The Bicycle Thief Essay Example for Free

The Bicycle Thief Essay The Bicycle Thief is probably the best known and most highly praised of all the Italian Neorealist films of its era. The films of the Neorealist movement were characterized by several primary ideas. Instead of featuring stories focusing on glitz and glamour, Neorealist films focused on the poor and the working class. Instead of building and fabricating complex sets to film on, they did their filming on location. And instead of trying to get the most well known, highly paid celebrity actors, they frequently used people that weren’t even professional actors and had no training for their starring roles. This all helped lend a sense of realism and weight to the stories. The Bicycle Thief takes place in Rome during a period where the unemployment rate was high and men struggled to support their families. In the film, an unemployed man, Antonio Ricci (played by factory worker Lamberto Maggiorani, in true Neorealist fashion), catches a lucky break and manages to land a job pasting up posters around the city. The only catch is that he needs to own a bike. Being that he already sold his bike to a pawn shop for much needed cash, his wife sells all the bed sheets from their home to scrounge up just enough money to get the bike back. There’s a great shot in this scene where we see an enormous shelf containing hundreds of sheets; a subtle way of showing us that the protagonist is just one of many in similar desperate situations. Antonio gets his bike back and starts his job the next day. Unfortunately, just like in real life, things usually don’t go as planned. While he’s gluing up a poster, a hoodlum dashes by, snags his bike, and takes off with it. Antonio desperately chases after the man, knowing that if he loses his bike, he loses his job, and his family will starve. Try as he might however, the thief manages to escape. He reports the theft to the police, confident that they can help him recover it, but they basically tell him to go look for it himself. The film really tries to highlight the social and moral landscape of the time; if you’re at the bottom of the totem pole, you’re either a target or just one of the faceless millions to be ignored. With no other choice, Antonio takes to the streets and searches for his bike for hours, but comes up empty handed. The scene where he and his son are caught in the rain, soaked and downtrodden, as all around him people on their bikes are riding away really makes poignant the hopelessness of his situation. After trying everything he can think of to get any leads on the thief or the location of his bike, go so far as to even spend what little money he has left on a fortune teller, he happens to bump into the thief in question walking down the street. He chases and finally corners him, but the thief refuses to confess anything and his family and friends defend him from the furious Antonio. The cops arrive, and yet again, they are of no help. They can’t do anything for Antonio as he has no concrete evidence of the crime. Pushed to the final point of desperation, Antonio realizes he has no choice left but to stoop to the lowest level and steal a bike if he doesn’t want his family to starve. He tries to snatch one but is almost immediately taken down by witnesses and held until the police arrive. Seeing Antonio’s son distraught and in tears, the man doesn’t press charge and lets him off the hook. Antonio and his son walk off, both of them in tears, completely hopeless and beaten by society at every turn. This is what Italian Neorealism is all about. For millions upon millions of people living in poverty, real life doesn’t have a happy end. No matter how hard you struggle, sometimes there’s ultimately nothing you can do to alter your fate. And The Bicycle Thief really shows an extremely poignant example of this in the small vignette of Antonio’s life.

House of Power Westminster

House of Power Westminster Parliament at Westminster remains the most powerful institution in UK politics.’ To  what extent do you consider this to be true? This essay I am going to defend that Westminster is not the most powerful institution and in fact, its dependant on the composition of the house of Commons for it is just an instrument to enact the wish of the political party in power. In this essay I am going to relate Westminster having the main role when controlling institution as a way to determine real power. In the first part of the essay I will establish relationship between the Executive powers, and how the structure of the secondary election of the Prime minister affects the power of Westminster. In the second part of the essay I will discuss the transposition of the European Union (EU) laws and how this reduces the reach of the legislative power in the United Kingdom legislative power in certain matters. Legislative power is defined as the ability, skill, capability or authorization to carry out a specific legislative action,. Note that the uncodified constitutional configuration allows high regulation capacity because Westminster law become Constitutional Law. This kind of constitutional order permits an evolution in the same time of social thinking evolution, and adapt the social changes, such as changes from censatarian masculine suffrage (1831), and ultimately to universal suffrage(1970), or if the most recent devolution of powers to the nations inside the UK at the ends of 1997-98, all this crucial changes by the willingness Westminster. UK constitutional practice is the product of an historical experience with laws, customs and conventions being added to and subtracted from it over time as circumstances dictate (Politics and power in the UK, 2005, p.19) In addition it has also the ability, to reverse the changes and return to the absolute realm structure, although hardly on the political culture of citizenship possible, if It has the society will. This complete freedom to regulate could be the only point that could lead us to the conclusion of the supremacy of the legislative power. While the capabilities or the legitimation of the legislative power are vested in Westminster, this is who lays down rules as an institution, is not who has the power. It is the instrument of the law enactment. UK’s unified parliamentary government facilitates the fusion of the executive (the government) and the legislature (parliament).UK politics are primarily conducted between the executive and the legislative branches,[], the UK model of democracy facilitates executive dominance over the legislature (but provided the executive has a parliamentary majority)(Politics and power in the UK, 2005, p. 15) The electoral system is the first point to considerate, is how the Westminster it is compose, the electoral system is characteristic of Majoritarian Democratic System, Single Member Plurality System (SMPS). This system brings an over representative of the big parties, and event in theory brings a territorial representationally, in our days of a mass media politics it just make easier to concentrate in one party all the electoral power. The actual Executive power it is a coalition of Two political parties, that situation it is an exceptional, the UK’s fi rst peacetime coalition government since 1931 is a considerable departure from the UK norm (Politics and power in the UK, 2005, p.33),situation occurred just 3 times the last century. Normally Labour party or the Conservative party won at least 326 SMP, number enough elected members to elect the leader of the political party as the Prime Minister. To prove the over representably we just need to see the last election, especially between labour party with 29% of votes have 258 SMP and Liberal Party with only 23%, only 6 points less, 57 SMP. And moreover Liberal party has lost 5 SMP even they wont 1% more votes (BBC Electoral results). In the UK politics the election of the executive power it is make through the secondary election, elected by the elected members of the house of Common, and elect the head of the majoritarian party, or the majoritarian coalition, the Prime Minister. That circumstance make that the theory of separation of power (The Spirit of the Laws ,Montesquieu 1748) that define liberals democracies have become weaker. It has became weaker because the theoretical check and balance it becomes an illusion in the political life. The UK executive is empowered as a powerful government, even when it takes the unusual form of a two party coalition, thanks to the disproportional of the single member plurality system and the three party plus others system it now encourages. This executive, armed with a Commons majority, is therefore able, with parliamentary permission, to alter the constitution as it chooses and in ways electors tolerate.(Politics and power in the UK, 2005,p.36) The legislative power when there are a majoritarian party, with more than 326 SMP, have the Executive, and both follows the same agenda, or more exactly Westminster follow the directives of Whitehall and his agenda. And that party have two of the three powers the political party become the most powerful institution in United Kingdom. Moreover if we considerate the policy of the stick and carrot (Politics and power in the UK, 2005, p.26), punishing dissidence members through the party or reward him/her with honours and government jobs. The Executive control of elected members of his party and the fact of the Prime Minister is his political Party leader too, then he have two ways to influence and force the loyalty of his partners. But, as I said, the party its the most powerful power, and sometimes its the political party in govern who force the executive, or the prime minister, to do some decision. For example we can see the govern of Tony Blair. He join the country in the Iraqs War, this situation with the time made loses to Labour party most of his electoral support, this fact force to resign the Prime Minister in favour of Gordon Brown in the summer of 2007, after bad results on local elections of 4th of May.(BBC T. Blair Time line) This replacement was the way to change the strategy and the perceptions of the electorate of the Labour Party, and recover the confidence lost during the last years of Blairs Government and the Iraqs war. Also Gordon Brown PM has to manage the international Crisis, and in the election of 2010 Labour party lost the majority in Westminster. From another point of view of Westminster action is the result of the previous relation between the political parties, fact that easily we can see when there are an executives in coalition of political parties, as Whitehall have now with the Conservatives and Liberal parties in power, this coalition forge a defined political agenda before the election of David Cameron, and this agenda with the support of the parties is passing through it of the parliament. This circumstance exemplify more the role of validate the previous agrees of the political parties. As I said before Westminster is theoretically entitled to regulate freely. But from the UK integration to the European Economic Community in 1973, which was later constituted as the European Union that. EU as a multi-state structure regulates certain matters of regulations (Politics and power in the UK, 2005 , p.68-69), in the case of second-rank ordering directly applicable to United Kingdom law, as based on the legal basis of the development of a treaty approved and ratified by the parliament itself. The European Communities Act 1972 (ECA) allows EC specified instruments to become part of UK law without the need for separate enactment of each and every EC instrument. Section 2(1) of the ECA gives the statutory authority for Treaty provisions and directly applicable secondary legislation (e.g. regulations) automatically to have legal effect in UK domestic law without further enactment .(p. 89 Comparative Study on transposition of Ec Law, June 2007) Despite this habilitation by way of treaties is in practice a normative power loss, an alien subjugation on regulatory and legal system, and in consequence broke the theory freely of Westminster generated by the uncodificate constitution. The negotiation the regulations depending upon the matter is carried to treat the ministers, depending on their portfolio at the European Council of Ministers meetings. Or the importance of the subject by the own prime minister to European Councils. Furthermore, together with the agreements and later to assessments among ministries, and also departments transpose the European legislation generated by the European institutions, which rests in the hands of ministers or cabinet, except in cases of assuming of obligations in cases affecting rights previously acquired by the public or the state, in this case the rule will require a complement of Westminster United Kingdom the vast majority of EC legislation is enacted by Statutory Instrument under Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. This Section confers authority on ministers, Government departments or Her Majesty in Council to make, with certain exceptions, subordinate legislation for the purpose of implementing any Community obligation of the United Kingdom. Subordinate legislation made under this section can repeal or amend existing legislation if this is incompatible with EC law.(p. 11 Comparative Study on transposition of Ec Law, June 2007) Given that treaties with was Lisbon Treaty (2007), or even was the Maastricht Treaty (1992) form United kingdom de facto is constitutional encoded country, and a country that explores the progressive tendency of continental integration and harmonization. In conclusion Westminster have no limitations to legislate whatever thinks the society need, but how works the relation between legislative and executive make that the legislative production follows the directives of Prime Minister and the executive. This situations are accentuate by the concentration of power of majoritarian democratic system, because the representation is concentrate by SSMP as a way to become over-represented the Conservative Party and Labour Party, and this political parties control executive and legislative branches. Since 1973, and progressively more, the EU have increased the power and control over the states, specially in matter of agriculture and economics, but since the Lisbon Treaty and the failed European Constitution, the tendency is harmonization of all states in the union. For another hand, UE is the union of states, and the legislation is make by executives, and transposed by executives, reducing also the power of Legislative Power. With the arguments submitted can be concluded that the theoretical power of Westminster significantly lower than really have, even have capacity havent iniciatve. . Bibliography BATTA, D.(2007) COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE TRANSPOSITION OF EC LAW IN THE MEMBER STATES,EU Policy Department Citizens Rights and Constitutional Affairs,June(2007) BBC(2010)BBC News, [online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6625869.stm [Accessed 13th may 2014]. BBC(2010)Electoral Results, [online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/ [Accessed 13th may 2014]. Hefferman, R. and Guibernau, M.(2005)Politics and Power in the UK, 3rd ed, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, Montesquieu, C.(n.d.)The Spirit of the Laws, France: n.d. 1/6

Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections ABSTRACT Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most prevalent bacterial infections found in humans. 20. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) account for over 90% of uncomplicated UTI subsequently making it the most common etiological agent answerable for uncomplicated UTI.WW Pathogenic E.coli such as UPEC typically express virulence factors molecules directly concerned with pathogenesis but accessory/ancillary to normal metabolic function. Accordingly this confers an advantage on the pathogens by enabling them to exploit their hosts in ways inaccessible to commensal strains. 10. The UPEC genome accommodates an array of virulence and fitness factors specifically enabling it to colonise, survive and infect the mammalian urinary tract. WW +8. They utilise a number of fimbriae such as Type-1, P-,S- and F1C-fimbriae as adhesins to the mucosal epithelium as well as toxins, iron acquisition systems and factors involved in evading the host immune system such as capsular polysaccharide. INTRODUCTION Urinary tract infections can be broadly split into two types complicated and uncomplicated. The former referring to a UTI of an anatomically unobstructed urinary tract, where the individual maintains a normal immune status whereas the latter involves the possession of an abnormal urinary tract and immuno-compromisation. 22. An assortment of mechanical factors predispose an individual to contracting a complicated UTI, i.e. anything that causes disruption to i) normal urine flow, ii) complete emptying of bladder or iii) facilitates organisms access to the bladder. Hooton. Particularly prone are people who have lost neurologic control of their bladder and sufferers of vesico-urethral reflux (a condition where urine moves back up the ureters from the bladder).11 In general women are fourteen times more likely than their male counterparts to suffer from a UTI.. the female urethra is not only very short at only 5cm long hence easier to traverse but also is positioned at a hazardous proxim ity to the anus, in comparison the male urethra is surrounded by a drier environment and is much longer. In females the causative organism can be propelled into periurethral tissues during sexual intercourse consequently assisting the progression of bacteria up the urethra. Pregnancy is another contributing factor due to the resulting lethargic action of the bladder muscle wall. The pathogenesis of UTI begins when the uropathogens position themselves at a location outside the urinary tract and thus form a reservoir for infection 20. These organisms colonize form the perineal region or the feces and ascend to the bladder via the urinary tract WW+8. The ‘ascending route is how UPEC is considered to enter, whereby the bacteria ascend up the urethra into the bladder causing cystitis. However if left untreated the UPEC sometimes travel up even further to the kidneys via the urethers thus causing pyelonephritis. 12 + ww. The ‘hematogenous route involves seeding of the kidney during bacteremia and is a lot less common; gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus are the main causative agents. 12 Cystitis and pyelonephritis are the two fundamental types of infection involved in UTI. Cystitis is a lower urinary tract infection whereby the bladder becomes inflamed through infection with UPEC. Symptoms include frequency, urgency, dysuria (painful v oiding), cloudy or foul smelling urine (due to pyuria) and suprapubic pain. Mims Pyelonephritis (from the Greek pyelum pelvis, nephros- of the kidney) is a more serious infection however as it is an upper urinary tract infection affecting the kidneys. This presents symptoms such as dysuria, fever, rigors, malaise, loin pain and tenderness. Wikipedia. Uropathogenic E.coli are the predominant cause of UTI with over 40% of women and 12% of men likely to experience at least one UTI in their lifetime. This coupled with the fact that in the U.S.A alone the estimated cost to society is over three billion dollars means it is essential we learn as much about the pathogenesis of UPEC as possible. WW. The word pathogenesis comes from the Latin â€Å"pathos† meaning disease and â€Å"genesis† meaning creation. It can be described as the mechanism by which an etiological factor causes a disease. UPEC yields numerous virulence factors that aid in the colonisation of the urinary tract and also induce fitness on the pathogen. Adherence can be described as the first step in the pathogenesis of UPEC in UTI as adhesion is necessary to allow colonisation, then to penetrate. After colonisation it allows penetration but also confers other advantages such as a) secreted exotoxin is in close contact with target cells b) increased protection from host defences and most importantly in the initial stages c) resistance to the hydrodynamic force of urine flow.12 UPEC utilize a number of surface expressed appendages called adhesions or fimbriae to achieve adhesion to uroepithelial cells 8. Type-1 fimbriae are one of the most imperative virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis of UPEC as it is through their adherence to the uroepithelial cells that achieves the establishment of UTI. 3 These fimbriae are highly conserved in UPEC, being found in over 90% of isolates.1,20. The fim gene cluster encodes for Type-1 fimbriae with five of the genes responsible for structural proteins: FimA, FimI, FimF, FimG and FimH. Jones et 96- 20. In vivo microarray studies presents data that show the fim genes are expressed 12-72 times more than all of the 11 other fimbrial gene clusters. 5 In regards to the actual structural appearance of Type-1 fimbriated UPEC approximately 200-500 peritrichously arranged fimbriae are seen on the surface. Schembri et al 02 20. The initial binding of UPEC to uroepithelial cells is conferred by the FimH adhesin to terminally positioned D-mannose moieties of glycoproteins exposed on the apical surface. 7. The stratified bladder epithelium is characterized by a superficial layer of â€Å"umbrella cell It is a specific integral membrane protein, UP1a, which has been identified as the urothelial receptor for the FimH adhesin of Type-1 fimbriae. 7. UP1a is part of a unique membrane structure called the asymmetric unit membrane (AUM) that is comprised of 3 other integral membrane proteins, the uroplakins (UPs) UPIa, Ib, III and IIIa. 15. The AUM looks like rigid plaques and structurally form a 16nm receptor complex assembled into hexagonally packed two-dimensional crystals that are essential in maintaining the permeability barrier function.15 In addition to creating the foothold for infection in the pathogenesis of UPEC in UTI through adherence, Type-1 fimbriae also play a role in the invasion of host cells. FimH binding triggers host cell signaling cascades enabling UPEC to be internalized via a ‘zipper-type invasion mechanism.7 Overall Type-1 fimbriae play a crucial role in establishment of lower UTI through key roles in adhesion and invasion within the bladder. It is P-fimbriae that are noted to play an essential part in pathogenesis of upper UTI, i.e. pyelonephritis. 12 The pap (pyelonephritis-associated pilli) gene cluster, found on the UPEC chromosome itself, encodes for P-fimbriae. 20. This pap gene cluster is made up of eleven genes with six encoding for structural proteins that form the P-fimbria structural unit: PapA, PapK, PapF, PapG, PapE and PapH. 20. P-fimbrial lectins, (specifically the PapG adhesin) recognise a digalactoside component of the P blood group antigen and also Gal (a 1-4) Gal b galbiose disaccharide receptors extensively positioned on the surface of uroepithelial cells in 99% of the population.12+13 The expression of P-fimbriae undergoes phase variation (ON/OFF) with this being controlled by a combination of Dam methylation, leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) and the PapB and PapI regulators.3,20 Despite the strong epidemiological association of P-fimbriae with UPEC strains causing acute pyelonephritis, its precise function during the pathogenesis of a UTI remains elusive. 1. However the plethora of P-fimbrial receptors in human renal tissue coupled with their association with acute disease severity (found in 90% acute pyelonephritis) suggests that P-fimbriae are indeed necessary for colonisation and perhaps invasion of the upper urinary tract. 20+Johnson. In addition to Type-1 and P-fimbriae, there are a number of other fimbriae found to be albeit not as imperative, but nonetheless associated with the pathogenesis of UPEC in UTI. F1-C (Foc) fimbriae bear a resemblance to Type-1 fimbriae in their organelle structure and genetic organisation. The F1-C fimbriae mediate binding to globotriaosylceramide targets found solely in the kidneys as well as galactosyleramide on epithelial cells in the bladder and kidneys.

Ambition in Macbeth Essay examples -- Ambition, Shakespeare, Macbeth

In the play of â€Å"Macbeth†, Shakespeare gradually and effectively deepens our understanding of the themes and most importantly the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The main theme of Macbeth is ambition, and how it compels the main characters to pursue it. The antagonists of the play are the three witches, who symbolise the theme appearance and reality. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relation is an irony throughout the play, as most of their relation is based on greed and power. This is different from most of Shakespeare’s other plays, which are mostly based on romance and trust. There is also guilt that leads Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to the final consequences of the play. As the progresses, the constant changes in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are exposed. The relation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth takes a few turns throughout the play. It starts with Lady Macbeth being in control and dominating Macbeth. Then suddenly Macbeth turns into an unhesitant man, who gets accustomed to killing and getting his own way. The dire changes in the characters affect the couple’s relation extremely. Shakespeare introduces the protagonist of the play as a valiant and a prominent character, even before the audience meets him. Macbeth’s fellow soldiers give us a view of his bravery and courageous manner. In order to prove his loyalty towards his king, Macbeth had won the appalling war against Norway, and became a hero: â€Å"For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution.† Shakespeare’s effective use of word choice in ‘brave’ makes the audience understand the protagonist deeply. Ironically, later in the play, Macbeth’s ambitions take over him and become the antag... ...ave died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word.† Macbeth cold-heartedly states that Lady Macbeth would have died sooner or later, and that this news was bound to come someday. This behaviour of Macbeth’s startles the audience, as how can one be so remorseless. Shakespeare has changed the character of Macbeth as a tyrant, who only cares about his power and nothing else. In trying to achieve everything possible, the Macbeths’ tragically lose everything instead. Shakespeare has effectively showed us the consequences of murder and power. The main symbolic signs of blood, murder and guilt throughout the play, gave the changes of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth efficiently. What once started as a dominating relation and taking decisions together, turned into a relation in which neither Macbeth or Lady Macbeth cared for one another.

Psychology Book Report :: essays research papers

The Boy who couldn’t stop Washing written by DR. Judith Rapoport, published by Penguin books in 1989, containing 292 pages, deals with obsessive compulsive disorder. Dr. Rapoport is a psychiatrist who specializes in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). In this, book she reveals new drug treatments, new methods in diagnosis and behaviorist therapies. This is done through the study of her patients and their disorders. Rapoport has revealed this secret disease and hopes to bring and understanding about it to all that may suffer from it and to anyone who may want to be informed. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about OCD. It may help those who face this disease everyday of their lives, and make them realize they are not alone. Also will aid in those who do not know much about this disease and give them and understanding and be aware that it surrounds us. There are many interesting quotes and advice given in this book; five statements stood out that I felt are worthwhile. “Most Psychiatrists don’t use the word “crazy'; but that’s exactly how to talk about it with an obsessive-compulsives. Since they are so sane in every other way, you must agree with and understand how upset they are by how crazy it all is'; (pg. 6). This stood out to me and made me realize many things. Many who would look at people with OCD would think they are crazy, but in fact they are as normal in a sense as anyone of us is but they suffer from a problem. We all suffer from some kind of problem but not to this degree, so when people label them as crazy it is wrong as yet they are saner than many of us. “Whether you know it or not you know someone with this disease';(pg. 115) After finishing this book I realized that this is somewhat true. This is a disease that has been kept a secret, and those that suffer from it keep it a hidden. It is embarrassing and those that suffer from this wish not to be identified. It has become a ritual to the person; they feel if they admit that they suffer from this that they will be labeled as “crazy'; when if fact they are not. One of our family members may have it or friends, we never know, and that’s the amazing thing because we might be able to help them but they are not willing to be open about it.

Metaphysical Language: Does it have any Meaning?

When we speak of something as metaphysical, we speak of something that is usually characterized as supernatural or something that is not perceptible by our senses.   When we talk about the things that our minds’ eyes see and not the things that our physical eyes see, we are talking in the language that is metaphysical. This is one of the things that the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein looks into in his book Tractatus Logico Philosophicus.   Wittgenstein argues that metaphysical language does not have any meaning.   They are as good as words that do not signify anything.   He even contends that the metaphysical statements should not be said: The right method in philosophy would be this. To say nothing except what can be said, i.e. ,the propositions of natural science, i.e. something that has nothing to do with philosophy: and then always, when someone else wished to say something metaphysical, to demonstrate to him that he had given a meaning to certain signs in his propositions. This method would not be satisfying to the other –he would not have the feeling that we were teaching him philosophy—but it would be the only strictly correct method. †¦ Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent. (Wittgenstein, 6.53-7) This does not mean that metaphysical propositions are all automatically false.   What Wittgenstein means is that it is beyond the realm of logic for us to understand metaphysical language.   This is not because they are profound or beyond our reality or beyond our senses but because, for Wittgenstein, they have no sense. To illuminate, let us take for example this scenario.   I saw a huge Blue Heron flying in front of me and the next day, my neighbor won the lottery.   Another day, I saw a Blue Heron again and two days after that, an accident happened in front of my house.   Now, I see a Blue Heron the third time and I conclude that the Blue Heron is a sign of something will happen.   Nobody knows what will happen but I am sure that the sign means that something will happen because I see it in my mind’s eyes, my soul.   My metaphysical statement is that the Blue Heron is a sign that things will happen.   It is like saying that when we see a black cat, bad things will happen to us. For Wittgenstein, it does not have any sense to say that a situation is a result of my perception of a Blue Heron or a bad luck is the result of my seeing a black cat.   He says that sentences like these work like a picture.   Since it is very difficult to explain, let me explain it through an example.   A map of the United States, for example, is a picture that points to the land of the United States.   The map shows that New York is more or less in the Eastern side of the map and Washington is in the Western side of the map. If we are in the Central part of the United States and we want to go to Seattle, we will fly eastward.   We will not fly westward because the map which pictures for us the location of Seattle tells us that Seattle lies east of the United States.   Ã‚  This is what Wittgenstein means when he says that â€Å"there must be something identical in a picture and what it depicts† (Wittgenstein 2.161).   The map mimics the way reality is structured.   It mimics the way the real locations in the US are placed beside each other. Language works like a picture.   It tells us what the situation is.   Wittgenstein says, â€Å"We picture facts to ourselves† (2.1).   For him, the meaning of a statement is whatever it pictures.   The meaning of the statement tells the situation of the world but like the picture, it can not tell us if it is actually true of false.   When we make a statement for example and we feel that it is meaningful, what the sentence is doing is that it is just pointing to a possible situation in the reality but it may be true or false. When we say, for example that a Blue Heron causes things to happen like it is the cause of our neighbor’s winning in the lottery or accident, the statement’s meaning pictures to us situations that can be true but we cannot be really sure because there is nothing in the sentence that makes it true.   Wittgenstein says, â€Å"In order to tell whether a picture is true or false we must compare it with reality† (Wittgenstein, 2.223). If we apply this with the statement, â€Å"The Blue Heron causes things to happen, things like winning a lottery or being the cause of people’s car accident†.   A Blue Heron is a big bird that lazes around the shallow part of water.   By definition, it has wings.   It can fly.   It has a beak, it can catch fish.   It can walk for a few steps.   It can swim.   These are the capabilities of a Blue Heron.   In reality, nothing in its definition or physical make-up can tell us that it can make a man win a lottery or be in a car accident. So the statement that â€Å"The Blue Heron causes things to happen, things like winning a lottery or being the cause of people’s car accident† does not have any sense.   As Wittgenstein says, â€Å"There is no compulsion making on thing happen because another has happened.   The only necessity that exists is logical necessity† (Wittegenstein 6.37).   We can understand the statement but it is nonsensical if we analyze it following Wittgenstein. In the same way, Wittgenstein would say that it does not have any sense to talk about a ‘soul’ or ‘a good life’.   We do not know what a soul is.   Nobody has seen a soul.   Nobody has reported that he or she sees a soul getting out of the body of a person who has just died.   We cannot find a correspondence for the world ‘soul’ in reality.   We have a sign for soul but we do not have a referent for the sign. When somebody dies and we say that he/she has lived a ‘good life’, it is also nonsensical.   What is a good life to one is not automatically the good life to another.   There is no single referent for what the sign ‘good life’.   It is also nonsensical when people at the funeral say about the dead person that lives were changed because of him.   Again, value statements like these are subjective and are not verifiable.   How can this statement be analyzed if there nothing that can be the referent for the sign.   The referent has died.   For Wittgenstein says, â€Å"The world of the happy man is a different one from that of the unhappy man. . .   Soo too at death the world does not alter, but comes to an end† (Wittgenstein 6.43-6.431).      

Hrm598 Case Study 2

HRM 598 Case Study: Getting and Using Compensation Information â€Å"Compensation is a systematic approach to providing monetary value to employees in exchange for work performed. Compensation may achieve several purposes assisting in recruitment, job performance, and job satisfaction. Compensation is a tool used by management for a variety of purposes to further the existence of the company. Compensation may be adjusted according to the business needs, goals, and available resources. The three careers I chose for this case study are Public Relations Specialist, High School Teacher, and Project Coordinator. The reason for me choosing these specific careers was that I’ve held each one at some point in time. In this case study we will examine why each job has different salary ranges and why. Question #1 Doing this research I’ve come to find that out of the three jobs that I selected, a project coordinator is paid the most on average. The project coordinator is paid $89,5 09 a year on average.I was shocked to find out that out of the three careers chosen, that a public relations specialist is paid the least of all three. The public relations specialist on average is paid $45,931 a year. I expected that the project coordinator position would be the highest paid out of the three, however I did not expect for the teacher to be paid more ($53,447 a year on average) than the public relations specialist. I expected the teacher to be paid the least of all three. Usually teachers are thought to be paid the least when comparison to other professions.Some factors that could play a part in the difference could be number of days worked (teachers usually have a 9 month work year), levels of responsibility the job carries (project coordinators are generally in charge of seeing an operation through from beginning to end) whether or not the company is private or state funded (teachers are usually employees of the state, less money is involved) are some factors that could possibly be the differences in pay just to name a few. Question 2 Different jobs come with different benefit packages, and that’s just how the cookie crumbles.Project coordinators on average make $7,217 on average a year in bonuses. The project coordinators have the highest bonuses out of three companies selected. Next out of the three is public relations specialist. The public relation specialists on average make $532 in bonuses a year. Lastly we have the teachers. Teachers make $0 in bonuses a year on average. Teachers may have the most important job in the public eye, but in terms of bonuses there is no merit to issue bonuses. Teachers are expected to show up and teach the students so that they will do well on the state test.The project coordinator on the other hand makes a nice little penny when it comes to bonuses. Project coordinators have a lot of tasks to accomplish with a short period of time to do so. When deadlines are met or beat certain bonuses may be award ed. Bonuses in this field are performance based. When dealing with public relations specialist it’s tricky to talk about bonuses. Some factors that effect bonuses in this field are, is the company private owned or are you working for a person, what field you are doing PR in just to name a few. Depending on what pay scale the company has in place could affect how bonuses are set up as well.Question#3 Stock options are benefits in the form of an option given by a company to an employee to buy stock in the company at a discount or at a stated fixed price. With the data that was present for these three careers, there was no stock option information available. To me the Teacher is the only professions out of the three that I think aren’t allowed stock options. There are no stocks in public schools, so you can’t earn something that doesn’t exist. Project coordinator and public relations specialist are entitled to stock options.The determining factors to whether or not stock options are made available lye solely with company. If the company offers stock options, the people who are in the public relations specialist and project coordinator positions are eligible, it just depends on the company. Teachers can’t get them, because they are not offered in that public sector. Question4 After reading the job descriptions for the three careers I chose, I found the program coordinator and the public relations specialist descriptions were pretty much right on the money, however the teaching description was acking and left a lot to be desired. The description for the program coordinator was right on the money. It gives you an accurate run down on what’s expected from the position, and what is required to fulfill the position at its maximum capacity. The description I read for the public relations specialist may have been the best one. The description given for this job painted a clear and accurate picture of the position. From my persona l experience the description I read for the teaching position was generic and lacking of substance. It didn’t quite detail what the job entails in detail.I think the descriptions were worded to give the job seeker an overall view of the job. Question #5 After researching these positions in my local area my findings were not that surprising. The area I did my study for was Chicago, IL, and Chicago wages are a lot higher than most other cities. The reason why I think Chicago wages are higher than most is due to the cost of living for one. Another is the Illinois state tax is higher than most cities as well. Location is one of the biggest reason I can say as to why the pay grades are higher here in Chicago.Some factors that play a part in location that effects pay could be, but not limited to; crime, taxes, cost of living, and environmental conditions. With the public relations specialist, and program coordinator positions, their pay is 7% higher in the city of Chicago. Teachers in Chicago on average make $14,670 more than the average stated on the websites. These findings really weren’t surprising at all, they were sort of expected. Question #6 The information on this site would be very beneficial to a graduate fresh out of college doing their contract negotiations.I would use the information in my negations by starting off with getting a clear understanding of my duties going off the description set forth by the website. The website gives good information to start a salary negotiation, because it gives you a median to start your negotiation off with. When doing these negotiations I would show the median numbers for the task set forth by the description giving. A few factors that might have a bearing on the salary could be but not limited too; location, the company’s’ revenue intake, years of experience, and education level just to name a few.Question #7 The labor markets for these particular jobs are large in the sense of the fact th at these careers have markets all over the world and in many different fields. When talking about labor markets you have to remember that labor markets may be local or national in their scope and are made up of smaller, interacting labor markets for different qualifications, skills, and geographical locations. They depend on the exchange of information between employers and job seekers about wage rates, conditions of employment, level of competition, and job location.People working in the three fields I’m covering in this case study are recruited all over the country to fill positions they are qualified for. The geographical location of these jobs plays a huge part in the salary wages paid out. After doing some research it seems like southern rural states have the lowest paying wages. Using the â€Å"teacher† position for example, a teacher starts of at $32,400 a year in Jackson, MS, but that same teacher would start of at 44,230 a year in the suburbs of Chicago. Geogr aphical location plays a major part in wages.In the States of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia all these positions are paid less than states such as Illinois, New York, Washington D. C, Florida, and Dallas. Question 8 The median teaching salary was $52,447 on average for the year. The minimal salary is $34,327, that’s an $18,120 difference. Geographical location plays a huge part in these wages and the differences. Like I stated before the rural and southern locations generally have the lowest wages. The highest pay on average for a teacher is $71,093 a year, that’s an $18,646 difference from the median salary.The median salary for a public relations specialist is $45,931 dollars a year. The minimal salary for this position is $34,121 a year, there’s an $11,810 difference in the pay. The highest level of pay for this position is $55,657, there’s a $9,726 difference. In this position, bigger cities have the best market for this career. A program coordinator income on average is $89,509 a year. This career is paid rather well. The lowest average salary is 68,779 a year, that’s a $20,730 difference. The highest pay on average for this position is $116,436 a year, that’s a $26,927 difference.The higher pay is usually located in major cities, with large populations. There is a large number in variations in these salaries. Some factors that can play a part in these variations are but not limited too; education, geographical location, years on jobs, the employers financial state just to name a few. Question #9 The information on www. salary. com is very sufficient. What makes me think this that they covered all bases? I feel they go above and beyond, especially the fact they have their compensation consultants create a composite view for each job using a proprietary mathematical model built by Salary. om. The model takes into account the statistical reliability of each data point, the robustness of the data within each data point, the effective date of the data reported, and the industry, geography, or company size biases within each survey. What else leads me to believe that the information is accurate is that they also have their compensation consultants have collected and reviewed data covering more than 29 million individuals working at more than 16,000 companies. The implications of using inaccurate data can be fatal to the potential employer and employee.Having the wrong salary information could have an employer paying an employee too much for the position, and or vice versa. The implications of wrong salary data could be very detrimental. It could affect the employer and or employee for a long amount of time. Question 10 Although salary. com is free and has tons of useful information, hiring a consultant could still be very beneficiary to the company. The information provided on salary is gathered from a wide range of data. Information gathered for the site may lean heavily toward a pa rticular geographical location.Hiring the outside consultant could give you the actual numbers in your geographical area. The consultant could possibly provide more realistic numbers for the company. The hiring of the consultant could also be done to double check or just verify the numbers for the company’s own edification. Question 11 As a manager you have many responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is paying your employees. As a manager there are a few reasons I could think of to justify paying an employee more than what salary. com suggest. One reason is internal equity.A manager should review the experience of the employee in relation to his position on the salary scale when justifying his or her salary. Another factor is that of external equity. A manager should review the employee's prior salary history. Another factor is market forces. Managers can justify offering more money in a period of economic growth, particularly when numerous companies are competin g to attract the best employees. Another factor that may play a role in offering more than salary. com could be geographical location. If the cost of living is steady rising, a manager might offer more to compensate in that rise of the cost of living.These are a few factors that would heavily influence my decision as a manager. Completing this case study enlighten me on many things that I would have never thought of. I never imagined that the teacher would be making more than the public relations specialist. Another thing that this case study opened my mind up to was location. Geographical location can be the difference in thousands of dollars of pay. Geographical location embodies a lot of sub factors. Some factors are but not limited to taxes, cost of living, and weather and work conditions. This case study was very insightful and beneficial.Bibliography 1. ) www. salary. com 2. ) http://smallbusiness. chron. com/managers-justify-paying-employees-high-low-14526. html 3. ) http://s wz. salary. com/docs/salwizhtmls/methodology. html 4. ) http://smallbusiness. foxbusiness. com/legal-hr/2011/04/25/picking-best-pay-structure-business/ 5. ) http://www. mde. k12. ms. us/school-financial-services/school-financial-services-teacher-salary-schedule 6. ) http://money. usnews. com/careers/best-jobs/public-relations-specialist 7. ) http://www. indeed. com/salary/Program-Coordinator. html 8. ) http://www. wikipedia. org/