Meta

Meta This entry is kind of inspired by an entry that Anthony wrote. Yes, I realize that he wrote it a month ago. Ive been kind of lame about reading everyone elses blogs. I would be happy to get feedback from my readers on this, both the regular commenters and the lurkers. I worry that the quality of my blogging has gone downhill as time has passed. When I first started blogging for Admissions, I wrote a number of what were basically essays on subjects that I had been thinking about for a long time, and had more entries that provided a snapshot of what I was actually doing, but that had a philosophical twist. The problem was that once these entries were written, I couldnt keep writing about the same topics over and over. So I started floundering when looking for inspiration. Or at least, I feel like I did it is quite possible that this blog is about the same now as it was at the beginning, and my perception is the result of insecurities on my part. On the opposite side of the coin, when I write too many philisophical essays about MIT, I start wondering if maybe my readers would rather just see some pictures of events after all. Though I think that I would have trouble writing this blog if those sorts of entries were the only ones I posted. Also, I got hosed. Junior year turned out to be ridiculously grueling for me. Its not even that I lack all sorts of stuff to ramble on about, but there are things that I cant/wont put into a public forum, even if they relate to topics that I could write well about, because of their sensitive nature. Peoples day to day angst. My feelings about various MIT policies and policy changes I put some of this in, but if Im actually going to be effective at dealing with the issues involved, I cannot blurt out exactly what I think about everything and everyone relevant. My feelings about internal politics and struggles within the UA, and other groups did you notice that I didnt actually write any entries about the UA elections while I was running for president (though that wasnt all for sensitivity reasonsfrankly I was exhausted during that time)? And much more. After three years of MIT life, Ive decided that a lot of the most interesting and inspiring aspects of many students lives are lived underground. So I search for a middle ground, try to keep this blog respectful of sensitivities without going too far into self-censorship, try to hint without spelling out. Its kind of like the hacking books MIT puts out, like Nightwork, which I referenced in my last entry they are interesting, inspiring, and provoke dreams among high school students about putting their own creations on top of the Great Dome someday. And they even go a little bit into the psychology, include some very insightful essays, drop some juicy details here and there. But its not like theyre really giving you the lowdown, the inside view on what it would be like to be a hacker at MIT, the actual accounts of people involved. They cant. Similarly, I cant give you the true lowdown on being an MIT student and neither can any other blogger, for whatever being an MIT student is to them just a modified version. Anthony and I have much in common weve discussed our blogging philosophies together several times but we have different perspectives on the vacuum nature of MIT that he alluded to in his entry. Interestingly, I think one of my best entries, written nearly a year ago, illustrates my perspective pretty well. I would like to think that students embracing MIT culture, and identifying strongly with the school, is less about them changing themselves to fit an MIT mold (not like theres really a typical MIT mold anyway), and more about the different characteristics of the subcultures that they choose helping them grow, and bringing out something from deep within them that they may not have known was there. A few other essay-style entries that I really like are here, here, here, and here. There are a few good photo-based, event-based entries as wellIm fond of this one. So I dont have any specific questions for you to answer, really, but responses to this entry would be helpful. I like to know what you think. I like what youre doing, keep it up is a valid answer, as are more critical views. As long as youre nice about it. :)

Feme Sole and Womens Rights Historical Perspective

A woman with the status of  feme sole  was thus able to make legal contracts and sign legal documents in her own name. She could own property and dispose of it in her own name.  She also had the right to make her own decisions about her education and could make decisions about how to dispose of her own wages. What made this status special, and what did it mean? Feme sole literally means a woman alone.  In law, an adult woman who is not married, or one who is acting on her own regarding her estate and property, acting on her own rather than as a feme covert. The plural is femes sole.  The phrase is also spelled  femme sole in French. Illustrative Example In the last half of the 19th century, when  Elizabeth Cady Stanton  and  Susan B. Anthony  headed the  National Womans Suffrage Association  which also published a newspaper,  Anthony had to sign contracts for the organization and paper, and Stanton could not.  Stanton, a married woman, was  a  feme covert. and Anthony, mature and single, was a feme sole, so under law, Anthony was able to sign contracts, and Stanton was not.  Stantons husband would have had to sign in Stantons stead. Historical Context Under common British law, an adult single woman (never married, widowed or divorced) was independent of a husband, and therefore not covered by him in the law, becoming one person with him. Blackstone does not consider it a violation of the principle of  feme covert  for a wife to act as an attorney for her husband, as when he was out of town, for that implies no separation from, but is rather a representation of, her lord.... Under certain legal conditions, a married woman could act on her own behalf regarding property and estate.  Blackstone  mentions, for instance, that if the husband is banished legally, he is dead in law, and thus the wife would have no legal defense if she were sued. In civil law, the husband and wife were considered separate persons. In criminal prosecutions, a husband and wife could be sued and punished separately, but could not be witnesses for one another.  The exception to the witness rule was, according to Blackstone, would be if the husband forced her to marry him. Symbolically, the tradition of feme sole vs. feme covert continues when women choose marriage to keep their names or adopt the husbands name. The concept of feme  sole  evolved in England during feudal medieval times. The position of a wife to a husband was considered somewhat parallel to that of a man to his baron (the power of a man over his wife continued to be called  coverte  de baron.  As the concept of  feme sole evolved in the 11th through 14th century, any woman who worked independently at a craft or a trade, rather than working with a husband, was considered a  feme sole.  But this status, if held by a married woman, conflicted with ideas about debt being a family debt, and eventually, the common law evolved so that married women could not conduct business on their own without the permission of their husbands. Changes Over Time Coverture, and thus the need for a category of  feme sole, began to change in the 19th century, including in the various Married Womens Property Acts passed by states.  Some version of coverture survived in United States Law into the last half of the 20th century, protecting husbands from responsibility for major financial obligations incurred by their wives, and permitting women to use as a defense in court that her husband had ordered her to take an action. Religious Roots In medieval Europe, canon law also was important.  Under canon law, by the 14th century, a married woman could not make a will (testament) deciding how any real estate she had inherited could be distributed since she could not own real estate in her own name. She could, however, decide on how her personal goods would be distributed. If she was a widow, she was bound by certain rules of  dower.   Such civil and religious laws were influenced by a key letter from Paul to the Corinthians in the Christian Scriptures,  1 Corinthians 7:3-6, here rendered in the King James Version: 3  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 6  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. Current Law Today, a woman is considered to retain her feme sole status even after marriage.  An example of the current law is Section 451.290, from the Revised Statutes of the state of Missouri, as the statute existed in 1997: A married woman shall be deemed a femme sole so far as to enable her to carry on and transact business on her own account, to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, and to enforce and have enforced against her property such judgments as may be rendered for or against her, and may sue and be sued at law or in equity, with or without her husband being joined as a party.

Rhetorical Analysis Of A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift

A Modest Proposal† is an essay by Jonathan Swift that gives some type of a solution to the hunger problem in Ireland. Swift espouse an ironic approach that guarantee a surprise ending. At the beginning of the essay, he cornerstones his proposal that will be good for the public and diminish economic troubles. The proposal that Swift advances concerns the selling of poor Irish children to the rich, so that they could suffice as food. In addition, he points out that this will ease the pressures on the poor population as it will earn them sustenance. However, in the end of the essay, Swift adopts a pliable tone, which contrasts significantly with the one he uses at the beginning. This emanates from his indication that he is open to more†¦show more content†¦The poor in the country comprise of beggars and their children, and cottagers and laborers; if the government decides to provide for them, it will result in a serious debt spanning myriad years. Swift’s indicatio n that his proposal is rather cheap, innocent, effectual and easy to adopt is also an indication that the end of the story will be different from what the readers expect. Swift asserts that even the parents of the children who have developed to adolescence would have seconded his idea to solve the problems that they have faced trying to provide for them. In comparison to how the essay concludes, this is an indication that Swift (2007) was also speaking for himself as at the end of the essay he regrets not having children whom he could sell for benefit. The author is successful in his conviction at the end of the essay through offering several reasons for the adoption of his plan. Firstly, he indicates that before any other writers present their proposals concerning the matter, they should spare a moment and consider his ideas that are uniformly cheap, effectual, easy, and innocent. This observation by Swift is to lure opinionated readers to reconsider their position and try to reason in the same line as Swift. Secondly, Swift (2007) provides two reasons which, as he indicates, are the proof that his proposal is viable; they include the factShow MoreRelatedEssay on Rhetorical Analysis of a Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift639 Words   |  3 PagesJohnathan Swift wrote Modest Proposal with the idea to better humanity.. When you first read it you miss what the true message is. You think â€Å"Man this guy is a monster!† or â€Å"He’s sick!†, but once you reach the end the true meaning of the proposal hits you. Wh en Jonathan Swift wrote a Modest Proposal he tried to get his audience to see the problem by taking it and providing an unethical and inhumane solution then using rhetorical devices to bring out people’s emotions. 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Swift goes on to offer statistical support for his proposal and specific data about the number of children to be sold, their weight and price- â€Å"I have reckoned upon a mediumRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of A Modest Proposal 1863 Words   |  8 PagesRhetorical Analysis: A Modest Proposal In â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† Jonathan Swift provides a satirical exploration of the attitudes of the wealthy people towards the underprivileged and poor children in the society. Laymen and intellectuals during the late seventeenth century distributed political pamphlets containing different ideas throughout Ireland. In his essay, Swift utilizes some of the overlooked pamphlets during this period and develops an ironic proposal. As a colony of the British, IrelandRead MoreEssay on Silent Spring - Rachel Carson30092 Words   |  121 Pagesplease visit: http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-silentspring/ Copyright Information  ©2000-2007 BookRags, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The following sections of this BookRags Premium Study Guide is offprint from Gales For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare

Free Reflection Essay Free Essays

The effectiveness of â€Å"Learning Exchange† as a tool for improving organizational effectiveness, through knowledge sharing, at Thomson Reuters. Purpose Thomson Reuters is a global information company, headquartered in the Canada, and operates in 93 countries with over 50,000 staff (Thomson Reuters, 2009). Being a knowledge based organization, Reuters was having problems with the flow of knowledge amongst different departments across several countries. We will write a custom essay sample on Free Reflection Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The purpose of this paper therefore is to evaluate the effectiveness of the newly introduced â€Å"Learning Exchange† intranet platform as a tool for increasing knowledge sharing, in an organization where employees perceive the knowledge they have as an â€Å"reward-enhancing-asset†, where rewards are awarded based on what you know and not what you share. Methodology/Approach This paper aims to draw on a number of peer-reviewed journals and articles regarding knowledge sharing as a whole, and more specifically in a reward based competitive culture. The literature would also include theories on pre and post integration strategies for Knowledge Sharing Intranet applications, directed at organizational environments where knowledge sharing or transfer, without a pay benefit, was not the norm. Primary data would include a case study analysis and possible telephone discussions with few staff, in order to ascertain the success of the intranet integration as a method of encouraging knowledge sharing in the organization. Were any pre or post integration processes put into place, and if so, how successful were they at convincing those who had the information to share it with those who did not? Findings Though my eventual findings are not certain, preliminary literature research clearly outlines that the success rate of any Knowledge Management Intranet system is based on the culture of the organization (Ruppel and Harrington, 2001), willingness of staff to accept the application (Goh, 2007), and integration strategies put into place that would encourage all stakeholders to use the intranet (Goh, 2007). These integration strategies may include training programs (before, during and after implementation), communication, and enforcement methods (e.g. restricting access to certain important information, except it is accessed through the knowledge-sharing portal). Based on the preliminary research, I hope to find that the major barrier to the Intranet acceptance was the culture within the organization. I also hope to find that any success/failure recorded was largely dependent on the effectiveness of the integration process that management put into place. Research Limitations; My major limitations to this research would be negotiating access to the organization in order to discuss the effectiveness of the Intranet system as a method of improving organizational knowledge management. I also perceive limitations in the time limit within which I am required to submit this assignment, and also employee unwillingness to discuss a subjective issue regarding the culture within the organization and their perception of its knowledge-withholding reward based culture. Practical implications; The practical implications of this research would be based on the findings of my survey. If the intranet has been ineffective, then the solutions for a more successful approach would be based on the literature review findings that concur with employee perception. However if it has been successful, it would help in developing an approach in which culturally similar organizations could build and implement Knowledge Sharing Intranet Solutions. Originality/value of paper; The results of the finding, whatever implications it may have, would help to confirm whether existing literature accurately define the knowledge sharing culture within reward-based organizations. It would also aid in shedding a new light on integration processes that employees perceive as suitable, when designing and implementing Intranet solutions. Bibliography Issa, R. R., and Haddad, J. (2008) Perceptions of the impacts of organizational cultureand information technology on knowledge sharing in construction. Construction Innovation: Information, Process, Management, Vol. 8 (3), p182-201 McElroy, M. W. (2003) The new knowledge management: complexity, learning and sustainable innovation. KMCI Press Series, Butterworth-Heinemann: London,246pp Nonaka, I. (2005) Knowledge Management: Critical Perspectives on Business and Management, Taylor Francis: New York, 1303pp Pan, S. L., and Scarbrough, H. (1998) A Socio-Technical View of Knowledge Sharing at Buckman Laboratories, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 2(1), p78-91 Reige, A. (2005) Three-dozen knowledge-sharing barriers managers must consider, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 9 (3), p18-35 Smith, P. A. (2005) Knowledge Sharing, The learning organisation: an internationaljournal, Vol. 12 (6), 61pp References Goh, A. S. (2007) Integrating Knowledge Sharing Implementation: Toward An Institutionalized Symbiotic Model. International Journal of AppliedKnowledge Management, Vol. 1 (1), p16-21 Ruppel, C. P., and Harrington, S. J. (2001) Sharing Knowledge through intranets: A study of organizational culture and intranet implementation, IEEE transactions on professional communication, Vol. 44 (1), p37-52 Thomson Reuters (2009) ABOUT US, www.thomsonreuters.com/about, (accessed10/10/2009) How to cite Free Reflection Essay, Essay examples

Poem Hurricane Essay Example For Students

Poem: Hurricane Essay The evil hurricane destroys the landscape by snapping the trees The depressed rain sounds like a baby crying because he did not get his way The corrupt winds hurl the timber around The stern winds sound like a mother yelling angrily at her child The loud thunder sounds as if a baseball is being hit hard by a large baseball bat The crack of trees snapping caused the hurricane to roar There was a low moan of pain traveling through the air The screeches of the hurricane sent shrills down our spines The twirling witch threw rain at our house The stormy clouds were running away from the disasterous battle field The yelping cars were tumbling and somersalting across the freeway The upset hurricane threw down the blazing lightning The tremendous hurricane was a thundering, swirling cloud of death as it spun off baby ice cream cones of terror The terrifying hurricane whistled an unsteady tone as it uprooted our crops and had a tasty snack The gigantic hurricane swept up our homes and left them where they were and didnt bother to use a dustpan The horrifying hurricane weakened our houses with its powerful and terrifying smelling breath The destructive hurricane blew the ocean waves into a wild rage to destroy our unsafe homes The hurricane was a sinister villain destroying beautiful land The noisy hurricane screams and howls like an upset baby Hurricanes are angry grandmothers with gray hair spinning and falling out everywhere The powerful storm was throwing branches like major league baseball pitchers The winds were rushing across the water while whistling a creepy tune with the trees snapping along The hurricane was so angry, she ripped off the barn roof, while her whipping winds chased the cows The repulsive eye sternly watched me as it began to leave Poetry Essays .

Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States an Example of the Topic Literature Essays by

Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States: 1492 – PRESENT First published in 1980, Zinn's book was revised and updated in 1995. The front cover describes the book as a "step toward a coherent new version of American history." The back cover calls the book an "antidote to establishment history." In twenty-three chapters (675 pages with index) and an Afterword, the author offers an alternative history of the United States, claiming to give voice to those whose stories are usually ignored. Instead of writing from the viewpoint of the powerful and elite, he turns to the exploited, even to the victims, of American history. The idea that US history is a story of progress, of national unity and of single-minded pursuit of the American dream, misrepresents what happened, he argues. Need essay sample on "Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States: 1492 PRESENT" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Instead of assuming that there really is a "United States" with a single "national interest," he describes history in terms of conflict between different interests. History is usually presented to make people believe the establishment version that glorifies the nation, its leaders, seeing a string of iconic events as almost always representing progress. Calling this the "memory of a state," he says that this history is not really "our history", since "nations are not communities and never have been" (p. 9). He does cover such iconic events as the Civil War (chapter 9) and Vietnam (chapter 18) but focuses on less well know episodes, telling the story from the bottom up, not top down. This made the book attractive and interesting. It is easy, even compelling to read. However, after finishing the book I was not convinced that such a history exists, at least as told unambiguously from an exclusively elite perspective. Zinn may have set up a straw man in order to knock him down. College Students Frequently Tell EssayLab specialists:How much do I have to pay someone to write my assignment online?Specialists propose:Custom Essays - Easy And Quickly With Essaylab.ComBest Student Essay Writing Company Websites That Hire Writers College Essay Writing Service College Essay Writing Service In the process of reconstructing history from the under-side, Zinn covers a great deal of material, beginning with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. He recounts crimes of genocide, territorial theft and conquest. The settlement of Europeans in the Americas was driven by a morally ambiguous drive," the "the need for space" and "land." In the process of settlement, Indians were dispossessed, cultures destroyed and annihilated (p. 22). Subsequent chapters continue to challenge the idea that the history of the US represents moral and human progress, in a more or less straight line. Chapters show how America's economic and military success rests on the shoulders of many exploited men and women, of blacks, slaves and migrant workers, of those who received little reward or recognition. To reconstruct history from the bottom, Zinn used journals, letters and articles in less well-known magazines as well as work by other historians. Yet the majority of his sources are what could be cal led mainstream, published by respected academic and university presses. Given that he uses a great deal of published material, the claim that his approach is "new" seems suspect. Much material was already available in the books he cites. Chapter 8, "We take nothing by conquest, thank God" is an example of how the book would have benefited from more explicit ideological commentary. Having stated that history always reflects ideology, that he intended to side with the underclass, not with those who want us to believe in a nation committed to the common interest, Zinn sometimes takes too much for granted. At the start of chapter 8, he refers in passing to the Louisiana Purchase that "doubled the territory of the United States" (p. 147). The title of the chapter presumably implies that the US's territorial expansion was qualitatively different from how other nations expanded, because the US purchased Louisiana, so blood was not shed. This, though, does not make sense, because Zinn has already chronicled how Indians were dispossessed, forced to move to new territory and how conflict after conflict took place between Indians and the US. How anyone could ever claim that the US expanded without bloodshed is beyond comprehens ion. Even if the government wanted people to believe that the US spread West peacefully, many people would know that this was not the case, since they were personally involved in bloody events. How could anyone be fooled by a bloodless version of the story? The chapter describes President James Polk's vision of the US stretching from coast to coast, how he maneuvered a confrontation with Mexico with the explicit purpose of gaining territory. Zinn cites enthusiastic support for this project. God was invoked, as was "destiny," "the destiny of the white race" to "march from ocean to ocean" (p. 153). No role here for black people or Indians, except as servants and slaves. Yet there were dissenting voices, voices raised in defense of Mexico and against war. Churches were mainly either "outspoken for the war" or kept silent, with some exceptions. Irish workers went on strike in New York, arguing that what was intended was to extend and perpetuate slavery in the West, which was contrary to the US ideal of "progress." Some Newspapers also protested. How, they asked, would the annexation of half of Mexico "give us more Liberty, a purer Morality, a more prosperous industry, than we have now?" (p. 157). These voices of protest appear to have been vocal at the time, even if they did not carry the day. Zinn did not have to dig too far to find voices on both sides of the debate. Chapter 11, "Robber Barons and Rebels" looks at the great American icons of entrepreneurship, industrial and commercial success. He says that while a few people went from rags to riches, most iconic figures did not start in poverty (p. 248). The Rockeffellers and the Carnegies, he says, rose to the top not only as a result of talent but also by exploiting others, by "choking out competition, maintaining high prices, keeping wages low" and "using government subsidies" (251). After telling the stories of some of the icons of industry, he turns to the unions and workers' associations that demanded better conditions and wages. Again, there is ample material available. Some of these barons are still remembered for their philanthropy, which Zinn does not discuss. Reference to how the National Guard was called out to suppress a strike and "six hundred miners were rounded up and imprisoned in bullpens" (p. 270) is shocking and does not sound like any type of progress, or sharing of the Ameri can dream. Yet does anyone really think that people become millionaires wearing kid gloves, paying everyone fairly and never ever hurting anyone? Is anyone deceived by a one-sided story of how the rich grew rich? Zinn speaks of the need to be "skeptical of governments and of their attempts, through politics and culture, to ensnare ordinary people in a giant web of nationhood pretending to a common interests" (p. 10). However, he does not explain how government controls the academy, which largely comprises private schools and scholars with no particular reverence for the establishment. On the other hand, many ordinary people probably did not think Indians had a right to their land, so did not see equate against them with violence against people. Many subscribed to racist ideas about white superiority. Perhaps they did accept the "government's" version, although it is not altogether clear that this idealistic, official history exists. People know that blacks, Indians and women fought for rights, and still do. Throughout US history, voices spoke against wars, territorial expansion, exploitation and injustice and still do. I would like to have asked Zinn if he really thought that an "official" version of history fools anyone, other than its writers, if such a history exists. Referenses Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States: 1492 - PRESENT." Revised edition, 1995. NY: HarperPerennial.

5 Steps to Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence at Work

5 Steps to Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence at Work Emotional intelligence at work won’t just help you be a better coworker and employee. It is instrumental if you want to become a leader, or a mover and shaker within your field. Figuring out what other people may be thinking, wanting, feeling, and needing, and being sensitive and adaptable to those things will also, of course, make you a better person. Developing these skills would be a win-win personally and professionally, and may just be the secret weapon you need to distinguish yourself and achieve that extra level of success.Here are 5Â  strategies that you can use to start honing (and eventually mastering) your emotional intelligence at work. Start early and see how your career can change.1. Self-AssessIt’s not just about knowing who you are, or what you like, or even what your wants and needs are. It’s not even merely being honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. It’s about understanding these things and having the confidence to w ork from within them, with an aim of accepting your current state, but constantly striving to improve. If you master this, and know exactly where and who you are- in work and in life- you’ll be much better equipped to get where you need to go.2. Self-regulateDevelop your inner Zen master. Keeping your cool in a crisis will help distinguish you for leadership. And being disciplined enough to control your emotions and disruptive or destructive tendencies might eventually reroute them entirely. Cultivate calm and positivity. Worst case scenario, you’ll stress much less. Best case, you’ll become the office guru, then Queen of the Universe.3. Practice empathyYou may think your manager or your co-worker is a total jerk, maybe even an incompetent one. But before you write them off, try to imagine being in their shoes. Are there complicating factors in their lives that you may or may not know about that might be affecting their work or behavior? If you can try and imagi ne how others might be feeling, you’ll be better able to feel for them- and able to exercise compassion. The selfish upside here is that you’ll get much better at understanding what motivates people, and able to maneuver yourself and your team accordingly.4. Relate to peopleReal connections are hard to come by. Cultivate them. Don’t just treat people like stepping stones and distractedly try to maintain your relationships. Work at it. It’s much easier to do if you work on #3 and actually listen to and care about people. And it’s crucial for developing #5.5. CommunicateYou’ve heard a million times that effective communication is the biggest key to leadership and real success. That’s probably because it’s true. Cultivating all of the above skills will help you to avoid misunderstandings, miscommunications, bruised feelings, and mixed signals. It will make your team stronger, and it will make you better- at your job and at your li fe. You’ll have a much easier time developing your sense of purpose and working on your own and with your team to achieve that purpose.