Confirmation Bias And Non Critical Thinking Qualities

To thoroughly analyze how and to what extent confirmation bias and non-critical thinking qualities have contributed and essentially modified my overall approach to the Meeting of the Minds project, I first have to clarify the meaning of the terminologies that may need some defining and recapping, for they are not words that would come up in a casual conversation. This will be especially useful for me to be able to accurately address how these readings and discussions over the last few weeks have influenced my way of thinking. Notably, confirmation bias is the act of having a predetermined idea of a certain subject at hand that affects further decisions about that particular subject that will reflect on your already present belief. For example, a video we watched in class illustrated that someone who acts on conformational bias would likely google, â€Å"how is coconut oil good for you?† (assuming it is already good for you) rather than a someone who is not acting on conformati onal bias would search, â€Å"is coconut oil good for you?† Moreover, in a nutshell, non-critical thinking comprises of what is called the â€Å"sponge method† of thinking. It is the method that is useful for merely absorbing information and does not require arduous mental effort, and is presented in a clear-cut fashion. In my opinion, this can be thought of thinking without thinking – which goes against what critical thinking comprises of. 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I Am Keith Anthony James - 2079 Words

I am Keith Anthony James lll. A lover of Jesus Christ, a self-proclaimed activist, philosopher, poet, disciple, and clergyman. Life is short, and the irreducible common denominator of all men is death. At death’s door stands Jesus. How I live my life now depends on how that conversation goes. I want to hear, â€Å"Well done good and faithful servant! I will put you in charge of many things, come and share your Master’s happiness.† (Matthew 25:23) Eternity is perennial†¦ wouldn’t you agree? Jesus Christ changed the world at 33— I have some work to do. I avow self-proclaimed because the papers that I will procure are latent, but one-day respect will be put on my name. As a 19-year-old African-American in America I would say I am on a first class†¦show more content†¦As I am faced with all the questions of my pious affiliation, I just laugh and say, â€Å"Eternity is a long time†. The Big Easy— New Orleans, Louisiana is where I am indigenous to. I was blessed in my upbringing and what the Lord has provided for me. I was torn in the middle, a bridge separated me from hoods and suburbs. On one side air was toxic and stunned my growth, and the other side was the antithesis of that. The bridge separated me from drinking water from the sink, and ice water from a fridge. So I was double dipping and my life wasn’t measured in lifespans, but in moments. My reclusive life personified one of Shakespeare lines, for the sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds. I was nomadic with school. The teachers never entertained me as much doing secular things did. I found relish in secular things, the bad things were good and the good were bad. As a child, I never hoped for anything— I was a pessimistic existentialist— I lost sight of my future. My flesh stood tall like Goliath and my soul waited for the right moment to prevail like David. I was a walking zombie and I was bound by my ignorance. Everything seemed perpetual and I being to conjure my own existence. As I look back at it now, I lived in death’s shadow and my psychiatrist was the devil. The more I grew the more I sought to retain everything I learned. If one forgets anything it means you have died, and

Pension reform in Europe Free Essays

Task 6 Are future pensions secured? Bruno Miguel Silva Abrantes Current Issues in Economic Policy Academic year 2012-2013 Contents Are pensions secured? Understanding pensions Pensions aim to handle the transition of a person as worker to retired. So that he enjoy an income provided by the state or another organization and maintain a similar standard of living to what he had while employed and thus have a comfortable life economically, until the end of his life. The second objective of a pension is related to the fght against poverty which is done through a redistribution of income that romotes equity, within the elderly class. We will write a custom essay sample on Pension reform in Europe or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1 There is a growing concern on the part of the European Commission on the sustainability of pension systems in the various countries of the European Union. The recent financial and economic crisis has revealed weaknesses that several countries have and bring into question the sustainability of the pension system. Economic growth slowed, unemployment has risen and the public accounts are in poor condition. One of the more serious implications on future pensions is related to the fact that a large part of the population remains unemployed or is forced to accept Jobs where they get lower ncomes, or work less time, which will result in a lower pension. 2 Further compounding the situation is a major demographic trend towards an aging population. The increase in life expectancy over the past decades, combined with low fertility rates is creating a change in the composition of the population. The number of active workers will decrease while the number of people who are retired will increase. Moreover, the numbers of years that a person remains employed is dwindling, partly because people start to work later, due to the many years spent in education. On the other hand there is a great tendency in obtaining early retirement ue to existing policies and management ot age in What are the main systems of pension funding? the labor market. In several countries of the EIJ-27 the public sector is largely responsible for pensions, early retirement, disability and survivors. However there are some differences between the various members of the European Union at the level of pensions related to occupational or private pensions. In a generalized way pensions can be classified into three pillars: The public social security system, mandatory or voluntary occupational schemes and voluntary private schemes. The first, public social security system is undoubtedly largely responsible for the allocation of pensions to the population in most member states of the EIJ-27. This pillar can be characterized mainly by the Pay-as-you-go system (PAYG). In this system pensions are financed directly from taxes and social contributions that workers are paying in the present. The taxes are used to pay pensions in the short-term instead of being used to create funds that may grow in the long-term and benefit future generations. 3 Schemes within the second pillar can be mandatory or voluntary occupational schemes. Participation in these funds is usually mandated by law and aims to provide an adequate pension to retired people according to what they saved during their working life. These funds are created by a company or organization in order to provide proper pensions to their employees, which should correspond to the effort and contribution the workers exercised. Both the employee and the employer contribute to the fund, which grows with the return rates that vary with the state of the market and the economy. The amount of the pension depends on the number of years of service and final salary of the employee. These funds are important to relieve the responsibility of the state to secure pensions in the whole population, but also because it is believed that these organizations are able to grow a fund more effectively than the state would. 4 The third and final pillar is characterized by private schemes. These are schemes that help people to accumulate savings for their retirement. The people who wish to do so can choose from a wide range of schemes who best match their needs. There are funds that are riskier; however the contribution that person does is less than the benefit you will receive if all goes well. On the other hand there are safer funds in which the benefit will match the contribution made. Typically these funds are voluntary and are complementary to government reforms that people receive from the state. 5 Looking at table 7(in appendix) we can divide public pensions, which are part of the first pillar of pensions in various sub-groups. Among which we can find Minimum pension / social allowance, Old age, early retirement, disability and survivors’ pensions. Early- retirement, old-age pensions, disability and survivors’ pension exist in almost all 27 member states. Early retirement does not exist in the Netherlands, Malta, United Kingdom and Norway. These schemes operate mostly in the form of earnings-related, which means that pensions are assigned according to what people earned and contributed during their working life. However not all countries have adopted this scheme in the same way. In Denmark, survival and disability pensions are awarded according toa flat rate, offering a pension with a fixed value over time. This way of organizing pensions can promote greater social equity it the people who are the target of these flat-rate pensions have not worked or contributed enough to receive a ension that is sufficient to have a good quality of life in old age. However the state has to make an extra effort to fund this pension scheme, an effort that ultimately fall on taxpayers, since the people who will receive these pension contributed less than the amount of pension they will receive. Minimum pension or social allowance schemes exist in all EIJ member-state. These pensions are usually means-tested, in the sense that people are tested to understand whether they are , that is according to what the person has earned and contributed as an employee, or if they did not ork and had no and any gain if they have worked and which contributed received is not enough to access a normal pension. This type of pension is normally financed by taxes on citizens rather than individual contributions of individuals to pension funds. In the 2nd pillar we find Mandatory / voluntary schemes occupation. How to cite Pension reform in Europe, Papers

Personal Self Analysis Strengths and Opportunities

Question: Discuss about the Personal Self Analysis for Strengths and Opportunities. Answer: Introduction Just like an organization individuals are required to carry out their personal self-analysis to determine their strengths and opportunities as well as threats and opportunities which might accrue to them. Raelin (2002), defined personal self-analysis as a systematic process by an individual to determine his or her personality. This can also be achieved with the individual seeking the opinions and observations of other people close to him or her. According to Leise (2012), personal self-assessment is very critical in helping people excel in life. Studies show that someone is like to be successful if he or she uses his or her talents to the maximum. Similarly, someone is deemed to experience few problems if he or she knows his or her weaknesses as he will be able to manage the weaknesses. Eaton1 (2013) noted that self-assessment would not be effective if it is not carried out in relation to a particular object. He noted that personal self-analysis can be undertaken comparing someone st rengths and weaknesses in relation to his or her profession career. This helps in matching individual strengths and weakness features with the requirements of the profession Ross (2006). This paper has been designed to carry out my personal self-analysis as a manager and a change agent in the organization. Additionally, it addresses my potential and capability as a leader of the team. The paper goes further and develops my future development plan as a leader. For effective and comprehensive self-analysis, the essay has used SWOT Analysis. Personal Strengths and Weaknesses as a Manager Manager as a leader has been endowed with a position of authority and therefore cannot afford to be termed as an ineffective Aguinis (2011). However, it cannot be disputed that as human beings managers have weaknesses (James, 2013). Even though a manager can acquire the right people equipped with the required skills and knowledge to compensate for his her weaknesses, the studies indicate that his or her weaknesses will still make him or her less effective. Therefore, this calls for the manager to understand his or weaknesses fully and at the same time be able to avoid them as they can hamper his or her performance level. The most common known tools of analyzing people strengths and weaknesses are SWOT Analysis and Johari. This essay opts to use SWOT analysis in analyzing my personal assessment. SWOT Analysis is the most simple to prepare and interpret and understand. Additionally, SWOT Analysis help an individual to identify the opportunities and threats that may come across. Suresh Rajini, (2013) noted that SWOT analysis can help someone uncover the potential opportunities that otherwise he or she could not have identified. Besides helping the individuals realize the available opportunities, SWOT Analysis is also critical in helping the understanding of the personal weaknesses and how to manage the threats that can derail the potential of the person to move forward(Singh, 2010). Robbins Coulter (2007) argued that if someone analyzes herself or himself using the SWOT framework he or she will be able to isolate himself from the peers. This well help in developing the special abilities and talents necessary to advance the personal profession and help in achieving the personal goals. Upon using SWOT analysis tool my personal strengths and weaknesses are as follows: Self-Reflective SWOT Analysis Strengths Innovative and Creative Determined and Self-Motivated Success Oriented Team Player Hardworking Self Confidence and Intelligent Weaknesses A lot of Commitments Ability to Focus Sensitive Person Too Helpful Opportunities Fast Growing Industry Advancing my profession Economic Boom Threats Lack of support from top management Professional Standards changing Demand for Skills reducing Innovative and Creative: The attributes of being innovated and creative are not only associated with me because I am a manager but are naturally acquired features. Despite having applied them in my current working organization, I started exhibiting the same since my school days. In one of the school scenario, I was selected as one of the team members in helping the school plan for the event management. In the work context, I have helped the company maintain their market share in the market as well as penetrate into the new markets through products development and diversification. Besides, I have greatly impressed the organization clients by the continuous provision of new brands. Determined and Self-Motivated: I have been a successful manager by being determined and self-motivated. This in support of the Cole (2006) you said that without self-motivation, it would be difficult even for the best company employees to achieve any success. Success Oriented: I can say the main reason why was promoted to a managerial position is because of my self-drive. In my organization, I don't just wait for the top management to request for the new ideas but I always provide them at the appropriate time and when they are much needed. Team Player: Apart from being a team leader, I am also a team player. Rubin, Munz, Bommer (2005) argued that even being a leader of the team; you should act in a manner that makes the team members perceive that you are also part of the team. I have learned that in the modern business world a person needs a group of individuals who can help him achieve the established objectives. Hardworking: Any successful employee or a manager is a hardworking person(Ommani, 2011). To maintain this, I have held to the notion that "success is ninety percent hard work and ten percent thinking." The reflection of hard work in my personality has portrayed through commitment and dedication to the task at hand. Self Confidence and Intelligent: My simple, practical and logical knowledge has been very crucial in helping me manage the team properly. However, I have learned that being intelligent does not necessarily require you to be a person who can accomplish a big complicated task but be able to execute the assignment at hand systematically and effectively. Weaknesses A lot of Commitments: Sometimes I find it difficult to make promises and be able to uphold to them all. This has been due to a lot of commitments, and as a result, I have not been able to address some of the employees question within the required time frame. Ability to Focus: I am the kind of the manager who believes in concentrating on many projects at hand at once. This reduces my ability to focus on a specific project at a time. My multi-tasking trait has resulted in the failure of the projects as well as inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the completion of some projects. Sensitive Person: Most of the times I take things personally and I usually feel so bad and become disappointed when things are done in a wrong way. Too Helpful: This may fall either as the strength or a weakness depending on the context being applied. For the managerial position, this would be a weaknesses. I am too helpful that sometimes I find myself going beyond the operational boundaries to help my teammates. Opportunities The industry I am working in is growing very first, and thus there is a possibility of finding a new job. I have an opportunity to go back to school and advance my knowledge level so that I may become more competitive. The economy has started booming and therefore avails me a great opportunity of quit the employment and starting my own business. Threats Company top management decision makers do not like supporting me. The professional standards are changing rapidly, and I may find my skills obsolete. The demand for my skills is declining at a higher rate. Essential Competencies to my Future Role as a Manager The achievement of the plans and goals requires an individual to be equipped with the right skills and knowledge to be able to accomplish the future tasks(Rainer, Turban, Potter, 2007). Upon evaluating my, SWOT Analysis results it is evident that I possess some weakness and threats. These threats need to be gotten rid of to avoid jeopardy of my future roles as a manager. To overcome the threats and weaknesses, I will focus more on my opportunities as well as some of my strengths. Al-Busaidi (2010) argued that for someone to be able to execute his future roles effectively, he or she has to define himself or herself regarding strengths and the weaknesses. The evaluation should be able to tell whether someone possesses the required competencies needed in the future tasks or not. Three to five years from now corporations will be totally different. The business operates in an ever changing environment, characterized by the rapid change in technology. Therefore, this demands that as a man ager I should have a future personal development plan that will aid me in executing my future managerial roles. Future Personal Development Plan Information Communication Technology (ICT) Knowledge: Bearing in mind how technology is rapidly changing as a future manager I should be endowed with ICT skills and knowledge capable of executing risk management tasks, mobile commerce and knowledge of the social media. Organizing Skills: The future organizations are likely to be filled by few people and may professionals. Alternatively, they are expected to be large and flexible. As a manager I will require organizing skills to be able to network in the economy, outsource the services and be able to manage with flexibility and efficiently. Global Awareness: The world is becoming very transparent hence requiring any business minded person to be aware of what is happening across the globe. This is because a manager activities and operations will also be visible by other organizations. International Minded Citizen: The world is turning into a global village. Therefore, as a future manager, I should perceive things not from the point of view of my organization but with a wider perception of the whole world. Cooperation and Networking Skills. The organizations and businesses are turning to more of an association of persons than a separate legal entities( Northouse Peter, 2010). For this to be achieved I as a manager I should be ready to cooperate with other organization having similar objectives. Description of Team Dynamics in my department The behavioral relationships among the member in a particular group affect the responsibilities and roles of the team. According to Nicolescu (2013), team dynamics are very vital elements of the working life. They positively or negatively affect the profitability of the organization; company reputation; individual and team performance and job satisfaction. From the evaluation of the team under my department, I can advocate that my team has the following descriptions; Open Communication: The main aspect that has glued my team together is open communication. Effective communication has enabled by the department to listen to each other attentively, to provide updates often, seek for clarification on unclear issues and provide constructive feedback. Full Participation: In my department, all the team members provide their efforts and time to the project at hand. To ensure that they have the perception that they are part of the project, as a leader, I usually include them in the decision-making process. Trust: My department team relationship is built on trust. Therefore, everybody contributes towards the project without any suspicion. My team is majorly built on the above three dynamics. The team members always argue that this has been achievable due to my unique approaches as a leader. Even though my team argues that being involved in a decision-making process is a motivation, it only lasts for a short while. Therefore, through the dynamism of open communication my team has challenged me to look for long lasting motivation way. Conclusion Carrying out regular personal self-analysis is very fundamental in determining whether someone is meeting his or her professional or personal goals. From the above-discussed issues, it has been clear that self-analysis should be a continuous process. When done continuously it enables individuals to develop a list of priorities which will help them pursuing their goals. Alternatively, it helps the professionals and employees to stay within the confines of the industry and organization requirements. Employees will always ensure they are equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge or else they will be eliminated out of the labor market. References Northouse, Peter, G. (2010). Leadership Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Aguinis, H. (2011). Performance Management. Edinburgh: Heriot-Watt University. Al-Busaidi, K. A. (2010). Revealing the Strengths and Weaknesses of a Corporate Portal. Oman: Sultan Qaboos University. Cole, G. A. (2006). Management Theory and Practice. London: Book Power. Eaton1, M. (2013). Student Self-Assessment: Thinking about the Way We "Know." Bellingham: Western Washington University. JAMES, O. (2013). Transformational vs. Transactional Leadership Theories: Evidence in Literature. International Review of Management and Business Research, 2(2), 355-361. Leise, C. (2012). Improving the quality of reflecting on performance. International Journal of Process Education, 2(2), 65-74. Nicolescu, O. (2013). The Main Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Dynamic Romanian Management. Proceedings Of The 7th International Management Conference, (pp. 23-34). BUCHAREST. Ommani, A. R. (2011). Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis for farming system businesses management: Case of wheat farmers of Shadervan District, Shoushtar Township, Iran. African Journal of Business Management, 5(22), 9449-9454. Raelin, J. A. (2002). I dont have time to think! versus the art of reflective practice. Reflections, 4(1), 66-79. Rainer, J., Turban, E., Potter, R. (2007). Introduction to Information Systems: Supporting and Transforming business. USA: John Wiley Sons, Inc, Robbins, S. P., Coulter, M. (2007). Management. London: Prentice- Hall. Ross, J. A. (2006). The Reliability, Validity, and Utility of Self-Assessment. Practical Assessment Research Evaluation, 11(10), 1-13. Rubin, R. S., Munz, D. D., Bommer, W. H. (2005). Leading from Within: Effects of Emotional Recognition and Personality on Transformational Leadership Behavior. Academy of Management Journal, 845 858. Singh, N. (2010). SWOT Analysis A Useful Tool For Community Vision. A concept paper of central Himalayan village, 2(9), 16-18. Suresh, A., Rajini, J. (2013). Transformational Leadership Approach In Organisations -Its Strengths And Weaknesses. International Journal of Social Science Interdisciplinary Research, 2(3), 155-160.

The Art of Language and Deception in Lolita free essay sample

In his own words, he is Humbert the deadly charming sophisticate, Humbert the lover, Humbert the monster, and above all Humbert the the manipulator. In the Lolita by Vladimir Nobokov, Humbert uses ornate language and style to manipulate the audience and invoke a trust and cordialness that leads to a view of him as a sympathetic pedofile. Humberts narration is full of wordplay and hidden meanings. He is playing with our minds throughout the novel, slowly gaining our trust and manipulating us. The complexity of Humbert’s narration creates an interesting and enjoyable flow to his confession that he uses to his advantage, since it is at some points quite difficult to piece together true facts and details of his story. His narration spontaneously changes; from a serious and eloquent demeanor, to a playful tone riddle-like tone with wordplay, as well as from his monstrous and uncontrollable pedophiliac yearnings, to a somewhat sensible and remorseful individual. We will write a custom essay sample on The Art of Language and Deception in Lolita or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page His change in voice allows him to commit crimes in one hand, while fooling us with his ornate language in the other. For example, in a child-like mix-up of letters, Humbert blurts out â€Å"What’s the Katter with misses? † I muttered (word-control gone) into her hair. † This is quite a setback from the Humbert who begins his phrases with â€Å"Gentlemen of the jury! †(Nobokov 69), following it by providing well thought out defenses for his nymph desires. By teasing the jury with the two sides, he shows an playful and vulnerable side to him that could not be completely ruthless, as well as a level-headed moral being who is simply conflicted with an uncontrollable desire. In addition, Humbert addresses the audience in this way to give them a feeling of authority towards a man who freely admits his guilt, which keeps his manipulation game in check most of the time. The fact that Humbert mentions numerous times the lolita’s sexual deviousness and flirtatious demeanor, while in true sense mind, her child-mind at the age of twelve could not have grasped and control the relationship, regardless of her sexual experiences embodies this manipulation. The constant mixing of moral values shields the audience from seeing the true monster that he is. He tells us on numerous occasion that he loves her and even displays remorse from time to time â€Å" in retrospect, was no more than a collection of dog-eared maps, ruined tour books, old tires and her sobs in the night—every night, every night—the moment I feigned sleep† (176) quickly offsetting it by showing his ruthless and evil perversion the sensualist in me had no objection to some depravity in his prey (124) at what he has created Humbert referring to himself as a monster and pedofile therefore, is only to distract the audience from their manipulated minds. The changing style allows more time for a visual stimulation in his ornate style and shocking accounts, and less time in actually deciphering the fabricating lies to the actual evidence and occurrences. The ending result is that the stimulating narration is its analyzes itself and that the reader gives up on decipher some of his clues Being the writer that he is, Humbert cannot help but create beauty within each moment of his story, which work to distract the audience out of complete repulsion towards his actions. Whether it be admiring the sunlit lake in the mundane suburban noontime, having a brief tryst with a nymph-like prostitute in a cheap hotel room, or contemplating a drowning murder in which he described â€Å" passed like the tail of a falling star across the blackness of the contemplated crime. It was like some dreadful silent ballet, the male dance holding the ballerina by her foot and streaking down through watery twilight. † (Nobokov 86-87), he does not fail to veil his crimes with lavish brilliance. In this case, the imagery he creates using a simile of graceful ballerinas amid the darkly lit backdrop of a vicious homicide illustrates the genius of Humberts distractions that keep the reader intrigued and unquestioning. Though the audience may be aware of the fact that his thoughts and actions are repulsive most of the time (he clearly states it), like an infatuated lover in the middle of an abusive relationship, we are hooked on to his language, and seem to take less offense towards him because what he feeds us in his style and imagery. Diverts reader from the real problem. The masterpiece in his language: distracts the reader from fully grasping or taking seriously the sadist that he outwardly presents to us. By displaying his sadist desires bluntly and at the same time being able to capture the empathy and understanding of such the jury, who by all societal standards, should be rioting his confession, Humbert can revere himself on yet another feat, in which he is able to manipulate by empathizing beauty in his evil, insteading attempting to hide is dark thoughts. In a way, his self-confessing and guilt ridden outburst towards his inner-most pedofilia desires displays that the guilt he feels is not completely at his fault. It is the societys fault that, the laws that prohibit that type of relationship. Although Humbert may have felt remorseful towards the destruction he caused lolita, it is unjust to label him as a reformed criminal and a hero. He never really states that there is something completely morally wrong with his thoughts, only that the society he is a part of believes Based on the novel, a man of Humberts intelligence: one that strategically places each detail of his liaisons, each sentence, each word in place to create a riddle-like confession that leaves the reader speechless or sorrowful does not simply show us his true self to an audience without thinking it through. In other words, it would make little sense for a man of Humberts intellect to so easily forget his judging jury and directly show his vain and arrogant personality to further accusate himself. Not to worry however, because Humbert had after all strategically mannered each one of his jolts of laughable conceit and arrogance. His too-good, smarter than everyone demeanor is apparent when he mentions his adult companions (Valeria, Charlotte, Rita) in his less-fortunate and pitiful voice. While envisioning how he could use Charlotte to his advantage he says â€Å"I might blackmail—no, that is too strong a word—mauvemail big Haze into letting me consort with little Haze by gently threatening the poor doting Big Dove with desertion if she tried to bar me from playing with my legal stepdaughter. †(Nobokov 71) Here, he purposely shows us the ease he believes he has in getting what he wants and in controlling the other characters, while in reality the audience is aware that these flaws inhibit greater consequence. In additon, Humbert also allows himself to exaggerate the size of his reproductive organ when he tells us â€Å"I was to her not a boyfriend, not a glamour man, not a pal, not even a person at all, but just two eyes and a foot of engorged brawn–† (Nobokov 283). The intent in each of these instances therefore, is to show that on top of his moral flaws, he also has character flaws such as his vanity and cockiness, which allow him to humanize himself outside of the pedofile box he is put in. Furthermore, it strangely but logically enhances his reliability as a narrator because his bouts of denial and arrogance works to show the reader that he is not as conniving and calculating as the reader may think if he is able to forget the simple aspect of his own voice when writing his confession. This effect, however is exactly what Humbert wants us to think, that his moments of inattentiveness and feeling vulnerable he describe obviously biased scenarios and viewpoints. Of course, the true effect is that Humbert has succeeded yet again in manipulating the audience, in this case allowing us to see him more as an honest narrator, whether it be out of his own recklessness, or his inability to contain his emotions. As a result, the reader will in some cases, be occupied with analyzing his psychological motives of a sick man at odds with his feelings and desires and inexplicably releases on an easy twelve year old prey, instead of acknowledging that he is quite simply a manipulative sadist. He had to paint a more pathetic and self-delusional image of himself in order to hide his sinister and manipulative side. Classic ruthlessness to some of his actions. He purposely displays his human weaknesses as a first person narrator to gain an excuse for his actions. Like how serial often blame narcotics or demonic possession for their actions, Humbert inexplicably blames his imbalanced mind, while in reality it is his manipulative genius that causes us to believe this. The stated point to the work is to show us the confession of a reformed pedofile. The imbalance of chemicals in the mind of such a monster and how to spot one. Most importantly, to show that he has changed for the better. Upon closer inspection it is seen that this interpretation is simply a distraction from sinister and almost comical manipulation that he puts the reader through. It is a roller coaster of feigned attractions that ends with a triumphant Humbert who has fooled the audience with his deranged sympathy games. He is a true manipulative (monster) because through the jail he is able to manipulate the audience, ironically through his confession. Blurs line between sadism and beauty

Closing The Deal Example

Closing The Deal Example Closing The Deal – Coursework Example Closing the Deal Closing the Deal a. Negotiation skills in closing the deal include being in a position to develop an agreement template ensuring the proper memorization of vital aspects of a negotiated deal (Carrell & Heavrin, 2008). The second skills in closing a deal involve the ability to have an understanding of the measures that allow a person to have value/retain value in the closing a deal in a negotiation. The third skill involves the identification of factors causing a stalemate and ways to overcome the stalemates with the fourth skill being ability to know bargaining traps and avoid falling to them in closing the deal. The fifth negotiation skill is using skills to build a relationship between negotiating parties. I would apply the five negotiation skills in closing a deal on supply of electronic devices to a cyber cafà © through writing down a template on the main aspects of the deal in terms of the provision of devices, timelines, and payments, among other pertinent iss ues. Having value in the negotiation will be ensured by providing a limit under which the service cannot be provided to ensure the purpose and profitability of the service are met fully. Understanding the possibility of the software or other characteristics of the devices that could be causing the stalemate and providing reasonable assurances and benefits offer the competition will allow in overcoming stalemates. Bargaining traps, in this case, could be the client negotiating for additional services that would water-down profits or increase costs including provision of free software for the company. Being vigilant for these traps and staying on course in the negotiation will allow for closing the deal. Despite hard stand on prices, providing other ways for profitability by the company including additional service at no extra cost like repairs and recycling of electronic devices will allow for the creation of a relationship between the two parties. b. Importance of an agreement templ ate An agreement template is important because it allows for recording a decision made in the negotiation, amount of payments, and time-frame for completion of the activities allowing for success in performance of functions relating to the deal (Young, 1991). A written agreement best serves in generating commitment to an agreement because it provides a framework for a party to seek alternative measures to achieve its end of the bargain through the court system and other conflict resolution mechanisms since a written agreement template is admissible. Written agreement acts as a reminder and benchmark to performance. ReferencesCarrell, M. R. & Heavrin, C. (2008). Negotiating essentials: Theory, skills, and practices. Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.Young, H. P. (1991). Negotiation analysis. Ann Arbor, Mich: University of Michigan Press.

Pinky's Department Store Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Pinky's Department Store - Essay Example The business will be financed with  £ 100,000 by a sole proprietor and  £ 200,000 through a business loan from a bank. Sales are estimated to reach about  £ 52,000 average for the first and second year. A positive cash flow is projected at the end of the first year. Pinky Department Store shall offer products of various British Designers, from casual wear to formal wear, and to special attires depending on the season. As it caters mainly to women in their 20s and 30s who are already busy with their careers, it would present to this target market a wide array of choices in terms of clothing. It would offer practical get ups for the overly busy working women, and would carry stylish and fashionable ensembles as well. Pinky Department Store’s Target Market would primarily be working women in their early 20s to their late 40s, whose monthly salary range is from  £ 10,000 to  £ 50,000. They are the ones who appreciate trend and styles and would spend a considerable amount for nice clothing that would fit their lifestyle and their needs. They are the ones who would choose carefully the clothes they wear for work, for fun and for other daily activities. They are the ones who would watch for the latest trends in TVs and fashion magazines, and would have a know-how in terms of fashion. They have discriminating taste for fabrics and designs, and would not sacrifice quality for cost. 2. Market Knowledge – As a Retail Outlet, it is crucial for Pinky Department Store to be able to identify in particular the trends in the fashion industry to come up with a good mix in terms of its products. Being a retail store, its sole control over its products is the system by which each choice is made regarding the product lines. 3. Inventory Management – By identifying the right products to push, Pinky Department Store would be able to manage its Inventory by acquiring only those that are sellable and keeping in stock only those that may be disposed for a short

Master Budget Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Master Budget - Essay Example The first and foremost step in developing the master budget is the sales forecast in terms of quantities and values of products. After considering the opening and closing inventory levels, the production quantities are determined which is known as the production budget. The production budget is further divided into the direct materials purchases and usage, direct labor and factory overhead budgets. Likewise the indirect material and labor, other factory overheads, cost of manufacturing, cost of goods sold, ending inventory of finished goods, selling, administrative and operating expenses are budgeted. Finally, the cash budget is prepared in which cash receipts and disbursements are determined. The process ends with the completion of the Pro Forma Income Statement, Pro Forma Statement of Cash flows and Pro Forma Balance Sheet. Zero based budgeting is a method of budgeting where all expenditures are justified and every department function is reviewed comprehensively rather than only gauging the increases. The reasons for adopting a zero based budget are that it results in efficient allocation of resources, it helps detecting inflating budgets, cost effective ways to improve operations are determined, it increases the staff motivation and provides an initiative for decision making, it is highly useful for departments where the output is not identifiable, it identifies outsourcing opportunities, removes wastage and outdated operations, communication and coordination within the organization becomes more efficient, and the task of cost centers and their relationship to the overall goals are identified. Question 2 Usually a budget also contains non-financial information. This information is used to explain the financial information, qualify it and divide the financial information into sub information. Types of Non-Financial Information Information like the quality of the resources, quantity of the resource required, procedure for calculation and the mechanism is generally included. In some cases the workload on the employees and the human resources required to do the job is often included. This information is used injunction with the financial details and helps to clarify the budget. Calculation of Financial Information using Non-Financial Information Non-Financial information is used commonly to calculate the financial information. For example the quality of a certain product can be divided into 4 classes and each class is allocated a weightage. The price of the product will be multiplied with the weighted average of the product to give the actual total price. Another example can be the quantity of wood required to manufacture 1000 units of chairs. This will be calculated by first finding the number of planks of wood a truck of tree gives. Then the quality of wood will be quantified to manufacture one unit of chair and finally the total cost will be found out. Thus non-financial information is usually necessary to calculate financial information. Advantages of Including Non-Financial Information in Budgets The benefit of using non-financial information in the budgets is that it makes the employees aware of the goals and objectives expected. These goals are set by using the non-financial inf

PETA and the true about animal rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PETA and the true about animal rights - Essay Example Through the years PETA has made advances for animals that are abused by individuals, corporations, and governments throughout the world. The organization has won several cases against animal abusers and has convicted several animal researchers. One popular example is the Silver Spring monkeys case where researcher Edward Taub experiments 17 macaque monkeys inside the Institute of Behavioral Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. Alex Pacheco spied the lab and took pictures of monkeys tied-up inside the lab. The pictures were then turned-over to the local police as evidence. The lab was raided by the police and researcher Edward Taub was convicted of several counts of animal cruelty and abuse. PETA was founded by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco in March 1980. It receives donations from its multi-national companies and individual donors. The organization’s financial statements revealed millions of dollars of revenues a year. This is likely coming from millions of dollars worth of cash and non-cash donations from its donors worldwide and the rest came from its fund raisings for animal rights. PETA says that their revenues will not be kept for themselves but for the improvements of their programs on pursuing their global missions. Thus, its income tax returns revealed donations and grants to and from various individuals and non-profit organizations working on animal rights. They say the money they have in the organization will be spent for the benefit of the animals and the improvement of their life as living things.

How to Analyze Sources and Information

How to Analyze Sources and Information By Riley Kohl       Today, we live in a world that runs on information. Information is gathered, shared, bought, and sold. More and more, individuals are consuming vast amounts of information and using it to shape themselves and the way they perceive the world around them. In our journey to reach new heights of understanding, we construct for ourselves a tall watchtower, with each brick being a new piece of information. Far too often, however, we dont ask ourselves a crucial question: what if this new brick has cracks? My goal is to explain why you need to be able to appraise the quality of the information you consume and to give you the tools to do so reliably and efficiently. A Growing Need One of the most commonly used sources of information is the news, specifically the mainstream media. In recent years, there has been a gradual, observable decline in the quality of journalism. Noticing this, the American people have subsequently displayed a gradual decline in the level of trust they place in the mainstream medias ability to report information in a trustworthy and unbiased manner. In a Gallup poll conducted in 2016 with a random sample of 1,020 adults, only 32% professed to having a great deal or a fair amount of trust in the mainstream media.[1] A graph of this trend is provided in Figure 1. A Practical Demonstration In order to better grasp the methodologies of information analysis, and the need for such skills, a practical demonstration is best. On November 20, 2015, CNN published an article alleging that President-elect Donald Trump made a definitive statement regarding the implementation of a Muslim database.[2] Several hours later, an article was published by the Gateway Pundit claiming that the conclusions presented by the CNN article were based on falsified evidence.[3] Figure 2 provides a side- by-side view of the article headlines. This leads to the first, and most important, critical rule of information analysis: no source is above scrutiny because no source is infallible. CNN is a major media outlet. The first reaction of the average person would be to simply trust them over the Gateway Pundit, a relatively unknown source. The CNN article also provides a video which seems to support the claim presented in the headline. The two most notable arguments presented by the Gateway Pundit article are that the CNN video is heavily edited and that the reporter deliberately pushed a vague, unspecific question. The first step the reader must take at this point is to watch, or re-watch, the CNN video. It is clear that the video is edited, but this practice is not unusual. Videos provided in articles and reports are often edited for time purposes, cutting out unnecessary information in order to deliver the important information in a timely manner. Thus, we arrive at the second critical rule: when in doubt, consult the raw data. This is not always an easy task. In scientific reports, the raw data is often extensive or presented in a format that is difficult for laymen to understand. News articles, on the other hand, often draw their data from raw video or official statements. Given the positions presented by the two articles, at most only one of them can be correct. Therefore, at least one of these articles must be false. The result of this is that a person who believes the false article will likely form an opinion on Donald Trump, then a Presidential candidate. This newly assimilated information might affect a choice of action taken by the reader, such as who they vote for, which could have consequences as significant as deciding the next political leader of the United States of America. Placed in this perspective, it is clear that information and misinformation can be a powerful, dangerous forces. It is imperative that they a re properly evaluated by the readers. Methodologies for Appraising Information Some of the simplest methods for appraising the quality of an information source involve asking basic questions. These include confirming whether or the not source is unbiased, comprehensive, current, and clear.[4] While the latter questions are fairly simple, the question of bias is a tricky beat to handle. Bias is fundamentally difficult to avoid when writing, or choosing not to write, articles or reports. These are written by human beings, who have their own ingrained outlooks and opinions on the world. Additionally, the existence of bias extends outside the article itself, into the meta realm of publication. There can exist a bias in what information is published and what information is not. A news outlet might choose to only report on the legitimate scandals of a political figure and publish nothing regarding their accomplishments. Even though the published articles may be true, the bias still exists. A very common misconception is that the authorship of an information source is a good measure of its quality or trustworthiness. While this can serve as a significant, time-saving shortcut, it can also lull the reader into a false sense of security. The most well-respected news outlet can publish erroneous articles, and the most sensational tabloid can publish articles containing nothing but the truth. A final concept to note, before proceeding to a more orderly listing of methodologies, is the writing itself. The writing styles of information sources can vary widely based on their intended audience and purpose. A scientific report on geological predictions based on survey data will vary in appearance and flow from a news article reporting on a recent crime wave. Despite this, the hallmark of a good article lies with its objective reasoning. There should be a clear logical flow from the raw information being cited to the final conclusions drawn and presented by the author.[5] Faulty logic or subtle fallacies can take factual evidence and output misleading conclusions. A Simple Checklist for Appraising Sources Ask yourself the three Cs: Is it comprehensive, clear, and current? Look to see if the source has a logical flow of objective reasoning. Identify the purpose of the article. What is the writer trying to convey? Identify any potential for bias. Does the author have an underlying motive? Cross-reference with alternative sources. Consult the raw data if necessary. Remember that is is alright to decide that no definitive conclusions can be drawn from insufficient sources. Works Cited [1] Gallup, Inc. Americans Trust in Mass Media Sinks to New Low.Gallup.com. N.p., 14 Sept. 2016. Web. 05 Jan. 2017. [2] Trump would certainly implement national database for U.S. Muslims.CNN. Cable News Network, 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 06 Jan. 2017. [3] Hoft, Jim. THEY LIED! Media Edited Video to Claim Donald Trump Said to Register All Muslims (Video).TheGatewayPundit. N.p., 21 Nov. 2015. Web. 06 Jan. 2017. [4] Markel, Michael H. Practicalstrategiesfortechnicalcommunication. 1st ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013. Print. [5] LibGuides: Critically Analyzing Information Sources: Critical Appraisal and Analysis.CriticalAppraisaland AnalysisCriticallyAnalyzingInformationSourcesLibGuidesatCornellUniversity. N.p., 27 May 2016. Web. 05 Jan. 2017.   Ã‚  

To kill a mocking bird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay -Courage- Harper Lee’s timeless classic of human nature and evils of mankind are well highlighted throughout the plot of â€Å"To Kill a Mocking Bird.† This novel mainly centers on the characters’ lives through racial prejudice at extreme measures. Courage is presented several times throughout the book and is the dominant defense towards vile people and dead-ended circumstances. Justice and equality are two important traits lacking in the town of Maycomb. Tom Robinson, an innocent black man, is under wrongful accusation of raping a young girl, Mayella Ewell. Due to a lack of morality and fairness, black people are naturally sentenced guilty and must suffer with the consequences appointed by the judge. No ordinary lawyer wastes their time on a color coded case, since chances of the black side winning are nearly inexistent. Atticus Finch steps forward and agrees to defend a black man, since he knows Tom’s innocent. This courageous leap costs Mr. Finch his towns respect and changes the outlook on his family. Knowing that he will lose the case, Atticus bravely protects Tom Robinson to all extents and tries to achieve justice. Although his attempts to set racial equality fail, he doesn’t lose confidence in his clients’ survival chances. Mr. Finch’s risk almost cost his children their lives and cause many people to scorn at him. Tom Rob inson knew how dangerous it was getting involved with Mayella would be, but he also understood that she needed a friend in this world. His brave attempts to help her with life cost him his life. Atticus Finch knows his morals, holds to his goals and stands up for what he believes in. As word about such an imposturous task of defending a black man gets out, the town of Maycomb is enraged. A mob of the community’s residents plot to visit the jail to pay a ‘visit’ to Tom Robinson’s cell. The town men arrive late at night, only to find Atticus quietly reading in front of the jail door. Facing 20 armed men in the middle of the night puts Atticus in a tight situation. The men start arguing as Mr. Finch’s safety becomes questionable. His daring personality doesn’t allow him to change his mind and go home. Atticus still has faith in the people of Maycomb. He still believes that good lies deep within their minds. Just as the men begin to heat up and get impatient, Scout runs out of her hiding place, from which she had been secretly spying on her dad.

Assisted Suicide

Matthew Donnelly was a man who had loved life, but Matthew Donnelly became a man that wanted to die. For the past thirty years, Matthew had conducted research on the use of X-rays. Now, skin cancer was consuming his tortured body. He had lost his nose, his left hand, two fingers on his right hand, and part of his jaw. He was left blind and was slowly deteriorating. The pain was unrelenting. Doctors estimated that he had a year to live. Lying in bed with teeth clenched from the excruciating pain, he pleaded to be put out of his misery. His pleas, however, went unanswered because of existing law in the state of Texas. One day, Matthew's brother Harold, who could no longer ignore Matthew's repeated cry for mercy, removed a . 30 caliber pistol from his dresser drawer, walked into the hospital and shot and killed his brother. Harold was tried for murder. (Santa Clara University article) Had assisted suicide been legal in Texas, as it is in Oregon, Harold would not be in the position he is in today. Oregon was the first State to pass the law. In 1997 the Death with Dignity Act was implemented. This piece of legislation enables a competent adult who desires to end their life access to a lethal dose of medication which they administer themselves. In order for a person to qualify for assisted suicide in Oregon, they must be a legal adult and be capable of understanding the consequences of their decision. They must also have a prognosis of six months or less to live due to a terminal illness and have the backing of a registered physician (Volker, 2007). We have a moral obligation to relieve the suffering of our fellow human beings and to respect their right to die with dignity. Throughout most of our country today, terminally ill patients lie with incurable diseases and without the means to end their own suffering because the government tells them they can’t. These patients can only look forward to lives filled with yet more suffering and degradation. When such people beg for a merciful end to their pain and indignity, it is cruel and inhumane to refuse their will. Compassion demands that we give these people the choice they currently don’t have. Despite the clear need for a national death with dignity law, assisted suicide remains a controversial topic in today’s society. Opponents of the right to die act have many arguments against euthanasia as the right of all citizens. Some argue that only God is the true owner of when a person should come to their natural end. Others make the case that someone in seat of a terminally ill patient would not have the capacity to make a rational decision and could be negatively influenced by an immoral or poor physician. In response to the critics, I say this. We live in the land of the free and nobody should be able to violate an individual’s freedom by forcing their personal beliefs or spiritual beliefs on others (just as it is written in the Constitution! . Furthermore, as a proponent for assisted suicide I would argue that it is well within an individual’s rights to decide when and how they want to die. Why I understand the concern for patients being taken advantage of, I consider this a problem to be solved as opposed to an impassable wall. Let us come together to create a system, like Oregon, that protects terminally ill patients from being taken advantage of when they are most vulnerable while preserving the rights of those same citizens to choose in what manner they will meet their end. Harold’s story has proved that making it illegal to die when you choose to can lead to desperate acts by either the patient themselves or in this instance, a close family member. We should have the freedom to choose how we live our lives. Whether or not we want to end our lives early or let an illness take its course and let us die naturally are highly personal decisions and an instance where individual opinions are not welcome as law. People deserve to leave this earth with their dignity intact. How that is accomplished should be a personal choice, not subject to public opinion.

Studying Abroad Helps Improve Language Skills

Studying abroad is always a memorable experience, especially if you choose to live in a country where you don’t speak the language. It will be the best way to learn foreign language. In fact, most students choose to study abroad in the first place for the opportunity to gain proficiency in a foreign language. Despite the difficulties, it’s important to really focus on improving your language skills while you have the chance to live in a country with native speakers. If you want to get the hang of a foreign language while studying abroad, don’t hesitate to make local friends.Your language skills may not be good enough to speak with them comfortably in the native language, but you will still pick up quite a bit of phrases and vocabulary words from being around young locals that you would not have access to otherwise. And I think wandering around alone will also help you improve your language skills. You will have chance to make friends with strangers, speak to the grocer or waiter, eavesdrop on the bus, and do all the other things that help you improve your basic communication skills. So go out alone, do your own communicating and listening.And don’t forget reading magazines interview. The local papers and magazines sold on every corner will offer a wide array of inexpensive reading material in the language you’re learning. Also, reading interviews, specifically, helps improve communication skills. When studying a language, students are not always given examples of real conversations that involve unique questions and answers. Magazine and newspaper interviews capture nuanced words and phrases that aren’t in the typical textbook. In short, studying abroad is the best way to improve your language skills.

Scarlett Letter - Repentance essays

Scarlett Letter - Repentance essays Laws and regulations in the mid 1600's were greatly influenced by beliefs and philosophies of the Puritan religion. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne attempts to convince the reader of the superiority of repentance in dealing with sin. The humiliations and punishment endured by Hester, the protagonist, is often cited as a classic victim of overzealous, Puritanical punishment. Rather, the underlying theme actually expresses the notion that public repentance and acknowledgment of sin acts as a catalyst in helping the sinner cope with and eventually overcome the emotional and mental stress that results from sin. In The Scarlet Letter three separate but related scaffold scenes are used to illustrate this point. The scenes are tied together by a common sin, an adulterous affair between a young woman, Hester Prynne, and her minister, Reverend Dimmesdale. Each scaffold scene is different in terms of two key aspects of true repentance; is the sinner confessing freely of h is own volition and is the confession made publicly. In each case of public confession on the three scaffolds the sin is the same, the adulterous affair between Hester and Dimmesdale. In the first scaffold scene, Hester standswith natural dignity and force of character? (49), but soon the stares from the crowd cause her to 'turn her eyes downward?(56). While this so-called act of repentance is made publicly, certainly it is done unwillingly. Even so, while the next seven years are truly difficult times her demonstration of repentance at the scaffold seems to free her of much of the guilt and emotional turmoil caused by her sin. Conversely Reverend Dimmesdale, guilty of the same adulterous affair, isovercome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe is [staring] at the scarlet token on his naked breast?(136). Having literally branded a scarlet letter on his chest Dimmesdale lives the next seven years suffering alone through the inner turmoil and u...

Healthcare Services Costs and Customers Satisfaction Term Paper

Healthcare Services Costs and Customers Satisfaction - Term Paper Example In nations like the United States, healthcare represents big business as well as the highest spender of per capita. Its quality, therefore, must greatly be reflected in customer satisfaction because it will be the determinant between profit and loss (Karen & Ashish, 2012). This is mainly because satisfied customers (patients) will stick with particular healthcare providers and give recommendations. However, the relationship between quality healthcare and customer satisfaction is not always as straightforward as it may seem, because satisfied patients do not automatically become healthier persons. In this view, customer satisfaction can be considered more of a measure than a distinct phenomenon. This aspect further gives the relationship a more complex angle, because quality of service can also be viewed from the perspective of service providers. When the providers themselves are not satisfied, customers will not be satisfied (Mind, 2000). Customers seek healthcare services because th ey have needs, expectations and concerns. They get satisfied when these are identified and addressed appropriately and affordably without compromising the quality, which also translates into the providers earning profits. Customer satisfaction in healthcare is mainly associated with their inpatient stays and the degree of mortality risk. Quality of healthcare that results in customer satisfaction will be determined by the time spent on care, rate of readmission and the use of diagnostics.

Argument - the Aeneid was a pro-Augustan work which can be seen Essay

Argument - the Aeneid was a pro-Augustan work which can be seen through the themes, arguments, and specific scenes of the Aeneid - Essay Example Associations with Augustus The associations with Augustus in the work of â€Å"The Aeneid† are first seen through the direct quotes that describe the political scene of the time and how Augustus was meant to be a powerful leader. Virgil states this by associating Augustus with the line of Caesar while showing how this automatically leads to him being an exalted leader. He states â€Å"Caesar himself, exalted in his line; / Augustus promis’d oft, and long foretold, / Sent to the realm that Saturn rul’d of old; / Born to restore a better age of gold, Africa and India shall his pow’r obey; / He shall extend his propagated sway / Beyond the solar year, without the starry way† (Virgil, 192). The direct reference in this quote shows Augustus as the promised leader, not only for Greece, but also as ordained with the time, planets and alignment of the stars. This creates a belief system from the direct reference to the leader, showing him as a natural leade r that was meant to rule over other countries and to become one of the most powerful and influential individuals of the time. Actions throughout the Aeneid The direct reference pointed out with â€Å"The Aeneid† is followed by specific actions and situations that show the same political propaganda. The first six books of the journey are written as a part of the Underworld in which all men are in. The hellish state is one which becomes symbolic of how life has been to this point in the ancient city. In book 6, there is a specific shift that leads to the belief that the situation will be overcome. The actions which follow after the journey lead to the Trojan War and the victory of the land. The beginning of this is when Aeneas is given the golden bough and is told to leave the underworld. The propaganda is based on Aeneas leading the city out of a state of hell and into a sense of life giving and an end to human suffering. The references of these actions throughout the plot lin e are known to relate directly to the celebration of the new political leadership of the time as well as the overthrow of the old government and the desire to have Augustus in power to overcome the darker ages of the city (Minson, 48). There are several moments which point to the happiness of the city and what can be after changes occur. More important, the author points to the ideals of victory which he believes are most important to the bringing in of Augustus as a leader. The main association is with the Trojan War and how this led to the rightful place of the city mentioned. Virgil refers to this with the past state and how the time was better because of the triumph and the alterations in leadership which occurred. He states â€Å"Relate what Latium was; her ancient kings! / Declare the past and state of things, When first the Trojan fleet Ausonia sought, / And how the rivals lov’d, and how they fought. / These are my theme, and how the war began / And how concluded by t he godlike man† (Virgil, 198). The recounting of the Trojan war then leads to an understanding that this was led first by politicians and was followed by those who moved according to the strategies desired by the land. The propaganda of the war then leads to one referencing the Augustan leadership while showing that this was the main reason why the victory occurred among the land. Themes of Politics The actions which