Monday, December 30, 2019

The Social Of Social Engineering Essay - 1304 Words

INRTODUCTION The media is full of stories of hacking doing untold damage estimated in the millions of dollars. On the same note, identity theft is a major global problem and despite numerous efforts by governments to ensure citizens do not fall prey to fraudsters, the human condition remains the weakest link in information security hence, social engineering thrives under these circumstances. Social engineering in this context, emphasizes the apparent relationship between human social behavior and information technology and specifically. Human habits dictate and indicate the level of information security. This will be the basis of discussion of social engineering in this paper. This paper will endeavor to examine the definition of social engineering, methods of social engineering, impacts of social engineering on society and ways of mitigating the dynamic the dynamic threat of social engineering. DEFIFNITION OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING Per Meinert (2016), in an article she wrote in the ABA Banking Journal, social engineering is the successful manipulation of a victim by a fraudster into divulging private and confidential information. She adds that the fraudster poses as a trustworthy source and to stress her point, she quotes Mark Lowers, CEO of Lowers Risk Group who emphasizes that, social engineering is not only fraud by deception, but is also an exploitation of human decency (Meinert, 2016, p.49). Social engineering in relation to information technology essentially preys on theShow MoreRelatedSocial Engineering954 Words   |  4 PagesSOCIAL ENGINEERING INTRODUCTION Social Engineering is using non-technical means to gain unauthorized access to information or system. Normally a hackers would use exploit a systems vulnerabilities and run scripts to gain access. When hackers deploy social engineering they exploit human nature. Social Engineering is represented by building trust relationships with people who work in the inside of the organization to gain access or who are privilege to sensitiveRead MoreSocial Engineering630 Words   |  3 PagesSocial Engineering Social engineering has become the most popular method of compromising the security of personal data. The successful use of Social Engineering techniques has provided attackers and hackers the ability to breach computer systems and gain access to sensitive data. Many computer hackers have found that it is easier to trick somebody into giving his or her password than to carry out an elaborate hacking attempt. Social engineering is the art of gaining access to buildings, systemsRead MoreSocial Engineering1052 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Engineering This research paper is primarily based on information gathered from secondary sources explaining what the term â€Å"social engineering† is, how it is perpetrated, and the impact it has on individuals and corporations. It will also discuss ethical issues and action that can be taken by both individuals and corporations respectively to mitigate and minimize the risk of social engineering attacks. Social engineering, in the context of information technology, is defined as â€Å"gainingRead MoreSocial Engineering2447 Words   |  10 PagesIdentity Theft: Social Engineering December 5, 2011 Daniel Sama amp; Stacey Smith Sr Computer Ethics CIS-324, Fall 2011 Strayer University Identity Theft: Social Engineering December 5, 2011 Daniel Sama amp; Stacey Smith Sr Computer Ethics CIS-324, Fall 2011 Strayer University Abstract Social Engineering from the outset may seem like a topic one might hear when talking about sociology or psychology, when in fact it is a form of identity theft. To an information technology (IT)Read MoreThe Impact Of Social Of Social Engineering On Business Essay1318 Words   |  6 PagesSocial engineering has been defined as â€Å"Any act that influences a person to take an action that may or may not be in their best interest.† (Social Engineering, n.d.). Finding a system security vulnerability in a business can mitigate the effects of a social engineering attack. Using a person’s natural reaction to please people against them can be very detrimental to a business. Social engineering takes many forms and effects businesses in many ways. Businesses tend to focus their security on moreRead MoreSocial Science And Remedies For Social Engineering1569 Words   |  7 Pagessecurity system through social engineering. First, I will define social engineering. People have been victims of social engineer throughout time. The first case of social engineering could be argued was the â€Å"Trojan Horse† in ancient times in the Trojan War circa 800 B.C.E. according to Homer’s Iliad (www.ancient.eu) or Kublai Khan’s invasion of China in 1275 A.D to today’s wire fraud emails. This paper will focus on social engineering and remedies for social engineering. Legend has it thatRead MoreThe Social Responsibility Of Engineering1385 Words   |  6 PagesIn a modern society engineering activities including professional, based on scientific knowledge, social responsibility and human-dimension design and operation of technical devices plays an increasingly important role. Modern engineering professionalism involves not only the development of scientific bases of design engineering, but also awareness of the purposes, meanings and engineering problems in general, its place in the culture of the twenty first century. Of great importance is an understandingRead MoreThe Problems Of Social Engineering1343 Words   |  6 Pageswhich social engineering can take place is to have details of the clients and then access the system of Amazon posing as clients. One of the requirements in order to have access to customer information. Amazon have not been serious in screening customers and will not be able to know if the customers are who they say they are in real life. It is hard to have an understanding of the data and information about the data and the issues that are associated with the data. Another social engineering techniqueRead MoreSocial Engineering : An Organization Essay2068 Words   |  9 Pagesinto performing some action or disclosing confidential information to someone outside the business. Information Security terminology defines this manipulation as social engineering. While the term social engineering is a fairly new term, this type of attack is as old as the human race itself. Two of the most famous social engineering attacks are those of the story of the wooden horse of Troy from Homer s The Odyssey, and dating even further back to the start of the Bible with Adam and Eve andRead More social engineering Essay482 Words   |  2 Pageseach year, and many more go unreported. In 1990, this crime cost over $2 billion -- and this figure does not include psychotherapy for the children involved, and for their parents.† (para 2) If I were in a position to enact laws, the kind of social engineering I would implement is a one-strike law for pedophiles. All too often a pedophile or sex offender gets off with a slap on the wrist. This then gives them ample time to focus on other victims. Why as a society should we let these predators have

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Essay on Numbing Violent Video Games - 934 Words

Violent Video Games Did you know that video games aren’t just fun and games anymore? It may be influencing your child to hurt others. Video games are very enjoyable, but they are also very dangerous and unhealthy for children. More than 90% of children and adolescents play video games, the majority of those games contain violent content. However, this does not mean all types of video games are bad and that children will only develop bad habits from playing the video games. Video games can have tremendous negative effects on the brains and body of children and adolescents. They also promote inactivity, health problems such as obesity, and violence towards others. First, playing violent video games can encourage kids to think violence is†¦show more content†¦Second, Repetitive killing in the game can cause the player that’s playing the game to act aggressively. Most violent video games are just about killing or portraying some type of violence, if the player does these actions to often and for long periods of time he or she can subconsciously learn those actions and become violent. In a study â€Å"two groups of kids were asked to play violent video games more than another group. The group who had more exposure to the game was more violent than the one who did not play as much† (Harding). If the child plays the game too much they can develop the habit of being aggressive just for fun or they may not understand what they are doing because they are learning to be violent from the video game. Most games out today have blood, drugs, explicit content, and many weapons such as explosives or rifles. Being exposed to these kinds of behaviors in the game can make the players insensitive to violence. An article on Huffingtonpost.com states studies of children exposed to violence have shown that they can become immune or numb to the horror of violence, imitate the violence they see, and show more aggressive behavior with greater exposure to violence (Freeman). At the same time, some people say playing video games are not completely bad. Limiting how long the child plays the violent video game can have positive effects too. The child can decompress from daily stress that may beShow MoreRelatedViolent Video Games Are Numbing the Minds of Children Essays1986 Words   |  8 Pages Violent video games are undoubtedly a legalized drug to children and teens, numbing their thoughts and reprogramming their minds. Like a drug, it desensitizes them, and makes them more prone to violence. This idea of violent video games was not a phenomenon until the later 20th century, and evolved from racing into enemies, to free-for-all drug abuse and sexual/physical violence that most youth know and play today. These games have a detrimental impact on teens, making them eat more, become moreRead MoreVideo Game Violence: Therapeutic Outlet or Perpetuating Violence?1418 Words   |  6 PagesThe video game world is full of wonders, fantasy worlds, and even real li fe scenarios that we see on television. There are games based off of television shows, popular movies, and even comic book universes. In David Perry’s speech and presentation, â€Å"Are Video Games Better Than Life?† he brought up a lot of points about gaming both from its humble beginnings to where we are today. However, he made it clear that the discussion was to be about the video game world. Are video games better than realityRead More Videogames Dont Have a Negative Effect on Kids Essay example1229 Words   |  5 Pagesthat many people overlook is video games, a national past time in almost every home. It is clear that they can cause changes in children, but are the changes good or bad? Do video games have a negative effect on kids? Personally, I felt there was nothing wrong with video games. I play them for fourteen hours or more a week, and I’ve been doing â€Å"fine† in life. I made it to a fine college, I learned unique words when I was young, and I even won prizes in some video game contests. I still have thatRead MoreKilling Their Innocence671 Words   |  3 PagesKilling Their Innocence So here I was, watching a couple of kids, a brother (9) and a sister (11), during the Super Bowl this year while their parents were downstairs watching the game. We were playing the board game â€Å"LIFE†. All was going well, and then the brother (we’ll call him Sam) got bored as kids do. So Sam pulled out his iPhone and started looking for an app to appease his boredom. Before I knew it, Sam opened a gun app. This application allows the user to select any type of gun, rangingRead MoreAn Aggressive Action As Intentional Behavior994 Words   |  4 Pagesboth physically and mentally aggressive. A lot of research that’s been collected about human aggression was from chimpanzee and bonobos research. They share about 98% of DNA with humans. Chimpanzees are more of a male-dominated species. They are violent and aggressive, and will fight over food and territory, much like humans. However, the bonobos have a different approach to survival. They are a rare species that is more female-dominated. To them, aggression is an optional strategy. They find thatRead MoreThe Massacre Of The Columbine1418 Words   |  6 Pagesin American history before the shooting that happened in Sandy Hook Elementary. It all began with a website that was made between the two friends to feature the popular game at the time called Doom for the SNES. On the website they featured level designs and discussions about the game. Soon they started talking less about the game and more about how to cause trouble, and detailed instructions of on how to make bombs, also all the problems they were getting into. Soon the website began to become moreRead More Video Game Violence Essay examples2549 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"Video Game Violence Does Not Cause Violent Tendencies† An In-Depth Look at Video Game Violence and its Positives Effects â€Å"On Tuesday, November 2, while the rest of the country was voting, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in Schwarzenegger v. EMA, the landmark case in which the state of California is petitioning for the re-instatement of a California law banning the sale of deviant or morbid violent video games to minors† (Macris). This case is a current example of theRead MoreCause and Effect Essay - Causes of School Violence2265 Words   |  10 Pages    The United States is facing an epidemic of seriously violent crimes in middle schools and high schools across the country. At least fifty people have died due to a series of high school shootings. These shooting rampages have occurred across the United States in 13 cities ranging from Pennsylvania to southern Mississippi and to western California. Just when the murder rampages seem to be subsiding, another tragedy occurs. Preventive measures have been taken by the government and school systemsRead MoreEssay about Negative Effects of Media Violence on Children3872 Words   |  16 Pagespresentation of documented support, it will be shown the rising rate of youth violence is the result of the lack of censorship of the media. According to psychologist Craig Anderson, research shows that violent video games, films, television, and music in the media increase the probability of violent and aggressive behavior in long-term and immediate situations within youth (81). In the start of this decade it was estimated that 46 percent of all homes with children have accesses to at least oneRead MoreDota Addiction Effects in Academic Performance2977 Words   |  12 Pagesproperly, there’s always a negative effect that occurs. It can be in our thoughts, behaviors, actions, and or in other ways.      Computer games are slowly arousing and it is one of the things that bring the negative effect. Many people are playing and having so much fun with this that can be a form of entertainment. DOTA is one of the examples of computer games. And this is where our topic began to star.     DOTA means Defense of the Ancients. It is commonly the word that we can hear on most people

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Freemasonry’s Beliefs and Their Struggle for Secrecy Free Essays

The extended essay project was done on the Masonic group of people who have been an influential part of history as a whole. In this essay I am going to explore the belief system of the group. As well as demonstrate why there is much controversy surrounding the group by expressing the opposing views. We will write a custom essay sample on Freemasonry’s Beliefs and Their Struggle for Secrecy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Masons basically are a group of men that have shared feelings about brotherhood, morals and community progress. These men belong to the world’s largest fraternity in the world. It spans all nations, races and religions. The group as a whole is very secret. For instance the origin and the time that this group was structured is still uncertain. Many actions and activities of the group are also low key. This makes the group very vulnerable for Anti-Masonic groups. Many famous and important people in the world have belonged to the Freemasons. When criminal acts or injustices in the community take place, the Anti-Masonic groups place blame on the masons. What was found out by the research is that the secrecy of the Masonic organization is to be kept at all times. Some times extreme measures are taken to insure its secrecy. Anti-Mason groups are detrimental to the survival of the group. They dampen their progress and lower their popularity rating with the public. It is an ongoing battle that doesn’t seem like it will cease any time soon. There is a society in which many people belong. Many people are your everyday people; people that run the country, people that own business to people that pass you on the street. You wouldn’t know they belong to this society because they are everyday people. This society has been around since the earliest of times. The members are dedicated to brotherly love, relief for the community and strong morals. More revealingly this group can be defined as a group of men, banded together in an exclusive lodge to advance, first and foremost, their personal interests and second, the interests of the community or other members of the group (Hoselton). If you know anyone that sounds like he fits this profile they might belong to Masonry also called Freemasonry. Masonry is touted as the world’s oldest and largest fraternity. Freemasonry and Masonry are interchangeable words for the same organization, which has its roots in the medieval trade guilds of stonemasons. In Freemasonry the most widely used symbols are the tools of the stonemason, a square, compass and a level. The level for example is a symbol that are men are equal and on the same level. There are signs that point to the first congregation on this organization, which is back in 926 AD, when the first lodge documents were found. There are writings and evidence that date back to the late 17th century. There is no exact answer to when this society, lodge, group first originated. Even so Freemasonry was formally created in London in 1717. The ideas and beliefs quickly spread to the American colonies and across Europe. Today, there are probably four to six million men in the fraternity (Cambell). The Masons in the mid-seventeenth century were a secret society and since they were secret there was no historical document or writings. There are basically three theories that surround their existence before it became public. The first theory is that freemasonry is as ancient as the Masonic ritual claims. It was indeed created as a result of happenings at the building of king Solomon’s temple and has been passed down to us through mechanisms unknown. The second theory that scientists believe is that the development of medieval stoneman’s guilds, whereby Masonic skills with stone were translated into what masons call moral improvements. The third theory is that masons rituals originally come from the Order Of The Poor Fellow- soldiers of Christ and the temple of Solomon, now better known as the Knights of Templar (Knight). One thing you will learn is that there are no exact answers when it comes to the Masons. This society is held in high regard to its secrecy. The rules and regulations are very sacred and if one is not performed or is broken than severe penalty will be placed in action. The penalties are from removal from the society to death, depending on the act. These rules and guidelines are what gave man his sense of security and sense of well-being back in the times when the world was not as civilized as it was today. When the world was not as stable as it is today and lands were forever changing hands, masons were still united because it is widespread. Masonry is not confined to one race or nationality, creeds or faiths. This organization encompasses almost everyone. In Masonry there is a meeting place for the members. This place is called a lodge. There is a set hierarchy of Lodges. All the states in the U. S have a Highest ruling lodge, The Grand Lodge. This Grand Lodge is used as the presiding lodge over all of the small branches of lodges. The jurisdiction of a Lodge determines its exact beliefs and rules. There is no higher authority than the Grand Lodge of a state. Every month there is a specific meeting for the Master Masons. This once a month meeting is named a â€Å"business meeting† (Virginia). In the lodge religion is encouraged, nothing in particular, but Christianity is the most popular in the United States. Religion though, along with politics is strictly forbidden inside the lodge. Both subjects are very controversial and would cause too much of a divide between men. One of the beliefs that the Masons have is an interesting initiation ceremony. There are a few phases to complete this process but it is what is done to each new member. It has been carried out since the creation of the fraternity so now it is just a belief. The first phase of the ceremony is when the initiate must swear his allegiance to God and his fellow Masons. When that part of the ceremony is over the second part of the initiation begins. This way the initiate can become Master Mason. He is blindfolded and is asked to act out the part of Hiram Abiff. Hiram Abiff was the murdered master in a legend of the building of King Solomon’s temple. This would be the exciting section of the initiation, where all the action takes place. He must refuse to tell secrets of the Freemasons and then he is hit and knocked to the floor. This is a reenactment of Hiram’s death. The third step to the process is a few more points and symbols are explained in detail to him (Cambell). The Masons are also known as a secret society. Many beliefs that they hold are absolutely forbidden from non-members and also not all Masons can know everything. This is what gives the Masons its â€Å"secret society† name, not because its underground or a small gathering. The secrets started back in the earliest times when stonemasons had special trades that they kept from everyone else. There are many types of secrets that are held in the Mason group, many types of sciences and astrology. When a Mason starts to understand the organization and â€Å"probe his unconscious† these secrets are revealed to him. One belief that the Masons have that seems as though it would be outdated by now but is still intact is the admittance of only males. The lodges of today are available to only males who are at least nineteen years of age. To be more accommodative, a separate division of the Freemasons was developed. The Eastern Star was founded in 1850 and is a group for Master Masons or people properly related to Master Masons, including women. The relation can be wife, widow, sister, daughter, mother, granddaughter, stepmother, stepdaughter, stepsister, half sister, and recently, nieces, daughters-in-law, and grandmothers (Virginia). Basically anyone who is not permitted into the lodge meetings but has relation to a Master Mason can be admitted. The lodges are divided into chapters and there are eighteen offices to be filled in each chapter. Men or women can fill these positions. The head of the chapter is deemed the title Worthy Matron. To gain the membership required, each member must agree to belief in a supreme being. Although, the New and Old Testaments are both part of the five degrees. This makes the Eastern Star a particularly Christian group (Virginia). Since, the Eastern Star is a sort of division of the Masons, this must make them a particularly Christian group (Mackey). Since the Freemasons group of extreme size, controversies are always surrounding them. There is also a great deal of controversy that stems from the secretive nature of the Freemasons. Many prominent figures including founding fathers and presidents have been Masons, and in some cases Freemasons have been accused of giving other Masons unfair advantages in job promotion, and also controlling decisions in government by being a sort of underground government themselves (Virginia). A large part of joining the masons is having that advantage of job promotion over non-mason coworkers (Dumenil, 23). The biggest controversy concerning the Freemasons took place in the United States during the early 1800’s. In 1826, one man decided he was going to publish a book that contained all of the secrets that’s the Masonic society had hidden. This man was, Captain William Morgan, a regular member of the Masonic society. The place that the book was being published was burned to the ground and the Captain suddenly disappeared. There are many different endings to this story that go around today, but it is said that he was captured by the Masons and killed. Most Masons today say that is not what happened, but Morgan really left the country and went to Canada. It was noted by a anti-Masonic group that a year later the body was found in a harbor. Other accounts say that his body was never found. What the real truth may be is irrelevant. The fact that these stories set the Masons back a step in popularity is important part. There was even an anti-Masonic presidential candidate in the 1820’s (Mackey and McClenachen, 508). Protecting secrets is not the only type of controversy that the Freemasons get into. Since they are so large they have contacts and members in all aspects of society. Masons are blamed and accused of all types of other functions and mishaps. During the presidential election of Quincy Adams and Jackson, Adams blamed the mason group when he was not chosen for the presidency. There are writings linking the Freemasons to President Lincoln’s assassination, beliefs of Nazi Germany, the murder of Pope John Paul I, establishing the Ku Klux Klan, the Jack the Ripper Murders in England, the JFK assassination conspiracy, and many others (Virginia). All across the world different events have been blamed on their members. These actions might possibly be blamed on the Masons unrightfully. This might be due to their large size and underground secret society, which makes them an easy target to blame. Especially if there is no real suspect is unknown. Most of these accounts do not seem to have much well supported evidence. One thing that does lead one to believe a Mason might kill someone or cheat them out of a position in the work force is the type of penalties they enforce. The Masons preach that they are all about brotherly love and doing good deeds for their fellow members and the community around them; but when you read the types of penalties that they will enforce you have to second-guess the purpose of the group. If one of the members happens to slip and tell the secrets of Freemasonry there are many penalties. The penalties include very vulgar acts which are tearing one’s tongue out by the roots, plucking one’s heart from its breast, and having one’s body cut in two with the entrails burned to ashes (Virginia). This type of language has caused much anti-Masonic sentiment. To be a part of the Mason society it is said that you need to believe in a higher power or god. It is not specified which one to believe in, it does not matter. This issue has some people disturbed; especially Catholics and Methodists who are historically opposed to Masonry. Roman Catholics ban masonry due to the types of oaths and its sincere secrecy. The Methodists have to condemned it as well for the same reasons. Christians have also been very disturbed by Masonry’s mixing of beliefs. This would be both pagan and Christian beliefs together. Representing the Pagan solar gods are the Bible, the compass and the square. These are also the Three Great Lights of Masonry (Virginia). There are many other possible examples of mixing religions, which disturbs some members of Evangelical Christian churches (Cambell, 75-76). A recent controversy involves the history of the Freemasons. Some say that Freemasons didn’t come from medieval stonemason unions. They have come to the presumption that it has emerged from the Knights of the Templar, a privileged class of soldier monks in Medieval Europe. The Knights were attacked by many authorities for their knowledge of the Muslim and Jewish religions, and in 1307, King Philippe IV of France ordered their arrest and a raid of their preceptories. They supposedly escaped to Scotland with all of their treasures and these scholars say that Freemasonry evolved from the Knights Templar traditions (Virginia). These ideas are offered instead of the stonemason history that the Freemasons tell (Knight). There are Masons at all levels of work force especially in the government. It helps when you are trying to get elected and you are a Mason; but even so there is also a drawback to being a Mason. There are always people who try to find the hole in the system and take what you have earned. For example in 1829, under public pressure, the New York state senate investigated freemasonry and reported that wealthy and powerful masons were found at every level of government. Opponents of President Andrew Jackson, who was a freemason, took advantage of the scandal to form the Anti-Masonic party, the first time a third party was created in the United States. Anti-Masonic candidates were successful in state and local elections but failed to unseat Jackson in 1832. By the late 1830’s the Anti-Masonic party had turned to agitation against slavery and the strictly anti Jackson members joined the Whigs. This was a serious blow that took decades for the Masons to recover from (Dumenil). Most of these problems that the Freemasons have are due to the emergence of the Anti-Masonic society. Those who were not offered membership or could not obtain it had jealousy and greed grow inside them. The rest just didn’t know how to become a member. The figured it was a group of elites that belong to a secret society and it was nothing but full of evil and conspiracies. This guessing game and non-members jealousy served as the fuel for igniting and inciting hatred for the unknown. The only thing left was for three groups to keep the fire burning. First of all, politicians used this to gain popularity, but making false accusations did this. Thurlow Weed was the most successful and most damaging in his use of the incident and to claim that he was the savior, â€Å"riding in on a shiny white horse† (MIT). William Seward of Auburn and Millard Fillmore of Moravia made hay of the fiasco and gained political clout by using the Morgan affair as an issue (MIT). Secondly, the clergy also lowered themselves to this level of demagoguery. Even former members of the Fraternity saw in this an opportunity to claim that the Freemasons were evil and that only in the church could souls be saved. The clergy knew full well that Freemasonry was not in the business of saving souls. The third mechanism, which grabbed an opportunity to gain notoriety and to sell newspapers, was the press. New papers were born regularly with the one objective, to sell newsprint by leveling accusations at the Fraternity. Any dirt would do despite its veracity. The anti-Masonic movement in itself was a sort of lie, it was a conspiracy to promote certain people or groups at the cost of freemasons. The press could make money. The clergy saw people converting. Lastly, the politicians had an opportunity to promote themselves (MIT). The times were ripe for suspicion and distrust. Uncultivated egos led people to believe that only their church, their politics, their way of life was the correct one. Others were ignorant and in the dark. (Marrs, 17) The masons as a society are very secretive and extremely widespread. The society is formed on the basis that brotherly love, belief in religion and helping the community are musts. These characteristics don’t make the masons seem like they have any wrongdoing in their actions and so fourth. Even so there is is much criticism of the freemasons as a group. There have been numerous attacks against freemasons and what the supposedly have hidden from the rest of society. The most potentially damaging attacks of this century have come in the past two or three years. People have tried to convince society that freemasonry is rooted in heresy. Even in the face of extreme large amounts of criticism the masons have chosen to remain silent and not release any secrets. Whatever the actions were, or the motives have been they have always allowed themselves to be easy targets. It seems that the masons have been deliberately accused of certain things therefore they will gain the reputation that will put them under. Whether another society has done this to them is unknown. Everything seems to denounce the Order of the Masons. It is probably not long before the masons come out and set the record straight, rather than just accept the blows of criticism. They rely on their acts of reconciliation and following the principles of brotherhood, relief and truth, which is not enough to keep the largest fraternity in the world operating. It is very amazing that a group of people could persevere through the trials and tribulations that they have been through. It was very hard to gather reliable and large amounts of information because of the secrecy. What was learned is that this group operates for nothing but the good of themselves and others. Many very important figures of the world were members of this organization. This is a reason why there is so much controversy surrounding this group. All in all, its been the most successful attempt at a unified group or â€Å"secret society. â€Å" How to cite Freemasonry’s Beliefs and Their Struggle for Secrecy, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Comparison between Tony Harrisons Long Distance and Jane Gardams Stone Trees free essay sample

The two documents we are presented with here both deal with the notion of bereavement and especially bereavement of a loved one. The first document is a poem, written by Tony Harrison in 1984 and entitled Long Distance. The second one is an extract from a short story entitled Stone Trees, written by Jane Gardam in 1983. They both intend to give us a glimpse of how different people react when confronted to the passing of a relative. Through two completely different approaches and using two different genre – poetry and fiction –, as well as different literary technics, they try to reflect the highly personal emotion that one feels when confronted to death. The poem entitled Long Distance is composed of 4 stanzas, in the three first stanzas, the poet’s persona tells us about his father’s denial to face the death of his mother with a tint of loving criticism. For example the fact that he still includes her into his daily routine as if she would come back anytime. In the last stanza of the poem though he – the poet’s persona – gives us his own impression on death and he seems to realise that he, too, cannot quite cut with the little things of everyday life. As for the extract from Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees, we follow a woman’s thoughts as she mourns her departed husband. She relates different moments she went through after his death and the story often looks as if she is directly addressing her husband. The link can be made here with the cultural notion â€Å"je de l’ecrivain et jeu de l’ecriture† as the two authors both seem to have found inspiration in personal experiences, and therefore those texts could be considered as autobiographical. We could wonder how Harrison and Gardam proceed into putting us as close as possible with their character’s feelings in order to provide the reader with an understanding of their experience. In order to answer that question we will firstly analyse the different devices used by the two authors in order to put us into their character’s minds. We will afterwards try to interpret the different visions of mourning we are presented within the two texts and more specifically emphasising the deeply personal and irrational aspect of this experience. * ** I. Placing the reader as close as possible to the character’s emotion There are various technics used in the two texts to give the reader access to the characters minds. We will present the narrative devices first and then we will introduce the technic of stream of consciousness used in Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees. a. Narrative devices The first thing that makes those two texts quite similar is the fact that they are both written in the first person narrative, giving straight away to the reader the impression that the story is told by someone who directly experienced the loss of a loved one. But this is not the only technic that gives us this impression, indeed the two texts are also homo-diegetic and they both use internal focalisation and even internal vocalisation in the case of Stone Trees. This allows us – the reader – to gain access to very personal feelings, sometimes unexpressed. An example in the poem Long Distance is when Tony Harrison’s persona admits that he, too, is acting in denial towards death, just as his father did (4th stanza, line 3-4). In Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees, the narrator confesses to â€Å"never having liked Tom that much† (line 10). These most likely unexpressed or at least unspoken feelings put you in a trusting relationship with the character and the persona. b. Stream of consciousness The stream of consciousness technic is clearly identifiable in Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees. Indeed there is no clear chronological pattern in the way the narrator tells her story, we receive her thoughts as they cross her mind. This explains the very frequent repetitions we can see in the text, for example on lines 8-10: â€Å"I liked it†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ I liked it†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ I liked his strong arm†. These repetitions combined with the non-chronological construction of the narrative, makes the text quite difficult to understand at first but once you get to know the character and try to get in tune with her feelings you start to see the bigger picture. This call for empathy automatically leads you to imagine what it is like for her to face the death of her husband. As we have seen there are several elements in the two texts that place the reader directly into the characters’ mind. The question we will try to answer in a second part is: Why did the authors wanted to do so? A clear answer that appears to us is that dealing with the death of a loved one is a highly personal and tragic experience and that there is not only one way of perceiving it. II. Bereavement of a loved one : a subjective experience a. Acceptance or Denial In Tony Harrison’s Long Distance the persona presents us how his father is in complete denial towards the death of his wife. He just keeps going with the daily routine of the couple. As well as being explicit in the poem it is also symbolised by the rhyming structure of the first three stanzas (alternate rhymes: ABAB). This changes to enclosed rhymes (ABBA) in the last stanza as the persona gives his personal view on the matter stating that â€Å"life ends with death† (4th stanza, line 1) and in a way marks the end of this routine: â€Å"You haven’t both gone shopping† (4th stanza, line 2). Nevertheless in the last 2 lines of the poem the poet’s persona seems to develop the same habits as his father when he is himself confronted to grief by writing the name of the lost one in his â€Å"new black leather phone book† (4th stanza, line 3) and by dialling this very phone number still (4th stanza, line 4). The poet’s intention could be to show that you cannot anticipate the way you will react to the death of a loved one until you are actually facing it. In Jane Gardam’s Stone Trees the woman confronted to the death of her husband seems to be in the process of accepting it. This could be illustrated by the repetition of the sentence â€Å"So now that you are dead† (lines 1, 5, 15, 16, 28, 45, 58), as if she regularly tries to bring her thoughts back to the tough reality and face the fact that he will not return and that things will never be the same now. It might be necessary to clarify that when using the term â€Å"acceptance† here we simply suggest that she acknowledges the death of her husband and not that her pain goes away. This idea can also lean on the prominent role of pronouns in the text. Indeed the narrator progressively replaces the pronoun â€Å"we† (â€Å"we had no children†: line 13) by â€Å"you/I† (line 21, 30) as if she’s getting her head around the fact that this â€Å"we† is now obsolete and therefore clearly marks the division of â€Å"you† and â€Å"I†. b. A traumatic irrational experience The two texts also stress how traumatic the experience of losing a loved one is; we could even say â€Å"the† loved one for the narrator of Stone Trees and the father of the poet’s persona in Long Distance as we cannot be sure for the persona himself. We can see that the narrator in Stone Trees is deeply affected by the death of her husband, hence the chaotic structure of the text following no chronological order, mixing old memories and recent events. The tone is resolutely desperate here. She seems to be unable to think straight and the way she relates the events is quite vague, quite blurry; she focuses on small details during the funeral: the cards accompanying the flowers (line 49-50, 54). In Long Distance the father’s actions are completely irrational though he, too, seems to be conscious of it: â€Å"He couldn’t risk my blight of disbelief† (3rd stanza, line 1), â€Å"As though his still raw love were such a crime† (2nd stanza, line 4). And more surprisingly the persona himself gives way to this irrational behaviour in the end. Another print of irrationality in both text could be the attempt to get in touch with the departed one. In Stone Trees the narrator directly addresses her husband, sharing her thoughts with him as if awaiting for an answer. In Long Distance the poet’s persona dials the â€Å"disconnected number† of the person he is grieving for in a desperate attempt to reach him/her. * ** To conclude we can say that these two documents, by their inherent differences in terms of genre – a poem and a fiction – and the way they describe distinct experiences of bereavement, perfectly carry the idea that the world’s perception is resolutely subjective and that certain moments in life can be lived in different ways depending on the individual’s eye. They also give really good examples of technics and literary devices used to put us as close as possible to the characters’ emotions and give us access to a part of their psyche.

Monday, November 25, 2019

How to Choose a Building Lot for Your New House

How to Choose a Building Lot for Your New House Youre building a house. Which do you do first? 1. Select a style and a plan OR 2. Select a building lot? Both approaches have merit. If your heart is set on a Spanish style adobe home, a heavily treed lot may not make sense for you. Having an idea of the architectural style you prefer will determine the size and characteristics of your building site. You may run into problems, however, if you select a specific floor plan too soon. You can always design a home to suit a landscape, but you may not be able to alter a landscape to accommodate the specifications of predetermined house plans. The configuration of rooms, the placement of windows, the location of the driveway and many other design elements will be affected by the land you build on. The land itself has long been the inspiration for truly great homes. Consider Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater. Constructed of concrete slabs, the house is anchored to a rugged stone hill in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Compare Fallingwater with Mies van der Rohes Farnsworth House. Made almost entirely of transparent glass, this unearthly structure seems to float above a grassy plain in Plano, Illinois. Would the Farnsworth House seem as graceful and serene perched on a rocky hill? Would Fallingwater make such a powerful statement if it sat in a grass field? Probably not. Questions to Ask About Your Building Lot Once you have located a promising building site for your new home, spend some time on the building site. Walk the full length of the building site at different times of the day. If you are a follower of feng shui, you may want to think about the land in terms of its chi, or energy. If you prefer a more down-to-earth evaluation, think about ways the building site will influence the shape and style of your home. Ask yourself: What are the general characteristics of the land? Is it green and woodsy? Rocky and gray? Or, is it a vast open stretch with a golden hue? Will the prevailing colors of the landscape change with the seasons? Will the home you imagine blend with the landscape? Does the landscape suggest particular colors or materials you might include in the design of your home?Can other structures be clearly seen from the building lot? What is the prevailing architectural style? Will your proposed home fit the overall context of the neighborhood?Will the size of your proposed house be proportionate to the size of the lot? (You dont want to squeeze a mansion onto a postage stamp!)Is there a street or road? Should the house face toward or away from the road?Where should the driveway be located? Will there be enough room for cars and delivery trucks to turn around?Where are the most pleasing views? Where does the sun rise and set? Which views would you like to see from the living areas? From the kitchen ? From the bedrooms? Where should windows and doors be placed? If you are in a northern climate, how important is it to face the south? Will a southern exposure help you save on heating costs?Is the site flat? Are there hills or streams? Are there any other geological conditions that might affect the design or placement of your home?How much landscaping will be required? Will preparing the land for building and planting trees and shrubbery add to your final costs? The waterfall views at Fallingwater may look idyllic, but for most of us, building on a rocky hillside isnt practical. You want the site of your new home to be beautiful, but it must also be safe... and affordable. Before you make a final decision, youll need to consider a mind-boggling list of technical details. Check Your Building Lot For Common Problems As you narrow your search for an ideal building site, dont scrimp on getting expert advice on home building. Your builder can put you in touch with consultants with the legal and scientific expertise to offer building advice. Your consultants will investigate the characteristics of the land and explore zoning, building codes and other factors. Land Conditions Soil. Has the property been a victim of hazardous waste? Are there pollutants that may not be apparent to an untrained observer?Land Stability. Is the property is subject to land slides or sinkages?Water Drainage. Is the property located near a river? Are there hills or low spots which may make your home subject to water runoff? Err on the side of caution. Even Mies van der Rohe made a grievous mistake. He placed the Farnsworth House too close to a stream, and his masterpiece suffered serious flood damage as a result.Noise. Is there a nearby airport, highway, or railroad? How disruptive is it? Zoning, Building Codes and More Zoning. In five years, your beautiful views may be replaced by a highway or a housing development. Zoning regulations will indicate what may be legally constructed in the surrounding area.Building Codes. A variety of ordinances will affect the placement of your new home on the lot. Regulations will specify how close you can build to the property line, roads, streams, and lakes.Easements. Easements for electrical and telephone poles will limit the space you have for building your home.Public Utilities. Unless the property is in a development of suburban tract homes, there may not be easy access to electricity, gas, telephone, cable television or public water lines. Sewers. If there are no municipal sewers, youll need to know where you may legally place your septic system. Costs You may be tempted to skimp on the cost of your land so that you can spend more money on building your house. Dont. The cost of altering an unsuitable lot is likely to be more expensive than purchasing land that is meets your needs and your dreams. How much should you spend on a building lot? There are exceptions, but in most communities your land will represent 20% to 25% of your total building costs. Advice From Frank Lloyd Wright Building a house is often the easy part. Making decisions is stressful. In Wrights book The Natural House (Horizon, 1954), the master architect gives this advice on where to build: When selecting a site for your house, there is always the question of how close to the city you should be, and that depends on what kind of slave you are. The best thing to do is go as far out as you can get. Avoid the suburbs- dormitory towns- by all means. Go way out into the country- what you regard as too far- and when others follow, as they will (if procreation keeps up), move on.~p. 134

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Marketing plan stage 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing plan stage 1 - Essay Example 1 due to increase in total revenue and operating income but in the year 2012 the net income has decreased due to significant increase in income tax expenses and decrease in earnings from operations although the total revenue and gross profit has improved than the previous year. In the year 2013, the net income has increased than the previous year due to decrease in income tax expenses and increase in the earnings from continuing operation and also due to the increment in revenue and gross profit for the year. Income growth was negative for the year 2009 and 2011 due to decrease in net income but otherwise the growth was good for the remaining years. Stock price of the company has decreased from 2009 to 2011 which indicates expectations of investors were not met but after 2011 to 2013 it has increased significantly which indicates investors are gaining confidence in the company. Microsoft has such huge variety of product offering in the market that they have product for almost every type of customer. They are spread across all the continents in the world and reach out to everyone in this century. The reason they can target all types of customers lies in their products and services. They have software, games, browser, and the list goes on. Individuals need purchase safe so purchasing from #1 would appear to be the protected decision. However Microsoft never directed this strength into a solid brand position. They drank excessively of their own cool support and accepted their answers were more focused than they truly were. Being enormous has headed them to being a huge mush of significance, being such a variety of sorts of programming, fittings, administrations, and frameworks they have no brand center. As their predominance has faded, their brand position has flattened to the disgraceful "Im a PC" fight. Microsoft Office – It is their office suite which includes accessibility features that both make it easier for people with disabilities to use it, and, for

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Analysis of Generals Die In Bed through the eyes of two chosen authors Essay

Analysis of Generals Die In Bed through the eyes of two chosen authors - Essay Example ng set the tone of this Paper, one work each of the prominent French philosopher, writer, and composer of the eighteenth-century Jean Jaques Rousseau and the renowned British naturalist of the nineteenth-century, Charles Robert Darwin, is also reviewed in the same light. Those who have seen the highly acclaimed award-winning TV Series made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Blackadder (September-November 1989), starring comedians Rowan Atkinson, et al. will understand World War I in its true perspective. Rather than the Germans, who remain unseen, Blackadders adversary comes in the form of his superior, General Melchett who rallies his troops from a French chà ¢teau 35 miles behind the front, wining and dining on Champagne, Caviar and Cigars while his troops, rotting in damp trenches and existing on one distasteful looking meal, die of lack of medical care, sepsis, diarrhea and dysentery, a dozen to the day. Blackadders final line is poignant, just before leading his men into a suicidal final push at Flanders: â€Å"Well, I am afraid its time to go. Whatever your plans to avoid certain death were, I’m sure it was better than my plan to get out of this by pretending to be mad. I mean, who would have noticed another madman around here? Good luck, everyone.† (www.imdb.com, www.express.co.uk). New Orleans, reviewed the parody in 2002 (www.eclectica.org) as follows. â€Å"Generals Die in Bed (Harrison, 1930), is almost unknown today. It was published in 1930 to rave reviews. ‘It has a sort of flat-footed straightness about it that gets down the torture of the front line about as accurately as one can ever get it’ ( John Dos Passos, 1930). The New York Evening Post called it ‘the best of the war books.’ Harrisons novel, based on his own service as a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, is graphic, intense, and very powerfully anti-war while not being overtly political. It is remarkable to read about a war that was plainly hell, and for the man

Monday, November 18, 2019

Curtis Keim's Mistaking Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Curtis Keim's Mistaking Africa - Essay Example The west has propagated many myths and misconceptions about Africa over the years. Though some of these myths are negative and untrue, they have been strongly held and believed as true. These misconceptions are passed tot eh kinds from their young age. The media has not helped put things in perspective as they often portray an exaggerated dark side (Curtis 57). Many students and graduates as well have no idea that Africa is a continent consisting of 54 independent nations and not a single country. In fact, all countries in Africa consist of many ethnic groups, use different currencies, and have unique national flags and varying political systems among many other differences. Social economic circumstances are different in each country, with different regions having different economic activities and social processes. The difference is so huge that English and French are the major languages through which people from different regions can communicate to one another. News on leading telev ision channels often portrays Africa as chaotic, violent and dangerous. Scenes of child soldiers, pirates and kidnappers in the Indian Ocean, civil wars and massacres strongly reinforce the myth that Africa is indeed a dangerous place. What the media denies its audience is the calm and peaceful side of Africa. Rarely will countries like Ghana, Tanzania or Malawi, which are peaceful, feature on television. Whenever there is coverage on the continent, it will most likely be about civil war in Sudan, Somali pirates, the famous Rwanda genocide, post election violence in Kenya and Ivory Coast, revolution in North Africa and severe droughts in the horn of Africa. All these paint a picture of violence and great danger in the continent, a factor that contributes to entrenching of this myth from generation to generation. For a long time, nongovernmental organizations, faith based organizations and government agencies have engaged in mobilising resources to fund development projects, respond to emergencies and fight diseases and ignorance in Africa. This translates to a misconception that Africa is poor and diseases ridden. Whereas poverty is commonplace in Africa, the continent is not all poor. A closer look reveals that wealth distribution is the key problem. For instance, South Africa has a bigger GDP than some western countries, with many natural resources, good education and health care systems, organised business districts and ultramodern infrastructure. Unfortunately, poor sections of the society cannot access these facilities and are condemned to deplorable conditions in slum areas. In respect to diseases, poor sections across the continent bear the blunt of serious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, polio and malaria, since they cannot access primary health care. Similarly, many poor children only attain primary education, which is cheap, often lacking finances to proceed to high school and collages. Election periods are very chaotic in many countries across Africa. Corruption across many African countries is responsible for keeping some old guards in power for as long as they wish. However, many countries including South Africa, Zambia and Ghana among others have exercised democracy to the latter. Western and Asian countries with economic interests in countries with weak constitutions have in the past championed for status quo in order to retain tyrants who protect their interest. Audit reports indicate that high-level corruption in international agencies and nongovernmental organizations in Africa has deep involvement of the administrators of such funds, who are mostly western. This indicates that corruption is not just an African affair, but has a back up from many western societies. Both high school and

Friday, November 15, 2019

What teachers need in order to deal with Ethical Dilemmas

What teachers need in order to deal with Ethical Dilemmas Ethics are defined as a set of principles of right conducts; the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession ( Dictionary of the Human Language, 2000).   Teachers are often put in situations that require more than just knowing the basic school rules. It is within these situations, that the ethical dilemmas occur. There is not always a right way to deal with many daily problems that face educators, but there are ways to handle situations that are better then others.   Teachers should follow and refer to a code of ethics to help teach in the most appropriate and ethical way; as well as a guide to help deal with dilemmas. It is important that teachers give children a fair chance to show their knowledge when assessing.   The purpose of assessment is to provide feedback that can be used to improve student performance ( Orange 2000).   Teachers assess children to ensure that they are understanding the material, and to make sure they are learning.   For young children especially tests should never be the only criteria of assessment.   Instructors should always make sure that their assessment is fair.   When testing a child, make sure that the testing method used is appropriate for that child.   For example, if giving a test that relies on visual aids to administer the test it is important that the teacher is certain that all the children have good enough vision to clearly see the aids.   When assessing young children in particular it is important to look for more then simply right or wrong.   An in depth look is necessary to see what the children really know before giving them a poor grade.   Childrens work needs to critiqued in more then one way to be sure that they really do or dont understand. Varied assessment   methods developed and evaluated by teachers make a significant contribution   to knowledge about what children know, can do, and still need to learn. (Isenberg Jalongo, 2000) Children have the right to confidentiality.   It is inappropriate for a teacher to discuss a childs results with fellow colleagues or other students.   A childs grades should be private, and should not be posted.   Students might be ashamed of their grades, or some people might take poor grades as a bad reflection upon the students character.   Public pronouncements (of grades) are likely to taint everyones opinion of that childs ability (Isenberg Jalongo, 2000 ).   It is important not to share professional confidential information in any other way but a professional way.   There are appropriate and inappropriate times to share a childs information, part of becoming a professional is knowing when to keep quiet and protect confidentiality (Isenberg Jalongo, 2000).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Just as braking confidentiality is inappropriate so is teacher bias and discrimination.   It is suppose to be that school is the only institution that can counter the accidents of birth, guarantee of opportunity and provide objective and fair ways to select and train talented individuals (Goodlad, Sirotnik Sober,1990).   However, discrimination towards students takes place all the time.   Teachers often discriminate against males and females, expecting different things from both.   Research over the last decade has shown that males and females have different classroom experiences because they approach learning differently and because teachers tend to treat them differently.   There is an expectation that for females in some subjects are usually lower, as they are for members of certain racial and ethnic groups and for poor students. (Hanson Shwartz, 1992). Boys are usually associated with doing better in math then girls, while girls are thought of as to excel in English.   It seems as though teacher are aware of this bias and instead of helping to stop it they make it worse by treating the children differently.   Teachers continue the bias by picking teachers pets.   Teachers are not suppose to pick favorites.   If they do they are certainly not suppose to treat them any differently from the rest of the class.   If teachers favor and esteem certain members of a peer group, the remaining children will understandably have a diminished sense of self worth (Orange, 2000).   Teachers should take the time to evaluate their own behavior, evaluating whether or not they treat children differently.   This could also help teachers overcome racial, social or gender biases as well as favoritism.   According to the survey, 82 percent of students say they have had a teacher who has favored one student over others and 52 percent of teachers admit to having done so (Argarwal, 2001). Teachers are inevitably going to have certain children they enjoy more, its human nature. Its when teachers begin to give special brakes, or give better grades to certain students solely because they like the students character better, that is when favoritism gets out of hand.   It is very easy to cross the line or use inappropriate punishment as a teacher.   Teachers must choose their punishment techniques carefully.   Corporal punishment is no longer allowed in a vast majority of states.   A school discipline policy is a good guide for teachers to follow to make sure they are using an appropriate discipline method. On the other hand, even the best policy is only a document, and how it is carried out is at least as important as what it says (Gushee, 1984).   When a child misbehaves it is important to consider what is causing this behavior.   Childrens motivation for bad behavior usually has to do with love, power, freedom or fun- or some combination. (Isenberg Jalongo, 2000).   When deciding appropriate discipline it is important for the educator to keep in mind whether or not the discipline is necessary, productive, fair, or age appropriate.   The basic minimum requirement for understanding any young childs behavior begins by building a relationship with them and depends upon effective communication ( Isenberg Jalongo, 2000).   Rather then constant discipline teachers should remember to look for the good as well.   To avoid dealing with problems unethically, and to guide educators in the right way there are a set of principles.   The principles are intended to guide, conduct and assist practitioners in resolving ethical dilemmas encountered in the field (The National Association for the Education of Young Children Code of Ethical Conduct, 2000, as cited in Isenberg Jalongo, 2000).   There are answers to some specific questions, but not all dilemmas are addressed on the Code of Ethics.   They can not tell a teacher how to teach but they can lead them in the right way. Most problems will require the use of the Code as well as professional judgment (The National Association for the Education of Young Children Code of Ethical Conduct, 2000, as cited in Isenberg Jalongo, 2000). The National Association for the Education of Young Children Code of Ethical Conduct believes that there are certain values that teachers should always keep in mind while educating.   The Association states that Standards of ethical behavior are based on commitment to core values that are deeply rooted in the history of our field.   The core values include ideas such as: appreciating childhood as a unique stage, basing work on the knowledge of child development, appreciating and supporting the close ties between family and child, knowing that children are best understood in the context of their family and culture, respecting the dignity and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague), and to try to help children and adults achieve their full potential in the context in relationships that are based on trust, respect, and positive regard. There is no perfect way to teach, and it is hard to find the perfect solution to every problem.   The best way for a teacher to deal with ethical situations is to try to avoid the problem to begin with.   Teachers should always think about their actions and evaluate their behavior on a regular basis.   Problems that deal with concepts such as bias, or favoritism can be avoided by a teacher simply evaluating himself and his behavior.   Problems with assessment and confidentiality just take a little consideration, and thinking through.   If teacher would refer to the Code of Ethics it might help lead them in the most appropriate and ethical actions and solutions. The National Association for the Education for Young Children Code of Ethical Behavior states that; Above all, we shall not harm children.   We shall not participate in practices that are disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitive, intimidating, emotionally damaging, or physically harmful to children.   They say that, that principle has precedence over all others.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Relevancy of the Heartland :: essays research papers fc

The Relevancy of the Heartland - Hinterland Distinction in Canada's Economic Geography Until the early 20th century, Canada was primarily an agricultural nation. Since then it has become one of the most highly industrialized countries in the world as a direct result of the development of the ‘heartland'. To a large extent the manufacturing industries present in the heartland are supplied with raw materials produced by the agricultural, mining, forestry, and fishing sectors of the Canadian economy, a region known as the ‘hinterland'. The ‘ heartland-hinterland' concept in Canada describes patterns of economic power, namely, where economic power and control resides within the nation. Thus, the heartland-hinterland concept distinguishes raw-material and staple-producing hinterlands from the capital service industrial heartland and reveals the metropolis or dominating city of the system. At a national scale, the Canadian metropolis is Toronto, and the region with the most influence is the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands. But while immense influence radiates outward from the metropolis located in the heartland, the relationship between hinterland and heartland is one of intimate mutual dependency. In modern Canadian economics, neither region can exist without each other, and the well-being of one directly affects the other. These two regions show remarkable contrasts, yet they are to a large extent interdependent on each other, clearly suggesting that the heartland-hinterland distinction is quite relevant in terms of Canada's economic geography. Upon discussing the importance of the heartland-hinterland in Canada, it is necessary to discuss what each term refers to. According to McCann the heartland is an area "†¦ which possesses favourable physical qualities and grant food accessibility to markets; they display a diversified profile of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary industries; they are characterized by a highly urbanized and concentrated population which participates in a well-integrated urban system; they are well advanced along the development path and possess the capacity for innovative change." Literally, hinterland means ‘the land behind', the area from which a heartland draws its raw materials and which, in turn, serves as a market for the heartland's manufactured goods. The demographic and economic characteristics of Canada's heartland are that it contains over 50% of the nation's population and 70% of its manufacturing industries in only 14% of the nation's area. Canada's heartland is southern Ontario and Quebec stretching from Quebec City to Windsor. This heartland, occupying the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, coincides with several favourable physical characteristics such as fertile Class 1 and 2 soils in addition to humid continental climate for optimal agricultural conditions. However, the "hinterland regions display harsher or more limiting physical characteristics. The Cordillera, Interior Plains, Canadian Shield, and Appalachian regions yield tremendous resource wealth, but their soils,