Smoking in Public Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Smoking in Public - Essay Example These are particles that are both medically dangers, as well as obstructing the quality of view of the surrounding area (‘Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’). Studies have also demonstrated significant improvements in air quality after smoking bans were established (‘Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’). This data indicates that smoking in public significantly hinders air quality. While there are many arguments supporting the ban of smoking in public places, there also exist a number of counter-arguments to this contention. Even as medical evidence has emerged that strongly demonstrates the detrimental health impacts of second-hand smoke, a number of civil rights activists have argued that this does not constitute a significant enough reason to restrict the rights of others. Indeed, a number of counter-arguments to smoking bans have emerged that list the restriction of human rights as a significant objection (Hoggart). Perspectives within this realm o f thought argue that since smoking is legalized they should subsequently be granted the right to smoke in public places. In this context of understanding one considers that although smoking in public has a detrimental medical affect, it is more of an infringement of individuals rights to restrict this action. Another prominent argument supporting smoking bans is that in allowing smoking in public places the air quality is significantly affected in negative ways. Counter-arguments to this claim emerge along a number of lines. Similar to the argument that smoking bans infringe on human rights, the argument that smoking in public places causes air pollution is objected to on the grounds that restricting this constitutes a significant human rights violation. In addition to these arguments, a number of... The paper shows the prominent argument against smoking in public is the significant impact it has on air quality. From a qualitative perspective, one notes that the smoke that emerges from cigarettes can be pervasive to the point of obstructing individual’s views of surrounding scenery, or significantly hindering the public atmosphere and environment. In the report we can find out many arguments supporting the ban of smoking in public places, there also exist a number of counter-arguments to this contention. Even as medical evidence has emerged that strongly demonstrates the detrimental health impacts of second-hand smoke, a number of civil rights activists have argued that this does not constitute a significant enough reason to restrict the rights of others. Indeed, a number of counter-arguments to smoking bans have emerged that list the restriction of human rights as a significant objection. In conclusion, this essay has considered arguments in favor and against banning smoking in public places. Supporting arguments have indicated that smoking in public holds significant negative medical impacts for both the smoker and individuals suffering from the secondhand smoke. Smoking is also demonstrated to cause significant air pollution. Counter-arguments to these claims contend that banning smoking is both an infringement on individual rights and bad for businesses. Ultimately, it’s demonstrated that banning smoking is the most socially responsible action to take, as this prohibition holds the greatest benefit for the greatest amount of people.

Industrial Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Industrial Relations - Essay Example On the example of relevant studies and researches, a special attention is paid to the influence of globalization in LDCs’ manufacturing sector. 1. Introduction The modern phenomenon of globalization is a wide-spread issue for the discussion in numerous researches and studies. It cannot be denied that various dynamic phenomena are correlated with this background. The limits of different nations are blurred and it is appropriate to focus on specific criteria for development of different employment patterns, which differ from the ones, which existed previously. Actually, there are many different aspects of globalization and we will further focus on economic globalization. With respect to it, we found it necessary to define the phenomenon of economic globalization: â€Å"Economic globalization refers to the increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of the growing scale of cross-border trade of commodities and services, flow of international capital and wide and ra pid spread of technologies. It reflects the continuing expansion and mutual integration of market frontiers, and is an irreversible trend for the economic development in the whole world at the turn of the millennium1 † It can be surely claimed that the development of technologies and flow of international capital across different countries enable foreign markets to create a great number of new jobs. Employment goes at a full pace, but very often this process evokes numerous different reactions of the society. On the one hand, globalization has been gradually increasing in the world of economy and different changes happened to foster the processes of globalization. 2. Economic Globalization: Pros and Cons in the Manufacturing Industry of LDCs Let us focus on the economic globalization and its impact on less developed countries (LDCs). In this case we will see the following picture: tariff barriers for international trade became much lower and there is a coming process of a high -speed market development in the world. The world trade, goods and products are on the way of their constant expansion and development. As a result, the cost of transportation and communication around the world are expanding the laws of international regulations. Consequently, conditions of employment for the employees in different fields should be correlated with the options of investments and a free financial flaw. It was found out by Lee (1996) that â€Å"there  is  a  significant  current  of  apprehension over  the  implications  of  globalization  for  employment  and  income  inequality.On  the  face  of  it  this  is  difficult  to  reconcile  wih  the  voluntary  shift  towards  a more  open  world  economy  in  democratic  societies,  which  are  also  the  only countries  where  the  apprehension  is  voiced†2. Moreover, LDCs have many opportunities to follow credit process line of the government and the global society to improve their production. Less developed firms are encouraged and supported internationally. There are many winners in employment nowadays, but there are many losers as well. Globalization often leads to job losses, but at the same time it can create a number of interesting and prospective jobs. There are different patterns of global trade and employment generation is on the prospective edge of having many opportunities for development. Economic  globalization  has always intensified changes of employment patterns. This resulted

Inequality Gap between the Global North and South

Inequality Gap between the Global North and South Introduction: The term Global South refers to â€Å"The Third World† which it colloquially replaced to describe the poorest countries in the world, countries particularly in the South Asia, Middle East, Central and South America, Africa and Oceania that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War. There is an immense social, economic and political gap between the wealthy Global North and the poorer least developed countries of Global South. The Geographical division of the world differentiating the rich from the poor starting from the Global South includes all of Asia except Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, and the South East Asian ‘dragons of Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand; all of Africa; the Middle East, except the oil-rich UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain; and Central and South America. The North includes Europe; the USA, except Bermuda and the Bahamas; Canada; and the European republics of the former Soviet Union. Newly industrialized countries such as South Korea and Taiwan now have more in common with the industrialized North and fast-developing Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and Chile than with other countries in the developing world. (http://www.talktalk.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0030871.html) The Third World or Global Souths persistent underdevelopment can be explained by analysing both the internal and the external factors that consistently contribute towards halting its progress. When Imperialism started in United States, which was a natural product of economic pressure due to sudden advance of capitalism which needed foreign markets for goods and investments. Europe was going through the same scenario, overproduction in the sense of excessive manufacturing plants and surplus capital which could not find stable investments within the countries, forced Great Britain, Holland, Germany and France to place large portions of their economic resources and capital outside their own political domain and stimulate a foreign policy of expansion to new regions and areas. Germany in the early 1900s was suffering severely from what is called a glut of capital and manufacturing power and had to move to new markets and trade settlements were forced upon Asia Minor, West Africa and other colonies. Improvements in method of production and industrial revolution boosted a machine economy with one nation after another adapting industrial methods, it became difficult for their mer chants, manufacturers and financiers to dispose profitably their economic resources, so they used their Governments in order to secure for their particular use, some distant underdeveloped countries by annexation or protection. These economic conditions of affairs form the taproot of Imperialism.(Hobson, 1954) Hence my point being that the developed world has used the developing world for its own gain and cheaper raw materials and labour. Due to the relationship of interdependence between world economies and world trade there are dominant countries which expand because they are self sufficient and there are dependent countries that can only do this only as a reflection of these dominant countries. The concept of dependence allows us to see the situation of these countries internally as a part of the world economy. In the Marxist tradition, the theory of imperialism has been developed as a study of this process of expansion of these imperial centres and their quest of world domination. Scholars following the Marxist tradition have presented the most extensive analysis of foreign economic policy. Karl Marx himself was primarily concerned with developments within national economies, although he did not ignore international and global problems. The international aspects of capitalism assumed a place of importance for Marxist scholars. Marxist theories can be divided into two basic types: instrumental and structural. (Laski, 2003) Instrumental Marxist theories view governmental behaviour as a product of direct social and societal pressure. In its sophisticated form, Marxist arguments analyze the general ties between the government officials and the capitalist sector. I would like to quote Mr. Harold Laski here who argued that ‘historically we always find that any system of government is dominated by those who at the time wield economic power; and what they mean by ‘good is, for the most part, the preservation of their own interests. (Laski, 2003) Structural Marxist have different arguments. They do not link the behaviour of the state to any capital class and see the state playing an independent role within the whole capitalist system. Analysing this from an economic perspective, we can see that capitalism is not self sustained towards general equilibrium in the long run profit because the labour cannot be exploited in the long run due to technological advancements which decrease the ratio of labour to capital in the long run. This process leads to more goods produced than its members can consume also known as under consumption and this drives the weaker firms out of the market and capital accumulation and greater power in the hands of owners or managers of capital. The relationship between giant multinationals, advanced capital societies and foreign activity has been emphasized by some recent Marxists like Harry Magdoff and James O Conner. Through the behavioural theory of the firm, Magdoff suggests that corporations are systems of power and each firm tries to control and capture its own market. This fact could not be realized at the beginning of capitalism because the level of competition was too high. Businesses seek to maximize control over actual and potential sources of raw material and foreign markets. The foreign investment by these multinational guarantees this control. And these corporations are the foundation of the American capitalist system and their political power is immensely great and for these reasons the United States, the leading capitalist nation in the world maintains an international economic system with minimum constraints on the functioning and operation of these giant multinationals. (Magdoff, 1960) Although another Marxist James OConner maintains that in modern capitalist systems, monopoly sector is the most important source of profits. However the monopoly sector can expand rather quickly than demand and employment and this leads to aggressive foreign policy. Thus overseas activity can create new opportunities of investment, sales and profit. Marxist analysts have also suggested a relationship between capitalist system, military expenditure and imperialism. This military power is important in direct sense because the use of force may be necessary to keep foreign areas open to investment and trade. (Connor, 1973) One of the main focuses of these capitalists was the supply of cheap raw materials and United States was itself dependent on foreign sources for some commodities that were essential for industrial operations and also military equipment. One author argues that all American foreign policy can be explained by the need â€Å"to insure that the flow of raw materials from the Third World is never interrupted.† (Dean, 1966) Marxist theories tend to explain the effect of imperialism and capitalism on underdeveloped countries. A famous quote of Karl Marx, â€Å"Capitalist production, therefore, develops technology, and the combining together of various processes into a social whole, only by sapping the original sources of all wealth the soil and the labourer.† Modernization Theory is another competing theory which tends to explain the underdevelopment of the Global South and also gives an essence of the internal factors involved in its causation. Modernization Theory suggests that the cause of underdevelopment in third world nations is their own policies and socio-economic structures that are based on feudalism, tribal system, family/cultural ties and primitive economic structures. The Third World society is lacking rules, regulations, law rule of jurisprudence and democracy and their underdevelopment is a product of their own slowness and failure to adapt to the modern worlds patterns of efficiency to modernize and develop themselves. While the modernization theory does recognize that the developed world has a role to play in the progress of the third world, the main focus of modernization theory is that the developed countries only have limited responsibility for the underdevelopment of the third world as the third world is largely respo nsible for its own poverty. They have a traditional societal approach and the new generation is expected to imitate their ancestors. In these societies there is hardly any belief of development and improved living conditions or the eagerness to engage in fundamental social changes such as a switch from subsistence economies to market economies. Traditional economies is where groups and individuals in position of immense power cause corruption and halt economic development and redistribute profits into their own hands. In order for underdeveloped countries to develop they have to abandon their traditional approach and their social and cultural models in replacement for the western traditions of free market system, good governance and stable economic planning. For capitalism to take hold and entrepreneurial environment with individual innovation and political freedom is required. (Isbister, 2003) A sound economic environment which will draw investment and prudent spending of public funds by officials for maintaining social infrastructure such as public safety and education is necessary for development. Disciplined monetary and fiscal policies are needed to create an investing environment for both domestic and foreign investors. Rule of law such as tort law and contract law should be enforced for businesses to expand from traditional family/tribal/cultural ties to person who will be trusting non-relative person, who will invest capital.    The benefit that the first world can give to the underdeveloped nations is the transfer of technological knowledge and assistance though enabling transnational corporations to introduce advance technology in their third world branch of plants. (Isbister, 2003) While the modernization theory implies that underdeveloped countries have to follow the same path of the first world , the dependency theory opposes the modernization theory and rather argues that impoverishment of the third world is caused by the economic well being of the first world. While contemporary dependency theory is largely Marxist in origin (Isbister, 2003), the foundation for the concept of dependency theory goes way far back to Adam Smith who acknowledged that the imperialist economic practices of the European nations had denied colonized peoples the benefits of socio-economic progress. The dependency theory argue that unfair economic practices and unequal trade conditions transfer the surplus generated in the dependent countries to dominant countries; financial relations are based on the viewpoint of the dominant countries based on export and loans of capital giving them interest in return and also control over the developing economy. Trade relations are based on monopolistic control of the market and the developing country are exporting their profits and interests out of their country but also bear the loss of control of their domestic resources. From colonial dependence in earlier times where the colonial countries of Europe economically dominated the colonized countries, to the financial-industrial dependence of the nineteenth century, where raw materials where supplied from these developing nations, each of the forms of dependence corresponds directly to the control that the first world had over the dependent world. Third world poverty is, therefore, not the result of tradition or accident but rather the direct result of plunder conducted by the first world for its own development and to sustain its economic position. As a result of first world actions in shaping the world order, in the eyes of dependency theorists, the third world has been impoverished and rendered incapable of balanced development. (Isbister, 2003) These two main theories discussed above (Modernization Theory Dependence Theory) are the primary theories of political science which try to explain the connection of Third World poverty and underdevelopment. The modernization theory adds value to these countries intrinsically and shares the fact that if the LDCs(less developed countries) do not change and move from their traditional socio-economic societal structures to the more modern and western style of governance, capitalism, democracy and rule of law. In my point of view the structure of dependence, by this I mean a situation in which one economy can only expand if another economies expansion in expected i.e. its own growth is dependent on a dominant countrys growth. The possibility of generating new investments depends on the existence of financial resources in foreign currency for the purchase of capital, machinery and raw materials that are not available domestically. The capital-industrial development depends on the amount of foreign currency a nation has to buy the raw materials and inputs for its industrial sector. The balance of trade in these countries is also less favourable and also the trade relations take place in a highly monopolistic international market which tends to lower prices of agricultural products, raw materials exported and raise the price of industrial capital equipment. Belonging to a Third World country myself and living majority of my life there in Pakistan, I personally think that the modernization theory goes beyond the dependency theory to explain the position of these LDCs as far as the internal factors are concerned where the more traditional society of the Third World like Pakistan need stability and change of reforms. Rule of law, democracy, equal distribution of wealth, human rights and openness in the mindset of a nation is very important for progress. However I do agree with the dependency theory in explaining the new world order which is purely market and capitalist. The true influence of external forces and world has been seen on developing nations and their economies. Foreign capital retains control over the most robust and dynamic centres of the economy and sends the profits back to the home country causing a highly unfavourable capital account in the LDCs Balance Of Payments thus ultimately limiting the supply of imported inputs. And the value of their export is usually very low and unfavourable terms of trade compared to the capital and technological export base of the First World. However the dependency theory criticises the modernization theory, both these theories tend to explain the economic gap between rich and poor countries. I tend to see the modernization theory with some bias as well because they suggest that the way of the western world is the only way towards development and progress but with development of nations such as China, whose export-manufacturing growth and totally different way of governance has proved the western philosophy wrong. However, in LDCs such as my country Pakistan, the feudal system has to be abolished. Feudalism halts the advancement of generations of workers and creates slavery and halts all kinds of advancement because of traditional ancestral approach unequal distribution of resources and wasting of what could actually be future human capital. I find parts of both these theories convincing for explaining the economic gap between the developed nations and the countries of Global South. External factors from the dependency theory and the internal factors of the modernization theory, together dissect completely the causes of the economic gap between the whole South/North divide. Bibliography: Connor, O. (1973). Fiscal Crisis. Dean, H. (1966). Scarce Resources. Gold, L. Recent Development in Marxists Theories Of the Capitalist State.(1975) Gold, L. W.(1975) Hobson, J. A. (1954). Imperialism. London: George Allen Unwin . http://www.talktalk.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0030871.html. (n.d.). Isbister, J. (2003). Promises Not Kept: Poverty and the Betrayal of Third. Laski. (2003). Foundations Of soverignity. Magdoff, H. (1960). Imperialism without Colonies.

changing self, context in song lyrics Essay example -- essays research

Text title: â€Å"Change You Or Change Me† Source/ Date: Medium: Rap song Composer: Fabolous Purpose: The main purpose of the text is indeed to entertain the listener in any way possible whether it be enjoying fab’s witty punch lines or being able to relate to the issues present. Another purpose suggested is to relate with the composer (Fabolous) and gain knowledge of the occurrences experienced by the composer e/g racism or incidents in the area . Fabolous says â€Å"I want to bring you in, and let you see my world looking through my eyes.† Intended Audience: Many features in the text suggest that the intended audience are; Other African Americans as he uses the term nigger which is generally used when talking to other African Americans. General rap followers and fans that appeal to fab’s music and Other similar Socio economic groups are intended to listen as they may appeal and find similarities in the issues and feelings raised such as predjudice. Fab states in an interview with MTV that â€Å"On this album, I’m relating to the listeners by sharing experiences with people who come from the places where I’m from†. Relevance to changing self: In the first verse of â€Å" Change me or change you† the rapper feels that he doesn’t stand out and he conforms to his social status by stating â€Å"I ain’t never slide down a bad pole† he feels no reason to change â€Å"I never snitch, and go hide in a rat hole†. There is a hint of change happening around him â€Å"same girls that didn’t seem like they’d lov...

Most Played Online Games

Online Games 1 INTRODUCTION The youth of today no longer seem to spend their leisure activities like in the olden days; outdoor games or playing with toys, instead, they spend their free time in their homes, internet cafes or computer shops simply to satisfy their hunger; and that hunger is Online Gaming. Online gaming has such a profound impact on not only the young, but dynamically every age group as well. So far, virtually anyone is able to go on a computer and punch through the keys and mouse in order to get a high score, chat with players, get the rarest items, and level up as fast as possible.Yes, there seems to be no restriction as to whom, how or what online gaming can extend to. Almost half of college students who play video, computer or online games admit that it keeps them from studying â€Å"some† or a â€Å"lot,† according to the Pew study. About 9 percent said that gaming was a way to avoid studying. There are kids today that prefer to skip school and stay home to level up in a  MMORPG  game. The others that actually do attend school have trouble concentrating because they are distracted. They are distracted because they consistently think about the online game and the plans that they are going to do.Resulting of this they hardly participate and get into class discussions. Since they spend whatever extra time they have in an online game, they fail to meet the requirements of school. This distressing stuff caught the attention of the research, because of what’s happening to the youth. Why most of the students attract of the online games? Is because of the popular online games? What are the popular online games? Does it affect their academic performance? That’s the question that people want to surely ask.For this, the researchers want to know the reason behind this what the most teenagers most played online games, and also to know if it is Affecting their academic performance. Online Games 2 Review of Related Literatu re Top 10 Most Popular Online Games of 2007 During the first few years of their existence, people thought online games were doomed to be one hit wonders, but this has proven to be untrue. Online games are extremely popular and are devouring the gaming market. 1. Pangya Before â€Å"Pangya†, online gamers never really had anything to say about golf.After â€Å"Pangya†, online gamers around the world have this to say about golf: Super swing, Pangya! This offbeat yet highly entertaining online game brought golf to the attention of millions of online gamers worldwide, and the phenomenon never seems to let go. â€Å"Pangya: Season 3†, the latest expansion patch, brought the ever-popular Kaz the Samurai Warrior into the world of Pangya. Additional features from the new expansion patch includes several new golf courses, a revamped trading system where players may buy and sell in-game items, and, last but not the least, the much-awaited Overworld feature. 2.Ran Online D o you remember what it feels like to be the top student of your class? How about being the class bully, or being bullied? If so, then this online game is set to blow you away. â€Å"Ran Online† is a campus-based online game in the tradition of â€Å"Ragnarok Online†. The creators have created a rich school environment where players are allowed complete freedom of movement. So now you can bring your character to the next level while exploring the game’s rich campus settings. You can also try your luck battling it out with other players in player vs. player, or PVP mode. Online Games 3 3.Granado Espada Known as â€Å"The Sword of the New World† in the United States and other European countries, â€Å"Granada Espada† is the current trend setter in a competitive market. Available character classes include the fighter, the wizard, the musketeer, the Scout, and the Elementalist. The game developers, IMC Games, decided to do away with the popular fantasti cal formula. They, instead, took a notorious era in the history of mankind, the Age of Exploration, threw in a bunch of cool-looking characters, and created a game with tons of flare and personality. 4. RF Online Do you love magic and heavy machine guns?Then â€Å"RF Online† is for you. â€Å"RF Online† is the blockbuster online game from developer CCR. Set in the distant Novus system, a galaxy where high forms of sorcery and technology are at constant collision with one another, â€Å"RF Online†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s plot follows the three-way war between the Accretia clan, the Bellato clan, and the Cora clan. The game-play itself is unique when it comes to the use of race-specific abilities, something of a treat to look forward to in PVP. â€Å"RF Online† has recently become free to play in many countries around the world. 5. Perfect World â€Å"Perfect World† is a tale of soul and swords.The game’s developers, inspired by ancient Chinese mythology, ha ve succeeded in creating a world that defies all conventions. In â€Å"Perfect World†, beasts talk, gigantic birds rule the sky, and humans and elves fight together to bring down ferocious creatures. The game offers a plethora of interesting side-quests and features, including a territorial battle feature, a mount system, a marriage system, a crafting system, and a phone lock feature, specifically designed to combat the worsening crisis in account hacking. Online Games 4 6. Final Fantasy XI â€Å"Final Fantasy XI† is an online gamer and Final Fantasy fanatic’s dream come true.In this game, players assume the role of any of the five tribes that inhabit the world of Vana’diel: the Elvaan tribe, the Hume tribe, the Galka tribe, the Mithra tribe, and the Tarutaru tribe. The game has received a generous amount of critical applause since it initial release in 2002. 7. Fly for Fun â€Å"Fly for Fun† (sometimes called FlyFF) holds the record for being the first online game to offer complete freedom of movement in the air! In this game, players can use a broom or a skateboard to soar and fly off to different parts of the world in their pursuit of stronger monsters to slay.The game is at its ninth version as of writing. Version 10 is slated to come out soon. Available classes include mercenary (becomes Knight or Blade), magician (becomes Psykeeper or Elementor), assist (becomes Ringmaster or Billposter), and acrobat (becomes Ranger or Jester). 8. Ragnarok Online â€Å"Ragnarok Online† may be the epitome of online gaming. No other online game managed to attract the attention of millions of PC gamers around the world at a time when network games, like â€Å"Counter Strike† and â€Å"Starcraft† were primarily responsible for burnt crisp video cards and hard drives. Ragnarok† features an ensemble cast of fantasy character classes: the mercenary class (good with the sword), the thief class (adept at sneaking and c onfusion), the mage class (adept at magic and sorcery), the archer class (good at long-distance combat), the acolyte class (party healers and buffers), and the merchant class (your average traders). Online Games 5 9. Tantra Online â€Å"Tantra† many be a weird name, but it’s a great game. Set within an enigmatic universe where human summoners and ghastly monsters rule the land, â€Å"Tantra† is one of the most innovative online games of all time.All â€Å"Tantra† players are required to choose one of the three gods: Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. The consequence of your chosen god becomes evident once you enter the game’s fantastic PVP arena. â€Å"Tantra†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s PVP mode is like no other; it is an assault on the senses. Depending on your chosen god, you will be transported to your god’s castle, and as a follower it is your duty to launch an invasion on the castles of the other two gods. When the three tribes collide, all hell breaks loo se, and that is when the game of â€Å"Tantra† reaches its finest hour. 10. World of WarcraftLegendary game developer, Blizzard took its award-winning fantasy world to new heights when it unleashed this mammoth online game. Available character classes include the druid, the hunter, the mage, the paladin, the priest, the rogue, the shaman, the warlock class and the warrior. Huge, breathing environments, a crafty roster of playable classes, a thrifty trading system and an addictive PVP system makes this game a blast to play. Top 10 Most Popular Online Games of 2007. (2007). http://crunkish. com/top-10-online-games-of-2007/ Online Games 6 Video game use and academic performanceAmong gamers and public, there are differing opinions about video games and how it affects children’s academic performance. Most gamers say it has a positive or no effect on their academic performance, most parents and teachers I heard state the opposite. As for academia, well this article isnâ€⠄¢t the first to look at video game use and academic performance. There are certainly others, but this was in my personal library. This study analyzes the correlation between video game usage and academic performance. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and grade-point average (GPA) scores were used to gauge academic performance.The amount of time a student spends playing video games has a negative correlation with students’ GPA and SAT scores. As video game usage increases, GPA and SAT scores decrease. A chi-squared analysis found a p value for video game usage and GPA was greater than a 95% confidence level (0. 005 < p < 0. 01). This finding suggests that dependence exists. SAT score and video game usage also returned a p value that was significant (0. 01 < p < 0. 05). Chi-squared results were not significant when comparing time spent studying and an individual’s SAT score.This research suggests that video games may have a detrimental effect on an individual’s GPA and possibly on SAT scores. Although these results show statistical dependence, proving cause and effect remains difficult, since SAT scores represent a single test on a given day. The effects of video games maybe be cumulative; however, drawing a conclusion is difficult because SAT scores represent a measure of general knowledge. GPA versus video games is more reliable because both involve a continuous measurement of engaged activity and performance.The connection remains difficult because of the complex nature of student life and academic performance. Also, video game usage may simply be a function of specific personality types and characteristics. Anand, V. (2007). A study of time management: The correlation between video game usage and academic performance markers. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(4), 552-559. Online Games 7 College students are avid gamers Video games aren’t just for kids. For American college students, games are as much a part of life as studying and part ying.A study from Pew Internet Research finds that 70 percent of college students play video games at least â€Å"once in a while. † The study, â€Å"Let The Games Begin: Gaming technology and entertainment among college students,† was conducted by Steve Jones, a professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The goal was to learn about the impact of video games on college student’s lives. The survey was given to college students at four-year and two-year public and private colleges and universities between March 2002 and October 2002. Video games have transformed pop culture.Sales of video games have bypassed Hollywood box office receipts in the last few years. But only recently have researchers started studying the pervasive impact of video games on young people’s lives. The Pew study comes on the heels of research from the University of Rochester that found college students who regularly play shoot-em-up video ga mes have sharper visual skills than those who don’t. The Pew study smashes a few gender stereotypes about avid gamers, finding that slightly more women (60 percent) than men (40 percent) reported playing computer and online games.About the same number of men and women play video games. Women prefer computer games over violent video games played on consoles partly because they don’t usually require the player to choose a character. Online games like Diamond Mine or Tetris are popular among women because gender isn’t an issue. Online Games 8 Men play for fun (45 percent); women play when they’re bored (33 percent). Video games are also a way guys bond with their buddies; 51 percent of men believing that gaming improved their friendship with friends.Only 34 percent of women believe video games help their friendships. Nearly two-thirds of the students said games were a good way to spend time when friends weren’t around, but they also said that video ga mes didn’t take time away from family or friends. Average video gamers in college aren’t the stereotypical alienated loners locked away in darkened, pizza box-filled dorm rooms. Most of the study’s participants had positive associations with video games, saying they felt pleasant (36 percent) when they played or that they were challenging (45 percent).In particular, students said playing video games were a way to spend more time with their friends, one of the key trends spotted by the researchers. Rather than separating leisure activities like video games from the rest of their lives, college students stole time between classes to play or as a brief distraction from writing papers. Multi-tasking is also big on campus with students gaming while instant messaging or even downloading music. Video games are also prime-time for up-all-night college students. About 41 percent of college gamers play after 9 p. m. ith only 8 percent reporting that they play before noon. Weaver, Jane. (2007). http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/3078424/ns/technology_and_science-games/t/college-studen Online Games 9 Synthesis It is clear from the literature that the effect of video games on the youth is both positive and negative. Video games can certainly lead to negative effects such as social isolation and increased aggression, but they are going to remain a part of college culture for the imaginable future. It is important to understand the positive and negative aspects of video games.Playing games socially as part of balanced lifestyle seems to have some positive effects. Playing violent games is linked to several negative problems. The description of women in video games can have a negative effect on the gender views of men and the identity and self-worth of women. Some research has shown that video games may be one way to engage students more in the learning process. This seems especially true in areas involving analytical skills. They can contribute another way o f learning in addition to the many other academic methods which are currently popular.There is ongoing research on how to best leverage games in education, if they should be used at all. Students and educators need to be aware of the dangers of excessive gaming. It can have academic, social, and spiritual consequences. Students have been known to completely disconnect from their friends and surroundings when playing games like World of Warcraft. As was shown by several statistics presented earlier a small percentage of students, especially men, spend a huge amount of time playing video games. Balance needs to be emphasized as an important part of the healthy Christian lifestyle, and video games are no exception.

Euripides’ play “Medea” Essay

The characters of Euripides’ play Medea require to be viewed from a variety of perspectives. To say that the only characters that deserve the audience’s sympathy are the children is not totally correct. As far as the plot is concerned the children are no doubt the innocent victims of this conflict between Medea and Jason, however there are other characters that also deserve our sympathy. Also to vaguely state that ‘everyone else gets what they deserve’ requires further analysis of the extent to which their ultimate fate is justified. Some critics say that Medea is a mad woman driven by her lack of control of her emotions. Throughout the play this description of her had proven to be true, however this does not mean we do not feel at all sympathetic towards her. If the audience can look at the world through her perspective, then it would not be surprising to see why she is so uncontrollably driven by her fury and passion. As a foreign princess, a wife, a mother and a woman, the humiliation and pain that had been bought upon her is all too overwhelming. ‘She will not eat; she lies collapsed in agony, dissolving the long hours in tears.’ The pain and suffering that Medea experienced deserve the audience’s sympathy. Another source of sympathy that we should feel for Medea comes from her role as a mother. As she decides to kill her own children, her mind becomes torn apart by inner conflict as a mother and as the emotion driven beast. There are many evidence throughout the play that shows her sense of maternal devotion. ‘That you once loved them, that of your body they were born. For one short day forget your children; afterwards weep: though you kill them, they were your beloved sons. Life has been cruel to me.’ From the above quote, the audience is able to see that Medea is not completely cold blooded. Her love towards her children and the inevitable pain of killing them with her bare hands is somewhat tragic and in deserving of sympathy. At the conclusion of the play I would disagree that all the characters deserved the ending they were given. Firstly one has to define and clarify the meaning of justice and justify the extent to which justice was served out to each character. King Creon and his daughter Glauce have committed no  crime and yet they die the most horrendous deaths. It can be concluded that we may not only feel sympathetic towards the children, but also towards Medea for all the misfortunes and tragic events that happen to her. We should also feel sympathetic towards her because of her role as a loving mother. We are shown that justice is not served out to those who most deserve it, and that harsh ends come to those who are innocent, hence the world of Medea and her rampage of revenge. References: Euripides, Medea