Impacts of the metropolitan person of the rise of the post-modern Essay

Impacts of the metropolitan person of the rise of the post-modern urban condition - Essay Example Within the US, a range of regional planning processes have designed place-type models to help the public and policy makers during the patterning of redevelopment and urban expansion. These model place-types will ordinarily indicate the land use mixtures and the densities, and in some cases, street patterning and building forms. Through the proposals, decision-makers can estimate the environmental and transportation impacts of optional area place-type blends, using I-PLACE3S and GIS-based software. However, irrespective of new attention to large-scale urban design, some suburbanization histories and the classic examination of urban forms throughout history; the developments of urban expansion for cities in North America have not been charted out in a systematic way. This report will detail a study of the evolution of spatial developments across the Sacramento urban area, using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software to map the growth and the changes that came with the growth. Ad ditional research from secondary sources will offer more information on the history of the urban area and the triggers of growth. The report aims to provide the morphological growth of the region, pointing out the full range of constructed landscapes created through its history, which will help in the management of urban growth. Related Literature The commonly available historical accounts of suburbanisation and urbanisation tend to emphasize the general aspects of growth, and the forces triggering urban development, compared to giving information on the systematic growth of urban forms. Most times, these accounts depict an impressive history, and may assume a normative outlook; Mumford’s â€Å"the City in History† of 1961 is among the iconic examples of both areas. The main focus of these accounts includes financial, cultural and the institutional factors that trigger growth. Others like Hall (2002) focus on the planning ideas and the visions of urban areas. Additiona lly, some scholars emphasize the urban histories of the urban areas, and many others have reviewed the historical account of certain cities (Abbott, 2008). Although, many of the works mentioned before focus on demographic, sociological and cultural change, some iconic planners, geographers and historians have directed more attention towards form. Through the analysis of official maps and designs, which are supported by other sources of graphic evidence, the information is used to offer information on the changes that have taken place in economic needs, cultural values and governmental purposes. Other accounts like Kostof (1992) focuses particular features of design of the city, throughout history, emphasizing on the reflection of purpose and meaning from patterns. Lynch (1981) pointed out the significance of different spatial aspects of a city, including edges, paths, nodes, districts, and grain, going further to explore the ways in which they affect the lives and the experiences of visitors and the residents of the region. Vance (1990) reviewed function and form in urban settlements in human history, directing special attention towards the stages of development, the location of cities and their connectivity – with reference to transportation and trade. Recent literature has been highly systematic in analyzing form, by developing models of form at

Sustainable destination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sustainable destination - Essay Example In several people’s mind, they would interpret sustainable tourism as sustaining attraction in ensuring that there is a continuous flow of visitors, but according to Leslie (2012), sustainable tourism is the development that meets the necessities of the present environment with no compromise in the capability of the prospect generations to attain their own necessities. Primarily, sustainable tourism advocates for the intelligent use and maintenance of resources with the intention of upholding their long-term feasibility. Therefore, this paper will critically evaluate tourism practices also how the practices align with principles of sustainability; it will also evaluate two tourism operations in order to analyze their sustainability practices. According to Leslie (2012), sustainable tourism is an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment and the society while generating income and employment for the community. Tourism frequently relies on high quality and stimulating destinations environment, therefore, tourism is the security to the economy, environment, and the social agenda to the government, since it plays a role in the conservation as a justification for the preservation and upgrading of cultural and natural heritage (Leslie, 2012). From the time when the Agenda 21 was the development intended for the Travel and Tourism Industry, the term sustainability has become commonly used word several debates in tourism. The idea of sustainability in tourism has stirred past the common definition of ecotourism to embrace several other concepts of tourism. However, the implication of sustainable tourism practices are far from universal and researchers have expressed their frustration at the slow pace of change (Leslie, 2012). While some industries and companies have changed considerably in the adjustment of behaviors in becoming more socially, economically, and environmentally responsible, it appears that the tourism

Was America Discovered or Invaded Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Was America Discovered or Invaded - Essay Example Invasion or intrusion on the other hand can basically be viewed as a forced entry or unauthorized interference with people’s way of life and introducing some new phenomenon which might violate the coexistence. Again, the subject of definition will also depend on the nature of entry and whether the locals appreciate the new phenomenon or not. Supporting Mark Twain and his observations on writing of history, arguably perceiving new ideas from the â€Å"beneficially† point of view, that is, looking at the aspects brought about by invasion rather than re-writing it from the personal or society’s achievements point of view, will make someone look at history from below. For instance, indemnification of injustices and insults by invaders may not be mutually agreed or assented but transmitting those events in a â€Å"new perspective† to make it look like you were in control at the time will be much more satisfying. According to Dussel, â€Å"the current struggles of second emancipation in the process of liberation in a bid to restore independence through historical indemnification†, can be defined as looking history from below as majority of the oppressed were not aware of their historic relevance and course of action by then (132). Depending on how one visualizes his current environment and how much he can influence it; through discovering and letting people around realize the new aspects of their environment, then he/she can re-write history â€Å"from above†. This is through presentation of â€Å"self-fulfilling† aspects of an event or a product from his/her understanding. Addressing issues of â€Å"I discovered, I conquered, and I evangelized from an intruder point of view, requires much subjectivity and justifications of what one has achieved to claim that. For instance the claim that the Europeans â€Å"think† that â€Å"discovering† a new territory becomes a mere valuable object is irrational and fi lled with prejudice brought about by ego (128). Discovering a territory that you found habitants in does not make sense. It only makes it look more insulting and biased. The assumption of the â€Å"new territory† clicks a notion that the inhabitant were not living and if at all they were living then they did not â€Å"realize† their lives. The misconception of â€Å"civilization and evangelization† from the people who would later torture their men who tried to regain the lost independence of their oppressed people to allow women and youngsters to win the war. Furthermore, approaching history in the discovery perspective, there are incomplete parameters in perspective dominance when writing is full of prejudice. Approaching evangelization and civilization from the insults point of view and the reprisals suffered during revolts diverts our perception on the view of our functional importance to the development of our history. Semantically approaching history from t he invasion aspect will divert the appreciative aspect of the natives in realizing their relevance of making history and can result into violation of honor and reputation by over reliance on the oppression aspect. For instance,

Me, Myself, and Why Problem Set Essay Example for Free

Me, Myself, and Why Problem Set Essay 1. What is the difference between self-interest and selfishness? Why is this distinction important when considering the competitive market economy as appropriate for society? Self-interest is looking out for your best interest and finding the best possible alternatives that will benefit yourself in the business world. Selfishness is putting your own interests above the interests of others and making decisions solely based on how they will benefit you. This distinction is imperative in considering the competitive market that is appropriate for society because you need to make sure that you are looking out for yourself but at the same time you should not make market decisions based solely off your own selfish interests. A selfish business man or woman will never be successful in the long run. 2. Does your textbook present only positive economics and avoid any normative economics? If not, give some examples of normative economics covered in your textbook. The textbook presents both positive economics and normative economics. An example of normative economics that is used in the textbook states â€Å"a value-free interpretation [of economics] leads to all sorts of abuses† (42). Normative economics incorporate subjectivity in to their analysis. Normative economics are heavily influenced by value judgment as well as theoretical situations. Normative economics are the opposite of positive economics. 3. What did Adam Smith believe serves to curb self-interest in an economy? â€Å"People care what others think of them and it is this desire for the good opinion of others that constrains people in their pursuit of self-interest† (41). Adam goes on to say, â€Å"this constraint is reinforced by competition and by the jurisprudence system† (41). Smith believes that others opinions shape what they pursue. Smith opposed the exclusive privileges of corporations and even went as far to oppose  regulations such as taxes which he claims gave individuals the ability to gain an unfair advantage. 4. What does it mean to seek the Kingdom of God in a democratic capitalist economy? How can it be done? Capitalism and Christianity can be combined. It may be difficult to combine the two because many Christians believe that it is better to always put the interests of others before yourself. However, Christ calls us to be good stewards of what He has given us and it is important to be good business men and woman that strive to be warriors for the Lord. Christ has not called us to be mediocre but to rise to the top and to shine for Him. The book states, â€Å"we’re not perfect, but we can strive to act righteously with in a system that accommodates both vice and virtue† (50).

Role of the Media in Democracy

Role of the Media in Democracy What do you understand by the concept of democracy? What role, if any, does the media play in a democracy? Discuss these using examples from different parts of the world. According to Almond Verba (1989) democracy this ideology was raised after World War Two from Western countries such as European countries and especially at the same time United States was rapidly expanding society through the movement towards technology, great uniformity of rationality of organisations in the world, and it made the direction of political change less important. Moreover, Amartya Sen (1999) argued that the ideology of democracy was originated in ancient Greece, back to two millennia ago, there were piecemeal efforts at democratisation, the idea of democracy was put into practise before it collapsed and replaced by authoritarian form of government. He continued explained that democracy cannot be identified with majority rule as in democracy should be defined as a complex demand including of respect the voting rights and election results, in a way it also requires protection of liberties, freedoms, legal entitlements, rights to freedom of speech, uncensored distribution of news and fair feedback. Besides that, the concept of democracy give a general meaning of legal and equal practise political self determination which hold within social, economic and cultural condition. It is a system of government that is formed through a fair voting system by all eligible citizens either directly or indirectly vote to elect their representatives. However, this is a long process which needs to take time to emerge, strengthen democracy, and gradually develop as a working system of governance. There are a lot of influential and factors causes the rise of democracy in different parts of the world, for instance, time changes, financial economic, educations, advanced technology and so on. Nevertheless, media does play a critical role and a big part in shaping democracy due to the invention of radio, television and especially the internet. Apparently media is an important mechanism to deliver information to the people in terms of political, social and economical current activities happening around our surroundings and the world. The form of news can be current issues and it also can be in a form of forewarned people about future problems and issues so that the people are aware of all kinds of activities happening. This is the main function of old media, one-way communication to the public. On the other hand, the introduction of internet has changed into two-way communication between the public and media, which has become the global attention today. The media are becoming more pervasive nowadays than they were back to few decades ago. The availability has expanded and usage of mass media are facts of everyones life. People nowadays are bombarded with all kinds of inform ation everyday more efficient than back times, and media is part of everyones life. Meanwhile, it enhances the public awareness of what is happening within and outside the country. Hence, people have become more knowledgeable than living without consuming media, it can strengthening democracy due to making comparison with the other regions or countries influential. According to Mccombs and L. Shaw et al., (1997 cited in Swanson and Mancini, 1996), summing up the importance of mass media especially the television news, continue explained that citizens voting decisions reflect impermanent public opinions instead of historical allegiances has eventually led to a struggle political situation depending the independent media establishment such as who in charge of the agendas of campaigns. In many ways, political system has a strong bond depending on the media just like how the media has to depend on politics too. Media has been always present, however, it is simultaneously always been blamed and praised from the people for many aspects of political issues. Nevertheless, the role of government is essential in democracy, and then media has a role to inform the public about governments action, in fact they should also analyse and give opinions without bias on their significance. Media might not be able to report news hundred percent without bias but they should try to minimise the biasness when reporting news. Journalist will investigate stories, reveal wrongs and raise issues that should be addressed. Hence, media is justified to play a big role in democracy as a balancing factor to enable the public aware of governments movement to enable good government. However, media industries can play a role in democracy but it is not easy to achieve. There are certain factors suc h as ownership power, profitability purpose, reduce risk and so on that will influence the role of media. So, further analysis of three countries, United States, China and Malaysia about their media system. Basically the media industries in United States can be divided to three types, media conglomerates, mainstream media and a lot of small media companies. Focus on the media conglomerates, there are six media giants in the United States which is the category of media conglomerates, major media companies. The Big 6 are GE, News-Corp, Disney, Viacom, The Warner and CBS currently in control of 90% of what the people read, watch and listen to. Back to 1983, 90% of American media was approximately owned by 50 companies but now the Big 6 owned the same 90% American media. Their international revenues are increasingly a large percentage of the income of these media companies. The implications of major media companies is that they has the ownership power to control over the media content as in their aim is to maximise profits. Corporate ownership of media is a factor that influenced media role. The news information will avoid biases of owners, advertisers and journalists themselves. Moreover, commercial advertising causes commercial media sending information to meet expectations of people due to market competition. These major media organisations has the power to influence media performances, thus, media democrats can considered not exist in the United States. In the United States, the press was assigned the label of the watchdogs of democracy and also fourth estate based on the American tradition of journalism due to media often exposing the act of offence of the power holders within a democratic system. (Jebril and Stetka et al., 2013 cited in Waisbord, 2000). Media in United States often been expected their press freedom would rank top in the world but in year 2013, press freedom of United States was ranked at the 32th in the Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders whereas actually Finland has got the first rankings press freedom for the third year, it has distinguished as most respects media freedom in the world. Therefore, media in United States is always been a lot lower than people thought or expected. US has ranked in a lower numbers for a few years especially during the period when Bush Administrations War on Terror. However, after Barrack Obama takes over, it was looking better but in the recent years. American media has a lot of issues in these recent years. Problems such as scandals about media manipulation, plagiarism, political propaganda, sliding profits, lower audiences and so on, those issues challenge the reliability, inaccuracy and bias in the United States media industry. It made it very difficult to let the public to obtain an open and objective view of many issues in terms of cultural, economic, political and military activities that involve in the United States. Media control and free press is crucial for balancing and functioning democracy, because if it is not truly free, there will be manipulation and concentration of views, that will undermine the democracy system. On the other hand, China has a different media system, China is authoritarian capitalism but becoming less authoritarian because their economy is booming. Zhao (1998) argued that during Mao Zedongs administrations, the media in China underlies a Party principle, it means that news media has to accept the Partys guiding ideology, propagate the Partys programs and policies, and the Partys leadership, follow the Partys organisational and press policies. Later on, he continued explain the Chinese media was reformed in the late 1970s and practices the Cultural Revolution, the objective from media has changed in the new era of economic openness and reform as in reporters began to report news in a more truthfulness, timeliness and broadened the scope of reporting news to the people. In year 2013, China is ranked at 174th in the Free Press Index from Reporters Without Borders. China is placed at such a low rankings because of several factors, internet censorship, action of extrajudicial arrests and controlling news and information system by the government. There is a special case in China which is the government restrict the people to use Google, Facebook, Twitter, and etc. These websites are very popular in the world but they are not available to access in China because of governments restriction and law enacted. However, China has their own version of Google that is called Baidu, and a social website in Chinese language called Weibo, these Chinese version of websites are popular and widely use among the citizens in China. Hence, it can be argued that media in China has limited freedom reporting news although they has gone through a market reformation. Chinese is still at the stage of struggling for democratisation and mass media in China is not transparent, hen ce, the media in China does not play a good role in democracy as well. Besides that, Malaysia is the next country chosen as example to further explain and compare with the concept of media democracy. Case (2012, p.26) argued that Malaysias political system always been labelled as a newly contested semi-democracy. Moreover, Mauzy (2006) continue explained that Malaysia has the characteristics of hybrid regimes which means it is a combination of both democratic traits and authoritarian features in Malaysian government system. Besides that, Heufers (2002, p.40) mentioned that Malaysia is steadily moving forward and strengthening democracy. Thus, Malaysia is a semi-democracy country, the mass media in this country has gained attention from the public because people tend to seek for transparency of media but then the media is under government controlled. Malaysia is moving forward to democracy as mentioned by the scholar Heufers, but the media in Malaysia is not transparency at all and there is no freedom of press. It can be described that media works for the government, every published press will not revealed the truth against the government or even the government servants. According to George (2006, p47) argued that the Malaysia government uses licensing systems to control over media industries by require publishers to apply annual permits, in fact, journalists and publishers can be cancelled or suspended publications licenses through state force. Wang (1998) also mentioned the Minister for Home Affairs using The Printing Presses and Publication Act to gain absolute control over the mainstream media in Malaysia. When the media is under government control, published news and information are not credible, then, media does not play a role in democracy as a balancing factor to ensure the action of government. The three countries chosen to discuss above, United States, China and Malaysia, they represent democratic, authoritarian and semi-democracy systems of government. Mainstream media in these countries are either dominant by big organizations or control by government. Subsequently, new media in these countries have a freedom to publish news except for China which has restriction in access to some websites. United States and Malaysia are free to have online journalisms publish news, internet blogging and freedom to express in social websites. In conclusion, media has the role to play in democracy to provide information to the people, analyse and give opinions about politically, economically and culturally activities without bias. That is the journalism professional standard role to fulfil public needs. But it is very difficult that media to achieve to play a role in democracy and free from interferences. Every country in the world has their own government and media system, it depends on how the government system works. No matter media industries are private own or government owned, the ownerships have their intentions to gain interest for themselves and put public at the second.

Essay on Hamlet and its Ophelia -- Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet and its Ophelia  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In Shakespeare’s Hamlet there is an innocent young lady who comes to an undeserved and unbecoming end. She is Ophelia, the subject of this essay.    Bryan N. S. Gooch in "Review of The Shapes of Revenge: Victimization, Vengeance, and Vindictiveness in Shakespeare," presents Ophelia as the powerless victim:    Harry Keyishian [. . .] clearly presents in Chapter I, "Victimization and Revenge: Renaissance Voices," a useful survey of the problem, drawing from books on the passions and moving on to consider not only the power of the revenger but the powerlessness of victims, e.g., the Duchess of Gloucester, Ophelia. . . . (1).    Helena Faucit (Lady Martin) in On Some of Shakespeare's Female Characters comments on the misunderstood character of Ophelia:    My views of Shakespeare's women have been wont to take their shape in the living portraiture of the stage, and not in words. I have, in imagination, lived their lives from the very beginning to the end; and Ophelia, as I have pictured her to myself, is so unlike what I hear and read about her, and have seen represented on the stage, that I can scarcely hope to make any one think of her as I do. It hurts me to hear her spoken of, as she often is, as a weak creature, wanting in truthfulness, in purpose, in force of character, and only interesting when she loses the little wits she had. And yet who can wonder that a character so delicately outlined, and shaded in with touches so fine, should be often gravely misunderstood? (186)    Ophelia enters the play with her brother Laertes, who, in parting for school, bids her farewell and gives her advice regarding her relationship with Hamlet. Ophelia agrees to ab... ...-30.    Lehmann, Courtney and Lisa S. Starks. "Making Mother Matter: Repression, Revision, and the Stakes of 'Reading Psychoanalysis Into' Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet." Early Modern Literary Studies 6.1 (May, 2000): 2.1-24 <URL: http://purl.oclc.org/emls/06-1/lehmhaml.htm>.    Pennington, Michael. â€Å"Ophelia: Madness Her Only Safe Haven.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. of â€Å"Hamlet†: A User’s Guide. New York: Limelight Editions, 1996.    Pitt, Angela. â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint of Shakespeare’s Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos.   

Positive and negative effects of legalizing drugs on the United States economy

The perennial problem of drug abuse has always been a controversial one since questions arise whether a sovereign entity is justified in attempting to curtail personal choice in the question of whether to engage in drugs or not.Opponents of drug use argue that a state has an obligation to protect its people against destruction even though the means to such an end is voluntary since it is generally accepted in accordance to the natural laws that all people have a right to life.Proponents of drug legalization have been quick to point out that human will, cannot be suppressed and it is economically futile to attempt to do so and hence it would be in the states interest to allow those in favor of such a course to indulge without interference. However, there are several moral, health and religious factors that have hindered those in power to actually consider legalizing illegal drug use since such recourse would raise fundamental ethical issues regarding their leadership as directed by th e constitution.Reasons for legalizing drug useThere are several reasons that have led some to clamor for the legalization of drug use. Firstly there are those who feel that the question of drug use is essentially related to personal freedom and that essentially competent adults should be left to decide for themselves if they wanted to engage in self destruction or not. It is not surprising then that some have argued that by the very nature of the state restricting drug use and in addition prosecuting users, the state is contravening the very constitution created to be its guide.Secondly, the United Sates uses a lot of tax payer’s money in their fight against drug use. Enforcement agencies are forced to recruit more personnel in their mandate to find drug traffickers and drug users. These law enforcers need to be remunerated when in active service and in addition are entitled to several benefits during their active service and in their retirement.This tends to make the federal and state government to divert huge funds towards operations of these enforcers and in the wages of their personnel. This in turn leads to shortages in funds which could have been channeled to other development agendas.The economical cost of combating   drug abuse does not end with the police but goes on to necessitate more expenses to be provided for the prosecution of these individuals and also to cater for those charged with the duty of deciding the fate of these supposedly law breakers.As drug consumption increases it leads to a need to hire more prosecution personnel and to avoid a backlog of cases more magistrates are hired to listen and pass sentences. This increases a burden to the tax payers and questions arise as to whether people should essentially pay for the negative choices of competent individuals. Furthermore, most people in American correctional facilities have been put there for drug related offences.The cost of maintaining a prisoner is quite high and it is the refore economically realistic to legalize drugs as a way of reducing expenses and therefore use it as a tool of lessening the budget deficits and to provide more funds to important sectors in the economy (Goode, 97-150).The fight against drug abuse has put America at a collision course with several countries perceived to be supplying drugs to the United Sates. Legalizing drugs would end this hostility improving bilateral relations with those countries and expanding markets for American products and allow investors to work easily in those countries (Friedman, 2009).In addition legalizing drugs would allow for the investment of several billions of drug money in other businesses to help expand the economy, provide employment and reduce other crimes.