The efffects of Louis 16th on France Essay Example For Students

The efffects of Louis 16th on France Essay The French Revolution was a significant milestone in European history,remembered by many in historical and literary works. The situation in France, mostlyunder the leadership of Louis XVI, had a negative influence in France, thus creating aperfect climate for the French Revolution. France was plagued by both debt, and poorFrance was poverty-stricken and burdened with some of the highest debts. On the financial side, Louis XVI was aided by: Finance Minister Anne Robert Jauques Turgot,and Interior Minister Chretien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes (*The economicorigins of the French revolution, pg. 4). Louis introduced some of the most oppressivetaxes and instituted financial reforms. Greater reforms were prevented by the oppositionof the upper classes and court. This opposition was so strong that Turgot was forced toresign and was replaced by Jauques Necker. Lengthy wars, the support to the AmericanRevolution and the gross amount of taxes paid and the lavish spending of the courtcontributed to the huge national debt. The governments financial problems were madeworse after 1740 by the renewal of costly wars (the French revolution, pg. 9). We will write a custom essay on The efffects of Louis 16th on France specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The war ofthe Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and the Seven Years War (1756-1763) wereEuropean wars over the domination of central Europe and colonial and commercial warsbetween France and Great Britain (*Aspects of the French Revolution pg.). At theirend, in 1763 France had lost almost all of its colonial empire in America and India. In1778 the French launched an attack against Britain in the American Revolution. Theywere hoping to weaken old rivalries and regain lost colonies. The hopes of the Frenchwere not realized and their participation in the war increased an already heavy nationaldebt. After Louis XVI granted financial aid (1778-81) to the American coloniesrevolting against Great Britain, Necker proposed drastic taxes on the nobility. Neckerwas forced to resign in 1781 (Louis XVI and M. Antoinette ..pg 37) because of thediscontentment of the people. Charles Alexandre deCalonne replaced him in 1783 andborrowed money for the court until the borrowing limit was reached (* CanadianEncyclopedia ref: france, revolution ). The anger of the French people against taxes,debt and lavish spending on the Court resulted in the recall of Necker in 1788, who stillcould not prevent bankruptcy of the government. During the next couple of years thefinancial crisis steadily worsened, because the government was bankrupt. Louis wasforced to call a meeting with a delegate of the Estates-General, ( a government groupconsisting of representatives of the clergy, nobility and commoners). Once in themeeting the Estates-General took power of the government. One of the other causes ofthe national debt was at the fault of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Louis XVI wasdescribed as not overly intelligent, weak and incapable king (* Encarta, ref: Louis XVI). But he was intelligent enough to get money from the government. It was well knownthat Louis was more concerned with his own personal affairs than with the interests ofthe court and the people. Often work bored him and he left his work up to his advisorsan ministers. He preferred to spend a lot time and the peoples money on extravagantthings, and his wife. Rather than paying back previous debts and helping the situation,he increased taxes on the peasants and spent more money, worsening the predicament. By 1787, the national debt was 112,000,000 livres(* the French Revolution, Albert. ..pg. 25) and continued to get worse, sharpening the national debt even more. .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 , .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .postImageUrl , .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 , .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618:hover , .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618:visited , .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618:active { border:0!important; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618:active , .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618 .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2929487a6390a5251286c9f5f85f7618:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: June 1932 Birth Control Essay In the time leading up into and during the French Revolution there was classtensions, often between the nobility and the peasants. There were also poor livingconditions. Some say that these situations are not Louis XVIs fault but were problemshe inherited with the throne. So he cannot be blamed for the events leading into theFrench Revolution. In this time period there were class tensions. The nobles had all theprivileges and rights. The peasants were stepped on from every angle. So what madethe nobles so desirable? There was glamour, distinction and recognition that the noblestatues brought. They had a range of privileges that they received. Nobles tookprecedence on public occasions, and carried swords. (the French Revolution, sydenham,.. pg 61)They were entitled to a trial at a special courts. They also enjoyed financialadvantages. They paid no duties on transferring feudal property and nobility conferredexemption from

Free Essays on Robert Browning

Robert Browning’s poem â€Å"My last Duchess† is spoken from the perspective of the Duke and conveys the Dukes personality through the literary form of a dramatic monologue. It involves a fictional account of the Duke addressing an envoy from the Count to talk of details for the hopeful marriage to the Count’s daughter. The subtitle of this monologue is â€Å"Ferrara,† which suggests an historical reference to Alfonso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara in Italy in the mid-sixteenth century. The objective of the Duke is to attempt to sway the envoy’s opinion of himself to obtain the maximum dowry possible in pursuit of this marriage. The reader is directed to imagine the Duke walking with the envoy through his art gallery and the Duke stops to show him a painting of his last Duchess that is presently covered by a curtain. â€Å"Since none puts by / the curtain I have drawn for you, but I† (9-10). This curtain is the first reference to the Dukes selfish, jealous, and protective traits. The Duke uses the curtain as a method of controlling his wife, even after her death. Other men admiring her beauty was unacceptable, so by hiding the painting behind a curtain, he controls who is allowed to gaze upon her. â€Å"Sir, ‘twas not / her husband’s presence only, called that spot / of joy into the Duchess’ cheek† (13-15). The Duke mentions the blush on the cheek that the duchess has in the painting and assumes that Fr Pandolf, the painter, was attracted to the Duchess and possibly paid her a compliment. â€Å"Her mantle laps Over my lady’s wrist too much,’ or ‘Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat.† (16-19) The Duke assumes that Fr Pandolf was most likely flirting with the Duchess and that she was flirting back with him. This demonstrates that the Duke was extremely jealous and could not stand to have his wife admired by other men. The Duke is not happy with the manner in w... Free Essays on Robert Browning Free Essays on Robert Browning Robert Browning’s poem â€Å"My last Duchess† is spoken from the perspective of the Duke and conveys the Dukes personality through the literary form of a dramatic monologue. It involves a fictional account of the Duke addressing an envoy from the Count to talk of details for the hopeful marriage to the Count’s daughter. The subtitle of this monologue is â€Å"Ferrara,† which suggests an historical reference to Alfonso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara in Italy in the mid-sixteenth century. The objective of the Duke is to attempt to sway the envoy’s opinion of himself to obtain the maximum dowry possible in pursuit of this marriage. The reader is directed to imagine the Duke walking with the envoy through his art gallery and the Duke stops to show him a painting of his last Duchess that is presently covered by a curtain. â€Å"Since none puts by / the curtain I have drawn for you, but I† (9-10). This curtain is the first reference to the Dukes selfish, jealous, and protective traits. The Duke uses the curtain as a method of controlling his wife, even after her death. Other men admiring her beauty was unacceptable, so by hiding the painting behind a curtain, he controls who is allowed to gaze upon her. â€Å"Sir, ‘twas not / her husband’s presence only, called that spot / of joy into the Duchess’ cheek† (13-15). The Duke mentions the blush on the cheek that the duchess has in the painting and assumes that Fr Pandolf, the painter, was attracted to the Duchess and possibly paid her a compliment. â€Å"Her mantle laps Over my lady’s wrist too much,’ or ‘Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat.† (16-19) The Duke assumes that Fr Pandolf was most likely flirting with the Duchess and that she was flirting back with him. This demonstrates that the Duke was extremely jealous and could not stand to have his wife admired by other men. The Duke is not happy with the manner in w...

How to Win at What You Love (i.e., The Art of Diligence)

How to Win at What You Love (i.e., The Art of Diligence) I’ve always majored in the â€Å"make lemonade† school of surviving hard knocks, with a minor in â€Å"follow your bliss,† so after I was laid off from my job producing special projects for a local public radio station, I decided to go for it – writing books. A friend who’d heard my last big radio project – a series of three half-hours about climate change – told me I should turn it into a nonfiction book. In fact, I’d been working on a novel for about two years very slowly but the idea of doing a nonfiction book was new. The day after my last day at work I attended a local writing conference, pitched my concept to three agents, and used their feedback to reshape my idea. And I discovered an amazing array of possibilities on the web for grants, fellowships and residencies: -Poets and Writers: pw.org/toolsforwriters -Mira’s List:miraslist.com/ Alliance of Artists Communitiesartistcommunities.org/ -Res Artis:resartis.org/en/ -Writers Editors: writersandeditors.com/awards__grants__fellowships_57698.htm But it wasn’t until I found Hope Clark’s newsletters that her positive energy inspired me to start applying. My book is set in the eight states where I’ve lived, so I’ll need to travel back to each of them. I was born in Michigan, where I found ISLAND’s Hill House artist residency http://artmeetsearth.org/artistresidency.html which has an environmental focus that’s a great fit for my project. Still, I was amazed to be accepted on my first try. Next, I applied for a grant from my local arts agency, the Regional Arts Culture Consortium http://racc.org . The proposal was daunting – everything from drawing up a budget to planning for a public event, so I went to RACC’s Open House and took advantage of the agency’s offer to review grant proposals turned in a couple of weeks early. I got terrific input, and had time to strengthen my application enough that I was awarded $5,000, some of which will fund a travel blog. So far, so good. My â€Å"platform† as an environmental journalist, and years of writing on deadline doubtlessly helped me submit polished applications. But could I make the leap to winning funding on the basis of my fiction?    This year, I took the plunge – and was accepted as a Hawthorne Fellow at The Attic Institute in Portland. It’s not free, but it’s competitive. I was also accepted to the Tin House writing conference, and won another residency http://springcreek.oregonstate.edu/residencies.html where I’ll go to write up what I learn doing my RACC funded research. Here’s what I’ve learned: -target your proposal to funders and residencies that mesh with your project; -start with agencies that are local, or at least local to the setting   of your book; -apply for the least attractive times -do your homework; -take any coaching you’re offered; -be willing to invest some money in yourself; -find a day job while you’re writing. I admit I’ve been lucky. After my layoff, I was offered a chance to produce television projects on a contract basis. When I’m at leisure (unemployed), I look for work and collect unemployment. And I write on two books!

Please discuss, in general terms, how Brazil might capitalise on this Essay

Please discuss, in general terms, how Brazil might capitalise on this opportunity to ensure success in the global market - Essay Example Although globalization has facilitated Brazil in this respect, the economy has to confront several issues, such as foreign direct investment and national differences among political economy, which can possibly influence the economic and commercial performance by the country. This report provides an overview of the position of Brazil as a major agricultural and fuel exporter in the world economy. It also provides insights on the issues that the economy has to handle and recommends on how Brazil can further capitalize on its position to ensure long term success in the international market. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Globalization and its effects 4 Globalization in Brazil 5 Production of ethanol in Brazil 7 Environmental and ethical issues faced by Brazil owing to ethanol production 8 Ethical issues 8 Foreign Direct Investment 9 National Differences in Political Economy 10 Exports and Imports situation 10 Conclusion and Recommendations 11 References 13 Appendix 15 Introductio n The Brazilian economy has been exhibiting high rates of economic growth, although the country is still plagued with various issues and imbalances. One of the primary reasons is that Brazil has a vast and strong domestic market that facilitates the development of a stable equilibrium of its demand and supply. This attribute of the economy imparts to it the confidence to maintain its growth rate. The support of the internal factors such as a strong domestic market builds up the ability of the economy to continue growing at this pace and ensures that it is protected from the vulnerabilities of the external competitive world. This leads to sustainable development of the country. However, in order to increase Brazil’s presence in the world market, the economy has to adhere to the policies and regulations and increase its focus on making innovations. Globalization and its effects The world economy is experiencing a major shift since the beginning of the 19th century. The 19th cen tury marked the beginning of a phenomenon known as globalization. Although globalization is believed by scholars to have a long history, the onset of ‘modern globalization’ is said to have been in the 19th century (O'Rourke and Williamson, 2000). The 19th century imperialism had made a huge contribution to shape the modern form of globalization when the European countries conquered many parts of the world, including the sub-Saharan Africa (Economic-geography, 2012). In the mid twentieth century, globalization was driven largely by the multinational corporations most of which were based in the United States. During this period the world saw a wide spread of the American culture. Two factors of the macro environment might be held responsible to lead the way towards globalization. Firstly, the barriers to the â€Å"free flow of goods, services, and capital† (Hill, 2011, p. 12) have been on the decline after the World War II ended. The second factor is the advent of disruptive technology that has brought swift and vast changes in the fields of communication, transfer of knowledge and information and processing of information. According to Hill, globalization is a shift in the economic and social functioning of the different economies towards an integrated and more interdependent economic system. This process can be broadly segmented into two facets; namely, globalization of the markets and globalization of the production process (Hill, 2011). There is a wide assortment of markets in the different countries, each of which has its own

International HR Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International HR Management - Essay Example International human resource management builds on the tenets of human resource management by having a consideration on what the human resource concepts mean in different nations of the world. This has been necessitated by the fact that as companies and organizations become international in nature, the issues touching on national culture, institutions and systems can hinder a seamless or functioning human resource and employment relations that are present across the national boundaries (Edwards and Rees 2006, p.45). Therefore, it can be stated that the need for people involved in human resource management to adopt an increasingly international approach cannot be gainsaid. This is important not just to people involved in the big multinational enterprises but also to those running small and medium-sized enterprises that are present across national boundaries. ... India In 2009, India had the second largest population in the world with a population of 1.2 billion and it is the tenth largest economy world-wide in terms of the Gross Development Product (GDP) with the fourth largest purchasing power parity (Kohli and Singh 2013, p. 189). According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India is ranked at number 141 in terms of per-capita- revenue basis based on the GDP and 130 in purchasing power parity in the year 2012. Being the third largest economy in the world when measured in terms of the purchasing power parity, India is a preferred destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) attracting inflows of U.S. $ 36.5 billion in the year 2011 alone. Soon after independence in 1947, India’s economy was based on both features of capitalism and socialism that entailed interventionist policies and other policies aimed at substituting imports that was to blame for the corruption and failure in the implementation of the policies. However, f rom 1991 India’s economy has been based on liberal and free-market economy policies that have led to the increases in per-capita incomes of India. It is important to note that the taker-off of the economy of India has been largely due to the infrastructural projects taken by successive regimes since 1991. The labour force in India is made of about 500 million people employed in the major industries such as agriculture made up of 52%, industries taking up 14% and services made up of 34% of those employed according to the estimates in 2009. Most Indians are employed in the major industries mainly in textiles, chemicals, food processing, cement, mining and petroleum while

Nature vs. Nurture Essay Example for Free

Nature vs. Nurture Essay Homosexuality, Addictions and Intelligence There have always been disputes on whether the decision to be homosexual or heterosexual was based on biological or environmental factors. These disputes are known as the Nature vs. Nurture argument. The two sides argue over how gender is chosen within a person. Based on reproductive organs, sex is easily determined at birth: male or female. Gender, however; is the sexual identity an individual takes on. It is possible for sex and gender to be different. For an example of nurture children who were both born with an injured or damaged reproductive organ, males usually can be raised successfully as females. In order to understand which factor is the deciding factor of a person’s gender, both sides of the case must be fully evaluated. DNA studies which appear to prove that gender is a genetic trait. Researchers have analyzed the makeup of the human brain of homosexuals and heterosexuals seeking a connection between gender and the brains physiology. They found when studying the part of the brain directly related to a persons’ sexual drive, that homosexuals had an enlarged hypothalamus, whereas heterosexuals had a normal one indicating a direct correlation between the brain and gender selections (AllPsych). In researching DNA’s role in gender identity, some scientist have identified the gene that determines a person’s sexual preference. Although there are mounting evidence of the existence of a â€Å"gay gene, â€Å"the opposition denies the existence (AllPsych). People in support of the Nurture argument claim that is an individual conscious or subconscious decision as to his or her gender identify. While many claim that people may control their sexual orientation, their brain, and not the other way around are actually controlling them. A person DNA and brain physiology control sexual preference which may be associated in the amygdale of the limbic system (Pscyhsmart). When scientist castrated the rats, stopping the creation of androgen, the male rats became submissive. When the androgen was given to the female rats, they began to display masculine behaviors. This experiment resulted in the male rat being submissive and allowing the female rat to  mount the male, unlike the normal male rat that would mount the female when engaging in reproduction ( Lippa 102). Similar to humans, if male do not have proper balance of hormones with his body, he may show feminine traits. These hormones are a biological aspect of gender that affects the decision to be homosexual or heterosexual. On the other hand, for the purpose of this discussion, addiction can take many forms, including not only substance use disorders, but also pathologic gambling, bulimia, and a host of other disorders. Dependency, abuse, and addiction are used relatively interchangeably; however, there is ongoing debate within the field regarding the best terminology. Furthermore, differences in how these phenotypes are surrounded can have an impact on the results of gene discovery efforts. Genetic loci that have been consistently associated with various forms of substance addiction, as well as those that demonstrate relevance to pharmacologic treatment. While the nature vs. nurture debate has raged, is the contribution of interactions between genetics and environment. In reality, gene expression is environment dependent and it impossible to obtain pure estimates of genetic vs. environmental contribution one could not exist without the other. The environment a child experiences is partly a consequence of the child’s genes as well as external factors. To some extent a person seeks out and creates his or her environment. If she is of a mechanical bent she practices mechanical skills; if a bookworm, she seeks out books. Thus genes may create an appetite rather than an aptitude. Remember that the high heritability of short-sightedness is accounted for not just by the heritability of a gene for short sightedness but by the heritability of literate habits. Conversely, on the discussion of intelligence, there are three facts about the transmission of intelligence that virtually everyone seems to accept: 1. Both heredity and environment contribute to intelligence. 2. Heredity and environment interact in various ways. 3. Extremely poor as well as highly enriched environments can interfere with the realization of a persons intelligence, regardless of the persons heredity (Sternberg Grigorenko, 1997, p.xi). Intelligence that appears to relate to ability to reason abstractly, to learn and to adapt. In closing, homosexuality, addictions and intelligence have reliable  statistical relationships with important social phenomena, but they are a limited tool for deciding what to make of any given individual. As stated by Ridley, Mother Nature has plainly not entrusted our genetic capacities to the blind fate of a gene or genes; she gave us parents, learning, language, culture and education to program ourselves with. WORKS CITED: Johnson, Ryan D. AllPsych (2005). â€Å"Homosexuality: Nature or Nurture†. Ridley, M. (1999). Genome: The autobiography of a species in 23 chapters. London: Fourth Estate Ltd. Sternberg, R. J., Grigorenko, E. (Eds.) (1997). Intelligence, heredity, and environment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Hegel: Reason in History Essay -- Philosophy History Essays

Hegel: Reason in History The second chapter of the Introduction to the Philosophy of History bears the title "Reason in History"; however, careful study reveals that it could just as aptly been dubbed Reason is History or better, History is Reason. Although Reason exists in a finite form within the human being, the whole—infinite Reason—is necessarily greater than the sum of its parts—the sum of finite Reasons. Hegel's Reason is the infinite material of all reality—the substance, form, and power. History is the increasing self-consciousness of the Spirit i.e. Reason; that is, a progressive increase of Reason within the world. This relationship between history and Reason is expressed by Hegel's agreement with Leibniz that this is the best of all possible worlds. In other words, everything is as it should be. In fact, Hegel makes strong assertions along just these lines, "that [Reason] reveals itself in the world, and that nothing else is revealed in the world but that Idea itself, its glory and majesty (12-13)." It is from this idea that Hegel derives the point that "Re... Hegel: Reason in History Essay -- Philosophy History Essays Hegel: Reason in History The second chapter of the Introduction to the Philosophy of History bears the title "Reason in History"; however, careful study reveals that it could just as aptly been dubbed Reason is History or better, History is Reason. Although Reason exists in a finite form within the human being, the whole—infinite Reason—is necessarily greater than the sum of its parts—the sum of finite Reasons. Hegel's Reason is the infinite material of all reality—the substance, form, and power. History is the increasing self-consciousness of the Spirit i.e. Reason; that is, a progressive increase of Reason within the world. This relationship between history and Reason is expressed by Hegel's agreement with Leibniz that this is the best of all possible worlds. In other words, everything is as it should be. In fact, Hegel makes strong assertions along just these lines, "that [Reason] reveals itself in the world, and that nothing else is revealed in the world but that Idea itself, its glory and majesty (12-13)." It is from this idea that Hegel derives the point that "Re...

Problem of Evil Essay

The traditional problem of evil emerges when people believe in and argue for the existence of a God who is both omnipotent and wholly good. According to Mackie’s study (1955), few of the solutions to the problem of evil could stand up to criticism. Today, someone suggests an alternative: God is not perfectly good, but maximally cool. By cool he means to be free from tension or violence. Since God is maximally cool, he is not so much concerned about either eliminating evil or maximizing goodness than promoting coolness. This God appears to be logically valid, but this essay will show that the existence of such God is impossible. First, we should ask this: if God aims to promote coolness, why would he bother to create evil? It is clear that evil is not cool, given that evil creates tension and violence. It may be replied that God is maximally cool and therefore creates anything based on his will and is not concerned with what happens to his creation afterwards. This reply is arguing that God created some cool thing which later then turned into the uncool evil. Then, the fact that uncool evil exists implies that God cannot make this uncool evil to be cool again, which contradicts with the premise that God is omnipotent. Secondly, good is also uncool. According to most theists, good is defined to be opposite to evil and thus always fights to expel evil (Mackie, 1955), so that good is in constant tension and possible violence with evil. Though the God in argument is claimed to be not perfectly good, this God is still good to a certain degree. Then he will still fights against evil and therefore is not always cool. This leads us to conclude that this God cannot be maximum cool. This guy in defense of the existence of a maximally cool God might argue that uncool is necessary as a counterpart to cool. It seems natural and necessary to consider why there should be uncool things if God is maximum cool. He might argue that if there were no uncool, there could be no cool either, in that if there were no violence or tension to be created and involved in, there could be no violence or tension to be free from. It might be that out of randomness, God created evil that generates tension and good that engages in tension against evil. To detach from involvement in tension or to destroy tension might create another tension and may incur violence. If God were to eliminate uncool things that he created, he would enter a tension between cool and uncool. Then, it would be uncool to make uncool things cool. Because God is maximally cool, he will not enter such tension and therefore he leaves good and evil as uncool as they are. By claiming that cool cannot exist without uncool, this guy shows that God cannot create cool without simultaneously creating uncool. This sets a limit to what God can do, which involves two possibilities: either God is not omnipotent or that omnipotence has some limits. If it is the first case, then we can deny the existence of a God who is omnipotent and maximally cool. If it is the second case, one may argue that these limits are logically impossibility. However, according to Mackie (1955), some theists hold the view that God can do what is logically impossible, while many theists maintain that God created logic. This leads us to the paradox of omnipotence, where we consider whether an omnipotent being can bind himself. According to Mackie, although we can avoid the paradox of omnipotence by putting God outside time, we cannot prove that an omnipotent God binds himself by logical laws. Therefore, it is a fallacious approach to prove the existence of a maximally cool and omnipotent by claiming that cool and uncool are counterparts to each other. To summarize, if a God is omniscience, then he must know the existence of uncool. If he is omnipotent and maximum cool, he will promote coolness to the maximum. However, we observe that there are uncool things which are against God’s will to promote coolness and which God cannot make them cool. Therefore, a God that is omniscience, omnipotent and maximally cool cannot exist. Works Cited J. L. Mackie, â€Å"Evil and Omnipotence,† Mind, New Series, Vol. 64, No. 254. (Apr. , 1955), pp. 200-212. In Pascal’s Wager, Pascal concludes that rationality requires people to wager for god. He bases his argument on mainly three premises. The first premise is his construct of the decision matrix of rewards. The second premise suggests that we are required by rationality to assign positive and not infinitesimal probability to God existing. The third premise states that we are required by rationality to perform the act of possible maximum expected utility. This essay will argue that Pascal’s Wager does not demonstrate solid prudential reasons for us to believe in God, by showing the third premise is not necessarily true. We consider that it is not in all cases that we are required by rationality to maximize expected utility. In Pascal’s Wager, we pay ‘one life’ to wager for God and obtain infinite expected utility. Paying finite amount to play a game with infinite expectation appear to be at our interests and can therefore serve as a prudential reason for us to wager for God. However, in certain cases, this action could be regarded as absurd and alternatively, and to the contrary, taking intuitively sub-optimal actions would actually maximize the expected utility. For example, the St. Petersburg paradox could be representative of this kind of situations. In the St. Petersburg game (Martin, 2011), we keep flipping a coin until we get a coin. The total number of flips, n, yields the prize which equals $2n. There are infinite sum of flips possible, so we have infinite number of possible consequences. The expected payoff of each consequence is $1 and therefore the ‘expected value’ of the game, which equals the sum of the expected payoffs of all the consequences, will be an infinite number of dollars. Then, intuitively we will be willing to play the game as long as we only need to pay a finite number of dollars, given that the ‘expected value’ of the game is infinite. However, Hacking (1980) suggested that â€Å"few of us would pay even $25 to enter such a game. † If we were to pay $25 for the game, half of the time we receive $2 and one quarter of the time the game pays $4, so the probability to break-even is less than one in twenty five. Still, because of the very small possibility of the number of flips to be greater than $25, the expected payoff of the game is larger than the $25 payment. According to standard Bayesian decision theory (Martin, 2011), we should play this game. Then again, because of the very small possibility of getting high enough payment, it is very likely that we will need to flip a coin longer than our physical possibility. In that sense, it will be absurd to pay this finite amount and flip longer than physical constraints for the infinite expected payoff. Therefore, it is not always true that rationality will require us to perform the act that yields maximal expected utility. In the St. Petersburg game we experiment infinitely many trials which yield infinite expectation. In Pascal’s wager, we have a single-trial which also yields infinite expectation. It seems natural for Pascal to assume that expectation is a good guide to solve this decision problem. However, according to Hajek (2012), we need to take variance into consideration to make better decision, because in this one-time shot, a large variance could lead us to an outcome which is much worse than the expectation. When the variance is small, it is probable to get an outcome close to the expectation. However, the further the distribution of outcomes spreads out, the more likely it is to get a bad outcome, and the less compelling the third premise seems to be. Assuming that the expectation of wagering for God is infinite, we can calculate the variance of the outcomes of the wager. Given the infinitely good of the good outcome and the status quo of the bad outcome, the variance is infinite. In the case of an infinite variance, due to our risk-aversion, we might be better off choosing to minimize variance than maximizing our expected utility. Indeed, if f2 is made as low as possible, the variance of wagering for God would be much greater than wagering against God. If the probability of the probability of receiving infinite good, is made as low as possible, the resulted variance might make we deviate much further away from the expected utility in an undesirable direction. Both cases above could happen, and if they do, we would feel less compelled by our rationality to maximize our expected utility because the large variance could lead us to a situation that is much worse than expectation. To summarize, Pascal’s premise three is not necessarily true. This premise says that we are required by nationality to maximize expected utility where there is one available. However, the St. Petersburg paradox suggests that rationality does not always require us to maximize our expected utility. Furthermore, in consideration of large variance, expectation might not be a good measure of choiceworthiness (Hajek, 2012). Without the validity of premise three, we cannot draw the conclusion that rationality requires us to wager for God. Therefore, Pascal’s wager does not solidly demonstrate that we have prudential reasons to believe in God. Works Cited Hajek, Alan, â€Å"Pascal’s Wager†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed. ), URL = http://plato. stanford. edu/archives/win2012/entries/pascal-wager/ Martin, Robert, â€Å"The St. Petersburg Paradox†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = . Hacking, Ian, 1980, â€Å"Strange Expectations†, Philosophy of Science 47: 562-567. According to Pollock (1986), you might be a brain floating in a vat filled with nutrient fluid. You do not realize that you are a brain in a vat because this brain is wired to a computer program that produces stimulation in brain to cause experiences that are qualitatively indistinguishable from normal experiences of being a human being. The problem lies exactly in that whether you are a brain in a vat or not, everything seems to be the same to you. Many philosophers have attempted to prove that you are not a brain in a vat and their approaches seem to be valid. Among those, Moore’s argument and Putnam’s argument are two influential but different approaches. This essay tries to show that you cannot use either of these arguments to prove that you are not a brain in a vat. While going through Moore’s argument seems to be an easy way to show that you are not a BIV (brain in a vat), it is not difficult to show how this approach is flawed either. By Moore’s argument, first you open your eyes and form perceptual knowledge that you have hands. Then you deduce that you are not a BIV which does not have hands and thereby you come to know that conclusion. However, it should be argued in the first place that your senses are not reliable. As Descartes argued in Meditations (1986), while you might form the perception that you are wearing a dress in the dream, you are actually undressed in your bed. The flaw in the logic of this approach can be demonstrated in the following analogous story. You see an empty glass on a table. The glass looks orange and in fact it is. You form perceptual knowledge that the glass is orange. You deduce that it is not colorless and filled with orange juice. You thereby come to know that the glass does not appear orange to you because it is colorless with orange juice filled in it. By assuming that there is orange juice in the glass, you establish that the glass does not appear orange to you because it is colorless with orange juice filled in it. Here the problem is that there is no orange juice and you are trying to prove there is orange juicy by assuming its existence. For the same token, if you are a BIV, then the hands that you perceive are hands* produced by one feature of the computer program. The premise asserting that you form a perception of hands is assuming that you are not a BIV and therefore can form a perceptual knowledge of hands. This is begging the question because we want to prove that we are not BIV. Therefore, you cannot prove that you are not a BIV by going through Moore’s argument. Another famous discussion is Putnam’s semantic arguments. One problem of this approach is the narrow scope of the arguments. Putnam started his arguments by drawing analogy between the mental image of a Martian and that of a BIV. Claiming that Mars does not have tree, Putnam established that BIV’s utterance of ‘tree’ has a different referent from the referent of a non-BIV speaking of a tree. While it is possible that you have always been a BIV since you come into being, so you have never seen a tree that a non-BIV sees. It is also possible that you have lived certain part of your life as a non-BIV and then at some point you are made into a BIV. For example, if you recall in The Problems of Knowledge (Pollock, 1986), by the time that Margot tells Mike that he is a brain in a vat, he has been a brain in a vat for three months. According to Margot, Henry, or the brain in a vat that Mike sees, receives a fictitious mental life that merges perfectly into Henry’s past life. To merge perfectly, the language and its referents that the computer generates for Henry must be indistinguishable from those before his envatment. Similarly, if Mike has been speaking English up until three months ago when he was envatted, his utterance of ‘Margot’ after envatment must have the same referent as the one he had before. It must be that now his words retain the same English referents to the same contents in order to achieve a perfect merge (Brueckner, 2012). This perfect merge makes brain* in a vat* the same as BIV, which means whether you are BIV or not, you always speak English rather than vat-English. Because there are no differences in the languages between BIV and non-BIV, the semantic arguments have nowhere to start in this case. Unless you know with certainty that all BIVs have been BIVs since they came into beings, you cannot use semantic arguments to prove that you are not a BIV. To summarize, Moore’s arguments appear to be an easy solution to the problem of knowledge, but these arguments are begging the question and therefore cannot refute the brain-in-a-vat hypotheses. It seems that Putnam’s arguments are more compelling, but still they fail to rule out all possible versions of the brain-in-a-vat hypotheses. Therefore, you cannot prove that you are a non-BIV by using either of these arguments. Works Cited Descartes, Rene. Meditations on First Philosophy. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1960. Print. Pollock, John L. Contemporary Theories of Knowledge. Totowa, NJ: Rowman & Littlefield, 1986. Print. Brueckner, Tony, â€Å"Skepticism and Content Externalism†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed. ), URL = .

Deception Point Page 104

Where's Michael? She didn't see him. Her panic lasted only an instant as a new fear descended. Overhead, the Triton's shredded winch cable let out an ominous whipping noise as the braids unraveled. Then, there was a loud snap, and Rachel felt the cable give way. Momentarily weightless, Rachel hovered above her seat inside the cockpit as the sub hurtled downward. The deck disappeared overhead, and the catwalks under the Goya raced by. The soldier trapped in the claws went white with fear, staring at Rachel as the sub accelerated downward. The fall seemed endless. When the sub crashed into the sea beneath the Goya, it plunged hard under the surf, ramming Rachel down hard into her seat. Her spine compressed as the illuminated ocean raced up over the dome. She felt a suffocating drag as the sub slowed to a stop underwater and then raced back toward the surface, bobbing up like a cork. The sharks hit instantly. From her front-row seat, Rachel sat frozen in place as the spectacle unfolded only a few feet away. Delta-Two felt the shark's oblong head crash into him with unimaginable force. A razor sharp clamp tightened on his upper arm, slicing to the bone and locking on. A flash of white-hot pain exploded as the shark torqued its powerful body and shook its head violently, tearing Delta-Two's arm off his body. Others sharks moved in. Knives stabbing at his legs. Torso. Neck. Delta-Two had no breath to scream in agony as the sharks ripped huge chunks of his body away. The last thing he saw was a crescent-shaped mouth, tilting sideways, a gorge of teeth clamping down across his face. The world went black. Inside the Triton, the thudding of heavy cartilaginous heads ramming into the dome finally subsided. Rachel opened her eyes. The man was gone. The water washing against the window was crimson. Badly battered, Rachel huddled in her chair, knees pulled to her chest. She could feel the sub moving. It was drifting on the current, scraping along the length of the Goya's lower dive deck. She could feel it moving in another direction as well. Down. Outside, the distinctive gurgling of water into the ballast tanks grew louder. The ocean inched higher on the glass in front of her. I'm sinking! A jolt of terror shot through Rachel, and she was suddenly scrambling to her feet. Reaching overhead, she grabbed the hatch mechanism. If she could climb up on top of the sub, she still had time to jump onto the Goya's dive deck. It was only a few feet away. I've got to get out! The hatch mechanism was clearly marked which way to turn it to open. She heaved. The hatch did not budge. She tried again. Nothing. The portal was jammed shut. Bent. As the fear rose in her blood like the sea around her, Rachel heaved one last time. The hatch did not move. The Triton sank a few inches deeper, bumping the Goya one last time before drifting out from underneath the mangled hull†¦ and into the open sea. 126 â€Å"Don't do this,† Gabrielle begged the senator as he finished at the copy machine. â€Å"You're risking your daughter's life!† Sexton blocked out her voice, moving back to his desk now with ten identical stacks of photocopies. Each stack contained copies of the pages Rachel had faxed him, including her handwritten note claiming the meteorite was a fake and accusing NASA and the White House of trying to kill her. The most shocking media kits ever assembled, Sexton thought, as he began carefully inserting each stack into its own large, white linen envelope. Each envelope bore his name, office address, and senatorial seal. There would be no doubt where this incredible information had originated. The political scandal of the century, Sexton thought, and I will be the one to reveal it! Gabrielle was still pleading for Rachel's safety, but Sexton heard only silence. As he assembled the envelopes, he was in his own private world. Every political career has a defining moment. This is mine. William Pickering's phone message had warned that if Sexton went public, Rachel's life would be in danger. Unfortunately for Rachel, Sexton also knew if he went public with proof of NASA's fraud, that single act of boldness would land him in the White House with more decisiveness and political drama than ever before witnessed in American politics. Life is filled with difficult decisions, he thought. And winners are those who make them. Gabrielle Ashe had seen this look in Sexton's eyes before. Blind ambition. She feared it. And with good reason, she now realized. Sexton was obviously prepared to risk his daughter in order to be the first to announce the NASA fraud. â€Å"Don't you see you've already won?† Gabrielle demanded. â€Å"There's no way Zach Herney and NASA will survive this scandal. No matter who makes it public! No matter when it comes out! Wait until you know Rachel is safe. Wait until you talk to Pickering!† Sexton was clearly no longer listening to her. Opening his desk drawer, he pulled out a foil sheet on which were affixed dozens of nickel-sized, self-adhesive wax seals with his initials on them. Gabrielle knew he usually used these for formal invitations, but he apparently thought a crimson wax seal would give each envelope an extra touch of drama. Peeling the circular seals off the foil, Sexton pressed one onto the pleat of each envelope, sealing it like a monogrammed epistle. Gabrielle's heart pulsed now with a new anger. She thought of the digitized images of illegal checks in his computer. If she said anything, she knew he would just delete the evidence. â€Å"Don't do this,† she said, â€Å"or I'll go public about our affair.† Sexton laughed out loud as he affixed the wax seals. â€Å"Really? And you think they'll believe you-a power-hungry aide denied a post in my administration and looking for revenge at any cost? I denied our involvement once, and the world believed me. I'll simply deny it again.† â€Å"The White House has photos,† Gabrielle declared. Sexton did not even look up. â€Å"They don't have photos. And even if they did, they're meaningless.† He affixed the final wax seal. â€Å"I have immunity. These envelopes out-trump anything anyone could possibly throw at me.† Gabrielle knew he was right. She felt utterly helpless as Sexton admired his handiwork. On his desk sat ten elegant, white linen envelopes, each embossed with his name and address and secured with a crimson wax seal bearing his scripted initials. They looked like royal letters. Certainly kings had been crowned on account of less potent information. Sexton picked up the envelopes and prepared to leave. Gabrielle stepped over and blocked his way. â€Å"You're making a mistake. This can wait.† Sexton's eyes bored into her. â€Å"I made you, Gabrielle, and now I've unmade you.† â€Å"That fax from Rachel will give you the presidency. You owe her.† â€Å"I've given her plenty.† â€Å"What if something happens to her!† â€Å"Then she'll cement my sympathy vote.† Gabrielle could not believe the thought had even crossed his mind, much less his lips. Disgusted, she reached for the phone. â€Å"I'm calling the White-â€Å" Sexton spun and slapped her hard across the face. Gabrielle staggered back, feeling her lip split open. She caught herself, grabbing on to the desk, staring up in astonishment at the man she had once worshiped. Sexton gave her a long, hard look. â€Å"If you so much as think of crossing me on this, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life.† He stood unflinching, clutching the stack of sealed envelopes under his arm. A harsh danger burned in his eyes. When Gabrielle exited the office building into the cold night air, her lip was still bleeding. She hailed a taxi and climbed in. Then, for the first time since she had come to Washington, Gabrielle Ashe broke down and cried.

buy custom Energy Production essay

buy custom Energy Production essay The search and exploration of energy in the U.S. has been a blessing in disguise as it has been welcomed by parties on one side but refuted by others on the other hand. The proponents have economical gains in mind while the naysayers have the environmental risks in mind. There are many case studies that have been done but this paper will consider just some of those cases in point. These include the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Yucca Mountain and the Three Gorges Dam. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Since 1980, oil exploration at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been a bone of contention. Apart from accommodating wildlife, the refuge is near Prudhoe Bay where large oil deposits have been located and tapping of this valued resource is ongoing (over 14 billion barrels produced). The declining amount of oil reserves in Prudhoe Bay has prompted a search for new oil deposits like the nearby Arctic National Wild Refuge. The history of this animal sanctuary dates back to 1960 when congress declared its protection because of its wildlife. However, the department of the interior received permission to explore the oil potential of this animal rendezvous which was not to be for about five years. In 1994, half of the oil consumed by the U.S. was imported resulting into a proposition for oil drilling in the refuge. Even though the department of the Interior noted that this would harm the ecosystem, the proposition was vetoed by the House of Representatives and senate. Later on in 2005, the senate was of a contrary opinion to the drilling of oil although President George W. Bush was for the proposition earlier on in 2001. In 2008, the republican made it a top agenda to develop the Alaskan oil reserves resources in the inland states. The proponents of oil drilling mention economic benefits as a reason for pushing ahead with the proposal. They say that if America explores its own oil resources, equilibrium of trade will be boosted making the U.S. less dependent on foreign oil reserves. The naysayers on the other hand would want to protect this so called American Serengeti since it is a hub for a variety of animal species like arctic foxes, musk oxen, polar bear, snow gees, wolverine and Dall sheep. It also forms a base for the reproduction of the huge migrating herd of the caribou, plants like lichens, grasses, mosses, dwarf shrubs and sedges. All these organisms have undergone much to adapt to their tundra environmentand thus any imbalance brought by external forces would jeopardize their survival. While oil drilling is eliciting debate on the Arctic National Wildlife refuge, another natural resource as even increased tension: The Yucca Mountains. Yucca Mountain Another source of energy that has raised many eyebrows is the nuclear power. After reaching its peak operational usefulness, a nuclear power plant is closed either by entombment, storage or decommissioning. The later option, decommissioning, entails dismantling the plant by workers who wear protective clothing. The small sections of the plant are then transported to a repository for storage. The 1987 Nuclear Waste Policy Act amendment saw congress single out Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a permanent underground repository for high-level radioactive wastes. The proponents estimate that the Yucca Mountain can store 42,000-plus tons of the radioactive matters produced in the U.S. until 2025.When Yucca Mountains is full, another geologic repository will be identified. Several feasibility studies on the geology of the Yucca Mountain have been conducted courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).The findings have shown that the site is at least safe from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, cost and public opposition have arisen as the setbacks. Notwithstanding the vehement opposition by the state of Nevada, Congress approved the choice of the Yucca Mountains. The naysayers think that the Yucca Mountain site-145km (90miles) northwest of Las Vegas-is near active earthquake fault lines and a volcano even though the last eruption may have taken place some 20,000 years ago. They fear that an earthquake may cause a rise in the water table leading to a contamination of the ground water and air. This was confirmed in 1992 when an earthquake of magnitude 5.6 occurred approximately 20km (12miles) from the Yucca Mountains. On the other hand, most of the gainsayers think that the change in water level caused by the disturbance is inconsiderable since the water table is some 800m (2625ft) below the crest of the mountain. In addition, the naysayers fear that the transportation of the high-level wastes over a distance averaging 2300 miles through 43 states to the Yucca Mountain, would put the health of the nearby population at risk. A staggering 8 states will bear the brunt of the radioactive material. The decommissioning is also an expensive process which causes a rise in utility bills. For instance, the Maaine Yankee decommissioning cost approximately US $635 million; its construction cost US $ 231 million. The Three Gorges Dam (TDG) A 632 km (412 miles) long reservoir found on the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Dam is so called because it floods three upstream gorges. Its main reason for installation was to provide hydroelectric power. To begin with, the advantages of the TDG are numerous. It yields 18 GW of electric power which is the equivalent of a large coal or 18 nuclear power plants. Further, downstream floods are prevented leading to a boost to agricultural productivity. Moreover, the movement of large ships upstream is enabled on the one hand while recreation and commercial fishing is possible on the other hand. However, the negative ramifications of dam building cannot be belittled. The already extinct dolphin species of the Yangtze Rivers are endangered; at least 1.5 million citizens face displacement sometimes with little or no compensation; and submergence of canyon wall writings and historical and cultural treasures and pollution of the river by industrial wastes and contaminated sites during flooding. Even though agricultural productivity has improved downstream, arable land in the upstream region has been submerged thus affecting agriculture. More disadvantages are seen into the growing number of wat erborne diseases like schistosomiasis and malaria. The setting up of the dam has not been an easy feat as getting investors has been mired by lack of clarification on design, construction and effectiveness. Sedimentation of the dam has also proved to be an impediment to reasons for its installation like irrigation and hydropower. Conclusion In order to protect natural resources, animal and plan life, the conservationists propose that the government should invest in renewable energy sources (green technology) as the sustainable solution to the energy problem. Such technology includes the solar energy and other indirect solar energy sources like wind, ocean waves and temperature gradients in the deep sea. It is speculated that in the future it may be possible to produce power as a result of ocean temperature gradients. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is the technology that will take advantage of the temperature gradient in the deep seas and oceans to cool buildings and produce electricity. A case in point is the ongoing construction of the OTEC plant at Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority on the islands of Hawaii. Buy custom Energy Production essay

What Happens If the Presidential Election Is a Tie

What Happens If the Presidential Election Is a Tie In four instances, the Electoral College, not the popular vote, has determined the outcome of a presidential election. Although there has never been a tie, the U.S. Constitution outlines a process for resolving such a scenario. Heres what would happen and who the players involved are if the 538 electors sit down after the election and vote 269 to 269. The U.S. Constitution When the U.S. first gained its independence, Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution outlined the process for selecting electors and the process by which they would select a president. At the time, electors could vote for two different candidates for president; whoever lost that vote would become vice president. This led to serious controversies in the elections of 1796 and 1800. In response, U.S. Congress ratified the 12th Amendment in 1804. The amendment clarified the process by which electors should vote. More importantly, it described what to do in the event of an electoral tie. The amendment states that the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President† and â€Å"the Senate shall choose the Vice-President. The process is also used in the event that no candidate wins 270 or more Electoral College votes. The House of Representatives As directed by the 12th Amendment, the 435 members of the House of Representatives must make their first official duty the selection of the next president. Unlike the Electoral College system, where larger population equals more votes, each of the 50 states in the House gets exactly one vote when selecting the president. It is up to the delegation of representatives from each state to decide how their state will cast its one and only vote. Smaller states like Wyoming, Montana, and Vermont, with only one representative, wield as much power as California or New York. The District of Columbia does not get a vote in this process. The first candidate to win the votes of any 26 states is the new president. The 12th Amendment gives the House until the fourth day of March to select a president. The Senate At the same time that the House is selecting the new president, the Senate must select the new vice president. Each of the 100 senators gets one vote, with a simple majority of 51 senators required to select the vice president. Unlike the House, the 12th Amendment places no time limit on the Senates selection of a vice president. If There Is Still a Tie With 50 votes in the House and 100 votes in the Senate, there could still be tie votes for both president and vice president. Under the 12th Amendment, as amended by the 20th Amendment, if the House has failed to select a new president by Jan. 20, the vice president-elect serves as acting president until the deadlock is resolved. In other words, the House keeps voting until the tie is broken. This assumes that the Senate has selected a new vice president. If the Senate has failed to break a 50-50 tie for vice president, the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 specifies that the Speaker of the House will serve as acting president until tie votes in both the House and Senate have been broken. Past Election Controversies In the controversial 1800 presidential election, an Electoral College tie vote occurred between Thomas Jefferson and his running mate,  Aaron Burr. The tie-breaking vote made Jefferson president, with Burr declared vice president, as the Constitution required at the time. In 1824, none of the four candidates won the required majority vote in the Electoral College. The House elected  John Quincy Adams president despite the fact that Andrew Jackson had won the popular vote and the most electoral votes. In 1837, none of the vice presidential candidates won a majority in the Electoral College. The Senate vote made Richard Mentor Johnson vice president over Francis Granger. Since then, there have been some very close calls. In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes defeated Samuel Tilden by a single electoral vote, 185 to 184. And in 2000, George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by 271 to 266 electoral votes in an election that ended in the Supreme Court.

Television as a Cultural Transporter in Human Lives Essay

Television as a Cultural Transporter in Human Lives - Essay Example Man has been benefiting by the abovementioned term that has powerfully provided an informative, as well as, interactive platform throughout the world. Briefly, various services and resources have been collected and provided by the television in an entertaining manner for the improvement and promotion of humankind. In the history of humankind, the field of communication has developed a lot, and one of the most outstanding innovations is conceivably, the television. (Burns, pp. 52-56, 1998) However, everything has its advantages, as well as, disadvantages, and it depends upon the person to either benefit by it, or allow the matter to harm the surroundings. Thus, television and television broadcasting has also advantages, as well as, drawbacks; however, disadvantages have been outweighed by the superior enormity of its advantages. Although, it is a common thought that the principle ingredients of the television are dramas, soaps, advertising, and the news. However, television constitutes of more than the abovementioned tools and resources, which will be discussed in this paper. Nowadays, contemporary state of affairs has been benefiting by this tool, which has proved itself as one of the best among rest of the world. Today, a single room has been presented as a new and innovative appearance of the whole globe. (Dornfield, pp. 51-54, 1998) Currently, a student can even acquire his education on the television without even standing up from his chair. On the other hand, a businessperson can make a deal by being updated of best suppliers, as well as, latest technologies around the world without any visa application, as well as, without any travelling expenses, which was not possible some decades ago. Moreover, a South African can catch latest news of an event occurring in United Kingdom, which has only become possible due to the availability of the television broadcasting in almost every corner of the world. In addition, hundreds of channels can be seen and entertain millions of viewers and captivate them within some remote clicks, and without collecting the videos that require lots of space. Interestingly, shopping can also be done on television within minutes with the help of credit cards without roaming in the rush of shopping malls, which has been greatly appreciated by the female populace of the globe. Thus, television has become a matter of just fingertips, and has promoted, as well as, assisted the humans in achieving a better and improved place in their lives. (Cole, pp. 32-38, 1970) In other words, a small global village has been formed by the creation and introduction of television into the human lives. Communication has become a matter of seconds from one corner of the world to another. A number of news channels have been established to provide current affairs, recent updates, breaking news, business news, etc. to millions of viewers from different and diverse cultures around the globe. Reliability and speed is being innovated and improved day by day, which has changed the perceptions of humans at all. It is now just a fraction of second to check the weather report of an African city, or study the European culture from the