Oedipus Rex Essays - Greek Mythology, Literature, Vocal Music

Oedipus Rex Essays - Greek Mythology, Literature, Vocal Music Oedipus Rex The great tragedy Oedipus Rex by Greek tragedian Sophocles centers on the protagonist Oedipus, king of Thebes, and his quest t o save the town from the plague that is crippling the city. The oracle from the gods states that the town is suffering because the murderer of the previous king, Laiis has not been punished for his crime, and in order for the town to enjoy peace again the murderer must be killed. King Oedipus who is unaware of his role in the murder of Laiis begins a relentless campaign to find the killer and bring him to justice. From his argument with Tiresias at the end of scene one to his conversations with Jocasta in scene two, Oedipus's approach changes from one that is confrontational to one that is doubtful. Towards the end of Act one Oedipus suspects that his brother-in-law Creon, who was also the brother-in-law to the former king killed Laiis out of greed and jealous y and becomes angry. Filled with feelings of betrayal he confronts Creon. Oe dipus is convinced that Creon will not stop his quest for power at Laiis rather he has "plotted to steal [Oedipus] throne" as well. Oedipus fears that his power and life are at stake because of Creon. At this moment Oedipus' feeling of paranoia begin to become visible and is directly accusing Creon for the murder of King Laiis. Additionally, Oedipus sees Creon as a threat that must be permanently disposed of. While Oedipus considered exile for the punishment of Creon, he realizes that his punishment will "not [be] exile. It is your death I want." Creon was once Oedipus' closest companions, but now may face the maximum punishment, death. The feelings of betrayal Oedipus is experiencing forces the king to act out of rage and raw emotion toward his brother-in-law, rather than contemplate and investigate the accusations. In scene two, Oedipus' demeanor goes through a major shift, his forceful and angry attitude seen in scene one, is replaced with one of doubt and confusion. When Oedipus shares his concerns with his wife Jocasta who is also the widow of Laiis, he is told the story of Laiis' murder in greater depth. After hearing Jocasta's recount of Laiis' death Oedipus begins to see possible connections between the murder he committed before coming to Thebes and the murder of the King. Oedipus now begins to question his innocence and believes than he "must be accurst/by my own ignorant edict." Oedipus no longer blames Creon for the crime that has brought upon the plague; rather he blames Thebes' suffering on his own foolishness. As more details regarding Laiis' life surface, Oedipus' doubts are only solidified. "Think of it: I have touched you with the same hands, / these hands that killed you husband. What defilement!" Once Oedipus is properly briefed on the facts of the crime he begi ns to understand the truth, that he is in fact not only the sun of Laiis, but also his murderer. In his writings Sophocles meant to imitate the real behaviors and tendencies of humans. The play Oedipus Rex address several the most prominent being, human arrogance; had Oedipus been able to control his anger and not act to preserve his ego, King Laiis may have not been killed. However, in the eyes of Sophocles most men act similar to Oedipus and allow their own pride to cloud their judgment. Similarly had the people of Thebes investigated the murder of their King, the gods would not have sent the plague, and ju stice would have been delivered long before.

Free Essays Online

Free Essays Online Free Essays Online Free Essays Online Free essays online are abundant but you should be very careful not to copy a single line. Teachers as well as students are fully aware of the splendor of essays posted online. Therefore, do not play games with your academic career - use free essays online as samples only.   If you need help with essay writing, we offer customized assistance with all types of essays. You may either place an order or contact us for further clarification. is open 24/7! Free essay online sample - health At the personal level, risk-benefit decisions often involve the question of whether to avoid substances that may be harmful to health. Is the flavor of a steak well marbled with fat worth a possibly increased probability of dying of a heart attack? Is the relaxation, pleasure, and possible ease of weight control that accompanies smoking a sufficient benefit to counterbalance the substantially increased possibilities of dying young of lung cancer or circulatory disease? Do the benefits of using aerosol underarm deodorants or hair sprays compensate for possible health effects, which are certainly small (and may be zero), of inhaling them? People informally weigh such risks all the time, always in the face of uncertainty and often even without access to the basic information about the risks that society possesses. Even when considerable information is available, and the power to act is in your hands, decisions may not be easy. Suppose it were announced that your town's drinking water contained that chemical that gives you a one in 10 million chance of dying of liver cancer if you drink that water for the rest of your life. Would you spend $10 a year on a filter to remove the material? $100 a year? $1,000? Your answer would obviously depend on many things, including your age and financial situation. Consider a more familiar example. There are undeniable benefits to driving a private automobile's convenience being paramount among them. But when everybody is driving a private automobile and commuters spend hours daily in near gridlock, the convenience factor is reduced and the direct (accident) and indirect (air pollution) risks escalate. Even now the benefits of driving are difficult to balance against the escalating risks. How does one calculate into the conveniences and inconveniences of automobile commuting the risks of additional exposure to airborne carcinogens and heart-threatening carbon monoxide or the contribution that the automobile makes toward global warming? Is the residual convenience worth a month-shorter life expectancy? A year? Two years? Is it worth a 1-percent chance of subjecting your grandchildren to food shortages by contributing to future crop failures caused by global warming? A 2 percent chance? A 5-percent chance? Custom Writing The above sample is posted here for free. Thus, it is open for all visitors of the site. If you have found this page, your teacher may find it as well.  Thus, it is recommended to use customized writing help, service offered by professional writers. Your customized essay will be written from scratch and never resold to other customers.   Finally, it will not be posted anywhere online. Prices are very affordable.

Macroeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Macroeconomics - Essay Example atus as a quality manufacturer, but also need to make way for the financing of individual initiatives taken by small time entrepreneurs (Cohen & Beranek 4). Manufacturing has always constituted the real backbone of the American economy. Manufacturing particularly had a percolating impact on the American economy, which means that creation of one manufacturing job led to the creation of multiple associated jobs in the economy. There is no dearth of skilled and semi-skilled workers in the nation who are competent enough and willing to support a thriving indigenous manufacturing sector. However, the shift in the dynamics of American economy in the past few decades, turning America from a manufacturing centric to consumption centric economy, thereby allowing the firms to shift their manufacturing operations to low wage hubs like China and India, has really negatively impacted the health of the American economy (Moore 113). American manufacturing is not mainly about big manufacturing hubs, but rather a network of large manufacturing units, supported by a web of smaller ancillary units. Hence, no wonder a shifting of the thrust of manufacturin g operations to low wage Asian and Latin American countries, has weakened the overall framework of the American economy. As a beginning, President Obama should withdraw the tax and policy benefits to the corporations locating their manufacturing operations to low wage nations. When it comes to manufacturing, the restoration efforts not only need to be focused on the large manufacturing units, but rather also include the small manufacturers and businesses, which create jobs and sustain communities, while bolstering the overall fabric of the economy. The other thing is that since many large corporations have shifted their manufacturing operations overseas, this has created the opportunity and scope for many small time manufacturers that compensate for the dearth for resources by imbuing their products with the attention to detail and

Police corruption relating to money laundering Essay

Police corruption relating to money laundering - Essay Example This nexus of police and politicians often leads to disastrous consequences for the country's prosperity. Political leaders have often been found to be involved in the cases of money laundering in many countries around the world. In such cases, money laundering happens to be the next stage of money laundering. Political leaders generate billions of dollars of funds from different corrupt practices. They cannot deposit this money in country's banks, which then requires to be deposited elsewhere using the money laundering route. International bodies like UN have also raised the issue from time to time, and called upon respective governments to put in place proper rules and regulations which help in controlling the menace of corruption. The 'UN Convention Against Corruption' (UNCAC) is one such international understanding which came into force in 2003 and calls upon member countries to establish criminal offence cases against people indulging in corrupt practices. Despite much persuasio n and resolutions adopted by different countries from time to time, the menace of corruption appears all the more strong all these years. Corruption as such has been defined as the 'abuse of a position of trust to gain an unfair advantage' (Chaikin, 2008). When the extent of unfair advantage gains huge proportions, things appear to go out of hand. Such practices not only prove to be a big drain on the development and resources of the country, but it also adversely impacts the morale of the citizens. Many politicians have often been implicated in money laundering cases. For example, French politicians Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres and Francois Leotard were found to guilty and convicted for money laundering in the political party of the President Chirac (BBC, 2004). In general the money laundering takes places in such a manner that money earned through corrupt means is stashed away in banks abroad, which then finds way back home using false invoices, loans etc. This money is then used by the concerned person to make luxurious purchases or further promote the businesses (Fig). Once the money launderer is able to firm up the chain, then it becomes extremely difficult for the law of the land to trap it, more so because the chain is established with fullest support from the police establishment. Corruption and money laundering often go hand in hand, with the presence of one strengthening the other. While concealing such money, the police administration needs to be paid bribes. Chaikin (2008) defines money laundering as 'a process in which the ownership or control of assets and income are obscured or concealed from tax authorities, law-enforcement agencies or private parties, who have a legitimate interest in discovering the true beneficial owner or controller of such assets/income'. Police administration is the key law enforcement agencies entrusted with taking action against such corrupt practices. Chaikin (2008) further states that money laundering has two inter-related processes, namely; Anyone hiding the money for improper or illegal reasons is involved in money laundering. Money is "cleaned" or sanitised whenever its true nature, source or use is concealed. In some countries this process is called conversion of black money into white money. There were allegations that Iraq was receiving arms and ammunition from international arms dealers even during the period of

Cultural Considerations in Conveying Bad News Essay Example for Free

Cultural Considerations in Conveying Bad News Essay Abstract I am researching what are the cultural considerations needed, to convey bad news to people of different cultures. Cultural Considerations in Conveying Bad News Bad news is inevitable, but how we convey them is very important. Technology and globalization has made the world much smaller, and we are interacting and doing business with people from different cultures more frequently than we did in past years. Because of this, we also need to very much aware of how we deliver negative messages. The following are some suggestions to delivering bad news across different cultures: â€Å"North Americans prefer to present bad news indirectly, to minimize disappointment. In Asian countries, people try to avoid disrupting the harmony with bad news. To avoid saying ‘no’ Japanese communicators may change the subject or may respond with counter question or with silence. Brazilians as well prefer high-context communication. Maybe or I will try is understood as No in Brazilian culture. But German communicators tend to present bad news directly. Directness is an important aspect in business for Germans. British communicators also utilize the direct approach when it comes to bad news. In Latin countries, however, the question is whether to present bad news, because reporting bad news to superiors is impolite and disrespectful.† From the above examples, we can see that cultural differences must be considered before the message can be sent, if we want the message to be received, and understood by the receivers. References: Sandeep (March 19, 2011) http://presentingbadnews.blogspot.com/ [Designed for Word 97.]

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On the Meaning of Life †John Cottingham Essay

What is our relationship with the universe – who are we and how did we come to be seems to be the ultimate question of the meaning of life. This question has always sparked powerful debates between the views of the religious and modern science. Many believe this topic is a one-sided issue where these views cannot co-exist with one another, either one’s a theist, believing in God as the soul creator and ruler of the universe or an atheist, disbelieving of a supreme being or beings. But in actuality, modern science does not count against the nature of a divine creator behind the universe. So as modern science offers an account of how things happened, religious beliefs account for a certain aspect of â€Å"why,† aiming towards finding significance and value. In On The Meaning of Life, John Cottingham argues in order to have meaning, you must not eliminate one theory from the other; modern science and religion must co-exist together. First, what’s the meaning of modern science, and why does it contribute to the meaning of life? Philosopher Rene Descartes believed in mechanism, a theory holding that organisms are machines in the sense that they are material systems, therefore explains biological processes, within the framework of science. In order to discover a fundamental set of principles that is â€Å"based ultimately on the universal laws of mathematical physics that governed the behavior of all natural phenomena, celestial and terrestrial alike,† (6) Descartes banish teleology (any system attempting to explain a series of events in terms of ends, goals, or purposes) from science. He believed in order to conceive this unified theory there was no room for purposiveness, and since this universal law was made of mathematical physics, â€Å"there was no attainable answer to the question why† (6). But Cottingham thinks if we were to achieve and complete a [super-theory linking gravity and quantum physics] together to answer the ultimate question, we still would [fall short of explaining why there should be a universe at all]. Cottingham’s belief is acceptable because if this super-theory was completed, that included all observable phenomena in the universe, this theory still would not answer the question to â€Å"why is it so. † This is where science has reached its limits. Religion takes off of where science can no longer be held accountable to the meaning of life. Why should there be a universe there to explain? Unlike the language of science, religious language â€Å"grapples with the task of addressing what cannot be fully captured by even the most complete scientific account of the phenomenal world† (8). Instead of finding significance in terms of physical quantities and mechanical interactions, religious language reflects on the universes power, beauty, rhythm, and harmony. Therefore, religious discourse pushes the limits of the observable, towards uncovering something beyond the phenomenal world, in hopes of giving meaning to the universe and to our human lives. Cottingham believes religion â€Å"adds a framework within which that nature is revealed as more than just a set of characteristics†¦ encourages us with the hope that the pursuit of virtue†¦ contributes to the establishment of moral order that the cosmos was created to realize† (72). In other words, the religious perspective offers a possibility for human purposeness by providing a powerful focus on moral goodness. Religious discourse is important because since science accounts for how the universe and humans were made. We feel that we are thrown into this world where nothing ultimately matters, but religion offers hope, value and significance towards life. After examining the different aspects modern science and religion brings to the ultimate question, Cottingham urges to combine the language of science and religion together in order to have meaning. Cottingham states â€Å"in strict logic there is nothing to prevent such a purely mechanical system (of efficient causality) coexisting with a purposive system (of final causality)† (48). Therefore we must not eliminate the possibility of the two systems (modern science and religion) existing together. Philosopher Leibniz’s envisioned a world of spiritual purposes functioning in harmony with the world of physical mechanisms. This is also known as blind mechanical systems, â€Å"whose outputs, at the same time, constitute the purpose planning and doings of conscious agents† (48). Believing mechanisms and purposes could together provide an instance in support of the ultimate question of the universe. In addition, Spinoza had a parallel vision to Leibniz. He believed the universe of physical mechanisms (under the attribute of extension) exactly corresponds to spiritual ideas linking meaning and purpose to a willed creator (under the attribute of thought). Thus, we are dealing with [one and the same thing but expressed in two ways]. This showed Cottingham that since there has been no evidence to favor modern science of being the explanation of a divine nature, it does not logically eliminate the possibility of a divine creator of its meaning. So where science accounts for our human nature and origin, saying we have no ultimate significance, spirituality offers human life a sense of value. Darwin’s theory of natural selection opposes the possibility of linking modern science and religion together in one system. In order to get a sense of what threatens the framework of religion, this is the standard account of our human nature and origin: About fourteen billion years ago, the cosmos†¦including matter, radiation, space and time somehow began, exploding from a tiny concentration of matter-space energy†¦gravitational effects caused matter to clump into hydrogen masses†¦fusing into helium. Explosions caused new heavier elements, which formed into plants. On at least one planet, a self-replicating molecule arose†¦evolved into living organisms, which diversified into all kinds of plants, animals, microbes etc. , all solely as a result of natural selection. After millions of years one such species became intelligent. Man is a product of these blind forces. The main conclusion from this theory is that the universe and everything in it is a result of natural selection, including humans therefore Nottingham presumes â€Å"there is no ultimate significance to the universe or to human life,† (42) throwing out the idea of any religious significance. Darwin believed that human origin came from a purely accidental chain of blind natural forces. His view gave no choice or purposiveness in the divine nature, because everything was an entirely impersonal process. But Cottingham argues although this discovery has been scientifically accounted for, it is based on interwoven interpretation, an â€Å"interpretation that goes far beyond the truths and hypotheses that pertain strictly to the natural science† (43). And that viewing religious thought as something able to be replaced by modern science is strictly a metathesis â€Å"-a claim that operates at one remove from the claims of science itself† (43). As a result, Darwin’s theory cannot be taken very seriously because the standard account of human nature and origin is dependent on interwoven interpretation that has exceeded far from the fundamental principles of science. In essence, in order to account for the meaning of life, one must not choose modern science over religion or religion over modern science. Having one theory over the other does not manifest to the ultimate question of the meaning of life. Instead, we must link the two frameworks, divine nature and creator into a unified system. In Cottinghams words, we â€Å"must leave the door open for the theist as indeed it does for the atheist. † For where modern science can be longer contribute its findings to the meaning of life, religious language ascends from it bringing significance and value to human life. Beckie Chung Dreaming of the Earth 4 November, 2007 Cottingham, John. On The Meaning of Life. New Fetter Lane: Routledge, 2003.

Adulthood and aging

In this paper, adulthood and aging are shown from different sides: first, the major values for the elderly such as relationships, spirituality and quality of life are discussed; second, the cultural views towards aging in the United States and Asia are given.The cultural differences in views towards elderly in Asia are shown on example of Japan, as one of the most developed and civilized countries of Asia. The importance of the subject is emphasized by the overview of recent studies on various aspects of aging published in psychological journals. The aged population has been long in focus of different researches: psychological, social, economic et cetera.The fact that aging population has been steadily increasing is widely recognized and proved by statistic researches. Hence, the interest towards aging and its problems.Aging takes different shapes in different countries. Therefore, many studies are particularly interested in aging in different regions of the world. Cross-cultural asp ects of aging present interest for multinational societies, such as American society. This paper discusses many of these issues. Adulthood and AgingLater life is viewed as occurring from about age 70 to 75 years and upwards; further distinctions are sometimes made between the ‘young old’ and the ‘old-old’ i.e., adults in the age period of about 70–84 and adults aged about 85 years and over. Chronological age is an important social and personal marker of identity, behavior, expectations, experiences, and preferences.Adults in their seventies, for example, often score lower than their younger counterparts on measures of negative affect including worry and anxiety (Gems, 2003); older adults can also score more highly than younger adults on measures of agreeableness and consciousness (Thane, 2003).Similarly, adults in mid- and later life are more likely to be generative than their younger counterparts; in fact although younger people can be altruistic th ey cannot be generative as it is only with experience and time that this vital role of teaching, guiding and supporting others can occur.Older adults are not necessarily a unique group of adults qualitatively different from other age groups; this is because many of the issues often associated with later life are issues pertinent at any age throughout the life-course, for example, the need to maintain a balance between autonomy and dependence, and the need for secure, warm and accepting relationships with others.Furthermore, although old age is noted as a time for increasing losses and constraints on development, losses and challenges occur throughout the life-course and not just in later life. (Thane, 2003)As social beings, most adults need to be in close relationships with other people, for enjoyment, for meaning and purpose in life, and also as a means of learning more about ourselves and the world within which we live. Warm and close relationships with other people have also been described as being a healthy necessity from ‘the cradle to the grave’ (Blundo R. & Deborah E. Bowen, 2005).Relationships, are very important for our health and well-being particularly reciprocal relationships, which also serve a protective function such as relationships with a spouse or equivalent figure. In addition, it is often within close relationships that we offer and receive support, particularly at times when the risk of threat to the actual or representational self is higher, for example when taking on new projects or goals.Relationships with close others can also be a significant source of pleasure, enjoyment, and meaning for adults.Most older adults need and enjoy relationships with younger generations; so too do communities need relationships with older adults. This point is made strongly by Jackson J. (2002) who draws on ethnographic, cross-cultural, and anthropological data to argue that as a consequence of maturation and experience older adults have thei r own unique strengths and talents that can and should be used in the social context, and particularly in helping, supporting, and teaching the next generation.Jackson takes this perspective, particularly in light of the ‘parental emergency’ (p. 825), in other words, the difficulties and problems involved in raising emotionally healthy children without the support of the extended family and friends.In later life, however, relationships with other people can be lost, constrained or the quality of relationships impaired. In later life, for example, adult children may divorce and separate so that older people may lose generative links with younger family members. Similarly, into the latter half of the life cycle adults are more likely to experience the loss of parents, spouses, and/or the loss of other close attachment relationships through bereavements.Also, personal work roles that the individual had and enjoyed may no longer be salient or relevant such as when children are grown up and leave home. Furthermore, given compulsory retirement, the friends and acquaintances that one had through the work role may have to be surrendered.Although adults can experience significant losses and constraints in their relationships with others, these can be a consequence of the interactions and expectations of others, rather than being intrinsic to the aging process. Society may not always be supportive of the needs of its older members.For example, society can impose constraints on relationships into later life in terms of expectations for relinquishing the work role or even about the aptness of certain sexual relationships.This is particularly the case given the potential for ageism within which older adults can be disadvantaged with subsequent loss of health or even loss of life itself, for example, when older adults are denied health treatment or counseling because of the negative views health professionals can have of older people.Evidence examining the ways in which older adults are viewed by society is mixed. Some researchers have found that many older people are viewed in very negative ways (Steuerle, 2001).In contrast, other researchers have found that the results of studies on attitudes to older adults are influenced by the specific attributes being assessed. Dooley E. (2003) for example asked a group of undergraduates (aged 17–24) to rate their attitudes towards young, mid-life, and older adults across cognitive (intellectual abilities or information processing), personal-expressive (personality or interpersonal attributes), and physical attributes relating to physical health, behavior, or movement.Results indicated that attitudes towards the physical attributes of older adults were more negative by comparison with young and mid-life adults. In contrast, no significant difference was found for personal-expressive attributes, but there was a main effect for age on cognitive attributes.A post hoc test indicated that the atti tudes of participants towards midlife adults were significantly more positive than were those for younger adults (mean −0.48) or for older adults (mean −.027). Although these insights are useful, this study was carried out using undergraduate students as participants, thus making generalisability difficult. Researchers in this field should attempt to replicate the above study with other participant groups.Some social losses and threats that assume crises in mid- and later life (e.g., ‘empty nest syndrome’) have little empirical evidence to support them (Feldstein B. & Jeffrey B. Liebman, 2003). A contrasting view is that there are challenges associated with each age period around which adults must adapt. This contrasting view does not remove the reality of social stressors, but instead, recognizes that these occur throughout the life course, and not just old age.Studies have shown that the quality of social networks of older people have many similarities to those of younger age groups, but that the number of contacts within the networks are fewer for the old. Socioemotional selectivity theory (Feldstein B. & Jeffrey B. Liebman, 2003) attempts to describe the functional declines in social contact throughout adulthood.This theory describes the practical aspects of social interactions to include information acquisition, identity maintenance, and emotion regulation. The essential premise of the theory is that the relative important of those goals changes as a function of perceived time, and that these goals influence and explain declines in social contact across adulthood.When time is perceived as being largely open-ended, future-orientated goals such an information acquisition are of paramount importance. However, when time is perceived as being limited, present-orientated goals such as emotional goals, are rated as being most important. Consequently, adults into later years are seen as actively preferring certain types of social contact (e.g., emotionally satisfying contact) over others such as information gathering.There are substantial differences in adults’ preferences for social activities and social contacts, however, and some of these differences can be explained by gender, ethnicity, and physical health. It is well known that women typically have more social contact than do men, especially more intimate friends or confidants.Confidants are typically women, in part given the difference in mean ages between the sexes. Age differences between the sexes in western countries is around five years, but in some countries the difference is larger, such as Finland, where the difference is eight years.This means that older women often live alone, whereas older men are married. It also means that women are more likely to be caregivers by comparison with their male counterparts. Health is another significant factor explaining reductions in social activity in later years.The patterns of not initiating new contacts with non-familial persons is clearly visible in nursing homes and other institutions. There can be a significant risk involved in contact seeking in old age; conversations can become difficult for example if others have sensory difficulties, particularly hearing loss.To summarize, relationships in later years can be an intense source of both pleasure and distress. Relationships with others can be a significant source of enjoyment and meaning in life. Relationships with others are also crucial not only for the well-being of individuals but also of whole communities given that society is often dependent on the experience and expertise that older adults develop over many decades of life.However, in later life as throughout life, the relationships and social roles that adults have with others can be compromised, constrained, or even lost. These losses can arise through bereavement or because society does not always provide its older members with adequate support and resources.Understand ing the ways adults evaluate and regulate changes in relationships is likely to be crucial if health professionals are to help facilitate better health and well-being for more people for longer into the latter part of the life cycle.Future research in this area should be carried out to refine and clarify the nature of relationships across adulthood, and the impact that social motives and other factors might play in influencing the quality and nature of relationships. Future research is also needed to explore and examine the positive qualities within close family relationships, particularly between parents and their adult children, and siblings who have shared experiences over many decades of life.Japan is much more densely populated than the United States but not much more so than Great Britain. Japan is clearly one of the most industrialized nations in the world with a higher proportion of its gross national product from manufacturing than the United States, Great Britain, or Denma rk.Its total gross national product is second only to the United States; its per capita income, however, is lower than the three comparison countries. It has a higher rate of natural increase and a lower percentage aged 65 and over than the comparison countries, but recent decreases in birth and death rates are expected to rapidly increase the percentage aged 65 and over. (Bernier, 2003)The Japanese are relatively homogeneous racially and ethnically which may facilitate the integration of the aged. Some social-psychological traits relevant to this analysis are: strong national pride, concern with politeness and deference toward superiors, a dominant aesthetic sense, and a more casual attitude toward time.Transportation is less of a problem for the aged in Japan because of the many neighborhood shops and the elaborate system of public transportation.The tradition of respect for the aged has strong roots both in the vertical social system and in the unconditional duty of filial piety, which derives from the fundamental Japanese religion, ancestor worship.Thus, the ecology and economic system of Japan are similar to that of western industrialized nations, but her social system and culture have distinctive elements that have helped maintain the relatively high status and integration of older Japanese.The health status of Japanese elders has been improving with better nutrition, sanitation, and medical care so that they are now about as healthy as the aged in other modern countries.The Japanese elders are much more integrated in their families as shown by their living arrangements and functions in the household. Furthermore, there has been little decline in proportions living with their children so that over two-thirds will probably continue to live with their children during the foreseeable future.The employment status of the elders is much higher than in other industrialized countries: over half the older men continue to be employed. Most of those who stop work, do so for voluntary and health reasons rather than being forced to stop by compulsory retirement or other discrimination against the aged.The trends indicate little decline in employment status. Those who are not employed do tend to have relatively low independent incomes, but pensions and retirement benefits are rapidly improving, and the system of family support usually assures at least the minimum necessities of life. (Katsumata, 2001)The main explanation for their relatively high status and integration is the tradition of respect for elders that has its roots in the vertical society and in religious doctrines of filial piety.Respect and affection for the elders are shown on a daily basis by honorific language; bowing; priority for the elders in seating, serving, bathing, and going through doors. It is also reflected in popular sayings, special celebrations of the sixty-first birthday, the national observance of Respect for Elders Day, and the National Law for Welfare of the Aged .We therefore conclude that the theory of marked decline in the status of the aged as a necessary result of industrialization is false. On the contrary, Japan shows that a tradition of respect for the aged can maintain their relatively high status and integration despite industrialization.In Western countries, including the USA, the attitude towards elderly is far less respectful and the connection with younger generations is often lost. However, high income, pensions and a highly developed social care system help American elderly to live their later life with comfort. Japanese elderly often depend on their younger generation in economic terms. The conclusion we make is that both financial matters and social relationship factors are important for aging people.

buy custom Social Perceptions Impact on Managing Diversity essay

buy custom Social Perceptions Impact on Managing Diversity essay Every individual has a degree of socializing with the rest. The social attitudes, however, are important as they influence most of the activities that we engage in. These are very important in the determination of managing diversity as discussed in the next paragraphs (Gardenswartz Rowe, 1998). The first social perception that well discuss is the stereotypes. These are beliefs about a particular group or characters. They categorize individuals according to various criteria while associating them with given traits which may be incorrect. They are not necessarily negative but may not be accurate. They can lead to poor decisions, undermine job satisfactions and create barriers for a particular group of individuals. Social impacts also give a limitation as to what information an individual o group takes. One may filter important information considering it not fit for what one believes is best. Some information cannot be archived from its sources if the concerned individual is unwilling to give out the information. The social perceptions will influence the kind of judgments delivered. A group or management can dismiss a great idea basing their arguments on their naivety. This will discourage innovations and diversity. In conjunction to this, poor hiring decisions are likely to be made. The decisions thus limit the new ideas from getting their way into an organization. The customer needs may not be satisfied when a company is used to a particular group. A company that produces goods and services for a particular gender is limited to it and will never (unless changes are introduced) know what others love. There are many cases of workplace vulnerability reported. These are as a result of social differences. The later is that a particular group has a negative perception of the later. They limit diversity. Some social styles such as sexual harassment among others make potential pioneers afraid of getting into a particular career. They fear the worst and take what they think are safety measures. Social attitudes lead to poor career planning. This makes most individuals lack the capability to handle some important job requirement leading to poor employment and non-diverse employees. The social lifestyles of individuals affect their relationships at every level and finally rest upon a negative impact on diversity. Individual should learn to have flexible lifestyles in order to encourage innovations and diversity. Buy custom Social Perceptions Impact on Managing Diversity essay

How and When to Apply for Social Security Benefits

How and When to Apply for Social Security Benefits Applying for Social Security benefits is the easy part. You can apply online, by telephone or by walking into your local Social Security office. The hard part is deciding when to apply for your Social Security retirement benefits and rounding up all the documents youll need when you do. Are You Eligible? Becoming eligible to get Social Security retirement requires both reaching a certain age and earning enough Social Security credits. You earn credits by working and paying Social Security taxes. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work) to qualify. If you stop working, you stop earning credits until you return to work. No matter what your age is, you cannot get Social Security retirement benefits until you have earned 40 credits.​ How Much Can You Expect to Get? Your Social Security retirement benefit payment is based on how much you made during your working years. The more you earned, the more youll get when you retire. Your Social Security retirement benefit payment is also affected by the age at which you decide to retire. You can retire as early as age 62, but if you retire before your full retirement age, your benefits will be permanently reduced, based on your age. For example, if you retire at age 62, your benefit would be about 25 percent lower than what it would be if you waited until you reach full retirement age. You also need to remember that monthly premiums for ​Medicare Part B are usually deducted from monthly Social Security benefits. Retirement is a great time to look into the pros and cons of a private Medicare Advantage plan.   According to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly benefit paid to retired workers in May 2017 was $1,367.58.   When Should You Retire? Deciding when to retire is totally up to you and your family. Just keep in mind that Social Security replaces only about 40 percent of the average workers pre-retirement income. If you can live comfortably on 40 percent of what youre making at work, problem solved, but financial experts estimate that most people will need 70-80 percent of their pre-retirement income to have a comfortable retirement. To draw full retirement benefits, the following Social Security Administration age rules apply: Born in 1937 or earlier - Full retirement can be drawn at age 65Born in 1938 - Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 2 monthsBorn in 1939 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 4 monthsBorn in 1940 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 6 monthsBorn in 1941 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 8 monthsBorn in 1942 Full retirement can be drawn at age 65 years and 10 monthsBorn in 1943-1954 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66Born in 1955 - Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 2 monthsBorn in 1956 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 4 monthsBorn in 1957 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 6 monthsBorn in 1958 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 8 monthsBorn in 1959 Full retirement can be drawn at age 66 and 10 monthsBorn in 1960 or later Full retirement can be drawn at age 67 Remember that while you can begin drawing Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, your benefits will be 25 percent less than what they will be if you wait until your full retirement age as shown above. Also keep in mind that no matter when you start drawing Social Security benefits, you must be 65 to be eligible for Medicare. For example, people who retired at their full retirement age of 67 in 2017 could get a maximum monthly benefit of $2,687, depending on their work and income history. However, the maximum benefit for persons retiring at age 62 in 2017 was only $2,153.   Delayed Retirement: On the other hand, if you wait to retire beyond your full retirement age, your Social Security benefit will automatically increase by a percentage based on your year of birth. For example, if you were born in 1943 or later, Social Security will add 8 percent per year to your benefit for each year that you delay signing up for Social Security beyond your full retirement age. For example, people who waited until age 70 to retire in 2017 could get a maximum benefit of $3,538. Despite getting smaller monthly benefit payments, people who start claiming Social Security retirement benefits at age 62 often have good reasons for doing. Be sure to consider the pros and cons of applying for Social Security benefits at age 62 before doing so. If You Work While Getting Social Security Yes, you can work full or part-time while also getting Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you have not yet reached your full retirement age, and if your net income from working is higher than the annual earnings limit, your annual benefits will be reduced. Beginning in the month you reach full retirement age, Social Security will stop reducing your benefits no matter how much you earn. During any full calendar year in which you are under full retirement age, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual net income limit. The income limit changes every year. In 2017, the income limit was $16,920.   If Health Problems Force You to Retire Early Sometimes health problems force people to retire early. If you cannot work because of health problems, you should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. The amount of the disability benefit is the same as a full, unreduced retirement benefit. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, those benefits will be converted to retirement benefits. Documents You Will Need Whether you apply online or in person, you will need the following information when you apply for your Social Security benefits: Your Social Security numberYour birth certificate, or proof of U.S. citizenshipYour W-2 forms or self-employment tax return (or both) for the last year you workedYour military discharge papers if you served in any branch of the military If you choose to have your benefits paid through direct deposit, you will also need your banks name, your account number and your banks routing number as shown on the bottom of your checks.​ Working While Collecting Social Security Retirement Many people choose or need, to keep working after claiming Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you continue work after claiming early retirement benefits your Social Security benefits may be reduced until you reach your full retirement age. If you retire at age 62, Social Security will deduct money from your retirement check if you exceed a certain amount of earned income for the calendar year. For example, the income limit in 2018 was $17,040 or $1,420 per month. The income limit increases annually. Until you reach your full retirement age, Security will reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn over the income limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, you will receive your full Social Security retirement benefit with no limitation on how much income you earn from working. The worse news is that Social Security does not apply the early retirement work penalty by simply deducting a small amount from each monthly benefit check. Instead, the agency may withhold several months’ entire checks until the total reduction is paid off. This means your annual budget will have to account for a certain number of months without a benefit check. Complete details on this decidedly complicated process can be found in Social Security’s pamphlet on â€Å"How Work Affects Your Benefits.† You can also use Social Security’s earnings test calculator to see how much your reduction will be and when your checks will be withheld. Also note that if lose your job, you may still qualify for unemployment benefits even though you are also collecting Social Security retirement benefits.

Fluid mechanical Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fluid mechanical - Coursework Example Looking at those pipes, you might notice that they have different diameters creating an illusion (Kezerashvili & Sapozhnikov 2000, 1). This causes an imbalance when water is put in the thick end, and no water in the thinner opening of the pipe. The construction made in the pipe make the liquid not to come to equilibrium; as a result, the water in the thick end exert weight pushing the water down the thick pipe. The kilogram of water that was situated at the most elevated point on one end moves in the opposite direction to the following side, precisely as a pendulum would when swigged (Kezerashvili & Sapozhnikov 2000, 1). The overbalancing mass of water getaways from the slight end because the channel is so short, it is impractical hold 1 kg of water. On the peculiarity, you comprehend that the surge is redirected to the thick end of the channel, where it extends the measure of time required for the liquid to accomplish concordance while encountering the tight end. The structure will accomplish amicability in the unmistakable measure of time that it takes for the water to pass through the restricted tube. Note: This charm Fountain examination will certainly for two reasons: at first, it relies on upon pneumatic power, which runs out once the first holder gets filled.  Furthermore, the fundamental thing that goes to the second compartment is vaporous pressure and not water. In this manner, it moves the water in the second compartment to the third, yet nothing refills the second holder! No water ever moves into that holder. Munson, B., & Okiishi, T. (2009).Fundamentals of fluid mechanics  (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley & Sons. Kezerashvili, R., & Sapozhnikov, A. (2000). Magic Fountain. Retrieved November 13, 2014, from

Physical Activity and the Wider Environment Essay

Physical Activity and the Wider Environment - Essay Example This paper is being carried out in order to guide health professionals as well as policy-makers on the changes which have to be made in order to secure environments which are conducive to physical activity, and eventually, to weight management. As the report declares the right balance of calories and activity will ensure that the body can function efficiently. Where there are excess calories ingested and unused by the body, these are stored as fat, often adding to the person’s body weight. Health professionals indicate that there is a certain amount of body fat which the body can safely carry without compromising normal functions. The Body-Mass Index is used as the standard measure for acceptable body weight. A computed BMI of more than 25 indicates overweight; and higher than 30 indicates obesity. There are different ways by which physical activity can be secured by most individuals. For most individuals consciously seeking to lose or maintain weight, they would likely motivate themselves to set time apart for physical activity by jogging for an hour each morning or in the afternoon, or by briskly walking around a park, walking or running with their dog, going to the gym, running on a treadmill, taking dance classes , or participating in other forms of physical activity. In general, these activities have to be purposely sought by individuals. However, there are also other ways of securing physical activity and such ways involve the management of the wider environment.