Letters from a skeptic

aldjsf essays

aldjsf essays Throughout this memorandum I will demonstrate why I am the best candidate for the position of Executive Assistant to the President and CEO. You will be informed of my qualities through these three main ideas: Problem solving, Team skills and Initiative. With these three qualities I can insure you that I will meet and exceed all you expectations for someone in this kind of position. The ability to problem solve is a very important quality when it comes to an executive position and I am sure that I will be able to make a step towards solving every problem I am confronted with. This is so easy for me to say because at one point in my life I was involved in Corvallis Philomath leadership, a group for high-school leadership students. The group meet weekly at different businesses around Corvallis and we would be given a problem that dealt with the business we currently were at. Some of the problems that we encountered involved things like Logging, poverty and the crime. This way we got experience solving many different kinds of problems. Some thing else that helped me become a better problem solver was when I was a counselor for Outdoor school. In this case I was placed in a cabin with eight 7th grade boys. During my time as an outdoors school counselor I was forced to deal with many problems that I had never dealt with before. I few of the problems I dealt with whe re things like fights between kids, bed wetting, and steeling. Even though I think this was one of my most difficult moments I stayed calm and got through every problem that was brought to my attention. As you can see through these two circumstances I possess an enormous amount of experience in solving many different kinds of problems. In a business environment teamwork is key to the businesses success. One of my first experiences with teamwork was when I got involved in my schools leadership program. My role in leadership stayed mostly as just another team player, until my j...

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 30

Case Study Example The simple mistakes by the company were the major causes of data breaches. The pretexting attempt of the data breach impacted the business conducted by ChoicePoint negatively as the company was forced to disclose what had transpired and inform residents about their personal, informal being compromised. The federal level charged the company with many negligence counts for failing to make use of realistic information security customs. At the same time, the Federal Trade Commission also charged the firm with violation of giving credit reports to subscribers without permissible reasons to obtain them. The company saw a decline of income and increase of expenses after the incident. At the same time, there were fines imposed on the firm by FTC fines (Otto, Anton & Baumer, 2007). ChoicePoint’s paid a $10 million fine and $5 million to compensate their customers for the losses that stemmed from the information breach. Legal expenses amounting to $800,000 were incurred during the first quarter of the year 2006 related to the falsified data access. The compan y decided to restrict information product sale, which contained sensitive customer data. The first governance step that ChoicePoint made was employing of a chief privacy officer who reported directly to the board to govern privacy and public accountability. The briefings are done quarterly to ensure improvement of privacy and security with another detailed oversight roles. ChoicePoint has also come up with many divisions to tackle privacy and security from various angles like corporate credentialing centre. It is a conformity and privacy division, which also undertakes internal auditing (Conger, 2009). The second step is the distinct definition of the expected behaviour and offer tools to employees to make compliance simple. ChoicePoint implemented various practices to scrutinize potentially fake customer behaviour such as investigating firms, which abruptly increase their background

Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social and Behavioral Sciences - Research Paper Example Hypertension is very rampant today affecting even young people when it was considered the disease for the old. It must be understood that it affects all gender, races, and economic levels equally. Hypertension accounts for 45% of deaths due to cardiovascular related diseases making it a more lethal killer than any other known heart disease thus being a significant public health problem (Myat, Redwood, Qureshi, Spertus, & Williams, 2012). The etiology of hypertension is very elaborate and complex since there are several factors falling into two interrelated classifications. There are uncontrolled factors that cause hypertensions, factors that an individual has no capacity to change whichever way he or she tries. Different from uncontrolled factors are those that individuals can influence, manipulate and control. These are factors within the environment and in most cases; people significantly determine how they interact with them. Heredity- this is the likelihood of certain families to have a gene responsible for hypertension. This trait is passed on from one generation to another. There is nothing in plan to stop or control it (Ng et al., 2010). This therefore means that individuals from families with history of hypertension are more at risk of hypertension than those with no history. Gender- men are more susceptible to hypertension than women. The fact that gender cannot be changed makes it had to control hypertension in male gender. The probability is also determined by age and ethnicity. Men prefer dealing with stress intrinsically rather than seek help from counselors or psychologists. Furthermore, men are known to have poor coping skills when under pressure than women (Mounier-Vehier et al., 2012). Age-older people have a greater risk of hypertension than young ones, aging brings with it a period of physical inactivity physiological as well as structural alterations of the cardiovascular system such as arteriosclerosis that make

Capital Punishment Should Be Banned From Bangladesh Philosophy Essay

Capital Punishment Should Be Banned From Bangladesh Philosophy Essay According to great author and noble prize winner writer George Bernard Shaw, says that Capital Punishment is a vague term. He illustrates the victims as mad dogs, cobras or adders which causes ill to our society. Either we should kill them or educate them to become eligible for remaining in the society. The real problem is the criminal you cannot reform: the human mad dog or cobra. The answer is, kill him kindly and apologetically, if possible without consciousness on his part. Let him go comfortably to bed expecting to wake up in the morning as usual, and not wake up. His general consciousness that this may happen to him should be shared by every citizen as part of his moral civic responsibility. There is a considerable class of persons who become criminals because they cannot fend for themselves, but who under tutelage, superintendence, and provided sustenance are self-supporting and even profitable citizens. They make good infantry soldiers and well-behaved prisoners. But throw them out into the street and they are presently in the dock. They also present no problem. Reorganize their lives for them; and do not prate foolishly about their liberty. Capital punishment is the death penalty given by the government of a country, to people who have committed hideous crimes like homicide, rape, etc. Capital punishment has been a way of punishing people since ages. Although there are some countries that have abolished death penalty from their law, there are still many which still practice the act of killing a person for crime. Capital punishment is prevalent in the US, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Some of the ways of executing criminals are hanging, shooting, electrocution and giving lethal injections. People have different opinions on the issue of capital punishment given to a convict. While some think that death penalty is necessary for those who have committed a terrible crime, there are others who consider it as an immoral act that goes against the values of humanity. Pros of Capital Punishment ( Taken from a website and edited in a very small amount because all statements are self-explanatory) A person who has committed a crime like killing or raping another person should be given death penalty, which is as severe punishment as the act. It is said that when a criminal is given a capital punishment, it dissuades others in the society from committing such serious crimes. They would refrain from such crimes due to fear of losing their lives. This would definitely help in reducing crime rate in society. If a criminal is jailed, he may again commit the same crime after being released from prison. Giving him capital punishment would make sure that the society is safe from being attacked by criminals. It seems to be an appropriate punishment for serial killers and for those who continue to commit crimes even after serving imprisonment. Some believe that instead of announcing life imprisonment for the convicts, where they would have to live a futile life behind closed bars, it is better to kill them. It is said that imprisoning someone is more expensive than executing him. Rather than spending on a person who may again commit terrifying crime, it is better to put him to death. Capital punishment is equated as revenge for pain and suffering that the criminal inflicted on the victim. Some people strongly believe that a person who has taken the life of another person does not have a right to live. Sentencing such a criminal can give relief to the family members of the victim that their loved one has obtained justice. It is also important for the safety of fellow prison inmates and guards, as people who commit horrifying crimes like murder are believed to have a violent personality and may, in future, attack someone during imprisonment. These reasons emphasize the importance of capital punishment for the betterment of human society. However, there is another section of people who believe that it is an immoral and unethical act of violence. Cons of Capital Punishment If we execute a person, what is the difference between us and the criminal who has committed the horrifying crime of killing another individual. Capital punishment is not always just and appropriate. Usually, it has been seen that poor people have to succumb to death penalty as they cannot afford good lawyers to defend their stance. There are very rare cases of rich people being pronounced capital punishment. Also, an individual from minority communities are more likely to be given death penalty. Every human being is entitled to receive a second chance in life. Putting a convict behind bars is always a logical option than killing him, as there is a chance that he may improve. People who have served life sentences are reported to have bettered their earlier ways of living and have made worthwhile contribution to the society. There is also a chance that an individual is innocent and is wrongly charged for a crime he has never committed. There have been cases where individuals were released after being given death sentence, because they were proved innocent. There are also cases where a persons innocence was proved after he was put to death. Hence, it is best to avoid executing a person. It is reported that there is no relation between capital punishment and crime rate i.e giving death penalty does not decrease crime rate in the society. Crimes are prevalent in countries where capital punishment exists and also where it has been abolished. Bangladesh Perspective and My Opinion: Bangladesh is a country where there is no right to life. By the various way this right has been violating there. The causes of violation to this right are death penalty, extra judicial killings etc. Here is a common practice of death penalty and killings without justice. Every year many peoples are killed by death penalty and by the extra judicial killings. How many people have killed since independence to till today we dont have this statistics. It is no doubt that, death penalty is one kind of killing. Recently five persons were killed in death penalty within a day in Bangladesh. On 28th January, 2010 Bangladesh was executed this death penalty which decision was made by the Bangladesh Supreme Court. The killed persons were self declared killers of Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabondhu is the father of the nation of Bangladesh. Though, question has arisen on the execution procedure of this death penalty. I want to inform some statistics on Bangladesh to the national and international community. Especially it for the human rights organization and bodies which are working national and international level for the human rights. We have been seeing and reading the news on death penalty almost every week from Bangladesh which was declared by several courts for various charges. Only by extra judicially at least 1,600 people were killed in Bangladesh since 2004. 58 persons were killed during the Operation clean heart in 2002 led by army. We couldnt remember the horrible mass killings in so-called mutiny at BDR headquarters on 25-26 February, 2009. By that mutiny at least 74 were killed inhumanly including 57 meritorious army officers. After that mutiny at least 71 BDR members was died (Source: the daily Bhorer Kagoj, 25 February, 2010). Most of the died BDR were tortured before death, it was alleged. Anyhow, execution of death penalty is very inhuman, degrading and cruel. And no where it approved. Especially it is prohibited by the Constitution and the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. But, Bangladesh has executing the death penalty as normal. According to the Spinney Press, The UN reaffirmed and strengthened its position against the death penalty in December 2007 when the General Assembly passed a resolution calling upon member states to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty. Evidence from around the world has shown that the death penalty has no unique deterrent effect on crime. Many people have argued that abolishing the death penalty leads to higher crime rates, but studies in the USA and Canada, for instance, do not back this up. In November 2009 the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Bill 2009 was introduced before the House of Representatives. The legislation fulfils Australias obligations under the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which requires Australia to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty. As a consequence, the death penalty will not be able to be re-in troduced anywhere in Australia. Although the world is gradually moving towards abolition of capital punishment, in 2008 an estimated 1,718 people were executed in 25 countries and at least 8,864 people were sentenced to death in 52 countries. Three quarters of those executions took place in Asia, with China carrying out more executions than the rest of the worlds nations put together. Since 1967 when the last Australian (Ronald Ryan) was hanged, the Australia has maintained a policy of opposition to the death penalty. (It was written in the book-The death penalty). According to this book, most of the executions in 2008 were carried out in Asia, where 11 countries continue to practise the death penalty: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, and Viet Nam. China alone accounted for at least 1,718 executions although the figure is believed to be much higher as statistics on death sentences and executions remain state secrets. The Middle East and North Africa was the region with the second highest number of executions (508). In Iran, stoning and hanging were among the cruel and inhumane methods used, with at least 346 people put to death, including eight juvenile offenders. In Saudi Arabia, where execution is usually by public beheading, at least 102 people were executed. In the Americas, only the USA consistently executes people, with 37 executions carried out in 2008 including more in Texas than in any other state. The release of four men from death row in the USA on grounds of inn ocence brings to more than 120 the number of such cases released since 1975. The only other country in the Americas to execute in 2008 was St Kitts and Nevis, the first Caribbean state to carry out an execution since 2003. According to the Amnesty International, 93 percents of the world death penalty has executed in China including other four countries. DW-Bengali online section writes (25-2-2010), the European Union was published a declaration on an anti-death penalty. Europe is the first place which is a death penalty free. A proposal of European on anti-death penalty in the Human Rights Commission of Geneva and general assembly of UNO in 1998, was spoiled by the contradictory of USA, China, Africa and some countries of Asia. Though, in 2007 that proposal was passed in general assembly of UNO. And the 58 percents people of China are support to death penalty. In the mean time 93 countries have already abolished to death penalty by making the law. At least 141 country havent giving death penalty, now. We know the Italy has a historical background on anti-death penalty movement. So, we want to thanks and salute to the Italy as well as the countries of European Union for their dedications to the right to life and for the human rights. Our hope, Bangladesh should obey to national and international treaties and declaration for human rights. And Bangladesh government should abolish the death penalty system immediately. If they have believe a little bit on human rights. Islamic Perspective: If anyone kills a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land it would be as if he killed all people. And if anyone saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all people (Quran 5:32). Life is sacred, according to Islam and most other world faiths. But how can one hold life sacred, yet still support capital punishment? The Quran answers, Take not life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you, so that you may learn wisdom (6:151). The key point is that one may take life only by way of justice and law. In Islam, therefore, the death penalty can be applied by a court as punishment for the most serious of crimes. Ultimately, ones eternal punishment is in Gods hands, but there is a place for punishment in this life as well. The spirit of the Islamic penal code is to save lives, promote justice, and prevent corruption and tyranny. Islamic philosophy holds that a harsh punishment serves as a deterrent to serious crimes that harm individual victims, or threaten to destabilize the foundation of society. According to Islamic law (in the first verse quoted above), the following two crimes can be punishable by death: Intentional murder Fasad fil-ardh (spreading mischief in the land) Intentional Murder The Quran legislates the death penalty for murder, although forgiveness and compassion are strongly encouraged. The murder victims family is given a choice to either insist on the death penalty, or to pardon the perpetrator and accept monetary compensation for their loss (2:178). Fasaad fi al-ardh The second crime for which capital punishment can be applied is a bit more open to interpretation. Spreading mischief in the land can mean many different things, but is generally interpreted to mean those crimes that affect the community as a whole, and destabilize the society. Crimes that have fallen under this description have included: Treason / Apostacy (when one leaves the faith and joins the enemy in fighting against the Muslim community) Terrorism Land, sea, or air piracy Rape Adultery Homosexual behavior Actual methods of capital punishment vary from place to place. In some Muslim countries, methods have included beheading, hanging, stoning, and firing squad. Executions are held publicly, to serve as warnings to would-be criminals. It is important to note that there is no place for vigilantism in Islam one must be properly convicted in an Islamic court of law before the punishment can be meted out. The severity of the punishment requires that very strict evidence standards must be met before a conviction is found. The court also has flexibility to order less than the ultimate punishment (for example, imposing fines or prison sentences), on a case-by-case basis. At the end I want to say that Capital Punishment is necessary, if the situation is applicable. This is not unethical or immoral but it has to be seen that the griminal is passes with ease and relief.

Features of Al-Masjid-Al-Nabawi Mosque :: essays research papers

Religious Studies coursework 'Name the features of a specific mosque' A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. Its primary purpose is to serve as a place of worship for practising Muslims where they can pray together. Al-Masjid-Al-Nabawi, also known as the prophet's mosque, is the second holiest mosque in the world and is the final resting place of the prophet Muhammad. The original mosque was built by the prophet himself. The mosque also served as a community centre, a court and a religious centre. The main religious texts provide no rules to what the mosque should look like. Al-Masjid-Al-Nabawi has gone under some major transformations form 629-1921, rulers expanding he mosque, creating new wings and trying to put their mark on it. Mandatory elements for a mosque include that it should point the direction to Mecca. This is called the Quibla. The direction was once towards Jerusalem however it then changed to the Kaaba in Mecca when Muhammad received a revelation from Allah during the noon prayer whilst in Mecca. Allah instructed the prophet to take the Kaaba as the Quibla. Muhammad then immediately turned to face the Kaaba and those praying behind him also did so. Most mosques contain a Niche in the wall to indicate the direction. This is called Mihrab. The Mihrab gives the impression of a door to Mecca. They are usually ornately decorated. Mihrabs can be wood , but is normally made out of masonry, and adorned with pillars. The call to prayer is traditionally given from the top of the minaret(the Muezzin calls out the Adhan). Although in the most modern mosque is the Adhan is called the Musallah(prayer hall)via a microphone and speaker system. Minarets usually consist of three primary parts of the base, the shaft and the gallery. Features of Al-Masjid-Al-Nabawi Mosque :: essays research papers Religious Studies coursework 'Name the features of a specific mosque' A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. Its primary purpose is to serve as a place of worship for practising Muslims where they can pray together. Al-Masjid-Al-Nabawi, also known as the prophet's mosque, is the second holiest mosque in the world and is the final resting place of the prophet Muhammad. The original mosque was built by the prophet himself. The mosque also served as a community centre, a court and a religious centre. The main religious texts provide no rules to what the mosque should look like. Al-Masjid-Al-Nabawi has gone under some major transformations form 629-1921, rulers expanding he mosque, creating new wings and trying to put their mark on it. Mandatory elements for a mosque include that it should point the direction to Mecca. This is called the Quibla. The direction was once towards Jerusalem however it then changed to the Kaaba in Mecca when Muhammad received a revelation from Allah during the noon prayer whilst in Mecca. Allah instructed the prophet to take the Kaaba as the Quibla. Muhammad then immediately turned to face the Kaaba and those praying behind him also did so. Most mosques contain a Niche in the wall to indicate the direction. This is called Mihrab. The Mihrab gives the impression of a door to Mecca. They are usually ornately decorated. Mihrabs can be wood , but is normally made out of masonry, and adorned with pillars. The call to prayer is traditionally given from the top of the minaret(the Muezzin calls out the Adhan). Although in the most modern mosque is the Adhan is called the Musallah(prayer hall)via a microphone and speaker system. Minarets usually consist of three primary parts of the base, the shaft and the gallery.

Kant on Milgram’s Perils of Obedience

Stanley Milgram conducted a study through a laboratory set-up to evaluate the perils of obedience of different subjects and participants of the study. One of significant results of his study entails that ordinary people, his participants, actively performs his or her job without any hostility and regard in their participation on something wrong done. (Milgram, 1974). To some evaluated participants, the case describes their disobedience with the standards of morality given the provision of a governing or instructing authority. Participants who were made to do wrong at some point, would derive satisfaction from the wrongness by knowing that they obeyed the authority commanding their actions. Milgram mentions that obedience can be defined as the ability of an individual to disassociate his responsibility on the wrong act because he only granted his authority’s wishes (Milgram, 1974). Moreover, a subordinate would feel shame or pride depending on how he has followed an authority’s instructions. The reality this reflects in the society maintains that loyalty, duty and discipline are significantly strained with the emotional and obedience conflicts. A subordinate’s defined role is does not necessarily instill his morale, but rather socially construct his role based on the social provisions, including defiance of his role in the perspective of his authority. Obedience in some cases also reflects a defense for people to do wrong things, as explained in the article, many participants who became the teacher in the set-up, punished the learner because they were following the instructions of the experimenter, and assured of no responsibility with the learner. People heeds to authority without discerning their own stance or the consequences of their actions. Based on Kant’s model of society, all disobedience from the supreme legislative power, or the authority and law, is considered as the greatest and most punishable crime of mankind because it inhibits the very foundations of society. Kant’s position on obedience does not allow the challenge of authority, and rejects the right of revolution or rebellion. (Williams, 1983) The evidence is shown through the study conducted by Milgram. Kant strictly attributed authority with the same governing laws and constitution of a society, thus disallowing any form of disobedience. Realized through Milgram’s article is the conflict which arises from following the authority with personal moral issues within an individual. Kant’s philosophy on this maintains the duty of all individual to hope for both moral and positive law to be achieved. (Williams, 1983) Kant defined obedience as a requirement of pure reason from individuals and makes them coerce with the law of an authority, while maintaining their freedom within and among their fellows. (Williams, 1983) The system of an authority demands strict adherence from the subjects of the state, because that makes individuals be the subject of authority. However, Kant subjects a restriction to an individual to resist conflict of the morality of one’s own, with his adherence to the authority. The arguments resolved by Milgram on his study entails how individuals refer to their morality with obedience to authority. Evidently, emotions and moral issues comes in conflict with being submissive to authority, but in the end, people act even in contrast with their emotion because the pride and satisfaction of doing what can be considered as wrong, comes from following the directives of the authority.