On The Relative Intelligence Of Women A Review Of Two Essays Essays

On The Relative Intelligence Of Women: A Review Of Two Essays During times in which there is increased social concern over the relative equality of men and women in various areas of study, there is a common desire to determine whether there is an appreciable difference in intelligence in relation to gender. Two essays which document various aspects of the relative intelligence of men and women are ?Women and the Mismeasure of Thought? by Judith Genova, and ?The Variability Hypothesis? by Stephanie Shields. Genova seeks to criticize measuring the difference in intelligence between men and women. Genova was unsuccessful with this article in that the questions she raised were not satisfactorily answered, and there was an overall lack of citation. ?The Variability Hypothesis? is an essay detailing the history and arguments against the purported greater variance in male intelligence. Though the argument of Shields' paper is to some extent banal, her criticism of the variability hypothesis is extensive and satisfactory. The introduction of Genova's essay is a criticism of historically accepted measurements of intelligence. In the past using brain size as a measure of intelligence was not altogether unacceptable. When this practice was discredited by the obvious lack of intellectual superiority of whales and elephants, a new physical measure of intelligence was sought. Other body dimensions were given brief consideration as measures of intelligence until the example of Negroes, Australians, and Eskimos denied that theory. Genova argues that prejudice over which groups are socially allowed to be intelligent leads to bad science in determining measures of intelligence. I agree that the highly stereotypical practice of craniometry has no relevance to modern studies of male and female intelligence, though Genova fails to adequately prove the existence of such stereotypes in modern science. Genova cites the example of hemispheric specialization studies as an area of science affected by this same kind of social prejudice. Though traditionally men are seen as analytical (left-brained) while women hold a more holistic mindset (right-brain), studies have indicated that the exact opposite is true. Genova passes off the results of these studies as due to social influences where she has no right. According to Genova, this disparity in traditional views and modern studies can only be explained by intense prejudice on the part of the writers of such studies. On the assumption that this is true, Genova then seeks to hypothesize about such the computer as a trivial tool threatening to belittle the classically analytical intelligence of men, and explains that the newfound holistic intelligence of men is an attempt to avoid that belittlement. Genova explains the newfound analytical characteristic of women as an ?attack? based on ?keeping them out of the world of science and triviali zing their achievements in any field as routine and studied? (Genova 103). I would argue, however, that the modern stereotype of female intelligence would still place them as the more creative and holistic of the two sexes. Genova's comment on computers has no relevance whatsoever to male intelligence. If computers were a threat to male intelligence and a complement to female intelligence, it would make sense that men would be resistant toward the proliferation of computers, yet this is not at all the case. Conversely, computer science is a field dominated by men. Only 7.8% of computer science and computer engineering faculties are women, and a miserable 2.7% of tenured professors are female (Frenkel 38). Genova invalidates her own argument by professing that modern stereotypes about the role of women have led to views of decreased female intelligence. She is applying a stereotype of her own by implying without evidence that modern studies advocating a difference in male and female intellects are conducted and analyzed by men with overpowering prejudices. Genova's next argument addresses the comparison of brain lateralization to general intelligence. Brain lateralization is the term for the amount of specialization in the two hemispheres of the brain. A more lateral individual will have more specialization within each hemisphere (for instance, the left brain will control verbal skills more exclusively), while a less lateral or ?bilateral? individual will have no specific location of certain skills. Genova proposes that in general there is an accepted concept of greater laterality in male brains leading to greater intelligence.

Using “Etcetera” in Academic Writing Blog at EssaySupply.com

Using â€Å"Etcetera† in Academic Writing Blog Using â€Å"Etcetera† in Academic Writing You probably know it better as â€Å"etc.† you have read things that have used it; you have probably said it yourself. You may or may not have used it in your own assignment writing, but chances are you may not be using it correctly. One of the reasons is that how to use etc. is not taught in English grammar and composition classes. But if you plan on using etcetera in academic writing, you will need to understand the rules. And that what this article is all about. So here goes. The term â€Å"et cetera† actually comes from Latin, and it means â€Å"so forth† or â€Å"and other similar things.† And using etcetera in academic writing is perfectly fine, as long as you do it right. How to Use Etc. in Lists of Things In this case, you will want to know how to use etc. at the end of a sentence and, as well, how do you use etc. in a sentence, when there is more that follows it. The important point in using etc. at the end of a list is that all things in the list must be related. Here are some examples of both situations: They can live in any body of fresh water – creeks, ponds, lakes, etc. That literature class covers fiction, non-fiction, short stories, novels, poetry, etc. We were asked to describe the emotion (anger, fear, joy, etc.) we felt when we viewed the photography. Bring any small items that may be of value - coins, stamps, jewelry, etc. to the appraiser on Thursday morning. Note that all of the items in the lists are related. Another important point in how to use etc. in a sentence is punctuation. Because it is an abbreviation, you must place a period at the end of it, no matter where it may appear. You don’t need a period if you spell it out, but be sure your spelling is correct. Excetera, etcetra, and exedra are common mis-spellings, so get it right. In the 4th example, note also that there was a dash before the list, rather than a term like â€Å"such as.† If you use â€Å"such as,† you do not need to use â€Å"etc.† because the meaning is already clear. Don’t Use Etc. More Than Once in a Sentence While using several â€Å"etc.’s† in speaking or in informal writing is often used for emphasis, using etc. in academic writing is far different. You can say to a friend, â€Å"I have to get to the grocery store, a doctor’s appointment  and my haircut appointment, write my essays before the deadline runs out, etc., etc., etc., before I can get back to home and start cleaning,† is common informal language. But in formal writing, only one â€Å"etc.† is â€Å"allowed.† Etc., How to Use When Referring to People This rule is simple. Never, never, never use etc. when referring to people. â€Å"We studied the works of Shakespeare, Milton, etc. in our English lit class,† is not acceptable. Either name them all or come up with some other term, like, â€Å"We studied all of the most famous authors in our English literature course.† Never Use â€Å"And† before â€Å"Etc.† The word â€Å"and† already implies what â€Å"etc.† means, and using it is just redundant. So, you can say, â€Å"The courses covered all of the major forms of government, including democracy, fascism, communism, monarchy, etc.,† or you can say, â€Å"The course covered all of the major forms of government, including democracy, fascism, communism, monarchy, and others.† Etc. How to Use Correct Punctuation This rule is quite simple. If you use â€Å"etc.† in the middle of a sentence, and it is not enclosed in parentheses, then you must use a comma after the abbreviation. If it is in parentheses in the middle of a sentence or at the end of a sentence, no comma is needed. Examples: Joe and I stuffed ourselves on pizza, beer, pork rinds, candy bars, etc., and we really felt it the next day. After finals were over, Joe and I stuffed ourselves on pizza, beer, pork rinds, candy bars, etc. After finals, Joe and I stuffed ourselves with every bit of junk we could find (pizza, beer, pork rinds, candy bars, etc.). Using Additional Punctuation after â€Å"Etc† Remember, â€Å"etc.† is an abbreviation, and abbreviations call for periods after them. This doesn’t mean that you don’t use any other punctuation after that period. Use all of the regular punctuation that you would if that â€Å"etc.† were just another word – question marks, exclamation points, semis: Are you going to bring the paper supplies, like plates, cups, napkins, etc.? I hate proofreading my essays, papers, etc.! We are not going to get anxious about these finals; we are not going to lose sleep, eat junk, etc.; and we are not going to go in with a defeatist attitude. In General You will not find the use of â€Å"etc.† rampant in academic writing. That is because scholarly research and writing is usually very specific and detailed and does not rely on the reader to â€Å"add† things on his own. Oh, yes, you can use it, certainly, in essays you may write for an English course. But use it sparingly in research works.

Trevor comes to see the doctor Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Trevor comes to see the doctor - Assignment Example With time, the production of insulin becomes insufficient, leading to similar symptoms as type 1 Diabetes, which may be either gradual or asymptomatic. The patient is 61years and he has lived in Sydney for most of his life until he was 50 years, when he decided to relocate to his rural place. He leads a sedentary lifestyle and he has not undertaken physical exercises since he was a teenager. In addition, he faces the problem of lacking proper and healthy diet at home, mainly because he does not have a choice of the food he eats but has to accept what his wife prepares for him; occasionally, she provides him with steak and chips from fast food outlets. Risk factors he is involved in include heavy smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and having no control on his diet. The exercise regime is poor, although he admits taking brisk walks at home under pressure from his partner, a ritual that he does not enjoy due to physical discomfort of the exercise and lacks of endurance. He was once asked to be tested for diabetes type 2 but he declined. The physical assessment reveals raised blood pressure and blood sugar while lung field sounds are compro mised but can be heard. Other vital signs tested included heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and oxygen, which are normal routine checks for his clinical presentation. The initial results from physical assessments make the doctor to order further test for serum cholesterol and fasting blood to confirm the diagnosis. Investigation reveals raised serum cholesterol and a high fasting blood sugar, which points to the indication of Ischemic Heart Disease and Type 1 Diabetes. From the initial assessment, the patient’s lifestyle predisposed him to the risks of the diseases. The physical exam revealed that the patient could not endure resistance exercise, smokes heavily, and has never been mindful of his diet. Random blood sugar is abnormal, and the vital respiratory signs are

Journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Journal - Assignment Example Since this is true, the author can be said to be credible. The author seems highly trustworthy. This is because of how the points are brought out in the article. Trustworthiness of the author can be seen when the author shows the seriousness involved in animal right terrorism by providing statistical data. The author can also be trusted because they assess the situation and compare it with future possibilities. Here, the author states that if animal testing is not permitted, millions will die since research will not be undertaken. This information is authentic. Sound logic is used in the argument. This is because of certain claims made that indicate use of logic. For instance, it is logical that people would die if drugs are not produced. The overall claim being made is that if scientists are prohibited from using animals in their research tests, production of medicinal drugs will not be possible and millions would die as a result. The information provided is reliable because it provides data that is supported by relevant evidence. The overall information has been communicated appropriately making it

Network and Operating System Investigation Research Paper

Network and Operating System Investigation - Research Paper Example The Internet banking facilities consist of funds transfer, online shopping, credit card transactions, prepaid vouchers of different mobile phone companies and much more. Moreover, an Internet service provider (ISP) provides internet services to corporate organizations, home users, and small business. If the security of an ISP is compromised, then the hacker may be able to access all the systems that are ultimately the clients of the company. Likewise, ISP also provides site-to-site VPN connectivity from where all the classified data is encrypted from one end to the other. Furthermore, government based organizations also provide information services on the Internet along with defense agencies that are controlled and monitored by the military, once hacked, the impacts can be devastating if the hackers become vulnerable. This can also result in disrupting relations between the two countries. Similarly, a multi-national organization wants to be top of the competition by endearing the com petitive advantage, in order to make its presence stronger, several online features made available, providing more opportunities for hackers and cybercriminals. Why IDS As per network dictionary, IDS is defined as â€Å"Intrusion detection system (IDS) is a type of security management system for computers and networks. An IDS gathers and analyzes information from various areas within a computer or a network to identify possible security breaches, which include both intrusions and misuse†. IDS are of many types and organizations choose the best possible type that suits their prioritized mission-critical systems. The types include network-based IDS, host-based IDS, and software-based IDS. These types are further categorized into signature-based IDS which is also referred to as misuse detection, and Anomaly Detection. The functionality of ‘signature-based IDS’ is dependent on known signatures. The word ‘known’ is important because threats that are detec ting so far are categorized as known threats and are called signatures. Signature-based IDS only detect threats similar to the defined available signatures and do not comply with any new threat. Whereas, Anomaly-based IDS detect unknown activities within the network and detect them as threats and vulnerabilities. Defining Computing Forensics Discussing computer forensics in the context of law enforcement agencies or incorporate security, it will lead to a conclusion of a subject that covers the utilization of computers to catalog physical evidence that is analyzed in other forensics techniques including biometric identification, analyzing DNA and dental evidence. Current technological trends have revolutionized the methods of storing data along with different advanced access mechanisms. These systems facilitate law enforcement agencies by providing instant access to these characteristics. Although, computer forensics also facilitates the investigation of crimes within themselves in order to gather evidence associated with criminal activities that breach the violation of an organizations policy. The data can be extracted from storage devices including hard drives, flash drives, and memory cards etc. (Computer Forensics – a Critical Need in Computer. (n.d.)) Digital Forensics for a Database In order to conduct data forensics, some of the particular methods are mentioned below: Data dictionary extraction is achievable in flat files and ‘redo’ log files.

Dual Setting β-tricalcium Phosphate Composite Cement

Dual Setting ÃŽ ²-tricalcium Phosphate Composite Cement Dual Setting ÃŽ ²-tricalcium Phosphate Composite Cement Obtained by 3D Printing Abstract: Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) could be employed as synthetic bone graft substitutes or in the manufacture of scaffolds for tissue engineering. The limitations of these systems are their low mechanical strength, which limits its use to places with small mechanical stresses; however, the use of polymeric additives such us acrylamide (AA) and ammonium polyacrylate (PA), reinforced the system through in situ polymerization and increase the mechanical properties of the final piece. Moreover, the fabrication of the cement scaffolds through rapid prototyping technologies at low temperatures such as 3D printing, will allows the fabrication of more complex forms and customization of implants. Thus, the objective of this work was the evaluation of the ÃŽ ±-tricalcium phosphate/AA/PA system in the fabrication of scaffolds by rapid prototyping technology. The results showed slight differences between the porosities of the printed pieces (61% for cylindrical test bodies and 59% for rectangular ); but water absorption was significantly different for each type of printed form. Mechanical strength (1.3MPa) and flexural stress (3.2MPa) were lower than expected due to the high porosity of the samples although the morphology of the final material showed the presence of homogeneous and interlinked network of hydroxyapatite crystals. Nevertheless, printed materials might be used as spongy graft substitutes or scaffolds for tissue engineering in low-mechanical solicitation. Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) could be employed as synthetic bone graft substitutes or scaffolds for tissue engineering allowing the fabrication of more complex geometries and the customization of the implants mainly due to the possibility of be molded [1]. Moreover, the use of additive manufacturing technologies at low temperatures such as 3D printing permits the fabrication of pieces with enhanced performance over traditional techniques [2-3]. Usually, the obtained pieces have low mechanical strength, which limits its use to places with small mechanical stresses; however, the use of polymeric additives such as acrylamide (AA) and ammonium polyacrylate (PA), could reinforce the system through in situ polymerization and increase the mechanical properties of the final piece [4]. Some studies reports the use of calcium phosphate powders such as à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¢-tricalcium phosphate, tetracalcium phosphate, and ÃŽ ²-tricalcium phosphate [ÃŽ ²-Ca3(PO4)2; ÃŽ ²-TCP] as row material in the manufacture of scaffolds by means of 3D printing technology [5-8]. However, none of the reported studies refer the use of dual setting ÃŽ ²-TCP-based cement hydraulic system as proposed by the authors. Thus, the aim of this work was the fabrication and characterization of a dual setting composite cement based on ÃŽ ²-tricalcium phosphate (ÃŽ ²-TCP)/AA/PA by 3D printing technology. A Z310 Plus Printer Prototyper was used to print the pieces. Previously shyntethized ÃŽ ²-TCP powder [9], was mixed with ammonium persulfate [(NH4)2S2O8] and placed in the printer chamber. Powder layer thickness was set to 0.0875mm and binder liquid/powder ratio was 0.31mL/g. The binder was composed by a solution of 5%wt Na2HPO4, 10%wt acrylamide (AA), 1% N,N methylenebisacrylamide and 0.5% N,N,N,N- tetramethylethylenediamide [4]. Pieces in the form of cylinders and rectangles for compressive and 4 point bending assays were prototyped. Phase composition of the samples was determined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) in a PHILLIPSà ¯Ã†â€™Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ diffractometer (X ´Pert MPD). Morphological differences were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) using a JEOL microscope (JSM-6060). Compressive strength (CS) and flexure stress (FS) were measured in servohydraulic Universal Testing Machine (Instron 3369) with a load measuring cell of 2kN and a loading rate of 1 mm/min. Figure 1 shows a photograph of the printed materials after removing powder excess. Minor differences were observed in relation to the original sample size. Figure 2 shows the XRD patterns of ÃŽ ²-TCP powder and prototyped cement after 7 days in water/37.5 °C. After setting and aging, some ÃŽ ²-TCP peaks (JCPDS 09-0348) could be identified in addition to the characteristics peaks of CDHA (JCPDS 46-0905). Mechanical properties, water absorption apparent porosity and density can be observed in Table 1. Values of both compressive strength, and flexure stress were very low. Slight differences between the values of apparent porosity of the samples were found as a function of the arraignment of prototyped piece; on the other hand, apparent density values were the same regardless of the format of the piece. Microstructural features of the prototyped material are shown in Figure 4. Typical petal-like plates distinctive of setting and hardening ÃŽ ±-TCP-based cements can be observed both on the surface and the fracture surface. However, the size of the crystals in the inside of the material is higher (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¾5à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­) than those found in the surface and a greater homogeneity is observed. In addition, some unreacted ÃŽ ±-TCP grains and macropores from about 5 microns of diameter can be observed at the outward of materials. No evidence of the presence of the hydrogel formed during the in situ polymerization of acrylamide was observed. Usually, strength is difficult to reproduce for ÃŽ ²-TCP-based CPCs because of the variability of ÃŽ ²-TCP phosphate properties from different sources. Factors like mean particle size and distribution, specific surface area, wettability, and phase impurities markedly influence the properties of the resulting cement. Since the precipitation of CHDA is responsible for the adherence and interlocking of the crystalline grains, which results in hardening; the fall of the mechanical strength can be attributed to the low transformation of ÃŽ ²-TCP into CDHA (Eq 1) according to the results of XRD. The value of the apparent density was close to the theoretical density of ÃŽ ²-TCP (2.86g/cm3), confirming no transformation of this phase into CHDA. When polymerization is conducted in aqueous slurry of ceramic powder, the resulted crosslinked polyacrilamide hydrogel is able to bind the ceramic particles and provide strength to the resulting system [10]. However, the addition of acrylamide to the system apparently did not work as reinforcement of the ÃŽ ²-TCP-based cement as expected. Moreover, the presence of the hydrogel after polymerization could be prevented the solubilization of the ÃŽ ²-TCP particles and subsequently inhibited the precipitation of the CDHA; so the strength of materials decreases. Furthermore, the high porosity of the prototyped materials also negatively influences the mechanical strength obtained. Water absorption values were not significantly different from those found for samples of cement without additions hydrogel [11], which reinforces the idea that it could be possible that the in situ polymerization of the acrylamide have not occurred. SEM results showed the presence of large number of plate-like crystals of aged CDHA in both: surface and fracture surface. Differences in the sizes of the crystals are due to the mechanism of hydrolysis which is dependent on the diffusion of fluid through the layer formed and occurs from the inside to the outside of the material. However, even though the presence of this entanglement of CDHA is responsible for the mechanical strength, the existence of unreacted ÃŽ ²-tricalcium phosphate and the high porosity of the prototyped materials are critical factors in the final properties of the cement. In conclusion, it is possible to obtaining scaffolds of dual setting hydraulic cement by 3D printing. The mechanical properties thereof are low for applications where high mechanical stresses were required. Nevertheless, the obtained pieces were high porosity and could be used as scaffolds for cellular growth and cancellous bone replacement. Acknowledgment The authors acknowledge the financial support from CNPq-the National Science and Technology Development Council (Research Grant 190005/2013-0). 1

My Brother, My Executioner

My Brother, My Executioner was set on a time when the Hukbalhap was still fighting their questionable fight, and in two places, namely Manila and of course in the little town of Rosales. The book is one of the Rosales series after all. The Rosales part of the setting shows us a world torn in half: one is seemingly blissfully prosperous part that is under the shadow of the great Don Vicente Asperri, and the other one being the epitome of blight who’s farming community decided to oppose the evil feudal system. The latter part of course is where the Huks set up shop.The Manila part of the story represents modern life far away from the hardships of the rural areas and far away from deadly troubles of the feudal system warring with armed revolutionaries. This is the set of city lights, university life and luxury cars upon which the main character unknowingly falls in love with in spit of his grand ambitions. The two places in the story seem to reflect the two worlds the writer grew up in. He did grow up experiencing the affliction of the feudal system and the poverty it brought. He experience living with freedom fighters when the Japanese invaded this country.He also experienced city life when he came to study collage. It is also a great way for city folk to be introduced to the main character’s plight if they ever find him some one to relate to. The characters have been said to be unrealistic by those of the internet who found time reviewing this classic. The main characters came from unusual backgrounds and have unusual character development. Added to that, the cruel circumstances they’ve endured should warrant their less than conventional personalities. Luis Asperri, the illegitimate son of Don Vicente.He aspires vengeance upon his father for what he has done to his mother, for the sad situation that has befallen his childhood neighborhood and for his birth. He was picked up by his father some time in his adolescence when the resemblance beca me apparent – both his â€Å"father† and his maid mother, whom Don Vicente had paid bonuses for â€Å"special service† had dark skin. He was sent to Manila by his father to go to collage which he then quit to be a full time writer for a liberal magazine. He uses his writing to get back at his father but is unknowingly falling to the dark side. After all, Luxury, once sampled, becomes necessity.Trining is Luis’ cousin. She is also destined to be his wife. She witnessed the massacre of her family in some kind of great arson fire when she was young. She acted as Luis’s sister in their younger days. She advised Luis to go get himself a girlfriend but when he does she felt irritated. She doesn’t seem to be any typical female character from other famous Filipino stories from what she does with his cousin alone. Some people in the internet think that her feelings toward his cousin are unrealistic but he was the only thing that she could hold on to after what that terrible incident.Ester is Luis’ â€Å"girlfriend† in Manila. She is the daughter of his boss. He dated her, had a barbecue in the shore on a sunset. She is strong willed like Trining but maybe not as much. She maybe a spoiled brat and have issues with attention and family problems but she really wanted to become her own woman. Luis was not very much loving toward her as he was with Trining and this might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back and drove her into going out like Marilyn Monroe: death by sleeping pills.It is implied that she knew about Luis and Trining. Victor is Luis’ half brother with their mother. He recently became a leader of the revolutionary group Hukbalhap. He was an inspiring figure to Luis when they were young. They kept in touch by snail mail. Though both of them hate Don Vicente but only Victor managed to make things happen. Luis wanted to work his rebellion from the inside but the dark side is very tempt ing indeed. Finally, Don Vicente Asperri, he is generally the big bad of the story.He caused generally everyone besides himself great suffering and despair. He is a feudal lord on a time which it is suppose to be illegal. He has studied in Europe thus making him a don. His tentacles of power are far reaching with influences to the police, military, the justice system and even the church. He is friend to a bishop which helped a lot to make the marriage of his son with his nephew hassle free. If that was not evil enough, he keeps his wife in the tallest tower of the Asperri manor which he drove clinically insane.He is a typical example of the evil father which is popular in many ground breaking stories. He is rich and therefore very powerful in a land defined by poverty. He wanted his son to inherit his world of pride, power and deception to his son indicating that he really was as proud of his devious work as any decent villain would. The story is set in a world that the writer wante d to point out, there are evil people out there and they make this world excruciatingly inconvenient for most of the people. It shows how people are driven to wage war even at piece time.He has seen this happen with his own eyes most definitely but if he said it out loud he might have been shot dead. He showed how evil land lords are very capable and are very willing to wipe out an entire village for the sake of power. Whether that is based on fact remains as speculation and revolutionary rhetoric these scenes are the reason why the book was banned in the martial law era. The book also points out how large companies milk out great revenue from liberalist writings such as what the character Luis has done but are themselves like land lords and out of control capitalist giants.The Magazine and paper company Luis worked for was the media wing of an economic giant that itself was linked to his father’s. Its like throwing a turtle into a river; you thought you gave it a killing blo w but it was just riding with the current. The book was a great read really makes you empathize with the characters especially in the end when everything was bursting into flames. The genocide that Don Vicente orchestrated was either lethally unsuccessful or may have triggered the arrival mass reinforcements from the huks.Everybody is dead or against him, his wife got shot and his child turned up wrong, Luis might as well have strapped a bomb on himself and went for a kamikaze attack on the huks, that would wave been a very poetic end for that character and would have been a fitting enemy for the huks. A final though about procreation with once cousin: it is generally considered safer to have a child with the daughter of the male’s aunt than with the uncle’s, a fact that was not available to the Asperries which resulted in a tragic and ironic but predictable result.

Book Review “The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark”

Mr.. Stark uses a quantitative approach to explain his theories on how Christians could have gained so many converts without miraculous methods. This quantitative approach included the use of numerical projections based on historical documents and sociological propositions to produce his own prediction on how Christianity grew. He uses economic language is used to attempt to make sociological science accessible to the reader, and depicts converts as rational consumers making an Informed decision_ There Is a distinct academic style to his words, which can come across as linear and pretentious.Although he is not trained as a historian, Stark provides a sufficient historical context from which to understand the sociological information. Stark draws valid conclusions that should not be disregarded, but his style and format are not effective, as they do not truly cater to either a professional or non-professional audience. His emotional use of capitalized words, quotations, and Italics Is unnecessary and takes credibility away from his argument. The organization of this book does not follow a mall thesis, but Jumps around to countless propositions and ends without a succinct conclusion Rodney Stark was raised inJamestown, North Dakota. He started his professional life as a news reporter, but was quick to continue his education. â€Å"Following a tour of duty in the U. S. Army, he received his Ph. D. From the University of California, Berkeley, where he held appointments as a research sociologist at the Survey Research Center and at the Center for the Study of Law and Society†. He has since taught Sociology and comparative Religion at the university of Washington and Baylor university. He has published 32 books and more than 160 scholarly articles on subjects as diverse as prejudice, crime, suicide, and city life in ancient Rome. Most of his work has been with the study of religious sociology, and he has held various prestigious academic positions on boards re lating to the subject. â€Å"He also has won a number of national and International awards for distinguished scholarship†. 3 In The Rise of Christianity, Rodney Stark Is very clear about his professional training versus his historical interests throughout this entire book.He wants the reader to know that he is first and foremost a sociologist, and that his interest in including historical context is non- professional. In his preface, he writes, â€Å"I have always been a history buff, but for cost of my career I never really considered working with historical materials myself. I was content to be a sociologist and to spend my time trying to formulate and test sociology of religion†. The Rise of Christianity is a sociologist's theory on how Christianity became the leading power in the world.Stark wants his reader to know that he is not a historian, but adds historical information to give the sociological figures context. This is why he constantly reiterates that he is w riting for a non- professional audience. Stark begins by explaining the â€Å"arithmetic of growth†. This is a ERM he uses to explain to the reader that sociology has a lot to do with projecting numbers. In his first chapter, he establishes a probable growth rate at which Christianity could have grown to its size in population by year DADA.He projects what the population should have been based on historical accounts as well as figures from scripture, and uses references from other historians and sociologists to provide credibility to his projection. From here he explains that a steady growth rate of around forty percent per decade from the beginning of the movement would not have required great miracles to achieve its' large numbers by the year 350. Next, he presents his first reasoning for not only numerical growth, but the growth of influence and prestige in the Christian movement. He begins by refuting the claim that Christianity was initially a movement of the lower class es.He presents a few propositions about the value of converting to a new religion, and why it would have been probable for some early Christians to be prominent or wealthy figures in society. Stark explains that many of these conversions would have been Jews. He presents the social benefits of cultural continuity that specifically catered to Jews, as well as existing social networks among Jews and Christians. He uses social scientific theory to explain why it is probable that the mission to the Jews did not fail, as would have been previously thought.Christian doctrine paired with the plague ridden Roman Empire presented a favorable combination for making Christianity attractive to potential converts, and weakening the Pagan population. â€Å"Love thy neighbor as thyself†, a well-known doctrine directed Christians to tend to their sick during times of plague. Pagans â€Å"behaved in the opposite way†¦ Throwing them (the ill) into the roads before they were dead and trea ted unburied corpses as dirt†. This caused the disease to spread more deadly through the pagans.They left bodies in the open, spreading germs (which they didn't know existed) quickly. Pagans that were still alive were more likely to convert to Christianity, recognizing the strong community and more favorable philosophy. Starks next proposition for why Christianity spread so quickly had to do with its unique appeal to women, something paganism was lacking according to Stark. The sexual commitment of â€Å"husbands to their wives† was a new concept of this time. This was an ideology that was attractive to women, because of the lack of respect for women in pagan culture.Infanticide, abortion, and undervaluing the male life were explanations for Starks theory that Pagans lacked doctrines and values that would provide them with fertile women and an abundant population. Christian's marital commitment to one another, their value of the female life, and non-existent infanticide or abortion would have led to them having a significantly larger population according to Stark. Using these projections, he goes on to present numerical predictions that would have provided Christians with a larger population want to take refuge in the perceived safety of the Christian community.The Christians were well known to have grown mostly in urban settings, according to Stark. He paints a picture of what Roman cities what would have been like during the rise of Christianity, and the picture is not pretty. He specifically focuses on the city of Antioch, and describes a city with a life expectancy in the early twenties, no plumbing, cramped living quarters, crime, and constant natural disaster. Christianity told its followers that the chaos of the world was worth enduring, because your reward for your good work here will be in the Kingdom of Heaven.This theology, according to Stark, would have been especially attractive to inhabitants of Roman cities who constantly suffered. He concludes his final chapters by reinforcing his theory that the chaos and suffering during this time presented Christianity with a rare opportunity to grow from a cult movement to a world power. He emphasizes the gentle and kind Christian dogma, and how inhabitants of Roman cities and surrounding areas would have embraced that new kind of theology. He explains that Christian â€Å"virtue† was attractive, and this caused consistently high conversions.According to Stark, there was no need for miraculous conversion events to achieve Christian's scale of growth. The opportunity a disordered Roman Empire presented to he Christian cult, permitted a steady growth rate to continue through the first four centuries A. D. In his preface, Stark states that some of his chapters were written first as essays for scholarly Journals to see how an audience would react to his thoughts on the subject. This explains why the structure of his book is not fluid, and has no sense of continuity.He explains that this book was a bit of a hobby project for him to combine his profession of sociology with his love for history. â€Å"l am a sociologist who sometimes works with historical materials and who has, in preparation of this illume, done his best to master the pertinent sources albeit mostly in English†. His sociological conclusions are reliable and interesting, but his experience has mostly been science writing. Stark may need more practice writing to a non-professional audience to gain a sense of fluidity, and clarity.The format of this book is stimulating (for me, a person who loves scientific writing) half of the time, and the other half of the time it is difficult to read. An excerpt from his first chapter reads, â€Å"Since this book is a work of both history and social science, I have written it for a nonprofessional audience. In this way I can make sure the social science is fully accessible to historians of the early church, meanwhile preventing social scie ntists from becoming lost amidst obscure historical and textual references†.By stating that his chosen audience is nonprofessional, he gives himself the freedom to add in these unnecessary comments about sociologists being unable to follow textual references. Putting the sociological figures into historical context for Stark seems forced and slightly pretentious At the beginning of each new chapter, Stark clearly states his thesis, provides any previous propositions he may have had on the subject, and eaves little room for opposition.He provides ample sources of other historians and social scientists that are in agreement with his theses, but few refutations. Rodney stark provides a central proposition to this work in the first chapter, â€Å"Conversion to new, deviant religious groups occurs when, other things being equal, people have or develop stronger attachment to members of the group than they have to but it seems to be an enormously over simplified explanation of why p eople convert to new religions.He does not address any other possible reasons for making the hooch to convert to a new religion such as, connecting with the theology of a religion of which one has no social connections, having social connections in a religious group that are negative, but overlooking this fact to pursue individual growth within a religion, or having equally strong connections to individuals that associate with different religions, but making a choice to convert to a religion based on personal free-will.This main proposition that people only convert when their social connections inside that religion are stronger than connections outside of that religion mess more like one reason out of many, rather than the main proposition to tie in all other information. He makes very clear that his position is that, without strong social connections to members of a new cult, or sect, potential members will not make the rational choice to convert. Within this proposition, there are certainly many underrepresented converts. Mr..Stark excessively uses capitalized words, quotations, and italics to make his argument. Examples of this usage can usually be found in the first few sentences opening a chapter. His opening passage of â€Å"The Role of Women in Christian Growth† dads, â€Å"Amidst contemporary denunciations of Christianity as patriarchal and sexist, it is easily forgotten that the early church was so especially attractive to women that in 370 the emperor Valentine (Pagan) issued a written order to Pope Damascus requiring that Christian missionaries cease calling at the homes of pagan women.Although some classical writers claimed that women were easy prey for any foreign superstition,' most recognized that Christianity was unusually appealing†¦ â€Å"(p. 95) It is important that not only the emotional use of italics and quotations be cited here, but also the leading sentence. This sentence introduces this works next pitfall, which is that S tark brings up irrelevant topics to heatedly dismiss other scholars who he disagrees with.In the wording of the leading sentence mentioned above, Stark dismisses the unidentified contemporaries he refers to as denouncing Christianity as patriarchal and sexist. This disagreement is irrelevant in the context of this book, because he suddenly refers to Christianity as a whole (patriarchal and sexist) as opposed to the Christianity of the first four centuries A. D. In The Rise of Christianity hen Rodney Stark is citing historical documents regarding the four centuries A. D. It is clear to the reader that Christianity may very well have been the leading feminist religion in the year 370. It is irrelevant to rant about his distaste for contemporaries who think Christianity is sexist in general. William Grimes, writer for the New York Times, says it best in his review of another Rodney Starks, â€Å"The Victory of Reason†; â€Å"Mr.. Stark's pugnacity often gets the better of him. He is contemptuously dismissive. † References The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark

Australian Gold Rush Immigrants

Australian Gold Rush Immigrants Prior to Edward Hargraves 1851 discovery of gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, Great Britain regarded the distant colony of Australia as little more than a penal settlement. The promise of gold, however, attracted thousands of voluntary settlers in search of their fortunes- and ultimately ended the practice of transporting British convicts to the colonies. The Dawn of the Australian Gold Rush Within weeks of Hargraves discovery, thousands of laborers were already frantically digging at Bathurst, with hundreds more arriving daily. This prompted the Governor of Victoria, Charles J. La Trobe, to offer a  £200 reward to anyone who found gold within 200 miles of Melbourne. Diggers immediately took up the challenge and gold was quickly found in abundance by James Dunlop at Ballarat, by Thomas Hiscock at Buninyong, and by Henry Frenchman at Bendigo Creek. By the end of 1851, the Australian gold rush was in full force. Hundreds of thousands of new settlers descended on Australia during the 1850s. Many of the immigrants whod originally come to try their hand at gold-digging, chose to stay on and settle in the colonies, ultimately quadrupling the population of Australia between 1851 (430,000) and 1871 (1.7 million). Did Your Ancestors Arrive During the Gold Rush? If you suspect that your Australian ancestor might have originally been a digger, begin your search in traditional records from that time period, such as census, marriage,  and death records that generally list an individuals occupation. If you find something that indicates your ancestor was likely- or even possibly- a digger, passenger lists can help pinpoint the date of their arrival in the Australian colonies. Outbound passenger lists from the United Kingdom arent available prior to 1890, nor are they readily available for America or Canada (the Australia gold rush attracted people from all over the world), so your best bet is to search arrival manifests in Australia. Unassisted Immigrants to NSW, 1842-1855: This is an index of unassisted (or free) passengers who came to Australia at their own expense, including ships crewmembers.Unassisted Passenger and Crew Arrivals, 1854-1900: The Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters website has transcribed passenger listings and links to digital scans of original Shipping Inward lists from the Shipping Masters Office.Victoria Passenger Lists: Immigration records for Victoria 1852–1899 are online from the Public Record Office Victoria, including the Index to Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria 1852- 1923 and the Index to Assisted British Immigration 1839- 1871. Researching Ancestors Who Predate the Gold Rush Of course, your Australian gold rush ancestors may have actually arrived in Australia in the years preceding the gold rush- as an assisted or unassisted immigrant, or even as a convict. So, if you dont find them in the passenger arrivals from 1851 on, keep looking. There was also a second sizeable gold rush in Western Australia during the 1890s. Start by checking the outbound passenger lists from that time period. Once youve determined that your ancestors were likely involved in the gold rush in some way, you may be able to locate them in a gold-digger database or learn more from newspapers, diaries, memoirs, photos, or other records. Gold Diggers from South Australia: This free searchable database includes gold diggers from South Australia (1852- 1853) who brought or sent their gold home from the Victorian goldfields, including those who deposited gold at the SA Gold Assay Office in February 1852; the consignors and consignees associated with the first three mounted police escorts; and those who lost their receipts or failed to claim their gold by 29 October 1853.SBS Gold!: Explore the impact of the Australian gold rushes and uncover stories of the diggers through newspaper accounts, diaries,  and memoirs.The Goldminers Database: Search information on some 34,000 gold miners who participated in the gold rushes of New Zealand between 1861 and 1872, many of whom were Australians who went to New Zealand for only a short period of time.Fortune Hunters in Australia: This online database, available to members of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, includes names and other information extracted from the pub lished CD titled American Fever Australian Gold, American and Canadian involvement in Australia’s Gold Rush by Australian authors Denise McMahon and Christine Wild. In addition to data compiled from official records, archives, contemporary newspapers, and diaries, there is also material from correspondence written to or from fortune seekers, both from the goldfields of Australia, as well as communications penned during ocean crossings. The National Library of Australia: Search the digital collections database for the term gold photos, maps, and manuscripts related to the Australian gold rushes and those who participated in them.

Free Essays on Plastic

Introduction to Plastics Due to its length, we have divided this document into a number of areas that are accessible by clicking on the links below. If you prefer, you can simply scroll down the page using the scrollbar on the right-hand side of this browser window. To print out this document in its entirety, including the slides, click here now. (This file is a PDF file and requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader). - History and Significance of Polymers - The Structure of Polymers - Polymerization and Molecular Structure - Molecular Arrangement of Polymers - Characteristics of Polymers - Forms of Plastics - Common Plastic Resins Used in Packaging - Resin Identification Code History and Significance of Polymers Plastics are polymers. What is a polymer? The simplest definition of a polymer is something made of many units. Think of a polymer as a chain. Each link of the chain is the "mer" or basic unit that is made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and/or silicon. To make the chain, many links or "mers" are hooked or polymerized together. Polymerization can be demonstrated by linking strips of construction paper together to make paper garlands or hooking together hundreds of paper clips to form chains. Polymers have been with us since the beginning of time. Natural polymers include such things as tar and shellac, tortoise shell and horns, as well as tree saps that produce amber and latex. These polymers were processed with heat and pressure into useful articles like hair ornaments and jewelry. Natural polymers began to be chemically modified during the 1800s to produce many materials. The most famous of these were vulcanized rubber, gun cotton, and celluloid. The first synthetic polymer produced was Bakelite in 1909 and was soon followed by the first semi- synthetic fiber, rayon, which was developed in 1911. Did you know?... The origin of the word "plastics" comes from Greek. Its original Greek root means... Free Essays on Plastic Free Essays on Plastic Introduction to Plastics Due to its length, we have divided this document into a number of areas that are accessible by clicking on the links below. If you prefer, you can simply scroll down the page using the scrollbar on the right-hand side of this browser window. To print out this document in its entirety, including the slides, click here now. (This file is a PDF file and requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader). - History and Significance of Polymers - The Structure of Polymers - Polymerization and Molecular Structure - Molecular Arrangement of Polymers - Characteristics of Polymers - Forms of Plastics - Common Plastic Resins Used in Packaging - Resin Identification Code History and Significance of Polymers Plastics are polymers. What is a polymer? The simplest definition of a polymer is something made of many units. Think of a polymer as a chain. Each link of the chain is the "mer" or basic unit that is made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and/or silicon. To make the chain, many links or "mers" are hooked or polymerized together. Polymerization can be demonstrated by linking strips of construction paper together to make paper garlands or hooking together hundreds of paper clips to form chains. Polymers have been with us since the beginning of time. Natural polymers include such things as tar and shellac, tortoise shell and horns, as well as tree saps that produce amber and latex. These polymers were processed with heat and pressure into useful articles like hair ornaments and jewelry. Natural polymers began to be chemically modified during the 1800s to produce many materials. The most famous of these were vulcanized rubber, gun cotton, and celluloid. The first synthetic polymer produced was Bakelite in 1909 and was soon followed by the first semi- synthetic fiber, rayon, which was developed in 1911. Did you know?... The origin of the word "plastics" comes from Greek. Its original Greek root means...

Retirement Awareness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Retirement Awareness - Essay Example Early health problems often result in an early exodus from the professional arena. Larry: I decided to retire early in 2003. I had formed a consulting service named Benyshek and Hough Consulting Services Inc. The services provided by our firm are management of dataset and develop into readily-accessible form to be used by cattle production forms, commercial producers, breeders, feedlots, and packing plants. We provide the expertise in EPDs, ultrasound and all areas of animal breeding and genetics. The consultation service needed full time work in the firm and I considered early retirement from the office. Larry: I did not receive any training especially on retirement but I have gathered some information from my old colleagues who talked about it generally. The topic is of common interest to all employees and therefore I got lots of information and awareness on it. I understood the importance of retirement planning and saving money for retirement. I was aware of pension scheme of the university and started saving for the future. Larry: Yes. I am very much comfortable. I enjoyed my life while working as University Professor where I had the opportunity to write numerous Articles and made countless presentations on my subject and received international recognition. I am still working on my own and have no financial problems. Larry: Yes, although I have retired as a university professor but I am still working as private consultant. I am fully enjoying my time with my colleagues and family. Retirement relieves you from the hectic routines of professional life. At the same time it gave me an opportunity to spend some time with my family and kids for which I have longed all my life. This is certainly a relaxing experience with no liabilities and work pressure. All I do is have a nice time and look after my private business which is going pretty well for me. Larry: I am regular visitor of Church and participate in social activities of

Experiment or Quasi-Experiment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Experiment or Quasi-Experiment - Coursework Example According to William M.K. Trochim, in this type of research design the most often used group is the intact groups which we think are similar as the treatment and control groups. Two significant characteristics of the NEGD are clearly manifested in this experiment. First, the sample group that is used in the experiment is practically similar in the sense that these kids all have high self-efficacy in playing softball. The second characteristic is the non-random manner of choosing the group. All the components of the group have high self-efficacy in playing softball. This clearly shows that the components of the group are not randomly picked. This experiment is definitely a quasi-experiment due to the fact that the selected group is considered without any random pre-selection process, and upon which a variable is tested. In addition, the result that is achieved of this experiment is used in generating results for general trending. Although this experiment is done for the measurement of social variables, this experiment uses the self-efficacy measurement which can actually be statistically analyzed and