Biological Theories of Aging Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biological Theories of Aging - Research Paper Example This paper briefly explains some of the biological theories of aging mentioned above. Simple Deterioration Theory argues that Aging is the accumulative result of universal deteriorative processes such as oxidation, molecular damage, wear and tear, or accumulation of adverse byproducts (Goldsmith, p.3). Even though man and machine are two entirely different things, both of them have certain similarities in their functioning. No machine is able to function more than particular period of time because of the wear and tear due to continuous work. Same way bodies of the living things are also undergoing continuous work which causes damages to the parts of the body. Even though we refill the fuels in the form of food, nutrients and water, there are certain limitations for the body of the living things to survive for a longer period. In chemistry, most of the chemical reactions yield products and by-products. These by-products are not necessarily the intended one. Same way our body chemistry also yields different by-products which are harmful to our health and may reduce our life span. At the same time we cannot avoid the production of such by-products Non-programmed theory of aging believes that aging is a passive result of an organism’s inability to better resist fundamental deteriorative processes. Moreover aging serves no purpose, is not an adaptation, and is not programmed (Goldsmith, p.8). Our body is undergoing lot of changes and processes virtually in very seconds. Most of the activities inside our body are beyond our control. For example, the pumping of blood by the heart is not done with our permission. We cannot stop any of the internal functions. Everything inside our body is tuned to do certain things and any malfunctions occur inside our body may result in diseases. We are passive observers of our body functions. â€Å"Organisms are purposely designed and genetically programmed to age or

Outsourcing or Exporting America Essay Example for Free

Outsourcing or Exporting America Essay With the new economic slump, many people are trying to find ways to rebuild the economy and find the cause of the downward spiral that has recently plagued our country. In the quack of high unemployment, and many families losing their homes, many of the economists and researchers are looking to the outsourcing of jobs to other countries as the culprit for the dilemma. Is his belief true or false? The answer lies within each person’s individual belief, because politicians do not give all the information available about this new crises and the reason for it. In a year of presidential elections, one only needs to look at the previous election to see that this same topic was prevalent. In 2004, John Kerry accused George W. Bush of â€Å"exporting† jobs to other countries so big business could save money. In fact, N. Gregory Mankiw stated that the outsourcing of jobs was just another type of trade on an international level. Even at that time, many opponents realized that the government was trying to make excuses for high unemployment and the loss of jobs in this country. With the end of the election, the topic lost steam and lay in the background for years (Drezner, 1; Dobbs, 1). Now, in the smoke filled world of foreclosures, banks going under and financial giants losing their grasp of the world, the issue of outsourcing has again reared its head. Why? Because the majority of the public believe that the exporting of jobs is a major factor in the current slump. While manufacturing jobs have been lost to countries for lower wages, now the middle manager and white collar jobs are being shipped overseas to companies that charge much less then their American counterparts. This leaves the middle class American with few options and young Americans with unfulfilled dreams (Drezner, 1; Dobbs, 1). Both sides of the argument believe that they are in the right. Those that applaud the globalization and outsourcing to other countries, truly or blindly believe that it is the best option for this country. They even believe that it will help to create higher paying jobs for Americans, while the mundane and manufacturing jobs are done elsewhere for less money. They fool themselves with this notion. The truth of the matter is that American companies shut down factories and outsource middle management or call center activities; they are hurting the American worker and the American economy (Dobbs, 1). Look around and see the economy failing, banks losing, real estate stagnant. While the stock market roller coasters from downward spirals to euphoric rises, the economy is more imbalanced than ever. Multinational corporations will continue to layoff workers in the United States to give those jobs to people in other countries for less money. Is destroying our country worth a few dollars per employee? Most American would not agree. They would take up rank and fight, but until they have the correct information, and the government stops skewing the truth, the American people will suffer and the economy will fail.

The Characteristics Of Design And Build

The Characteristics Of Design And Build The construction projects involve many activities. A construction project can refer to any building activity that includes building, repair, erection, demolition, maintenance, land clearing, earth moving, excavating, trenching, digging, boring, drilling, blasting, concreting, installation etc. (Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act, 1996). All these activities require large number of goods and services. Large number of transactions is needed to be set up to support the project. The goods and services are procured. They should be procured at the best possible cost to meet the needs in terms of quality, quantity, time and location (Weeley 2010). The construction sector is very important to the economy. In most of the countries it accounts for approximately 8-10 percent of gross domestic product GDP. In India it accounts for 8 percent of GDP currently. The main sectors in construction industry in India are Infrastructure, housing and commercial developments. In 2014 the second phase of infrastructure development will be started. This will give additional boost to the construction industry. Due to large number of projects the significance of procurement will be very important. If a construction project is procured appropriately then only the project is completed in time with desirable quality and within estimated cost. There are numerous procurement methods around the world. The main procurement methods used in construction are Design and Build, Management Contracting, Construction Management, Build Operate Transfer, Public Private Partnerships, Strategic Partnership, Joint ventures etc. In developed economies procurement methods such as Design and Build, Construction Management and Management Contracting are used effectively. This is due to the maturity of the industry. In India mainly traditional procurement methods are used. This is due to the nature of the Industry. The construction industry in India is large and scattered. It consists large number of small firms. As there are large number of local firms, people are reluctant to change. The professionals also prefer to operate within their silos. Due to this they do not get out of the comfort zones and use traditional methods. Currently the trend is changing particularly in infrastructure projects and large projects due to the numbers of projec ts, the size of projects and the capital involved in the projects. Mainly the upcoming procurement methods are Build Operate and Transfer and Public Private Partnerships. But these are restricted to only a few numbers of projects. Still large numbers of Projects are carried out in a traditional manner. The main barriers to take up new procurement methods are, large population (1.2 billion approximately) large inclusive demand, large demand spread across the country, large number of small projects, traditional outlook of construction professionals, segregated industry, large number of small firms, large unskilled work force. The other barriers include large number of regional languages, excess availability of skilled professionals in one part of the country and scarcity in the other parts, no standard terms of contracts, different legislation in different states, local suppliers, monopoly of manufactures in a region. In order to find out why the new procurement methods cannot be implemented, main issues should be checked namely, economic issues, management issues, technical issues, legal issues and cultural issues, in India. These issues are inter-linked, interdependent up to a certain level. Careful observations will let us know what are the challenges in order to implement new pro curement methods and will also let us know why it is difficult to implement new procurement methods. The main question that needs to be answered is why it is difficult to implement new procurement methods because implementing new procurement methods other than traditional methods will benefit the industry and will make it easier to operate, deliver quality goods, enhance the standards, and complete the projects on time and within budgets. 1.2 Research Aim The aim of the research is to identify the barriers, difficulties and gaps that restrict the implementation of new procurement methods in India. 1.3 Research Objectives The research objectives will include the following 1) Identifying the barriers which act as hindrances for implementation of new procurement methods in the Indian construction industry. 2) To investigate the issues, namely economic issues, technical issues, management issues, legal issues and cultural issues, to find out the factors which affect the implementation of new procurement methods in India. 3) To investigate procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management and relate it to the traditional Indian procurement method to understand the challenges of the implementation of new procurement methods in India. 1.4 Scope of Study This study of identification of barriers and gaps that restrict the implementation of new procurement methods is confined to the Indian construction industry. The data is collected from secondary sources. The main sources were U.N views on India, U.K Trade and Investment and other secondary data. This study looks only into the gaps and barriers. It outlines various gaps and barriers which are already present in the Indian construction industry which in turn affects the implementation of new procurement methods. This study restricts itself to Identification of gaps and barriers and only derives the gaps and barriers from the nature and character of the Indian construction Industry. As moving more forward into detail of everything was not possible. It investigates mainly into economic issues, management issues, technical issues, legal issues and cultural issues and finds the gaps which prevent the implementation of new procurement methods. In the Indian construction industry more traditional methods of procurement are used, whereas in developed economies various new methods of procurement are used. This study will also mainly look into procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management and compare it with the traditional Indian procurement method to find the barriers and gaps. 1.5 Structure of Dissertation Chapter 1) This chapter gives an introduction to the topic and gives the idea about how the study will be carried out. It gives an idea of a fast developing Indian construction Industry and the need to adapt new procurement methods. It states the research aim, objectives and scope of study and also discusses the structure of the dissertation Chapter 2) This chapter reviews the literature associated with the study. It looks into new procurement methods, types of projects in India, Indian construction industry and important factors affecting the construction industry in India. Chapter 3) This chapter describes the research methodology adapted within the scope of the dissertation. Secondary data, unstructured talks with the experts and academicians were employed to address the objectives. Chapter 4) This chapter characterizes India. It describes the nature and the character of the Indian construction industry. It gives an insight into the Indian construction Industry and its approaches. Chapter 5) This chapter looks at the barriers and the gaps that restrict implementation of new procurement methods in India. It looks at the present construction Industry in India and its characterization and identifies the barriers and gaps that restrict implementation of new procurement methods in India. Chapter 6) This chapter presents the conclusions and direction for further research in this area. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Procurement Methods Introduction Around the world various procurement methods are used. These methods are developed through the years as per the various upcoming new projects. The selection of the most appropriate procurement method is critical for both the client and other project participants as it is an important factor that contributes to the overall clients satisfaction and project success. This selection will be dependent upon a number of factors such as cost, time and quality which are widely considered as being the most fundamental criteria for clients seeking to achieve their end product at the highest quality, at the lowest cost and in the shortest time (Hackett et al. 2007). The type of procurement method adopted mainly depends upon the type of project, type of ownership, nature of construction industry in that particular country and the maturity of the industry. The selection of the procurement path is much more than simply establishing a contractual relationship (Newcombe 1992), inspite of the continuing search for maximum value for money. In the developed economies such as USA, UK, Australia, Sweden etc. procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management are used from a long time. This is because the construction industry is developed, the projects are needed to be delivered that way and the clients demand the delivery of projects in that particular manner. In this dissertation the study is limited to procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management. 2.1 Design and Build Design-build is a method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity known as the design-builder or design-build contractor. Design-build relies on a single point of responsibility contract and is used to minimize risks for the project owner and to reduce the delivery schedule by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of a project. Design and Build with its single point responsibility carries the clearest contractual remedies for the clients because the DB contractor will be responsible for all of the work on the project, regardless of the nature of the fault (John Murdoch and Will Hughes 2007). The traditional approach for construction projects consists of the appointment of a designer and the appointment of a contractor differently. The design-build procurement route changes the traditional sequence of work. It answers the clients wishes for a single-point of responsibility in an attempt to reduce risks and overall costs. Today it is commonly used in many countries and forms of contracts are widely available. The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) takes the position that design-build can be led by a contractor, a designer, a developer or a joint venture, as long as a the design-build entity holds a single contract for both design and construction. The main contractor takes responsibility for both design and construction and will use either in-house designers or employ consultants to carry out the design. Most of the construction work will be carried out by specialist or sub-contractors. The contractor tenders against a client brief and will often follow an initial concept design prepared by consultants appointed to advise the client. The design will be developed by the contractor and the works will be completed, usually for a fixed price. Tendering is more expensive so it carries more risk for the contractor than the traditional approach. This is because the contractor has to develop an outline design and a detailed price. Tender lists will probably be shorter than for traditional contracts. The Design-Build approach gives the client a single point of contact. However, the client commits to the cost of construction, as well as the cost of design, much earlier than with the traditional approach. Changes made by the client during design can be expensive, because they affect the whole of the Design-Build contract, rather than just the design team costs. This strategy is a low-risk option for clients who wish to minimize their exposure to the risks of overspend delays or design failure. However, the exposure to risk will increase where the design phase is rushed, where unreasonable time targets are set or where the tender documents are not fully completed. Owner Client Architect Engineers Quantity Surveyors Design and Build Contractor Consultants Subcontractors Figure 1 Design and Build Process 2.1.1 Characteristics of Design and Build It provides single point of responsibility so that in event of a failure the contractor is solely responsible. There is no ambiguity between the designer and the contractor. The clients interests are safeguarded in this respect. When the client adopts Design and Build method he knows his total financial commitment early in a project. The client has direct contact with the contractor. This improves the lines of communication and enables the contractor to respond and adapt to the clients needs more promptly. In Design and Build contractor is responsible for design, planning and control. This gives him a better control over the activities and can concurrently carry out the activities which are not generally possible using traditional procurement methods. The contractor can purchase, obtain planning permission and arrange his finance simultaneously which helps him to give a better deal to the client. He can also benefit himself and the client by making use of proprietary modular designs which reduces design time and time required for approval. The contractor can start the work as soon as the approvals are obtained and sufficient information regarding the site operations is available. The design does not need to be finalized before some, at least, of the work may be commenced. The Design and Build proposals ensure economical tenders and alternate design concepts which can benefit the client. The nature of Design and Build procurement system promotes the creation of integrated design and construction team. In some countries using Design and Build system relaxes the architects code of practice, which encourages them to become full partners in design and build firms. The closer involvement of architects leads to more aesthetically pleasing buildings and leads to designs which have a greater appreciation. Design and Build promotes integration and improves communication between designer and contractor, which encourages prompt decisions. The prompt response in achieved even in the event of material and labor shortages. In the Design and Build system design costs are built into the package the costs involved are also less. In Design and Build the nature of the contract tends to reduce changes and variations from the original design and disruption of the works is less likely to occur. By using Design and Build method time and cost savings are achieved, which benefits the client. The total project completion period is also reduced. Design and Build reduces the employers financing charges, inflation has less effect and the building is operational sooner which commercially produces an early return on the capital invested. The Design and Build method facilitates novation of design with the consultants to the contractor which provides advantages to the client. If the design is novated the client has the advantage of knowing that his needs and intentions are met for tendering purposes by referring to the drawings and specifications. It is advantageous to the contractor as he is provided with more detailed information on which he can quote his tender. The contractor also has less design work to carry out before tendering so his tendering cost is also less. The contractor accepts responsibility for risk of building failure due to inadequate design and his increased responsibility is reflected in his tender which helps the client. The advantage of Design and Build is that the contractor has some control over the design and is able to introduce components, materials and systems which are beneficial and which he knows are more economical to construct. 2.1.2 Critique of Design and Build Design and Build is not suitable for complex projects. The traditional method of construction procurement dissociates the designers from the contractors interests, design-build does not. The contractor decides on the design issues as well as issues related to cost, profits and time exigencies, which may be the matter of concern in some situations. Difficulties can be experienced by clients in preparing an adequate and sufficiently comprehensive brief. The client is required to commit to a concept design at an early stage and often before the detailed designs is completed. There is no separate bid for design and construction, bids may be difficult to compare as each design will be different, this will vary the project programme between the bidders and prices for the project will be different for each different design. There is no design overview unless separate consultants are appointed. And there is no one appointed from clients side to manage the works or act as clients agent. Few firms offer the Design and Build service so there is less real competition. If client changes the scope of the project, this can be expensive. The design liability is limited by the standard contracts available. Design-build does not make use of competitive bidding where prospective builders bid on the same design. In Design and Build the criteria to select contractor is subjective and difficult to evaluate and to justify later. 2.2 Management Contracting In management contracting the clients appoints the designers and a management contractor separately and pays the contractor a fee for managing the construction works. Payment to the management contractor is done on the basis of cost of the works packages plus agreed fees. The main benefits of management contracting are the time required for design and construction is shorter. There is an early involvement of managing contractor during design phase, in which his expertise can be used. The management contractor has the responsibility to manage the project. The sub-contractors are appointed by the management contractor, thus reducing the day to day administrative responsibilities of the client. The management contractor has major role in directing the project. The lines of communications are improved. As there is a direct relation between the management contractor and the client changes and variations can be done in a project. The main advantage is that the project is completed in time as the management contractor manages the works. Because of this the client gets possession quickly and the return on investment starts. The client normally appoints the management contractor to take an active role in the project at an early stage and the client can benefit from the contractors expertise. The overall design is the responsibility of the clients consultants, but the management contractor is normally responsible for defining packages of work and then for managing the carrying out of those work packages through separate trades or works contracts. The management contractor can sometimes not be employed to undertake the work but is employed to manage the process. All the work is subcontracted to works contractors who are directly employed by the management contractor. The client usually needs to be given the opportunity to approve the terms and conditions of the trades or works contracts before the packages are subcontracted. The management contract will usually include both a pre-construction phase and the construction phase. The management contractor is responsible for the administration and operation of the works contractors. However, the management contractor is not liable for the consequences of any default by a works contractor so long as the management contractor has complied with the particular requirements of the management contract. Architect Owner Client Engineer Quantity Surveyor Subcontractors Works Contractors Management Contractor Figure 2 Management Contracting Process. 2.2.1 Characteristics of Management Contracting Clients and contractors adapt this system once they gain experience, which suggests that it has merits. It is generally recognized that its adoption requires mutual trust. The management contractor is appointed much earlier. He is able to become a member of design team and contribute his expertise and mainly his management expertise. Management Contracting is an effective method for the client retaining control of the design whilst drawing on the experience of a construction specialist as part of the Professional Team. The Management Contractor is paid a fee for its services as well as enters into contract with the client for work packages, generally separate works contractors are appointed to carry out work packages under the management contractor. This type of arrangement tends to be used on complex projects where early input from a construction specialist is required. The management contractor finds it easier to identify with clients need and interest and integration of team becomes possible and practical. Decisions regarding appointment of subcontractors are made jointly by designers and management contractor thus making use of wider experience. Specialists contractors and subcontractors compete at second stage ensuring economical tenders which benefits the client. Lines of communication are shorter between management contractor and client than with the traditional procurement method. The client has direct control over the management contractor, who is the main contractor, so that the project is completed in a better way and in shorter time. The total project completion period is reduced by parallel working. A reduced project completion period produces a corresponding reduction in financing charges and interm payments to the contractors. Inflation has less effect. The client takes the delivery of the building more quickly and obtains returns on his investment more quickly. The main functions of the management contractor may include acting as principal contractor, cost planning and cost control, consenting for works contracts, coordinating and managing works contracts, coordinating commissioning, collating pre construction information and construction phase plan, monitoring key performances and managing the site. 2.2.2 Critique of Management Contracting The client is usually given an approximate estimate of the final project cost by the management contractor early in the project life but the client does not know the final project cost until the last sub contract is entered into. On other projects he is given a guaranteed maximum cost. The architect may have less time to develop the design because he is under greater pressure from the client and contractor. The design may suffer as a result. Specialist contractors frequently prefer to be in contract with the client rather than with the management contractor because interim payments are usually made more promptly when paid direct. The client should provide a good design brief as the design will not be completed until the client has committed significant resources to the project. The strategy relies on quality committed team or it may just become a mere reporting system in some cases. It reduces resistance to works contractors claims where such demands are passed on to the client by the management contractor. Management contracting is not suitable for inexperienced clients. It is less suitable for clients wanting to pass the complete risk to the contractors. Specialist contractors frequently prefer to be in contract with client rather than the management contractor appointed by the client because interim payments are usually made promptly when paid directly. 2.3 Construction Management In construction management the client appoints a construction manager for a fee to manage, programme and coordinate the design and construction activities. The client does not allocate risk and responsibility to a single main contractor. Construction work is carried out by trade contractors through direct contracts with the client for various packages. The client takes the risk. The construction manager supervises the construction process and coordinates the design team. The construction manager has no contractual links with the design team and contractors. He only provides professional expertise without assuming financial risks. On appointment the construction manager takes over any preliminary scheduling and costing information and draw up detail programme accordingly. In this method the client should have administrative or project management staff with the ability to assess the recommendation of construction manager and take actions. Adapting construction management reduces the time required for the project. This occurs because the contract strategy, construction and design can overlap. A construction manager should have a good track record in cost forecasting and cost management, as the time can be reduced but the price certainty is not achieved unless the design and construction have advanced to the extent that all the work packages have been let. This method puts so much emphasis on the role of client, if the client is experienced, with the help of construction manager he can control the project effectively. The clients continue to use construction management to their advantage, for example, the cultivation of direct, long-term relationships with trade contractors helps to secure many of the benefits more often associated with partnering. Furthermore, by employing a construction manager who is able to focus on the interests of the project, rather than on its own risk management, the client can be confident that its project objectives will be shared by the rest of the team. Construction management is distinguished by the influence of the clients and construction managers management and leadership skills on the success of the project. By adapting construction management method the client can have greater influence over the project and can have more flexibility over the contractor selection and so on. Owner Client Architect Engineer Quantity Surveyor Construction Manager Contractors Subcontractors Figure 3 Construction Management Process. 2.3.1 Characteristics of Construction Management Construction management offers relative time saving potential for overall project duration due to overlapping of various activities. The roles, risks and relationships are clear for all the participants during most of the situations. In some situations changes in design can be accommodated later than some other strategies, without paying a premium. In construction management method the client has direct contracts with the contractors and pays them directly. This helps the contractors as they are paid promptly and there is evidence that this results in lower prices because of improved cash flow certainty. The client has direct involvement in the project as compared to most of the traditional methods. As the client is directly involved he is enabled to make prompt decisions which can be implemented without delay. This also makes possible a prompt response by the client to unforeseen site problems and also makes possible a prompt response by the contractor to changes required by the client. In this type the construction manager acts as an agent of the contractor. This benefits the contractor in managing the works. This also excludes the client for keeping his own staff for overlooking the issues which are looked by the construction manager. The central role of the construction manager is managing the project and providing administrative support to the employer. In this there is no single point of responsibility related to the delivery of the project. 2.3.2 Critique of Construction Management In construction management price certainty is not achieved until the last works packages have been let. Budgeting primarily depends heavily on design team estimates. The client should be pro-active and must provide a quality design brief to the design team in order to complete the design. The strategy relies upon the client selecting a good quality and committed team. In construction management the client has to manage and administer many contracts as there is no single contractor, all the works contracts are directly between the works contractors and the client. The client has to manage coordinate with the design team appropriately or else there increased likelihood of design change. There is a high degree of client ownership of risks associated with design including impacts of late or incomplete and uncoordinated design. In construction management the client has exposure to performance risk and exposure to consequential loss associated with trade contractor default. In construction management method there is increased administration role for the client. Construction manager owes duty of care liability only. The client is at the center of management and requires decision making capabilities. The client has to rely on management capability of construction manager. 2.4 Indian Construction Industry and Economy Indian economy has been growing from last two decades at an unprecedented rate. This is mainly because of industrialization and service sector growth. The main reason for Indias growth is its huge internal demand. In recent years particularly after the global recession in 2008 the Indian economy has shown signs of slowing down. In 2011-12 due to the current global economic scenario India found itself in the heart of managing growth and stabilizing prices. The Indian economy is grown by 6.9 per cent in 2011-12, after having grown at the rate of 8.4 per cent in each of the two preceding years. This indicates a slowdown compared not just to the previous two years but 2003 to 2011 (except 2008-09). At the same time, sight must not be lost of the fact that, by any cross country comparison, India remains among the front-runners. The Gross Domestic Product (nominal) of India is $ 1.848 trillion. The Gross Domestic Product (Purchasing power parity) of India is $ 4.457 trillion. The annual expenditure budget of India is Rs.1490925.29 Crores. Over the years, more than half of the expenditure budget is spent on civil engineering, construction and related activities. The construction industry sets in motion the process of economical growth in the country, investment in this sector contributes 6.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. The construction industry in India is large and scattered. Today in India there is a massive demand in housing and infrastructure. The construction industry is the second largest industry of the country after agriculture. It makes a significant contribution to the national economy and provides employment to large number of people. The use of various new technologies and deployment of project management strategies have started to gain importance. In its path of advancement, the industry has to overcome a number of challenges. However, the industry is still faced with some major challenges, including hous

The Philosophy of Science Essay -- Realism

The study of the philosophy of science explores whether scientific results are actually the study of truth. Scientific realism is an area of study in the philosophy of science and has a contrasting view called anti realism. The debate between the two revolves around their disagreement between the existence of an external world. A scientific realist believes that an external world exists independent of our minds whereas the anti realist, or the idealists, believes that no such world exists outside of ourselves. A stick underwater seems bent while railway tracks seem to meet in the distance, when they do not. Our vision plays tricks on us and therefore the phenomena appears misleading. Seeing as there are doubtful sources to our experiences we cannot know anything derived from our senses. Moreover, the anti realist believes that matter, objects and the world, all exist as electric signals occurring in our brain. To illustrate, envision yourself eating a strawberry. You do not actually face the strawberry but only its perception in the brain. Simply put, the fruit is nothing but the interpretation of electrical signals, regarding the smell, taste, shape and so on. More importantly, the two differ on their interpretation of scientific theories that refer to unobservable entities. A scientific realist maintains the belief that unobservable entities, which make up many scientific theories, are in fact real world entities. Meaning, a berry is a berry regardless of what we perceive it to be. Anti realists state that theories distort reality by building on premises that are only seen indirectly and therefore should never be considered true. Hence the disagreements, the anti realist claims that the only thing that exist in reality are our ... ...uccess is not a miracle. Science has contributed more tangible and intangible success than any other field, i.e. religion. From the industrial revolution to the information age science has created medicine, travel, communication; it has opened the world to us. It contributed everything to our modern world whereas other ‘fields’ presented us with doubt, controversy, and death. Other theories, such as creationism, do not accept different alternatives, is not open for criticism and is meant to be taken at face value. Whereas science is continuously evolving. Theories are constantly being redefined when new data emerges and rejected when results differ the second time. Over time advances in technology could possibly convert many theories into fact. But till than we should believe who we feel has the most logical, rational and reasonable answers to our questions.

Archetypes In The Natural Essay -- essays research papers

Archetypes in The Natural   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After discovering a God-given talent, a young boy struggles to achieve his only dream; to become the best there ever was. Baseball is all he has ever known, so he prevails through the temptations and situations laid before him by those out to destroy his career. His hopes and dreams outweigh all the temptations along his journey. These hopes, dreams, and temptations are depicted through archetypes in the movie The Natural.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An archetype is a universal symbol. It is also a term from the criticism that accepts Jung’s idea of recurring patterns of situation, character, or symbol existing universally and instinctively in the collective unconscious of man. Archetypes come in three categories: images (symbols), characters, and situations. Feelings are provoked about a certain subject by archetypes. The use of the images of water, sunsets, and circles set the scene of the movie. Characters, including the temptress, the devil figure, and the trickster, contribute to the movie’s conflicts that the hero must overcome in order to reach his dream. However, to reach his dream, the hero must also go through many situations such as, the fall, dealing with the unhealable wound, and the task. By using archetypes in the movie, the viewer can obtain more than just the plot and better understand the true theme of the movie: to never give up on dreams.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Archetypal imagery in this movie is abundant, but the most obvious and repetitive archetypes are those of water, sunsets, and circles. Prior to Roy Hobb’s, the hero’s, arrival to the major league, the coach, Pop, comments, â€Å"Wouldn’t you think I could get a fresh drink of water after all the years that I have been in this game.† At this point in the game, his team is losing miserably and Roy’s arrival only seems to make the situation worse because his first impression is an overage rookie. When Roy finally gets a chance to prove himself as a ball player and does, the water from the fountain begins to taste good. The water changing from bad to good shows a birth for the team. Since water is necessary for growth, it also symbolizes a growth stage for the team from the worst to a competitor. Roy appears to be â€Å"the fresh drink of water† that Pop has been wanting. The sunset also emerges into view several times in t... ...s ball despite the risk of death. Roy’s task is to identify himself so that he may reassume his rightful position as the best baseball player in the game. He earned the position the first time when he struck out the Whammer. After returning to baseball, Roy must again prove himself as the best. First, Roy must earn the respect from his coach and the players before he can attempt to make a name for himself. Once that is accomplished by showing off his hitting talents, Roy Hobbs easily becomes a household name. It takes awhile, but he does become the persistent front-page story. The movie The Natural obviously benefits from using the images of water, sunsets, and circles, the characters of the temptress, the devil figure, and the trickster, and the situations of the fall, dealing with the unhealable wound, and the task. By using these archetypes in the movie, the plot is not all the viewer sees. The movie becomes more in depth. More feelings can also be provoked by the use of archetypes, which will involve the viewer more in the movie and allow them to connect with the characters. Roy’s dream to become the best becomes enhanced by the continuous use of archetypes in the movie.

Deception Point Page 94

Crouched beside the powerboat untying the moorings, Corky glanced up just as the machine guns beneath the chopper erupted in a blaze of thunder. Corky lurched as if hit. Wildly, he scrambled over the gunwale and dove into the boat, sprawled himself on the floor for cover. The guns stopped. Tolland could see Corky crawling deeper into the powerboat. The lower part of his right leg was covered with blood. Crouched below the dash, Corky reached up and fumbled across the controls until his fingers found the key. The boat's 250 hp Mercury engine roared to life. An instant later, a red laser beam appeared, emanating from the nose of the hovering chopper, targeting the powerboat with a missile. Tolland reacted on instinct, aiming the only weapon he had. The flare gun in his hand hissed when he pulled the trigger, and a blinding streak tore away on a horizontal trajectory beneath the ship, heading directly toward the chopper. Even so, Tolland sensed he had acted too late. As the streaking flare bore down on the helicopter's windshield, the rocket launcher beneath the chopper emitted its own flash of light. At the same exact instant that the missile launched, the aircraft veered sharply and pulled up out of sight to avoid the incoming flare. â€Å"Look out!† Tolland yelled, yanking Rachel down onto the catwalk. The missile sailed off course, just missing Corky, coming the length of the Goya and slamming into the base of the strut thirty feet beneath Rachel and Tolland. The sound was apocalyptic. Water and flames erupted beneath them. Bits of twisted metal flew in the air and scattered the catwalk beneath them. Metal on metal ground together as the ship shifted, finding a new balance, slightly askew. As the smoke cleared, Tolland could see that one of the Goya's four main struts had been severely damaged. Powerful currents tore past the pontoon, threatening to break it off. The spiral stairway descending to the lower deck looked to be hanging by a thread. â€Å"Come on!† Tolland yelled, urging Rachel toward it. We've got to get down! But they were too late. With a surrendering crack, the stairs peeled away from the damaged strut and crashed into the sea. Over the ship, Delta-One grappled with the controls of the Kiowa helicopter and got it back under control. Momentarily blinded by the incoming flare, he had reflexively pulled up, causing the Hellfire missile to miss its mark. Cursing, he hovered now over the bow of the ship and prepared to drop back down and finish the job. Eliminate all passengers. The controller's demands had been clear. â€Å"Shit! Look!† Delta-Two yelled from the rear seat, pointing out the window. â€Å"Speedboat!† Delta-One spun and saw a bullet-riddled Crestliner speedboat skimming away from the Goya into the darkness. He had a decision to make. 114 Corky's bloody hands gripped the wheel of the Crestliner Phantom 2100 as it pounded out across the sea. He rammed the throttle all the way forward, trying to eke out maximum speed. It was not until this moment that he felt the searing pain. He looked down and saw his right leg spurting blood. He instantly felt dizzy. Propping himself against the wheel, he turned and looked back at the Goya, willing the helicopter to follow him. With Tolland and Rachel trapped up on the catwalk, Corky had not been able to reach them. He'd been forced to make a snap decision. Divide and conquer. Corky knew if he could lure the chopper far enough away from the Goya, maybe Tolland and Rachel could radio for help. Unfortunately, as he looked over his shoulder at the illuminated ship, Corky could see the chopper still hovering there, as if undecided. Come on, you bastards! Follow me! But the helicopter did not follow. Instead it banked over the stern of the Goya, aligned itself, and dropped down, landing on the deck. No! Corky watched in horror, now realizing he'd left Tolland and Rachel behind to be killed. Knowing it was now up to him to radio for help, Corky groped the dashboard and found the radio. He flicked the power switch. Nothing happened. No lights. No static. He turned the volume knob all the way up. Nothing. Come on! Letting go of the wheel, he knelt down for a look. His leg screamed in pain as he bent down. His eyes focused on the radio. He could not believe what he was looking at. The dashboard had been strafed by bullets, and the radio dial was shattered. Loose wires hung out the front. He stared, incredulous. Of all the goddamned luck†¦ Weak-kneed, Corky stood back up, wondering how things could get any worse. As he looked back at the Goya, he got his answer. Two armed soldiers jumped out of the chopper onto the deck. Then the chopper lifted off again, turning in Corky's direction and coming after him at full speed. Corky slumped. Divide and conquer. Apparently he was not the only one with that bright idea tonight. As Delta-Three made his way across the deck and approached the grated ramp leading belowdecks, he heard a woman shouting somewhere beneath him. He turned and motioned to Delta-Two that he was going belowdecks to check it out. His partner nodded, remaining behind to cover the upper level. The two men could stay in contact via CrypTalk; the Kiowa's jamming system ingeniously left an obscure bandwidth open for their own communications. Clutching his snub-nose machine gun, Delta-Three moved quietly toward the ramp that led belowdecks. With the vigilance of a trained killer, he began inching downward, gun leveled. The incline provided limited visibility, and Delta-Three crouched low for a better view. He could hear the shouting more clearly now. He kept descending. Halfway down the stairs he could now make out the twisted maze of walkways attached to the underside of the Goya. The shouting grew louder. Then he saw her. Midway across the traversing catwalk, Rachel Sexton was peering over a railing and calling desperately toward the water for Michael Tolland. Did Tolland fall in? Perhaps in the blast? If so, Delta-Three's job would be even easier than expected. He only needed to descend another couple of feet to have an open shot. Shooting fish in a barrel. His only vague concern was Rachel standing near an open equipment locker, which meant she might have a weapon-a speargun or a shark rifle-although neither would be any match for his machine gun. Confident he was in control of the situation, Delta-Three leveled his weapon and took another step down. Rachel Sexton was almost in perfect view now. He raised the gun. One more step. The flurry of movement came from beneath him, under the stairs. Delta-Three was more confused than frightened as he looked down and saw Michael Tolland thrusting an aluminum pole out toward his feet. Although Delta-Three had been tricked, he almost laughed at this lame attempt to trip him up. Then he felt the tip of the stick connect with his heel. A blast of white-hot pain shot through his body as his right foot exploded out from under him from a blistering impact. His balance gone, Delta-Three flailed, tumbling down the stairs. His machine gun clattered down the ramp and went overboard as he collapsed on the catwalk. In anguish, he curled up to grip his right foot, but it was no longer there. Tolland was standing over his attacker immediately with his hands still clenching the smoking bang-stick-a five-foot Powerhead Shark-Control Device. The aluminum pole had been tipped with a pressure-sensitive, twelve-gauge shotgun shell and was intended for self-defense in the event of shark attack. Tolland had reloaded the bang-stick with another shell, and now held the jagged, smoldering point to his attacker's Adam's apple. The man lay on his back as if paralyzed, staring up at Tolland with an expression of astonished rage and agony. Rachel came running up the catwalk. The plan was for her to take the man's machine gun, but unfortunately the weapon had gone over the edge of the catwalk into the ocean.

I Hope You Dance

I hope you dance â€Å"And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance. † (Sillers,2010, ll. 8. &9. ) If you had the chance to sit it out or dance, would you dance? This amazingly, inspirational song was written by Tia Sillers when she was at her breaking point, sitting on the beach just after going through a heart wrenching divorce. It really is peculiar that such an inspirational and beautiful song such as â€Å"I hope you dance† was written at such a devastating time.As she sat beside the ocean, pondering on all that she been through, she realized, things aren’t so bad. She interprets this in her lyrics by saying â€Å"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. † (Sillers,2010, l. 5) â€Å"I hope you dance† is unmistakabley pulled from deep within Siller’s soul. Anyone who hears this song, and truly takes these lyrics to heart could undoubtedly pull themselves out of whatever strife they may be go ing through at any given time. With Mrs.Siller’s inspirational words, she truly has created the most breath taking song of our time. I have a very deep understanding of this song because â€Å"I hope you dance† has helped me through some extremely difficult times. I was homeless at the age of sixteen and ready to give up on the world when I first heard this song playing over the radio. With the help of Sillers words I was able to find the inspiration inside myself and keep going to school even if it meant sacrificing a day of pay from missing work.I knew that although things would be extremely difficult to attempt to be able to work enough hours to get my own place and attend high school on a regular basis, but with the help of her words I found the motivation within myself to give it my all. After three months I had saved enough money for the deposit and first month’s rent and my grades we’re decent enough for me to graduate on time with the rest of my p eer’s. Now that I am more stable things have become less difficult, but whenever I am having a hard time, I simply go to you tube and listen to Siller’s song. I hope you dance† has undoubtedly shed light on an endless number of suffering souls.â€Å"Don’t let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter, when you come close to selling out reconsider. † (Sillers, 2010, ll. 15. 16. )Those lyrics convey the struggle life can throw at a person, but they are also telling them to never give up. Tia was trying to reach into the hearts of all the suffering souls out there, and try to get them to look at the bigger picture. â€Å"May you never take one single breath for granted. (Sillers, 2010, l. 3) Tia was trying to get the point across that life is a gift, and to simply sit it out and let it pass you by could be a tremendous mistake that no one can ever take back. She also indicates this in like thirteen: â€Å"Livin might mean takin chances, but they’re worth takin. † (Sillers, 2010, l. 13. ) Throughout life there are many obstacles to overcome, and not every road you take will be a smooth one, but the bumpiest road, will often lead you to the greenest field.Siller’s showed an understanding for this by writing â€Å"I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance. Never settle for the path of least resistance. † (Sillers, 2010, ll. 11. 12. ) Every successful person has had to struggle in life, but with struggle, comes satisfaction. If every person was able to listen to this song, but not just listen, understand this song, I feel as though statistics such as the high school drop-out rate, or the college drop-out rate would decrease.Giving up would simply not be an option. Sometimes we all need a little inspiration, something to get us motivated and focused on the bigger picture. Life is about making mistakes, Siller’s portrays this perfectly by saying â€Å"Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens. † (Sillers, 2010, l. 6. ) Although doors may close, and devastation may take a toll on a person’s life, one needs to be able to pick themselves back up, and open another door, but not just for the sake of moving, but for their own satisfaction.If â€Å"I hope you dance† was listened by everyone at least once a day, people would be able to find it in themselves to pick themselves up and keep moving forward, for with every step one takes forward is another step closer to their ultimate goal of success. No one would drown themselves in their own self-pity, for they could find the inspiration in themselves through the understanding of the lyrics of â€Å"I hope you dance. †References Kawashima, D (2010) â€Å"I hope you dance† Retrieved August 28, 2012 from Song Writer Universe: http://www. songwriteruniverse. com/sillers. htm