Essay --

Social networking has become increasingly popular over the past few years, especially with many new media sites and apps being released. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedln are perfect examples of social media sites where people can post what they are doing and where they are at with pictures for the general public to see. Different companies and establishments are using social networking to check on their employees and to see how they carry themselves out side of work. Outside of our work and jobs, we represent the companies and establishments that we work for. Major companies and establishments want their employees to be responsible and act maturely when they are inside and outside of work. Employees are expected to hold the integrity of the company and their image. Sharron Smalls was a principal at the Jane Addams High School in Chicago, Illinois when a photo of her and another man drizzling chocolate upon themselves surfaced. Much controversy circulated over this case whether Sharron should be fired or still be able to keep her job. Margie Feinberg who is a spokeswoman fo...

Personal Goals :: essays research papers

My background in technology is not as deep as most people, but I do have some. My first experience with computer technology was when I was in eighth grade and the Atari VCS came out. My sister and I begged our parents for one for what seemed like eternity. Finally, that Christmas, there it was under the tree. After that, I remember computer class in school. Later when I joined the military, I had a small experience with a word processor, when I worked with the Staff Chaplain. After I separated from the military, I got a job at McDonalds as a manager and had to frequently use a computer for numerous tasks, reports, and so forth, and that was my first experience with it in the workplace. Later on I became a truck driver and thought I would not use it very much, but little did I know. The transportation industry is full of technology, from dispatch and the main office, to the trucks themselves. Dispatch is using computers to take orders track them and dispatch them. When a customer calls in and places an order or asks for a pick-up, the first thing a dispatcher does is input the information into a database and finds out if this customer has worked with them before. After they have determined either this they are entering this customer into the database, or they are entering a new program. This new program is how they enter the order into a new database. There are many different programs but they all do the same thing. They track the customers order form where it is originating from to the final destination and every stop in between, they track the mileage and fuel consumption on the individual truck and even how much down time the driver is taking. This program is lin ked to the individual truck, where the driver is in charge of upkeep. On the drivers end he/she is sending messages to dispatch telling them everything they need to know. Such as I am empty, where do I need to go, from I am broke down send help. These devices are called Qualcomms, but that is just a brand name. They are satellite links and mini computers all in one. These computers can do many things, they help the driver plot the shortest route to a delivery, track his fuel consumption, and most importantly his time records. Personal Goals :: essays research papers My background in technology is not as deep as most people, but I do have some. My first experience with computer technology was when I was in eighth grade and the Atari VCS came out. My sister and I begged our parents for one for what seemed like eternity. Finally, that Christmas, there it was under the tree. After that, I remember computer class in school. Later when I joined the military, I had a small experience with a word processor, when I worked with the Staff Chaplain. After I separated from the military, I got a job at McDonalds as a manager and had to frequently use a computer for numerous tasks, reports, and so forth, and that was my first experience with it in the workplace. Later on I became a truck driver and thought I would not use it very much, but little did I know. The transportation industry is full of technology, from dispatch and the main office, to the trucks themselves. Dispatch is using computers to take orders track them and dispatch them. When a customer calls in and places an order or asks for a pick-up, the first thing a dispatcher does is input the information into a database and finds out if this customer has worked with them before. After they have determined either this they are entering this customer into the database, or they are entering a new program. This new program is how they enter the order into a new database. There are many different programs but they all do the same thing. They track the customers order form where it is originating from to the final destination and every stop in between, they track the mileage and fuel consumption on the individual truck and even how much down time the driver is taking. This program is lin ked to the individual truck, where the driver is in charge of upkeep. On the drivers end he/she is sending messages to dispatch telling them everything they need to know. Such as I am empty, where do I need to go, from I am broke down send help. These devices are called Qualcomms, but that is just a brand name. They are satellite links and mini computers all in one. These computers can do many things, they help the driver plot the shortest route to a delivery, track his fuel consumption, and most importantly his time records.

Positivism Vs. Classicism

In this essay, Classical and Positivist theories of criminology will be explored and critically discussed to explore the impacts that they have had on modern day policing, introduction of laws, and police practice. The essay will first look at the history of the Classical Theory looking at Beccaria and Benthams classical school of criminology and its effects in a brief section. Positivist theorists will then be identified and the theory will be discussed, outlining the main thesis and beliefs of both of the theories.How each theory defines a criminal will then be taken into consideration and the relations of theories like the broken windows theory (Wilson and Kelling 82), labelling theory (Becker 1982), strain theory (Merton 1957) and rational choice theory (Homos 1961) will be used throughout the essay to explore the effects that the classical and positivist theories have had on police concepts like public order policing and community policing, touching on criminal justice systems a nd modern day police practice.Classical Criminological though can be traced to the criminal justice system and the penal system. Beccarias 1764 Publication on crime and punishments introduced a serious consideration into the harm caused to society by crime, and ideological outline of the basis for punishments and the relationship between the state and the offender (Beccaria 2003). Beccaria Stated in his approach to the prevention of crime that it is often distilled down to three ideas, and that it is fundamentally a product of Certainty; how likely punishment is to occur.Celerity; How quickly punishment is inflicted. and Severity; how much pain is inflicted (Newburn 2007). Another later criminologist; Jeremy Bentham, then published writings on the penology and notions of â€Å"rational free-willed character of offenders† (Maguire et al 2002) and forwarded the study of crime in that the central concerns of free will and rational choice came together to attempt a more logical a nalysis of crime and suitable punishment.In the twilight years of the 19th century the emergence of the Italian school of criminology sparked a departure in thinking on the study of crime the schools founding member Cesare Lombroso introduced a holy bible of sorts into the criminological world in that he contributed to the introduction of scientific methodology in regard to the study of crime. Lombroso most notably introduced a biological positivism into the study of crime.An â€Å"Atavistic Heredity† (Lombroso 1911) in relation to the cause of offending where physical features were viewed as evidence of an innately criminal nature in a kind of criminal anthropology. His work was then continued and elaborated by two other Italian scholars Ferri (1856-1929) and Garofalo (1852-1934) (Newburn 2007). Ferri and Garofalo elaborated on the environmental factors that can also effect criminal behaviour in relation to positivist criminology. Positivism carries the main assumptions that the methods of the natural sciences should and could be applied to the social world.Suggesting natural sciences should be used as the method base to analyse and conduct research in relation to policing and policing concepts. Positivists believe that research should consist of social knowledge and scientific knowledge through observation and scientific data. Facts must be separated from values and usually, there is a preference for a use of quantitative data over qualitative (adapted from Bottoms 2000, cited in Newburn 2007). in 1913 Positivist theorist Charles Goring published a book called The English Convict.This book logged the study he undertook which took place over 13 years, the study involved examining 3,000 British convicts against a controlled group of non-convict males to try and find out if the criminal could be categorised to a certain type of person, no significant physical differences were found between the two groups. (Goring 1913) Critical of this study and convince d that the criminal is organically inferior (Quoted in Brown et al 2004) Earnest Hooton conducted his own research into the criminal as a certain type of person and introduced Somatyping into positivist criminology.Somatyping involves the belief that evolution was dominated by superior types, arguing that a criminal had a certain type and evolution could eventually eradicate the criminal. Hooton was criticised for having poor data and an unrepresentative control group. However Hooton's work then sparked this idea in the Positivist Criminology theorists as William Sheldon then looked into Somatypes further in 1949 (Newburn 2007) and concluded that there were three types of body a person has; Endomorph, Mesomorph and Ectomorph.These body types were basically short and fat, Large and muscular and Lean and fragile. Sheldon argued that each of these body types was related to particular personality traits and that all individuals possessed varied traits however certain traits were more pr edominant than others. In modern day policing and criminology we use a theory called the labelling theory. This theory was first put forward by Howard Becker in 1963, Becker claimed that criminal elements are associated with physical appearance and the criminal becomes a label attached to a certain type of person.In 2011 it was common belief that a criminal wore a certain type of clothing which was a hooded jacket or ‘Hoodie'. Articles were even published in the newspapers like the Guardian (Guardian 2011) under title â€Å"The power of the Hoodie†. Amplified by the media this piece of clothing became an instant link to criminal behaviour and deviance. Positivist theory can be linked in here with the labelling theory to show the development in the idea of a ‘Criminal type' and show how in modern day policing we are using these theories to determine and define the word criminal.Following the work of Emile Durkheim, Robert K Merton's Strain theory (1957) can also be linked into this concept as the positivist belief is that criminal behaviour can be encouraged by social physical and biological elements, the strain theory thesis is that pressure from social surroundings can encourage an individual to commit crime. If an individual is singled out by Somatype or through labelling theory, they may feel social strain or believe that they should become deviant which could actually pressure said individual into committing criminal acts.An example of where this kind of concept was familiar was when the London riots happened in 2011. Classical criminology however argues against the concept of a criminal being defined by a certain type. Bentham stated that every person has free will and is able to make a rational choice based on the situation they are in at the time and what they feel would be the appropriate action to take. Classicism disagrees with the positivist view of a criminal only being a certain type of person and believes that the criminal deri ves from within any person.Everybody has free will, and the ability to make an informed decision on their actions in any situation they may be in, therefore believing that the criminal is an element every person has the possibility to exploit instead of positivist theory of the criminal element being biologically woven into a persons DNA. Classicism had a major effect on the criminal justice system and penology, punishments were believed to be best given on account of the appropriateness of the crime in question. This idea became the basis for our criminal justice systems today.With the introduction of the classical school of criminology the use of capital punishment and torture was on the decline and in their place the introduction of prison systems as core elements of the justice systems and punishment systems we have today. The abolishment of capital punishment has had an indescribably huge effect on our modern penal systems, the effects are vast however include the introduction of fundamental law like the Human Rights Act (HRA 1998). Acts like this are incredibly important in criminal trials and allow every person to have rights to things like the right to a fair trial and the right to prohibition of torture.Classical criminology influenced these modern day laws as its theorists believed in the concept that the punishment for crime should be based on the scale of what has been done and should be appropriate to the crime itself. Classical Criminology has influenced the constructions of our prison systems as becoming the core element of the way we punish criminals instead of using inhumane methods through capital punishment by considering the scale of the crime and deciding on an appropriate sentence for the criminal.Here another theory can be looked at which has been shaped by the classicism theories and beliefs. This theory is the Rational Choice theory (Homas 1961). the theory is based around the assumptions that criminal activity is committed by an indiv idual after weighed up the risk and reward of an action, if the person believes that the reward is greater than the risk they may be more likely to commit a crime than if the risk was greater than the reward. This theory is supportive of Benthams notes of free will and rational choice.Free will and rational choice can be used to help explain the way we police through public order. In a public order policing situation, like a protest or a riot every person who attends and participates does so out of their own free will, a protester may not riot because they may believe that the risk of being arrested is greater than the reward of violently voicing their opinions. However positivism argues that a criminal is a definitive type of person and can be influenced by social physical or biological surroundings. These assumptions can be seen in the cases of rioting and community crime.The London riots happened in 2011 and they escalated throughout the country with riots happening in places lik e Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester as well as other locations. The reasons that these sparked off is because of the social influence that was pressuring younger people to join in, here the broken windows theory (Wilson and Kelling 82), labelling theory (Becker 1982), strain theory (Merton 1957) and rational choice theory (Homos 1961) can all be related through classicism and positivist views to our modern day policing methods.Broken windows theory states that a run down or derelict area can encourage crime, this relates to the positivist assumption of criminal behaviour being encouraged by the physical surroundings and the evidence of this happening in the London Riots is when all the shops had been broken into and fires had been started. The streets were wrecked and this would have encouraged acts of violence.Merton's strain theory and Beckers labelling theory are also applicable here as the social strain of most young youths committing the crime would encourage more young peop le to commit crime, because the individuals could see crimes being committed around them without any action being taken, this would have further encouraged deviance as rational choice theory says the risk is lower than reward. These positivist based theories meant police in the London riots and most public order situations would target younger individuals to try and find criminal activity and arrests.The Classicism side of influence on Public Order would then come after the arrest in trial where they would be questioned why they had committed these crimes out of their own free will and then put through the justice system, being sentenced on the classical assumption that the punishment should be appropriate to the crime committed. Positivist assumptions can also be linked into the concept of community policing. Positivists believe that crime and criminal behaviour can be influenced through social and physical surroundings.Wilson and Kelling (1982) also believe this is the case as the ir broken windows theory looks at how the area a person lives in can affect their attitude towards crime and committing crime. Through the Classicism belief of community deterrence police practices have been introduced to arm the police with powers that they can use to their advantage against the war on crime. The Police and Criminal Evidence act (1984) and The Police Reform Act (2002) has seen the introduction of new police powers and a new national policing plan.These police practices include powers like stop and search. Stop and search gives the ability for any police constable to stop any citizen and search them if they believe they have reasonable grounds to do so. Classicism and Positivist theories have also had an effect on the way that we police our communities. PCSOs (police community support officers) were introduced in 2002 under the police reform act (2002) and help to improve community relations with the police.This police practice supports the positivist beliefs that c riminals can be influenced through social and physical surroundings as better relationships are built with the community and things like team projects are created to improve derelict areas and social situations people may find themselves in by offering things like youth clubs and activities. This deters crime by drawing people away from delinquency and encouraging them to take part in constructive, positive activity.Theorist David Matza outlined that the positivist theory drew on three sets of problematic assumptions; the first being Differentiation; the assumption that offenders can be separated from non-offenders by definitive characteristics, the second being Determinism; the assumption that biological, physiological or social factors affect the criminal and criminal behaviour and the third being Pathology; the assumption that an offender is an offender due to something going wrong in their lifetime (Tierney 1996).The problems of these views are that the fail to take into account the aspect of rationality, choice and human decision making. They define a criminal as a certain person, and if a person falls into the category of what has been defined by the positivist theory as a criminal it means that they must carry the traits of a criminal which is simply not true as proven by Charles Gorings work (1913). Classicism theory argues rational choice and free will, however what if a person has the impaired ability to make decisions and acts without being rational.Power and wealth is also a problem with the theory, if the classicism theory applied to all in the same sense then why is it that people who have less power and wealth tend to be the more predominant resident of the criminal justice system and not the wealthy. there are other factors that both these theories have not taken into consideration throughout their thesis, they are also very much at opposite ends of the scale.The positivist theory says that criminals are a type of person and the classicism theo ry says that a criminal offence can be committed by anybody as well all have free will and rational choice. Without the Classical school of Criminology and The positivist theorists vital procedure and acts would not have been put into place that are fundamental today for the way our society and criminal justice system operates. Classicism changed the way we sentence criminals and the construct of our prison systems which are of prestigious importance to the modern justice system.Positivist theory has influenced the way we police in terms of public order and community policing through the introduction of the Human Rights Act (1998), the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984) and the Police Reform Act (2002). These acts have allowed the modern day police to be able to take the best assumptions from the classicism theorists and the best assumptions from the positivists and use them to create a criminal justice system that incorporates the best of each theory into the police practices and concepts that are used from day to day in modern day policing.

How did imperialism affect China? Essay

How did imperialism affect China? Imperialism had a major affect on China. The Opium War played a major part of this. The opium war was provoked by the problems with European countries and China. British were getting tired of doing outside trading and wanted to trade directly with China. China had little need from the West. As a direct result the smuggling of opium began. Opium was forbidden in China except for medicinal use. The war was fought to determine the relations between China and the West, and as a result China was forced to reevaluate her position as the center of the world. The treaty of Nanking ended the first Opium war. As a result to China’s distant methods of trade, there were two rebellion periods, the taiping rebellion and the boxer rebellion. The taiping revolt was a radical political and religious uprising. The rebels rose against the tyranny of the Manchus, supporting a program partly based on Christian doctrines. The Boxer Rebellion was a peasant uprising that attempted to drive all foreigners from China and to destroy the Mongol Ch’ing dynasty. After Japan defeated China in 1895, Japan and the Western Powers began to control more and more of the Chinese economy. In reaction the Boxer movement attracted popular support. In 1900 the Dowager Empress persuaded the Boxers to drop their opposition to the Ch’ing dynasty and unite with it to destroy the foreigners. China Missionaries and other foreigners were killed by them.

Nucor Corporation Essay

Assess how globalization and technology changes have impacted the corporation you researched. Nucor Corporation has been known as a leader in the steel production industry since it was founded in 1955 as Nuclear Corporation of America (www.nucor.com). In the steel production industry, globalization is the driving force that affects competition. Since the modern day steel industry is of a global scope, including the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, China, and many other foreign countries, Nucor has made moves to counteract the impacts of globalization. In the mid-1900’s, the steel industry was plagued by overcapacity of foreign material due to the â€Å"dumping† of foreign steel into the United States at cut-rate prices. As many domestic steel firms did not have the resources to compete with these foreign giants, Nucor was in the best position to defend against foreign competition with their low-cost German technology, and in 1955 they started their first international venture with a Brazilian steel production company, and built their first international steel mill in the state of Ceara. Nucor was also threatened by the leader in foreign imports to the United States, so they bought a Japanese-owned mill in New York. Today, Nucor Corporation is continuously attempting to meet the challenges of a globalized market by expanding through acquisition in hopes that this will strengthen their market position and become a more globally competitive organization. Steel is the modern technology of the building, automotive, and several other industries. Advances in steel production technologies can drastically change the industry’s make-up, helping mills to produce material at lower costs. Nucor Corporation has been and continues to be a pioneer of new production technologies that helps them to produce material competitive in quality and cost to that of foreign producers. Traditionally, steel mills were/are using energy-intensive blast furnaces to make material. In 1969, through the use of advanced technologies, Nucor was able to produce the first mini-mill which relies primarily on scrap metals instead of iron-ore and coke. With the introduction of electric arc furnaces instead of the traditional blast furnaces, Nucor has been able to increase market share through the more efficient, lower-cost production that has helped them to triple their output since the 1990’s. Apply the industrial organization model and the resource-based model to determine how your corporation could earn above-average returns. Resources| 1. Nucor is known as a price leader in the steel production industry.| | | | 2. Nucor is constantly adding new product offerings and advancements in technology to lower the costs of production.| 3. $1.1 billion in capital expenditures budgeted for 2013 (www.nucor.com).| | | | | 4. Managers that are knowledgeable about the current trends in the global market which helps them maintain the ability to overcome the negative effects of slow economic growth.| 5. Nucor has strong relationships with its suppliers and buyers.| | | | | 6. Nucor has its own fleet of 150 trucks to ensure on-time delivery and reduce transportation costs.| Capability| 1. Nucor follows a low cost provider strategy, as it aims to provide a product that meets industry standards at the lowest available price in the industry.| 2. Nucor maintains an expertise in the implementation of technology that will help them lower production costs while increasing profit margins.| 3. Nucor steel production mills are located strategically near customers all over the United States to cut down on transportation costs.| 4. Nucor has limited long-term debt that places them in a position to grow through acquisitions. | Competitive Advantage| While the rest of the steel production industry focuses on the import material that is flooding the market and causing domestic pricing to slip rapidly, Nucor is in a strong financial situation to gain an advantage over their competitors by spending their available capital on growth and technology.| An Attractive Industry| The steel trade/import firm industry.| | | | | | | | Strategy Formulation and Implementation| Nucor can use their resources and capabilities to exploit them through a foreign import trade firm. Being known as a price leader in the steel production industry, Nucor can take advantage of the acquisition of a trade firm to bring foreign material into the United States without setting prices so low that they disrupt domestic pricing. This will allow them to buy steel from foreign producers at a low price and sell it to domestic consumers at a price high enough that it will not cause a decrease in domestic material, eventually increasing profit margins for Nucor Corporation.| Assess how the vision statement and mission statement of the corporation influence its overall success. Nucor Corporation is focused on their customers: their employees, shareholders, and the people that buy and use their products. Nucor’s vision is to be the safest, highest quality, lowest cost, most productive, and most profitable steel and steel products company in the world. This vision is the foundation of their mission: â€Å"Take care of our customers† (www.nucor.com). Nucor has established an internal â€Å"fit† with their employees and managers which include those that strive to improve efficiency while establishing strong relationships among employees, based on the Nucor values such as honesty, autonomy, trust, communication, and self-motivation. This type of value-added employment undeniably leads to short-term growth and long-term success. Those that do not uphold this â€Å"fit† will eventually leave on their own terms. This shows Nucor’s strength in management values, and provides a competitive advantage. Nucor Corporation also takes care of the people that buy their steel by constantly rising to the challenges of advancing technology to be able to produce quality material at a low cost. This type of value-added service paves the way for customer loyalty, eventually leading to long-term success in the industry. Evaluate how each category of stakeholder impacts the overall success of this company. Stakeholders are the individuals, groups, and organizations who can affect the firm’s vision and mission, and whom are affected by the strategic outcomes achieved, and have enforceable claims on the firm’s performance (Smith, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2013). These stakeholders are classified into three different groups: Capital Market, Product Market, and Organizational. Capital Market Stakeholders are comprised of the shareholders and the lenders. Shareholders can use tactics to pressure management into making certain decision for the corporation, and if they become dissatisfied they can sell their stock in the company. In the case of Nucor, the major lenders approved the risks of developing and implementing the electric-arc furnace technology through financing. In turn, being able to produce lower cost material has helped Nucor Corporation to have higher profit margin, thus producing a higher dividend for investors. Product Market Stakeholders include the customers, suppliers, host communities, and unions. Nucor has the ability to produce low-cost, high-quality steel that keeps customers loyal to their brand, even if the price rises. Being able to sell lower cost products at a higher price helps Nucor to maintain supplier loyalty as well because they are able to pay their scrap suppliers a higher price. Nucor also has locations all over the United States that employ over 20,000 people, which in turn helps these host communities through employment and revenues. Lastly, Organizational Stakeholders are the employees of Nucor. I would venture to say that the organizational stakeholders of Nucor Corporation are the bread and butter of the company. Their value-added services and product knowledge, mixed with the Nucor â€Å"fit†, can either make or break the success of the company. References Hitt, Hoskisson, Ireland (2013). Strategic Management Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization. Cengage Learning: Mason, Ohio. www.nucor.com. Retrieved 7/10/2103.

Remembering John Steinbeck Essay

John Steinbeck, and his writings served not just an instrument but an inspiration of courage, strength and determination. He is a warrior and he fought for the right of the people. He is one of America’s best writers and is best known for his novels. He started by experimenting with characters and thematic unity in his writings. He focused on materialistic values and social exploitation. He is known for his compassion for the poor and the politically oppressed. His works reflects social issues, thus his works were subjected to criticisms. But despite all that, his works gained popularity because of his realistic yet sensitive portrayal of ordinary people. In the beginning of his career in literature, his works were not recognized but even after a few unsuccessful published works, nothing stopped him from writing. His work, Tortilla Flat in 1935 was the one which made a turning point in his literary career. It was only then that his works we’re recognized and given credit. He believed that as a writer he has a responsibility to the readers, and so through his works he was able to serve the people by creating social awareness. Through his works, he became the voice of the people, especially those who are oppressed. Despite a lot of criticisms, he proved himself worthy and used literature as an instrument to fight for what he believed is right. â€Å"Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need for it and it has not changed except to become more needed. The skalds, the bards, the writers are not separate and exclusive. From the beginning, their functions, their duties, their responsibilities have been decreed by our species†¦ the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man’s proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit – for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not passionately believe in the perfectibility of man has no dedication nor any membership in literature. † (Steinbeck) John Steinbeck’s works created impact despite criticisms. He was able to portray in his works the life of the people, which created social consciousness. His writings are based on experiences, and is a mirror of the many different lives of people. This is why I believe, the reason why he gained popularity in his works. He had this connection with the readers, he was able to make each reader relate to the characters in his works, and made them feel that someone was brave enough to stand up and tell the world what the people are going through. He was concerned with the welfare of the people. Through his writings, he became their voice, their inspiration, their salvation. Steinbeck endures because he does not permit readers to complacently dig in, like the hermit crab. He embraces the fullness of life. With compassion, tolerance, and humility, he surveys landscapes: of place, of spirit, of a nation. (Shillinglaw) According to an author review by Amber Garret: John Steinbeck’s ability to mix realistic social conditions with characters of depth and vitality are what make his literature paramount. In order to support his desire to write, Steinbeck worked in various different jobs, many of which were among the working class laborers in California. It was this direct experience with the working class community that gives his writing an element of authenticity and richness. He created novels and stories that did not only address the social issues of his time, but also represent California’s history. Each novel has characters that will stick with the reader long after the book is finished, revealing his obvious unsurpassed talent as a writer. John Steinbeck’s writing style evolved from a period of realist naturalism as seen in The Grapes of Wrath, to more sentimental tone portrayed through novels like East of Eden. He evokes both the good and bad of mankind in his stories through the use of symbolism and nature. John Steinbeck’s writing was not just a product of the imagination, but also a reflection of his friendships and other life experiences. Although he is widely recognized by critics for his early years of writing, in my opinion, it is his later years that show his greatest achievement as a writer. His ability to transform with time and allow his writing to grow and develop into other stages and styles are what make him a true pioneer of American literature. (Garrett) Steinbeck, despite of a few unsuccessful attempts proves that all man’s efforts will be paid of if only he would strive hard, work with passion and dedication and never gives up. Like what he depicted in his novel, â€Å"Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up in the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments. † (From The Grapes of Wrath). Up to this day, John Steinbeck’s works are still wildly read and appreciated. He died in 1968 but he dedicated his life observing and reflecting the human condition through his works. He dealt with the economic problems of the rural labor. He showed his sympathy and concern to the oppressed, to the little people being empowered by the rich and in power. He immortalized strength and courage in the human spirit. His life and his writings remain an inspiration to a lot of people. Whatever his experiment in fiction or journalistic prose, he wrote with empathy, clarity, perspicuity: In every bit of honest writing in the world, he noted in a 1938 journal entry, there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. (qtd. Shillinglaw) Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is one of the best examples of how Steinbeck described the social condition of the people in his hometown Salinas, California. Steinbeck dedicated a part oh his life writing about the people of his place. In the novel of mice and men, he reflected the lives and problems of the working people. Most of the characters he used in this book are immigrants from Mexico and from other places in America who came to California with such hope of finding a better life. The novel was set in Salinas Valley, where he was born. A place he dedicated a part of his life to. A place he knew so well. A place he knew all his life. The place described in the book was very similar to the place he grew up in. The novel is about two migrant workers and is set during the Great Depression in 1930’s. Main characters George Milton and Lennie Small, portrayed two migrant agricultural workers on a ranch in California who both dreams of having their own ranch. But their dreams were hindered by the harsh reality of materialism and greed. This novel present how dreams of the innocent can be broken but this also proves how a friendship can mend someone’s broken dreams. They held on to each other with such hope that someday their dreams will be fulfilled but then some dreams are meant to remain a dream. Steinbeck was able to relay important lessons in life, through his writings. And his works were written based on his own experiences and observation on the people around him and the environment he lives in. Steinbeck received a lot of negative criticism on his works but his works also touched the lives of many people. People continue to read and appreciate his works up to this day. Despite all the criticisms, a lot of people believed in his writings. In an article on why read John Steinbeck written by Dr. Susan Shillinglaw, she said: Steinbeck reaches out a fictional hand. Emotional bonds are forged between book and reader. Solace and laughter and commitment are what many readers discover in Steinbeck’s work. â€Å"In every bit of honest writing in the world,† he wrote in the late 1930s, â€Å"there is a base theme. Try to understand men. † And Steinbeck’s ghostly voice of understanding and solace endures, inspires. In his album â€Å"The Ghost of Tom Joad,† Bruce Springsteen pays tribute to the power of those interior landscapes – characters whose lives are often desolate, besieged, unacknowledged. â€Å"I’ll be ever ‘where,† promises Tom Joad, â€Å"I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Other reasons, equally compelling, insure that John Steinbeck’s voice will not diminish. A distinguished scholar of American literature, John Seelye, repeatedly intones: â€Å"Steinbeck is a great read. † Stories are readily understood. Characters engage, inspire, enrage. My students love East of Eden best of all his novels; ‘It’s like a soap opera,† one said this spring. â€Å"Cathy’s a kick. † Good and evil face off in this book and others. They live. Recently, a class spent 50 minutes discussing whether George needed Lennie as much as Lennie needed George. Readers return to books that are, like close friends, reliable, accessible. entertaining, and – let Steinbeck never again be pilloried by the old complaint that he’s a writer only for adolescent readers – challenging and perplexing. The Japanese have a vigorous Steinbeck Society, over 150 strong. Why are his books so popular there? For many international readers, Steinbeck’s work captures the elusive American psyche: bonds to land, the need for a place. Many of Steinbeck’s stories are archetypal – restless migrants moving west to begin anew. Steinbeck endures because he does not permit readers to complacently dig in, like the hermit crab. He embraces the fullness of life. With compassion, tolerance, and humility, he surveys landscapes: of place, of spirit, of a nation. Today, Steinbeck’s life and works is remembered and is given tribute through the National Steinbeck Center, located in Salinas California. It aims to continue to help enrich the community and the lives of the people through his works. The center is dedicated to inspire audiences to learn about human nature, literature, history, agriculture, and the arts. Works Cited Dirks, Tim the grapes of wrath http://www. filmsite. org/grap. html Garret, Amber. â€Å"John Steinbeck† http://eprentice. sdsu. edu/F044/agarrett/Steinbeck. html National Steinbeck Center http://www. steinbeck. org/MainFrame. html Shillinglaw, Dr. Susan. The Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies â€Å"Why Read John Steinbeck? † http://www. steinbeck. sjsu. edu/works/ORWhy. jsp Steinbeck, John. The Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies â€Å"John Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech† http://www. steinbeck. sjsu. edu/works/NobleSpeech. jsp

An Ordinary Hero

The Bruce Lee Story directed by Rob Cohen (1993) it has fghting, drama and all sorts of other intriguing things throughout the movie. The movie takes place from when he was born in 1940 to when he died in 1973. It is a true story about a legend that changed the martial arts world. It is one Chinese immigrants dream to make it big in the U. S. while making new friends and creating a family while not knowing he is going to become a legend. In the Movie Dragon you can see the understanding of being an immigrant, overcoming the impossible, and of course love is three main reasons Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a must watch movie. A hero is what we all look up to. Someone who doesnt necessary need super powers but can make other people believe and support them. As long as I can remember my hero has been Bruce Lee. When I was little all I ever thought of were is movies where he was Jumping, kicking, punching and the ever famous waaaahhhhhhh! whenever he would hit someone. When I grew older I started to realize what he stood for and what kind of person he was. He changed martial arts forever with his teaching. He thought to move like water. Bruce once said Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend. (chasingthefrog) Bruce Lee coming to America at his time was hard and difficult but nothing stopped him on his way to the top. He did have hard times but he pushed through and won everyones hearts over even the ones that once ridiculed him. His mother in law who didnt want anything to do with him soon came to love him. Bruce suffered a serious back injury in a duel. Doctors told him he would never walk again. While in the hospital, he wrote a book called Tao of Jeet Kune Do, which completely changed the world of martial arts. He could not write the book so his wife rote it down while he talked But with his will to never stop trying and achieve the impossible he worked his way right out of his chair and back to his kung fu. In the movie Bruce Lee is played by an actor named Jason Scott Lee. Jason played in movies such as Jungle book and Balls of Fury. He became Bruce and showed his true attributes and style. He made me feel like he was Bruce and felt like he could do anything Bruce has done. The acting of all characters throughout the movie was phenomenal and replayed Bruces life in the best way and represented/respected his ife, values and culture well. Its full of quality actors that wont disappoint you. Being an immigrant is always tough as well as getting in a serious injury. Having to be with a completely different culture is never easy. Imagine moving to another country and having to fit in with a totally different society. I am pretty sure everyone would agree how hard that would be. And getting injured is also a very difficult thing to go through which everyone knows and understands. Being told that you will never be able to do something ever again is a lot to take in. Then to overcome all that and achieve the impossible is almost starting a whole new life. Everyone is attracted to people doing an extraordinary thing which pulls them even more into the movie. People love, love. They are attracted to love and they love watching others love. Watching love makes them want to go find love or love their special someone even harder. So if you are a boy wanting to see a movie with a lot of fghting but you have to take your girlfriend to a movie she will like. Then take her to this one because the love in this movie is amazing. Let me give a brief summary of the love throughout this movie. Bruce met his wife Linda while instructing one of his kung fu classes. They started dating while others watched and Judged how she was white and he was and Asian. They kept it a secret from her mother for a while but once they told her she said she wouldnt allow it. But that didnt stop them as they listened only to each other. Lindas mother soon came around and knows how great of a guy Bruce is. They went on to get married and have two children named Brandon (boy) and Shannon (girl). Moving from country to country and back again took a toll on the family but the love was still always there. This drama throughout the movie will keep the girl grabbed throughout the whole movie and you might even get a kiss after the movie to make a little of your own love. Now you can see in the Movie Dragon you can see the understanding of being an immigrant, overcoming the impossible, and of course love, is three main reasons Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a must watch movie. The movie Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story by Rob Cohen shows everything you could ask for in a movie. I strongly encourage everyone to watch this movie and I guarantee you wont be disappointed. It has old history throughout the movie that everyone can relate too. Tie that into to jumping, kicking, loving and culture then it all turns up to be a pretty sweet movie that everyone can enjoy. Bruce had struggles throughout his life but always overcame them. He always grabs peoples attention and makes people want to be like him or Just do whatever he does.