Mexico’s largest cement manufacturer

Cemex, has become a global powerhouse In the cement and construction Industry. It currently controls 60 percent of the cement industry in Mexico (Hill 2009). Cemexs success is a result of a combination of efficient technology such as radio transmitters, satellites, and computer hardware that allow the company to anticipate changes in supply and demand and reduce waste. Cemex's success is also a result of an attempt to dominate the industry by acquiring and buying out competitors worldwide In order to expand. . Which heoretical explanation, or explanations, of FDI best explains Cemex's FDI? I believe that Internalization theory best explains Cemex's FDI because Cemex has taken the initiative to enter into many countries and instead of licensing; they bought domestic cement businesses and have grown into a worldwide powerhouse. According to the textbook, internalization theory explains why firms often prefer foreign direct investment over licensing as a strategy for entering foreign ma rkets (Hill 2009).With the advanced technology that Cemex uses, so licensing would not be the greatest venue for the company to take In order to protect It's â€Å"technological know-how' (Hill 2009). b. What Is the value that Cemex brings to the host economy? Can you see any potential drawbacks of inward investment by Cemex in an economy? Cemex is the third largest cement company in the world, and a powerhouse in Mexico where it controls 60 percent of the market. Cemex is highly focused on efficient manufacturing and customer service. Distributors are rewarded for their sales, as are users.The primary benefit Cemex brings to host countries Involves these competltlve advantages. Cemex acquires companies and then transfers technological, management, and marketing know-how to the new units. Improving their performance. The company has brought several acquired companies back to full production, increasing employment opportunities in the host country as well. c. Cemex has a strong pref erence for acquisitions over greenfield ventures as an entry mode. Why? Cemex has successfully acquired established cement makers in many countries.By acquiring companies rather than establishing them from the ground up, Cemex can avoid some of the delays that could occur in the start-up phase, while t the same time, capitalize on the benefits of an established market presence. Acquiring other businesses is effective because the host economy already knows the demographics and the market. Cemex would be able to make the business better with their technology and research. A Greenfield venture would be risky and not cost effective. d. Why is majority control so important to Cemex?Majority control is important to Cemex because of the ability to Implement its policy of transferring resources. When It does not have majority control It may not be able to transfer its own managing resources to newly acquired companies. Also, Cemex ight want to take advantage of differences in factor costs a cross countries, so it will be allowed to import parts from other places to reduce costs. References Hill, C. W. L. , Richardson, T. , ; McKaig, T. (2009). Global business today. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.BUSN 427 WEEK 3 Case study By Jihadmalley Mexico's largest cement manufacturer, Cemex, has become a global powerhouse in the cement and construction industry. It currently controls 60 percent of the cement industry in Mexico (Hill 2009). Cemex's success is a result of a combination of acquiring and buying out competitors worldwide in order to expand. a. Which hat internalization theory best explains Cemex's FDI because Cemex has taken the avenue for the company to take in order to protect it's â€Å"technological know-how' (Hill 2009). . What is the value that Cemex brings to the host economy? Can you see any are users. The primary benefit Cemex brings to host countries involves these competitive advantages. Cemex acquires companies and then transfers technological, management, and marketing know-how to the new units, improving Majority control is important to Cemex because of the ability to implement its policy of transferring resources. When it does not have majority control it may not be able

Arête (‘Virtue’) Theme in Homer’s Iliad Essay

Why was arà ªte (‘virtue’) an important theme in Homer’s Iliad? Select two characters with which to make your points. Virtue or arà ªte was an important quality in Homeric society and one which features very heavily in the Iliad. Arà ªte is achieved by one’s actions, generally in battle and is a combination of qualities such as courage, honour (‘time’) and sacrifice.([good] Homeric heroes possessed these qualities and they were recognised by the audience of the epics.( Outwardly, the heroes of the Iliad and the ones who possess arà ªte in the greatest quantities are Achilles and Hector, equal heroes on each side of the Trojan war. In equal measure, although slightly less predominantly, is the arà ªte displayed by Nestor and Priam, King of Troy.( Achilles was born to an immortal goddess and his fate determined that his was to be a short, albeit glorious life. He had been warned that the war in Troy would spell his doom; however, seeking glory and honour the mighty Achilles went to war and was a force to be reckoned with. His honour is exhibited best by two main instances in this poem: the first, in regards to the war itself. [I think that you are confusing ‘honour/time’ with ‘arete’ ] Achilles had been offended by Agamemnon who had taken Achilles’ prize (the slave-girl, Briseis) from him; this had offended Achilles because, in a sense, by taking Briseis Agamemnon had also taken [change to ‘insulted’] his honour.([good] In retaliation for this attack on his honour, Achilles refused to rejoin the war for the Greek army. [you could indicate the extent of Achilles’ anger by referring to ‘Iliad’1.407-412 where he begs his mother to ask Zeus to help the Trojans against the Greeks because of Agamemnon’s actions] However, when Achilles saw that the Trojans were gaining headway in the war and gaining ground, he felt that a suitable substitute would be to allow his comrade, Patroclus to don his armour and rejoin the fight to give the Greeks the moral boost they desperately needed and also as an attempt to intimidate the Trojan army.( During the course of the battle which ensued, as a result of Patroclus imitating Achilles, Patroclus is killed by Hector, hero of Troy. When Achilles hears that his beloved comrade and friend has perished at the hands of Hector, he rejoins the fight and in his rage kills Trojans indiscriminately and mercilessly including the Trojan hero, Hector. Achilles mourns for his friend and believes it is important that he receive the proper funeral rights [spelling ‘rites’]. The funeral rights [‘rites’] are an important part of Greek and Homeric culture and it is important that those who are killed, particularly in battle, are accorded the proper rights [‘rites’] to enable them to enter the world of Hades.(The funeral pyre and rights [‘rites’] are important not merely for religious reasons but they also ensured that the hero who has perished is honoured accordingly. Achilles shows that he is respectful and honourable by ensuring that Patroclus receives the rights and respect that he deserves as a hero. Achilles also displays his greatness for a second time in a very gracious manner when Priam, King of Troy comes to his tent to bargain for the return of the body of his beloved son Hector, whom Achilles has killed in battle. Priam comes to bargain for the body of his son in order to ensure he receives the appropriate funeral rights [‘rites’] and therefore, receive the honour he deserves as a hero. By bargaining for the body of Hector using gifts of â€Å"gold, goblets and linens†, Priam is ensuring that Achilles is not robbed of his prize and, therefore, his honour.([true because the hero’s image and status in the eyes of everyone was of the utmost importance] Priam strikes close to Achilles’ heart by bargaining for Hector’s body to ensure it is accorded the funeral rights [‘rites’], especially so close after the death of Patroclus. Priam acknowledges that Achilles is a strong and brave man and Achilles in turn acknowledges the bravery of the King. Achilles, however, as well as displaying greatness, bravery and hospitality is also an angry man, so angry in fact that after he had killed Hector he had taken his body and dragged it round the funeral mound of Patroclus. [Yes, he was doing this from intense anger but his anger was really directed at himself; he was trying to expiate his own feelings of guilt over the death of Patroclus] Priam is a proud man and rightly so. He is the ruler of Troy and has led his kingdom to victory in many battles and has many sons who have fought in these wars and are brave warriors, none more so than Hector, breaker of horses. Despite his pride Priam also displays a very humble nature and it is this quality that takes him to Achilles to bargain for the body of his beloved son, Hector. Priam is visited by a divine messenger who promises that he will be protected if he is to go to the Achaeans. Priam believes in the gods and believes that what the gods have said will be done. He is a faithful and religious man and has provided many sacrifices to the gods, particularly to the god Apollo who favours the Trojans. Priam takes the advice of the messenger and gathers items with which he can bargain for Hector. This example is a symbol of the arà ªte which is possessed by Priam. This is further shown when Priam goes to the tent of Achilles and instead of speaking to him as one would an enemy, Priam converses with Achilles with respect and dignity and almost as one would speak to a son. Priam even goes so far as to describe what he is going through to what Achilles’ own father would experience should Achilles perish. This experience shows Priam’s qualities at their very best.[I agree that this scene shows both men at their very best but ‘arete’ is not one of those qualities on show here; more like humility and courage on the part of Priam and maturity and compassion on the part of Achilles ] These two men are both respected in their own circles and are both extremely honourable men in their own ways, Achilles as a brave warrior and Priam as a noble and righteous King. They are each individually respected because of the qualities they exhibit and by, not only, how they treat other people but by how they behave when faced with difficult situations. Priam displays great courage by going to the tent of Achilles and is faced with the possibility that Achilles could kill him.( It is a testament to how much Priam loves his son and the strength of his religious views that he braves this journey to ensure Hector receives his funeral rights [‘rites’]. We can also see from this encounter the qualities of Achilles. Rather than  treating Priam like his enemy he treats Priam simply like a human being. â€Å"Achilles appears to go beyond the conventional idea of friend and enemy seeing Priam and himself simply as fellow human beings living in the same world of sorrows b estowed by the gods.† (Homer and the Greek dark age, page 61).

Anti-terror laws in India

Anti-terror laws in India History of anti-terror laws in India Terrorism has immensely affected India. The reasons for terrorism in India may vary vastly from religious to geographical to caste to history. The Indian Supreme Court took a note of it in Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab[1], where it observed that the country has been in the firm grip of spiraling terrorist violence and is caught between deadly pangs of disruptive activities. Apart from many skirmishes in various parts of the country, there were countless serious and horrendous events engulfing many cities with blood-bath, firing, looting, mad killing even without sparing women and children and reducing those areas into a graveyard, which brutal atrocities have rocked and shocked the whole nation Deplorably, determined youths lured by hard-core criminals and underground extremists and attracted by the ideology of terrorism are indulging in committing serious crimes against the humanity. Anti-terrorism laws in India have always been a subject of m uch controversy. One of the arguments is that these laws stand in the way of fundamental rights of citizens guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution. The anti-terrorist laws have been enacted before by the legislature and upheld by the judiciary though not without reluctance. The intention was to enact these statutes and bring them in force till the situation improves. The intention was not to make these drastic measures a permanent feature of law of the land. But because of continuing terrorist activities, the statutes have been reintroduced with requisite modifications. At present, the legislations in force to check terrorism in India are the National Security Act, 1980 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. There have been other anti-terrorism laws in force in this country a different points in time. The first law made in independent India to deal with terrorism and terrorist activities that came into force on 30 Dec 1967 was The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Ac t 1967. After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the world’s outlook towards the terrorist and terrorist organization has changed the laws have become much more stringent to curb such activities. The Indian outlook also changed specially after the 13 December attack on the Indian parliament which is seen as a symbol of our democracy then it became necessary to enforce a law which would be more stringent so that the terrorist cannot go Scot free because after the lapse of TADA in 1995 following the wide spread complaint that it was being abused there was no law which could be used as a weapon against the rising terrorist activities in India. Prevention Of Terrorist Activities Act, 2002 In 2002 March session of the Indian parliament the Prevention Of Terrorist Activities (POTA) Act was introduced and it had widespread opposition not even in the Indian parliament but throughout India especially with the human rights organization because they thought that the act violate d most of the fundamental rights provided in the Indian constitution. The protagonists of the Act have, however, hailed the legislation on the ground that it has been effective in ensuring the speedy trial of those accused of indulging in or abetting terrorism. POTA is useful in stemming â€Å"state-sponsored cross-border terrorism†, as envisaged by the Home Minister L.K. Advani. The Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA), was seen as a controversial piece of legislation ever since it was conceived as a weapon against terrorism. Human rights groups as well as opposition parties have expressed strong reservations against the move, which they say violates citizens’ fundamental rights.

Please answer the four questions about marketing Research Paper

Please answer the four questions about marketing - Research Paper Example Thirdly, each of the exchanging parties has to exude confidence in the value of the items exchanged. For instance, when purchasing a vehicle, the customer has to have confidence that the vehicle would perform beyond their expectations and offer the required utility. Lastly, r both parties have to meet the high expectations as a way to build trust in the transaction, in addition to making the marketing activity successful. A recent marketing exchange that I participated recently was purchasing a mobile phone recently. In the transaction, I had to visit a local distributor dealing in some of the leading phone brands, which actualized the first requirement of a marketing exchange; two parties have to be involved in the exchange. Secondly, I was attracted to the mobile phone due to its enhanced functionality, which promised to be of much value. In this case, I was confident that the phone could satisfy my needs while the distributor would be satisfied by having a piece of his stocks sold at a profit. Thirdly, I was very confident that after reviewing the phone and listening to earlier users, the phone could deliver more value to exceed my satisfaction as I had been disappointed by some earlier models. Lastly, I had to bargain to get the best possible price for the best product, while we finally settled on the last price with each of us meeting and exceeding the expectations. As a result, we established a strong buyer-seller relationship that would be considered for another transaction in the future. Q.2 In strategic planning, an organization sets its mission, goals and a corporate strategy that guides in all its operations until establishment of a sound marketing plan to seal transactions. As such, Pride & Ferrell (2012) detailed the important components to be considered in strategic planning. The first step involves identification of the organization’s strengths,

Walmart Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Walmart - Case Study Example With the domestic location of its stores, Wal-Mart growth was increasing very slowly but later on they tried to gain from the international opportunities. Wal-Mart became a figure of free enterprise that had lost organization (Wal-Mart Stores 14). With the analysis of the influential five forces that model an industry, Wal-Mart’s growth and development over the years can be well elaborated. During 20th century, general retail has been alive. It was not that of a good system for the customers because they were not allowed to take any merchandise from the shelves. Later on, Discount retail came to the market and it encouraged, little charge, presented less service, credit, and they returned some advantages to the customers. This displayed how catchy the corporation had developed to be. Consumers displayed readiness in buying the brands from Wal-Mart where they felt comfortable with the â€Å"one-stop shopping† where an extensive collection of commodities were located in one place. This was to reduce the time they spent in shopping. In rivalry, a firm can decide to alter the prices to get an advantage, or either improves manufactured goods differentiation (Wal-Mart Stores 15). Threat of substitutes product means the product found within the companies. A close substitute product will limit the chance of Wal-Mart to raise its prices. But Wal-Mart had a fairer price set on their merchandise, which made a great difference in the market compared to other firms (Wal-Mart Stores 17). Their main lead came from the organization and management style, IT, in store operations. They did set low prices in their goods which gave them an upper advantage in the market; this was due to aggressive use of technology in their retail operations. Its competitors tried to respond to Wal-Mart’s advantage in logistics and EDI by making modest cooperative changes by bringing into play the use of the internet and

Reading response paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reading response paper - Essay Example Indeed, it acts as effective weapon of sexism, especially for women because they live in men dominant society where their personal desires play secondary role to the wider expectation from family and social institutions like marriage. Lesbians and even gays are not accepted and treated with overt and covert violence. Homophobia develops because their preferred sexual identity would make them social outcast and they would be deprived of family, financial aid, safety, community and also stripped of credibility! Most interestingly, as Pharr says, if women even ask for the right to equality vis-a-vis employment, wages, social status, they are liable to be treated as lesbians! Feminism for them is equivalent to man-hater and therefore not acceptable within the broader framework of conservative society. Women surrender their lesbian sexuality out fear and it is time that power and control of social fabric become more equitable. The reforms in the social institution of society must focus on the root cause and not the peripheral issues of women. (words:259) ‘Cat’ by Julie Blackwomon has touched the awareness of burgeoning sexuality amongst girls when they enter their teens. In fact, author has shown that gender differentiation and sexuality among children does not rear its dirty head till parental control become more emphatic and visible. In this case, the protagonist, ‘Cat’ is confused as to why her mother does not want her to play with neighborhood boys. Her insistence to befriend girls of her age, especially one like ‘Sheila’ makes Cat more rebellious. Her adolescence becomes a cause of shame as it would bring in physical changes that would make her gender differences more visible and may alter her relations with her friends who are boys. The author has shown how sexual awareness could challenge social norms imposed by dominant male bastion. The innocent love between two girlfriends gradually turns into sexual awareness leading to lesbian behavior. Indeed, it is very important aspect of our conservative society as it disapproves friendship between genders in adolescents. The restraining environment and parental control may lead girls to experiment their sexuality with themselves as was the case with Cat and Sheila. If children are not forced to segregate in their teens because of the gender, the need to experiment deviant sexual behavior could be averted or atleast minimized. It is important for parents to become more open in their explanation of sex and empower children with information. It would help children to confide their fears and their doubts with their parent rather than explore sexuality in secret and develop preferences which otherwise could have been avoided. (words: 262) ‘Older women: The realities’ by OWL or Older Women League is highly relevant article because it has shown that sacrifices made by women as carers within family are not appreciated by society, especially when they become old. It reveals that in America, women above the age of 65 and above live six years longer than men and mostly alone. Despite spending most of their life in caring for other, they are relatively poor in their old age and live in poverty, unable to support their physical and medical expenses. Due to their family constraints they have lower or no pension, insufficient Medicare and most importantly low social security because they were unable to pay for it during their short employment period. The

The Temple of Olympian Zeus Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Temple of Olympian Zeus - Article Example The Temple of Olympian Zeus is a testament to the flourishing effects of classical humanities on our modern culture. The Temple of Olympian Zeus displays classical, as well as Hellenistic, culture. In terms of humanities, Philosophy & Literature of the western culture deal with Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece & Rome. The architecture of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Athens, Greece) reflects the values and aesthetics of the culture that created it. In terms of the philosophical aspect of classical humanities, the study includes the concept of the antiquities. The classical era dates from 600 BC to 600 AD. The classical culture is described as the group which included a majority of the highest class of citizens. The humanities study focused on the â€Å"Philo’s Rule† (strike the divine coin again). Classical Philosophy includes the intellectual, as well as aesthetic, admiration of the best around the world. Specifically, the temple is made from Doric style limestone cre ations. The remaining shreds of evidence of the hugeness of the Zeus which focused on the temple are the towering columns. The towering columns still remain today as testimony to the unforgettable influence of the Classical architecture on the prior Greek society. Aristotle mentioned that the Classical Period included the king’s forcible use of the citizens to build the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The people’s focus on creating the architectural masterpiece kept them busy. Being occupied with the temple construction, citizens did not have time to stage rallies and attacks on the king during the classical period. In terms of the literary aspect of classical humanities, Edward Coplestone emphasized that Classical literature centers on learning, which includes the sending of data to the human mind. Classical literature persuades the current generation is encouraged to emulate the best of the classical period. The human being must prioritize a high sense of honor. Likewise, t he classical person enjoined to refute death for good reason. Lastly, classical literature empowers the average person to devote one’s life to the welfare of the Greek community. During the latter part of the temple’s construction, some of the columns were made from the prior low-quality building materials to the premium quality Pentelic marble. In addition, the later columns were made using the Corinthian architecture style. The new style replaced the prior Doric architectural designs. The architectural design includes several towering columns that resemble those supporting the Parthenon. The Parthenon is located in Athens, Greece as well. Likewise, the Parthenon was constructed during the Classical humanities period, 488 B.C. to 480 B.C. Both the Parthenon and the Temple of Olympian Zeus included the construction architectural column types (small and big cella architectural types). During the Classical humanities period, the architectures prioritized the competitive creation of grand, beautiful, and technically ingenious works of architectural art. On the side of the Parthenon, the architectural foundation of the temple was made out of the limestone and marble.

IDENTITY paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IDENTITY paper - Essay Example The word agency in this context refers that 'agency is directly tied to social structures' in so far as they interact and produce society together. Obviously, Agents have complete knowledge of their society and this mutual information that therein produces structures. The everyday ordinary life of an agent leads is simply a part of reproduction in society. The important thing is here that Levine theory primary refers "Ontologiclal" security in the trust. In contrast, Agency, apart from reproduction of society can also lead to the transformation of society. According to Levine a good way to explain this concept is "reflexive monitoring of actions". Reflexive monitoring looks at the skill to look at actions to estimate their effectiveness in achieving their aims. However, if agents can replicate structure through action, they can also transform it. However, according to Levine "in terms of identity formation and maintenance, two key issues pertain to (a) the relevance of the concepts of structure and agency for understanding identity, and (b) the extent to which identity is conceptualized as having an "inner" versus "outer" origin. The first issue involves assumptions regarding individual causality, or personal responsibility; the sociological equivalent of which lies in the notions of reflexivity and agency. It is quite true that this issue has long been ignored in sociology, but as noted, the issue is currently being discussed by late modernists in terms of the structure-agency debate (i.e., how much individuals exercise control independent of social structure versus how much social structure determines individual behavior". (Levine, 2002, pg, 54+) Structural Influence on Identity (A) Gender Base Structural Influence on Identity The benefits of receiving ample parental support and, conversely, the costs of receiving poor parental support during childhood may be the most powerful within "same-sex parent-child dyads". The important point is to note here is that the daughter-mother relationship is central in most women's lives. Certianly, this relationship between mother and daughter is a key influence in the identity formation and the long-term psychosocial adjustment of daughter. Similarly, the son-father relationship has significant influence on the development psychosocial, morality, behaviour and so on. Furthermore, the relationship between father and son influences everything in a man's life, in what he sees himself and in what way he sees all other people. Thus, the amount of support a child receives within this same-sex dyad would be a important determinant of psychosocial and moral values development an individual's life course. "When taken together, this review suggests that although receiving early parental support may be an important predictor of mental and physical health outcomes in later life, the impact of early parental support can be fully appreciated only by identifying the social structural factors that are most closely associated with receiving poor support in early life and understanding how associations between levels of support received during childhood. However, moral and behavior status vary according to following factors. 1. Does the amount of early parental support reported vary by gender of the parent, gender of the child, or racial or socioeconomic status 2. Is the moral of women and men differentially

Energy Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Energy Policy - Essay Example In response to reduce the pollution caused by these gases several attempt have been put in place yet the pollution is on the increase. Therefore, this paper will seek explore the available alternatives to help in the decision and identified the most feasible in all the aspects economically, socially, and politically (Meridian Corp, 1989). In order to address these challenges effectively there are various ways that have been proposed to be adopted to help in the implementation process. They include among others emission standards for vehicles, cap and trade and tort laws. The emission standards for vehicles for regulate the kind of gases that are produces by the vehicles this help to remove the unworthy vehicles that transmit fumes in the air that cause difficulty in breathing hence become life hazard to human beings in the. The caps and trade are mostly used in to control sulphuric emissions from the power plant. The emission of gases in the air contributes much to the depletion of the ozone layer that reflects the radiation from the sun, hence, preventing the scorching effects from the sun (Weil, 1991). The other form is tort law that regulates energy developers like hydrofracking operation contaminating the stream. The affluent disposed in the water systems are regulated by the law in that the waste must be treated before they are drained into the nearby rivers this help to prevent the killing of the microorganism in the water and human being that depend on the stream for domestic purposes. The best way to deal with energy externalities such as smog is to use market-based strategies like trade cap and trade and emission taxes. When the taxes are charged on the pollution caused by the environment, very many people would not like to incur the cost and will reduce the emission in the air. This method treats the pollutant equally. The more one pollutes the environment, the more he

London Borough of Hackney Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

London Borough of Hackney - Case Study Example It is anticipated that this move will greatly catalyse economic development in Hackney. Generally, Hackney has experienced a big transformation, hence leading to a removal of some of the negative stereotypes attributed to the city. It has in the recent past become a centre of attraction for a number of creative industries. Hackney has seen its GCSE grades increase by an estimated 50 per cent increase in the recent past. The emergence of numerous specialist schools has raised prospects in the borough's education. The borough has in the past lacked specialists in various fields due to its economic hardships. However, the borough continues to have a high number of adult without education. Hope therefore lies in the new upcoming generation. Moreover, the existing education schemes in the borough have not done much in increasing employment opportunities. Consequently, the number of people with appropriate skills that can offer them gainful employment is very low. This has led to a very low income flowing into the borough from other parts of England. On the other hand, there is a lot of hope for the borough following the emerging trend of a growing number of qualified professionals, especially those of level 4. Moreover, the recent infrastructure development is increasingly attracting many firms into the borough. This greatly increases prospects of economic development in Hackney. However, Hackney still has many challenges ahead in its endeavour to attain economic power. It is going to be an uphill task to enlighten the Hackney community on the importance of education. Moreover, the current situation does not inspire students into pursuing higher education. Employment Hackney has over the years suffered some of the highest rates of unemployment in England. However, in the recent past, the borough is experiencing an improvement in the rates of employment. A great deal of Hackney's potential comes from its closeness to the City. This will greatly influence the borough's economic growth, especially with the construction of a link between the borough and the city. This will in turn create numerous employment opportunities for the borough. The growing presence of the service sector in the area will help in the creation of employment opportunities for the locals. However, Hackney borough continues to experience high levels of economic inactivity and unemployment. This can be attributed to the borough's limited opportunities. Moreover there is a high rate of migration of businesses and labour to other parts of England from Hackney. Moreover, there is a huge disparity between the north and the south in the borough. On the other hand, the growing cultural industry in Hackney borough presents it with a lot of opportunities. It will greatly improve the borough's tourism sector and, by extension, create employment opportunities. Additionally, the current development programs in the borough will go a long way in improving economic development in Hackney (NERC, 2006). For instance, the developments aimed at improving accessibility will connect the borough with its neighbours, particularly the city. This will enable a free flow of resources from the city or other parts to the borough. The new investments

Adolescents and Cyberspace Essay Example for Free

Adolescents and Cyberspace Essay Abstract The Internet has a great deal of benefit in our lives. It is the window that opens onto the world and shows us everything that is happening around us. Although it is meant to help and support our needs, enrich our social lives and expand our civic connections, it has not been going so far in this way. A lot of research is showing that the heavy use of cyberspace is isolating people form the world around them. Knowing that adolescents are spending a great deal of their time in cyberspace, this article will examine the things they miss when they are left to grow up in it. Leaving Adolescents Grow Up in Cyberspace The question on whether leaving adolescents grow up in cyberspace is beneficial or not has long been controversial. When a lot agree that cyberspace has made their life easier, many others believe the opposite. Everything has side effects, which might have great impact on its user if not handled properly. It seems that adolescents, out of all other people, all missing a lot when their parents are letting them grow up in cyberspace. Everything in this advanced world is possible these days, thats why we find students who study on the Internet in hybrid or online courses. Traditionally, learning has been assumed to take place in a classroom or face-to-face environment where the instructor and students are physically together, but not all students learn the same way and therefore the traditional approach is not ideal for all students (Young, 2007). This is true, but a lot of students are finding it difficult to cope with the new and modern way of learning, where the instructor lectures them online. Some students say: -Instructor feedback tend to be slow -I didnt feel as part of the class -You cant verbalize your thoughts and let others hear your ideas -Too many technical problems -Unreliable Internet connections from my Internet service provider -You also lose the personal teacher student relationship -No way to read body language -With on-line classes, it is hard to be able to get the whole personal thing -You dont get to see the professor or class members face-to-face -It takes more time to e-mail or post a question on the discussion board and wait for a response (Students Positive and Negative Experience in Hybrid and Online Classes, 2007, page). Moreover, Irvine(2004) states: Assignments are dispersed online. Students are much more likely to do research online than use a library. And even class handouts have gone the way of the Web, posted on electronic bulletin boards for downloading after class(p.31A). So, if the Internet connection went off, students wouldnt be able to continue their work. When the computer server in Emory University went down for a few hours one evening, a lot of people were at loose ends, they couldnt to their homework (Sridharan, 2004). This is how adolescents are missing the more active and efficient way of learning because of cyberspace, thus suffering from a lot of educational and studying problems they are better off without. Looking at the world today would make us realize how much we miss security. And since adolescents are widely using cyberspace, they are the most likely to get affected by what it generates. A lot of teenagers have no problem in making friends, of whom theyve never seen. In fact, they see that it is one of the purposes of using the Internet. But they never realize how dangerous it could be to meet someone you havent actually seen. The Internet allows people to communicate with people who are different from them, people in another country or kids at school they dont talk to. This access of information is so easy, but of course there is a dark side to having such broad access: it gives identity thieves and sexual predators a new place to look for victims (Stern, 2004). Also, the Internet has shaped the way adolescents work, live, and relax. It has even created new ways for them to express themselves which might be liberating and fun but can also become a forum for of pettiness and criminal exploitation (Irvine, 2004). Furthermore, Ian and Walder (2005) say: As we have become dependent on the Internet, as the network of networks, so we have become vulnerable to criminal and terrorist networks that use cyberspace as a means to undermine and circumvent state control. Protecting against those that wish to attack  the integrity, confidentiality and availability of systems and data they process, is primarily an issue of implementing appropriate security measures. (page) The main purpose for this worry is because adolescents are unaware of what criminals might do to take advantage of people who want to be friendly, allowing them to threaten the countrys and societys safety. In this way letting them spend too much time in cyberspace is making them loose a lot of security which puts them in dangerous problems later on. We must not forget the most important consequence of growing up in cyberspace: lack of social life and relationships. Sitting in front of the monitor for several continuous hours, without even noticing how time flies by quickly, makes us never want to get off the chair. As many adolescents are living in virtual communities, their only concern is making friends online. Ten years ago, social theorists were suggesting that the Internet would revolutionize social relationships (Carter Denise M., 2004). Now, the Internet has come a far distance that kids and teens cant live without it; people can find a job without leaving their desks, shop online without going to the mall and communicate with others without meeting face-to-face by e-mails, online chat rooms and instant messages. So, all the activities that were done with family and friends, are being done alone on the Internet. As a result, such activities have proved to be more isolating than watching television, which friends and family often do in groups, and the time spent with them is decreasing a lot in the presence of the Web. In addition, teens are preferring not to go out for walks or hang out with friends because they are busy in their own larger world. Know it or not, youngsters who are allowing time online to replace face-to-face interaction are being isolated from the real world and are being trapped in the virtual world (Staples, 2004). Seemingly, Teenagers who spend much of their lives hunched over computer screens miss the socializing, the real world experience that would allow them to leave adolescence behind and grow into adulthood. These vital experiences, like much else, are simply not available in a virtual form (Staples, 2004, p.A29). All of this is breaking the social relationships and is bringing up adults that dont know how to deal with others because they never had the chance to sit and talk face-to-face. A lot of people fear of not being able to go with the flow; who ever doesnt have access to cyberspace doesnt have a life. But this isnt proved to be completely true since its not being used in the best and efficient way. Of course its the parents job to lead them to the right track; they should always keep them under high supervision. To be more specific, parents should encourage them to have a real life, make real friends, go to real places and spend quality time with family. This doesnt mean getting rid of this great technology but not letting it control them. Indeed, adolescents are missing a lot of the real world and its content, and arent aware of the circumstances and the costs of growing up in cyberspace. References Carter Denise, M.(2004, December).Living in Virtual Communities: Making Friends Online.Journal of Urban Technology 11(3), 109-125.Retrieved March 19, 2008, from EBSCO Host database. El Mansour, B. Mupinga, D.M.(2007, March).Students Positive and Negative Experiences in Hybrid and Online Classes.College Student Journal 41(1), 242-248.Retrieved March 19, 2008, from EBSCO Host database. Ian Walder.(2005, April).Crime and Security in Cyberspace.Cambridge Review of International Affairs 11(3), 109-125.Retrieved March 19, 2008, from EBSCO Host database. Irvine, M.(2004, December 5).Youths Adopt, Drive Technology Advances.Fort Worth Star-Telegram, p.31A. Staples, B.(2004, May 29).What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up in Cyberspace.New York Times, p.A24.

Health Insurance and Medicare Essay Example for Free

Health Insurance and Medicare Essay I. Introduction The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law on March 23, 2010 by President Barack Obama. Along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA), it represents the momentous transformation of the U.S. health care system. Its main goal is to decrease the amount of uninsured citizens as well as to reduce the overall costs of health care. It is a vastly complex reform that will affect many people in aspects of their health care, costs, and the country. There are many opinions about how this reform will affect the nation, some saying it will make us better off, others saying we will be worse off, and those who do not think it will make a difference. But regardless of these opinions, what the majority does agree on is that these laws may be difficult to understand and that many are not even aware of these changes. There are many problems that the health care industry is facing. The cost of health care may arguably be the most important factor that people are concerned about. Many think that health care policies and premiums are too expensive. Coupled with the fact that our population is aging, meaning that there will be more elder people with more health problems, health care costs are rapidly growing and take up a huge chunk of the federal budget. There are also many loopholes within the current health care system. Individuals who are looking to buy insurance can be denied based on their pre-existing conditions. Some insurance policies even have a lifetime limit on benefits. What all these examples basically sum up is that the people who are in need of health care the most are those who are also the most unlikely to be insured, or are under insured. In an attempt to address these issues, the PPACA and Reconciliation Act were established. The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act was enacted to amend the PPACA. It is divided into two titles, one addressing the health reform and the other addressing student loan reform. It makes changes to some parts of the PPACA. That is why many people commonly refer to the overall health reform as just the PPACA. The most noted change this brings  is that it requires almost all citizens to have health care insurance, or to pay a penalty. Some examples and cases regarding this issue will be discussed later on. The PPACA also considerably expands public insurance as well as funds private insurance coverage. It will close loopholes such as setting life time limits as well as making it illegal to reject coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. In terms of affordability, the PPACA will expand Medicaid to cover low-income families and individuals across the nation. It also aims to cut down and reconstruct Medicare spending, which will be the main focus of this paper. II. The Impacts of the PPACA and HCERA on Medicare and Health Physicians The PPACA is made up of 10 titles. I will be discussing selected provisions in Titles II, III, IV, and V regarding Medicare. These include program modifications and payment to Medicare’s fee-for-service program, the Medicare Advantage, prescription drug programs, Medicare’s payment process, changes to address, waste, fraud, and abuse, and other miscellaneous Medicare changes. As for the HCERA, the first title has provisions detailing health care and revenues. Subtitle B of Title I involves provisions that change provisions PPACA relevant to those listed above (Medicare Advantage, fee-for-service, and prescription drug programs). Subtitle D has provisions regarding decreasing fraud, abuse, and waste in Medicare. Subtitle E discuses revenue related provisions such as a provision that changes Medicare tax provision in PPACA. A. Impacts on Medicare According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the provisions in PPACA as amended by the HCERA will reduce direct spending by an estimated $390 billion (CRS, 2010). The provisions that are predicted to produce the largest savings include the following: (1) developing an Independent Payment Advisory Board to create changes in Medicare payment rates is presumed to save about $16 billion (2) decreasing Medicare payments to hospitals that aid a vast number of low-income patients, is expected to reduce expenditures by an estimated $22 billion (3) permanent deductions to Medicare’s fee-for-service payment rates (4) changing the high-income adjustment for Part B premiums, and (5) making maximum payment rates in Medicare Advantage closer to spending in fee-for-service Medicare. However, it is critical to  note that these are just estimates. Medicare is made up of four parts that are each accountable for paying for various benefits, dependent on different eligibility criteria. Under traditional Medicare, Part A and Part B services are usually paid by a fee-for-service basis (services supplied to a patient is reimbursed through a separate payment). Part A supplies coverage for skilled nursing facility (SNF) services, inpatient hospital services, hospice care, and home health care, which are subject to some limitations. Provisions that reduce Part A spending make up a large part of the savings related to this legislation through either payment changes or constraining payment updates. PPACA will alter Medicare’s payment updates to Part A hospitals to account for cost savings, which will significantly reduce Medicare spending in the next 10 years. Under PPACA (Title III Subtitle A Section 3001), beginning for discharges on October 1, 2012 hospitals will acquire value-based incentive payments from Medicare. The first year of the value based purchasing (VBP) program will aim at collecting data and assessing performance. Starting in 2013, adjustments to hospital payments will be made based on performance by the VBP program. There will also be VBP standards established (i.e. levels of improvement and accomplishments), as well as a method for assessing how hospitals perform. Hospitals with the highest score will obtain the biggest VBP payments. Those that meet or go beyond the standards are able to receive an increased DRG payment for each discharge within the year. However, to provide for these VBP incentive payments the DRG payments will be reduced by a certain percentage: 1.0% in 2013; 1.25% in 2014; 1.5% in 2015; 1.75% in 2016; and 2.0% in 2017. An alternate choice to receive covered benefits would be Medicare Advantage (MA). Private health plans are paid a per person amount to supply all Medicare-covered benefits to those who enroll in the plan under MA. The payments made to MA plans are decided by comparing the maximum amount Medicare will pay for benefits with a plan’s cost of providing those required benefits. If the plan’s cost is below the maximum, then it is paid  the cost plus a rebate equal to 75% of the difference to the maximum. But if the plan’s cost is above the maximum, then it is paid and must also charge the enrollee the difference between the cost and the maximum. PPACA modifies how the maximum payment is decided. Beginning in 2012, it will implement benchmarks (maximum amount Medicare will pay for benefits) calculated as a percentage of per capita FFS Medicare spending. It will also increase benchmarks depending on the quality of the plan. Those with a high quality rating will get an increase in their benchmark while new plans or those with lesser enrollments may also qualify to get an increase. PPACA will also vary the plan rebates based on quality with new rebates set from 50% to 70%. In regards to changes affecting Medicare’s prescription drug benefits, the health reform makes a few changes to the Medicare Part D program. PPACA increases the premiums held by higher income enrollees. The income standards are set to be at the same manner and level as that in Part B. Beginning in 2011, those enrolled in Part D will have a 50% discount for drugs during the coverage gap. In extension, HCERA will supply a rebate of $250 to those who enter the gap in 2010. Hopefully this phases out the â€Å"donut hole† (coverage gap) by slowly lessening the cost-sharing and coverage gap for generic and brand name drugs. Medicare’s finances are operated through two trust funds, the Hospital Insurance (HI) and the Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) trust fund. The main provider of income to the HI fund, which pays for Medicare Part A, is the payroll taxes paid by employers and employees. Medicare Part B and D are funded by general revenues and monthly premiums. In addition to all the previous provisions addressing Medicare’s financial issues, there is another precautionary step being taken. The PPACA has a provision to establish an Independent Payment Advisory Board with the goal of decreasing Medicare spending. B. Impacts on Physicians The PPACA and HCERA make various changes to the Medicare program, which in turn affects physicians and how they practice. Some of these provisions have clear consequences, such as immediately changing physician reimbursement, while others have indirect influences on how physicians may practice in the  future by modifying the incentives to improve the delivery and quality of care. PPACA broadens the Medicare Physician Quality and Reporting Initiative (PQRI) incentive payments though 2014 and administers a penalty for those who fail to report quality measures starting in 2015. It also supplies for a further bonus to physicians who meet the requirements of an assessment program, such as the Maintenance of Certification Program, while penalizes the physicians who fail to meet those standards in the future. Under Section 3002 of Title III, Medicare claims data will be used to provide reports to physicians that measure resources used to provide care for Medicare beneficiaries. Under Section 3007 of Title III, the Secretary of HHS is obliged to create and administer a separate payment modifier to the Medicare physician fee schedule. This payment should be based on the relative cost and quality of the care provided by physicians. The quality of care should be assessed based on risk-adjusted measure of quality determined by the Secretary. Costs are also assessed based on measures determined by the Secretary. Risk factors such as ethnicity, demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, and health status should be taken into account. By January 1, 2012 these explicit measures of cost and quality, along with implementation dates of the adjusted payments should be published. III. Regulations Implementation With such significant changes and provisions being made, there should be a way to keep track of how each is being regulated and implemented. I will discuss the regulations, time limits, and effective dates on how each are being done so by year. The first changes of 2010 start with Medicare provider rates. This includes reductions in the annual market basket updates for hospital services. Currently, there have been productivity adjustments added to market basket update in 2012. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued these updates for varying provider types starting in August 2010. The  implementation of the Medicare Beneficiary drug rebate, which supplies a $250 rebate to those in the Part D coverage gap, started January 1, 2010. In May 2010, the CMS published a brochure containing information about the coverage gap in Medicare Part D. As of March 22, 2011, about 3.8 million people have received the $250 rebate (HHS, 2011). As for closing the Medicare drug coverage gap, on December 17, 2010 CMS sent a letter to pharmaceutical companies addressing guidelines to the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program. This program became effective on January 1, 2011. Moving onto provisions implemented in 2011, Medicare payments for primary care will provide a 10% bonus payment for services. It will also provide the same bonus to general surgeons working in areas with a shortage of health professionals. This is being implemented starting in January 1, 2011 through December 2015. As for the MA payment changes, they will restructure payment to private plans and prohibit higher cost-sharing requirements. This has been in effect since January 1, 2011. The CMS issued a notice to MA plans in April 2010 addressing the freeze in 2011 payment rates at 2010 levels. A Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board made up of 15 individuals to arrange proposals and recommendations to decrease the per capita rate of growth in spending if it exceeds targeted rates was planned to be established. On October 1, 2011, funding was made available and the first proposals are due January 15, 2014. In 2012, the second part of the MA plan payments, which reduce rebates paid and provide bonuses to high quality plans, went into effect on January 1, 2012. On February 28, 2012 the CMS sent out a letter to MA plans addressing the payment rates for 2012. Fraud and abuse prevention was also implemented on January 1, 2012. It establishes procedures for screening and reporting those who participate in Medicare. On March 23, 2011 CMS issued a notice addressing the fee that providers would have to pay to fund the screenings. Later on in the year, on October 1, 2012 Medicare value based purchasing was put into effect. This creates a program to pay hospitals based on their quality of performance. This coming year in 2013, there will be a few provisions to come into effect  starting off the new year. On January 1, 2013 the Medicare tax increase (increases the Medicare Part A tax rate on wages by 0.9% on incomes of $200,000), Medicare bundle payment pilot program (program to create and assess payments for certain services), and the latter part of the prescription drug coverage gap (reducing coinsurance) will be put into effect. As for 2014, the last of the Medicare provisions will be implemented. The Medicare Advantage plan loss ratios are mandated to be no less than 85%; this will begin at the start of the year on January 1, 2014. The second implementation for that year will be Medicare payments for hospital-acquired infections; it will decrease payments to those hospitals for their hospital-aquired conditions by 1% and this process will continue onto 2015. IV. Cases Challenging PPACA When the PPACA and HCERA were signed into law, many people opposed and sued claiming that the reform was unconstitutional for a number of reasons. The most controversial was the mandate that require most citizens to obtain health insurance coverage, and if failing to do so would have to pay a penalty in the form of an individual tax. Another debated provision was the expansion of the Medicaid program to cover even more individuals, such as those with low income. All of these separate cases were then merged into a single case, The National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 567 U.S. (2012). When ruled, it was a momentous Supreme Court decision in which the Court maintained Congress’s authority to enact the provisions of the Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act. In December 2011, it was announced that there would be a 6 hour oral argumentation heard by the Court over a time span of three days beginning on March 26, 2012 and ending on March 28, 2012 discussing varying debatable topics of these provisions. By a vote of 5 to 4, the Court maintained the Individual Mandate aspect of the PPACA as a binding exercise of Congress’s authority to lay and collect taxes. The critical characterization of this financial penalty as a tax is what passed the mandate as constitutional. Preceding this landmark case there were many previous hearings held, all  having similar conflicting opinions. The Eleventh Circuit was also dealing with arguments in relative cases challenging PPACA. While it was assumed that the Fourth Circuit, which had heard oral arguments before the Eleventh Circuit, would issue a decision on PPACA first, the Eleventh Circuit was actually the second to issue its opinion, on August 12, 2011. In Florida ex rel. Bondi v. U.S. Department of Health Human Services (2011) the plaintiffs of the case were two private individuals, the National Federation of Independent Business, and 26 individual states. The Eleventh Circuit then published a 300-plus page opinion finding by a 2:1 majority that the Individual Mandate (requiring health insurance coverage) is unconstitutional, and thus created a split of authority between the two Circuits. The Eleventh Circuit heard this appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, which saw the Individual Mandate to be an unconstitutional exercise of Congress’s authority. The district court also found that the Individual Mandate was not applicable to the rest of the PPACA, meaning that the whole act was invalid. The plaintiffs in the district court case also debated that the PPACA’s expansion of Medicaid was unconstitutional, but the district court granted the government judgment on that issue and the Eleventh Circuit agreed to that court’s decision. These two cases show how divided opinions can be and how difficult it was and is to pass a health reform law. Opinions are still divided, concerning many aspects such as the Medicaid expansion, the Commerce Clause, and the Necessary and Proper Clause. On the issue of Medicaid expansion, no one, single opinion had the support of the majority of the Justices. Also, on the issue of if the Individual Mandate was within the authority of Congress under the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause, again there was no single opinion that was supported by the majority of the Court. Despite all these controversies, and even though the act has passed, there are still those who are continuing to pursue litigation in order to repeal and defeat the PPACA. V. Conclusion Medicare spending has been increasing much more rapidly compared to the general economy, and this definitely raises concerns about Medicare’s  long-term sustainability. The provisions in the Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act were established to decrease Medicare program costs by about $390 billion over the following 10 years through modifications in payments to various providers, by leveling payment rates between fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and by boosting efficiencies of how health services are delivered and paid for. Overall, the PPACA and HCERA are momentous pieces of legislation that will restructure the future of the U.S. health care system. It is still unclear of how well these provisions have been implemented, with some still having yet to be so. The main concern is probably how well costs will be contained or reduced. With all of these new taxes, hopefully the reform will actually reduce the federal deficit over the next ten years that these provisions are being implemented. There is still much work to be done within the next few years, to see how this reform works out. Many people are glad that it has passed and support this reform as well as encourage it to be expanded, while others oppose the reform arguing that it creates too much government involvement in the issue. But since it has passed and is enacted in the present, people should make use of what is being provided. Some are not even aware of the changes in the health care industry and are oblivious to how they are being affected. That is why it is important to stay informed and make decisions, after all this is what directly affects your future. References CRS Analysis of CBO (March 20, 2010). Estimates of the effects of PPACA and the Reconciliation Act combined. Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved October 31, 2012 from: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11379/AmendReconProp.pdf Barrett, Paul M. (June 28, 2012). Supreme Court Supports Obamacare, Bolsters Obama. Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved November 3, 2012 from: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-28/supreme-court-supports-obamacare-and-bolsters-obama Congressional Budget Office (March 2009). An Analysis of Health Insurance Premiums Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Letter to the Honorable Evan Bayh. Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC. Retrieved November 3, 2012 from: http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=10781. Kaizer, J. (2010). Implementation Timeline. Health Reform Source. Retrieved November 5, 2012 from: http://healthreform.kff.org/timeline.aspx Hilgers, David W. (February 2012) Physicians post-PPACA: not going bust at the healthcare buffet. The Health Lawyer, Vol. 24. Retrieved November 4, 2012 from: http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publishing/health_lawyer/health_mo_premium_hl_healthlawyer_v24_2403 Pozgar, George D. (2009). Legal essentials of health care administration. Missisauga, Ontario: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Michael Brown. National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, Secretary of Health Human Services 567 U.S. (2012) No. 11-393 Argued March 26-28, 2012 – Decided June 28, 2012 Florida ex rel. Bondi v. U.S. Department of Health a Human Services, 780 F.Supp. 2d. 1256 (N.D. Fla. 2011), order clarified by 780 F.Supp. 2d. 1307. (N.D. Fla. 2011).

Simply Speaking Legal Positivism Philosophy Essay

Simply Speaking Legal Positivism Philosophy Essay Simply speaking legal positivism is synonymous with the positive norms as against the principles of natural law. Legal positivism is often contrasted with Natural law. Going by the natural law school of jurisprudence, most written laws must be or are usually informed by, or made to comport with, universal principles of morality, religion, and justice, such that if not considered fair, it loses the very basic premise for being termed law. For example, persons engaging in peaceful protest through civil disobedience often appeal to a higher natural law in denouncing societal practices that they find objectionable. Legal positivism acknowledges the existence and influence of non-legal norms as sources to consult in evaluating human behaviour, but they contend that these norms are only aspirational, for persons who contravene they suffer no immediate adverse consequences for doing so. By contrast, positivists emphasize that legal norms are binding and enforceable by the police power of the administration, where persons who disrupt the law may be made to face serious consequences which may include fine, custody, loss of property, may end up with death. Legal positivism is based on the ways in which laws have been created and does not demand justification for the content of law or a decision for or against the obedience to law. As such emphasis is mostly on the way laws have emerged over time through practicing, deciding or tolerating certain ways of creating a law. Positivism is based on the framework that issues of legal validity must be strictly separated from questions of morality. What is ought to be has nothing to do what the law actually is. Legal positivism finds it roots way back in ancient Christianity. It is believed that the Ten Commandments held sacred and pre-eminent values. When ancient Greeks intended for a new law to have permanent validity, they inscribed it in stone or wood and displayed it public for all to see. Prior to the American Revolution, English political thinkers like John Austin and Thomas Hobbes came up with the command theory of law. This philosophy model said that the only lawful establishments that the Courts should recognize are the commands of the sovereign. This was because only the Sovereign is entrusted with power over the military and police force. Three varied schools of thought emerge in discussion of legal positivism. 1. The Pedigree Thesis: The pedigree thesis asserts that legal validity is a function of certain common truths. Deriving profoundly from Jeremy Bentham, John Austin  [1]  contends that the major characteristic feature of a legal system is the presence of a sovereign who is habitually obeyed by most people living in the society, but not in the routine of observing any specific human superior. Austins assessment, a rule R is lawfully binding (that is, is a law) in a society S if and only if R is directed by the sovereign in S and is backed up with the danger of an approval. The severity of the threatened sanction is irrelevant; any general sovereign imperative supported by a threat of even the smallest harm is a law. For Austins command theory of law there is a need for the existence of identifiable sovereign in self-governing civilizations. In the United States of America, for instance, the final political power appears to belong to the common people, who pick leaders to represent their welfares. The chosen leaders have the authority to compel the behaviour but are regarded as servants of the people and not as repositories of independent power. The polling population, on the other hand, seems to be the source of the final political authority, yet it lacks the immediate power to coerce behaviour. Thus, in democracies like that of the United States, the final political authority and the power to coerce behaviour seems to reside in different entities. However according to the reputable H. L. A. Hart  [2]  , every legal system must contain so-called primary rules that regulate citizen behaviour, a system consisting entirely of the kind of liberty a restriction found in the criminal law is, at best, a elementary or nascent legal system. The Pedigree theory focuses on the specific rule, namely that necessitates citizens to do or abstain from certain actions, whether they wish to or not. On Harts view, Austins stresses on powerful force that leads him to overlook the presence of a second kind of primary rule that confers upon citizens the authority to produce, alter or extinguish rights and obligations in other persons. Hart lays down, the guidelines for leading the creation of contracts and wills cannot plausibly be characterized as restrictions on freedom that are backed by the danger of a approval. These directions allow people to structure their legal relations within the coercive framework of the law-a feature that Hart corre ctly regards as one of laws greatest contributions to public life. The concept relates clearly to a complete monarchy, but it is not vibrant when applied to a society where some group is the sovereign. L. A. Hart argues that the command theory cannot distinguish between a legitimate government and an armed robber (give me your cash or else). The above-mentioned philosophy is completely based on compulsion. Therefore, on Harts opinion, there are two basic situations that are necessary for the existence of a legal system: On one hand those rules of behaviour which are valid according to the systems ultimate criteria of validity must be generally obeyed, and, on the other hand, its rules of recognition specifying the criteria of legal validity and its rules of change and adjudication must be effectively accepted as common public standards of official behaviour by its officials. Harts view is vulnerable to the same criticism that he levels in contradiction of Austins. Hart discards Austins interpretation as the official application of coercive force can no more give rise to an obligation than can the application of coercive enforced by a gunman. Nevertheless the condition is not unlike that, if the gunman takes the internal point of view towards his authority to give rise such to a hazard. Regardless of the gunmans confidence that he is permitted to make the threat, the victim is grateful, but not obligated, to obey the gunmans commands. A gunmans behaviour is no less coercive because he believes he is entitled to make the threat. 2. The Separability Thesis: Legal positivism also finds its explanations in the Separability thesis. In its universal form, is the Separability thesis asserts that law and morality are conceptually distinct. According to this theory only an object-level claim is made about the existence of conditions for legal validity. More commonly, the Separability thesis is interpreted as making only an object-level claim about the existence conditions for lawful legitimacy. For example H.L.A. Hart  [3]  defines it, the Separability thesis is no more than the simple contention that it is in no sense a necessary truth that laws reproduce or satisfy certain difficulties of morals; however in detail they have frequently done. Insofar as the objective level of understanding the Separability thesis denies it, its a necessary truth that there are moral constraints on legal validity, it suggests the presence of a conceivable legal system in which there are no moral constraints on legal validity. 3. The Discretion Thesis: Another theory commonly associated with positivism is the discretion thesis, conferring to which judges resolve problematic cases by making new law in the exercise of discretion. According to this theory a set of valid legal rules is exhaustive in nature and if any persons case is not covered under such a rule, then that particular case cannot be decided by applying that particular law. This gives the judges a quasi-legislative power to create or promulgate a law in circumstances where a case is not covered by a rule and hence the case cannot be decided by interpreting by applying an existing law/rule. Though often associated by positivism, the discretion thesis does not fit into the positivisms hypothetical idea. The pedigree and Separability theories mean to be conceptual claims that are true of every possible lawful arrangement. These two entitlements jointly proclaim that, within in every possible legal structure, the intentions of law are lawful in virtue of having been manufact ured according to some set of social agreements  [4]  . In this regard, there are no ethical restraints on the content of law that hold in every possible legal system. There could be three different senses in which a judge might be said to have discretion: (1) a judge has discretion when she exercises judgment in applying a legal standard to a particular case; (2) a judge has discretion when her decision is not subject to reversal by any other authority; and (3) a judge has discretion when her decision is not bound by any legal standards. Going by these, the discretion thesis is inconsistent with ordinary legal exercise. Even in the greatest problematic cases where there is no clarity appropriate law, lawyers dont request the judge to adapt the relevant issue by making new law. Each lawyer cites cases favourable to her clients position and argues that the judge is bound by those cases to decide in her clients favour. As a practical matter, lawyers hardly, if ever, acknowledge th ere are no legal morals governing a case and ask the judge to legislate in the exercise of discretion. 4. Conclusion: I conclude by saying that the modern rules in relation to particular place or people were mostly traced or taken from the past rules or from another lawful organization. All the contemporary laws have its individual creation, the issue of conflict of positivists view and historical interpretation is not as real as it thought. The most influential criticism of legal positivism all flow from the suspicion that it fails to give principles its due. The law has significant tasks like bringing harmony and peace in our lives, preceding the common good in safeguarding human rights, or to rule with honesty and therefore it has more relevance with our morals. A. Lon Fuller denies the separation of law and morality. He considers that all the good qualities and characteristics flow by clear consistent and open practices, which can be found not only in law but also in all other social practices in which those features including custom and positive ethics prevail. Further he reproaches that if law is a matter of fact then we are without an explanation of the duty to obey. If amoral law is made there is an obligation to obey.

Essay --

Melyssa Arner Scott Robinson Western Civilization II 18 February 2014 1. Analyze and evaluate the life of Martin Luther and his influence on the Reformation. Before bringing about the Reformation, Martin Luther started out his life in Saxony.He was raised by a strict father who wished for his son to become a lawyer. Instead of achieving this, Martin Luther, due to a promise to St. Anne, became a man of the cloth. Those above Luther’s station later enrolled him into the faculty of the university in Wittenburg. It would be at Wittenburg that Luther would change the way of the church, later to be called the Reformation. Luther believed that faith was a way of salvation, which became known as the â€Å"justification by faith†. Martin Luther also began to question the clergy of the church, who made the public pay for indulgences in order for their souls to be freed. Due to his beliefs being ignored, Luther created his â€Å"Ninety-five Theses†. Through these theses, Luther’s beliefs spread throughout the lands of Germany. His ideals about the church passed onto the German people and his acts would later influence the happenings of the Reformation. 2. List and discuss the various religious wars in Europe in the 1500s and 1600s concluding with the Thirty Years War. King Philip II of Spain was a strong supporter of Catholicism. He controlled not only Spain, but also the Netherlands, Southern Italy, and Burgundy. His wife, Mary, was the queen of England. The two of them worked to bring England back to Catholicism but many people were against this. When Mary passed, Elizabeth took the throne and Protestantism was more accepted.Angry with this, Philip sent an armada of ships to attack in 1588. The English ships were sent to defend and Spain was forced... .... The Native Americans were not the only ones to be effected by colonization in the New World. The inhabitants of Africa had their world changed when Europe decided to venture to the New World. While the Native Americans were pushed from their land, the Africans were taken away from theirs. The Europeans needed another set of hands to perform labor and the Africans played this part. Even though Africans could be linguists and guides for the white people, they were mostly used for housework and as farm hands. Africans were forced into slavery and owned by the Europeans. Similar to the Native Americans, the Africans were forced to convert to Christianity. Their religious views were not allowed in the New World. The Africans were not only forced to convert to Christianity but also their way of life. Africans had to dress and speak like the Europeans in order to survive.

Comparing Excess in Morrison’s Sula and Ginsberg’s Howl Essay -- compa

Application of Excess in Morrison’s Sula and Ginsberg’s Howl  Ã‚  Ã‚   In William Blake’s Marriage of Heaven and Hell, he declares that "the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom†¦Those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained." These beliefs are reiterated and expanded upon in both Toni Morrison’s novel Sula and Allen Ginsberg’s epic poem Howl. Both authors challenge the conception of socially imposed boundaries, which suppress the absolute freedom of thought and action, by venerating the human characteristic of excess. Instead of abiding by the social norms of the general cultural animosity towards excess, Morrison and Ginsberg use this vilified "attribute" as a means to transcend the aforementioned boundaries that have hampered intellectual growth and the liberation of the self. The fact that both authors are of minority backgrounds compounds the acuteness of oppressiveness that both have experienced in their lives and allows us to draw parallels between their beliefs and how they chal lenge such despotism. Morrison’s Sula deals with the novel’s namesake’s journey to follow the road less traveled, and to escape the throes of a perceived life of perpetual imprisonment of the self that has engulfed most of the women of her time. The most obvious trait that resides in all aspects of Sula’s character is that of excess. She wages a one-woman war against society’s prescribed boundaries with an arsenal of excessive behavior and actions. The prospects of a fixed life of marriage and childbearing, which is the envy and ultimate objective for women of her age in Bottom, is unappealing and an altogether putrid existence to her. In order to understand the complex infrastructure of Sula’s character... ... electrified out of the coma by our own souls’ airplanes roaring over the roof they’ve come to drop angelic bombs the hospital illuminates itself imaginary walls collapse O skinny legions run outside O starry-spangled shock of mercy the eternal war is here O victory forget your underwear we’re free"(111). Freedom is what Morrison and Ginsberg strive for in their respective works of Sula and Howl. Both authors implement the use of excessive behavior, deemed heretical to the social standards of the day, in order to transcend its boundaries and achieve self-actualization. Morrison and Ginsberg in effect countermand the adage of "conform or die" into that of "conform and die." Works Cited Ginsberg, Allen. Howl: Original Draft Facsimile, Transcript, and Variant Versions. Ed. Barry Miles. New York: Viking, 1986. Morrison, Toni. Sula. 1973. New York: Plume, 1982.

The Fallibility of Man Exposed in The Bible Essays -- Religion Biblica

The Fallibility of Man Exposed in The Bible The story of the Golden Calf illustrates the inherent fallibility of man. It starts out when the people ask Aaron to â€Å"make us gods, which shall go before us.† Despite the fact that God had spoken to them just days earlier commanding them not to make themselves any graven images, Aaron doesn’t argue too strongly against this, immediately asking them to turn over any gold jewelry they have so that he may make them a figure of worship. This choice of material symbolizes man’s covetous nature, perhaps also implying that Aaron feared to go against God’s wishes directly, and so he chose gold in the hope that the people would be loathe to part with it. However, they readily hand over their wealth, which Aaron makes into a statue of a golden calf. In this too, Aaron compromises; while the people asked him to make them â€Å"gods,† he chooses to make a single figure, and states that it is the God that brought them out of Egypt. This concession is intended to sooth God’s wrath when he sees what the Israelites have done. The people seem to be remarkably unconcerned with Moses’ whereabouts at this point considering the fact that he just brought them out of Egypt and is leading them to the Promised Land. In this story they seem to treat him with a great deal of suspicion, stating that they â€Å"wot not what is become of him,† which implies that he’s abandoned them, and that they’re ready to move along without his guidance. This seems ironic, given that he is all that saves them from God’s wrath for this very incident. Upon seeing this idolatry, the Lord becomes enraged, and tells Moses to leave so that he may d... ...ll every man who played a part in the creation of this false icon, even friends or kin. This done, Moses returns to face God in hopes of prevailing upon him to forgive his people. In the conclusion of the story, Moses confesses to the Lord, stating that â€Å"this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold,† reiterating the prior thought that men were worshipping material values over God himself. Moses asks that God destroy him with the rest of his people if he will not grant them forgiveness, implying that the thought of god’s displeasure so disturbed him that he would rather die in hopes of averting this disaster. While God denies him this, he grants that those guilty of the sin shall only be plagued with misfortune, rather than destruction, as he planned earlier. Thus the people are given mercy, but not forgiveness.

Shakespeare’s Audience: Research Synthesis

The uneducated lower class audience was interested in the violence Shakespeare's plays consisted of. The Elizabethan era's culture was violent and cruel. For example, if an individual did not enjoy plays, they could witness a â€Å". public execution by hanging, beheading, or any number of gruesome ways. † (Wave ; Davis, 109). To keep his violent audience entertained and engaged in his plays, Shakespeare had to include an ample amount of violence throughout them. Sometimes, audience members would become fatigued.To really excite and give them a rush to awaken his audience members, he would spontaneously throw in ction scenes right after, or in the middle of a tragic, or comedic event. One example can be found in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Not too long after Romeo and Juliet are married, a fight occurs, and after Romeo heard Tybalt has killed his beloved friend, Mercutio, he tells Benvolio â€Å"†¦ La] fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!†¦. for Mercutio's soul! â €Å"(Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare). Romeo, who had remained calm throughout Tybalt and Mercutio's dispute, later kills Tybalt to avenge Mercutio.Directly after their marriage, a calm and Joyous scene, Shakespeare has an abrupt ction scene imputed to thrill his audience. Although the lower class enjoyed a good comedy, they also went to the theater to watch the newest foray into suicide, debauchery, and murder. Once again in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, he has a thought out plan that seems well, transform into a violent and disastrous one. After Juliet sees her lover has killed himself, she is left alone by Friar, while she is awaiting Friar, she becomes frightened by the watchman entering the tomb and says â€Å"O happy dagger!This is thy sheath; there rust and let me die. â€Å"(Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare). She was fearful of the watchman seeing she was still alive, and in turn committed suicide. Shakespeare mislead his audience through a bloody, twist ending, which was exac tly what they would have enjoyed watching. The lower class members of Shakespeare's audience enjoyed his anatomical humor. He wanted his audience members to have sterling Junctures while watching his plays, so he included an abundance of sexual innuendos.Shakespeare was at times too â€Å"bawdy, sometimes vulgar, many times pushing the bounds of good taste. † (Cork Milner). Shakespeare at some points was abrupt and too direct with ome of his Jokes, but audience members still enjoyed them. Shakespeare is known for his masterful way with words. Some say he was clever at playing around with them. One area where he used this talent is when he inserted sexual innuendos into and find that the clever wit of his sexual innuendo not only has comic significance, but is used to develop character, themes, and plot as well. â€Å"( transmedialshakespeare. ordpress. com). While using sexual innuendos to appeal to the lower class, Shakespeare was also using them to mold parts of his plays, which is why people often refer to him as one of the greatest play writes of all ime. He used every bit of his plays to his advantage, and through the use of sexual innuendos, he was able to mold parts his plays, while still entertaining his audience. Shakespeare knew how to give his audience members individually what they came for because â€Å"Shakespeare realized sexual Jokes, especially double entendres, put the twinkle in the performance,† Oohn Basil).He used his specialty of wordplay to conjure clever sexual innuendos and naughty puns throughout his plays. William Shakespeare's educated spectators were allured by his use of mythological allusions. Only the upper class was able to afford an education and were able to understand all of the â€Å"references from Greek & Roman mythology in his plays†¦ they are an identifier with ancient tales, and also tie in stories most of the populace was familiar with†(wcuenglish. net).Shakespeare's use of Theseus as the Du ke of Athens and Hippolyta as his queen immediately allows the educated audience to make a mythological connection in A Midsummer Night's Dream. As the audience identified one character from Greek mythology, they then naturally associated the other characters with this mythology if they were a member of the pper class and had an education. For example, two other characters, Oberon and Titania, could be compared with their mythological traits to be viewed similar to Zeus and Hera.His audience could make connections and know when that when Theseus says â€Å"Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on apace† (A Midsummer Night's Dream Shakespeare) that the story was a mythological allusion of Theseus and could recognize his Amazonian queen Hippolyta, and understand the specific myth being drawn. Another example that the upper class would be able to point out would be Puck relating to Eros, the Greek god of sexual love and beauty. The love Juice that Puck places over characte rs' eyes to make them fall in love with the first thing they see after waking is equivalent to Eros' golden arrows, having the same effect.The audience could correlate these distinct characters due to their connection to Theseus. Shakespeare more directly compares the two characters when Oberon says â€Å"Flower of this purple dye†¦ Hit with Cupid's archery†¦ Sin in apple of his eye† (A Midsummer Night's Dream Shakespeare). Lastly, Shakespeare appealed to the upper class through clever wordplay. Shakespeare was an ingenious man, an ample amount of these puns are in all of his plays and â€Å"Like most Elizabethans, Shakespeare loved puns†¦ the average per play was around eighty.Many of Shakespeare's original puns depended on words that were spelled different, but sounded alike† (Wave & Davis, 54). Shakespeare's brilliant word play could only be enjoyed by the upper class, because of their education; they were able to understand the multiple meanings of s ome of the words. Enjoying the genius and humor in Shakespeare's work of clever word play, was something the ower class was sadly not privileged with. One example of the clever word play Romeo that â€Å"tomorrow you shall find me a grave man. â€Å"(Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare).In this Shakespeare meant grave as Mercutio being serious, but here it also alludes to his imminent death, aimed towards his educated audience members who would be able to infer this. Shakespeare's clever word play required a trained ear to be able to fully understand all of what Shakespeare intended to get across. For instance when Mercutio says â€Å"Sure wit, follow me this Jest now till thou ast worn out thy pump, that, when the single sole of it is worn, the Jest may remain, after the wearing, solely singular. † (Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare).This one is a double pun. One meaning is that the sole of the shoe, the pump they are talking about, is single, which is to say, it has only one layer of leather. Shakespeare puns the sole of a shoe with â€Å"solely† trying to say only, exclusively and puns the word single with â€Å"singular† meaning one of a kind, unique and says that his Joke is exclusively unique, or solely singular. Shakespeare knew only the educated would be able to atch his double meaning wordplay and perhaps, he would also test them on how much they would receive from his word play.William Shakespeare tried captivating his audience while they watched his plays, but certain aspects included in they were specifically aimed for different classes. He used mythological allusions and clever word play for the upper and the violence and sexual innuendos were meant for lower uneducated class audience. Shakespeare was an ingenious play write and knew what his audience members were entertained by and he knew exactly how to appeal to their tastes of theatre.

Synthetic vs. Natural: an Analysis of Costuming in Blade Runner

Ben Boudreau prof Butorac incline 151 10 May 2010 Synthetic vs. inbred An Analysis of Costuming Used in stigma emergegrowth stigma Runner scripted by Scott Bukatman and published in 1997 discusses the reservation of, and braggart(a)r issues ad get dresseded, in Ridley Scotts occupy Blade Runner (1982). Bukatman, an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at S topazford University, has written some(prenominal) books on hire. His book takes a figure at the film formally, ideologically, and even historically.He addresses the film formally by talk ab expose the take of the film. He soon discusses the process of refining the films script which is loosely based on the book Do Androids dream of electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Bukatman talks of Blade Runners design, touching on the narration, the production of the props and set, special effects, and cinematography of the film. In his ideological analysis of the film he touches on larger social issues in the film such (prenominal) as urbanization, immigration, racial discrimination, and situation modernism.On age 19 Bukatman says With its city that resembles postal code so much as a vast boundless refinery and its universe of discourse that no longer contains any traces of temperament This discussion of the set and props mesmerism at the problems of urbanization as shown in the film. Bukatman habits the androids as examples for how the film afterward part be viewed as addressing racism and immigration. The paranoia against the androids could represent the racism against Asiatics which was growing at that time in American history due to Asians expanding economic influence (Bukatman 74). racism against smuttys is shown by the androids classification of non-human beca office during the time of thraldom in America, blacks were a exchangeable not viewed as human (Bukatman 75). adept way post-modernism is address, agree to Bukatman, is by begging the question what does it soaked to be hu man? This question is a major theme throughout Bukatmans book. In this paper I bequeath discuss the issues of the surroundings and industrialization. I aim on doing this through the usage of costuming in the film. I impart analyze the use of synthetic substance versus indwelling costuming.This paper depart cover the wardrobes worn by sour Deckard, Pris, and Rachael. Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, is the jock in Scotts Blade Runner. cognize as a blade set-back, Deckard is a member of the Los Angeles police part who is employed to retire genetically knowing humanoids known as replicants. These replicants were knowing by the Tyrell Corporation to do work in off-world colonies. Because of their superior strength and comparable intelligence, the replicants were viewed as a threat to the human race. subsequently a bloody uprising on an off-world colony they were deemed illegal on earthly concern.In response, Rick Deckard and his group of blade runners atomic rou nd 18 put in give to lead down and retire these humanoids. Deckard lives in futurist Los Angeles set in 2019. The city draw by Bukatman is a vast, boundless refinery, which no longer contains any trace of nature (19). Deckards costuming throughout the film differs greatly from the rest of the characters. He wears a large brown sport coat with bandage pockets for most of the film. The coats twist is rightfully earthy and born(p) spirit at in comparison to other characters costumes. It looks unir whizd and wrinkled as if nothing has been do to modify its look.Underneath he wears some(prenominal) different dress shirts all with rudimentary patterns and muted colors, along with a tartan styled tie. His pants come forward to be benighted gray, possibly flannel solely nothing remarkable. It is almost as if Deckard is your typical work class male found on any large citys street during the 1980s. I debate he can be viewed as representing the past, a time where a raw(a) environment existed and urban landscape did not wholly dominate the planet. By dressing the films good guy in natural and earthy attire I retrieve Scott could be voicing his ambition to urbanization and the destruction of the natural environment.In the beginning of the film you learn that a group of inter-group communication 6 replicants prepare escaped from an off-world colony and traveled to earth illegally. They obtain come to earth in hope that their creator, Tyrell, can extend their mulct life spans of only four years. These Nexus 6 replicants, which are said to be more human than human, were designed with superior strength and agility for use on the off-world colonies. One of the escapees is known as Pris. Born on Valentines day, Pris is a basic pleasure model. She is in any case the misfirefriend of the strongest replicant, Roy Batty.In the film, we follow Pris as she befriends the genetic engineer, J. F. Sebastian, so Roy can educate closer to Tyrell, their creator . Throughout this film we serve Pris in very unique costuming. We root trip up Pris wandering the crowded streets alone in the rain, dressed as a classic street prostitute. Her vibrissa is crispy and blonde, looking as if it has been bleached. Around her get it on she wears a metal dog collar. A black shirt barely covers her up, and her black nylon tights clearly show her stop number thighs. Faint traces of mascara make her eyeball appear dark. Anticipating J. F. s route home, she hides outside his flatcar disguised under newspapers. J. F. gets off the bus topology and runs into Pris, not being able to urge on the company of a gorgeous girl in his lonely apartment, J. F. invites her in. She spends the night on that point and quickly becomes friendly with him. The next aurora Pris goes through a transformation. She wanders his apartment looking through the endless amount of toys and mannequins. She begins playacting with his make-ups, and cakes her slip with clownish white powder. Next, she closes her eyes to spray them with a black blow of spray paint. This make-up on her face gives her a created look.She appears in all stirred at this point, and begins to resemble the toys found in J. F. s apartment. She uses this ability of looking skulker to her advantage when she encounters Deckard in the end of the film. In this scene we see Pris posing completely dead among the toys. Her only disguise is a long white veil. She transforms visually into a kind of ghostly bridal doll. In this film, Pris is the polar opposite of Deckard. She wears dark synthetic clothes that appear to be paranormal and fake. Her make-up gives her the appearance of a lifeless toy mannequin. Deckard eventually spots the replicant and a fight ensues.Deckard shoots Pris twice and retires her. I intend the cleansing of Pris by Deckard gives us some other possible example for urbanization and the environment. Pris can be read as one of the evils in this film. Being a repli cant, she represents the hereafter, where in that respect is no evidence of nature and the fill up city dominates the entire landscape. If you look at her costuming, it is very artificial and synthetic looking. Deckard, on the other hand, is dressed naturally and earthy. His killing of Pris could give some evidence of Scotts ambition to urbanization and the future of the environment.One of the most interesting characters in Blade Runner is Rachael. She is the latest experiment of Tyrell, designed because of the flaws of the Nexus 6 models. Tyrell believes that the replicants have started to discontinue their own emotions. He believes this is due to the feature that they have no framework indoors which to deal with the formation of new emotions. Tyrell implants memories of his niece into Rachael and also does not reveal to her, until later, that she is a replicant. Rachael figures it out after she is given a Voight-Kampff test. She leaves Tyrell and in desperation turns to Dec kard, who is under orders to kill her.Deckard ends up falling in love with her and spares her life. In the film, we see two different types of costuming for Rachael. In the beginning when Deckard meets Rachael in Tyrells pyramid throne, we see a tall, dark, statuesque woman. With vast squared shoulders, exaggerated proportions, straight lines, and lacquered hair she appears to be flawless. She looks to as if she is mechanical, fulfilling her role as a replicant. Later in the pictorial matter she goes through a gradual transformation. At this point of the film she is sitting at the piano in Deckards apartment.Rachael is wear a more feminine dress that paints broad stripes of tan and skitter across her body. As she lets her hair down, we see her change from the artificial hair she wore antecedently to a bushy and more natural style. We also see Rachael as she transforms from a pale white face with shimmery red lips to a more tan and feminine face with little or no lip stick. I be lieve that the transformation of Rachael can be viewed as representing hope. Rachael stands for the future. She is portrayed in the beginning as being very unnatural but through her transformation she becomes more natural looking like Deckard.This could be Scott covering us that there is hope for the future, and that the future can be a place where nature exists. This pinning of good versus evil, natural versus synthetic, is just one of the many ship canal the costuming of Blade Runner can be read. In Ridley Scotts films, the cores or issues addressed by the film are very subtle. They will never come out and hit you in the face. You often have to watch his films several times and really think about the film after you have viewed it to really understand what he is trying to say. This is what makes Scotts films so great.His films will provoke thought and stay germane(predicate) and important to the film industry like few other films can. Even authors such as Scott Bukatman missed w hat this particular use of synthetic and natural fibers could be saying. Although this message about urbanization and the environment is secret and could be read a number of different ways, I do believe Scott might be voicing his opposition to urbanization and the destruction of the natural world. flora Cited Blade Runner. Dir. Ridley Scott. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young. Warner Brothers, 1982. Film. Bukatman, Scott. Blade Runner. London British Film Institute, 1997. Print.