line of defense, forcing his complete retreat of the Bull Run. Thus this was a victory for the Union. The result of the battle left bodys riddled in the battlefield. Thousands of wasted soldiers died in that battle and was the largest and bloodiest battle during the Civil War. Other than scaring the scaring the citizens who were watching the entire battle the government was also shocked at the outcomes of this battle. Both sides came to the belief that this Civil War was going to become longer and more deadly as it goes on. From looking back at the battle one can see that it was not going to end quickly or any time soon. It became clear that it would last longer than people thought and that there was going to be more struggle. It also brought to people a clear image of what war was like. Thought the Union gained heavy losses, soldiers all across the Union gained moral for this victory and that they won. This war has also brought to the Generals attention that most of their soldiers are inexperienced and need to be trained and prepared for future battles. Politicians in the North were outraged by the high losses resulting from the battle, which gained in favor for the south and gave them hope that the Confederate army could defeat the Union.

Are Governments Controlling The Internet Essay Example for Free

Are Governments Controlling The Internet Essay Prior to the 21st century society greatest inventions were the automobile, the telephone, the airplane as a means of communication and transportation. Now individuals are blessed with the Internet. It is commonly regarded that the Internet is a manifesto of technology that allows human beings to interact with one another using networking services. The Internet has broken down the barriers and means of traditional communication. In cyberspace, people can talk with each other regardless of location. It can be defined as a â€Å"unique medium† with no geographical location but available to anyone (p. 21). It is not only used for communication but information searching, listings of products and services, advertising of large/small businesses, and much more. In essence, the Internet can be regarded as a separate entity from our own physical world – a digital utopia. The question being raised is, with the large scale of the internet, how is it maintained or even controlled? Jack Goldsmith and Tim Wu’s book Who Controls the Internet? Illusions of a Borderless World gives a perfect example of how the Internet is being directly (and indirectly) controlled by territorial government. As each section of the book is uncovered, it is clearly pointed out that national governments through control of local and global intermediaries and coercion exercise dominate control over the digital empire. The book is subdivided into three large sections. In the first section Wu and Goldsmith marks the impression to the readers that the Internet is in fact a â€Å"libertarian state† where users can freely express themselves. The authors argue at the commencement of the Internet there are no actual â€Å"rulers† or â€Å"governors† of the Internet rather it was the upheaval of a Digital American Revolution, that’s built on â€Å"language and reason and our fail in each other† (p. 22). The authors later indicate that it was open because it was willing to â€Å"accept almost any kind of computer or network†. Thus it is a society that is ruled by the humanity that resides within the Internet. â€Å"Humanity united might do better than our lousy systems of government, throw away the constructs of the nation-state, and live in some different but better way† (p. 7). Section two establishes that users from different geographical regions want their information presented in their local language. As the author pointed that language is one of the most important aspects on the internet. It gives the example that people in Brazil, Korea and France do not want English versions of Microsoft products but rather want a version they can fully understand (p. 50). As the next section unravels we start to notice how digital humanity needs rulers and starts to get involved how national governments are governing the borders of the internet. It proves that government uses coercion and local intermediaries to restrict and even block content that is on the internet. An example would be Nazi merchandise and hate sites appearing on French networks and even an incident in China where a 15 year old girl Liu Di was punished by the Chinese government when she was making an argument comparing the Chinese government and a prostitute. It also points out how controlling Governments can be a beneficial factor in regulating illegal activities such as file sharing and copyrighting. The final section of the book shows how the government aims to make the borders of the Internet a haven that protects its citizens from harm. This section explores the aspect of globalization and competing countries in controlling the Internet. Europe, U. S. and China all wishes to have a centralized power over the Internet. If two out of three countries that are in favour of online gambling while the one third is not, how can a borderless digital society solve this problem? The sections encourages decentralized governments to work together to adapt to people’s needs and respond in a more positive manner (p. 53). For the struggle of ultimate control lies within national governments – and a problem of clashing government interests and priorities can be a serious concern for the future of the Internet (p. 171). Wu and Goldsmith both agreed that this is the â€Å"beginning of a technological version of the cold war, with each side pushing its own vision of the Internet’s future† (p. 184). In order for the book to draw readers closer into fully understanding the Internet the authors must not only make a compelling argument but the style and construction of the book is also important. This essay will discuss four areas in which the book was successful or non-successful into helping readers understand the importance of national governments and their role on the Internet. The notable points in creating a compelling argument lie within the thesis, the method(s) of research, the evidence that supports the thesis and the overall evaluation/recommendation. The first point that’s important in this book is the thesis. The thesis is the main point the authors are trying to make throughout the entire book. In the book Who Controls the Internet Wu and Goldsmith stated their thesis in the conclusion rather than the introduction. Instead they decided to allure readers by telling a short story in the introduction to foreshadow readers into the overall point of the book. In my opinion the thesis of the book can found on page 180 where it reads â€Å"Beneath of fog of modern technology, we have seen the effects of coercive governmental force on local persons, firms and equipment† (p. 180). Ironically, this is not the thesis that users anticipated on hearing when they decide to read the book. On the back cover of the book it reads â€Å"a book about the fate of one idea – that the Internet might liberate us forever from government, borders and even our physical selves†. (Wu and Goldsmith) Wu and Goldsmith prompted readers with a general idea then throughout the book used examples and heated evidence to prove that idea wrong. It gives readers the perception that the Internet is in fact a challenge to governmental rule rather than the idealistic entity of freedom and liberty. The thesis was not always stated at the end of the book rather the author hinted their thesis throughout chapters to reinforce their main point along the way. For instance in chapter 5, Wu and Goldsmith talk about how local intermediaries are present and how government uses coercion to control these intermediaries, thus â€Å"ruling the internet† (p. 65). The authors stated that it would be extremely easy for individuals to â€Å"overlook how often governments control behavior not individually, but collectively, through intermediaries† (p. 68). The authors use the example of HavenCo to reinforce their thesis. In the book HavenCo was described as â€Å"the first place on earth where people are free to conduct business without someone looking over their shoulder† (p. 65). Shortly after, HavenCo became the object of negativity where porn and other offensive content were being hosted. Due to their business model they would not seek out cooperative intermediaries. However falling into a downward spiral, HavenCo became desperate so they looked towards national governments for assistance. However the government would not oblige since it was hosting offensive content and demanded that HavenCo remove the material. Of course, without this aspect â€Å"HavenCo was nothing†. And now without the support of powerful government officials and intermediaries HavenCo is now a â€Å"jumbled pile of network equipment, rotting and obsolete† (p. p. 84-85). The authors presents the readers with a clear and indirect thesis in each chapter, and as each chapter passes they are vividly trying to reinforce their thesis by providing real life evidence that happens in the midst of the digital society. Other notable examples that are highlighted in the book that supports the thesis would be the Chinese government sometimes with help from Yahoo, seize political dissidents and put them in prison (p. 181). Next, the government that are threatening Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and search engines and credit card companies with fines so that they can filter out offensive net communications. And, it is clear that Jon Postel and the Internet’s founders give up control over their creation under implied threats of governmental force. And finally, under the aspect of file sharing (where it was debated it would be hardest to control) governments have executed hidden but important ways to fuel coercion on the economy of file-sharing and â€Å"tilts the playing field to favour law-abiding companies like Apple† (p. 181). The authors have a very climatic way to communicate their thesis to the reader, By presenting support evidence and a strong conclusion they are in fact proving to readers that the government does control the internet. The next section uncovers the methodology that the authors used to present their topic. In order to prove their thesis they need an abundant amount of information. Not only does this information provide historical insight in the topic but it grants validity in the matter. In the book the authors have presented much needed evidence that governments control the internet, as each chapter is unraveled the readers are engulfed with powerful side stories of the lives of specific individuals that resided in the digital age. The book uses a combination of statistical information and encoded facts, personal biographies and appealing stories. If we direct our attention to the sources at the end of the book we notice that the authors use a hefty number of secondary sources. The only notable errors that are present in their methodology were that the sources they used were a little out of date. Old sources will lead to skewed results and that might cause a misinterpretation of the research. The book was written and published in 2006 but the majority of sources they used were within the 1998-2001 timeframe. Although they did use several sources that were recent (2005) it still does not change the fact that the Internet and technology are always changing in real time. With this change it’s rather hard to keep up and readers can be misinformed of with irrelevant information rather than significant information. Although with these slight flaws in the book, the methods were applied correctly in the sense that it is very easy to understand. They have broken the entire book into three parts; each part builds up information for that peak ending (or thesis). The methods were appropriate in the sense that the authors had a balance of evidence to support their claim. For example, the information gathered was not all focused on the government’s point of view but rather an equal split between government, organizations and individuals. It would be naive to think that a proper thesis can be proved without the support of evidence. Methodically the authors predominately still influence the readers with horror stories and statistics of government coercion on digital societies to prove their thesis. For example, the chapter on China outlines President Bill Clinton’s visit to the foreign land. Clinton observed that users required national ID cards before logging on. Regulated cafes also featured cameras pointed directly at the computer screen and police officers would occasionally monitor users right behind their back (p. 97). In China the Internet is far from being a liberating force but rather it is the major attraction for government surveillance. As previously mentioned Liu Di was arrested on personally insulting the government over the Internet, shortly after Liu Di’s story was printed in the press as a warming to all other civilians using the Internet. Throughout the book we see many stories that mimic the true horrors of the Internet, presented in a non-fictitious way to leaves readers shunned into believing the overall message of the book. Other factual occurrences that are displayed in Wu and Goldsmith’s methodology are the Kazaa/Napster case where digital piracy was at its initial state. Napster, a company located in the United States was battling with court officials to stay alive. With no luck, a simple U. S. ourt order was easily enforced and that led â€Å"to a total system collapse† (p. 108). Another factor that stands out with the evidence was that it’s very diverse in the geographical sense. The authors not only present their ideas from the American standpoint but tackles on other regions of the world. In the introduction the authors commences a deep discussion on global borders of the internet, the evidence and support was from a simply disgruntled individual that didn’t like seeing Nazi merc handise on the French site of Yahoo (p. p. 1-10). By using this intrinsic method of communicating the thesis they are successful in the sense of drawing readers. This chapter rather than supporting the thesis, they argue against it saying that the Internet â€Å"cannot be regulated†. Using factual data, they are offering both sides of the story in a very objective manner. This helps readers understand the thesis a little better and perhaps even raise serious questions on a political, global and technological standpoint. Who Controls the Internet is a very accurate portrayal of the digital society. It tells readers the important message that originally the Internet was designed to liberate individuals and it was designed to escape government and borders, but without the government mingling in affairs the Internet as we know it today wouldn’t flourish. One of the few appealing factors of this book is that it speaks out in a very clear and engaging style. Within each chapter the author conveniently uses sub-headings to divide important topics and that each chapter features several compelling stories. The two authors, who are both lawyers does an excellent job of communicating the legal issues to the readers without heavy use of legal jargon. Despite the many praises the book gets, it still has some flaws. In my opinion the flaws are contained within the unnecessary pictures and images that are included. Many (if not all) of the pictures are unneeded. For instance on page 4 it shows a rather large photo of the Palais de Justice, where the Yahoo case was litigated and similarly on page 66 shows a picture of Sealand where HavenCo was initiated. Although visualizations are nice they have no purpose in proving the thesis. How can a picture of Jon Postel who is described as â€Å"a rambling, ragged look, living in sandals, and a large, unkempt beard† help readers understand the dominate government forces on the Internet. In another part of the book Wu and Goldsmith dedicated half a page to Steve Jobs and as a background; shows a skull and sword insignia and was labeled â€Å"Piracy†. In retrospect the authors should have gotten rid of filler photography and replaced it with diagrams, which brings up the next flaw, the limited use of diagrams within the book. A diagram can help readers understand the point the author is trying to prove in either a passage or chapter. Back to the Steve Jobs example, if the authors showed using a diagram how Apple and national governments were combating internet piracy it would strengthen their thesis in proving that government controls most sides of the Internet. Or even a timeline that showed how government intervened with such programs such as Napster, Kazaa and then taking on Apple. This book appeals to a large audience of graduate, undergraduate students and professors teaching either politics or information technology. The benefits include that readers of this book can raise important questions and use these questions as the foundation for political debates. The content is not the only contributing factor in a well rounded book, Wu and Goldsmith does an excellent job in constructing the book that’s easily presentable to the reader. Even an individual with very little prior knowledge of the Internet can understand the book. Each term is defined when it is firstly introduced. Next, at the end on page 187 the authors implemented a â€Å"frequency used abbreviations† section and the definition in case the reader is having a hard time following due to the technological jargon. In conclusion, there are four areas that were used to critically analyze the book. They are the thesis, the methodology, the evidence used to construct the book and the personal evaluation. This book presents many important topics that relate to past, presents and futures of the technological era. It is telling a story where digital democracies suffer at the ends of coercive governments. It is not just powerful nations have the power to reshape the Internet’s architecture, more specifically it is the United States, China and Europe using their dominate power to reestablish their own version of the Internet.

Treating Depression With Online Optimism Intervention

Treating Depression With Online Optimism Intervention Does proneness to flow states affect effectiveness? Researchers of depression have often focused on the role of negative future-oriented cognitions in the development and maintenance of the disorder (e.g., Beck, Rush, Shaw, Emery, 1979; Abramson, Alloy, Metalsky, 1989). Beck (1967, 1976) asserted that depressed people possess a negative cognitive triad consisting of negative views of the self, world, and the future. Extensive research on depressed people revealed that they have more dysfunctional attitudes, report more negative automatic thoughts and hopelessness and adopt a more pessimistic explanatory style than people who are not depressed (Beck, Riskind, Brown, Steer, 1988; Hollon, Kendall, Lumry, 1986; Peterson Seligman, 1984). In addition, Gotlib, Krasnoperova, Yue, and Joormann (2004) found that depressed people process negative information more completely and efficiently than non-depressed controls. Over the last decade, proponents of positive psychology have highlighted that rather than focusing solely on negative painful experiences, we should also empirically study positive emotional well-being and human strengths (Seligman Csikszentmihalyi, 2000; Seligman, Steen, Park, Peterson, 2005). This gave rise to many positive psychology interventions (PPIs) which sought to promote positive cognitions, behaviours, or emotions to help depressed individuals. A recent meta-analysis of 49 studies of PPIs by Sin and Lyubomirsky (2009) revealed that these interventions are effective in reducing depressive symptoms and increasing well-being. One positive trait which PPIs have targeted is optimism. Current research demonstrate that some PPIs seeking to cultivate optimism in both depressed and non-depressed populations have reported some success at improving psychological well-being (Peters, Flink, Boersma, Linton, 2010; Layous et al., 2013; Sergeant Mongrain, 2014). Carver, Scheier, and Segerstrom (2010) define optimism as a positive outlook on life (both during times of success and adversity) and having positive expectations about the future. It has been widely shown that optimism is positively correlated with engaging coping strategies (Carver et al., 2010), mental health outcomes (Kawachi Berkman, 2001; Lench, 2011), better social relationships (Carver, Kus, Scheier, 1994), and a range of positive physical health outcomes (Rasmussen, Scheier, Greenhouse, 2009). Sharot (2011) pointed out that optimists possess the optimism bias- the phenomenon where individuals believe that they are less likely to experience a negative event compared to others even when their optimistic beliefs are challenged. On the other hand, other studies have shown that the optimism bias is absent in depressed people (Strunk, Lopez, DeRubeis, 2006). In addition, individuals with severe depression not only lack this bias but also have a tendency to view future outcomes more negatively than what they really are (Strunk et al., 2006). Achat, Kawachi, Spiro, DeMolles and Sparrow (2000) argue that if we uncover the mechanisms of this optimism bias, it can provide us with powerful insight into the development of depression. One of the most up to date studies by Sergeant and Mongrain (2014) tried to shed more light on the mechanisms of the optimism bias. They designed an online PPI to cultivate optimism and included pessimism as a trait moderator. The results supported their hypothesis that pessimistic individuals would gain more out of the intervention and report fewer depressive symptoms. Sergeant and Mongrain’s (2014) findings draw attention to the impact of individual differences (pessimism) on the success of the online PPI. In addition, other findings suggest that PPIs are most effective when there is a good fit between the activity and the individual characteristics of the user (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, Schkade, 2005; Dickerhoof, 2007; Mongrain, 2009). For example, Lyubomirsky et al. (2005) pointed out PPIs that emphasize social interaction may benefit people with high social needs to a greater extent. Therefore, it would be informative to look at how other individual differences traits play a part in the success of the PPI. This could possibly help us match PPIs to individuals according to their individual characteristics to gain the most out of the intervention. One other area which positive psychology focused on is the concept of flow. Csikszentmihalyi and Csikszentmihalyi (1988) described psychological flow as an experience of low self-awareness, full concentration and enjoyment of the task at hand. In addition, there is a positive channelling of emotions associated with learning and performing into the task one is doing (Csikszentmihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, 1988). Asakawa (2010) found positive associations between flow proneness and active coping strategies as well as better mental health. As such, Csikszentmihalyi Csikszentmihalyi (1988) called for a better understanding of flow states to assist development of PPIs. De Manzano, Cervenka, Jucaite, Hellenas, Farde, and Ullen (2013) looked at neuropsychological evidence underlying individual differences in flow proneness and found a positive correlation between dorsal striatum dopamine availability and flow propensity. Similarly, it was found that dopamine plays a role in the optimism bias, affecting belief formation by reducing negative beliefs about the future (Sharot, Guitart-Masip, Korn, Chowdhury, Dolan, 2012). As such, it seems that optimism and flow proneness could possibly be related quite closely. However, no research so far has looked at proneness to flow states being a mediating mechanism for the outcomes of an online optimism PPI. As such, this study would like to investigate that by following up on Sergeant and Mongrain’s (2014) experiment. The findings would have important implications in two key areas which were discussed earlier: 1) helping us better understand the mechanisms of the optimism bias and 2) helping us better match PPIs according to client characteristics so as to treat depression more effectively. The present study has two hypotheses: (1) Following the completion of the exercise period, participants in the optimism condition were expected to report significantly greater and longer lasting improvements in psychological well-being than the control condition. Psychological well-being was dependent on a few measures- the endorsement of having an enjoyable, purposeful, and engaging life and low levels of dysfunctional beliefs and depressive symptoms. (2) Dispositional proneness to flow states was expected to be a significant moderator of the relationship between exercise condition and psychological well-being over time. Individuals who were most prone to flow states were expected to gain the most benefit from the optimism intervention. This is because if the individual is more prone to experience flow, he is therefore more likely to get absorbed in the intervention and gain more out of it. 2 A possible Method Include: research question, IV, DV, overview of stimuli, design procedure Exclude: method-style description for replication, specific hypotheses Overview of procedure Psychology undergraduate students will participate in the study for course credit. The whole study will be conducted online. Participants will receive a specific link through their email to sign up for the study. After obtaining their consent, they were then asked to provide demographic information such as age, gender, ethnicity, history of psychopathology and treatment with psychotherapy. After that, participants completed the Swedish Flow Proneness Questionnaire and a series of baseline psychological well-being measures (OTH, CES-D and DAS-14- see below for more details). They then undergo a 3-week intervention period (optimism PPI or control intervention) before completing another set of psychological well-being measures. Participants were followed-up 1 and 2 months later to assess their psychological well-being using the same measures to check for any enduring effects of the intervention. Nature of study This leads to a 2 (exercise condition: optimism, control) x 2 (flow proneness: low, high) mixed within and between participants experimental design. Independent Variable Participants were randomly assigned to either the optimism PPI condition or a control condition. The optimism PPI condition used two alternating exercises to train participants in two key components of optimism. One exercise sought to train participants to view one’s goals as feasible and meaningful while the other exercise sought to train participants to focus on and recollect positive experiences in one’s life (Segerstrom, 2006). On the other hand, the control condition consisted of two alternating neutral diary-writing activities. The first exercise asked participants to describe their experience of the last day. The second exercise asked participants to describe what they thought the next day would be like. Participants engaged in the exercises for a 3 week period. Owing to the length constraint, please refer to Sergeant and Mongrain’s (2014) study for full details of the activities. Dependent Variables Swedish Flow Proneness Questionnaire, SFPQ, (Ullen et al., 2012). The SFPQ is a 21-item self-report measure of proneness to flow states measuring flow during work, during maintenance and during leisure activities. Subsequently, data will be split for analysis into two groups, high or low flow proneness. Orientations to Happiness, OTH, (Peterson, Park, Seligman, 2005). The OTH is an 18-item self-report measure of endorsement of three ways to be happy: pleasure (minimizing pain and maximizing pleasant feelings), engagement (taking part in engaging activities that produce flow), and meaning (use of valued skills and talents to achieve success). Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, CES-D, (Radloff, 1977). The CES-D is a 20-item measure developed to identify depressed mood and depressive symptoms in the general population. Dysfunctional Attitude Scale–14, DAS-14, (Mongrain Zuroff, 1989). The DAS-14 is an abbreviated version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (Weissman Beck, 1978). The DAS is a well-validated self-report measure of maladaptive beliefs which are characteristic of depressed individuals. Ethical considerations Informed consent will be obtained from participants. Participants would be fully debriefed after the experiment. At any point of the experiment, participants possess the right to withdraw their participation and/or data without incurring any penalties. All data will be maintained confidential.

Media Equation Essay -- essays research papers fc

The media equation is a theory developed by two professors of communication, Byron Reeves and Clifford Nass, at Stanford University. The theory is simple. They state that people treat the media as if they were real, hence the equation: media = real life. Basically Reeves and Nass are saying that people on an unconscious level perceive the media as real. People view objects of the media are talking to them personally. Reeves and Nass view things such as computers, televisions, radios, and other media’s as inanimate objects. They don’t believe that these objects are about to get up and move as if they were alive, but that the objects that relay the media are reacted to as though they were alive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Reeves and Nass credit the slow pace of evolution as the reason that the human race responds socially and naturally to the media: â€Å"The Human brain evolved in a world in which only humans exhibited rich social behaviors, and a world in which all perceived objects were real physical objects. Anything that seemed to be a real person or place was real.† So we haven’t yet adapted to the twentieth century media that only depict images, but which themselves personify the characteristics of human actors.† (Griffin, pages 375-376)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To prove their theory Reeves and Nass held experiments. One is an experiment that they did with television. They gathered a group of students to participate. â€Å"The goal of the study was to show that responses to television content could be changed when the television sets were assigned particular roles.† (Reeves and Nass, page 122). They took two groups of students and gave them specific tasks. The first group was to watch two separate televisions, called specialist TVs. One TV was identified as â€Å"News† and the other one was identified as â€Å"Entertainment†. For each TV the participants wee in different chairs. The other group was to watch one TV with both news and entertainment, called generalist TVs. The TV was labeled â€Å"News and Entertainment†. The students who watched the specialist TV said the news was more important and the entertainment was more interesting than the ones who watched the generalists TVs. â€Å"Consistent with the hypothesis that specialist TVs provide more representative content than do generalist TVs.† (Reeves and Nass, page 135)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The other exper... ...fore, with all the qualifications met for a good theory I would say it is safe to say that this is a very good theory. Bibliography 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Geiger, Seth; Reeves, Byron. â€Å"The Effects of Scene Changes and Semantic Relatedness.† Communication Research Vol. 20 April 1993: pages 155-171. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Griffin, Em. Communication, A First Look At Communication Theory. San Diego: McGraw-Hill, 2000. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leshner, Glenn; Reeves, Byron; et al. â€Å"Switching Channels: The Effects of Television Channels on the Mental Representation of Television.† Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media Vol. 42 Winter 1998: pages 21-33. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moon, Youngme; Nass, Clifford. â€Å"How ‘Real† Are Computer Personalities?† Communication Research Vol. 23 December 1996: pages 651-670. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nass, Clifford; Reeves, Byron; Leshner, Glen. â€Å"Technology and Roles: A Tale of Two TVs.† Journal of Communication Vol. 24: pages 122-136. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nass, Clifford; Sundar, Shyam S. â€Å"Is Human-Computer Interaction Social or Parasocial?† Human Communication Research August 17, 1994: 114-126.

British Serial Killer Essay -- Psychology, Allitt

She is best known as the famous notorious British serial killer. Her crimes horrified and sickened many British families. I first heard about Beverly Allitt when I was watching TruTV. The show had a feature on Allitt and her crimes, this instantaneously caught my attention. The fact that a nurse would intentionally harm children seemed immensely ironic and riveting to me. In my eyes, a nurse was someone who cared and showed concern for a patient. Not someone who intentionally caused anguish and trauma upon innocent children. Coming into this topic, I didn’t know much about the scandalous nurse. I scarcely knew about her history and background. I had heard that Allitt was mentally sick and had suffered some obstacles during her childhood. I also knew that her main way of killing was through over doses of insulin, and that she worked at a ward for infants. The speculations that Allitt suffered from an odd mental illness always intrigued me. I’ve always had many questions about Allitt and her murders. Like, why the children were killed and why they were so young? Children would’ve been easy targets for Allitt. Since most children are smaller than most adults, it would be easier for an adult to over power a child. Also, young children are innocent and might not realize what is happening in there surroundings. This leads me to my next question, how many children were killed and how were they killed? From my small knowledge of Allits history, I thought that she had killed five children. I also knew, that her main way of killing was through large amounts of potassium or insulin. Allit’s murder weapons were easily accessible to her. I’ve always wondered if Allitt really had a mental disorder, or if she was faking it for sympathy. I t... ...lthy appendix; she then plucked at her surgical scar, causing it not to heal correctly. Allitt had been in the hospital for numerous reasons. She complained of â€Å"gall bladder pain, headaches, urinary infections, uncontrolled vomiting, blurred vision, minor injuries, appendicitis, back trouble, and ulcers†(Ramsland 2). When she was hospitalized in 1991, Allitt puzzled nurses when she â€Å"tampered with the thermometer to produce [perplexing] readings, and [also] punctured her right breast to inject herself with water† (Ramsland 2). While working at the ward, Allitt was known for doing weird things. She was suspected of â€Å"smearing feces on the walls and putting it into the refrigerator for others to find† When Beverly was convicted of her murders; she cut herself with paperclips, and burned herself with hot water. She was later placed in a mental ward for her own safety.

United States Foreign Policy and the War on Terrorism Essay -- Argumen

United States Foreign Policy and the War on Terrorism In very general terms, it could be said that the United States makes foreign policy decisions based on what we hope are the best interests of its citizens. On the surface, it would appear as if this has been the case over the past several months, as the U.S. has waged its war against terrorism. If one were to penetrate this surface, however, they would see that there is much more to this conflict than meets the eye. Is Operation Enduring Freedom indeed justifiable? Most people would say yes, it is in our best interests, because our forces are fighting against an injustice, for the purposes of establishing a peaceful environment and bringing about humanitarian relief, which will ultimately deter future terrorist acts against our nation. As a matter of fact, a poll conducted by Public Agenda concluded that although most Americans agree that the U.S. should not be a global policeman, it should maintain its military powers and remain actively engaged around the world, and that one of the most effective ways of combating terrorism is through the use of military action (Public Agenda). On the other hand, the war has devastated the civilian population of Afghanistan, with thousands of casualties caused either directly, or indirectly, by the repeated bombings and the massive starvation plaguing the region. There is a fine line separating the instances when the killing of civilians is acceptable, and when it is not. In most cases, it is not acceptable, and as American citizens, we need to have a much greater awareness of this concept. It is usually the case that most citizens in a war-torn country have done nothing to provoke an attack, and as a result, they should not have to... ...ppen is through the instigation of a foreign policy that treats all people equally, and with compassion. Now, more than ever, Americans should understand the need for compassion in this world, and the need to integrate it into our efforts overseas, because people are suffering everyday, and we have the means of averting this misery. Bibliography Finkel, Michael. ?To Wait or to Flee.? The New York Times Magazine. 17 February 2002: 32-38, 63-68. ?Killing Them Softly: Starvation and Dollar Bills for Afghan Kids.? Global Issues. October 2001. ?Public Agenda.? Public Agenda. 5 March 20002. . Sikkink, Kathryn. ?A Human Rights Approach to Sept. 11.? Social Science Research Council. 5 March 2002. .

Eulogy of Mrytle WIlson

Wilson is more affected by Myrtle's death than he lets on. Therefore, I wrote this eulogy as Wilson for Myrtle to show the depth and complexity of their relationship. I tried to show Willow's feelings for Myrtle, rather than a ‘spiritless' man as depicted through the things he did for Myrtle. Including the things Myrtle did for Wilson shows his appreciation and love for her. Due to the lack of information In the novel, some of the content was crafted based on scenes In the novel and from my thoughts of their relationship.By Including the deep relationship between the couple, It allows the readers to better understand why Wilson killed Gatsby and himself. The vocabulary used is simple, as Wilson was uneducated. The use of constant repetition and similar sentence structure shows that Wilson was a simple man and that he did not know how to express himself clearly. It also emphasizes on the extent of his love and guilt. Short sentences are used to depict Willow's passive and shy na ture. There is a use of dramatic irony by showing how happy Wilson was when Myrtle spent the weekend with her friends, and when she wore nice dresses she ‘bought tit her savings'.Wilson is oblivious about the affair, unlike the audience. This shows how the American Dream Is flawed. Although Wilson worked hard and shower Myrtle with love, Myrtle still chose Tom. It also shows how materialistic people were back then. Myrtle chose Wilson merely on his appearance and now wants to be with Tom for his wealth. This eulogy is written in the first person perspective to show intimacy between the two. Instead of using a second person perspective to describe Myrtle, It shows Willow's deep attachment to his dead wife. 300 words) Good morning, I am George Wilson, Myrtle's husband. I would like to start off by thanking every single one of you for your presence today. Myrtle would be happy If she were still here. Myrtle, you are the love of my life. You entered my life on a fateful Friday 15 years ago, wearing a pink-laced dress, topped with a cream hat. You danced with such beauty, elegance and grace. However it wasn't your beauty that set you apart from the others. It was your bubbly and outgoing personality, your vitality that caught my eye.I knew that you were the one, I knew that I wanted to be yours, I knew that we courage to take the first step to talk to you. I wanted to look my best for you, I wanted you to notice me, I wanted you to like me. I worked very hard day and night at the garage. I was hoping to get a decent piece of clothing. The day of the gathering drew closer and closer. I still had yet to get enough money for a suit. I asked God continuously for help, and He answered my prayer. I was able to borrow a suit from a customer after begging him for it. The quality of the silk tie I bought came with a hefty price, but it was all worth it.I never once regretted all the hard work put in to get that suit, because it brought me a step closer to you, y dear. I remember the Joy on your face, that unspeakable Joy, when I proposed. I remember how your face turned crimson. I remember the 20 graceful steps you took down the aisle, towards me. You wore a hand crafted pristine white gown, fitted with laces and frills. It was exactly the one you told me about, the one you dreamed of since young. I remember how my heart skipped a beat when you stood beside me. I remember how your hands were gently holding on to mine. At that moment, I Just wanted to be yours.Seeing that pure Joy in your eyes when we were pronounced husband and fife was worth so much more than all the extra hours spent working, all the meals forgone, all the sweat and blood shed to make our wedding perfect. Nothing mattered more to me than you, Myrtle. I love you. Working at the gas station isn't an easy Job, but all was worth it. You always told me I work too much as compared to what I earned. But I know the little that I earn can one day bring you happiness. I know you want to get out of this place. I want to be the one leaving with you. Myrtle, you always looked forward to the weekends spent with your friends.Seeing oh smiling from ear to ear when you return brings me so much Joy. It means the world to see you happy. Although your friends have rich husbands and live in big houses, you never uttered a word of complaint. You never looked down on me. You never compared me to the others. You never leave my side. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for staying by my side. Thank you for being happy, so I would be happy too. I love you. Myrtle, you bring color to my dull life. You always wear colorful dresses. You always doll yourself up. You always try to look your best for me. I know you are aware hat I don't earn much.I know you never once asked me for money. I know you have always used your savings to get yourself what you want. You always think of me. You always share the burden with me. You always put my needs above yours. Thank you, my dear, for being so selfless. I wish I could be more like you. The last words you said were asking me to beat you. You are the apple of my eye, you are a precious gem to a peasant like me. Why would I want to hurt you? I love you, my coward. Yes, I am a coward. But that's because I Just wanted to be yours, to listen to what you say, to obey your every command. Myrtle, I love you.I always question myself why did you choose me, I am poor, I am not that good looking, I am useless. Despite all my shortcomings, you loved me Just the way I am, and you gave me all that I needed and wanted. I want to earn more. I want you to see the world. I want to spend more time with you. I want to shower you with love. I failed to do so. Now, it is too late. I'm sorry for not showing my love Just like how you showed yours. I'm sorry for not giving you the life you always wanted. I'm sorry for not showering you with clothes. I'm sorry for all the suffering you had to go through.I'm sorry for being overprotective at times. I'm sorry for being a coward. I'm sorry dear, I'm sorry, and I'll love you, for all eternity. Myrtle is not perfect, but I love her Just the way she is. She accepted me for who I am and forgave me for all my faults, and I will do the same. To all those Judging onlookers, Myrtle does not deserve to be criticized, for she is perfect to me, and that is all she needs to be. Myrtle dear, your imperfections are what I love most about you, and it is your imperfections that I will miss most. Goodbye and take care, my dear. I will always love you.

How important was Berlin to the development and outbreak of the Cold War, 1945-1961?

The first period of time we need to look at is the year of 1945, when the Second World War ended. This was also the year when the Yalta, in February 1945, and the Potsdam Conference, in July 1945, was hold in order to discuss certain problems and plans that occurred or should have been done after the end of war. The tensions, which had lead to the beginning of the Cold War started to emerge more intensively at those two conferences, as there were many areas of disagreement between the USA and the USSR. One of the four main areas of disagreement was Germany. As the Yalta Conference was hold in February 1945 the war against Germany and Japan was still on going but an end of all terror was close. Problems that had emerged from the Tehran Conference, that had been hold in 1943, had to be resolved at that conference. It was agreed that that Germany firstly had to be divided into four zones being occupied by Britain, France, the USA and the USSR. Germany should also pay reparations to the countries it had damaged in the wart earlier, especially huge amounts to Russia as Stalin demanded. However, Stalin also did not like the idea of splitting Germany into two parts.Could Cold War Have Been Avoided? Germany, by paying huge amounts of money to Russia and other countries, should be weakened by that so I would not become a future threat anymore. Also Stalin intended to finance Russia’s rebuild of the destructions, which it has suffered from Nazi Germany in the war. In the year 1952 Stalin still seemed to favour the idea of a united Germany over which the USSR had no control but some influence. However, there were also other factors of disagreement at those conferences, which caused massive problems in the relationship between the USA and the USSR. Poland for example proved to be more difficult than Germany. Eventually, the superpowers agreed that the USSR’s demands over Poland’s border in the east would be met. Furthermore Poland should receive territorial compensation from Germany. Additionally Stalin did believe that the Allies would have accepted Poland’s mainly communist or USSR sympathetic government. However, Churchill was not sure about what Stalin intended to do and returned to his strong anti-communism by 1945. Adding to that also Roosevelt shared this point of view. After Roosevelt’s death in April 1945 a new harsher era towards the Soviet Union started to emerge under Truman in power of the USA. As the free elections, which had been decided to be carried out in the Yalta Conference, had not taken place in Poland yet Truman refused to listen to Molotov’s explanations for that. US suspicions about Soviet motives about a security in Eastern Europe increased. However, at the Potsdam Conference hold in July 1945 the decision for the acceptance of Russian plans for Poland was made although the issue of Poland was very complex. Stalin saw it as an issue influencing the life or the death of the Soviet Union. Churchill however saw it as an act of honour. Roosevelt had always been against the idea of a Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. In Stalin’s point of view however Russia needed this sphere to provide security for the Soviet Union. He created worries about such a sphere, as the new US call for an â€Å"Open Door† policy was introduced, involving the suggestion of not having such spheres of influence. Roosevelt however suggested that those disagreement should be an issue rather as the war would be ended that during the war. This of course motivated or rather gave Stalin the time to ensure Soviet security interests in Eastern Europe. Apart from disagreements about Poland and Eastern Europe there was also a third issue where the USA and the USSR did not agree with each other. Russia had suffered hugely from horrible destruction in the Second World War. As the Axis forces had retreated between 1944 and 1945, they have left systematic destruction behind, destroying 1,700 towns and 17,000 villages. Due to that Stalin saw economic reconstruction as a priority after the war. However, Truman tried everything to contain the Soviet power whenever it was possible. Due to that, at the Potsdam Conference in July 1945, Truman said that the USA would agree to any reparations being paid to Russia by East Germany. However, in return Russia would have to send 60% of the, from West received, goods in form of goods and raw materials back to the West again. In 1944 Russia however agreed to join the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. But when the USSR asked for a 6 billion dollar loan in January 1945, the USA said she would only agree if the Soviet Union would open its Eastern markets to the US capital. Obviously Russia did not accept these conditions. But at the Yalta Conference it was agreed from both sides that a 10 billion dollar loan from Germany would be accepted as a beginning of the reparations. However, as in August 1945 a request for a 1,000 billion dollar loan was ignored by the US side, the USSR increased reparation payments from it own Eastern sector. A final point of disagreements or rather arguments was the drop of the A-bomb of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 by the USA. This was a slap in the face of the USSR, as at the Yalta Conference it was agreed that Russia and the USA would end the war with Japan together. It was also seen as a refusal to share new US technology with the USSR. Truman did decide that, in order to prevent any Russian communist influence in Asia. Stalin interpreted that behaviour as demonstration of a strong USA next to a weak USSR. Looking at those different factors overall you can say that the most significant problem in the year of 1945 was the dropping of the A-bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in August 1945. Both the USA and the USSR had shown each other before that they would not work together in certain situations. However, as the USA and the USSR had agreed to finish the war with Japan together after Germany would have been defeated but the USA literally ended that issue on its own it clearly amplified the fact of not wanting to work together. Also it showed that there was a sort of competition going on already and that Truman wanted to prevent any Soviet demands for influence in Asia. He wanted, as far as possible, to contain Soviet power and reduce the Soviet sphere. Secondly we need to look at the time period between the years of 1946 and 1949, which were the years just after the world war when everything was recovering and Germany was split up into different zones. By looking at the end of 1945, we can definitely say, that there were great disputes between the USA and USSR already. The West was also concerned about developments in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean, where the US had significant interests. Iran was mainly an area of US concern, as the USSR was feared to spread its influence there. The USSR also replied with saying that they had as much right as the USA to oil. Immediately the Iranian prime minister was urged by the American side, which forced Stalin to back down in order to get a deal of oil concessions. However, Stalin was never really interested in that area which again shows that the competition and tensions were going on and each side tried to use any chance for an argument or a disagreement. The same situation of the Soviet leader backing down happened in the spring and summer of 1946, when concessions from Turkey were opposed and the Russian leader once again backed down. However, the most significant problems of that time period took place in Europe. To start with, we look at Germany and the problem of reparations. Both sides feared during the cold war the country would become part of the opposite camp. At the Potsdam Conference it was agreed that Germany should be divided into four Allied zones and it should act, as one economic unit administered by the ACC. Berlin should also be divvied into four zones and Germany should be demilitarised, de-Nazified, democratised, decentralised and de-industrialised. During there were agreements on that issue, the issue of reparations still seemed to cause problems. Tensions over the political developments in the Soviet Union started to emerge early. The main area was economic, as the USSR supported the idea of a rather agricultural country but the US demanded an industrialised Germany. At the Paris meeting of the Council of foreign ministers, Byrnes decided to test the Soviet co-operation over the Potsdam agreements by the four allies proposing an act that demilitarised Germany for the next 25 years. Russia agreed but still the USA refused to talk about the question of reparations. Further refusals of reparations from the US side were given in July 1945, when Molotov insisted for a 10 billion dollar loan. Additionally demands for reparations were refused again at the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Moscow. Furthermore Russia had to accept that there would not be shipping of coal and steel to the USSR anymore and that the USSR would have to give back some of the resources it already received by the West. This proposal however was rejected by the USSR. The Soviet Union saw that as an attempt to build up the Western Germany economy and therefore also saw it as another military, potential threat as it might ally to the more or less enemy USA. The meeting of the Council of Foreign Minister in London in December 1947 was judged to fail even before it took place as Britain and the USA would not agree on any reparations paid to Russia by Germany. However at this meeting the creation of Bizonia was decided, where Britain and the US would join to create a separate West Germany. Then half a year later in 1948, France also decided to join this pact and Trizonia emerged together with the introduction of the Deutschmark, a new currency, which was also introduced in West Berlin a few days later. This of course was a clear statement to the Soviet Union that the USA did not have any intentions to work together with the USSR. Tensions between the two superpowers increased further during the first Berlin Crisis at the Berlin Blockade in 1948. As the USSR did not like the idea of a divided Germany they put pressure on West Berlin by cutting of all road, rail and freight traffics as well as the supply of electricity. This however did not result in a hot war in the Cold War, as the USA replied with a massive airlift delivering food and fuel to West Berlin. It was ended as Stalin also called of the blockade one year later. The USA interpreted that blockade as a statement to drive the Allies out of West Berlin and take over the Western zones of Germany. Therefore in May 1949, the FDR was created. The USSR first did not want accept that division but then in October decided to agree with that division and the GDR was set up in Eastern Germany with the Soviet Control Commission supervising that area. This division of Germany demonstrated the division of whole Europe into two hostile camps. However there were also other events than in Germany at that period of time that further increased the tension between the two superpowers. Firstly Kennan’s Long Telegram where Kennan argued that the USSR was a dangerous and expansionist state due to its security fears, internal politics and leadership as well as its Marxist-Leninist views and ideology. He also said the USA would never be able or willing to co-operate with such a state and therefore this telegram influenced US foreign policy towards the USSR, such as the creation of the policy of containment. Furthermore the Iron Curtain speech by Winston Churchill supported what Kennan’s Long Telegram had already amplified. It argued for an end of compromise and arguing against Roosevelt’s idea at the Yalta Conference to co-operate with the USSR. Stalin saw Churchill as Hitler and immediately interpreted that as a call for war with the USSR. Due to that anti-Western propaganda in the Soviet Union strongly increased. Adding to that Kennan had supported the division of Germany and therefore of Europe before it was even considered at the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in London. Meanwhile, the USSR pursued a very flexible approach in the years after the war. It might have had expansionist and opportunistic views and parts but after all the Russians were prepared to communicate and co-operate with the US side. But as time developed and tensions increased people with more extreme and harsher views came to power in these hostile camps. John Foster Dulles for example called for military and economic supports for states threatened by communism. Byrnes spent 5,700 billion dollars on stabilising economy outside the Soviet sphere in 1946. If the USSR had wanted economic support all trade barriers should have been called off and the US should have a greater say in economic issues in Eastern Europe. Next to those events that increased the tensions between the USSR and the USA or rather generally events that caused problems we also need to look at the economic crisis in Western Europe between 1946 and 1947. In America, although there was a great media campaign against the communistic Soviet Union, the majority of people were not convinced to give loans to allied countries or to increase the military budget. There was even voted for a cut of Truman’s budget, including military expenditure. However, the bad situation in Western Europe finally seemed to go into the direction of persuading them to change their opinion: Many countries in Europe had suffered horribly in terms of their economy. Furthermore there were bad harvests due to the severe winter in 1946-1947. Additionally communist parties gained more popularity especially in France and in Italy. George Marshall, the secretary of state, said that there would be needed 17 billion dollars to recover Europe’s economy. This was still not enough for the Republican Congress. Only in 1947, when Britain announced that it would not be able anymore to give economic aid to Greece and Turkey everything changed. Acheson linked economic loans to the communist struggle and persuaded people to support Truman’s policy of containment. He argued with the â€Å"rotten apple† theory and the theory of the domino effect. As a response of that the US side set up the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. As economic aid of 300 million dollars was given to Greece and 100 million dollars to Turkey and military advisors were sent to Greece, Stalin interpreted that as an act to enlarge the US sphere of influence. Coming to the Marshall plan, the US thought it would be able to recover Europe’s economy with a revived German economy. However the agreement about that question failed at the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Moscow in April 1947, as the USA still refused to talk about reparations being paid to the USSR and as the USSR was uncompromising about that topic. Then as the Marshall Plan was announced on 5 June 1947 it was clear that the USSR would not accept the conditions and requirements, which the economic aid required to happen. The USA and the USSR saw the Marshall Plan as an attempt to weaken the Soviet control of the East part of Europe. Furthermore the USSR saw it as a statement of â€Å"dollar imperialism† been introduced to establish US influence in Europe. However, the US economic and political domination Europe did not benefit from the Marshall Plan. Tensions between the superpowers increased further as were was a repeated refusal of reparations paid to the USSR by Germany at talks in early June. After that talk it was decided to exclude the USSR from further discussions. Under Andrei Zhdanov the Marshall Plan was even describes as being an act of preparing to extend the US power in order to launch a new world war. In one of his speeches he even describes the world as being divided into two opposing camps, which later was famous as the â€Å"Two-Camps† Doctrine. Furthermore the establishment of Cominform marked the end of the flexible and hesitant foreign policy of the USSR compared to US actions. Finally, as the tension increased more the CIA intervened in Italian and French politics to act against communist influence. This only motivated Stalin’s determination to control Eastern Europe even more and to get rid of those agents in France and Italy. The Soviet Union replied with plans to increase the control of Eastern Europe and also to integrate their economies into the USSRs one. These measure only increased Cold War tensions even more. Now, by looking at all what happened in this time period, we can definitely say that Germany was the biggest problem at that time. The formation of Bizonia and Trizonia clearly amplified that the USA did not want to co-operate with the USSR and that the establishment of two hostile camps was necessary. Furthermore the Berlin blockade showed the same intentions for the USSR, it did not want to work with the USA. Finally he introduction of the Deutschmark symbolised a clear separation between Western Germany/USA and Eastern Europe/USSR. Finally we need to look at the time period between 1954 and 1961 to judge whether Berlin or rather Germany was the biggest problem in the years between 1945 and 1961. After Stalin’s death in 1953 Khrushchev came to power in the USSR. This year marked a development towards better relationships as now Stalin was dead and therefore the extremist views about the US seemed to rest for a certain period of time. The new leader of the Soviet Union seemed to be keen about compromising with the West, as he was less paranoid than Stalin. For Khrushchev Berlin was an embarrassing problem and he wanted to find a solution for that problem. He tried to create better relationships also to avoid a nuclear war. However, as we look at the years between 1958 and 1961 and therefore and the second Berlin crisis we can see that there were also moments of disagreements and argument as there before already. The second Berlin crisis emerged as Khrushchev set up the first Berlin Ultimatum. This meant that the West had to sign a formal peace with Germany and agree that West Berlin should become demilitarised as well as an international area. If that would not be signed there would be a separate peace signed with the GDR handing over the control of the access routes into West Berlin. These moves were firstly done to prevent West Berlin from becoming a nuclear power but also to impress Chinese communist leaders and his own people. Although Khrushchev gave them a time limit of sixth months to sign the Ultimatum neither the act of signing happened nor was a peace signed the GDR. By 1959 however, 200,000 people were moving from East Berlin to West Berlin each year badly affecting the East Berlin economy. Ulbricht wanted to unify Berlin, as he did not want any West be present in East Germany, whereas Khrushchev wanted divisions to occur between the two areas. After the Vienna Summit, Khrushchev gave his OK for Ulbricht the building of a physical Berlin division and set another six months deadline for the West to sign a peace pact. However, as by August 1961 there were 20,00 0 refugees moving to West Berlin Khrushchev approved the Berlin border to be secured between 3 and 5 August. At first a barbed wire was set up and by 13 August the building of a wall was completed. The Berlin Wall remained as Cold War image until the pull down in November 1989 when the Cold War moved away from Germany, Europe. The wall however also solved any problems that had ever existed between West and East Berlin although the US made a shell force in West Berlin after its set up. This and the famous â€Å"face-off† between Russian and American tanks at Checkpoint Charlie finally increased tensions. However, by 1963 the Berlin Crisis was pretty much over. Another incident, where the tensions rose again and relationships became worse was at the Paris Summit and the U-2 incident. At that time West Berlin did not want to make any further concessions of East Berlin. On 1 May 1960 a USSR missile brought down a U-2 spy plane of the USA flying over the USSR. Eisenhower was hugely embarrassed for that but thought he did not apologise for this. As a reaction Khrushchev cancelled Eisenhower’s visit in the USSR and the Paris Summit failed. Additionally the Soviets proposed a confederation between the two German states leaving alliances to the NATO and the Warsaw Pact. West saw that as first moves to wards a unification and German disarmament. This however was resisted due to West Berlin as an espionage base behind the Iron Curtain. This stalemate continued until the free elections in the GDR. However, a first moment of agreement about a certain issue was when the US decided to accept the idea of a neutral Austria and a reduction of direct American influence over Austria. Although Khrushchev followed the theory of â€Å"Peaceful Coexistence† he thought there still could be an international transition to socialism. This was also amplified by his foreign policy, which was established in 1956. It said that in the new nuclear age, peaceful coexistence was possible and necessary. First steps towards that was the establishment of the Warsaw Pact in 1955, which was also a response to Western Germany becoming member of the NATO. The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and all East European countries allied to the USSR, involving East Germany. However, there was one clause in the Pact that said if there was a general European treaty of collective security signed, the Pact should be dissolved. This clearly marked the beginning of better relationships. A second moment of representing and developing friendship between those countries was the Geneva Summit in July 1955. Nuclear weapons and Germany were the main issues that were discussed. The fact that discussions were taking place showed an improvement to the relationship between Stalin and Truman. Although there were made agreements on the need for less confrontation and more co-operations, as well as for a stop of testing nuclear weapons, there was still a disagreement about disarmament, European security and control of nuclear weapons. The idea of a united Germany was also rejected. Eisenhower’s â€Å"Open Skies† proposal was therefore rejected by Khrushchev but U-2 spy planes carried on doing their spy flights anyway. Another moment of friendship and peace was, when Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to Camp David, where he also agreed to withdraw his Ultimatum although the US did not make any concessions. Further discussions should take place at the Paris Summit in May 1960. As a final conclusion, you can definitely say that Germany and especially Berlin was a major factor for the development of the Cold War. The issue if West Berlin being inside the heart of East Germany had always caused huge trouble such as the Berlin Blockade as well as the second Berlin crisis. If a divided Germany had not existed there would not have been that many problems. For example the first Berlin crisis, where Stalin ordered to completely cut off West Berlin from any supplies of the East and the Western part of Germany, nearly a hot war broke out. Furthermore a divided Germany had always represented a divided world at that time. At one side there was communism whereas on the other side there was capitalism.