The Little Match Girl

A translation of Hans Christian Andersen's "Den lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne" by Jean Hersholt.

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Evening came on, the last evening of the year. In the cold and gloom a poor little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was walking through the streets. Of course when she had left her house she'd had slippers on, but what good had they been? They were very big slippers, way too big for her, for they belonged to her mother. The little girl had lost them running across the road, where two carriages had rattled by terribly fast. One slipper she'd not been able to find again, and a boy had run off with the other, saying he could use it very well as a cradle some day when he had children of his own. And so the little girl walked on her naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried several packages of matches, and she held a box of them in her hand. No one had bought any from her all day long, and no one had given her a cent.

Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along, a picture of misery, poor little girl! The snowflakes fell on her long fair hair, which hung in pretty curls over her neck. In all the windows lights were shining, and there was a wonderful smell of roast goose, for it was New Year's eve. Yes, she thought of that!

In a corner formed by two houses, one of which projected farther out into the street than the other, she sat down and drew up her little feet under her. She was getting colder and colder, but did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, nor earned a single cent, and her father would surely beat her. Besides, it was cold at home, for they had nothing over them but a roof through which the wind whistled even though the biggest cracks had been stuffed with straw and rags.

Her hands were almost dead with cold. Oh, how much one little match might warm her! If she could only take one from the box and rub it against the wall and warm her hands. She drew one out. R-r-ratch! How it sputtered and burned! It made a warm, bright flame, like a little candle, as she held her hands over it; but it gave a strange light! It really seemed to the little girl as if she were sitting before a great iron stove with shining brass knobs and a brass cover. How wonderfully the fire burned! How comfortable it was! The youngster stretched out her feet to warm them too; then the little flame went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the burnt match in her hand.

She struck another match against the wall. It burned brightly, and when the light fell upon the wall it became transparent like a thin veil, and she could see through it into a room. On the table a snow-white cloth was spread, and on it stood a shining dinner service. The roast goose steamed gloriously, stuffed with apples and prunes. And what was still better, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled along the floor with a knife and fork in its breast, right over to the little girl. Then the match went out, and she could see only the thick, cold wall. She lighted another match. Then she was sitting under the most beautiful Christmas tree. It was much larger and much more beautiful than the one she had seen last Christmas through the glass door at the rich merchant's home. Thousands of candles burned on the green branches, and colored pictures like those in the printshops looked down at her. The little girl reached both her hands toward them. Then the match went out. But the Christmas lights mounted higher. She saw them now as bright stars in the sky. One of them fell down, forming a long line of fire.

"Now someone is dying," thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only person who had loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star fell down a soul went up to God.

She rubbed another match against the wall. It became bright again, and in the glow the old grandmother stood clear and shining, kind and lovely.

"Grandmother!" cried the child. "Oh, take me with you! I know you will disappear when the match is burned out. You will vanish like the warm stove, the wonderful roast goose and the beautiful big Christmas tree!"

And she quickly struck the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother with her. And the matches burned with such a glow that it became brighter than daylight. Grandmother had never been so grand and beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and both of them flew in brightness and joy above the earth, very, very high, and up there was neither cold, nor hunger, nor fear-they were with God.

But in the corner, leaning against the wall, sat the little girl with red cheeks and smiling mouth, frozen to death on the last evening of the old year. The New Year's sun rose upon a little pathetic figure. The child sat there, stiff and cold, holding the matches, of which one bundle was almost burned.

"She wanted to warm herself," the people said. No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, and how happily she had gone with her old grandmother into the bright New Year.

Griffith Observatory

The remodeled Griffith Observatory is definitely a sight to behold. A white obelisk with many statues of renowned astronomers engraved upon its alcove sidings stands tall, in front of this impressive building. Although this was my first visit to the Griffith’s, my previous experience at the Dominion Observatory in Victoria, Vancouver Island paled in comparison to what Griffith Observatory had to offer.

At the Observatory, I had the opportunity to watch both shows offered at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. The first program, titled “Centered in the Universe”, introduced to the audience a brief history of astronomy and the constellations, followed by how the understanding of stars has developed over the centuries and how this knowledge of the cosmos has helped humankind understand more about our home, the Earth. The program further revealed how incomprehensibly vast the universe is, and that Earth is but an infinitesimally small part, but still a part, of the still expanding and mysterious universe.

The second program, titled “Water is Life”, continues off the first program’s premise, but elaborates on the importance of liquid water and its connection to the development of life. The show continues on by presenting the celestial bodies in the Solar System, other than Earth, where liquid water probably exists. One such example is Jupiter’s moon, Europa, a place where scientists speculate the possibility of life near the moon’s under water volcanic flows.

In addition to the planetarium shows, the observatory displays many exhibits which were both educational and inventive. One of the exhibits which attracted my attention was the Foucault Pendulum, located at the main entrance. This huge pendulum continuously swings on one axis but as the hours pass, it hits pegs along a circle on the ground. This exhibit was built to prove that Earth is a rotating sphere.

Other exhibits included the basement circular corridor which pictorially represented in a creative timeline, the age of the universe from the Big Bang to current day. Also in the basement, a vast exhibit featuring all the planets in the solar system and their details were the interest of many observers. Of particular interest were the floor mechanisms which allowed exhibit participants to see their weight on the various planets.

Supplementary to these, the exhibit of the Tesla Coil, a fascinating device devised by Nikola Tesla over a hundred years ago, was meant to transmit electricity wirelessly. There were also hallways on the side of the observatory which showed how the moon and sun produce the tidal forces, equinoxes and solstices. Further exploration revealed basement level one, which showcased a variety of meteorites and presented computerized simulations of impacts of a planet, such as Earth, with various sized asteroids. On the whole, the Griffith Observatory, with its myriad of exhibitions and shows, is truly able to enlighten and educate the multitude of crowds which come to visit.

To Help A Few

I understand and agree that without sufficient capacity to help oneself, it is next to impossible to help others. However, I would like to argue that more often than not, the axiom of helping oneself first is a guise to hide the reality that nations made up of self-serving individuals have no true intent to help others in any circumstances whatsoever. Although there is no inherent evil attached to this circumstance in today’s modern capitalist system, history has shown that without cooperation and compassion, civilizations end badly in the end. Examples that come to mind are the Roman Empire, Mongolian Empire, as well as many others throughout time.

With certitude I state that the world must break through the traditional barriers of thought that have brought us to this point. Nations and borderlines are become more and more a fleeting concept. More and more is this world becoming smaller and closer as technologies, communication systems, transportation, and cultural assimilation has made this globe a truly cohesive place. In time, I believe that humanity will see that the land resources, human capital, and human ingenuity of this planet must be allocated for the survivability of the human species, not just for one or a few nations.

Reluctant Revolutionaries

From the short movie, “Reluctant Revolutionaries,” it is shown that early Americans looked highly upon England and the King, and were proud to be English subjects. Initially, the colonial upper class revered England as a cultured place to emulate. They sold their raw goods to England and purchased finished manufactured goods in return. As time passed and the political atmosphere began to change in England regarding their policies on the colonies, Americans started the unexpected steps of starting a revolution.

At first, the American feelings toward England started to grow sour when the Stamp Act of 1765 was introduced. This act proclaimed that many things, from ordinary goods to copying law documents, had taxes attached to them. The colonies were outraged at this unrestrained taxation. They believed that the power to tax was the power to destroy. Accordingly, the colonials felt that they had the right to run their own colonies without outside interference. Benjamin Franklin felt that the American consumers purchasing the goods of England brought wealth to England, and that excessive taxation would only shun the Americans away.

Eventually, after seeing its ineffectiveness, England repealed the Stamp Act. Unfortunately, England almost immediately initiated the Declaratory Act in 1766. The act essentially stated that Parliament could create any and all laws for the colonies. This forceful action enraged an already outraged America even further. Without delay, Americans began to boycott English goods to show their disapproval.

After several years of boycotting, a dramatic event occurred that would be the turning point of the restless standoff. On March 5, 1770 the Boston Massacre took place, in which a confrontation of British soldiers and Americans resulted with five Bostonian deaths. From then, England had to use military enforcement of their laws and regulations in the colonies. In time, this unhappy environment led to the Boston Tea Party of 1773. Although the colonials conducted their disapproval without military aggression, this act of belligerent defiance gave a hard slap in the face for the English government.

Ultimately, the American Revolution was never something that was planned on or even expected. Since Americans originally highly respected England and its culture, the unfortunate string of events that led to revolution can be placed with the lawmakers and ruler of England. By looking down upon the colonies and its people, England laid the path towards the Revolutionary War. In the end, the Americans were only trying to protect what should be natural to all humans, their freedoms.

WWII Catalyst

I must agree that WWII was the major catalyst which brought about the opportunity for the United States to assert itself to become a leading economic power in the world. At the time, with Europe and Asia in severe strife, the United States took the opportunity to assist, but at the same time generate wealth and establish its dollars as a backbone currency for a war-torn world. I contend that although this fortunate circumstance occurred for the benefit of this nation, the United States cannot be complacent and believe that a golden age can remain forever. Just as a human grows from birth to become strong and full of vitality, the same cycle will bring that person to old age and decrepitude. This is the way of the universe and as hard as we might try, there is no fountain of youth which can hold back the changes brought on by time. The use of this example does not directly imply that the United States has reached it plateau, it is only a gauge of the actuality of the laws of this universe, that the only constant in life is change.

The best that an individual or country can do is to be wary of the changes and swiftly adapt to the evolving times. The United States, as well as other nations of the world, must deftly identify opportunities and use good judgment, as well as a reflective and introspective sense, to weigh the true costs and benefits of each action that can be taken. Only through a comprehensive consideration of the world as a interconnected unit can the citizens of each nation realize freedom and tranquility.

Economic Roles of the United States

The US has, to various degrees, played many roles in world trade and macro economics. Nominally, the economy United States is the largest in the world. In the latest 2009 figures released by the IMF, the United States economy constitutes over a quarter of the world economy. Since it plays such a large role in the global economy, any decisions that the government or the businesses of the United States makes has a direct impact on the economies of other nations. These decisions however, are not often based on the interests of the whole world. Instead, many decisions that the government and businesses make are to further the self preservation and growth of the United States.

Although there is no inherent problem in endeavoring to improve oneself and one’s country, “with great power comes great responsibility.” World leaders must carefully weigh the consequences of the actions that they take. Yet in a competitive world economy, it is very difficult to participate as both a contender in market, as well as a moderator in the same. More often than not, self-preservation and development unfairly disregards the needs of others. Certainly the current world economic climate has proven that capitalism in its extreme form creates more harm than the good it brings. Nonetheless, the status quo is difficult to change overnight and it may take a shockwave event in the world before a new paradigm can be realized.

The United States, or any other country in a leadership position for that matter, should not use its authority for its own advantage in those situations where the safety and lives of groups and individuals are at stake. While pursuing wealth and advancement are worthy goals for any nation, true long-term achievements for a nation involve strategies that encompasses a comprehensive economic plan concerned with social development, safeguarding the environment, and the upholding the well-being of the people. Many developing countries in the world aspire to catch up to the developed nations in terms of prosperity, technology, and the quality of life for its citizens.

As an economic chief and world leader, the United States should accomplish goals set at a higher standard. By overcoming the traditional role of arrogant or overbearing leader, this country can strive to integrate honest values with economic strength in order to establish a new baseline for advancement. The evolving standards of society have shown that money and power are not the only criteria which are important in determining the prosperity of a nation or its people. Social responsibility and actions based on the survivability of all the participants in the world arena are crucial to the success of the United States, and the other nations of this world.

Prostitution

The trade or profession of selling a person’s body as a means to generate earnings may certainly well be one of civilization’s earliest form of business. While this practice has been carried out in diverse cultures over the eons, each society regards prostitution under a different light. Whereas some groups consider the act an aberrant behavior which needs to be mitigated, other nations have held that prostitution is an acceptable trade which benefits the society it serves. The underlying problem in respect to prostitution involves the ethical and moral elements on which the topic is hotly debated. Religion has provided the foundation for many traditional moral systems throughout history. Thus, for many moralists, prostitution is a frowned upon act. Since morality plays a big role in establishing the laws and legal systems of a society, prostitution has remained largely an illegal trade in countries where pervasive religious attitudes establish the law of the land. However, prostitution is still often tolerated to a certain extent by those cultures which have deemed it an illegal profession. Ultimately, from a utilitarian ethical model, if the act of prostitution serves to benefit a greater number of people than the act will harm, then prostitution should be legalized.

In some old societies, prostitution has been deemed a normal part of daily life. In Ethics class, for example, it was discussed that in ancient Babylon, temple prostitution was a necessary and typical custom. The temple of Ishtar instructed that every woman had to serve at the temple at least once in her life; each had to sleep with a stranger and contribute the earnings to the temple. At the time, Ishtar was considered the goddess of fertility. Through the act of temple prostitution, the people of Babylon could come to dedicate their love to their goddess. Although this may seem unconscionable to many today, temple prostitution was a tradition which assisted to promote the temple during those times. In effect, the act worked to benefit the greater good of the people in that era than harm them. Thus, under utilitarian fundamentals, temple prostitution in Babylon cannot be considered unethical.

The Greeks also instituted temple prostitution, especially renown is the temple of Aphrodite located in Corinth. However, there is a vital difference in the implementation of prostitution between the Babylonians and the Greeks. Where in Babylon, the prostitutes were commoners who gave their bodies for the service of their religious beliefs and of their own will, temple prostitutes in Greece were temple slaves. Greek prostitutes were not free, and were thus bound by the laws of the time to serve the temple, however unwilling they may be. Since coercion and exploitation was involved, it is hard to demonstrate that the temple prostitution in Greece has moral justification. From an ethical position, Greek prostitution may have instead, caused more harm than the good it created.

Through consideration of these examples, it is apparent that the act of prostitution cannot be justified collectively. Furthermore, by utilizing Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, the act of prostitution cannot function as a morally correct principle because it cannot be universalized; it would be unreasonable if all individuals in the world were to become prostitutes. Nevertheless, utilitarian ethical rules still allow for prostitution to be appropriate in those circumstances where the act works to benefit the greater good for the greatest number of people, even at the cost of the few individuals who may be harmed by it.
In terms of contemporary society, the field of prostitution has become a well-established profession. Especially for the upper echelons of society, escort service, a euphemism for up-scale prostitution, has become a prominent, albeit enigmatic indulgence for moneyed individuals worldwide. Patrons compensate the escorts generously, and those in the profession contend that their job is no less dignified than other forms of employment. Escorts commonly have higher education backgrounds and have acquired the accepted demeanor in conduct and appearance to suit their clientele. Even though high-class escorts do not necessarily represent all the forms of prostitution available in modern society, it is an indication that our society currently views prostitution as a morally acceptable profession when conducted within a certain type of framework.

The profession of selling one’s body for economic gain has existed since the creation of human societies. Although this occupation has been criticized by many throughout history, it has nevertheless pervaded across all continents and cultures. Under the doctrine of utilitarianism, it is ethical to state that so long as the practice of prostitution serves to provide a greater good to most of the members of a society, such that the benefit outweighs the cost, then prostitution should be legalized. However, if the practice of prostitution becomes a detriment to a society as a whole, and a greater number of people are harmed rather than can benefit from the act, then prostitution should be outlawed in that society. In the end, it is for each particular culture to determine what is appropriate, in terms of whether or not to legalize prostitution, for their unique situations.

The Gain From Trade

In the world, each country has its own unique set of resources; these resources include the raw materials in the land, human capital and technology. Because of these distinct constraints, each country has its own advantage in producing or creating certain goods and services, compared to other countries. These advantages are created by specialization and over time, this specialization lets a country develop certain goods or services at the lowest costs possible. If each country in turn focuses on producing a good or service at their lowest opportunity cost and trades the excess production for another country’s lowest opportunity cost good or service, then the total amount of consumable goods or services in all countries will have increased. In an eggshell, by having each country in the world specialize in their own particular areas of expertise, or lowest opportunity cost sector, and trading the surplus production to other countries for those country’s specialized products and services, each country involved will not only enjoy the lowest priced goods and services, they can realize an increase in the mutually combined output of all the countries.

If countries in the world did not trade and instead tried to produce all the products it required internally, in many cases, certain products or services would not be available or only obtainable for a much higher cost. For example, in agriculture, certain vegetables and fruits will only grow under a particular temperature in a certain type of soil. Some countries in the world do not have the fortune to have land which is lush for all types of agricultural goods. Perhaps Jamaica has many highlands great for coffee cultivation. Unfortunately, Jamaica is an island which does not have much land for grazing cattle. In this case, if Jamaica did not trade, and it tried to produce everything it needed for itself, it would be left in a situation where it may have just enough coffee for the people, but a striking lack of cattle it people demand.

In Jamaica’s case, if instead they focus on trading, and specialize all their efforts in coffee production, Jamaica would have a surplus of coffee beans it can use to trade for the cattle or other types of goods and services it needs from countries, which are also specializing and trading with the lowest opportunity cost in mind. The lowest opportunity cost for a country is referencing the comparative advantage one country has over another country when producing the same good or service. When two or more countries can produce the same good or service for consumption, but one country can produce that good or service more economically, then that country who produces the cheapest is said to have the lowest opportunity cost in producing that product or service. The country with the lowest opportunity cost in producing a certain good or service is also the one with the comparative advantage. In economics, it is logical to say that if all countries are producing products and services in which they have a comparative advantage, and trading these goods and services with other countries that are doing the same, the international markets would be working in its most efficient manner.

Ultimately, the gains from trade are three-fold. First, trade allows for the products and services that are abundant in one location to be supplied to areas that is scarce or lacking. Another gain from trade involves the concept of comparative advantage. Because countries are producing goods and services which are lowest opportunity costs for them, the world consumer will be able to enjoy the lowest costs for those goods and services. Finally, the gains from trade involve a mutual increase in the total output of production in goods or services in all countries. With each country focusing on making the goods and services with the lowest opportunity cost, they generally can make much more of it, which allows for the surplus to be traded abroad and also augments the consumption of that product or service by the people demanding it.

Little Red Riding Hood goes to Computer Class

Once there was a little village maiden, the most charming ever seen, who wished to learn about computer networks, in order to to understand how collections of computers and other hardware devices that are interconnected, can communicate electronically with one another to share information and resources. She told her mom that she saw an advertisement for a first-rate computer-related program in the Management Information System (MIS) department at a school several villages away which provided courses on how decision makers use preselected information to make good management decisions from data systems involving computers. The young girl’s mother, who was foolishly fond of her, advised the young maiden to try a distance learning program, wherein the learning environment is physically located away from the instructor and other students; instruction and communications take place via the Internet, thus the young damsel could spend her days learning from home and spend more time with her loving mother. Her mother also expounded that she was telecommuting with her own career, where her use of computers and electronic devices enable her to work from home. By using a virtual private network (VPN), the little girl’s mother could access her company’s private computer network resources via a secure path over the Internet. Red’s mother described how videoconferencing allows her to use her computer and a webcam, in conjunction with communications software, to conduct face-to-face meetings over the Internet. If she just wanted to talk to someone by voice, then Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) allowed her to place telephone calls via the Internet. Breathlessly, she persisted that with virtual reality (VR), a person can use a human-like avatar to interact with others on the Internet in a virtualized three-dimensional environment, almost emulating the real world. However, the young lass wanted to attend a traditional school, similar to a brick-and-mortar store, where the learning center, just like the conventional store, had a physical presence instead of just a virtual one. Therefore, the damsel, pulling on the red cloak her grandmother made her, bid farewell to her adoring mother and headed off to the school which taught computer classes.

On her way to the class, the girl with the red cloak encountered a telecomunications expert working on the side of the road. Brimming with curiosity, little red stopped to see what the technician was working on. After some observation, the young girl could clearly see the technician was installing some type of cabling under the street. The technician, upon seeing little red riding hood’s interest, explained that he was pulling fiber-optic cable, a communications medium that utilizes hundreds of thin transparent fibers over which lasers trasmit data as light. Each wavelength of light in the fiber transmits its data via serial transmission where data travels down the same path one after the other, bit by bit. However, with all the separate wavelengths and fibers working in sync, the communication works more in a parallel transmission manner where bytes are data are transmitted simultaneously with each bit taking its own separate path. Thus, the worker explained that the bandwidth, or the amount of data that can be trasmitted over a communications medium at any one time, on the fiber-optic cables was unbelievably faster than any other transfer medium available. The man continued on by explaining that he was here to replace the traditional communications medium consisting of a center wire inside a grounded, cylindrical shield, known as coaxial cable, which would eventually be completely supplanted by fiber lines. Furthermore, the technician showed little red riding hood a box he called an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) which would sit at the terminal stations of the fiber optic lines to provide continuous battery power to the terminal devices in the event of power outages.

After this short diversion, little red riding hood bid adieu to the technician and continued on her journey to school. Just as she crossed over the hill to the next village, she spotted a man working on the roof of someone’s home. She walked closer to spy what was happening when unexpectedly, the man came down to his work van to grab some supplies. At that moment, little red inquired the man what the circular dish he was installing on the roof was for. The man looked at the little girl and said, “My dear child, I was installing a satellite Internet access system for that home. It permits fast, direct Internet access via the airwaves using a satellite dish and modem. The modem is a communications device that enables computers to communicate over analog media, such as the satellite wireless transmissions, to connect to the Internet.” Little red stared at the man in awe as he continued, “A communication satellite which sits in orbit around the Earth relays communication signals over long distances to this satellite dish and other ones like it which I have installed all around the neighborhood.” The helpful expert also described to little red riding hood about other types of wireless technologies. He told her that there are also microwave stations which are earth-based and can send and receive high-frequency, high-speed radio signals for information transmission. In addition, he explained to the young girl that her cell phone has mobile wireless Internet access which allows Internet access via the celluar phone wireless communications network. He stated that most often, the mobile wireless connections utilize wireless application protocol (WAP) as the standard method for delivering content, such as Web pages to mobile devices. In conjunction with WAP, Wireless Markup Language (WML) is the language used on WAP-enabled devices to display and format web pages. He persisted on that however, some smartphones such as the iPhone, use Wi-Fi (802.11), or the widely used communications standard for regular computer wireless networks, to connect to the Internet. Before little red could absorb all of this information, the satellite man made a final remark that Wi-MAX, an up-and-coming wireless networking standard, will eventually replace Wi-Fi because of its greater speed and longer range. With so much to take in, little red riding hood hastily thanked the stranger and went on her jolly way.

After about an hour of trekking through the forest, the young girl finally reached the secluded meadows where the school was located. As she approached the impressive building, she heard a strange alarm sound. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a robot, a electronic device, in this case controlled by computer, that reacted to her movement through sensory inputs. The robot was apparently developed by a team of highly innovative robotics engineers who must have studied a full range robot technologies avidly. The way the robot interacted in its environment, and with little red, showed it utilized a sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) system which performs action that are characteristic of human intelligence. The AI system must have made use of a neural network which uses a computer system to expertly emulate a human brain’s pattern-recognition process. After some time, the robot, in a terrible voice exclaimed, “Proximity card not detected, please state password.” Little red remembered that a proximity card was like a identification card with a build-in smart card or RFID technology which could be used to remotely access things. Since she didn’t have one, her only option was to state the password, a secret combination of characters or word(s) used to gain access to a computer or entrance to something. Unfortunately, the young girl had none of the items requested. A bit wary and frightened, little red tried to slowly back away from the robot and back into the forest. After taking only one step, little red halted because the robot leaped to her side. A small panel opened and the robot declared, “Insert smart card or hand.” The young lass shook her head with a frown as she knew she did not have a smart card, a credit card-sized piece of plastic containing a chip and other circuits which data can be stored, and had to comply with the other choice. Fearful to disobey, little red riding hood slid her hand into a designated slot in the robot’s torso. After two seconds, the robot swiftly shifted away and its voiced affirmed, “Biometric scan passed.” After thinking a bit, little red decided that there must have been some type of biometric access system in the robot which allowed a unique physical characteristic of hers to allow her to pass.

Carefully walking on, little red riding hood entered the majestic school of computer technologies. Inside its wide halls, the little girl saw a middle-aged, slender man working with a clump of wires and cables in the corner. As she approached, the man took notice of little red and with a big smile, advanced to greet her. The man introduced himself as professor Zed and apologized for the robot guard in the front courtyard. “We have a wolf problem in the forest surrounding the school, you see, so we had to take some precautionary measures to prevent those tricky animals from disguising themselves and entering our establishment,” said the professor. Little red laughed, thinking that the professor’s reasoning must be flawed; the error in reasoning similar to a logic error, where a calculated result or behavior is incorrect because of some type of programming error. After catching her breath, little red asked the professor, “Is it possible for me to take some computer classes here?” With a sigh, the professor explained to little red that the school had financial difficulties and had to fire most of the staff. Now only he remained to take care of the premises while instruction delivered via the web, or web-based training, was still being offered from the school’s website. Little red exclaimed, “Then who teaches the online courses?!” Professor Zed clarified to little red that today’s businesses have embraced outsourcing, or the turning over of certain tasks and jobs to an outside vendor which has lower labor costs, and that the online teachers were in fact located in India or China.

Wide-eyed and not believing what she was hearing, little red riding hood started to cry. The professor gently comforted the little girl and said to her, “How about it, while you are here, let me teach you a thing or two about computers.” Filled with delight, little red readily accepted. The professor decided he would start with the basics of networking, as he was working on pulling network cabling when little red had entered the school. They both walked over to the mess of cables in the corner and he began to lecture. “First of all, these cables are to be used in an local area network (LAN), a network that connects devices located in a small geographical area, such as within this building. The network can be set up as intranet, or a private network that is similar to the Internet and accessed via a Web browser. Sometimes we require authorized outsider to partially access our internal network, and that type of set up is known as an extranet. The predecessor of the Internet was called ARPANET because of the Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (ARPA) help in the development stages. In terms of physical layout, the network can be one of four varieties. The original networks were set up in a bus network where all the devices connect to each other through a central cable in a linear fashion. Token ring networks are similar to bus but instead of a central cable , the devices in this network connect to each other one to the next, in a loop. The third variety involves the star network where devices connect to each other using a central device, such as a switch or hub. Although the star network is the most common of topologies, the fourth mesh network is also a network layout which uses a combination of the previous topologies, with redundant connections, to provide a more enduring network for emergency situations. What is important to remember is that the all devices on any of the networks require a network adapter, such as a network interface, expansion card to allow a connection. The network interface card (NIC) is the physical expansion card through which a computer can connect to a network.” Little red absorbed all of the lesson, but was curious to learn more. So the professor continued, “Once a network is too large, and must be divided into separate networks, you need a router to efficiently route the data travelling in the line to the various specific locations. If you are connected to the Internet, a firewall is used to protect the network from unauthorized acccess. A firewall can also help in the prevention of computer worms, malicious programs designed to spread rapidly to large numbers of computer through system vulnerabilities, and denial of service (DOS) attacks, where an act of sabotage attempts to flood a network server or workstation with so much activity that it is unable to function.”

After the computer lesson, little red head was filled with a host of new and wonderful information she had to process in her mind. She daydreamed that she could be a systems analyst where she could evaluate the development of a computer or network system and determine which problems should be resolved. Or she pictured herself a programmer, a person whose job it was to write, test, and maintain computer programs. Or she could be a web designer and use web site authoring software such as Dreamweaver or Microsoft Frontpage to develop amazing websites for the world to see. Whatever it was she was going to be when she grew, she knew one thing for certain. Little red riding hood had a most tiring and adventureous day today and she knew it was time to go home. She thanked professor Zed for his time and tutoring lesson and decisively called it a day.

E-Book Vendor Review

After reviewing Haag-Cummings-McCubbrey’s Management Information Systems (online edition), I found the experience to be quite agreeable and the online viewer easy to use. Personally, I think that the use of online textbooks can be more convenient than traditional hardcopies. Online textbooks use no paper, so it is more environmentally mindful. Morever, as long as you have a large enough monitor, the text on screen can be as large, or larger than the original text. The online format can be customized to meet each person’s requirement. Further, a digital book can be downloaded into a e-book or tablet PC, allowing the student to have and read the book wherever he or she goes.

As far as pricing goes, I found that in this particular case, the Management Information Systems book and expensive “online downloadable version” price made it most cost effective to purchase a used hardcopy. The online edition costs $94.70 and the hardcopy, “used”, could be found for less than half the online version price. How this can be is beyond my understanding but I believe that if publishers wish to sell more ebooks, their pricing strategy must change dramatically towards the benefit of the student or buyer. Overall, I believe a reasonable price for this book should be between one-quarter to one-half the current online selling price. Perhaps the publisher and writers will make less money on each copy, but they must know that online versions do not have the usual overhead of hardcopies such as paper, binding, and ink.

If ebook devices were less expensive, online books were cheaper, I would definitely use online textbooks for all of my classes. Eventually, as costs come down, the trend for this type of market situation to occur seems very apparent and reasonable. Not only will humanity as a group save more trees and protect the environment, but books can finally become a more interactive and fun resource.

Journalistic Review

Aljazeera.net English Edition is a Middle-Eastern journalistic website which gives an unfiltered analysis on world events, especially focusing on the situations occuring in the Middle-East. The Code of Ethics for Aljazeera.net, English news media service, states that they will keep a strict policy of “honesty … fairness, balance, independence …” among other things, to achieve an frank and professional journalistic outlook from their news reports. In addition, they wish to present their articles for readers in a “clear, factual and accurate [viewpoint] while giving full consideration to the feelings of victims of crime, war, persecution and disaster.” Moreover, Aljazeera embraces rivalry and contesting points of view and is willing to present those stances “without bias or partiality.” Furthermore, the code of ethics for this company “[r]ecognise[s] diversity in human societies with all their races, cultures and beliefs” in order to present situations as they are, without prejudice or favoritism, especially not giving into “commercial or political considerations.” Finally, Aljazeera’s Code of Ethics mandates that they will “[a]cknowledge [their] mistake[s] when it occurs, promptly correct it and ensure it does not recur.”

If I were a professional in this industry, I would be in agreement with Aljazeera’s Code of Ethics. Every line item is a reasonable declaration for a highly regarded Code of Ethics in the journalistic arena. In it, Aljazeera advocates fair play, honesty, impartial reporting, among other things and their Code would definitely be an admirable objective to realize and achieve. However, I believe that human beings discriminate by nature and it would be highly unlikely, if impossible, for no bias to be present in any journalistic report. Notwithstanding this fact, I believe that Aljazeera’s employees will strive their best in creating balanced, objective reports with such a strong Code of Ethics supporting them.

I am led to believe that Aljazeera’s Code of Ethics would also be accepted by peers in the journalism industry. The website of the Society of Professional Journalists (www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp), lists the most commonly accepted Code of Ethics for all those in the journalism industry. Comparing the two codes, I can see many similarities and concurring ideas. There is no opposing viewpoints on Aljazeera’s own Code compared with SPJ’s commonly recognized Code of Ethics. With this respect, industry peers and professionals would agree with Aljazeera’s Code of Ethics without issue.

Segments in Aljazeera’s Code which is not relevant in other industries include the act of news reporting. Retail, manufacturing, and medical professions would not perform this action in their respective lines of work. In addition, the consideration Aljazeera gives to their diverse audiences (readers) are not directly applicable in many lines of business. Although a media corporation wishes to render journalistic detail, diverse viewpoints, and attention on the stories they report, manufacturers just want to create an easy-to-use and safe product for its customers.

Create Oneself

Stereotyping is a regrettable attitude in how one person judges another. People often label individuals and groups by their appearance, ethnicity, social status, or any of the other myriad of differences that distinguishes one person from another. In the two poems, Theme for English B and Barbie Doll, the reader is urged to see the biases of society placed upon the main characters of the writings. Although both characters are affected by the prejudices weighed upon them, the manner in which the two characters approach the issues are vastly different. Whereas Hughes, author of Theme for English B, identifies the discrimination he feels in his environment, he embraces who he is. The “girlchild” (Piercy, 1) in Barbie Doll tries her best to conform to the standards by the people scrutinizing her; ultimately losing her own life as well as her natural identity. This distinction on how each of the two characters copes with societal adversity in his or her life is the underlining difference between the two poems.

Readers witness the characters of the two poems become targets of stereotyping when Hughes writes that he is “the only colored student in [his] class” (Hughes, 10) and explaining that his white instructor “…perhaps [does not] want to be a part of [him]” (Hughes, 34), while Pierce states that “a classmate [teases the girlchild], you have a great big nose and fat legs.” (Piercy, 5-6) While the characters are both being judged by outside groups on the nature of their inborn physical characteristics, they each handle this challenge in a separate manner. The impact of the racial intolerance Hughes faces is positive for him as readers see him evaluating the rationality of ethnic discrimination. Hughes finds that ultimately, regardless of an individual’s skin color, a human being from any background can enjoy the same things. Conversely, the character of Barbie Doll, girlchild is self-destructively affected by public opinion. She tries her best to follow the fleeting standards of those around her without regard to her own self-worth. In the end, the girlchild succumbs completely to the outside forces and reaches a fruitless consummation; where although the public opinion at last endorsed her, the girlchild lost all the innate and extraordinary qualities that made her one of a kind.

Hughes of Theme of English B was a young African-American man living in a period of American history when racial prejudice was a commonplace phenomenon. To be black and attending college was a rare and exceptional occurrence. The readers see this reality when Hughes writes, “I am the only colored student in my class” (10). The author identifies that there is a social bias of his racial group when he explains,

So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white – (27-31)

In spite of this prejudice, Hughes recognizes that he takes pleasure in the same activities as his white counterparts. In the poem he describes,

...Me – who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records – Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races. (20-26)

Finally, the author clarifies that, “[a]s I learn from you, / I guess you learn from me –” (37-38). The audience sees that Langston Hughes is comfortable in his predicament, possesses self-respect of his identity, and is not ashamed of who he is.

Marge Piercy composed her poem, Barbie Doll, in the early 1970s, congruent to the period of the United States’ feminist movements. During that time, women around the nation rose up to seek fairness and equality for females in a patriarchal society. Women of that era sought to do away with shallow attitudes focused toward them concerning superficial attractiveness, sexual freedom, and capability. Piercy brings to light the philosophies of that time in her poem. She makes the tone in Barbie Doll sarcastic. The author describes a young, vigorous woman who “…was healthy, tested intelligent, / possessed strong arms and back, / abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity” (7-9). Still, this same woman “…went to and fro apologizing. / Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs. / … / So she [finally] cut off her nose and her legs / and offered them up” (10-11, 17-18). Readers feel the irony in the unusual impact the community played in unaccommodatingly influencing the pitiable protagonist. The girlchild lacked essential qualities which the feminist movement women in the 1970s, as well as the author Langston Hughes, exhibited: self-confidence, self-respect and self-worth. Because of this critical flaw, Piercy’s girlchild lived in pursuit of pleasing others for the purpose of gaining their approval. Unfortunately, only misery and finally defeat, was the conclusion for the character in the story.

These two poems, written by hugely dissimilar authors, reveal similar conflicts and struggles of the central characters. Both characters face public scrutiny of their physical identities. Both must manage and cope with the realities of the environments in which they live. However, the approach each character takes to solve his or her struggles differ significantly. After analyzing the two approaches, readers realize that taken as a whole, satisfaction with one self’s own value in society is much more important than seeking the admiration of the crowd. Genuine fulfillment originates from within, and if a person does not have this to begin with, he or she will never find it elsewhere. A quote by Thomas Szasz corroborates this belief; he explains, “Some people say they haven’t yet found themselves. But the self is not something one finds; it is something one creates.”

Popular Science and Discover

Popular Science and Discover are two well-known scientific publications. Primarily, these magazines target an intellectual audience who want to gain insight into the current events in scientific innovation and gain knowledge of the empirical world. While both publications impart newly acquired knowledge and information to the reader, Popular Science focuses on technological tool and invention breakthroughs whereas Discover concentrates its articles on the natural phenomenon of biology, the earth, and the universe. Consequently, the difference in subject matter is the distinguishing factor on the type of goal each magazine is trying to achieve. In addition to the subject matter, the history and advertised products and services are also significant aspects of the two publications which draw them apart.

The topics Popular Science centers on are often new inventions, ideas and technology. A recent article about a futuristic, green fueled, hypersonic airplane verifies this assertion (Belfiore 48). The pages describe an airliner that could one day carry people across the planet in a fraction of the time as needed today. In addition, the aircraft consumes clean fuels which releases only water as an emission (Belfiore 48-49). Articles such as this are typical in Popular Science. However, Discover magazine publishes articles that educates the audience on natural phenomena or provides information on biotechnological developments and environmental conflicts. In the February 2008 issue of Discover, readers learn about how “[a] timeless island of stars changes the way we look at cosmic evolution.” (Moskowitz 11). This kind of article allows readers to gain knowledge on the marvels of the vast world and boundless cosmos. Thus, the aims of Popular Science and Discover are unalike. Where Discover aspires to inform and educate knowledge seeking readers on scientific information, Popular Science magazines is concerned with exhibiting innovative devices and machinery to a gadget oriented audience.

Publication history is another interesting yet contrasting factor between the magazines. Popular Science is considered a historic artifact in the magazine arena. This is so since it “is the fifth-oldest continuously published magazine in the United States” (“Popular Science”). Founded in 1872, this publication has chronicled innumerable technological advancements. It has undeniably documented the scientific development from the “dawn of electricity to today’s information age. […] Indeed, the history of Popular Science is a true reflection of humankind’s progress over the past [136] years” (“The History of Popular Science”). However, Discover possesses a relatively short publication history. Yet in this brief period, this fledgling magazine company has experienced more management upheavals than its enduring rival, Popular Science. Launched in 1980 by Time Inc., Discover has since changed ownership twice and is currently a company under “Bob Guiccione Jr., founder of Spin and Gear Magazine and son of Penthouse founder Bob Guiccione.” (“Discover (magazine)”). Therefore, with an age variance of 108 years, Popular Science outranks Discover in terms of historic value and journalistic experience.

The advertisements displayed in each magazine also show certain similarities and differences. Often, both magazines display ads that are mostly textual with some simple graphical elements. Readers of both periodicals are more intellectually inclined and thus do not find the word content to be an obstruction. The advertisement for a ROM exercise machine is a great example of the wordiness and simple visuals. This ad features over half a page of wording content, three basic colors, and one picture on the upper portion of page (ROM Exercise Equipment 9). Yet there is a discernable divergence in the type of advertisements seen in the two publications. Discover print advertisements are more often health related products or services than anything else. For instance, a typical ad shown in a recent issue of Discover presents an “amazing new medical device [that can] erase stress [during a person’s] sleep and [allow the user to] feel good again in 30 days.” (Stress Eraser Medical Device 59). On the other hand, Popular Science ads tend to focus more on innovative gadgets and tools. Near the front of the February 2008 issue, readers find an ad for a Bose® sound system. The ad draws the attention of a tech savvy audience with its assurance that this “unique technolog[y] [can] reproduce sound with vivid detail […] and [readers] may be surprised by what [they]’ve been missing” (Bose Sound System 4).

Even though these two magazines differ on goals, history, and advertisements, Popular Science and Discover are two periodicals that been and continue to educate and inform its readers of modern breakthroughs and the progresses made in the scientific domain. Each offers unique perspectives on a myriad of science related subject matter covered and both magazines provide significant informative value to the readers through the content of the articles. Throughout the past century up to modern day, individuals seeking knowledge technological breakthroughs have relied on Popular Science to deliver “a look at the future now” (“Popular Science”). Supplementary to this, Discover magazine has imparted detailed scientific awareness to “educated non-professionals” (“Discover (magazine)”) for the last three decades. As a result, because of the intrinsic value of these two publications, the likelihood for the continuation of this trend is highly promising.

Definition of Leadership

Recently, I interviewed my grandfather regarding what defines a leader. I chose to interview him because of his extensive background involving leadership in both the corporate world, as well as in the armed forces. Before his retirement, he had been the chairman of a multinational construction firm based in Taiwan. During the years of his management, the company experienced a reduction of internal bureaucratic procedures which in turn raised productivity. With improved productivity, the company was able to increase their client base internationally. Additionally, his years as a high ranking officer in Taiwan’s air force makes him a good candidate to interview regarding the topic of leadership. This is true because of his experience with the command of a multitude of military officers. Thus, given that my major is in business management, I believe that interviewing my grandfather was relevant to my field of interest.

The definition of leadership from my interviewee is as follows: Leadership is being able to do what others don’t want to do or cannot do. It is the lack of the fear of danger or physical hardships; otherwise nothing would be done or accomplished. Leadership is given to an individual by others; borne from the respect and admiration of a person with courage, ability and knowledge.

My grandfather believes that there are several important characteristics for a person to be an effective leader. First of all, a leader has to do the right things. This includes living a principled and harmonious life. Only if a person is living correctly in their marriage and family life can they set a dignified example for others to see and follow. Additionally, a person should be careful with their speech and actions. Since leaders are role models, everything they do should be sensible. Moreover, leaders cannot be selfish. They must think for the group and not for themselves. They have to respect themselves and others. Finally, the leader should not lead by force. Instead, they should lead with the admiration of others.

A leader that my grandfather admires is a historical figure in China. This person was General Fei, a renowned hero during a turbulent period of Chinese history. My grandfather admires him because of his virtue and deeds. General Fei loved and sacrificed for his country without question or hesitation. Additionally, his love for family and filial piety were distinctions that set him above and beyond other men of the period. One unique detail to note was a tattoo imprinted on General Fei’s back by his mother when he was little. It read, “Forever loyal and devoted to my homeland.” These words became the guideline in which he grew up to follow. The general’s unflinching courage and a heart set with purpose dedicated to his family and country were strong attributes that my grandfather admires.

My own definition of leadership is the ability to motivate and guide others to complete a task or believe in something, while not compromising ethical principles.

I believe that to be an effective leader, the most important characteristics are having capability, having a character of integrity, and being able to persevere through adversity. A leader must have the capability, either through skills, a broad knowledge base, experience and / or courage in order to lead and guide others to accomplish a common goal. Additionally, the leader must possess integrity so that those who follow can trust him and not be led astray. Finally, to be an effective, the leader must know how to overcome adversity. Throughout the course of life, all types of challenges can manifest; those who can continually overcome the challenges are considered to have passed the test, in having what is required in being a leader.

A leader that I admire is Sun Tzu. He was a great military tactician and thinker during the 5th century BC. With his extensive capability, he won countless campaigns of war against rival states and was revered and respected by allies and foes alike. His written treatise, The Art of War, is still used today by military commanders as well as business owners to enhance their knowledge in the principles of leading and commanding groups, along with the strategies of war and competition. Sun Tzu commanded with authority, but he did so through example by living a life with morality. He did not indulge in the excesses and lived a simple and conventional life. It is because of these attributes that I admire Sun Tzu as a leader.

The similarities between my responses and my interviewees can be seen in how we both see the characteristics of an effective leader. Both my grandfather and I believe that to be an effective leader, that person needs to live a dignified or ethical life. This way, they lead by example and not by force. Additionally, a leader must have ability and courage. With these traits, they can overcome obstacles which other people might not want to or cannot overcome. Finally, both of the leaders that we admire are heroes in the historical past. Those heroes were admired and respected by their peers because of the deeds they accomplished and morale lifestyles they lived by.

The differences between my responses compared with my interviewees can also be identified in how we value the characteristics of being an effective leader. Whereas my grandfather views that a person should lead with the admiration of others, I did not find that this trait was a necessary one to be successful at effective leadership. I believe that a leader needs extensive capability to be effective. On the other hand, my grandfather views that doing the right things or setting good examples, instead of having ability, should be held in high priority. Finally, in the examples of a leader we each admire, my grandfather chose a hero who would sacrifice and do tasks for country or family without question or hesitation. Although the leader I admire also sacrificed and did deeds for his country, his actions were deliberate and well thought out before any action was taken.

Brachyteles Hypoxanthus

The nothern muriqui, scientifically known as Brachyteles hypoxanthus, is the critically endangered primate relative which this group researched for the primate awareness watch project. The habitat of the northern muriqui is found in the mature evergreen to deciduous lowland Atlantic coastal forest. Once widespread throughout the forests of south-east Brazil, today these monkeys are distributed only a handful fragmented forests. These forests primarily include the regions of Minas Gerias, Espirito Santo, and Bahia. Small groups of northern muriqui have been found in the north-eastern forests of Minas Gerias, but the largest known population of this primate seen today is in the forests of the Caratinga Biological Station.

The northern muriqui, also called the wooly spider monkey, is South America’s largest primate. In addition, their characteristics are unique in the fact that they are non-territorial and do not display aggressive behavior. Northern muriqui usually also have dis-pigmentation on their faces and some possess vestigial thumbs, which distinguishes them from their southern counterparts. These primates are currently found in highly disjointed subpopulations with few members.

Furthermore, the degree of endangerment for the northern muriqui reached critical levels, as stated by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in 2003. The approximate number of known northern muriqui measured in 2005 was 855 members. A breakdown of how the population of northern muriqui has changed over the last decades and centuries is as follows:

1500 – 400,000; 1971 – 3,000; 1977 – 1,000; 1984 – 100; 1987 – 375; 1991 – 500; 1994 – 1500; 1997 – 1,000; 2003 – 300; 2005 – 855

As seen above, the population of the mariqui has fluctuated greatly over the past several decades, with a marked decreased in this century compared to the 1500s. Today, northern mariqui can be found in twelve locations in Brazil. Six of these sites are on private land, three on stated protected areas, and the remaining three on federally protected land. Considered critically endangered, this primate has seen an ongoing population decline, 80% over the past 60 years and the numbers continue to drop.

There are many reasons why the northern muriqui are critically endangered. As humans encroach on their original habitat, muriqui lose more and more territory to thrive. Housing and commercial development, tourism and recreation, agriculture and aquaculture, livestock farming and ranching, logging and wood harvesting, human intrusion and disturbance are all factors which is causing the muriqui to die out. Beyond this, muriquis are still hunted as food by local natives and infant monkeys are sometimes captured as pets. Today, the two chief threats to the primate is commercial logging in privately owned forests and the illegal hunting of muriqui in federal or state-owned forests. With the extensive deforestation and fragmentation of the Atlantic forest, climate change has become a growing threat. Beyond this, because of the small sizes of the remaining populations, the muriqui are at great risk of genetic and demographic problems which could lead to extinction.

Even with the eminent threat of extinction, there are still solutions to help put things right. Land and water protection, habitat restoration, species management, captive breeding, artificial propagation, and the education and awareness of the issue are all ways towards a effective and beneficial outcome. Long-time researcher in the field, Dr. Karen Strier, has been studying the northern muriqui for the past twenty-five years. She is currently professor of zoology and anthropology at the University of Madison Wisconsin. Her research has focused on how scientific knowledge can help to contribute in establishing informed conservation efforts. In a recent interview with mongabay.com, Dr. Strier has stated that northern muriquies are fortunate since they have become the flagship for conservation in Brazil. In addition, large teams of Brazilian and international researchers, conservationalists, and NGO (non-governmental organizations) are involved in protecting the species. She reminds the reader, that continued prohibitions on hunting, and increased habitat protection is vital in the efforts to safeguard the species. In addition, she reports that there is management plans already underway:

Development of forest corridors to link isolated populations is being created. Females from different population groups have been successfully trans-located to new subpopulations to stimulate growth and gene flow.

Ultimately, with dedicated individuals like Dr. Strier and other groups who have given their time and efforts to help rescue and preserve the species, the northern muriquies stand an impressive chance against the tide of extinction.

Space Alone Review

Space Alone is a flash short film created by Ilias Sounas, a 2D animator from Greece. The film contains a story of a wandering and forlorn astronaut in space whose mission is to find life. His ship monitor shows that he has one day left to complete the mission and at the last moment, his sensors detect a life form on a nearby planet. When the astronaut lands, he finds companionship and shares his time with the planetary creature. The plot continues and reveals a twist: the countdown timer of the astronaut’s mission is also a timer for his life. As the planetary creature sadly walks away with the astronaut’s death placard, the story exposes an ironic ending. This is not the first time an alien being has died on this creature’s planet; in fact, countless others have come here and died; coming to bring a short-lived friendship but ultimately, leaving the planetary creature alone in isolation again each time.

The intended audience of this piece is an individual who is emotionally mature and who can comprehend the intricacies of human emotions. The theme of this film develops in four major emotional stages: loneliness, happiness, sorrow, and anger. Each stage conveys a strong sentiment for the viewer as he or she experiences the feelings of the film’s characters at those moments. Further, the artist makes use of simple geometric and symmetrical shapes to form the characters’ faces and bodies. The simplicity leads audiences to sympathize with the animated characters as this appeal suggests innocence and baby-like qualities.

The film’s technique utilizes vector based drawings with flash and after effect animation. It is 2D, uses textured backgrounds and a chronological storyline which is linear in structure. The artist employs special effects such as glare (windows of the spacecraft), reflections (on the astronaut’s helmet), lens flare (scene with moons in the sky), smoke and dust (during spacecraft landing), and wind (after the astronaut dies and the planetary creature walks up the hill) to enhance the overall animation.
In addition, the video uses the following animation principles:

(1) Squash and stretch – During the beginning when the astronaut is in his spaceship, his head does a little squash and stretch, up down movement.

(2) Anticipation – When the planetary creature throws the astronaut’s death placard away, his motion creates an expectation of something important to happen.

(3) Slow in, slow out – While the death placard is in the air, the film slows down time, and then accelerates, before finally showing the placard fall into a massive pile of other placards. This unexpected scene startles the viewer.

(4) Staging – The whole setting, including the boundless space, barren planets intensifies the feeling of terrible loneliness. Moreover, the film contains no excessive details; the simple spaceship floating in the expanse, the non-vibrant, bleak coloration of the dying astronaut is offset by a brilliant yellow alien creature that fills the gap of loneliness with a newfound joy.

(5) Arcs – When the astronaut and the alien creature frolic and bound across the planetary landscape, the use of arcs in their movement is observed.

Furthermore, the film’s visual appeal is defined by the dull, earthy toned hue coloration which fits both the setting and story premise. The story’s tagline, “It’s not good to be alone” applies to both characters. One character is an astronaut who is close to death and wishes to spend his last few moments with another; the other is a living planetary alien who can never find a permanent companion and is perpetually alone. Even though there is no spoken dialog all through the film, the character’s interaction explains everything. The character development flows throughout the story which is logical and easy to understand. Although the characters are composed of simple geometric shapes, there is a level of quality in the movement with the artist’s use of arcs. Yet this movement can be enhanced with more squash and stretch or other traditional animation techniques. All in all, this art piece is a successful film which utilizes an easy to grasp theme, and accomplishes a contiguous, non-disjointed plot that is universally understood.

Giza Pyramids and Ziggurat of Ur

From the prehistoric era to Roman times, two structures that are most prominent to me are the Egyptian pyramids of Giza and the Ziggurat at Ur. Both these massive works from the ancient world displays the awesome energy and creativity of man. Although created by two separate and very different cultures, these engineering and architectural marvels have important features that can be compared and analyzed.

The Giza pyramids were created during a golden period of Egyptian civilization, around 2570 B.C. The pharaoh Khufu had created a structure of such size and advanced technology that it was unrivaled by its predecessors and not exceeded by even his successors. The pyramid used large stone blocks intricately stacked to form the bulk of the structure and foundation. The geometry used on the angles and inclination of the walls, as well as the ratio of height and perimeter width of the square base are so finely finished that modern builders would find difficultly to reproduce it. Outside, the pyramid was originally finished with smooth limestone and had a cap on its pinnacle made of gold. Seen in the picture to the left, the pyramids are indeed a spectacle to behold.

The Ziggurat at Ur was created around 2100 B.C., during the rule of the Mesopotamian King Ur-nammu. This structure was created with countless baked mud-brick placed on top of a mound of earth, effectively creating an artificial mountain. At its summit, elaborate rituals were enacted in service of the Sumerian gods. The heights of the various platforms were carefully proportioned; the walls curved slightly out to add buoyancy to the heavy structure and possibly to adjust as optical refinements. Seen to the right, the impressive staircases created additional drama to an already imposing temple to the gods.

However, these two distinct structures have several interesting details that are similar. First, the pyramid and the ziggurat are symbolic as a connection between humans and the divine. They are comparable to a sacred mount or a setting for divine revelations. Additionally, both structures are massive and visually inspiring; and quite literally, a ladder to the sky or heavens above. More similarities include their sophisticated architectural and engineering measuring and building techniques. Further, the placement of both structures in respect to their environment; and their alignment to the stars and sun also played a crucial role in their planning and creation.

Conversely, there are also sizeable differences between the pyramid and the ziggurat. Whereas the pyramids are famous for its key use as a grandiose tomb for the Egyptian pharaohs, the ziggurats of Mesopotamia were used exclusively as temples for the Sumerian religion. The materials used for construction was also different because of the availability of resources in the local area. The Pyramids of Giza are mainly composed stone and the Ziggurat of Ur is made of bricks from the mud of the area. What’s more, the ziggurat was a structure for the masses to take part in their religious affairs. Although the pyramid was also established on religious reasons, it was not made for the masses but rather for an individual; the pharaoh who was likened as a living god to the people he ruled.

From these two structures, I have found that prehistoric civilizations had the knowledge and perseverance to complete great architectural projects. Even though there are similarities of the structures themselves, such as detail to technique, proportions and alignments. The undertakings can be initiated for very different reasons. The ziggurats were created for religious factors while the pyramids were more political; to show the esteem and authority of the ruling class. Apart from these facts, the pyramid of Egypt and the ziggurat of Mesopotamia are standing evidence of the capacity of man to do great and ingenious works when the need arises.

Red Lanterns Towards The Future

Advertisements often reflect the impressions and expectations of certain groups of people. In the Morgan Stanley World Wise magazine print ad, we can see an optimistic portrayal of the economic interests for the investment market of China. Graphically shown are oriental styled, red lanterns floating away towards the open ceiling of an ultra modern commercial high-rise building. This type of pictorial display points viewers to predict China’s changing economy will continue to grow and perform well for a wise investor. Well structured, visually symmetrical, and conservative in coloration, the Morgan Stanley advertisement is geared toward intellectually minded, professional, and well-to-do middle-aged individuals. The ad evokes the feeling of dependability and affluence; it conveys to the viewer that investing in Morgan Stanley World Wise is a solid and safe decision for years to come.

At first glance, viewers see vivid red lanterns juxtaposed against a darkened concrete grey backdrop. The lanterns are traditionally designed with intricate golden trim decorating the base, a reference to Chinese custom. Showing careful placement, the lanterns are laid out with regularity and balance, suggestive of stability and consistency. In Chinese culture, the color red is often associated with success, good fortune, and happiness. The simplicity of the color usage catches the viewer’s attention. It creates focus on the red spherical shapes, representation of successful Chinese business enterprises, reaching and soaring higher up toward the light of the open sky. This symbolism reinforces the emotional elements of the craving for wealth and prosperity.

Contrasting the vibrant red spheres, the remaining image is insipidly hued. Conservatively dark and somber, and using repetitive form in its configuration, the background view of a steel and concrete commercial high-rise is an expression of strength and enduring constitution. With such mass and force, the building is a metaphor of Morgan Stanley’s long-established reputation. This impression thusly gives the audience a sentiment of trust and support. Viewers receive the impression that this company has a firm and reliable foundation on which they can rely.

Another feature of this advertisement can be seen in its text. Taken from Smithsonian magazine, readers of this publication tend to be more academically inclined and have need for words to reinforce the symbolism of the images depicted. The Morgan Stanley advertisement devotes a quarter of its page space for the text description on what they are offering. The passage briefly explains the history of the company’s experience in China. In addition, the short paragraph states that, with Morgan Stanley’s insightful and knowledgeable team, the sensible investor will be guided and seizing a great opportunity to augment their capital. Written statements like these are oriented toward the intellectually minded who require more rational substantiation before making decisions.

Consequently, using simplicity in color, uniformity of shapes, and textual content, the ad for Morgan Stanley World Wise seeks to find attention from the objective reader. Conveying the idea of strength, prosperity, and future assurance, this advertisement targets a core audience of moneyed individuals who are looking at additional opportunities for wealth accumulation. Although straightforward in design, this advertisement successfully communicates the emotional feelings and logical ideas that make it persuasive and effective.

A Love Story

Nothing brings people together like good food. And it’s no different for Johnson and Katy. Johnson and Katy first met at a mutual friend’s home party. After long hours of feasting, indulging in silly drinking games and merrymaking, they found that they enjoyed each other’s company. And it wasn’t just because of the alcohol. We hope. Johnson found himself captivated by Katy’s natural light-heartedness, and Katy was fascinated by Johnson’s knowledge and insight into life. By the end of that party, they both left with smiles on their faces and something new in their hearts.

The first time they held hands was in Las Vegas. They were on a trip with a large group of friends, during which Johnson decided to throw caution out the window and hold Katy’s hand, to see how she would react to him. When Katy saw Johnson slowly reaching his hand towards hers, she was so embarrassed that she had to hold onto her friend’s hand, too, for extra support. But those of us who have experienced love know that this embarrassment was caused only by the fluttering of the heart of a young woman at the brink of love.

They had their first walk together at Redondo Beach Pier, a place that had always been special to Katy. She had been feeling emotionally down one evening, and as soon as Johnson learned of this, he rushed to Katy’s side to give her support and raise her spirits. He drove Katy to the pier, arriving around midnight. On the pier, they walked hand in hand, enjoying that evening’s warm, salty sea breeze and sky full of bright stars. Now Redondo Beach Pier is a place that will forever be close to Johnson’s heart, too.

The first vacation they took together was a weeklong drive along the coast of California. The two traveled from Hearst Castle to Monterey, from The Mystery Spot to San Francisco. They seized this opportunity to experience the most from their first trip together as a young couple, experiencing the beauty of California’s coastline and the best of California’s cuisine. To this day, Katy still often looks back to when the two of them ate the best, freshest Dungeness crabs ever at Fisherman’s Wharf. Both of them found the Kentucky Fried Chicken that they had in the city of Angel Camp, near Yosemite, sublime. So much so, that they both still constantly talk about it. Was this food really that delicious, or was it the company that made it so? Perhaps it was both. There are times when you are disappointed - as when Johnson and Katy ate the worst Chinese food ever (complete with dried-up rice) in a small town in Northern California – and times where you are pleasantly surprised – like having the best, juiciest, meatiest, freshest chicken ever made at a KFC – but these are the flavors of life.

Unexplained High-Rise

A decade ago, on the island of Taiwan, I encountered a mysteriously half-abandoned high-rise building. Located in the back of some alleys, this awkward seeming high-rise appeared like a beacon in its surrounding environment. My curiosity led me to explore this shadowy, yet intriguing structure. From the outside, the building looked fairly normal. All the exterior storefronts had vendors and it was business as usual. Yet, with one slight glance into the aisles of the interior, anyone could see something was out of place. Everything inside was dark, abandoned from use. As my interest peaked, I decided to find out more about this strange place and walked inside. This place made my heart pound, and frightened as I was, the looming structure beckoned me forth to explore.

From the start, I noticed that this building was designed as a typical high-rise in Taiwan. Easily evident was the building’s modern hardware; the elevators and escalators were all new models, indicating this building was recently constructed. There was a basement of at least three floors for parking. Starting at the ground level, the first three stories were retail areas for stores and shops. On top of that, the fourth to eight floors served as office space for various businesses. Even higher, there were a dozen or so floors of residential condominium and apartment suites.

Entering the ground level interior walkways, I could see something was wrong. Huge spider-webs occupied the corners of walls and ceilings. Leaves and trash, blown in by the wind, lined the walkways. All the indoor lighting was shut down. Luckily, sunlight peaking through the windows of the outside stalls gave enough illumination to fend off the darkness inside. I noticed how peculiar this place was. All the derelict shops inside had their store names and signs installed. I could see name brand stores like Rolex and other well known companies who had set up here. Some windows even had posters advertising a sale they were having. Inside some of these deserted shops, I could still see the display cases and furniture that was just left behind. It felt odd that so many well known stores seemingly moved out like a phantom in the night.

Strangely, when I looked to the outside shops and street, I could still see the regular bustling of human affairs. This helped me ground myself and place me in the normal world, yet I still felt as if I just stepped into an episode of the twilight zone. Even so, the novelty of this place prodded me on to discover more about this spooky building. I decided to go up, and see what the rest of this building had to offer.

While looking for a stairwell or elevator, I passed by an interior courtyard with a stagnant fountain. The fountain looked to be very upscale during its upkeep, but now it was a stagnant pool, a cesspool full of mosquitoes and dead things. The air here was musty and stale, and as I was holding back my disgust, I spotted a stairwell. Upon entering the stairwell, I noticed a perfectly formed sundae-shaped pile of feces resting in the corner at the base of the stairwell. I envisioned it to have been left by wild dogs roaming the building, but something in the back of my head thought it was too perfectly shaped for that. It was revolting in its own right, in both stench and substance, yet it seemed symbolic of something I didn’t understand. As I walked up to various floors, a pile of feces with the same form was left at each floor, in a similar corner of the stairwell.

Although there was a slight chill down my spine, I continued to find out more about this puzzling building. On the fourth floor, there were numerous neglected office suites. Upon inspection of one of these suites, I discovered that although devoid of human life now, this place still contained office desks and chairs. A large fish tank, half empty with putrid water, sat on a table in the corner. There were also papers strewn all over the place. This was indication that business was conducted here before, but no longer. Glancing at a newspaper on one of the desks, I carefully observed it was dated two years prior. Something shocking must have occurred here to allow such a large, occupied building to be deserted like this.

Going toward the stairwell, a sudden noise from one of the other empty offices startled me. A homeless person slowly walked out and gazed at me. It seemed I disturbed and intruded on his space. Recovering from this scare, I quickly stepped into the stairwell and proceeded to leave this forsaken place.

Occasionally, contractors run out of funds and a building is left abandoned without being fully constructed. However, this high-rise was fully built. Business suites and retail shops were well furnished and appeared to have conducted business. In spite of this, something tremendous transpired here which left this modern, newly constructed high-rise to be deserted like a ghost town about two years previous to my visit. Despite never discovering the true reason for this mass exodus, this opportunity allowed me to investigate a mysterious and enigmatic space. As for this foreboding high-rise, to truly explore it and learn its secrets is not for the faint of heart.

An Ineffective Mechanism

Since the dawn of history, civilizations have implemented the use of execution as a means to punish the worst offenders of the laws and moral codes in society; in addition to serve as a general deterrent for would be villains from wrongdoing. Many nations have come and gone, and while the world has evolved culturally and technologically; the age old problem of crime and retribution has remained largely unchanged. In essence, modern society has not awakened to the reality that sentencing people to death for serious offenses against the law is a futile mechanism; not only in its use as a general deterrent, but also in its intended benefit to consummate justice, for which the laws of this nation is promised to uphold, and affirm the dignity of life.

From a moral standpoint, the death penalty is an inhumane form of punishment. Additionally, years of statistical evidence shows that the death penalty is being applied arbitrarily and inconsistently, thereby challenging its fairness and legality. Moreover, life imprisonment without parole has been shown to be more effective, both in an economic standpoint and as just retribution for a punishment than the death penalty. Thus, legally, factually, and morally, capital punishment has proven to be a dysfunctional form of justice. With the ever evolving standards in human decency, capital punishment is fundamentally inappropriate for modern day society. Instead, the focus for the people on the issue of heinous crimes of killing must be redirected toward the root causes of the crisis: psychological instability, drug abuse, and destitution. A viable rehabilitation structure which responds to the primary causes of criminal transgressions will ultimately be the remedy to replace capital punishment.

In modern times, executions have been legitimized for its implication of closure. But this is misleading. Gary Wills, of the New York Review, expresses in his critical essay that “[s]eeing the murderer die … [does not] help the families ‘close a chapter of their lives’” (Wills 634). In fact, each reminder of the crime during court hearings, including the results of the trial, causes additional pain to family members. Author of the internationally renowned book Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States, Sister Helen Prejean, observed that for surviving loved ones, “the trial and its aftermath … are less like healing than like tearing scabs open again and again” (Wills 634). Instead of receiving closure or solace after the execution of a murderer, many “families [are] torn apart over the death penalty” (Wills 634) process. More often than not, the process of execution amplifies the grief and suffering family members experience and hence, in no way achieves the purpose of finality it is often advertised to bring.

As a prominent figure challenging the moral aspect of capital punishment, Sister Helen Prejean argues that “[a]llowing our government to kill citizens compromises the deepest moral values upon which this country was conceived: the inviolable dignity of human persons” (Prejean 652). As this country and its people matured over the past centuries, the standards of civility and human decency have evolved. Contemporary society no longer considers capital punishment as a suitable sentence for its criminals. An alternative, life imprisonment without parole, is a viable and just retribution which does not compromise “the deepest moral values upon which this country was conceived: the inviolable dignity of human persons” (Prejean 652). As one of the leading democracies on Earth, the citizens of this great nation can set a noble example for other countries in this world by finally recognizing that “an eye for an eye … [will make] the whole world blind” (Prejean 652).

In the lawful sense, the death penalty is an excessively severe and degrading form of punishment, thus in direct contradiction with the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution which prohibits cruel and unusual punishments. As such, the death penalty is an unjust punishment which dehumanizes and degrades the human dignity of the executed. In the landmark case between Furman versus Georgia in 1972, the Supreme Court of the United States concluded “that the imposition of the death penalty … constituted cruel and unusual punishment and violated the Constitution [because of] the arbitrary nature with which death sentences have been imposed” (“Oyez”). Systemically, the mechanism of capital punishment has been fraught with failure, inconsistent in its application and dysfunctional in its purpose.

Nevertheless, there continues to be proponents to the application of the death penalty as a justified punishment for the worst of the worst villains in society. Edward I. Koch, former mayor of New York, believes that “[i]t is exacting the highest penalty for the taking of human life that we affirm the highest value of human life” (Koch 604). Koch suggests that the quintessential, an eye for an eye philosophy, is the way to affirm the value of life. Further, Koch continues by asserting that if society “shrink[s] back from justly punishing the murderer, the victim dies twice” (Koch 605). Although the victim is deceased, Koch believes that it is the responsibility of society to exact just retribution on the criminal who took the victim’s life.

David Bruck, Harvard graduate and former South Carolina Office of Appellate Defense lawyer, challenges Koch’s views by disputing the logic used in Koch’s own essay. Bruck queries Koch’s eye for an eye philosophy by arguing that “we also trivialize rape unless we sodomize rapists” (Bruck 610). This insight demonstrates the senselessness in which specific deterrence or “symbolic retribution” (Bruck 609), can be justified on a literal level. Moreover, Bruck shows that although Koch’s “‘moral’ defense of death as a punishment … [as] doing justice in response to the worst of crimes” (Bruck 607) is an admirable ideal; the reality reveals that capital punishment induces the worst type of responses from society. In anticipation of the execution for Joseph Carl Shaw, murderer of two teenagers in South Carolina, “one demonstrator [in front of the prison] started yelling, ‘Where’s the beef’” (Bruck 607)? Not only does this action debase the institution of just retribution through execution, but it also exposes the circus mentality of the public, confirming the ineffectiveness of capital punishment to achieve an affirmation on the dignity of life.

Potter Stewart, a former Supreme Court Justice (“Potter”), expressed in the case of Gregg versus Georgia in 1976 “that the penalty of death not [to] be imposed in an arbitrary or capricious manner can be met by a carefully drafted statute that ensures that the sentencing authority is given adequate information and guidance” (Stewart 642). Stewart believes that with well-drafted laws and meticulous enforcement, the use of capital punishment as a suitable sentencing is an effective and reliable means to punish those who have committed the worst offenses in society. In addition, Stewart stipulates that the “sentence of death for the crime of murder is [not in] per se violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution” (Stewart 639). In fact, Stewart considers capital punishment in-line with the “due process of law” (Stewart 639) and believes there is a “social utility” (Stewart 641) and justified rationale to use death as the decisive punishment for heinous murders and other atrocious crimes.

On the other hand, George Ryan, ex-Governor of Illinois, exposes that the death penalty is constantly being unfairly and inconsistently applied to felons depending on the geographic locale in which their trials are set. Ryan testifies that a person is “five times more likely to get a death sentence for first-degree murder in the rural area of Illinois than [the larger cities]” (Ryan 614). This is a clear and obvious contradiction to the Fourteenth Amendment which safeguards due process and equal protection under the law. Moreover, the incompetence of appellate judges, “terrible cases of shabby defense lawyers” (Ryan 618), and “the confusing and obscure sentencing instructions” (Ryan 620) for juries, guarantees the “freakish and arbitrar[iness]” (Ryan 619) of death penalty verdicts. This unpredictability in the practice of the law effectively demonstrates the complete breakdown in the system of capital punishment.

Advocates for capital punishment feel that there is no retribution for “certain crimes [that] are … so grievous an affront to humanity that the only adequate response may be the penalty of death” (Stewart 641). Such supporters believe that no other alternative exists in which the punishment can fit the crime committed. In addition, promoters of capital punishment maintain that “[a]lthough some of the studies suggest that the death penalty may not function as a significantly greater deterrent than lesser penalties, there is no convincing empirical evidence either supporting or refuting this view” (Stewart 641). These individuals contend that there is no conclusive proof or factual evidence which exist that can alter their viewpoint on the validity of the death penalty.

However, there is evidence which confirms and reinforces the model that life imprisonment without parole serves a better punishment than death. In a recent Californian study on the cost of a death row inmates versus “those sentences to life without possibility of parole” (“California”), the death penalty inmate system currently costs $137 million per year whereas a system which uses only “lifetime incarceration instead of the death penalty would be $11.5 million per year” (“California”), a twelve-fold cost difference. Likewise, new techniques to acquire evidence “based on DNA and new scientific technology” (Ryan 622) has led to a “number of recent exonerations” (Ryan 622). This provides factual proof that just retribution making use of the death penalty has certainly caused injustice in the form of innocent men and women being executed. Today, “The Innocence Project is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice” (Innocence). With an abundant of factual support, capital punishment pundits must eventually let go of the inept and inefficient death penalty system.

Therefore, morally, factually, and legally, the capital punishment system has failed to accomplish what it was intended to achieve. In all three standpoints, the practice has proven to be a grand catastrophe. Nowhere in our present-day democratic and developed society is death a valid method of punishing public criminals. As an alternative, the concentration of the government’s and communities’ energies must be readdressed to the source of the crimes. A practical treatment hub which responds to and counteracts the primary causes of the delinquent and wrongful behavior is fundamentally the solution to supplant the death penalty system.

Some Vocabulary Words

Amalgamate
1. To combine, unite, merge, or coalesce
2. Verb
3. Several organizations amalgamated to form a more authoritative group.

Augment
1. To make (something already developed or well under way) greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
2. Verb
3. Heavy snows augmented the snowcapped mountain summits.

Benign
1. Having a kindly disposition; gracious
2. Adjective
3. A benign ruler receives admiration from the masses.

Circumvent
1. To go around or bypass
2. Verb
3. The hackers circumvented the company firewalls to steal sensitive data.

Delineate
1. To portray in words; describe or outline with precision
2. Verb
3. Our instructor delineated the project guidelines in great detail.

Eccentric
1. Deviating from the recognized or customary character, practice, etc.; irregular; erratic; peculiar; odd
2. Adjective
3. Gary’s eccentric behavior caused great concern in the community.

Exacerbate
1. To embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate
2. Verb
3. The supervisor’s coarse actions exacerbated his relationship with the employees.

Enigma
1. A puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation
2. Noun
3. The mysterious Bermuda Triangle remains an enigma to scientists even today.

Genuflect
1. To express a servile attitude
2. Verb
3. The monks at the monastery genuflect each morning in reverence to the divine.

Insipid
1. Without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid
2. Adjective
3. Charles is a common man with insipid personality.

Juxtapose
1. To place close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast
2. Verb
3. By juxtaposing contrasting colors, the artists could clearly see the defining elements of the artwork.

Lackadaisical
1. Without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic
2. Adjective
3. The lackadaisical efforts of the construction crew destined the building to be an unsafe structure.