Develop a two-page response paper that addresses the following Movie Review

Develop a two-page response paper that addresses the following questions (find in order instructions) about the Klute (1971) by Alan J. Pakula - Movie Review Example The advantages of her staying focus on the idea that by doing so she will be able to prove herself and the entire society that she is a self dependent woman who was able to fight successfully for her place under the sun and live a life in the manner that she wants to. However, one of the greatest disadvantages about staying is that the woman in question found herself in the center of rather dangerous events and if she follows this path, her life might be in great risk. Thus, up to a certain extent she is presented with a choice between life and death. When the main character considers leaving, she also sees several advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, if she quits she will be under the protection of the police and will no longer be afraid for her life. Keeping in mind that two of her â€Å"colleagues† died, the odds that she will be the next are rather high. On the other hand, there are other some disadvantages of leaving. Thus, if Daniels returns to the conventional life, she might feel that she failed as an independent woman since she was not able to live life on her own. It is my strong belief that the conflict that the main character experiences is resolved as her new life offers an unexpected aspect that she did not take into account: she develops a romantic relationship with the detective Klute who provokes extremely strong feelings that she is partially afraid of. 2. It would not be a mistake to point out that the movie in question challenges the description of gender in the movies as it was put by Laura Mulveys. There are several points that should be noted. First of all, this feminist argues that the potential viewer of the film would be a white male and the main character is depicted in a typical way that white men would find quite attractive (Humm, 1997). In addition to that, Mulveys argues that a strong women’s agency is partially advocated in the cinema of the end of the century and indeed one of the central

Sex Difference in Evolutionary Psychology Essay Example for Free

Sex Difference in Evolutionary Psychology Essay Disclosing human behaviour has initiated study and research from a capacious range of disciplines, effectuating varied perspectives on human behaviour. Essentialist or social constructionist perspective has been considered by psychologists to examine the origin of sex differences (Anselmi Law, 1998). Essentialism articulates that sex differences commence from inducements that are intrinsic in human beings, and present itself as an alternative meta-theory to conventional sociology. The discrepancy in sex differences across social contexts is considered by social constructionist view-point, understood by the interpretation of the sexes amidst specific contexts. Highly contrasting theories emanate when apprehending factors responsible for human sex-linked behaviour, thus making it strenuous to critic the factors that essentially manipulate and manage behaviour (Jureidini Poole 2000). Hence, the current essay provides a cogent explanatory framework for understanding the causation of sex differences, anchored primarily from evolutionary psychology, with criticisms reported against its concepts on sex differences. Sexuality is sexual behaviour, epitomized as the inherent behavioural predispositions, augmenting the probability of passing genes into future progeny (Buss, 1989). Human mate selection has generated a substantial degree of research, instilling a pronounce degree of sexual differentiation between the characteristics that men and women desire in potential mates (Buss, 1989; Buss Barnes, 1986). The division of labour (Durkheim, 1964) observed men inclined to be stereotyped and envisaged as bread winners, with the role of child carers and nurturers stereotyped as women, patriarchy acknowledged as the custom with aggressive nature expected from men, and nurturing and passive nature expected from women (Jureidini Poole, 2001). Males endeavoured to reproduce and desired the need to be paternal, and have evolved high risk high stakes game strategy to attract mates (Miller, 2000). Women are impulsively attracted to males with the ability to protect and provide for her and her children (Zajdow, 2002). Buss’s (Buss et al., 1990) remarkable cross- cultural study found that males are inclined to yield mates with physical attractiveness and youth, while women desire mates with more financial power. Evolutionary psychologists, however, have dedicated little attention to the synergy between the social and cultural environment quality. Social structural perspectives theorize the motive of mate selection mirror peoples effort to make the most of their utilities with respect to mating choices. Marriage is typified as functioning between utility-amplifying women and men to reach stability with economic exchanges (Becker, 1976), implying that differences in mate selection are accountable due to lucid economic arrangements than from the perspective of inherited predispositions (Tattersall, 1998). Eagly and Wood (1999), criticizing the evolutionary perspective, concluded that mate preferences are shaped by the society in which we live today, and conflicting assignment of role portrayed due to sexual division of labor. Potential accounts for these unlike views include the circumstance of each psychologist. Buss, a male evolutionary psychologist, grew up with an influential background in beliefs that behaviour is a result of how one adapts to their environment. Eagly and Wood elucidate the results contradictorily possibly because they are both females who credit strongly in equality for all, and therefore observe the differences in preferences as a consequence of the principles of today’s society; a key example being the preferred age of females at marriage, affected by a more career-oriented female than in earlier times. The concept that sexuality is learned is notably provided by sociologists. Studies amid animal primates exhibit abnormal sexual behaviour upon segregation of young apes from monitoring sexual behaviour. Subsequently, the affected ape will acquire sexual behaviour to relatively normal level upon remedial socialisation (the ability to inspect sexuality of other) (Jureidini Poole 2001). In cultures such as the ‘Mehinaku’ of Brazil, the men engage in limited sexual activity due to the conception of sexual activity as disgusting (Gregor, 1985). Sociologists have discovered that attractive features vary across cultures (Jureidini Poole 2002). Deviations from the Darwinian Theory have been observed in modern western culture, with the contemporary media depicting thin and lean body types of women body structures as appealing (Vida 1996). Gender differences in aggression are eminently variable. From an evolutionary  viewpoint, aggression can be suitable in a number of situations, for animals (Archer, 1988), and human beings (Buss Shackelford, 1997). The utility of aggression was to assign individuals over their accessible home range so as to secure the most advantageous utilization of a region and its nutrients (Lorenz, 1966). Such a functional perspective on aggression has been abdicated, with modern consensus that neither humans nor other animals are furnished with the aggressive instinct, and contemplated to be context-dependent (Buss Shackelford, 1997). With variations in society, the occurrence of aggression between males and females may alter. Increased use of direct and physical means of aggression among girls, have shown to occur in the last decade (Huesmann et al. 1998). One probable account is, perplexingly, the progress of the dignity of women in society. Human memory evolved because it enhanced fitness in specific environments of evolutionary adaptedness (Tooby Cosmides, 1992), receptive to subject relevant to evolutionary ï ¬ tness. Words reckoned for survival relevance in scenarios were subsequently retained at notably higher rates than words rated for relevance in a range of control scenario conditions (Nairne Pandeirada, 2008). Sex differences in spatial abilities may possibly have an evolutionary basis, with suggested that the division of labor consistently detected in hunter-gatherer societies may have led to remarkable foraging-related cognitive specializations of the sexes (Sherry et al, 1992; Silverman Eals, 1992). Men typically surpass women on tasks considered to be related to hunting skills (e.g., navigation), while women typically show a lead on tasks requiring memory for objects accumulated in fixed locales (Voyer et al., 2007). Males are inclined to excel in tests of mathematical reasoning than females (Kimura, 19 99). Although mathematical abilities may not have primary selective demands in the evolutionary past, that ability may be a by-product of spatial ability (Geary, 1996). The current essay explained certain concepts of sex differences chiefly from the perception of evolutionary psychology. Some limitations exposed in some arguments, for example the inference on aggressive behaviour in modern times cannot be satisfactory annotated by social constructionist views, while evolutionary views are more credible. As social beings, our surroundings and  cultures will play a crucial role when flourishing our identity, whether this affects us biologically when evolving. Hence it is vital to incur comprehensions from many perspectives and deem the supremacy of evolution, the quagmire of social constructions and the impact of environment when determining sex differences in human beings.

Euthanasia Essay - Assisted Suicide as an Unethical Option :: Free Euthanasia Essay

Euthanasia as an Unethical Option Should a question of right and wrong be compromised for a question of convenience? "When I regained consciousness 3 days later, I was in Portland Hospital paralyzed (at first) from the neck down. I also had a severe concussion, collapsed left lung and crushed left collarbone. A pair of metal tongs had been drilled in my skull and attached to weights to stabilize my neck and I was on a slab of bed that turned me from back to front every 4 hours....After I surprised the doctors and lived to get into rehab, they told me, at that time, the average lifespan of a male quadriplegic was 36 years... I am now 45 now and could look back on that laughingly... During that period there were MANY times when I didn't know if I wanted to go on" (How Physician...). This is the story of a quadriplegic man who has been paralyzed from the chest down for over 24 years from an extreme car accident in 1975. His life seemed unbearable. These hopeless thoughts made him consider physician assisted suicide or e uthanasia as the easy way out of a tragic situation. Although the doctors had confirmed that he would shortly pass away, he kept fighting and is still alive now, living as a successful journalist. He is incredibly grateful that physician assisted suicide or euthanasia was not an option at that time. This case and many others show how euthanasia or assisted suicide is a bad idea. Euthanasia is the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment. But euthanasia cannot be just rolled up into one definition. There are many different ways and instances in which euthanasia can be preformed. There is passive euthanasia and active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is withdrawing medical treatment from a patient with the intention of a patient's death. For example, if a patient needs some kind of respirator or machine to survive, and a doctor disconnects that machine, the patient will probably die soon. Another example of passive euthanasia is the "do not resuscitate order." Basically, in passive euthanasia nothing is done to preserve a patient's life. Active euthanasia is when precise steps are taken to cause a patient's death, such as a doctor giving a patient a lethal injection or suffocating them with a plastic bag.

Impact of social media marketing Essay

Over the years communication has evolved into a revolutionary platform, through the invention and development of Internet. The Internet has evolved from a means to facilitate data, to a platform of public communication through social media. Social media has opened up a plethora of opportunities for businesses to advertise, promote and market themselves to customers. This research paper discusses how social media has changed the scope of the traditional customer relationship marketing in today’s business world. IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA Since the beginning of time, communication has always played a major role in normal day-to-day activity. Communication has evolved and gone through significant changes through out the years and has shifted the way humans interact with each other. Through new technologies and inventions such s the Internet, communication has grown significantly from the traditional face-to-face interaction. The Internet has revolutionized everyday human interaction and communication through incorporating social media. Social media has impacted every aspect of human interaction from personal lives to the business world. The business world however, has especially been impacted by the application of social media. As social media continues to grow as a marketing tool, Many companies have incorporated social media into their daily business activity for brand awareness, target market reach, business expansion and customer interaction. However, since companies have incorporated social media marketing, traditional customer relationship marketing is decreasing because companies are relying heavily on social media marketing. What Social Media Is Social media is a means or forum in which individuals, groups, or organizations interact and share information, thoughts or ideas. Adam J. Mills defines social media as â€Å" Internet and web-based technology platforms designed to encourage social interaction between individuals, groups and organizations.† (Mills, 2012). Social media has become increasingly popular because of its ability to serve as away to connect with others in the world that may or not be in the same region. Mills goes on to say that, â€Å" Social media are IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA part of the phenomenon known as ‘Web.2.0’. Web 2.0 is best understood as the result of the evolution of technology and application form the proverbial early days of the internet where communications were largely one-way and the Internet was used as a source of information retrieval.† (Mills, 2012). Social media consist of many tools and platforms where individuals and organizations interact. These tools play a major role in the existence and stability of the social media network. Social Media Tools and Their Functions Social media tools are those elements that are used by the public, organization or businesses and little or no cost to communicate or network. One of the top social media tools today is Facebook. According to Emily Raush who quoted â€Å"Top 10 Websites† â€Å"Facebook is the number one most visited, taking up 10 percent of all Internet visits. It is also by far the most widely consumer-used social media site.† (Raush, 2011). Facebook is a social media tool that everybody in all age groups and in all backgrounds are familiar with. Facebook has created ways in which users can create profiles and interest groups that cater to an individual or organizations needs and motives. Facebook users can exchange messages, receive notifications, add friends and subscribe to areas of interest. Another social media tool is Twitter, which is a micro blogging site that â€Å"allows users to send out real-time updates to followers for a quick and easy read.† (Raush, 2011). Twitter consists largely of opinion sharing and short messages. Twitter is a forum where individuals follow people or companies of interest to send or read what others are IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA saying about any given subject. This forum can be used through a desktop or mobile device. YouTube is another social media marketing tool that has become very popular over the years. â€Å" YouTube is currently one of the biggest search engines being used today. YouTube is a video-sharing website that is primarily updated by subscribed users who upload videos. Individuals, subscribed or unsubscribed, have the ability to watch videos, like them and comment on their thoughts of the videos. Social Media in the Business World Since the development of these various social media tools, companies have used they’re development and growth to gain competitive advantage in the markets. Companies use social media tools to market their brand and interact with their target market. One of the primary reasons businesses utilize social media to market is because social media marketing reduces the cost of advertising. With forums such as Facebook, companies have the opportunity to create a profile for their product or service and inform their target market about what they are all about and the benefits of their product with out having to spend a dime. Social media marketing is one of the most cost effective ways for a company to gain exposure and advertise a company. Social media also creates spreadability or exposure for a company among consumers. Mills states â€Å"spreadability refers to the ease with which a campaign flows across social networks.† (Mills, 2012). The ability for a brand or company to spread through social media tools such as Twitter and YouTube, give the company leverage and helps the business get their name out without much effort. The ability for the companies IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA name to get out can be through word of mouth on these social media tools, where customers share videos or share their opinions of how the product or service worked for them. â€Å" Since people are most interested in what their friends have to say about something, a friend’s review of a company can go along way in helping generate exposure for that business† (Raush, 2011). Social media marketing can also promotes brand engagement. Companies can engage their target market by creating interest groups for their product or service. By utilizing social media tools like Facebook, business can set up an interest group specifically catered to their brand and consumers can interact by liking the group, commenting on the company profile and making suggestions and sharing the content with others to expand the companies reach. Donna Hoffman and Marek Fodor of the MIT Sloan Management Review state that â€Å" highly engaged social media campaigns involve user-generated content on the part of the consumer, reinforcing loyalty to the brand and making the customer more likely to commit additional effort to support the brand in the future.† (Hoffman and Fodor, 2010). Brand engagement also creates a way for companies to know what is that a consumer wants and needs. Interest groups can contribute to the marketing research efforts of the business. As stated by Hoffman and Fodor â€Å"social media can improve the efficiency of market research efforts when, for example, marketers set up online prediction markets to crowd source new ideas or mine online forums that allow customers to comment on product concepts and offer improvements for existing products.† (Hoffman and Fodor, 2010). Social media marketing has revolutionized the way that businesses utilize social media tools to expand and grow their business. However social media has affected and negatively impacted customer relationship marketing. Social Media Marketing vs. Customer Relationship Marketing Over the years customer relationship marketing has played a major part in the growth of any business. Customer relationship marketing is what most business are all about. Customer relationship marketing is where businesses learn their customer’s needs, build customer loyalty and trust. Companies now rely so heavily on social media marketing that, they have neglected and forgotten the importance of customer relationship marketing. The problem with social media marketing is that the public primarily controls the content. Companies might find themselves trying to defend their brand based on what individuals have said to discredit that business. Customer relationship marketing is important in this aspect because business can have that one-on–one interaction with their, customers to ensure that the customer has the experience for themselves, and is not going based on the opinions of others. The businesses have the opportunity to build trust between themselves and the customer if customer relationship marketing is retained. Trust is an important part of a relationship between customers and businesses. Sometimes social media marketing can impede that trust because the opinion of others can impact and or form the mind of potential customers and could in turn shorten the intended reach of a customer. Social media marketing can also become over bearing and create a situation with customer where the customer feels like the company is being intrusive or annoying. Social media marketing also strikes concern because as Jack Yan discussed in IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA his article, sometimes, social media tools can bee unreliable. Yan stated that Twitter, which is much harder to patrol and easier to manipulate, has its share of fake accounts with programs adding followers and tweeting fake messages.† (Yan, 2011). Conclusion Social media marketing is a great way for businesses to market their brand and get awareness out there about their product or service. Social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have hand a tremendous impact on the advertising and growth of companies. Social media tools have allowed consumers to engage in the advancement of brands in that customers can suggest improvement or give their opinion on a brand.   However, because social media has evolved, customer relationship marketing has been impacted. Businesses rely heavily on social media marketing and in turn are leaving their brands and reputations in the hands of those who can alter their customer brand and market strategy. Social media is constantly growing and in turn social media marketing will continue to grow and revolutionize. Social media, if used correctly, can create the tools necessary for a company or business to have a competitive advantage and create stronger brand equity. IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA Reference Hoffman, D. L., & Fodor, M. (2010). Can you measure the roi of your social media marketing? MIT Sloan Management Review, 52(1), 41-49. Mills, A. J. (2012). Virality in social media: The spin framework. Journal of Public Affairs, doi: 10.1002/pa.1418 Raush, E. R. (2011). Social media: Revolutionizing the business world. (Unpublished master’s thesis, Liberty University), Available from Berkeley Electronic Press. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1267&context=honors Yan, J. (2011). Social media in branding: Fulfilling a need. Journal of Brand Management, 18(9), 688-696. doi: 10.1057

Interview on High School Experience Essay

Russ Posten, neighbor and close family friend, entered the breakfast room of my house for the interview, happy and positive, true to his nature. Sitting down, eager to begin, he gave me a brief over-view of his life. He lived in California until fifth of sixth grade, when he moved to Spokane, Washington. He started off at Jefferson Elementary, â€Å"was poured into Sacajawea Middle School, and dumped into Lewis and Clark. † In elementary and middle school he reported being socially awkward, but for Posten, high school was a time of social prosper. While these four years were a lot of fun, they were also very trying and life-defining. During the high school years, Russ was a social butterfly. Though many factors had an effect on him, he feels that the social set which he belonged to was very important. â€Å"I wasn’t a jock, and I wasn’t a popular kid. [†¦] My set was not singular. † Posten and a few close friends were liked by everyone, and were always busy. He estimates that he dated twenty to thirty girls during high school. His current friendships are very diverse. A lot of my friends are very diverse- some die-hard redneck idiots—why am I friends with these people? But they all have redeeming qualities. † We both chuckle, and Russ agrees to a banana-chocolate chip muffin, just out of the oven. He casually added that not having a clique helped to formulate the interactions he has with others today. For Russ, sophomore year was extremely life shaping, due to the death of two close frien ds. Andrea Richards, a close friend who was dating a buddy, committed suicide. On Russ’ seventeenth birthday, â€Å"She tried to take an entire bottle of Advil, and by the time she realized what she had done, she didn’t want to die, but it was too late. †At this point, Russ’ tone changes dramatically, as he shifts uncomfortably in his seat â€Å"There was a huge ordeal; they were trying to save her. It was very traumatic. † Within six months of Andrea’s death, a close friend, Chip, also died. These experiences continue to affect Russ. â€Å"I guess for me, it made me very pragmatic in life, and steered me towards certain things, like my religion [He is Buddhist]. This is because I saw a lot of death in high school. † Noting that his favorite part of high school was the social aspect, Posten admits that he â€Å"honestly hated high school†. His least favorite part was thinking that, â€Å"the whole educational process was a joke. † In elaboration, Russ told me that he took college much more seriously because he genuinely cared about what he was studying. Wishing he had been a bit more studious, Posten has another major regret: lack of school-sport involvement. Russ recollects, with mock-shame, â€Å"The baseball team drafted me as a pitcher, but I couldn’t play if I didn’t cut my hair. And I didn’t cut my hair. † All most twenty years later, he still finds himself wondering what might have come of it, had he joined the team. Posten needs to pick up his daughter, who is a third-grader at Jefferson, and I need to leave for ballet. As he walks out the door, Russ half-jokingly adds that if my English teacher ever need a guest speaker, 1992’s ASB president is always available.

Free Essays on Can Computer Think

Most people think computers will never be able to think. That is, really think. Not now or ever. To be sure, most people also agree that computers can do many things that a person would have to be thinking to do. Then how could a machine seem to think but not actually think? Well, setting aside the question of what thinking actually is, I think that most of us would answer that by saying that in these cases, what the computer is doing is merely a superficial imitation of human intelligence. It has been designed to obey certain simple commands, and then it has been provided with programs composed of those commands. Because of this, the computer has to obey those commands, but without any idea of what's happening. Indeed, when computers first appeared, most of their designers intended them for nothing only to do huge, mindless computations. That's why the things were called "computers". Yet even then, a few pioneers especially Alan Turing envisioned what's now called "Artificial Intelligence" - or "AI". They saw that computers might possibly go beyond arithmetic, and maybe imitate the processes that go on inside human brains. Today, with robots everywhere in industry and movie films, most people think Al has gone much further than it has. Yet still, "computer experts" say machines will never really think. If so, how could they be so smart, and yet so dumb? ================== CAN MACHINES BE CREATIVE? ================== We naturally admire our Einsteins and Beethovens, and wonder if computers ever could create such wondrous theories or symphonies. Most people think that creativity requires some special, magical "gift" that simply cannot be explained. If so, then no computer could create - since anything machines can do (most people think can be explained. To see what's wrong with that, we must avoid one naive trap. We mustn't only look at work... Free Essays on Can Computer Think Free Essays on Can Computer Think Most people think computers will never be able to think. That is, really think. Not now or ever. To be sure, most people also agree that computers can do many things that a person would have to be thinking to do. Then how could a machine seem to think but not actually think? Well, setting aside the question of what thinking actually is, I think that most of us would answer that by saying that in these cases, what the computer is doing is merely a superficial imitation of human intelligence. It has been designed to obey certain simple commands, and then it has been provided with programs composed of those commands. Because of this, the computer has to obey those commands, but without any idea of what's happening. Indeed, when computers first appeared, most of their designers intended them for nothing only to do huge, mindless computations. That's why the things were called "computers". Yet even then, a few pioneers especially Alan Turing envisioned what's now called "Artificial Intelligence" - or "AI". They saw that computers might possibly go beyond arithmetic, and maybe imitate the processes that go on inside human brains. Today, with robots everywhere in industry and movie films, most people think Al has gone much further than it has. Yet still, "computer experts" say machines will never really think. If so, how could they be so smart, and yet so dumb? ================== CAN MACHINES BE CREATIVE? ================== We naturally admire our Einsteins and Beethovens, and wonder if computers ever could create such wondrous theories or symphonies. Most people think that creativity requires some special, magical "gift" that simply cannot be explained. If so, then no computer could create - since anything machines can do (most people think can be explained. To see what's wrong with that, we must avoid one naive trap. We mustn't only look at work...

A Crowded Shopping Centre Essays

A Crowded Shopping Centre Essays A Crowded Shopping Centre Essay A Crowded Shopping Centre Essay Then there were the pairs of housewives who were chiefly concerned with price. They could be seen making enquiries about prices and bargaining for better ones. Couples, young and old, sat eating fast food and talking in low voices. At every other corner, there was a small stand and a young enthusiastic sales person trying hard to attract the attention of the shoppers to the amazing prowess of some innovative product. Thought they were getting a good deal of attention judging by the crowds that mulled about the stands. Banners proclaiming huge discounts swayed about from the ceiling of the centre. It was still fairly early in the morning for people to be shopping but then of course, it was the season of sales. All over the tiny town, huge shops were holding sales. Almost everything could be got at a bargain. During the current period of unemployment and retrenchment, the sale was probably what many had looked forward to. Only then could they afford to buy that branded pair of shoes or that glittering diamond bracelet that was at other times, priced well beyond the average mans pocket. As sat and waited, I noticed that there were a fair number of security officers walking about. In particular, they lingered about the stretch of jewelry shops further down the centre. The centre held many different shops selling varieties of products that ranged from household stuff to branded, designer goods to exclusive jewelry. The shops were mainly situated on two sides of a sloping stretch of road. The road was closed for traffic to enable shop owners to walk about more comfortably and in safety. I perceived that there were crowds of people at the jewelry shops. Amidst the hustle and bustle, a man in dark glasses and dressed entirely in black stood by the side of a lamp-post, at the end of the raw of shops. Two security persons seemed to be in heated conservation with him. Then, almost casually, the security man produced some small bags from the inside of their shirts and quickly placed them into the hands of the man in black who quickly disappeared into the crowd. Sat there, deeply baffled. The crowd was lost in its affairs.

Native American Two-Spirit

Native American Two-Spirit In many Native American communities, the term Two Spirit- sometimes twospirited, depending on the source- is used to refer to indigenous members who fall outside of traditional gender roles. This term is not a substitute for homosexuality; instead, it applies to people who are considered to be a third gender, and typically hold a sacred ceremonial role within their culture. Two Spirit Key Takeaways Two Spirits are Native American or First Nations individuals who identify with both male and female genders.There is some question about the historical context of Two Spirits, because there are hundreds of Native tribes, all of which have their own unique cultural traditions.It is inappropriate for a non-Native individual to use the term Two Spirit to describe themselves. Origins and Definition of the Term Prior to the 1990s, Native people who identified as a third gender were known by the pejorative anthropological term  berdache, which is a non-Native word typically associated with male prostitutes. However, at a Winnipeg conference for gay and lesbian Native Americans in 1990, the term Two Spirit was coined to refer to Natives who define themselves as having both masculine and feminine spirits. Since that time, according to John Leland of the  New York Times, Two-Spirit societies have formed in Montana as well as in Denver, Minnesota, New York State, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Tulsa, and elsewhere, organized around what members assert was once an honored status within nearly every tribe on the continent. Male-bodied Two Spirit people are found in many Native American and First Nations communities. In the past, they fulfilled traditionally male roles, such as fighting in wars and going to historically male activities like sweat lodge ceremonies. However, at the same time, they took on traditionally female tasks as well- cooking, washing, and childcare, for example- and often wore female dress. Author Gabriel Estrada says in Two Spirits,  Ndleeh, and LGBTQ2 Navajo Gaze that while not all indigenous nations have rigid gender roles, among tribes that do, the range includes feminine woman, masculine man, feminine man, and masculine woman. In many Native nations, the Two Spirit person found a role in their community as a shaman, visionary, keeper of oral traditions, matchmaker or marriage counselor, mediator in time of disputes, and caretaker of the vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, or injured warriors. They were often seen as sacred beings, whose dual genders were a gift from the Great Spirit. Historical Accounts We Wha (1849-1896), a Zuni, full length portrait. Photographer  John K. Hillers  /  Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology  / Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons During the colonization of North America, indigenous groups were still maintaining their traditions orally; there was no written history among the tribes. However, there was a fair amount of documentation among European invaders, many of whom kept journals of their travels. In California, Don Pedro Fages led a Spanish expedition into the territory during the late eighteenth century. He wrote in his diary of homosexual practices among the indigenous populations he encountered, describing Indian men who, both here and farther inland, are observed in the dress, clothing, and character of women- there being two or three such in each village. In 1722, a French explorer, Claude-Charles Le Roy, also called Bacqueville de La Potherie, described that among the Iroquois, there was an awareness of a third gender in other tribal groups. He said, Perhaps these male Iroquois are so horrified by [doing] women’s work because they have seen among the nations of the south some men who act like women, and give up men’s clothing for those of women. You see this very rarely among the Iroquois and they condemn this way of life by the light of Reason. It is likely that the group he referred to was the Cherokee Nation. A fur trader named Edwin T. Denig spent two decades with the Crow Nation in the early 1800s, and wrote that men who dressed as women and specialized in womens work were accepted and sometimes honored... Most civilized communities recognize but two genders, the masculine and feminine. But strange to say, these people have a neuter. Denig also wrote of a woman who led men into battle and had four wives. It is likely he was referring to a warrior known as Woman Chief. She was adopted by the Crow at age ten, and by all accounts was a tomboy, and only interested in male pursuits. Her adoptive father, whose sons had all been killed, encouraged her, and when he died, she took over his lodge and led men into battle against the Blackfoot. Details of Woman Chiefs exploits were chronicled by traders and other contemporaries, and it was generally acknowledged that she was a Two Spirit. Although the term Two Spirit itself is relatively new, the concept is not. There are numerous tribal-specific names, traditions, and roles among the different Native nations. The Lakota winkte were viewed as people who were neither male nor female, and whose androgyny was an inborn character trait, or the result of a sacred vision. They often occupied a distinct spiritual role in the community, fulfilling ceremonial duties that could not be performed by individuals who were male or only female. The winkte took on roles as seers, medicine people, healers. During times of battle, the visions of a winkte could guide warriors into their fight, and help determine steps taken by war chiefs. Among the Cheyenne, the HÄ“Ä“ mÄÆ'n Ä•h held a similar position. They accompanied warriors into battle and treated wounds after the fighting had ended, and cured the sick during times of peace. Wewha was a Zuni two-spirited person, or lhamana, who lived in the nineteenth century. She performed historically masculine spiritual and judicial roles, such as guiding religious ceremonies and serving as a mediator in disputes. However, she also spent time on traditionally feminine activities- sewing dresses, making pottery, weaving baskets, and other domestic pursuits. Controversy Over Scholarship There is some controversy in the Native community about Two Spirits- not about their existence, but about the modern notion that Native peoples historically described LGBTQ folks as two-spirited and celebrated them as healers and shamans. Mary Annette Pember, who is a journalist and member of the Ojibwe Nation, says that while Two Spirit is some empowering terminology, it also comes with some questionable scholarship. Pember points out that Native culture is based upon oral tradition, and much of what has been decided by anthropologists is based upon the writings of European conquerers, painting all Native tribes with the same brush. She says: [This] conveniently overlook[s] distinct cultural and language differences that Native peoples hold crucial to their identity... Years of colonization and appropriation by European invaders, as well as the well-intentioned religious hegemony that demonized our spirituality and way of life... has made Indian Country much like the rest of rural America in terms of enlightened treatment of LGBTQ folks. In fact, some tribes  have created laws  specifically banning same-sex marriage. Gender-variant individuals have a hard way to go, in and out of Indian Country. Although not all indigenous tribes viewed Two Spirit people the same way, overall it does appear that they were accepted as a perfectly routine part of the community. In general, each individual was judged for their contributions to the tribe, rather than for conformity to rigid gender roles. Two Spirits Today Jean Decay attends the Two-Spirit Pride Party at the Inaugural Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration. Chelsea Guglielmino / Getty Images Todays Two Spirit community is actively taking both new and traditional spiritual roles in their various nations. Tony Enos, of  Indian Country Today,  points out that Claiming the role of Two Spirit is to take up the spiritual responsibility that the role traditionally had. Walking the red road, being for the people and our children/youth, and being a guiding force in a good way with a good mind are just some of those responsibilities. He adds that service to the elders and youth of the community is an important part of maintaining the old cultural traditions. Modern Two Spirits publicly embrace the mixture of masculine and feminine within them, and there are Two Spirit societies all over North America. Gatherings, including powwows which are open to the public, are held regularly as a way of not only building community, but also of educating non-Natives about the world of the Two Spirit. Todays Two Spirits are taking on the ceremonial roles of those who came before them, working to facilitate spiritual events in their communities. They also work as activists and healers, and have been instrumental in bringing GLBT health issues to the forefront among the hundreds of Native tribes. By bridging the gap between gender roles and indigenous spirituality, todays Two Spirits are continuing the sacred work of their ancestors. Sources Estrada, Gabriel. â€Å"Two Spirits, Ndleeh, and LGBTQ2 Navajo Gaze.†Ã‚  American Indian Culture and Research Journal, vol. 35, no. 4, 2011, pp. 167–190., doi:10.17953/aicr.35.4.x500172017344j30.Leland, John. â€Å"A Spirit of Belonging, Inside and Out.†Ã‚  The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Oct. 2006, www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/fashion/08SPIRIT.html?_r0.Medicine, Beatrice. â€Å"Directions in Gender Research in American Indian Societies: Two Spirits and Other Categories.†Ã‚  Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, vol. 3, no. 1, 2002, doi:10.9707/2307-0919.1024.Pember, Mary Annette. â€Å"Two Spirit Tradition Far From Ubiquitous Among Tribes.†Ã‚  Rewire.News, Rewire.News, 13 Oct. 2016, rewire.news/article/2016/10/13/two-spirit-tradition-far-ubiquitous-among-tribes/.Smithers, Gregory D. â€Å"Cherokee ‘Two Spirits’: Gender, Ritual, and Spirituality in the Native South.†Ã‚  Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Jo urnal, vol. 12, no. 3, 2014, pp. 626–651., doi:10.1353/eam.2014.0023.

In what ways can the Internet contribute to public service Essay

In what ways can the Internet contribute to public service broadcasting Discuss and provide examples from the readings - Essay Example Various scholars and researchers have argued that the Internet has been found both helpful and harmful for the public service broadcast industry. The purpose of this paper is to identify the ways and techniques through which the Internet can contribute in improving the public service broadcasting in Britain. The paper will cite examples from scholarly journal articles in order to support the arguments. Internet has influenced the media of almost the entire world. The contemporary media can be termed as Digital Media due to its heavy reliance on the Internet. Like many other countries of the world, the Media Ecosystem in Britain is also under influence of the Internet as surveys reveal that more and more users are accessing the Internet in the UK these days. This has certainly brought a transformation in the traditional public service broadcast techniques by presenting new and advanced methods of productions and broadcasts (Collins, 2011). Internet can help facilitate the public service broadcasting in a variety of ways. To list, there are plenty of techniques that can be adopted and have already been utilized in the UK in order to improve the public service broadcasting sector. It has been noticed that previously there were numerous issues associated with public service broadcasting. Therefore, in order to analyze the changing situations of the broadcast media in Europe, numerous researchers conducted various studies on the subject in order to find accurate results. Harrison & Wessels (2005) stated that the transitions in the contemporary public service broadcast because of the internet is a positive indicator and has increased scrutiny. The authors have tried to explore the pattern of the new media technique with the audience in Europe. It should be noted that the Internet has actively enabled millions of users in public service broadcast as all of them share their views and interact over the medium effectively. In simple words it can be said that

Worlds Environmental Problems and their Solving Essay - 5

Worlds Environmental Problems and their Solving - Essay Example This means the earth’s 7 billion stakeholders are those that will not literally pay for the resources that are extracted and sold to us, we will also pay for the economic hardships that are the result of this environmental exploitation. On the other hand, the companies who provide these products are benefiting themselves; oftentimes without even thinking of the damages they left have behind. It is obvious, however, that individuals are always looking to increase their income no matter the external costs. As such, this greed is one of the only reason that keeps companies and individuals from destroying the environment we share. Yet, blame alone is not sufficient to solve this problem. Instead, standing and defeating these companies by ignoring their products is the best thing to help the environment. So, the consumers themselves can stop the environmental destruction by voting with their pocketbook. However, two questions should be asked to consumers all over the world as a means of effecting this goal. The first question is: â€Å"Is being fascinated by a particular industry worth the environmental toll that is incurred†? Likewise, the second question is: â€Å"Would you live with the unrealistic food products that are not organic†? According to the documentary we saw in class, it became clear and apparent that many food producers were overfishing. This problem was so endemic that some of these companies agreed to catch as many fishes as possible is resulting in the near extinction of some species of fish. This destruction of the ecosystem is especially important; due in part to the fact that removing even one species can have unimaginable repercussions on the remainder of biological life on the planet.  

Lab. report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Lab. report - Essay Example There were two distinct kinds of images observed after the experimental procedure – the train images and the fork images. Both these original images obtained had high contrast with sharp edges and more detail. When some noise was added to the two original images, two types of noisy images for the train and the fork were observed. In addition, to smooth the images and reduce/ remove the noise in the noisy images, the moving average filter was employed on these particular images. The first span to smooth the noisy images was 10. The noise in both images was reduced, the images smoothed and the image details blurred when the first span was 10. With the moving average, however, the edges of both the images became blurred and when compared with the original images, the images with span 10 exhibited lesser contrast and detail. On the other hand, when the smoothed image with span 10 was compared with smoothed images with span 20 and 30, the smoothed images with span 10 exhibited the best results in terms of contrast and detail. The next span used was 20, where the noise in both images was eliminated and disappeared completely along with the images becoming smoother and the images edges more blurred hence a considerable difficulty discerning the image details. The resultant two images were, in addition, clearly more obscure. The third span used for both the image types was 30. Herein, the resulting images were smoother than the other images and more blurred too (in comparison with the other images). With span 30, the details of the smoothed images were unrecognizable with the edges more blurred than other smoothed images with span 10 and 20. Conclusively therefore, the moving average filter smoothes the image by blurring the image details with increase in average pixel value creating lower contrasts. In addition, smoothing reduces the noise level of the images. On the

Business research method Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business method - Research Paper Example The steps include, theoretical framework and hypothesis development, measurement, sampling, quantitative and qualitative analysis. This paper intends to show how the problem at hand can be taken through the processes of research discussed in following sections. Chapter 4 Theoretical framework and hypothesis development This chapter provides an exclusive description of a research process through a theoretical framework and hypothesis development. This process includes identification of variables and basic features of a theoretical framework. In addition, the process involves development of a hypothesis. In most cases the hypothesis developed revolves a round the situation at hand. There are four types of variables namely dependent, independent, moderating and mediating variables. It is imperative to note that this research process involves labeling and linking variables amongst themselves wit the intent of forming a theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). A theoretical framework is a signi ficant aspect of any research method since it provided the overall direction of a research process. More over, the theoretical framework is regarded as the foundation of any hypothetical-deductive research. It forms the basis of the hypothesis that will be developed. The process of building a theoretical framework involves the introduction of definitions of variables in the model, developing a theoretical model intended to provide an evocative demonstration of the theory and coming up with a theory that is intended to provide a justification for associations amid variables in the model. After developing a theoretical framework, development of testable hypothesis follows. These hypotheses are intended to examine whether the theory is sound suitable or not. Statistical analyses should then be used to test the hypothesized associations. It is notable that the entire research rests on the theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). This study observes that advancing a superior theoretical framew ork is fundamental to probing the problem under exploration. It is imperative to note that the theoretical framework provides a conceptual base to proceed with research, which includes proper understanding of the associations of variable network. A variable refers to anything that can assume varying values. Some of the examples of variables include production units, motivation and absenteeism. An independent variable is one that affects the dependent variable. This implies that both the independent and dependent covary in such way that a change in the dependent variable leads to change in the independent variable. Consider the example below Independent variable Dependent variable On the other hand, a moderating variable performs the role of imparting strong contingent effect on the relationship amid the independent and dependent variables. More over, the moderating variable modifies the initial relationship between the two variables. Having considered the basics of variables the nex t but most critical step is the development of theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). As observed earlier the theoretical framework forms the sure base of the entire research project. It is imperative to note that the framework is based on logical development, clear-cut description and elaborated network of relationship amongst the variables. The variables should be relevant to the problem under investigation. Above all, this study observes

Implementating magnet environment in Riyadh Military Hospital ICU unit Essay

Implementating magnet environment in Riyadh Military Hospital ICU unit - Essay Example The process of magnet environment in magnet hospitals begins from the process of recruitment and continues with the process of retention. In the process of recruitment, a considerable number of measures are put in place and taken into account in order to ensure the attainment of recruitment objectives. In which candidates current and future expectations are taken into account. After recruiting, many efforts are consumed to retain the hired nurses. Needless to say, it is the ultimate objective of the recruitment of nurses to ensure their continual nursing services with a quite foreseeable future with the management of hospital. More significantly, numerous factors are taken into that require their attainment at recruitment and retention of nurses. However, Shortell & Kaluzny (2006) provide some fundamental elements essential to magnet environment within hospitals; they include, quality of nursing and leadership, organisational performance, motivation and worker autonomy, work design, effective groups and teams, coordination and communication, participative or decentralized management, and organizational change and organizational innovation. The nursing profession consists of three types of workers: registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses (General Accounting Office, 2001). Registered nurses, who are state-licensed and possess associate degrees (two-year community colleges), diplomas (three-year hospital programs), or baccalaureate degrees (four-year colleges), provide direct patient care besides managing nursing care (Keenan, & Kennedy, 2003). Nurse aides may provide their health care services in hospitals and home care settings as well, but... This paper talks also about a few things. One of them is attrition, which is not only a problem for hospitals but also for the managers, health policy makers, and managers relevant to the field of nursing. Besides increasing cost burden over the hospital management to renew the hiring process in order to fill the gap created by attrition of nurses. Interestingly, not only in the developed countries, where the health industry is considerably advanced and stable than health industry operating in the developing countries. Throughout the essay, we can see profound infromation on magnet environment and types of nurses, where it's discussed how important quality of nursing and leadership, organisational performance, motivation and worker autonomy, work design, effective groups and teams, coordination and communication, participative or decentralized management, and organizational change and organizational innovation are. Then the essay begins discussing the causes of nurse attrition, where the general perception of nurse is less positive. Afterwards, the paper talks about the effective strategies to increase nurse retention. This essay has a conclusion, which states that magnet environment holds a key to retain nurses. And, the magnet environment occurs when all the elements inside an organisation work in the required way; In which, organisational commitment, nurse leadership, recruitment policies and procedures, and enablement of nurses in the required level of decision making.

Business research method Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business method - Research Paper Example The steps include, theoretical framework and hypothesis development, measurement, sampling, quantitative and qualitative analysis. This paper intends to show how the problem at hand can be taken through the processes of research discussed in following sections. Chapter 4 Theoretical framework and hypothesis development This chapter provides an exclusive description of a research process through a theoretical framework and hypothesis development. This process includes identification of variables and basic features of a theoretical framework. In addition, the process involves development of a hypothesis. In most cases the hypothesis developed revolves a round the situation at hand. There are four types of variables namely dependent, independent, moderating and mediating variables. It is imperative to note that this research process involves labeling and linking variables amongst themselves wit the intent of forming a theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). A theoretical framework is a signi ficant aspect of any research method since it provided the overall direction of a research process. More over, the theoretical framework is regarded as the foundation of any hypothetical-deductive research. It forms the basis of the hypothesis that will be developed. The process of building a theoretical framework involves the introduction of definitions of variables in the model, developing a theoretical model intended to provide an evocative demonstration of the theory and coming up with a theory that is intended to provide a justification for associations amid variables in the model. After developing a theoretical framework, development of testable hypothesis follows. These hypotheses are intended to examine whether the theory is sound suitable or not. Statistical analyses should then be used to test the hypothesized associations. It is notable that the entire research rests on the theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). This study observes that advancing a superior theoretical framew ork is fundamental to probing the problem under exploration. It is imperative to note that the theoretical framework provides a conceptual base to proceed with research, which includes proper understanding of the associations of variable network. A variable refers to anything that can assume varying values. Some of the examples of variables include production units, motivation and absenteeism. An independent variable is one that affects the dependent variable. This implies that both the independent and dependent covary in such way that a change in the dependent variable leads to change in the independent variable. Consider the example below Independent variable Dependent variable On the other hand, a moderating variable performs the role of imparting strong contingent effect on the relationship amid the independent and dependent variables. More over, the moderating variable modifies the initial relationship between the two variables. Having considered the basics of variables the nex t but most critical step is the development of theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). As observed earlier the theoretical framework forms the sure base of the entire research project. It is imperative to note that the framework is based on logical development, clear-cut description and elaborated network of relationship amongst the variables. The variables should be relevant to the problem under investigation. Above all, this study observes

Environmental Problems In Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Environmental Problems In Latin America - Essay Example In this context, this region witnessed some social movements which demanded for national control over the natural resources. Every country of this region is facing more or less same type of environmental issues. For example, in Argentina soil erosion is a major environmental issue which is emerging due to inadequate flood control and improper land use practices. Irrigated soil degradation, use of pesticides and fertilizers are making river polluted, desertification, water pollution in urban areas, air pollution are some other environmental issues in Argentina. Similarly other countries of the Latin American region are also facing such problems like Bolivia is struggling with deforestation problem which is arising due to increasing demand for agricultural land and international demand for tropical timber. In addition to this, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion due to poor cultivation method and overgrazing, water pollution due to industrial waste, desertification. Latin American count ries like Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguayan, and Venezuela are reported more or less same problems which includes danger over the existence of a multitude of plants and animal species indigenous to the Amazon Basin area and vehicle emission. Thus, air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, desertification, soil erosion are some of the common environmental issues of this region (Diaz and West 2005). Water problem in Latin America World’s 13% water resources are in Latin America and Caribbean. However, these water resources are distributed in inequitable manner throughout this region. In addition to this, parts like Southern Chile, Mexico and Northeastern Brazil are facing sever water shortage problem. Many areas are classified as semi-arid or... Similarly, other countries of the Latin American region are also facing such problems like Bolivia is struggling with deforestation problem which is rising due to increasing demand for agricultural land and international demand for tropical timber. In addition to this, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion due to poor cultivation method and overgrazing, water pollution due to industrial waste, desertification. Latin American countries like Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguayan, and Venezuela have reported more or less same problems which include danger over the existence of a multitude of plants and animal species indigenous to the Amazon Basin area and vehicle emission. Thus, air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, desertification, soil erosion are some of the common environmental issues of this region (DÃ ­az and West 2005).World’s 13% water resources are in Latin America and Caribbean. However, these water resources are distributed in an i nequitable manner throughout this region. In addition to this, parts of Southern Chile, Mexico, and Northeastern Brazil are facing severe water shortage problem. Many areas are classified as semi-arid or hyper-arid. Though there is sufficient water fall in the region yet water is unclean hence cannot be used for drinking. Along with this, industrial waste and other environmental pollutants are contaminating water resources. Such situations are creating circumstances of the water war between countries and even in the same countries.

Idiom Comparison Essay Example for Free

Idiom Comparison Essay As a foreign student learning English, comparison idioms are really a big problem for me as well as other learners. There are over 3000 idioms in the dictionary, so understanding and memorizing all of them are a hard issue. Some students, even though, live in America or England for such a long time, they are still unable to understand what the native people are saying. In a circle of students, native English speakers speak to other native speakers differently from the foreign students. And the foreign students here is unable to follow what they are saying to each other. More than that, comparison idioms are one of major aspects that can easily discourage a person in conversation with each other if he/she does not know what to imply. If somebody ask me: Is it necessary to study an idiom like â€Å"rain like cats and dogs†? , I will asnwer Yes because idioms are part of daily speech. It makes our utterances smoothly and transmit the information to listeners in a smart way. As a matter of fact, in this essay, we will firstly find a clear view of the definition of idioms and some structures to recognize a comparison idiom, then will be a part related to contrastive analysis; that is similarities and differences between english and Vietnamese comparison idioms; lastly, some problems and solutions of studying idioms may be important to learners. Definition of idioms Definition Idioms have become very popular with the linguistic learners; however; not everyone can find the complete definition for this term. Each professor has his or her own assumption and we, the learners, have to consider much when we want to apply those idioms into study. For example, the Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, idioms were defined as: â€Å"an expression which function as a single unit and whose meaning cannot be worked out from its separate parts. †. Moreover, with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the writer defines idioms differently: â€Å"a phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit. As we have seen, definition of idioms is quite different between the Longman Dictionary and Oxford one and maybe different from other books as well, but on reflection, they do not have much conflict, all of those share the basic idea: â€Å"they are words, phrases or expressions that cannot be taken literally; when used in everyday language, they have a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary. †. Learning them make understanding and using a language a lot easier and more fun. Structure used for comparing Although we have worked out some definitions of idioms above, most of learners are still confused with the question: â€Å"How can we identify an idiom of comparison? †. Consequently, identification should be taken into consideration so as to have an insight into different types of idioms of comparison. There are various ways of identifying based on different criteria because the exploration is quite hard and unfeasible. Here are just two main ways that have been considered most: * Identification based on component words or phrases Identification based on grammatical structure By word and phrase With this aspect, idioms of comparison can be divided into three groups: * Comparison with adjectives This kind of comparison can be constructed as the following structure: As + adjective + as + (a/an/the) Noun It is used to describe the similarities between people, things or places. However, in this structure, the similarities are exposed in a clear way, explicitly rather than other s tructure. The meaning as well as the characteristics of the adjectives are conveyed symbolically through some related things in our lives so that people can easily think of when they come across those adjectives. For example: as sharp as razor, as innocent as love, as unchangeable as the past, as jolly as a sandboy. In Vietnamese idioms, typical examples of comparison are: nhat nhu th? d? , den nhu than, d? p nhu tien†¦

UK Insurance Industry Analysis

UK Insurance Industry Analysis Discuss the background to change that exists in todays economy Abstract: This case study focuses upon AEGON in the UK, AEGON specializes in the insurance sector which was created in 1983 in the United Kingdom, as a result of merger between a Netherlands based Dutch insurance company called AGO Ennia. AEGON has a long history for instance it operates in the United States, which is based in Baltimore and has been insuring people since 1858, while in the United Kingdom, AEGON Scottish Equitable has been in existence since the early 1830s and since then it has a remarkable history of providing excellent insurance packages to the general public AEGON has recently expanded its international presence, gaining access by providing its services in new growth markets such as the Americas, the Central and Eastern Europe and Asia in particular, presently AEGON has its business interests in more than 20 countries across the globe AEGON is one of the worlds largest leading providers of life insurance, investments and annuities companies which also specializes in pensions, life insurance, asset management and adviser businesses in the UK. This particular case study basically illustrates the success that embracing and pursuing change has brought to AEGON in the UK. AEGON has a motive goal of becoming the best long-term savings and protection business within the UK. The AEGON Group has more than 27,000 employees and more than 25 million customers worldwide. The major share market for AEGON is in the United States of America and Netherlands. Since 1994, United Kingdom has become another major and increasingly important market for AEGON, In recent years mainly due to recession the life insurance and pensions industry, in which AEGON operates, has had a poor reputation. Some organizations have been accused of mis-sellingby not providing consumers with the best product for their needs. To prevent similar situations arising in the future, (FSA) the Financial Services Authority has put significant amounts of regulation on the industry, many of the service products which falls within the financial sector are quite often difficult to understand. Most of the People who choose the range of financial products and services are not sure where to seek support advice for their investments. Keeping in mind the falling values on the Stock Exchange have considerably affected the investment return on some of the insurance products, namely mortgage, endowments etc. that is to say for instance some people the product they bought has not delivered the financial return which they have expected, due to which it has created uncertainty in regards to the financial services industry. Industry has also been characterized by intense competition. AEGON faces competition as in other businesses which sell directly to consumers which are better known in the UK. AEGON who distributes its products services to customers mainly through its appointed financial advisers, AEGON with its reputed brand image had to overcome and address these industry related issues in order to remain competitive over its competitors Historically AEGON had been successful however with the Government imposed restrictions related to price controls which had reduced its profitability, comparing with its competitors, AEGON had developed good products and services and had a good reputation with distributors specially in the pensions sector, unfortunately other than pensions AEGON was not well recognized in other areas such as offshore investment products which were more profitable. Today if a consumer wants to invest for a product in the long term, first they want to make sure and know more about the organization which they are going to deal with for example they would like to recognize the brand understand more about the brand, its value which it represents, AEGON is financially strong which is rated AA by Standard Poors rating agency Evaluate the strengths and weakness of the organization Abstract: The strength and weakness related to a business or organization is its positive elements, which they do something well and within their control, the strengths and weakness of a company or group is based on its values which gives it the edge in areas over their competitors Following is an outline and main strengths of AEGON Making alliances with strong popular businesses is a major plus point for AEGON as it helps in bringing new customers and make business more effectively Keeping the overall costs lower than their competitors and maintaining the cost advantages helps AEGON to pass on some of the benefits to its consumers AEGONs marketing strategy has proved to be very effective which helped in raising Profiles Profits which is one of its major strength AEGON has a large extensive customer base, which is a major strength in regards to sales and profits Being financially strong {rated AA by Standard Poors rating agency}helps AEGON deals extensively with any threats problems arising in profits and can out perform their rivals Keeping competitive pricing is one of the vital element for AEGONs overall success, as this keeps them ahead of their competitors Riding high in the highly competitive insurance industry and has helped boost AEGON which raised its reputation and turnover AEGONs continuous innovation over its products keeps it as a front-runner in the insurance sector with its regular tuning of new patents and proprietary technology AEGON has a strong brand image which is well recognized and respected By providing high quality products and services it is a vital strength which in turn ensure customers to return to AEGON AEGONs with its vast distribution chain can be listed as one of their strengths and links to its success AEGON is equipped with experienced employees which is a key success of AEGON helping to drive them forward with expertise and knowledge in their respective field AEGON keeps high percentage of the market share due to its brand image which keeps them ahead of their competitors Products and Services which is offered by AEGON are authentic/original, which means people will turn to AEGON to purchase or obtain them Online presence for AEGON is strong which means it is ahead of many competitors AEGONs with its international operations has a wider customer base, strong brand image with its presence in the global market Innovation and Development is the prime concern for AEGON in regards to the products and services which is a major strength for its overall performance With its high quality offices, advanced modern equipment and well trained personnel which ensures the job is done to the utmost standard, which is a big strength AEGON AEGONs has a strong reputation which the consumer / people view it with respect and believe in their products services A weakness for any company or organization is needed to be improved for better performance which is under their control. Weaknesses can also place behind the competitors, when a company or organization stops to meet their objectives Following is an outline and main weaknesses of AEGON Limited customer base is considered as a major weakness for AEGON which means they have fewer{less} people to sell their products in the market The weak market position for AEGON is a limitation to their overall success, as they will be considered behind their rivals. A serious weakness for AEGON means that their services or products are of low quality, and then people opt for better-quality substitutes. Reputation is very important, and once its damaged for AEGONs it will be a major weakness where consumers will not trust the firm anymore and will not borrow their products By not reducing costs the same way as their competitors which means AEGON is outlaying more for their profits, maintaining higher costs than their competitors will be considered as a major weakness If AEGONs Research development {RD} work is low and insignificant, which is a major weakness in insurance as it is constantly creating new products Lack of inexperienced staff will be a major downfall for AEGON as it could lead to mistakes and negligence which could tarnish the image of AEGON in the long run Unstable with stock exchange are a weakness for AEGON as they need to keep up with demand Online presence is vital for success these days, and lack of one is a limitation for AEGON Overpricing is one of the reasons and setting higher prices for AEGON products/services could make them uncompetitive, which is a major weakness. The lack of business alliances is a major weakness for AEGON, as they will struggle to get deals, favors and partnerships. AEGON is in a poor financial position which makes it weaker than its competitors. AEGONs lack of innovation limits its success, as there is no forward thinking. Good companies need loyal employees, but AEGON has a poor relationship with staff which affects performance. If AEGON does not function internationally, it will have an effect on its success, when they do not reach consumers in overseas markets. AEGONs underdeveloped distribution chain has a marked effect on performance as it affects the distribution of their products/services. Lack of original services products is a major flaw in AEGONs future success, as it shows a blinkered outlook. AEGONs location is weakness for the firm, as it means they miss out on many opportunities. AEGONs lack of patents/proprietary technology puts it behind its rivals and is deemed as one of their weaknesses. The weak brand name compromises success for AEGON as it doesnt inspire people to buy their products/services Compare alternative forms of organizational development Abstract: With the impact of change which affects the organization in both ways internally and externally this is influenced on how people behave and also how they communicate with each other and when the organization becomes more focused on the customer. With such emphasis of making clear information for the customer in order to understand the company of making business easier, to embed such values and behaviors, AEGON established a new relationship with Shirley Robertson, the famous yachtswoman and the only British female athlete to have won gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games. By associating AEGON with an individual who embodies similar values, it was able to bring the values and behaviors to life for their staff, AEGON had to further develop their brand and its reputation, which AEGON maintain in couple of ways for example AEGON carried out external promotional campaigns in order to emphasize the relationship between Scottish Equitable and AEGON which helped to reinforce the local knowledge and the global power of AEGON within the United Kingdom with such refreshing of the brand internally and externally resulted in strong positive feedback AEGON also launched newer and innovative products for instance the 5 for Life annuity which helped to change the way in which consumers look at their retirement income support which provides with more certainty levels of income for the consumer, providing the levels of return as promised by AEGON of being responsible for any risks associated with doing so AEGON today with its brand image has a position within the financial services industry which over the years has posted record results with significant growth in the underlying earnings, AEGON has also increased its business across a mix of their profitable products and services, reflecting its continued strengthAcronyms Terms The alternative forms of organizational development which AEGON had figure out is to fully integrate organizational structure where employees are best integrated while their service offerings are best coordinated cross-selling opportunities and best tracked and pursued, with the recent analyses of organizational development which suggests a growing concern with the tempo of change, pattern of work or activity, such a change which is in contrast with continuous change on such basis of implied metaphors of organizing Develop systems for understanding and involving others in the process of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  change. Identify systems to involve appropriate stakeholders in the introduction of change Abstract: In todays developing environment any product development is a complex process which needs to be consider new demands from different stakeholders which can be analyzed how these demands can be fulfilled while sharing appropriate stakeholder information is important, however it can only be beneficial when the information is used effectively. When an induction of change arises the information must be shared across stakeholders, such process relies up to a large extent on the individual common understanding for stakeholders involved in order to help balance the interests of different stakeholders and their related functions. With such a process we need to identify the relevant stakeholders and their relation to the product, normally such a requirements from different Stakeholders can be negotiated and balanced in order to develop a competitive product In order to make a well-balanced product it is therefore necessary to take a broader approach by taking into consideration not only the end-users, but also all the other stakeholders throughout the products life cycle hence the stakeholders play according to their interest they use such power and influence the product in the direction they desire. A stakeholder can be defined as an individual or a group of people and a stakeholder could either be external or from the internal organizational stakeholders could also be addressed or regarded such as Primary or Secondary wherein primary stakeholders are those stakeholders who has a direct stake in an organization and to its success, secondary stakeholders are those who have a special or public-interest stake in the organization. Stakeholders interacts each other in different ways such as exchanging information, products, providing supporting tasks, instructions etc. Stakeholders can also be external or internal; AEGON had historically been successful however with the government-imposed price controls which had reduced profitability over its competitors, AEGON had developed good products and services and had a good reputation with distributors, particularly in the area of pensions which were a key strength of AEGON Culture refers to the personality and attitude of an organization. It also includes the shared beliefs, values and behavior of the employees. These determine the ways in which the organization and its people make decisions and solve problems. The goal of AEGONs CEO helped to provide a vision for change. Financial objectives were important as the path for future developments depended upon these. It was also important to create more clarity about who AEGON was. With limited awareness of AEGON in the UK, it was important to explain what it had to offer, how big the organization was within the UK and how strong it was globally. At the heart of this strategy was the need to: Simplify financial services and provide more customer focus. It was important that consumers understood more precisely what they were buying, as well as the benefits and services they received Develop the workforce. The objective was to develop the skills needed within the business to help it change. AEGON also created opportunities for progression from one job to another in a way that provided individuals with a coherent career path. Create a more distinct presence within the marketplace. This involved refreshing the AEGON brand in a way that made it more distinctive from its competitors and more attractive to customers. Analyze and evaluate these systems Abstract: In order to analyze and evaluate such systems it is important to understand the environment in which key issues which needs to be responded in order to improve decision-taking which reduces uncertainty. In recent years few industries have experienced such changes in their external environment especially in the financial services sector. Saving for retirement is a good concept that is sometimes difficult for people to understand. Within the United Kingdom life expectancy has risen in recent years where people can be expected to retired in the long run, there are many examples where an individual have not planned properly for their retirement and later in their life they may experience a shortfall in the amount of money available to them, there is also a drive by the government to reduce dependency on the State in old age with such uncertainty looming over many companies have introduced less expensive pension schemes and has insisted on employee pension contributions which did not exists in the past, with such factors people have to make wise decisions to invest properly at an early stage of their lives. Keeping in mind of the old age investing in the future helps people to prepare financial security towards their old age Life insurance and pensions industry, in which AEGON operates, has had a poor reputation in recent years. Some organizations have been accused of mis-selling by not providing consumers with the best product for their needs. To prevent similar situations arising in the future, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has put significant amounts of regulation on the industry People do not always feel equipped to choose between the range of financial products and services as financial services products are often difficult to understand, most of them are not sure where to seek support and advice. With the recession falling values on the Stock Exchange have affected the investment return on some products, such as mortgage etc, which for some people means the product they bought has not delivered the financial returns as they had expected. The financial industry has also been characterized by intense competition where AEGON is no exception and in terms of competition with organizations which sell directly to consumers and which are better known in the UK. AEGON distributes its products and services to customers mainly through financial advisers. AEGON being a reputed company had to address and overcome these industry-wide problems to remain competitive among their competitors Adapt an appropriate model for change Abstract: AEGON had a good historically record of being successful however with the government-imposed price controls which had reduced profitability comparing with their competitors, AEGON was not well known by consumers. It had developed good products and services and had a good reputation with their distributors, particularly in the area of pensions which were a key strength of Scottish Equitable. If consumers are to invest in a long term product, they need to know more about the organization they are dealing with. They need to recognize the brand and understand more about the brand values that it represents. As AEGON traded under a number of brand names it was not always easy for financial advisers and consumers to recognize the breadth and depth of the company in the UK, however, AEGON had to develop the brand and its reputation by carrying out the following tasks: AEGON carried out external promotional campaigns in order to emphasize the relationship between Scottish Equitable and AEGON. This helped to reinforce the local knowledge and the global power of AEGON in the United Kingdom Chief Executive Officer talked to the media about the need for change. The refreshing of the brand internally and externally resulted in strong positive feedback. AEGON has launched new and innovative products. For example, the 5 for Life annuity has helped to change the way in which consumers can look at their retirement income. It provides more certainty about levels of income for the consumer, with AEGON providing the levels of return promised and being responsible for any risks associated with doing so. Today the AEGON brand has a position from which it is influencing the financial services industry. It has posted record results with significant growth in underlying earnings. It has also increased its new business across a mix of profitable products and services, reflecting its continued strength. Change is continuous. The process of change is a journey. External factors will always be there to influence business organizations. AEGON responded well to such factors by simplifying, clarifying and strengthening its brand in the UK. As organizations change, their patterns of behavior and business culture develop. As AEGON is concerned as an organization it has to move positively towards achieving its full potential and to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult market How was the plan implemented, its process and outcomes Abstract: AEGON underwent a discovery phase with its new Chief Executive (CEO) in place. The main purpose of this process was to find out what it had to do to meet the CEOs goal. This goal was to build the best long-term savings and protection business in the UK. The discovery focused on three main key questions such as What do we stand for in the UK? AEGON owns life and pensions, asset management and advice businesses. AEGON name to be known for helping their customers build better financial futures and as a result they are actively raising their brand profile in the UK. What do we want to stand for in the UK? AEGON responded to these factors by simplifying, clarifying and strengthening its brand in the UK What should we be doing about it? This has helped AEGON as an organization to move positively towards achieving its full potential and to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult market Describe the purpose of the eight behaviors Abstract: The main purpose of eight behaviors for AEGON is to develop a behavior framework to support its brand values, it was designed keeping in mind to influence how people at all levels within the organization could work and make their decisions. Such behaviour would emphasize the values of the organization which AEGON have helped to build its culture and to be influenced its performance Following are the eight behaviours: Decisive action Work together Learn and grow Relate and communicate Think customer Embrace change Encourage excellence Act with integrity Evaluate the role of an audit within and outside an organization. To what extent can a process of audit form the basis for a business strategy? Brand audit To answer these questions AEGON undertook a brand audit. This audit looked at two aspects: the company internally how the organisation was positioned externally. The purpose of the audit was to find out more information about the organisation. This helped AEGON to provide a more informed approach to the decisions that were needed to start the process of change. The audit showed that AEGON was solidly placed within the market. Its staff were known for their considerable expertise, innovation and clarity of communication. The external audit also helped to discover where AEGON was positioned in relation to its competitors. People who were aware of AEGON saw it as being a refreshing and different organisation. However, there was evidence that people were confused about the breadth of what AEGON did because it traded under a number of different company brands

Magnetic Resonance Imaging :: MRI

The Faces Behind the Discovery of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Isidor Isaac Rabi He won the 1944 Nobel Prize in Physics for his "resonance method for recording the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei." He was the one to discover that protons have magnetic moments and that they precess around an external magnetic field. His experiments (on nuclei) revealed the jump between energy states of the proton when resonated with radio frequency waves. Felix Bloch & Edward Purcell Both men independently took Rabi's experiments to the next level - condensed matter. Purcell Bloch These men were awarded the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physics for the "nuclear magnetic resonance in condensed matter." Paul Lauterbur Lauterbur discovered that images could be produced from the magnetic properties of the protons. This will now be called magnetic resonance imaging. Paul is a professor at the University of Illinois He was the first to use a magnetic field gradient to vary the resonant frequencies of spinning atoms. Although his images were very difficult to produce, he had a variety - glass tubes, mouse thoracic cavity, and the first human body part - a finger!! Richard Ernst He discovered that sending pulsed signals through a changing magnetic field would produce images very quickly. This made it possible for health professionals to actually be able to utilize MRI. He was awarded the 1991 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his contributions to the development of the methodology of high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy." All of these men contributed tremendously to the design and implementation of MRI scanning machines in hospitals. Now, MRI scans are another common hospital resource. Before MRI scans, X-rays were popular. However, X-rays use ionizing radiation that could be harmful to humans. Now, MRI scans are used for a huge variety of injuries, infections, or illnesses, such as: multiple sclerosis, torn ligaments, tendonitis, cysts, spinal injuries, strokes, and many others. MRI scans can even be used to record brain activity during certain events.

Islam and Freud

Lubna Rehman Freud’s Dream Interpretation in the Light of Islamic Dream Ideas Questions about dreams, about why do we have them and what do they mean are questions that have been a subject of debate for centuries. On the one hand we have scientists who believe that we dream for  physiological  reasons alone and that dreams are essentially mental nonsense devoid of psychological meaning: â€Å"A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. † The idea that dreams are nothing more than â€Å"meaningless biology†. On the other hand we have a coalition of Freudians which includes Dr.Fleiss who found his dream interpretations â€Å"quite accurate† and other dream analyzers who committed to the view that we dream for  psychological  reasons and that dreams always contain important information about the self or some aspects of one's life which can be extracted by various methods of interpretation. This camp says that â€Å"an uninter preted dream is like an unopened letter. † The third camp is the one occupying the middle ground, that believes both of the extreme positions on the function and meaning of dreams to be partly right and partly wrong.Its proponents such as Alfred Adler argue that dreams may have both physiological and psychological determinants, and therefore can be either meaningful or meaningless, varying greatly in terms of psychological significance. Allan Hobson was also for a psychological meaning of dreams but he thought no need to lock it under layers of secretive subconscious meanings. The fourth and another important camp about dreams in the Muslim faith. In the Qur’an, as in the Jewish Torah and the Christian New Testament, dreams serve as a vital medium by which God communicates with humans.Dreams offer divine guidance and comfort, warn people of impending danger, and offer prophetic glimpses of the future, offer a valuable source of wisdom, understanding, and inspiration. Sa tan also plays a major role in dreams by bestowing dreams that cause grief or even purely sexual dreams (unlike Freud’s sexual ‘interpretation’) which requires the dreamer to take a bath. Trying to cover up the cultural chasm between Islamic and Western traditions, this paper is an attempt to highlight and contrast the Islamic and Freudian ideas of dream interpretation.The simple fact is that all humans dream, and thus dreaming itself is a bridging phenomenon between the two traditions. Freud thought that the function of dreams was to allow the release of repressed thoughts and impulses which cause excitation in neural activity. The only way that the wish could be subdued is by the release of the â€Å"nervous energy† that was caused by it. Also, Freud noted that â€Å"though the number of symbols is large, the number of subjects symbolized is not large. In dreams those pertaining to sexual life are the overwhelming majority†¦They represent the most primitive ideas and interests imaginable. † Therefore, the same â€Å"dream symbol† meant that they both had the same repressed wish. | Part of what made people skeptical about Freudian theories is this notion of universal dream symbolism. That is, if two people have the same visual imagery in a dream, is it the case that it has the same meaning? Some scientists dismiss the notion of  meaning  all together. | Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley, two Harvard University scientists stressed that the motivating force for dreaming is not  psychological  but  physiological.Muslims on the other hand have been paying close attention to their dreams for nearly 1500 years, and their insights and observations have many significant points of contact with the theories developed by Western psychologists over the past 150 years. With the very definition of who the Islamic interpreters of dreams are, Muslims can discard the very existence of Freud’s ideas. Sunnah says tha t the interpreters of dreams are either Prophets or their followers. Or else, they have to be good, pious and knowledgeable people who know the Quran, the sunnah, Arabic language and the culture and tradition of the people.Like Islam, even though Freud did look at the content, significance, purpose, the person, his people, state, job and livelihood; Freud limited his growth when he theorized that personality is developed by the person’s childhood experiences. He was always sure about his disbelief in religion. He actually envisaged that as the masses of people become further educated, they would ‘turn away’ from the ‘fairy tales of religion. ’   Carl Jung, a contemporary of Freud took an exception.He wrote, â€Å"Freud has unfortunately overlooked the fact that man has never yet been able singlehanded to hold his own against the powers of darkness — that is, of the unconscious. Man has always stood in need of the spiritual help which each i ndividual’s own religion held out to him. † Jung agrees with Freud that dreams may look backward to past experiences, but he argues that dreams also look forward to anticipate what the dreamer's future developments may be . Jung did not mean that dreams predict the future, only that dreams can suggest what might happen, what possibilities the future might hold.Hence, Carl Jung, a totally opposite pole of Freud and a non-deliberate support to Islam, believes in the â€Å"religious man† unlike to Freud who believed in the â€Å"psychological man†. Freud’s perception of dreams seems so much influenced by secularism and so he seems to approach dreams from a materialistic point of view. To him, unlike Islam, dreams represent purely material meanings and the characteristics of dream life are a disconnected activity of separated organs or groups of cells in a sleeping mind. Freud took dreams to be like phobias and obsessions.He classified dreams into wishf ul thinking, being aggressive or sexual and considered most of the symbols that appear in dreams to be sexual which represent the male or female sexual organs. As can be seen in the book â€Å"Interpretation of Dreams†, all kind of playing, slipping, breaking branches etc were all symbols of masturbation according to him and breaking of teeth was something symbolic to castration. He observed that these symbols are â€Å"a sort of substitute for the thought process, full of meaning and emotion†. Where he interprets a lock and key to be a sexual act, the Hadith interprets it to be a symbol of wealth, power and authority.Where he thinks of a knot to be another sexual act, a knot according to Islamic dream interpretation symbolizes grief. Unfastening of the knot symbolizes a freedom from grief. So, even though one can agree with him that these symbols carry a lot of meanings but one can also disagree with him on the kind of the meaning that they carry. It is not always tru e that all the dream symbols would carry the same message of aggressiveness and sexuality. Looking at our normal life and the dreams that we get from time to time it is not true that all of them fall under these categories as Freud claims.Some dreams reveal more important messages to an individual or to society. Logically speaking, human beings are different and so they think differently, therefore, even their dreams, which may be representing another world of creation, must be of different kinds and each dream by necessity must have a different message that it carries. Therefore, Freud’s allegation that most dreams are sexual is not acceptable. Nevertheless, his division of dreams into simple and complex is acceptable. Islam’s disagreement with him lies in, among other things, the way he describes the simple dreams, which he called â€Å"wish ulfillments category†. In his words he elaborated this category by saying â€Å"these are connected with day time life. The wishes, which are fulfilled in them, are carried over from daytime and as a rule from the day before, and in waking life they have been accompanied by intense emotion†. It is also not true that all the simple dreams are carried over from daytime and it therefore follows that not all of them are wish fulfillments of a dreamer. Furthermore, his rule of such dreams coming from the day preceding the dream is also not true to all the dreams of this kind.An example to illustrate this will be of a dream analyst who was sent to Africa on a government mission. He confirmed that as much as he wished in his trip to East Africa to have a dream on Africans, he was not successful in the period of some months he spent with them. In Islam dreams are taken to be of great significance. They are not merely a matter of wild recollections of one’s activities in his alertness that may resurface to someone in his sleep; rather they are a form of connection of the soul in its spirituality with the other unseen world.This can be easily observed in our daily activities or even in something as least-considered as clothes which do have spiritual connotations. For example a woman wearing silk clothes in her dream implies her getting married, acquiring wealth or even a ceremony of some forthcoming mourning. This clearly proves how dreams, as against Freud’s theory, do have religious and not just materialistic links. In Surah Al-Ana’m, the Holy Quran says, â€Å"He is the One who takes up your souls at night, and knows what you earned during the day, then raises you from it (sleep), so as to complete the time fixed (for you to live)†.Surah Al-Zumr says, â€Å"God captures the souls at the time of death as well as those whose time has not yet arrived, in sleep. Then He keeps back those whose death has been decreed and sends back for an appointed time, the others†. Hence, in disagreement with Freud, Islam sees a complete connection with God while dreaming. Where in Islam the dream is related to the truthfulness of the dreamer, Freud’s theory proves it to be the preceding day’s affair; where Freud believed dreams to only gratify unconscious desires and longings, Islam showcases them as a glimpse into the future, a hint or sometimes even a warning.Being irreligious, and especially a non-Muslim, Freud did very little for the dream-theory propounded by different religions. Though his â€Å"Interpretation of Dreams† presents an unprejudiced and almost unerring analysis of dreams, it includes only a few types of dreams. It gives us a mixture of different kinds of fallacious dreams while totally ignores the veracious dreams because veracious dreams have almost nothing to do with one’s psyche; and were, therefore, totally unknown to psychologists like Freud.Also, since the future is more important than the past of a dreamer, he would definitely prefer Islamic Hermeneutics in order to know about his future . Where Freudian Hermeneutics is the product of the researches/studies of one individual, in the Western context, in the ‘Modern’ post-Renaissance period; Islamic Hermeneutics represents a divinely revealed system incorporating the entire structure of human existence in this world and the next, which is in itself detailed, complete and traditionally active since many centuries in various parts of the Islamic world.