Decentering the Self in the Technological Age Essay -- Communication I

Decentering the Self in the Technological Age In a beautiful park, at the gazebo, stand my two friends, Avatar and Lewia. The wizard is performing the ceremony, and all is going very well. After many hours of intimate chat and romantic evenings together, today Avatar and Lewia are to be married - on the internet. This is the height of immersion to MUDlife. Life on the internet is affecting more people than many of us like to admit. I am interested in discussing the reasons for and repercussions of this sort of immersion. The above description actually did occur, several years ago. It was around the time of the first real explosion of the world wide web, when the internet was reserved for "computer geeks" like myself. The internet offers hundreds of "virtual spaces" called MUDs for "Multi User Domain". Within these MUDs, users create characters for themselves and virtual worlds for their characters. Interaction is purely text-based, with few rules. The worlds are controlled by "wizards", users who have the power to "toad" or delete characters that are abusive or unruly in some other way. My (real life) friend and his girlfriend used to frequent "The Resort", a MUD for general discussion that has since been closed. My personal interest was quite limited, but I had to attend the cyber-ceremony out of respect. My internet personality, or i-dentity, was, after all, BestManChris. Inspired by a similar net-event described in Sherry Turkle's Life On The Screen, I have recently reflected on the reper cussions of that net-wedding. For people as young as we were, twelve years old, the internet and chat rooms are an escape from the control of parents and teachers; they were a chance to be more "grown up" than real life ... ...he commonly held view that communication will become increasingly personal as technology advances is challenged by the popularity of IRC as a new form of communication. People form virtual communities with loose social structure and rules in which the residents all have something in common, whether it is a wedding ceremony, hobby, or a sexual interest. The growth in the number of IRC users is too large to be ignored, and I think it is going to be central to the recreation of communities as postmodern gathering places and the continued decentering of self as electronic communication becomes more prevalent in the years to come. Works Cited Reid, Elizabeth M. Electropolis: Communication and Community On Internet Relay Chat University of Melbourne, 1991. Turkle, Sherry. Life On The Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet New York: Touchstone, 1997.

Food †Taco Bell Essay

Enjoying your food with warm cooked bread along with sweet butter to spread and an iced cold drink to top it all off, or Rushing to eat your food because you feel as if you have to scarf it down before it gets to cold. Sit down restaurant or fast food what would you prefer? Sitting down talking, ordering refills and desserts is my favorite while at a sit down restaurant but sometimes I am in a bit of a hurry and need to swing bye and get something fast that is easy to eat in a short amount of time. Some people may think fast food compared to sit down restaurants are almost the same but they do have many differences. Comparing two local food businesses such as Taco Bell and Texas Road House, there prices I would like to say are a little low but the other are a little high. Taco Bell is considered a fast food joint, and is a place to go when you may be low on cash or even when you may want something fast and easy after a long day at work to feed your family. Taco Bell always has deals and low prices for those times when you want something good not to expensive but worth your money. Texas Road house on the other hand is the opposite this is the place to go when you just got a really good paycheck and feel as if you and your boyfriend need to be spoiled or maybe just want to have a night and go somewhere that will have fun serving you and also do not mind if you get a little crazy cause that’s what having fun is all about. Texas Road House is considered a Steak House and it is somewhere to go when you want to enjoy a delicious meal and maybe even some drinks to have just a great night out yes you will be spending way more then you would if you went to Taco Bell but Texas road house always fulfills my taste buds and its worth the money every time. For some people the environment Is the most important part about eating at a restaurant. Some like it quiet and not to be bothered others like it loud and packed. When picking a place like taco bell it is a very quiet place to go and eat and rarely do you go in and enjoy your meal. Texas Road House on the other hand is very loud and there is always a long waiting list because it’s so packed. Not only is the environment important but also how clean the place is to, taco bell is always on top of cleaning and how nice and clean there lobby is and also there bathrooms too. Texas Road house is clean besides all the peanuts you bring home on your shoes bathrooms are always kept up and you always leave with a full stomach.. To me having something fun at your restaurant is good it gives the place character and everyone knows where to go when they just feel like a bag of peanuts, or when you need some extra hot sauce packets at home. When it comes to different food items at these two places, they are different but that’s what makes each place unique. Taco bell has burritos, tacos, nachos, Mexican pizza etc. Texas Road House has a variety of things burgers, steaks, salads, baked potatoes, bread rolls, and so much more but each place does have a signature sauce they serve, taco bell has there mild ,medium, hot, and Verde sauce while Texas road house there steak sauce and there butter that everyone loves. Not only do you need the sauces and butters with your meal but you do need drinks as well. Taco bell has a variety of different pops, while Texas road house has pop, tea, lemonade, beer, margaritas, shots, etc. Taco bell compared to Texas Road house are very different in their own ways.

Personal Statements about Masters Degree in Global Governance and Diplomacy

I would like to hereby submit my application for the Master’s Degree in Global Governance and Diplomacy being offered at your esteemed institution. In support of my application, I have attached herewith my Curriculum Vitae for your kind perusal. I have had a lifelong interest in global conflicts and their resolution with the Middle Eastern region being the area of focus. It is my goal to gain comprehensive knowledge of international politics and law as well as develop exemplary skills at diplomacy. All my efforts towards educating myself as well as the work experience that I have gained have been directed towards this goal. I am currently pursuing a BA degree in International Relations from Durham University. I am majoring in Mandarin proficiency and achieved 79% pass in the intermediate examinations. I am due to complete the course in June 2012. I also hold a BA degree in International Relations from the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, the premier educational institutions of Ukraine. Further, I have completed a Foundation Degree in International Law and Politics from Ballerbys College, Brighton, U.K. In addition to the above mentioned academic degrees, I attended Beijing University’s Summer School in Law and Politics. I have had the opportunity to interact with diplomats from all over the world and experience, firsthand, the world of international law and politics. I am also acutely aware of on-going global conflicts and crisis and how they impact people. In order to gain maximum exposure to international diplomacy, I have participated in a host of global projects, including: Oct 2011 to Jun 2012: General Volunteer, the Devon Refugee Support Group, Durham October 2011: Attended India International Model European Union 2011, Delhi, India Jun to Sep 2011: Chief Project Assistant, the Centre for Interethnic Cooperation, Moscow Jul to Sep 2010: Parliamentary Assistant, Department of International Relations, Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine April 2011: Attended SUNY Model of European Union 2011, New York, USA Mar to Apr 2010: Assistant Manager, CND Peace Shop, Durham Nov to Apr 2009: General Volunteer, The Big Issue, Brighton The University of Oxford is globally renowned for offering best of breed education to its students. Its focus on the overall development of a student’s knowledge, skills and exposure in correspondence with the program of their choice is what makes the university my preference. Having reviewed the curriculum covered by its M.Sc. in Global Governance and Diplomacy graduate program, I am convinced that this degree will take a step further towards a career in international diplomacy. Â  The subjects of Climate Change Diplomacy, International Relations of the Developing World and Middle East Politics are of particular interest to me. Once I have completed this course, I will be seeking employment in departments of the Government of Ukraine or prominent NGOs that are active in the field of resolution of international conflicts. I believe that my knowledge and experience makes me the ideal candidate for the University of Oxford’s M.Sc. in Global Governance and Diplomacy program, the benefits of my association with your esteemed institution will be mutual. I will be happy to furnish you with any information that you may further require.

History and Invention of the Post-It Note

The Post-it Note (also sometimes called a sticky note) is a small piece of paper with a re-adherable strip of glue on its back, made for temporarily attaching notes to documents and other surfaces. Art Fry The Post-it Note may have been a godsend, literally. In the early 1970s, Art Fry was in search of a bookmark for his church hymnal that would neither fall out nor damage the hymnal. Fry noticed that a colleague at 3M, Doctor Spencer Silver, had developed an adhesive in 1968 that was strong enough to stick to surfaces, but left no residue after removal and could be repositioned. Fry took some of Silvers adhesive and applied it along the edge of a piece of paper. His church hymnal problem was solved. The New Type of Bookmark: Post-It Note Fry soon realized that his bookmark had other potential functions when he used it to leave a note on a work file, and co-workers kept dropping by, seeking bookmarks for their offices. This bookmark was a new way to communicate and to organize. 3M Corporation crafted the name Post-it Note for Arthur Frys new bookmarks and began production in the late 70s for commercial use. Pushing the Post-It Note In 1977, test markets failed to show consumer interest. However in 1979, 3M implemented a massive consumer sampling strategy, and the Post-it Note took off. Today, we see the Post-it Note peppered across files, computers, desks, and doors in offices and homes throughout the country. From a church hymnal bookmark to an office and home essential, the Post-it Note has colored the way we work. In 2003, 3M came out with Post-It Brand Super Sticky Notes, with a stronger glue that adheres better to vertical and non-smooth surfaces. Arthur Fry Background Fry was born in Minnesota. As a child, he showed signs of being an inventor making his own toboggans from scraps of wood. Arthur Fry attended the University of Minnesota, where he studied Chemical Engineering. While still a student in 1953, Fry began working for 3M in New Product Development he stayed with 3M his entire working life. Spencer Silver Background Silver was born in San Antonio. In 1962, he received his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Arizona State University. In 1966, he received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Colorado. In 1967, he became a senior chemist for 3Ms Central Research Labs specializing in adhesives technology. Silver is also an accomplished painter. He has  received more than 20 U.S. patents. Popular Culture In 2012, a Turkish artist was selected to have a solo exhibition at a gallery in Manhattan. The exhibition, titled E Pluribus Unum (Latin for Out of many, one), opened November 15, 2012, and featured large-scale works on Post-it Notes. In 2001, Rebecca Murtaugh, a California artist who uses Post-it Notes in her artwork, created an installation by covering her whole bedroom with $1,000 worth of the notes, using the ordinary yellow for objects she saw as having less value and neon colors for more important objects, such as the bed. In 2000, the 20th anniversary of Post-it Notes was celebrated by having artists create artworks on the notes.

MWDS Fahrenheit 451 - 675 Words

AP English Literature and Composition MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Title: Fahrenheit 451_____________________ Author: Ray Bradbury____________________ Date of Publication: 1953___________________ Genre: Science Fiction____________________ Biographical Information about the Author Ray Bradbury was born August 22, 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois. As a child he was into very mystical entertainment and writings. At 12 or 13 he started writing his own pieces. After high school he couldn’t afford college because they had no money it this was the time during the depression so he spent 3 days out of the week for 10 years in the library. He died June 5, 2012 in L.A., California. Historical Information about the period of publication -During the time†¦show more content†¦-Strong use of symbols and metaphors -Strong sentence structures but occasionally uses fragments to add confusion -â€Å"I don’t think I’d like that† he said. -â€Å"He said hello and then said, â€Å"What are you up to now†Ã¢â‚¬  -â€Å"She smiled as she saw Montag.† -â€Å"I’m still crazy. The rain feels good. I love to walk in it.† Memorable Quotes Quotation Significance Characters Name Role in the Story Significance Adjectives Guy Montag Clarisse Captain Beatty Faber Protagonist Girl who Montag meets in the beginning of the story Antagonist Montag’s mentor Main character, Fireman that likes knowledge, creator of change Clarisse starts Montag’s passion for literature and knowledge Captain of the firemen and he is the one who discovers Montag’s secret and tries to make him burn down his own house. Helps Montag’s knowledge grow and gives him a different understanding and a safe haven to read and learn -curious -hidden -confused -free spirited Setting Significance of opening scene Montag is brainwashed up until the point where he meets Clarisse and then his new curiosity blossoms. Clarisse sparks a new flame in Montag and it makes him question everything he has been doing throughout his life as a fireman. Significance of ending/closing scene They go back

Environmental Issues free essay sample

This essay presents the argument for remaining focused on environmental issues. This paper argues that environmental issue should be of first priority. The author believes that economics has the power to change peoples behavior that few other arguments do. Table of Contents Introduction The Life You Save Saves You Global Warming Starting Small is Sometimes Better Is It Really Jobs versus the Environment? Voting is an Environmental Act and so is what you eat for lunch AIDS is an environmental issue Can This Planet Be Saved? Tree-sitting brings up one of the central questions of environmentalism, which is whether we can have both jobs and a clean environment. Timber companies, for example, argue that they be allowed to continue to cut trees because they continue to provide jobs. The argument that environmental concerns reduce jobs is one of the oldest and most pernicious myths that environmentalists have ever had to face, despite the fact that it has been well documented that environmentally sound projects create jobs. We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental Issues or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

MacBeth - Trajedy Or Satire Essays - Characters In Macbeth

MacBeth - Trajedy or Satire? William Shakespeare wrote four great tragedies, the last of which was written in 1606 and titled Macbeth. This "tragedy", as it is considered by societal critics of yesterday's literary world, scrutinizes the evil dimension of conflict, offering a dark and gloomy atmosphere of a world dominated by the powers ofdarkness. Macbeth, more so than any of Shakespeare's other tragic protagonists, has to face the powers and decide: should he succumb or should he resist? Macbeth understands the reasons for resisting evil and yet he proceeds with a disastrous plan, instigated by the prophecies of the three Weird Sisters. Thus we must ask the question: If Macbeth is acting on the impulses stimulated by the prophecies of his fate, is this Shakespearean work of art really a Tragedy? Aristotle, one of the greatest men in the history of human thought, interpreted Tragedy as a genre aimed to present a heightened and harmonious imitation of nature, and, in particular, those aspects of nature that touch most closely upon human life. This I think Macbeth attains. However, Aristotle adds a few conditions. According to Aristotle, a tragedy must have six parts: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Most important is the plot, the structure of the incidents. Tragedy is not an imitation of men, but of action and life. It is by men's actions that they acquire happiness or sadness. Aristotle stated, in response to Plato, that tragedy produces a healthful effect on the human character through a katharsis, a "proper purgation" of "pity and terror." A successful tragedy, then, exploits and appeals at the start to two basic emotions: fear and pity. Tragedy deals with the element of evil, with what we least want and most fear to face, and with what is destructive to human life and values. It also draws out our ability to sympathize with the tragic character, feeling some of the impact of the evil ourselves. Does Macbeth succeed at this level? Can the reader feel pity and terror for Macbeth? Or does the reader feel that Macbeth himself is merely a branch from the root of all evil and not the poor, forsaken, fate-sunken man, according to Aristotle's idea of tragedy, he is supposed to portray? Can the reader "purge" his emotions of pity and fear by placing himself in the chains of fate Macbeth has been imprisoned in? Or does he feel the power and greed upon which Macbeth thrives, prospers, and finally falls? I believe the latter is the more likely reaction, and that the reader sees Macbeth as a bad guy, feeling little or no pity for him. Aristotle also insists that the main character of a tragedy must have a "tragic flaw." Most tragedies fail, according to Aristotle, due to the rendering of character. To allow the character to simply be a victim of unpredictable and undeserved calamities would violate the complete, self-contained unity of action in the tragedy. If that is so, and if we assume that the group of three witches is a realistic possibility, then is not Macbeth such a victim? Does he really deserve the misfortune that is brought him by his fortune? After all, Macbeth is introduced to the reader as an honest and humble leader. His fate, once having been revealed to him, drives him to greed, elevates his lust for power, and coins a conceited and misguided trust in his seemingly eternal mortality. Diction, the expression of the meaning in words, is near perfect in Macbeth, simply because it is written by William Shakespeare, the inventor of perfect diction. Thought-the task of saying what is possible and pertinent in the circumstances of the play-can not be disputed. Spectacle and Song are the effects that highlight the play, and are pertinent in providing an emotional attraction. Such elements are easily found in Shakespeare. Macbeth is written with the style and grace that only Shakespeare could provide. Thus, these elements of tragic drama can not be challenged in this argument. While we need to consider that Macbeth strives on power, and in doing so loses his values of humility and humanity, it should not be forgotten that Macbeth does, at certain times, feel remorse for things he has done. In Act