Struggle for Dominance and Mastery in Jack Londons The Call of the Wil

Struggle for Dominance and Mastery in Jack London's The Call of the Wild Isn't it funny how life itself is not just a fight for survival, but more a fight for mastery? Some people are satisfied with just survival, but some strive to be the best they can be during their life. In the novel, The Call of the Wild (1903), by Jack London, the author demonstrates life's struggles for dominance while following the life of a magnificent dog named Buck. Buck was living a peaceful, laxadazical life on a California estate when he is stolen and taken to the Klondike region of Canada, due entirely to the discovery of gold. In a matter of days, Buck's life makes a 180 degree turn when he finds himself in the harsh weather of Canada pulling a sled day after day. All this time, Buck is in a life and death struggle for dominance. Once he finally meets a master of his equal, his life is almost perfect. As life throws its curves, Buck finds himself being pulled away from his equal owner, Jack London. When Jack is later killed by the Yeehat Indians, Buck has to go out on his own and continue his tre... Struggle for Dominance and Mastery in Jack London's The Call of the Wil Struggle for Dominance and Mastery in Jack London's The Call of the Wild Isn't it funny how life itself is not just a fight for survival, but more a fight for mastery? Some people are satisfied with just survival, but some strive to be the best they can be during their life. In the novel, The Call of the Wild (1903), by Jack London, the author demonstrates life's struggles for dominance while following the life of a magnificent dog named Buck. Buck was living a peaceful, laxadazical life on a California estate when he is stolen and taken to the Klondike region of Canada, due entirely to the discovery of gold. In a matter of days, Buck's life makes a 180 degree turn when he finds himself in the harsh weather of Canada pulling a sled day after day. All this time, Buck is in a life and death struggle for dominance. Once he finally meets a master of his equal, his life is almost perfect. As life throws its curves, Buck finds himself being pulled away from his equal owner, Jack London. When Jack is later killed by the Yeehat Indians, Buck has to go out on his own and continue his tre...

Modern Politics on “The Strategy of Terrorism” Essay

David Fromkin, author of â€Å"The Strategy of Terrorism† makes several arguments through his article; some of which I feel are relevant to today’s political atmosphere and some which seem unrealistic. The following essay discusses four key arguments and their relevancy in today’s standards.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most unrealistic statement made by Fromkin was in his description of a terrorist in the eyes of some people. As revolutionaries, terrorists have come to seem romantic figures to many (685). Although written over thirty years ago, it seems unimaginable that anyone could see terrorists as romantic. The author makes another reference to terrorists as men going from gunmen to heroes. While it is possible that terrorist regimes consider their leaders as heroes, it is unrealistic to think any non-terrorist society would agree. The 2001 collapse of the Twin Towers destroyed any possible visions of romance or heroism involving terrorist actions, if anyone was ever to feel that way towards terrorism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To look at Fromkin’s arguments in a pre-911 mindset, some of his arguments may not seem that unrealistic to America’s mainstream society. The American people have been aware of terrorism for decades, but very few physical acts of terrorism has been carried out in American soil; in comparison to overseas countries. Many American’s were ignorant to terrorism, even after the Oklahoma Bombing in 1995; which many considered not to be terrorism because it was an American man with no known organization behind his action. Although, publications would later be released linking McVeigh to the Aryan Nation organization and the Midwest Bandits (Cash & Charles, 2001). Before 911, most American’s perceived terrorism as something that happened in other countries; not in the safe and dependable United States. American’s today are much more aware of the dangers of terrorism. How does one define terrorism? Fromkin did well in answering this question, and his descriptions are still relevant today. The author’s description of terrorism as a fear tactic, using fear as a weapon, and their need for publicity in order to be successful was relevant in the 1970s as well as today. Everyday the news displays more heinous acts of terrorism in Iraq, where our brothers, husbands and other loved ones may be; and we are struck with fear. These images are daily reminders of those we lost in the 911 attacks as well. When human life is taken for reasons only known to the killers, our fear is their success. Fromkin also makes a good argument when he details terrorist strategy as a success determined by response made by the victims’ organization or country. It is my opinion that the United States has reacted as the terrorists hoped. The terrorists had hoped to ruin the economy and security of the American people. When America went to war, the implications were, and still are, innumerable. The divide of lower and upper class Americans has all but wiped out the middle class status; and today, more and more Americans are questioning the government’s motives in going to war with Iraq, the unity once found in America is no more. The final argument to be discussed is Fromkin’s outlook on the United States government as â€Å"a face and not a mask†. I wonder if he would feel that way today. As mentioned above, American’s are now questioning our government’s motives in Iraq. Scandals in the White House and throughout government agencies have become a regular occurrence, published as front page news and on the news. I would have to disagree with Fromkin’s argument; the American government most certainly does wear a mask. It is possible however, that at the time of Fromkin’s article publication, our government had a much better mask in place. In conclusion, Fromkin’s article makes several arguments about terrorism; most however are unrealistic in today’s society. What hasn’t changed however is the strategy of terrorism. Terrorists today use fear tactics and public displays of violence to produce a response. Unfortunately, many times terrorists receive the response they hope for. As Fromkin discussed, sometimes prevention is not enough, and at times inappropriate. The way to combat terrorism is to understand it, know the motivation and not to play into the hands of the enemy. Works Cited Cash, J, D. and Charles, Roger. â€Å"Company Boy: The Connection Between the FBI, Secret Service, White Supremacists and McVeigh.† Soldier of Fortune September 2001, Vol. 26, 9. 30-34. Fromkin, David. (1975). The Strategy of Terrorism. Foreign Affairs (pre-1986); ABI/INFORM Global: 1975.

Life cycle marketing

The family life cycle represents a method via which the market for certain goods and services is segmented according to the stage in the family life that the particular consumer has reached. This marketing method takes into consideration the family configuration beginning with young, single persons with no children all the way up through marriage, child rearing, and retirement stages. The variables involved in each stage of the model include age, marital status, income, employment (career), and the existence of children (Fritzsche, 1981). One stage in this model is the bachelor stage, which describes persons who no longer live with parents but who have not married or become parents. They usually have a high level of discretionary income despite the fact that their incomes lower than average. Because of the fewer financial burdens (mortgages, children, etc.) and their commitment to recreation, such persons are usually interested in buying clothing, travel, and basic household furniture or equipment. One magazine that could be used as a marketing tool is People, and TLC’s What Not to Wear represents a television program that would be suitable to this group. Both would be effective as they cater to fashion and to the entertainment interests of that group. Another marketing group according to this model is the Full Nest One (Fritzsche, 1981). The Full Nest One stage finds new parents with their youngest child being under the age of six. The parents at this stage have low discretionary incomes because the demands of the children are placed at the highest priority (1981). These persons are therefore likely only to buy necessities, such as cereals, diapers, and children’s clothing. A television show and magazine that are likely marketing tools for this demographic are (respectively) FOX’s Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader   and Disney’s Family Fun magazine. Parents are likely to watch or read them with their children. The Full Nest Three stage describes older parents with high school or college age children. These persons have a better financial position, with wives likely to be at work and more discretionary income (Fritzsche, 1981). Such a household is likely to be interested in buying holidays, nice furniture, and sophisticated appliances. A good magazine for marketing to such a demographic is Travel and Leisure, as such persons are likely to have the money and time to take vacations. A good television channel for marketing to them is HGTV, as this features tastefully decorated homes that may give them ideas for buying furniture and appliances. Reference Fritzsche, D. J. (1981). â€Å"An analysis of energy consumption patterns by stage of family life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   cycle.† Journal of Marketing Research, 18, pp.227-32.

Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive

Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive By Maeve Maddox The verbs gibe, gybe, jibe and jive all begin with the sound [j] and are often confused. gibe (verb): to taunt, to insult. Example: â€Å"If he laughed instead of cried when someone  gibed  at him, often the  teasing stopped.†Ã‚   gibe (noun): a sneering comment, a taunt. Example: â€Å"The  teasing, taunts,  gibes  and hurtful acts are a part of me still.† gybe (verb): (sailing term) to shift suddenly and with force from one side to the other when a ship is steered off the wind until the sail fills on the opposite side. Alternative spelling: jibe. Examples: â€Å"As Phil slipped overboard, the  boom gybed.† â€Å"A gust of wind caught their  sail, the  boom jibed, nearly knocking Mr. Snider overboard.† jibe (verb): to make sense, to agree with, to fit in. Example: â€Å"The latest research findings jibe with those recorded in 1934.† The noun jive has these three meanings: 1. a type of fast, lively jazz Weve been wanting to  play Jive  since the band first started. 2. lively and uninhibited dancing. He doesnt quite bounce around like a rubber band during his jive, but does good enough to notch a 7-7-7. 3. talk or conversation, especially talk that is false, misleading, or worthless. It’s time to cut the jive and tell the truth. As a verb, jive can mean to play lively music or to dance to lively music. Example: They spaced each other about four feet apart and  were jiving  to the music. The verb jive can also mean, â€Å"to mislead or deceive.† Maybe the narcs  were jiving  him, maybe  they were  going to shoot him in the back. I searched his eyes for some clue that  he was jiving me. He wasnt.   The most common errors with these words are to spell gibe as jibe and to use jive in the sense of jibe. Here are some examples of misuse from the Web: Incorrect: Arizona Prison Privatization Proposal Doesnt Jive with Market Correct : Arizona Prison Privatization Proposal Doesnt Jibe with Market Incorrect:  But  my opinion  about that  doesnt jive  with everyone elses opinion.   Correct :  But  my opinion  about that  doesnt jibe with everyone elses opinion.   Incorrect: If your child is hurling his own silly  jibes at  the teaser, then its a mutual thing. Correct : If your child is hurling his own silly  gibes at  the teaser, then its a mutual thing. Incorrect: Put-downs, slurs, jibes, and innuendo of all kinds are never purposeless or harmless. Correct : Put-downs, slurs, gibes, and innuendo of all kinds are never purposeless or harmless. The Oxford English Dictionary validates the nonstandard use of jive in the sense of jibe as â€Å"U.S.† usage, but Merriam-Webster Unabridged (notorious for its tendency to embrace all types of questionable usage) does not. The only definition M-W offers for jibe is â€Å"to be in accord.† Its only definitions for the verb jive are related to music, misleading talk, and teasing. Two other much-cited American authorities are careful to distinguish between gibe and jibe: The Chicago Manual of Style A gibe is a biting insult or taunt; gibes are figuratively thrown at their target â€Å"The angry crowd hurled gibes as the suspect was led into the courthouse.† Jibe means to fit, usually with negation â€Å"The verdict didn’t jibe with the judge’s own view of the facts.† The AP Stylebook To gibe means to taunt or sneer: â€Å"They gibed him about his mistakes.† Jibe means to shift direction: â€Å"They jibed their ship across the wind.† or, colloquially, to agree: â€Å"Their stories didn’t jibe.† Summary The sailing term may be spelled either gybe or jibe. The latter is more common in US usage. The verb that means â€Å"to agree† or â€Å"to fit† is spelled jibe. The noun and verb that convey taunting are spelled gibe. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Based in" and "based out of"Best Websites to Learn EnglishDrama vs. Melodrama

Arguments for and Against Humane Meat

Arguments for and Against Humane Meat Certified humane meat has been gaining in popularity as the public learns more about factory farms. Some activists call for reforms and labeling of humanely raised and slaughtered meat, but others argue we cannot work on reforms and promote animal rights at the same time. Background In a factory farm, animals are treated as commodities. Breeding sows are confined in gestation stalls, pigs have their tails cut off without anesthesia, calves spend their entire lives tethered by their necks in veal crates, and egg-laying hens are debeaked and kept in cages too small to spread their wings in. The search for solutions has focused on two paths, one reforming the system and instituting more humane standards, and the other promoting veganism so that fewer animals are bred, raised, and slaughtered. While few animal activists disagree with promoting veganism, some believe that campaigning for reforms and humane labeling is counter-productive. Humane standards can either be required by law or instituted voluntarily by farmers. Farmers who voluntarily agree to higher humane standards are either opposed to factory farming or are trying to appeal to consumers who prefer meat from humanely raised and slaughtered animals. There is no single definition of â€Å"humane meat,† and many animal activists would say that the term is an oxymoron. Different meat producers and organizations have their own humane standards by which they abide. One example is the â€Å"Certified Humane Raised and Handled† label that is backed by the Humane Society of the U.S., the ASPCA, and other non-profits. Humane standards might include larger cages, no cages, natural feed, less painful methods of slaughter, or prohibition of practices such as tail docking or debeaking. In some cases, campaigns target retailers or restaurants instead of the actual producers, pressuring the companies to purchase animal products only from producers who raise the animals according to certain voluntary standards. One example is PETA’s McCruelty campaign that asks McDonald’s to require their producers to switch to a more humane method of slaughtering chickens. Arguments for Humane Meat People will continue to eat meat for the foreseeable future, so humane standards will ensure that the animals will have a better life than they have in factory farms now.Since some people will never be convinced to go vegan, humane standards are the only way we can help the animals who will be raised for food no matter what else we do.Humane standards will eliminate the cruelest factory farming practices. Humane standards have broad-based support, so goals are achievable. Many people are opposed to factory farming but are not opposed to eating meat or other animal products. According to Humane Farm Animal Care: A recent study on behalf of the United Egg Producers found that three out of four American consumers (75%) would choose food products certified as protecting animal care over those that are not. Humane regulations on a state or federal level provide relief to millions of animals.Humane standards are a step towards animal rights. By promoting humane standards, we persuade people to care about animals, which will lead some to vegetarianism and veganism. Arguments Against Humane Meat There is no such thing as humane meat. Using an animal for food violates the animal’s right to life and freedom, and cannot be humane. Calling some animal products â€Å"humane† leads people to believe that animals do not suffer on â€Å"humane† farms when in fact, they do. For example, male babies of egg-laying hens are still killed, and male dairy cattle are still killed. Also, HumaneMyth.org explains: At all farms, large-scale and small-scale, laying hens are killed when their production declines, typically within two years, as feeding these worn-out individuals cuts directly into profits. Often the bodies of spent hens are so ravaged that no one will buy them, and they are ground into fertilizer or just sent to a landfill. Some humane standards can be woefully inadequate, even by animal welfare standards. Giving animals enough room to spread their wings or turn around does not mean they will have enough room to fly or walk around. They will still be crowded and will still suffer.Requiring larger cages or larger pens will require more space and more deforestation than factory farms already require. Nine billion land animals are killed for human consumption every year in the U.S. Giving 9 billion animals enough land to roam would be an environmental disaster.Humane meat is not more sustainable than factory farming. The animals will require just as much food and water, if not more because they will be moving around more and exercising more.Humane meat campaigns sometimes send a confusing message. Nine years after declaring victory in their McCruelty campaign against McDonalds, PETA resurrected their McCruelty campaign in 2008 to make further demands.Instituting humane standards causes some vegetarians and vegans to start consuming meat and other animal products again. Spending resources on reform campaigns take movement resources away from campaigns to promote veganism.Humane standards do nothing to challenge the right of humans to use other animals and have nothing to do with animal rights. We should promote veganism instead of more â€Å"humane† ways of exploiting animals. Animal activists sometimes debate whether promoting veganism helps animals more than humane reforms, but we may never know. The debate is one that divides some groups and activists, but the animal agriculture industry fights both types of campaigns.

Ada Lovelace - Mathematics and Computer Pioneer

Ada Lovelace - Mathematics and Computer Pioneer Ada Augusta Byron was the only legitimate child of the Romantic poet, George Gordon, Lord Byron. Her mother was Anne Isabella Milbanke who took the baby at one month old away from her fathers home. Ada Augusta Byron never saw her father again; he died when she was eight. Ada Lovelaces mother, who had studied mathematics herself, decided that her daughter would be spared the fathers eccentricities by studying more logical subjects like math and science, rather than literature or poetry. Young Ada Lovelace showed a genius for math from an early age. Her tutors included William Frend, William King and Mary Somerville. She also learned music, drawing and languages, and became fluent in French. Ada Lovelace met Charles Babbage in 1833, and became interested in a model he had constructed of a mechanical device to compute values of quadratic functions, the Difference Engine. She also studied his ideas on another machine, the Analytical Engine, which would use punched cards to read instructions and data for solving mathematical problems. Babbage also became Lovelaces mentor, and helped Ada Lovelace begin mathematical studies with Augustus de Moyan in 1840 at the University of London. Babbage himself never wrote about his own inventions, but in 1842, an Italian engineer Manabrea (later Italys prime minister) described Babbages Analytical Engine in an article published in French. Augusta Lovelace was asked to translate this article into English for a British scientific journal. She added many notes of her own to the translation, since she was familiar with Babbages work. Her additions showed how Babbages Analytical Engine would work, and gave a set of instructions for using the Engine for calculating Bernoulli numbers. She published the translation and notes under the initials A.A.L, concealing her identity as did many women who published before women were more accepted as intellectual equals. Augusta Ada Byron married a William King (though not the same William King who had been her tutor) in 1835. In 1838 her husband became the first Earl of Lovelace, and Ada became countess of Lovelace. They had three children. Ada Lovelace unknowingly developed an addiction to prescribed drugs including laudanum, opium and morphine, and displayed classic mood swings and withdrawal symptoms. She took up gambling and lost most of her fortune. She was suspected of an affair with a gambling comrade. In 1852, Ada Lovelace died of uterine cancer. She was buried next to her famous father. More than a hundred years after her death, in 1953, Ada Lovelaces notes on Babbages Analytical Engine were republished after having been forgotten. The engine was now recognized as a model for a computer, and Ada Lovelaces notes as a description of a computer and software. In 1980, the U.S. Department of Defense settled on the name Ada for a new standardized computer language, named in honor of Ada Lovelace. Fast Facts Known for:  creating the concept of an operating system or softwareDates:  December 10, 1815 - November 27, 1852Occupation:  mathematician, computer pioneerEducation:  University of LondonAlso known as:  Augusta Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace; Ada King Lovelace Books About Ada Lovelace Moore, Doris Langley-Levy.  Countess of Lovelace: Byrons Legitimate Daughter. Toole, Betty A. and Ada King Lovelace.  Ada, the Enchantress of Numbers: Prophet of the Computer Age.  1998. Woolley, Benjamin.  The Bride of Science: Romance, Reason and Byrons Daughter.  2000. Wade, Mary Dodson.  Ada Byron Lovelace: the Lady and the Computer.  1994. Grades 7-9.

Quantitative Geography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Quantitative Geography - Essay Example It is not a surprise that GIS data today is used by thousands of organizations from different segments of life, from businesses, governments, educators and scientists, environmental and conservation organizations to natural resource groups and utilities. GIS is helpful in solving problems and improving processes, increasing profits, improving services, bettering education at all levels and allowing for more proper use of our natural resources.(GIS website,2007) Â  The combination of geography as a scientific branch and GIS as a way of utilizing geographic information brings us a new idea, one of geographic approach. It is a new way of thinking and problem solving that integrates geographic information into how we understand and manage our planet. This approach allows us to create geographic knowledge by measuring the earth, organizing this data, and analyzing and modeling various processes and their relationships. The Geographic Approach also allows us to apply this knowledge to the way we design, plan, and change our world. All of the above became really essential in the aftermath of the industrial and technological boom in the last two centuries, one that came at a great price of serious depletion of natural sources and serious worries about the future of our planet. Â  In its nutshell, the Geographic approach is just like any scientific, analytical method. It calls for several steps, all of which are necessary for obtaining an end result that is scientifically tested and valuable.