Is It Possible to Create a Perfect Human Being Essay

As William Penn says in his book, Some Fruits of Solitude, in Reflections and Maxims Relating to the Conduct of Human Life, â€Å"Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children. † This statement is true, to a point. While eugenical artificial selection could in fact ‘breed’ an ideal human being, as is done with horses and dogs, there is a level of eugenics that has gone too far. During WWII, Adolf Hitler took the stance of eugenics as an innovative idea that was for the greater good. However, his proposal of eugenics was eliminating all other choices of humans other than his ideal image – the Aryan race. The murder of over 11 million people can hardly be compared with propagation, but they both derive from the same idea: eugenics. Eugenics is only one of the many methods that scientists are meddling with in order to design an ideal human being. Creating a flawless human being has been a scientific prerogative, and while there are some discrepancies, science is showing progress. Alongside eugenics, cybernetic organisms are another option for creating a perfect human being. Cybernetic organisms are comprised of synthetic and organic parts. Humans that have dysfunctional body parts are able to replace them with mechanical alternatives. Surrogate parts enable humans to be far more efficient. A commonly replaced organ is the heart, and scientists should soon be able to replace other vital internal organs. Scientific exploration of new areas is one of the many benefits made available by cybernetic technology. Space travel without a breathing apparatus could be made possible if the necessary organs were substitute. Replacement lungs could allow humans to function without oxygen. If oxygen was provided within the body, then humans would be able to easily explore space, as well as the depths of the ocean. With cybernetic organisms at the helm, a century’s progress, due to exponential growth of technology, can be accomplished in an hour. Although more efficient than humans, cybernetic organisms can also be considered a threat to humanity. Technology is not always dependable. Artificial hearts fail, cellular phones break, and planes crash. In 1993, 7 people died in a plane crash due to engine failures. Not only is technology not one hundred percent reliable, but if humans are eventually comprised completely of artificial parts, then emotion will no longer remain. As exemplified in Anthem, a society without emotion is detrimental. The citizens of Anthem believe that they know everything that there is to know, but they are mistaken. In order to ensure equality, the idea of love was removed, and along with it, family, spirituality and opinion. If machines become the main factor in this world, it is possible that Anthem could be the future. The World Council defines and enforces the law, so that all are the same and perfect by Anthem’s standards. Cybernetic organisms can be manipulated by humans to be perfect, or without flaw, but possible consequences are risky. With cybernetic organisms as the extreme in creating the perfect human being, genetic modification for health purposes is a less drastic measure. With technology today, cures to diseases, such as Anthrax and H1N1, are being discovered at a rapid pace. If one can inject the vaccine of all known diseases into embryos until all diseases are eradicated, everyone would be healthy, and in a sense, perfect. Brave New World is a society of perfect health. All citizens are immunized at decantation and are able to live a life free of disease and infection. Unfortunately, the vaccines to every disease have not yet been discovered, but with the exponential growth of technological advances, there is a probable chance. Using genetic modifications to prevent diseases is an idealized goal, but it has a major risk factor – mutations. DNA is a complicated system, and the slightest mistake could cause a major bodily malfunction. It would take extensive scientific research and application to consider attempting to alter a human’s genes. Science has made many advances, but oftentimes the major ones have come back with unintended consequences that were never before thought significant. The extensive use of oil, coal and natural gas demonstrate that perfectly. It was commonly known that the burning of these natural resources releases gasses into the air, but it was not thought of as important. Global warming was considered a hoax, and little was done to preserve the earth’s delicate ecosystem. If tampering with genetics is disregarded as insignificant, then drastic outcomes could occur, such as unheard of deformities, or permanent brain damage. Genetic modification in this sense would be detrimental to society. A ‘perfect’ human being is hard to define, but standards can easily be changed over time with both genetic modification and cybernetic organisms. There are positives and negatives to both options, but technology is changing rapidly, and circumstances adapt with it. Although scientists have not yet created a prototype for an ideal human, ideas are being formulated. The ideas, however, of what defines a perfect person are constantly changing. Until idealization has had its parameters defined, scientists will continue to struggle to achieve this goal.

Injury Compensation

Workplace injury causes remarkable loss to individual workers, their families, the community, and society. This loss is not only physical and financial, but also psychological and emotional. The prevention and compensation of workplace injury have thus been important issues for both academia and policy-makers. The purpose of The Political Economy of Workplace Injury in Canada, written by Bob Barnetson, is to study how the Canadian government averts and compensates workplace injury, as well as who profits, and how.The first four chapters of the book present study of government’s injury-prevention efforts. The author deduces that the current injury-prevention strategies taken by employers and government are not valuable, the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws not succeed to make workplaces more safe, and employers are able to shift costs to workers through injury. The next three chapters of the book analyzes the compensation injury system in workplaces in Canada and reach es the conclusion that workers’ compensation does not fully reimburse workers for their injuries.Chapter five describes how workers' compensation in Canada came to be, and how it theoretically benefits the employers, workers, and the government. Chapter six discusses the inclination of workers’ compensation boards to limit benefit entitlements and therefore employer costs. Chapter seven investigates how workers’ compensation is used to deal with workers and to limit worker power. The book concludes with Chapter eight.The Political Economy of Workplace Injury in Canada doesn’t merely tell us that workers compensation doesn’t really help workers; it tells us why it doesn’t help and, even more importantly, how come no one fixes it? Mr. Barnetson states in his book, that in most cases, a â€Å"disturbing pattern of bias against workers emerges (Barnetson, 2010, p. 154). † Thousands of Canadian families have been thrown into poverty by sys tem that denies them support. The Worker's Compensation system. One of the strengths of this book, is that Mr.Barnetson does not draw any analytical punches. Writing within a traditional Marxist framework, Mr. Barnetson is able to locate both occupational health and safety and workers' compensation laws and regulations that result from class compromise. This would be: at the turn of the 20th century an increasing number of workplace accidents were initiating dissatisfaction with the productions systems in place. This unhappiness threatened to explode into the political arena and therefore endangered the legitimacy of the Canadian capitalist system.So, the provincial governments began passing ‘workmen's compensation' laws. These laws were to shift attention away from the unsafe and unhealthy labour processes that caused these accidents and injuries while representing a real victory for injured workers and their supporters. Also, they were used â€Å"to put in place a compensat ion adjudication process that spread out accidents and injury such that the causes of accidents were obscured and normalized while injured workers were left to confront a system that individualized and depoliticized their claims (Storey, 2012, p. ). † However, there is one noteworthy criticism. There are places in the book where Professor Barnetson tends to extrapolate or simplify based off one experience in Alberta, or a single study from Ontario or Quebec. It must be understood that there are significant differences between provincial occupational health and safety and workers' compensation legal systems. This does not mean that it is believed that Mr. Barnetson is unaware of such difference.It is to say, though, that keeping dissimilarities in mind can be of highest importance as is the case in the current context. For example, â€Å"the Ontario government and its workers' compensation board are using the financial status of a number of western Canadian workers' compensati on boards to justify fundamental changes in its funding formulae; changes that injured worker advocates claim will have a devastating effect on the level and duration of benefits awarded to injured workers (Storey, 2012, p. ). † Lastly, in his efforts to be all-inclusive in his analysis of the political economy of workplace injury in Canada, it is felt that Professor Barnetson moves along so quickly that it feels like he may lose his audience. If we are to believe his point that injured workers are a minor group who are unable to make specific changes that will better the system, then it is crucial that exercises in political education, are patient with their readers' efforts, in order to grasp the root of the concept.Bibliography Song, X. (2012). The Political Economy of Workplace Injury in Canada (review). Canadian Public Policy38(1), 115-116. University of Toronto Press. Retrieved October 8, 2012, from Project MUSE database. Storey, Robert. (2012, March 22). Bob Barnetson, The Political Economy of Workplace Injury in Canada The Free Library. (2012). Retrieved October 07, 2012 from http://www. thefreelibrary. com/Bob Barnetson, The Political Economy of Workplace Injury in Canada. -a0298292679

Locke on the Social Contract Theory

Social Contract Theory is a philosophy, which states that political and moral obligations of a person are rendered to him, upon an agreement between the ruler and the society. This agreement governs both the ruler and the ruled society to act in accordance with one another. John Locke, along with Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau, is one of the best known proponents of this theory, which emerged as one of the most influential political theories in the history of the Modern West. Social Contract Theory was an answer to reject the Divine Right Theory, which was used by kings and queens as their basis for their right to rule. Locke’s most important and influential writings are in his book, Two Treatises on Government. The first treatise in his writing is geared towards the rejection of Divine Right theory; and the second treatise states Locke’s own views on the justification for the civil government, which he entitled An Essay Concerning the True Original Extent and End of Civil Government. John Locke’s Social Contract Theory held a positive view about human nature. He argued that humans have a gift of reason, and man’s natural condition is a state of perfect and complete liberty wherein, humans live their lives at its best without interference from other people. People are assumed to be in equal footing with one another and are bound by the Law of Nature. This Law of Nature however is according to Locke’s view is the basis of all morality, and thus must not extend to harm other people’s rights with regards to their life, health, liberty or possessions (Locke 2003). Further more, as his concept of State of Nature lacks civil power amongst men and an appeal to the Law of Nature allowing people to defend themselves. Because of this lack of authority, a war is likely to break out, thus prompting the reason to abandon the State of Nature and recognize a contract that shall in turn form a government. This, as a result to man’s having the ability to think rationally, humans submit themselves to a higher authority for the protection of their rights. However, in Locke’s Social Contract Theory, a rational individual will only agree to a government, with minimal and limited control, and a government that is controlled by the citizens. Because for Locke, the government can be easily lured to become restrictive, corrupt and abusive of powers, thus prompting the individuals to always retain some power over the government for the sake of freedom and equality. This issue concerning freedom has always been central to Locke’s market government. Government must always employ the right blend of freedom and restrictions with it. For the people, their property and lives are their rational interests; and their concept to form a government is geared towards the protection of these interests. Therefore, the people, although putting the security of their rights in the government, are still fearful of the government’s potential power (The Social Contract). Thus, according to Locke, should the government cease to become responsive to its citizens, the government should be overthrown. They still hold the right to revolt against their ruler if they realize that their ruler is no longer able to cater to their needs and has been abusive and oppressive to the rights of man. Locke also supported the idea of laissez-faire, wherein there will be limited government intervention for the market to be able to generate a prosperous civil society based on individual’s rational competition. Locke’s version of the theory has played a great role in the development of the Western politics, particularly in America. His social contract plus laissez faire, has also became the basis for market institutions. Locke’s theory has been influential to the current criminal justice system, with property playing an essential role in the society’s government and contract that establishes it. With the State of Nature being itself chaotic when no one is bound to control the state of liberty for men, hence bringing about the State of War, and eventually creating the need to establish a contract between the ruler and the ruled society to enable people to rightfully defend their life and liberty. Thus, the need to protect their properties has prompted the people to abandon the State of Nature and form the social contract between the civil society and the government. Given the great influence that John Locke has posed through his political theories, his philosophies have continued to live until the present time, especially in American politics. The criminal justice system and world politics in general have exhibited strong influential heritage from Locke’s philosophies; in particular pertaining to the way the government must handle its affairs, so as to please the civil society who placed them in power. The Democratic form of government and criminal system, wherein the civil society is always left with a choice to whom must be put into power is an example of a social contract. And in turn, the overthrow or government leaders who did not much perform for the benefit of the people is an illustration of Locke’s theory. Reference Locke, John. (2003) Two Treatises of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration. Yale University Press. The Social Contract. Retrieved October 25, 2007 from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/2769_Swri01.pdf   

The Patriot Movie

The Patriot Movie The Patriot movie has been a great movie. All the scenes were incredible and others were devastating. Having to watch this history movie has become one of my favorite movies with the scenes that I have chosen. My first scene I chose was actually a very sad part of the movie. It was when Benjamins 2nd oldest son was shot by one of the British cruel leaders. He was killed because he was trying to free his oldest son Gabriel and was shot instead. After that, Benjamin became upset because the British leader ended up ordering to kill the wounded American’s and burned his house down.He got his sons, the guns and went after them to get his oldest son. They ended up killing all the soldiers and made sure they all died and ended up freeing his son from getting executed. The reaction I got from this part of the movie was very shocking that they would kill a kid and burn down a whole house. It’s also shocking that they were allowed to do all that. What I liked ab out it though was that he went after his son and did not care about what he had to do, he just had to decide it and go after it. The second scene I chose was when Gabriel went to the church and tried to ask for people to join.At the church the pastor asked for him to leave and was trying to make him leave but he wouldn’t. Anne, his future wife ends up helping him and convinces everyone to let him talk and started talking about how everyone is always talking about helping, independence and freedom. That they should act upon what they believe and help. After all that I like that he asked her father if he can write to her while he is at war. My reaction to this was very interesting how she defended him and actually helped him get the people’s attention.How she spoke up to everyone and just what was her opinion and what she thought was right. I just felt it was right and that she used her freedom of speech and spoke up The third scene I have chosen was when Benjamin tricke d the soldiers and took his back by talking to the British commander. Tavington got very angry and found out about 7 soldiers homes and went after Benjamins family. His family ended up noticing and hid, some of the American soldiers showed up and took his family while others fought the rest of the British soldiers.By this time I was really interested in this part and was glad that they ended up hiding. I was shocked most of the movie but this part was another main one. It was shocking when I was expecting them to catch one of his younger sons under the table. The fourth scene would be when Gabriel’s wife goes home after their marriage and shows up to the British soldiers gathering her whole village in a temple. The soldiers locked them in and burned it. Later on Gabriel went and found everything and could not find his wife so he went after Tavington and ended up getting killed by him.I felt so sad when this happened. I was very confident at first, happy that Tavington was get ting killed until he turned around and stabbed Gabriel. A Very disappointing feeling and shocked once more. The last and fifth scene was when they were all fighting against each other. And most of his close soldiers were dieing and when he found Tavington they got into a big fight. Tavington almost killed Benjamin, but Benjamin ended up switching it around. I knew it was going to end in a positive way but at that moment I was just curious of what else could of happened.I didn’t think that Benjamin was going to get out of that death and it shocked me the most. Very shocking movie. My reaction to this whole movie was a lot of twisted feelings. It was a very sad, shocking movie and I couldn’t really predict on what would happen next. It has to be one of my favorite war movies and I’m glad I watched it. I would definitely recommend it to someone who was in a history class to watch it. I’m glad it ended in a good note and was just surprised in all the twisted things it had and was just disappointed on who did not make it to the end. A good movie, with a good end.

Luxury consumer behavior in Mainland China Essay

China recently became the world’s second largest market for luxury goods with an annual increase of more than 30% in 2010, even surpassing Japan. Further estimates predict that China will become the largest upscale product and consumer goods market in the world. How does a country with an average GDP per capita of $3,800 USD, and classified behind 105 in the world ranking possess such a strong propensity for consuming luxury goods and products? Specifically, how does one make sense of Mainland Chinese luxury buyers and their respective consumer behavior? This article answers these strategic questions for foreign companies and marketers who are interested in the luxury industry in China, and for those who want to develop a greater understanding of one of the world’s largest market and its 1. 3 billion consumers. â€Å"At the core of this paper is an explanation of Mainland China’s 21st century value system that can only have been shaped from the country’s rich history. † At the core of this paper is an explanation of Mainland China’s 21st century value system that can only have been shaped from the country’s rich history. Answering how China has become the buoyant socialist state economy it is today, is to shed light onto the country’s various economic, social, cultural and psychological histories. The history of luxury consumption in China is one of the country’s oldest. It remains deeply rooted into China’s cultural and sociological landscape and has subsequently influenced other Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The contemporary Chinese antique market and auction houses offer a telling explanation of how luxury is consumed in China. During the economic downtown, collections of Chinese antiquities were sold at Christie’s auction house for far more than their estimated value. In 2009, a 12th-century B. C. bronze vessel from the Western Zhou Dynasty sold for over 14 times its estimated value. These antique collectors are, in large part, Chinese or Asian. Collecting an expensive, storied antique is viewed in a similar vein to purchasing a luxury good. To own an artifact at home was tantamount in grandeur to that displayed by museums around the world that also housed ancient Chinese art collections. In sharp contrast, during China’s Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, tradition and Chinese cultural heritage was viewed negatively as something boring, worthless, and divisive. History and heritage were destroyed in favor of new equalizing ideology. The Cultural Revolution created a cultural void, and those affected would go on to be known as the ‘lost generation’. Currently in their 50s, some members of the ‘lost generation’ have attained new wealth. They partake in the purchasing of luxury goods, and often lack subtlety. They are ostentatious and inherently possess a skewed view of what is traditional or socially accepted, subsequently explaining for very extravagant behavior. A few examples include the rebuilding of the Chateau de Maison Laffitte of Paris in a suburb of Beijing, or one wealthy man’s endeavors to build an exact replica of the U. S. President’s White House in a rural area of Anhui province. The underlying theme is the Mainland Chinese desire to mimic emblems of power from Western culture. â€Å"Today, the Mainland Chinese consumer’s 21st century value system is comprised of three salient parts: the traditional Chinese value system persists, the socialist Chinese value system (dominant), and the Western value system which is often regarded like a trend. † As the West represents advanced technology, super powers and modern values, the majority of Mainland Chinese seek to pursue these values the best they can. Therefore the pursuit of Western values can be said to have a strong influence on the Chinese consumer value system. Today, the Mainland Chinese consumer’s 21st century value system is comprised of three salient parts: the traditional Chinese value system persists, the socialist Chinese value system (dominant), and the Western value system which is often regarded like a trend. The updated Chinese socialist value system of Deng’s reform and opening policy brings modernity, wealth, achievement and success, while the Western values bring personal liberty, post-modernism, also modernity, achievement and success. Together, the Chinese consumer’s 21st century value system is a veritable melting pot; strong values of modernity, wealth and success are dominant. Thus, the pursuit of modernity, wealth and success remains the key in explaining luxury consumer behavior in Mainland China. From this explanation of the dominant set of values within Chinese society, it is hardly surprising to discover that Mainland China’s car sales in 2009 averaged 13 million, even exceeding car sales in the U. S.. Additionally, sales for German car manufacturer Mercedes Benz went up 77%. Deng’s Open reform policy in 1978 allowed for individuals to pursue wealth through various means. Economic development transformed the social structure from a model that was horizontally equal to that of vertical extension and growth. Now, after three decades of inexistence from 1950 to 1980, social classes have reemerged. During the following three decades from 1980s to 2010, social wealth increased by an average 10% of growth each year. The Mainland Chinese consumer saw better financial opportunity and became increasingly wealthy. Financial and career success and achievements naturally became a way for people to distinguish themselves from others. It became de rigueur to openly display a person’s individual success, and luxury goods and designer brands effectively communicated status and wealth. However, at the core of this newfound wealth and status was the honest pursuit of better living conditions. Better living conditions meant for higher quality products and upscale brands. Therefore, international luxury brands perfectly fulfilled the needs of Mainland Chinese consumers from all angles – cultural, social, and economic – attributing for a more modern, powerful, and self-confident approach to life. â€Å"At the core of this newfound wealth and status was the honest pursuit of better living conditions. Better living conditions meant for higher quality products and upscale brands. † In Mainland China, one may see a person carrying an authentic Louis Vuitton bag while riding a crowded, public bus somewhere in the rural countryside. Luxury goods are consumed on a mass level, and are not confined to a select few. The central cause for an increased consumption of luxury products results from the country’s socialist value system. During the transitional period from a pure planned system to a market-driven economy, consumers inherently retained the idea of equality. Government authorities also try to maintain and communicate that equality in Mainland China is crucial to national identity. Based on steady economic development and a newfound consumer confidence towards the future’s potential, Mainland Chinese consumers believe that they are, in essence, the same as each other. Even if they cannot afford a luxury brand item today, they will save up several months of savings to eventually have it. It is important to note that all Chinese luxury consumers do not aim to show off. There is a homogenous identity and behavioral patterns that come with new wealth. However, only focusing on this collective homogenous identity, and not pay attention on the differences would cause a marketing plan to fail. The Mainland Chinese market is large and sophisticated enough to use multi-criteria methods to understanding its various crossed aspects, such as psychographic, geographic and demographic aspects. Psychographically, consumers are different from socio-psychological and cultural attitudes towards luxury point of views. These psychographic variables segment in the market into four groups known as luxury lovers, luxury followers, luxury intellectuals and luxury laggards with three dimensions according to the different psychographic aspects: collectivism-individualism, analytical-impulsive thinking, conspicuousness-functionality for luxury goods. Geographically, the regional differences in China (in terms of climates, cultural customs and languages) are varied; they are the equivalent to the collective differences found throughout Europe. China can also be divided into four large regions: North, South, East and West. Cities within a given region can be further classified into tiered cities according to city’s level of economic development. Demographically, the factors classify naturally consumers into traditional groups. For the purposes of this paper, the research sample used is meaningful for study as the income levels are controlled at ten times the national average income. This ensures luxury consumption because of the sample’s disposable income level and the easy affordability of luxury goods. Age is also controlled in the range of 25 to 45 years of age in order to be sure that the sample belongs to members of Mainland China’s new generation, avoiding the inclusion of members from the ‘lost generation’ entirely. All sample participants were educated at the university level and possessed an undergraduate degree. The psychographic segmentation of Chinese luxury consumers as luxury lovers, luxury followers, luxury intellectuals and luxury laggards cross with geographic factors to show the regional distribution difference of the four groups in various parts of the Mainland Chinese market. The results can be found in Table I and Table II. Table I: Psychographic Segmentation of Chinese Luxury Consumers Table II: Chinese Luxury Consumer Segmentation Geographical Distribution in China The segmentation proves the heterogeneity of Chinese luxury consumers although conspicuousness is dominant for luxury lovers and followers, representing 31. 2% of the total market in first tier cities. Still, conspicuousness is very visible and serves as motivation especially among ‘first movers’ for purchasing new products. First movers are often portrayed by the media as opinion leaders, and are they are tactfully used to influence the market. However, intellectuals and laggards focusing on functionality and individualism are still the main dominant groups for luxury consumers in China even in first tier cities. Why are luxury’s main consumers still quiet and conservative about their attitude towards luxury goods? â€Å"After the initial introduction of international luxury brands in China, the curiosity of Mainland Chinese consumers wore off as they began to seriously confront the psychological discomfort associated with the absence of a Chinese luxury brand. † The conservative conspicuousness is coming from the cultural and psychological contradiction: 1) the admiration of ancient China’s luxury lifestyle influences the luxury pursuit today. Currently, luxury brands are widely available from many foreign countries, such as France, Italy, and Switzerland. After the initial introduction of international luxury brands in China, the curiosity of Mainland Chinese consumers wore off as they began to seriously confront the psychological discomfort associated with the absence of a Chinese luxury brand. Why was there no Chinese brand capable of carrying out the essence of luxury found in ancient Chinese culture? 2) Chinese tradition encourages people to be benign and to not have an extravagant life. Exercising frugality and discreetness are seen as the proper way for a person to behave in society. This virtue of frugality and discreetness is also the socially accepted norm by the Chinese socialist value system. Therefore, frugality and discreetness received two confirmations from two value systems (tradition and socialist) in comparison to modernity, wealth and achievement values, which were confirmed twice by socialist and western value systems. As a result, the internal psychological values within the 21st century value system of Mainland China are conflicted. This conflict is reflected in the attitudes and behaviors of its consumers, especially in regard to the luxury market, and accounts for the following: an ambivalent attitude towards luxury consumption and psychological dissonance after purchasing. An exception is gift giving or special product categories. â€Å"The conflict of having a centralized power structure versus liberty and an openness of the market creates individual wealth while limiting the expression of wealth and status. † Conservative conspicuousness can also be understood by the unique socialist system within Mainland China’s market-drive economy. The conflict of having a centralized power structure versus liberty and an openness of the market creates individual wealth while limiting the expression of wealth and status. Those consumers who are typically found in politics or a government related environment are said to be luxury intellectuals. In this setting, wealth should not be overtly expressed or shown off to others. Products that are discreetly designed, such as ties, scarves, business suits, or handbags without logos are most popular. Alternatively, if an individual outside of politics consumes luxury products, it is most likely that he or she is a luxury lover or follower. (Please see Table III) Table III: The Conservative Conspicuousness of Chinese Luxury Consumers The potential for luxury industries to thrive in the Mainland Chinese market is high. With steady economic development, more information on luxury goods readily available online and offline, the increasing relevance of e-commerce, and a greater awareness for a higher quality of life, consumerism will propel to the center of this dynamic market. As consumers get more savvy and sophisticated, the Mainland Chinese market will, in due time, be much more difficult and complicated to operate. About the author Pierre Xiao LU is Assistant Professor of Marketing at School of Management of Fudan University in Shanghai. He specializes in luxury consumer behavior study, luxury brand management and selective retailing. His theories about Chinese consumer formed the fundamental understanding for international brands towards this market and largely adopted by successful upscale brands. Before he joins Fudan University, he received his PhD in marketing from ESSEC Paris where he is visiting professor of LVMH Chair and of its Asian campus in Singapore. Lu is author of â€Å"Elite China, Luxury Consumer Behavior in China† and co-author of â€Å"Luxury China, Market Opportunities and Potentials†. He can be reached at xiaolu@fudan. edu. cn. References †¢ Michel Chevalier and Pierre Xiao Lu, Luxury China, Market Opportunities and Potentials, Wiley and sons, 2010 †¢ Jacques Gernet, Le Monde Chinois, Paris: Armand Colin, 1999 †¢ Alexandra Peers, What’s Still Recession-Proof, The Wall Street Journal, September 24, 2009 †¢ Pierre Xiao Lu, Elite China, Luxury Consumer Behavior in China, Wiley and Sons, 2008 †¢ China car sales top U. S. by Gilles Guillaume, Reuters, January 11, 2010 †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ http://www. reuters. com/article/idUSTRE60A1BQ20100111 †¢ Mercedes-Benz says 2009 China sales up 77 percent, Reuters, January 11, 2010 †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ http://www. reuters. com/article/idUSTRE60B0EY20100112 †¢ Pierre Bordieux, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, London: Routledge, 1984 †¢ Pierre Xiao Lu, Elite China, Luxury Consumer Behavior in China, Wiley and Sons, 2008 †¢ Michel Chevalier and Pierre Xiao Lu, Luxury China, Market Opportunities and Potentials, Wiley and sons, 2010 †¢ Pierre Xiao Lu and Benard Pras, Profiling Mass Affluent Luxury Goods Consumers in China: a Psychographic Approach, Thunderbird International Business Review, forthcoming.

International business and multinational enterprise Essay

International business and multinational enterprise - Essay Example It would also show why the Russia has become an attractive destination for the foreign firms. Four case studies would also be evaluated and analyzed for their success or failure in the foreign soil. Globalization has been one of the most portent forces that have compelled the global community to cross border restrictions for the wider welfare of the people. Social scientists assert that globalization has broadly brought together goods, services, capital, technology and people across national borders to evolve new global market with common goals (Hill, 2009; Sirgy et al., 2004; Black, 2002). Indeed, the nations have increasingly become interdependent for their socio-economic development. The globalization has reduced the geographical boundaries and has brought regional and local interests on the world map (Croucher, 2004; Tiplady, 2003; Held et al., 1999). Thus, the role and responsibilities of states have become more pronounced vis-Ã  -vis creating a conducive environment for foreign investment. Globalization has also greatly opened new avenues of exploiting competencies and resources for businesses across nations. Through foreign direct investment or FDI, cross border mergers, partnership, export and import of goods and services, the process of international business are expedited. But the policies and legal paradigms of the government become key elements that inculcate trust amongst the foreign firms. Indeed, the political, legal, economic and technological environment created by government initiatives through policies and plans are important criteria for international businesses. Zonis (2000) asserts that the political risks generate an environment of uncertainty primarily through the exercise of power by the government and non government agencies. Thus, non democratic states or states that are transitional economies are prone to exhibit controls which

Racial essentialism and Racial constructivism Term Paper

Racial essentialism and Racial constructivism - Term Paper Example Racial essentialism is a malady that affects the American population from pre-historic times to the modern world. The American population is largely divided into two races, which are the black Americans and the whites. The notions that hold the phenomenon of racial essentialism purport that some races are better than other races, a factor that mostly triggers war between the white and the black people in the United States. The genesis of the racial segregation can be traced to the colonial times when the whites used to enslave Africans in their plantations as workers. The deep-rooted racism has not waned since most whites and blacks have been enemies in all spheres of life. America has been experiencing a subtle war between the two races for the longest period. There have been different cases of assassination of white people by black police or black people by white police. The underlying reason that propagates such atrocities is racial essentialism's notions. The most striking notion that propels such outrageous acts is that whites feel more superior to the blacks. On the other hand, blacks are vengeful since they believe that they are as superior as the whites in terms of intelligence, physical attributes, and work productivity and so they deserve equal treatment. The war that transpires between the two races occasionally is akin to a battle for race superiority. Thus, the reason is still coalesced into the notion of race or skin color. The war against racial prejudice in America.

Study for Insurance Covers(Australia) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Study for Insurance Covers(Australia) - Essay Example Accidental breakage of glass, mirrors etc. will get insurance cover under this policy. For fixed glass that forms part of the building including fixed shower bases, basins, sinks, baths and toilets the insurance cover is available. Mirrors, glassware, crystal, crockery, china (except when being used, cleaned or carried) or glass in furniture (except for glass which forms part of a television or a computer screen/monitor. Items covered for accidental breakage include fixed glass like window tinting or shatter- proofing material attached to the glass on the insured buildings. If we insured the contents, any mirrors, glassware, crystal, crockery or any glass in furniture .Mirrors, glassware, crystal, crockery or china are not covered while they are being used, cleaned or carried by hand. The most the CGS will pay for any one item, pair, set, collection or system is $20000.The contents worth more than $20000 will have to include each as a special content item .To do this the insured must advise the CGS and the items will be listed on the insured’s schedule. For each claim for the building and contents the CGS will reduce the amount they pay for claim by the excess. The amount of excess is shown on the insured’s schedule. The most the CGS will pay for any claim for building or contents is the sum insured shown on the insured’s schedule. In case of additional things this condition is not applied. The cost of rebuilding or repairing the damaged portion of the insured building will be paid by the CGS if the schedule shows â€Å"including replacement benefit.† (Accidental Damage. 2006, p. 53). From the analysis of the terms and conditions of the Essentials Plus home and content insurance policy we can see that Rob’s damaged vessel is included in the term contents in the CGS policy and it is sure that the damage is not caused during

Race in your community Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Race in your community - Research Paper Example I am a black male who was born in a developed country. As I was growing up, I noticed that my neighbors and friends had the same moral standards and beliefs. Many Caucasians and a few Hispanics and Asians were part of the community as well. In my family, I was taught that all people should be respected and treated as equals. Most of the people in my community lived well together and were not racist. There were also a few adopted children from Africa who we would play games like baseball with. While growing up, we did not look at the color of skin or one’s race. We were close friends who had sleepovers, played video games together and ate at each other’s houses. We also did outdoor activities like going fishing, playing football and playing tennis, just like any other normal children. When we misbehaved either at school or at home, our teachers, parents or the parents of our friends would punish us by whopping our butts. We were taught to say respectful words like Ã¢â‚¬Ë œthank you’ and ‘please’. Insecurity was not a problem, and therefore we would leave the door to the house unlocked when we left the house or went to sleep. If a friend had not finished their chores such as cleaning their room or taking out the trash, we would help them. Being a small community, the local paper definitely represented the people and the activities that went on in the community. The local paper and the local television and radio stations reported on the good and bad activities that were going on. The local papers, television and radio stations reported on the local weather. Sometimes, the children from the community were involved by the media in that the radio and television stations would let the kids report on the weather. There was no racial bias in selecting the children who would report the weather. My community is the best place to raise a child, because the people are hospitable, kind and helpful. Even as minorities, I, as well as the minority Hispanics and

Nanotechnology and water purification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Nanotechnology and water purification - Essay Example It has been proved that contaminated water is the worldwide cause of death and is responsible for different complex diseases to have affected mankind as well as plants and other marine animals. Industries too, are facing major obstacles in the path of advancement, because of this problem. Water is the elixir of life without which any living creature cannot survive. The problem is that since it is so vital to mankind, human beings are unable to stop using water whether it is for drinking or external uses. There is no substitute for water and all countries ranging from the developed Western countries like the UK, USA or Germany to developing nations like India, Brazil, China and under-developed countries like South America and Africa, are facing this major problem of water pollution. Water is the main element for survival for every living being and so, paradoxically, it is also where bacteria and germs thrive and water becomes the breeding ground for new germs which are capable of killing humans and other animals. The Industrial revolution which made things easier for mankind is also responsible for water pollution. Ironically, it is the increased levels of contaminated water which are also creating havoc for these very industries whose existence in the first place gave rise to water pollution. But, no steps are being taken to curb this menace. To safeguard itself from the devastating effects of contaminated water, mankind came up with different ways to purify water so that it could be 100percent pure and germ-free. Human beings began by simply boiling water because the process of boiling water sterilizes it so that it becomes germ-free and fit for human consumption. Then they discovered that chlorine and iodine could also be used for purifying water but it was found to be leaving a strange after-taste. At last, they started purifying water by using the process of osmosis and reverse osmosis. (Meyer,  

Traumatic Brain Injury in the military Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Traumatic Brain Injury in the military - Essay Example According to DHCC (2010), "TBI is often associated with severe multiple trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or undiagnosed concussions and screening patients who are at risk for a TBI is important in order to ensure that TBIs are identified and appropriately treated." In this essay, TBI among military personnel will be discussed briefly. Any insult to the brain due to some form of external force is known as traumatic brain injury. According to DHCC (2010), "A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain." The injury can lead to any sequelae like altered consciousness, impaired cognition, delirium and impaired physical functioning. These changes can lead to various problems with thinking, language, movement, concentration and even sensation. TBI can also lead to other emotional and personality changes, tiredness, depression, violence, irritability, disinhibited behavior and lack of ability to carry out day-to-day activities. Among the military personnel, those who are on active duty are at more risk of suffering TBI when compared to their civilian peers. In general, statistics show that men between 18- 24 years of age are at increased risk of TBI when compared to other age groups (DVBIC, 2009). It is also important to note than TBI can occur even during daily activities, especially when they are unusual. Military personnel frequently enjoy certain non-service activities like climbing mountains, parachuting, riding motor cycles and car racing. These activities may be a part of their daily physical training. These services are basically intended to increase their quality of life, however; they are also fraught with increased risk of TBI (DVBIC, 2009). Spinal cord injuries and TBI account for about 25 percent of casualities related to combat (DVBIC, 2009). The most common type of combat-related injury is concussion and mild traumatic brain injury. In current scen ario, use of protective devices like Kelvar helmets and various types of advanced body armours have infact, minimized the incidence of TBI and have saved the lives of many military personnel. But these gadgets do not protect the frontal aspects of the head, the facial parts and also the spinal cord. Thus, though advanced medical care helps in improving survival rates, the long terms effects of the injuries continue to haunt the personnel (DVBIC, 2009). TBIs in military operations are often complex and can be of multiple types. A blast can cause sudden both external and internal injuries. It can cause contusions and concussions in the brain. Flying fragments of the blast can cause tear of various structures and lead to various sequelae. The various signs and symptoms related to TBI depend on the extent and area of injury. In war, poly trauma can occur and due to other organ damage and injury to other parts of the body, it is often difficult to predict the extent of brain injury. Whil e most symptoms are obvious immediately after the injury, some may manifest a few days or even a few weeks after injury. Some patients may present with simple problems like confabulation wherein the individual cooks up stories in gaps of memory (Kennard, 2006). In mild TBI, there may be no obvious changes on CT or MRI scan. However, the patient may present with few symptoms like blurring of

Module 5 - Case assigment-Business Ethics and Organizational Culture Essay

Module 5 - Case assigment-Business Ethics and Organizational Culture - Essay Example It is a cautionary tale of how to destroy a seemingly good corporation at the very peak of its success in the highly- competitive world of energy trading in a liberated but loosely regulated environment. Many things had connived to cause the unraveling of Enron, one of which was its wrong bet on the direction of the energy market. Prices were going south and so a desperate effort of covering up was undertaken, primarily that of off-balance sheet financial commitments. It was the perfect storm, so to speak, a confluence of negative events finally brought Enron down and taken positively, the failure of Enron brought about many positive changes in governance. A few examples of this benefit are today's increased vigilance, passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and reforms in the banking and financial sectors through stricter accounting reporting standards. Hopefully, Enron is the last of its kind of case, but one never knows for sure it will not repeat. This paper is a critical appraisal of the business ethics at Enron within the context of its organizational culture and how its leaders influenced and shaped that particular culture which in a way ultimately led to its spectacular end. Many things went wrong at Enron then but in a strange twist, no one raised a howl until it was too late. Enron is a classic case in business ethics. Discussion There are many different definitions of organizational culture, and several examples of its definition are given here. This is to give a general conceptual background of what it is and in a sense, what it is not. Organizational culture is the abstract but dynamic phenomenon observed in organizations that influences the people within that particular organization (Schein, 2010, p. 3) to think and act in certain prescribed ways acceptable to majority of its members. In this meaning of organizational culture, there is a certain emphasis on how culture is created through a series of constant exchanges between people, re-enacted and rei nforced by our interactions with the other people that are in turn shaped by our own conscious behavior. With this in mind, organizational culture implies a certain kind of rigidity that builds up stability within the organization, because it has coercive power on how people should feel, act, speak, think and do things in an acceptable manner that creates social order. In other words, organizational culture demands conformity. A slightly different meaning of organizational culture is the formal system of all shared meanings, values and viewpoints within an organization by which all members abide by (Divedi, 1995, p. 9); it positions the organization as something different from other similar organizations as it helps to define the basic or intrinsic nature of the said organization. Organizational culture can be structural in terms of its enduring characteristics which differentiate it as an organization, it can be subjective, in the way employees and members feel about the organizati on as a group, and lastly, it can be synthetic, which is a combination of both structural and subjective elements. It is the perceived subjective influence of the formal system within the organization, and coupled with the informal system of how its leaders and managers act and think, with all other factors. Another meaning of organi

Business Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Business Economics - Essay Example Wessels however points out that this does not necessarily mean that the citizens of the US have better living standard than their counterparts in the UK. (21). GDP therefore cannot be used as the sole factor in measuring the living standards of the citizens of a country. However chances are that a country with a high GDP has a better standard of living than that with a low GDP. So what encompasses GDP' Well there are a number of components which when added together make up the GDP of a country. According to Sowell, they include Consumption which is denoted by letter C, Investment which is denoted by letter I, spending by government and finally exports and imports denoted by letter X and M respectively. Consumption refers to all the money spent by citizens of a country in buying goods and services which they expect will satisfy their needs. This includes money spent on food, purchase of new clothes as well as entertainment. (50-51) Sowell further notes that spending by the government is another component of the GDP. For example the UK government spends money to buy new military equipment and also pay its workers. (70).This expenditure is also part of the country's GDP. Investments into an economy are also used in calculation of the Gross Domestic Product. ... To get the accurate value of GDP economist add the value of all goods produced in a country and then subtract the value of all goods which are imported. The total components of GDP is expressed mathematically as Y=C+I+G+(X-M). (Sowell 80-81) Wessels notes that measuring GDP is critical if economists are to determine the rate of growth of an economy. "In measuring GDP economists use two major methods, the expenditure method and the income approach". (qtd.in Wessels 71). The expenditure approach involves adding the total amount of money spent on final goods. In this case, GDP equals C+I+G+ (NX) where NX represents gross exports. The income approach involves adding all the income received by citizens of a country either through compensation, income from rental property, and profits of corporate organizations. Mathematically this can be expressed as GDP= Employee Compensation+Rental Income+Corporate Profits+Net Interest+Proprietor profits. UK GDP Figure for the year 2009 The GDP of the UK is estimated to be worth '315.5billion. What does this mean' The figure indicated above means that the total value of all goods produced in the UK in the 2008 to 2009 financial year amounts to '315.5 billion. This makes it the sixth largest economy in the world and third largest in Europe. How well did the GDP grow in 2009' In measuring the GDP of an economy, economists divide a given year into quarters. The growth of the economy in each quarter is measured and then a comparison is made with the previous quarter so as to note the difference which constitutes actual growth.(Wessels 55). For instance in the UK economy, GDP fell by 0.4% in the third quarter of 2009. In the second quarter of the same year GDP declined by a value of 0.6%. In

Managing Quality within the Vale of Glamorgan Council Essay

Managing Quality within the Vale of Glamorgan Council - Essay Example vices, including Housing, Community safety, Community care and health, Economic, development, Leisure and tourism, Planning and transportation, Building Control, Waste management and cleansing, Parks and grounds maintenance, Environmental Health, Trading standards, Emergency planning, Lifelong learning and development, Libraries etc., the Vale of Glamorgan Council has been successfully functioning from past many years. Vale of Glamorgan Council, has proved itself, by providing good services, and has been able to maintain its rapport with good Operational Management Strategies. The Quality of services provided by the Council has been highly appreciable, which has been achieved by its logical thinking and efficient management The Council has 47 elected members, each of whom represents  an electoral division, or ward, and is led by a Leader and Cabinet, a body of 10 Councillors that makes key decisions about policy and budget. Its services are led by a Corporate Management Team, made up of the Chief Executive and five directors.   These directors each head one of the Councils five Directorates. There is a Leader and Cabinet, a body of 10 Councillors that makes key decisions about policy and budget. However, since  May 2008  the council has been controlled by a  Conservative Cabinet. Understand how quality can be achieved and maintained in its operations and services. Quality is the first and perhaps the foremost attribute of the five ingredients of performance objectives prescribed by Slack N. Quality. Vale of Glamorgan Council has two different faces. One is the quality of the final offerings of the council that is the services, which are provided to the public. The other is the quality of the operational activities that the staffs of the council goes through in order to provide any particular service. Both these qualities are interconnected so that one has almost a complete effect on the other. This is the reason for taking quality as the attribute for

Part 3 of Health Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Part 3 of Health Campaign - Essay Example the target population by examining global implications, environmental factors, and disease prevention; and (4) to provide a summary of useful epidemiology or other data models managers may use to make decisions on the ground and to anticipate future trends on obesity. The issues that surround obesity threatening the health condition of the American population cannot be overemphasized. Healthy People 2010 proffered a comprehensive discourse on specific objectives, agencies involved in monitoring and directly addressing obesity related issues, the models and systems used for monitoring this chronic illness and epidemiologic surveillance systems and tools which guide community based health practitioners and ultimately, national agencies in recommending solutions to this dilemma. The scope of the health campaign to fight and prevent obesity on a wide scale level encompassed an evaluation of the target population, as well as the community based response to the issue. Starting from the grass root level of identifying the root causes and enumerating the specific strategies that communities plan to implement as a means of addressing and preventing obesity within their localities, the road to prevention is made more viable and feasible through coordinated efforts of both local and national agencies. The critical roles of leaders in communities and institutions, as well as funding and social marketing which contribute to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and in enforcing strategies to ultimately prevent obesity were previously identified. In this regard, this paper is written with the objective of developing a health campaign on obesity as one of the national issues identified in Healthy People 2010, specifically focusing on the following: (1) to recommend the implementation of a campaign for obesity to improve population health addressing social, economic, and cultural factors; (2) to recommend approaches, such as programs, policies, laws, and environmental aspects,

A comparative Review of Drinking age laws and behaviors in Canada and Research Paper - 1

A comparative Review of Drinking age laws and behaviors in Canada and the U.S - Research Paper Example That is why the governments of the USA and Canada have implemented certain regulations in order to avoid negative consequences of alcohol abuse: age restrictions for alcohol consumption, strict penalties for drunk driving, and liability for serving alcohol to the intoxicated people. This essay looks at different approaches of governments and nations to the act of drinking from historical, social, and economic perspectives. Drinking alcohol is not only individual`s act but also a tradition, and a behavioral pattern of society. Since people socialize within different social layers, the meaning of drinking can be different from one group to another (Houghton & Roche, 2001). Alcohol consumption may greatly depend on traditions, ideologies, and customs (Houghton & Roche, 2001). Alcohol drinking is a common social experience in most human cultures and societies; nevertheless, the motives and functions for every separate individual are different. The ways in which individuals consume alcohol vary as much as cultural traditions of drinking. Alcohol has played important role in the life of the American society from the very first days of the republic. In Europe of the 16th century, drinking alcohol beverages was a daily routine due to high risk of water contamination. The first colonists brought alcohol on ships because it was easier to preserve it unspoiled. The beverages varied from rum received from West Indian sugar and homemade beer to wine brought from Europe (Tracy, 2005). However, drinking attracted public attention in the end of the 18th century due to numerous reasons. Firstly, alcohol consumption was connected to the salon culture, involving such additional negative social issues as gambling, fighting, and prostitution. Moreover, huge manufactures and factories wanted their workers to remain sober in the working

Case study - knowledge management strategy Essay - 1

Case study - knowledge management strategy - Essay Example MOTO is a large car manufacturer and has underscored to streamline its operations to be environmentally user friendly. Thus, the objective of this proposal is to put forward the strategies pertaining to the knowledge management at MOTO. The strategies proposed would help the company and its employees to have a participatory approach in ensuring proper generation, processing, storage and disposal of knowledge. The strategy has been carefully formulated in relation to the objectives and the vision of the company. The key role of the proposed plan is to utilize and integrate the raw information from different spheres of the organization to aid its vision and key emphasis is on sustainable environmental management by MOTO. The raw information on environmental strategies from the staff comprising of different nationalities would be collected and scientifically analyzed using the proposed knowledge management system. The proposal also covers the peculiar measures to be taken so that the knowledge is stored and retrieved as per the requirements of the policy to be formulated. The market performance of the company, staff participation, their consensus, cost factor, time factor and the conceptual adherence with the key policies of the company are other key factors which have to be taken into consideration during the implementation process. The company’s responsibility towards the environment and the society is well documented and its mission would help shape the formulation process of the environmental policy. The technologies recommended for knowledge management within the environment of MOTO is thus environmental friendly and community oriented. Latest innovations in the knowledge management systems which uphold these values have been carefully selected. To formulate the strategy for the change process, it is important

Negligence in Sports Injuries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Negligence in Sports Injuries - Essay Example Where sporting events are concerned, the finding of negligence is complicated by the volenti non fit injuria principle, whereby the underlying premise is that those who participate in sports knowing the risks that may exist5, are in effect, consenting to a breach of duty of care and hence negligence claims may not hold good6. For example, in the case of Woolridge v Sumner7 where a spectator was injured, it was held to be the result of an error of judgment rather than negligence. It was also held that liability could be established only when it could be shown that there had been a reckless disregard for the safety of the spectator/s. The notion of "reckless disregard" as laid out by Lord Diplock is inherently based upon the premise that a player acts negligently when he foresees risks and yet proceeds with his actions despite the risk. Reckless disregard thus involves a breach of not only the duty of care owed to prevent a claim of negligence, but also a duty of skill. Thus, in the case of Woolridge, for example, Lord Diplock clarified that when a participant was aware of his lack of skill to perform a sporting feat and the risk his lack of skill might pose to spectators, he would be guilty of negligence to the spectator, if he still goes ahead and performs the act in question8. As a result, while negligence implies the owing of a duty of care, reckless disregard implies the owing of a duty of care and a duty of skill. Reckless disregard is in essence, negligence applied within a sporting context, with a higher threshold to allow for the inherent risks in sports which players voluntarily assume under the volenti fit non injura principle. Reed, in analyzing the judgment rendered in the case of R v Barnes9 has explained how, within the context of sports, reckless disregard occurs when a player inflicts harm or injury maliciously10. A defendant who is "reckless" is one who is able to foresee that there is a risk for bodily harm occurring through his actions and yet, chooses to ignore the risk and continue with the offending act. "Recklessness implies a greater degree of culpability or wrongdoing than negligence" because recklessness amounts to willfully exposing another person to harm and causing injury, rather than it occurring as a result of

The Rory Gilmore Reading List Essay Example for Free

The Rory Gilmore Reading List Essay The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier Clay by Michael Chabon An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank Archidamian War by Donald Kagan The Art of Fiction by Henry James The Art of War by Sun Tzu As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner Atonement by Ian McEwan Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy The Awakening by Kate Chopin Babe by Dick King-Smith. Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie Bel Canto by Ann Patchett The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Beloved by Toni Morrison Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney The Bhagava Gita The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews by Peter Duffy Bitch in Praise of Difficult Women by Elizabeth Wurtzel A Bolt from the Blue and Other Essays by Mary McCarthy Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Brick Lane by Monica Ali Bridgadoon by Alan Jay Lerner. Candide by Voltaire – read – June 2010 The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer Carrie by Stephen King Catch-22 by Joseph Heller The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman Christine by Stephen King A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse The Collected Short Stories by Eudora Welty The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty A Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare Complete Novels by Dawn Powell The Complete Poems by Anne Sexton Complete Stories by Dorothy Parker. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Cousin Bette by Honor’e de Balzac Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber The Crucible by Arthur Miller Cujo by Stephen King The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Daisy Miller by Henry James – read – 2013 Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende David and Lisa by Dr Theodore Issac Rubin M. D David Copperfield by Charles Dickens The Da Vinci -Code by Dan Brown – read Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol Demons by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Deenie by Judy Blume The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx The Divine Comedy by Dante The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells Don Quijote by Cervantes Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhrv Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales Poems by Edgar Allan Poe Eleanor Roosevelt by Blanche Wiesen Cook The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. Eloise by Kay Thompson Emily the Strange by Roger Reger Emma by Jane Austen – read Empire Falls by Richard Russo Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Ethics by Spinoza Europe through the Back Door, 2003 by Rick Steves Eva Luna by Isabel Allende Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer Extravagance by Gary Krist Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – started and not finished Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore The Fall of the Athenian Empire by Donald Kagan Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World by Greg Critser Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 1 of The Lord of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce Fletch by Gregory McDonald Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut Gender Trouble by Judith Butler George W. Bushism: The Slate Book of the Accidental Wit and Wisdom of our 43rd President by Jacob Weisberg Gidget by Fredrick Kohner. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels The Godfather: Book 1 by Mario Puzo The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy – started and not finished Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Alvin Granowsky Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford The Gospel According to Judy Bloom The Graduate by Charles Webb The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Great Expectations by Charles Dickens The Group by Mary McCarthy Hamlet by William Shakespeare Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry (TBR) Henry IV, part I by William Shakespeare Henry IV, part II by William Shakespeare Henry V by William Shakespeare High Fidelity by Nick Hornby The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon Holidays on Ice: Stories by David Sedaris The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III (Lpr). The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss How the Light Gets in by M. J. Hyland Howl by Allen Gingsburg The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo The Iliad by Homer I’m with the Band by Pamela des Barres In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Iron Weed by William J. Kennedy It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare The Jumping Frog by Mark Twain The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Just a Couple of Days by Tony Vigorito The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Lady Chatterleys’ Lover by D. H. Lawrence The Last Empire: Essays 1992-2000 by Gore Vidal Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken Life of Pi by Yann Martel The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens The Little Locksmith by Katharine Butler Hathaway. The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton Lord of the Flies by William Golding The Lottery: And Other Stories by Shirley Jackson The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold The Love Story by Erich Segal Macbeth by William Shakespeare Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert The Manticore by Robertson Davies Marathon Man by William Goldman The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman by William Tecumseh Sherman Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer Mencken’s Chrestomathy by H. R. Mencken The Merry Wives of Windsro by William Shakespeare The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides The Miracle Worker by William Gibson Moby Dick by Herman Melville The Mojo Collection: The Ultimate Music Companion by Jim Irvin Moliere: A Biography by Hobart Chatfield Taylor A Monetary History of the United States by Milton Friedman Monsieur Proust by Celeste Albaret A Month Of Sundays: Searching For The Spirit And My Sister by Julie Mars A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall My Lai 4: A Report on the Massacre and It’s Aftermath by Seymour M. Hersh My Life as Author and Editor by H. R. Mencken My Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru by Tim Guest My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult – read The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin Nervous System: Or, Losing My Mind in Literature by Jan Lars Jensen New Poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich Night by Elie Wiesel Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen – read The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism by William E. Cain, Laurie A. Finke, Barbara E. Johnson, John P. McGowan Novels 1930-1942: Dance Night/Come Back to Sorrento, Turn, Magic Wheel/Angels on Toast/A Time to be Born by Dawn Powell Notes of a Dirty Old Man by Charles Bukowski Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Old School by Tobias Wolff Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens On the Road by Jack Kerouac One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Alexander Solzhenitsyn One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life by Amy Tan Oracle Night by Paul Auster Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood Othello by Shakespeare – read Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan Out of Africa by Isac Dineson The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton A Passage to India by E. M. Forster The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition by Donald Kagan The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Peyton Place by Grace Metalious The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Pigs at the Trough by Arianna Huffington. Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby – read The Portable Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker The Portable Nietzche by Fredrich Nietzche The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O’Neill by Ron Suskind Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Property by Valerie Martin Pushkin: A Biography by T. J. Binyon Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw Quattrocento by James Mckean A Quiet Storm by Rachel Howzell Hall Rapunzel by Grimm Brothers – read The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin The Red Tent by Anita Diamant Rescuing Patty Hearst: Memories From a Decade Gone Mad by Virginia Holman The Return of the King: The Lord of the Rings Book 3 by J. R. R. Tolkien R Is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton Rita Hayworth by Stephen King Robert’s Rules of Order by Henry Robert Roman Fever by Edith Wharton Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf A Room with a View by E. M. Forster Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin Sacred Time by Ursula Hegi Sanctuary by William Faulkner Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford The Scarecrow of Oz by Frank L. Baum The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette by Judith Thurman Selected Letters of Dawn Powell: 1913-1965 by Dawn Powell Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen A Separate Peace by John Knowles Several Biographies of Winston Churchill. Sexus by Henry Miller The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon Shane by Jack Shaefer The Shining by Stephen King Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse S Is for Silence by Sue Grafton Slaughter-house Five by Kurt Vonnegut Small Island by Andrea Levy – on my book pile Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway Snow White and Rose Red by Grimm Brothers Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World by Barrington Moore The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht Song of the Simple Truth: The Complete Poems of Julia de Burgos by Julia de Burgos The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker. Songbook by Nick Hornby The Sonnets by William Shakespeare Sonnets from the Portuegese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Sophie’s Choice by William Styron The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach The Story of My Life by Helen Keller A Streetcar Named Desiree by Tennessee Williams Stuart Little by E. B. White Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust Swimming with Giants: My Encounters with Whales, Dolphins and Seals by Anne Collett Sybil by Flora Rheta Schreiber. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald Term of Endearment by Larry McMurtry Time and Again by Jack Finney The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Tragedy of Richard III by William Shakespeare A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith The Trial by Franz Kafka The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson Truth Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom – read Ulysses by James Joyce. The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath 1950-1962 by Sylvia Plath Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe – started and not finished Unless by Carol Shields Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann The Vanishing Newspaper by Philip Meyers Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray – read Velvet Underground’s The Velvet Underground and Nico (Thirty Three and a Third series) by Joe Harvard The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett Walden by Henry David Thoreau Walt Disney’s Bambi by Felix Salten War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. We Owe You Nothing – Punk Planet: The Collected Interviews edited by Daniel Sinker What Colour is Your Parachute? 2005 by Richard Nelson Bolles What Happened to Baby Jane by Henry Farrell When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee – read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy.

“To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell Essay Example for Free

â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† by Andrew Marvell Essay Andrew Marvell’s poem â€Å"to his coy mistress† is about a man trying to convince a mistress to love and enter a sexual relationship with him because life is too short. But the woman is being coy and playing coy games. The man says that her virginity or beauty will last forever so she needs to make use of it while she’s still young and alive otherwise nobody will be interested in or want her. The purpose of this poem is to show that some people will do or say anything just so they get what they want. The emotion this poem creates is a passion for love and what may happen if they don’t make love. This poem uses many craftsmanship techniques such as structure, language and sounds, imagery, and movement. The poem is structured into three stanzas or poetic paragraphs. These stanzas do not have regular lines but every stanza has paired lines that have the same rhythm and rhyme. The poem has language that is very vivid. It is also presented in a dramatic monologue with lots of exaggeration of time. The effect of language on the poem is that it makes the poem beautiful and provoking. There were three main techniques used. The first technique is Simile. Simile is used to give us a greater understanding and image of what is going on with the man and the woman. An example of a simile used is the line â€Å"and now, like â€Å"am’rous birds of prey†. The effect of simile in this poem is that we would now have a better understand of what the situation is like. Another technique used is allusion. Allusion is used to give a deeper meaning to a poem by referring to another work that has a similar theme. It can give the reader a better understanding of the poem. Two examples of allusion are the lines â€Å"love you ten years before the flood† and â€Å"Till the conversion of the Jews†. The effect allusion in this poem is that it is a way for the poet to emphasize the main point the poet is trying to make – which is that the man would love the woman ten years before the beginning of the world until the end of the world. The last technique used is symbolism. Symbolism is used to add a hidden layer of depth into the poem and it also lets the poet create images in the poem. An example of symbolism used is the line â€Å"my vegetable love should grow†. The word vegetable used in that line is to suggest the growing sense of the man’s love. The effect of symbolism in this poem is to show the man’s love for the woman and how it will never stop yet it will keep on growing. In conclusion, â€Å"to his coy mistress† has used many craftsmanship techniques to express the poet’s opinion and to convince the mistress. The poem is special as it includes a dramatic monologue as well as an argument and conclusion. This poem is just like a story.

different cultural beliefs about death

different cultural beliefs about death Person, Culture and Medicine Alexandra Lamb â€Å"Human Behaviour is essentially the same across groups and populations.† Biological death is inevitable. For all humans, death is the exclamation point marking the end of a life, the end of a journey; however it is approached and for however long. This is the universal biological condition for all humans. According to Benjamin Franklin, â€Å"†¦Everything appears to promise that it will last. But in this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.† (Curran 1975) It is in how we live our lives that we see the breadth of human cultural and psychological variation (Seeman, 2010), leading us to discover a great diversity of meanings regarding death and dying, spanning across all groups and populations (Charmaz, 1997). â€Å"Cross cultural [variation embodies] not just different opinions or beliefs, but different ways of everyday living and different systems.† (Jecker Carrese Pearlman, 1995, p. 6) At the most basic level we are all â€Å"built† the same. Death is a complicated process that is the result of the breakdown of the body’s systems. We all live, until the chaos in our body, caused by either natural causes or a forced external factor, is too much for all the intricate systems to work together as a coherent whole (Badham, 1996). Despite the advancement of technology and medical progress, there is no stopping everyone eventually facing death. Whilst biologically we are all essentially the same, from a cultural and psychological perspective, we all behave very differently. This can be seen by considering the bond between a parent and a child, which is said to be the most significant, powerful and enduring human relationship (Parkes Laungani Young, 2003,). Thus, the death of a child is acknowledged as the worst possible event, one that gives the deepest emotional impact. In this tragic event, we can see marked behavioural differences across and within cultures and so it is a good example to use to examine the differences in human behaviour in the face of death. Nations, as well as individuals, all live with very distinctive ideas and beliefs around how to deal with death (Charmaz, 1997). Most cultures are similar in that they attribute unique significance to a child’s death. Biologically many aspects of a parent-child relationship are pre-programmed from conception however, each of these characteristics are developed within a specific family, social and cultural context (Parkes Laungani Young, 2003,). These wider influences are what greatly shape the meaning and experience of the relationship for both parent and child and thus influence the meaning of death. This makes the emotional impact of parental bereavement unique. For example, in Western Societies, parents are expected to grieve in private and return to normal activities soon after the child’s death, where as in Egypt, a mother may be withdrawn and mute up to seven years after the child’s death and this is considered normal. A Balinese mother would be considere d normal if she remained cheerful and calm after her child’s death, as her culture believes that emotional upset makes one vulnerable to illness (Parkes Laungani Young, 2003,). â€Å"Grieving and death rituals vary across cultures and are often heavily influenced by religion† (Lobar Youngblut Brooten 2006, p. 45). For example whilst the traditional burial is common around the world, the rituals that are associated with it vary. In areas influenced by Islamic and Jewish faiths, the corpse is washed and dressed in a shroud and placed in a simple wooden coffin (in areas where coffins are used). In China, where Confucian beliefs dominate, thick wooden coffins packed with clothing and shrouds are used to delay decay and in Christian-dominated regions, bodies are dressed in normal clothing and placed in a coffin made of either chipboard, wood or metal. (Canning Szmigin 2010) The combination of both structural (cultural) and individual factors that impacts the experience of death is dynamic. (Howarth, 2007) Not every member of a particular ethnic group will share the same beliefs and values and other aspects such as social status, economic position, gender, sexuality, age will also have an impact on experiences and beliefs which when combined give meaning to the experiences of death and dying (Howarth, 2007). For example, the prevalence of child mortality also influences the experience of death. In developed countries, where changes to nutrition and sanitation and the evolution of medicine have made childhood mortality rare, a death of a child is more likely to be perceived as tragic. Whereas in developing countries, where the death of a child occurs much more often and thus is considered inevitable, mourning may only last a few days (Parkes Laungani Young, 2003,). Each person has their own beliefs about death, which are generated through experiences at a social, cultural and individual level. Universally, there is a level of respect shown for the dead and there are different â€Å"accepted† practices depending on the age, gender, social status and cause of death of the individual. (Bradbury, 1999) However, all of the beliefs around death are determined by the way the individual lives, which is why there is such diversity with regards to the biological condition that is an inevitable human fact. Just in this discussion of how different people across different groups and populations approach death and dying, a lack of conformity with the statement â€Å"Human Behaviour is essentially the same across groups and populations,† has been shown. Parallels can be drawn between people, but vast differences can also be highlighted. (Seeman, 2010) We begin and we end in much the same way, but the way we live our lives is remarkably different . Much can be learned about the breadth of human variation by examining the way we approach death and dying: â€Å"Our ways of dying are our ways of living. Or should I say our ways of living are our ways of dying?† -Toloki the Professional Mourner (Seeman, 2010, p. 1) References Badham, P. Ballard, P. (1996) Facing Death- An Interdisciplinary Approach. Cardiff, University of Wales Press. Bradbury, M. (1999) Representations of Death- A Social Psychological Perspective. New York, Routledge. Canning, L. Szmigin, I. 2010, ‘Death and disposal: The universal, environmental dilemma,’ Journal of Marketing Management, vol. 26, viewed 28 August 2014, (electronic Scopus). Charmaz, K. Howarth, G. Kellehear, A. 1997, The Unknown Country: Death in Australia, Britain and the USA. Great Britain, Macmillan Press Ltd. Curran, C. 1975, ‘Death and Dying’, Journal of Religion and Health, vol. 14, viewed 28 August 2014, (electronic Scopus). Howarth, G. 2007, Death and Dying- A Sociological Introduction. Cambridge, Polity Press. Jecker, N. Carrese, J. Pearlman, R. 1995, ‘Caring for Patients in Cross-Cultural Settings’, The Hastings Center Report, vol. 25, p.6, viewed 28 August 2014, (electronic Scopus). Lobar, S. Youngblut, J. Brooten, D. 2006, ‘Cross-cultural beliefs, ceremonies, and rituals surrounding death of a loved one,’ Peadiatric Nursin, vol. 32, p. 44, viewed 28 August 2014, (electronic Scopus). Parkes, C. Laungani, P. Young, W. 2003, Death and Bereavement Across Cultures. Routledge. Seeman, E. (2010) Death in the New World- Cross Cultural Encounters. Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press.

Secure Sockets Layer in Security Technology

Secure Sockets Layer in Security Technology SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) the most widely used and most powerful measure in security technology for creating an encrypted link between the Web Server web browsers. If the link is encrypted, they use https protocol. Secure receptacle Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) is the protocol above TCP, which can protect users confidentiality when they sending data from a customer side to a web server; this is an important protocol due to the extension of Internet. In fact, it is a long way to make the SSL/TLS protocol fully . However there are still flaw and problems during the development of SSL/TLS, and we cannot deny that theremaybe some other potential security hole in the latest version. sequential attack is fatal for both the user and the company in using these protocols to establish a safe channel to transfer information. This article will introduce three typical attacks: Cipher suite rollback attack, narration rollback attack and password exception in SSL/TLS channel.[1]. As the web and World Wide web become common, it is necessary to think about the system security. this can be because the plaintext flowing through the web is unencrypted, it is for cracker or hacker, even a user with none programming information, to intercept the message and modify it. The way to defend personal privacy, and a way to guarantee a secure on-line commerce.. These square measure the challenge for info Technology. SSL/TLS will created a legitimate secure channel between server and shopper which may code the plaintext, then the third party who intercept the message can not disclose the first message without decrypt it.[1]. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) could be a methodology for providing security for web primarily based applications. it is designed to create use of TCP to produce a reliable end-to-end secure service. SSL is not one protocol however rather two layers of protocols as illustrated It will be seen that one layer makes use of TCP directly. This layer is understood because the SSL Record Protocol and it provides basic security services to various higher layer protocols. an freelance protocol that creates use of the record protocol is that the hypertext language (HTTP) protocol. Another 3 higher level protocols that also create use of this layer are a part of the SSL stack.SSL include two phases: handshaking and information transfer. throughout the handshaking method, the consumer and server use a public-key encoding algorithm to work out secret key parameters, during the information transfer method, each side use the key to inscribe and decode successive information transmissions[1]. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a technology to encrypt communications between the user and the web server. It helps to prevent hacker attacks that are based on eavesdropping. When you use a web page that is protected by SSL, you see a padlock icon that assures you that the page is secure. 3.1 Is the web site really secure with SSL? No. SSL secures the network communication link only. Although this is an important security layer for sensitive applications, most attacks on websites are not actually done this way. Most attacks on websites are actually done in one of the following ways: The server is attacked directly. SSL does not protect you from this. Rather, you need to have a good IT security policy to protect your server. The user is attacked directly, either by infecting their PC with malware, or by using phishing to steal their passwords. SSL does not protect you from this, either. To protect your own PC from this, you need to use a good anti-virus program, and use lots of common sense and a small amount of paranoia when on the Internet. However, it is unrealistic to expect that all the PCs of all of your website visitors will be adequately protected. In other words, SSL does very little to prevent the website from being hacked. It only prevents 3rd parties from listening to communications between the user and the website. In that case, when is SSL important to have? If you are transmitting sensitive private data over the internet, SSL is an important additional security layer. Although eavesdropping may be a less common form of attack on the website, there is no reason not to protect against it if the consequences are serious. Although the risk to the website may not be that great, the risk to individual users may be significant in some cases. For instance, any user accessing your website from a public wifi connection (such as at a coffee shop) can be eavesdropped on fairly easily by other users at the same location. Eavesdroppers can see what is typed into forms on non-SSL sites, so the risks will depend on what sorts of forms you have. The most obvious high-risk form is your login form, which asks for username and password. An eavesdropper can potentially obtain these login credentials and then log in as that user. How risky or dangerous that is depends on what personal information the eavesdropper can obtain, or what harm they can cause with this information. Even if the risk is low with regards to your website, you should also consider that some users will re-use passwords on many websites, so the risk may extend to sites and situations that are beyond your control. What kind of sensitive private data needs protection? Private data is information that should only be known to you (the website owner) and the user. The most obvious example is credit card numbers. If you outsource your credit card processing to an external e-commerce gateway, the transactions are protected by your e-commerce providers SSL. Adding SSL on your website is not necessary in this case. Passwords are the next most obvious thing to protect, as noted above. If you do not have a membership or public user base, then your own personal admin passwords may be the only ones you need to think about. If you do not do website administration from public wifi networks, then this is not a major concern. Note that personal information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses are not private. This is information that is meant to be shared with others. SSL does not really protect information that is already publicly available in more accessible formats such as the phone book. (However, you do need a good privacy policy when storing and using peoples personal information, to assure your users why you need their personal information, and what you intend to use it for. This is mostly because some organizations have a history of selling their databases of personal information against the wishes of their clients. SSL does not help with this, however.) There is a grey zone between private data (which should be known only to you and the user), and personal data (which is known and used by many others). Individual pieces of personal data may not be a big deal, but if you collect enough personal data, identity theft may become a plausible threat. Special account or identity numbers (SSN, SIN, drivers license, health care, or passport numbers for example), along with birth dates, common security questions (eg. mothers maiden name, names of family members), and information of that nature may collectively comprise an identity that could be stolen for nefarious purposes. The more of this sort of information you collect, the more SSL might be a worthwhile addition to your security policy. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Protocol was adopted by Netscape in 1994 as a response to the growing concern over Internet security. Netscapes goal was to create an encrypted data path between a client and a server that was platform or OS agnostic. Netscape also embraced to take advantage of new encryption schemes such as the recent adoption of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), considered more secure than Data Encryption Standard (DES). Indeed, by June 2003, the US Government deemed AES secure enough to be used for classified information. 4.1 Birth of SSL When web browser developed their applications programmer, they found that in the dealings between internet server and web browser, there should be some security methodology to guard the message alternated between shopper and server, particularly for a few business poppers. At first, web browser established some secret writing in their applications. However, they found that the secret writing didnt support non-HTTP applications. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol was developed that is simply above the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) to form this security.[1]. 4.2 Development of SSL During the previous few years, SSL developed rapidly, as a result of theres invariably some secure holes and a few previous versions of SSL cannot forestall attacker to eavesdropping or intercept properly. as an example, Version 3.0 of SSL was destined to right a flaw in previous versions 2.0, the cipher-suite rollback attack, whereby Associate in Nursing entrant might get the parties to adopt a weak cryptosystem.[1]. TLS was discharged in response to the net communitys demands for a standardized protocol. The IETF provided a venue for the new protocol to be overtly discussed, and inspired developers to provide their input to the protocol. The Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol was discharged in January 1999 to create a customary for private communications. The protocol allows client/server applications to communicate in an exceedingly approach thats designed to prevent eavesdropping,tampering or message forgery.According to the protocols creators, the goals of the TLS protocol square measure crypto graphical security, ability, extensibility, and relative potency. These goals square measure achieved through implementation of the TLS protocol on two levels: The TLS Record protocol and also the TLS handshake protocol. TLS Record Protocol The TLS Record protocol negotiates a private, reliable connection between theclient and also the server. although the Record protocol will be used while not secret writing, ituses bilaterally symmetrical cryptography keys, to make sure a private connection. This connection issecured through the utilization of hash functions generated by employing a MessageAuthentication Code.TLS handshake ProtocolThe TLS acknowledgment protocol permits genuine communication to startbetween the server and client. This protocol permits the client and server to talk thesame language, permitting them to agree upon Associate in Nursing secret writing algorithmic rule and secret writingkeys before the chosen application protocol begins to send data. Using constant handshake protocol procedure as SSL, TLS provides forauthentication of the server, and optionally, the client. many changes were created tothe handshake protocol, and people are going to be mentioned during a later section. [2]. 5.1 what different between SSL and TLS: difference between TLS and SSL area unit their assortment of cipher suites. SSL cipher suites generally begin with SSL, whereas TLS cipher suites begin with TLS. Notably missing in TLS area unit the FORTEZZA cipher suites, that area unit supported in SSLv3. On the opposite hand, notably present within the later versions of TLS (more specifically, beginning at TLSv1.1) area unit the AES cipher suites. The Advanced coding normal (AES) cipher suites were integrated into TLS by virtue of RFC 3268[3]. Im pretty positive there area unit many different variations however these area unit those that actually stand out for USA. If there are a unit those you think that we should always add, be at liberty to allow us to grasp. 6.1 Public key and private key What is public key and private key? The association of public key (sometimes known as asymmetric key) and personal key (also known as symmetric key or secret key) will make sure the safe dealing between internet server and browser, the most perform of this combine of secret is encrypting and decrypting info. privateKey, that saves in web server, can decode the data being sent from browser. However, browser encrypts its info within public key. [1]. 6.2 Public-key encryption The sender uses public key to cipher the message, and the receiver uses private key to decipher it. So every public key owner will send his or her encoded message and solely a non-public key owner will scan the message inside decoded the message. but decrypting a message, that encrypted with public key, may be a CPU intensive, like RSA ( Rivets -Shamir-Adelman) Another usage of public keys the sender encodes the message inside secret key, and the receiver use the non-public key to decipher that message with the associated public key. this is often economical for message authentication, like a bank server sending their digital signature encrypted with private key, so any client will decipher the message inside private key and verify the message.[1]. 6.3 How SSL secure a transaction Figure 2SSL renegotiation messages SSL renegotiation messages (including varieties of ciphers and secret writing keys) ar encrypted and so sent over the prevailing SSL connection. This feature is sweet as a result of it will produce a secure SSL session supported the very fact that a secure affiliation is already established. SSL renegotiation is helpful in many things wherever a normal SSL session is already established. Here ar some examples[2]: Client authentication is required A different set of encryption and decryption keys are needed A different set of encryption and hashing algorithms are used. The shopper or the server will request renegotiation at any time. For the shopper to request renegotiation the shopper sends a Client Hello message within the already-established encrypted channel and also the server responds with a Server Hello and so the negotiation follows the conventional shake process. The server will initiate the renegotiation by causing the shopper a hello Request message. once the shopper receives the request, the shopper sends the Client Hello message and also the shake process takes place.[4]. One fast note of clarification: the shopper and server also can complete a session beginning vice a session renegotiation. A session beginning essentially resumes a previous session (using a previous session ID), and it saves the shopper and server the computing work of generating new cryptography keys. Renegotiation could be a method by that the complete shake method takes place over an already existing SSL association[1]. 6.4 SSL/TLS From PHP (Server to Server) As much as I love PHP as a programming language, the briefest survey of popular open source libraries makes it very clear that Transport Layer Security related vulnerabilities are extremely common and, by extension, are tolerated by the PHP community for absolutely no good reason other than its easier to subject users to privacy-invading security violations than fix the underlying problem. This is backed up by PHP itself suffering from a very poor implementation of SSL/TLS in PHP Streams which are used by everything from socket based HTTP clients to the and other file system functions. This shortcoming is then exacerbated by the fact that the PHP library makes no effort to discuss the security implications of SSL/TLS failures. If you take nothing else from this section, my advice is to make sure that all HTTPS requests are performed using the CURL extension for PHP. This extension is configured to be secure by default and is backed up, in terms of expert peer review, by its large user base outside of PHP. Take this one simple step towards greater security and you will not regret it. A more ideal solution would be for PHPs internal developers to wake up and apply the Secure By Default principle to its built-in SSL/TLS support. My introduction to SSL/TLS in PHP is obviously very harsh. Transport Layer Security vulnerabilities are far more basic than most security issues and we are all familiar with the emphasis it receives in browsers. Our server-side applications are no less important in the chain of securing user data. Lets examine SSL/TLS in PHP in more detail by looking in turn at PHP Streams and the superior CURL extension. Figure 3example of google chrome Our attacks are supported the subsequent scenario: the assaulter sniffs an oversized number of SSL connections encrypted with RC4,waiting for a hit; thats the arrival of a weak key. Once a weak key arrives, the assaulter predicts the LSBs of the key streambytes, and uses these to extract the LSBs of the plaintext bytes from the cipher text with important advantage. In order to satisfy this state of affairs, the assaulter has to determine that SSL sessions ar those within which weak keys were used. For this isolation, the assaulter will use the actual fact that the primary encrypted bytes embrace the SSL Finished message and HTTP request, both having foreseeable data. Thus, once a weak key is used, the plaintext patterns are XOR-ed with key streampatterns, generatingcipher text patterns visible to the assaulter. and different previous attacks on SSL use little applied math biases to combination little items of plaintext data. so as to make this aggregation doable, the target object sh ould be encrypted over and over, with a similar key in and with totally different keys.[5]. 7.1 Decrypting traffic where the private key used for encrypting the information is available. This is useful for situations where the traffic in the network is relayed through a transparent SSL proxy and the user has access to the private key used by the proxy for encrypting the traffic sent to the clients.[6]. 7.2 Decrypting traffic in situations where the session keys are available. This situation applies for traffic generated by Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers in rectify mode. The browsers can dump SSL session keys in NSS (Network Security Services) log format. The file is made within the path such that by the SSLKEYLOGFILE atmosphere variable.[6]. 7.3 How Is the Attack Accomplished? Using the renegotiation attack, associate degree attacker will inject commands into an HTTPS session, downgrade ahttps association to a HTTP association, inject custom responses, perform denial of service, etc. That explains to some extent however serious the matter is. its easier to know however the attack is accomplished.[7]. 8.1 Advantages of SSL Certificates. Entrust Advantage SSL Certificates secure ecommerce, communications and personal data passed from browser to internet server and between servers. Entrust Advantage SSL Certificates supply bigger set-up and preparation flexibility by permitting you to add a second absolutely qualified name for free of charge and secure domain.com once your certificate is for WWW.domain.com. Plus, you get added security services that notice malware on your website} and protect it site from obtaining blacklisted. 8.2 Disadvantages of SSL With such a large amount of blessings, why would anyone not use SSL? are there any disadvantages to exploitation SSL certificates? value is a noticeable disadvantage. SSL suppliers ought to started a trustworthy infrastructure and validate your identity therefore theres a value concerned. as a result of some providers are so renowned, their costs are often overpoweringly high.[8]. BEAST leverages a kind of science attack called a chosen-plaintext attack. The attacker mounts the attack by selecting a guess for the plaintext that is associated with a famed cipher text. to see if a guess is correct, the attacker wants access to AN encoding oracle7 to visualize if the encoding of the plaintext guess matches the famed cipher text. To defeat a chosen-plaintext attack, common configurations of TLS use 2 common mechanisms: an data formatvector (IV) and a cipher block chaining mode (CBC). an IV is a random string thats XO Red with the plaintext message before cryptography even if you encrypt the same message double, the cipher text are totally different, because the messages were every encrypted with a special random IV. The IV isnt secret; it simply adds randomness to messages, and is sent along with the message within the clear. it might be cumbersome to use and track a new IV forevery coding block (AES operates on 16-byte blocks), so for longer messages CBC mode sim ply uses the previous Cipher text block as the IV for the following plaintext block.[9]. 9.1 ATTACKERS PERSPECTIVE In a single session the same secret/cookie is sent with every request by the browser. TLS has an optional compression feature where data can be compressed before it is encrypted. Even though TLS encrypts the content in the TLS layer, an attacker can see the length of the encrypted request passing over the wire, and this length directly depends on the plaintextdata which is being compressed. Finally, an attacker can make the client generate compressed requests that contain attacker-controlled data in the same stream with secret data. The CRIME attack exploits these properties of browser-based SSL. To leverage these properties and successfully implement the CRIME attack, the following Conditions must be met: The attacker can intercept the victims network traffic. (e.g. the attacker shares the victims (W)LAN or compromises victims router) Victim authenticates to a website over HTTPS and negotiates TLS compression with the server. Victim accesses a website that runs the attackers code.[9]. Secure sockets layer (SSL) is used to protect voluminous network users however how vulnerable is it? Over the last several years, there has been associate array of attacks designed to subvert SSL. whereas the technology is basically secure, attackers are invariably probing for loopholes to bypass security protocols and standards. And SSL could be a huge target. its wont to protect sensitive hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) traffic. Attackers, United Nations agency prefer to assume outside the box, are invariably seeking new ways in which to realize access to sensitive data. Lets consider a number of the different ways in which hackers are attempting to break SSL. Trick, no treat: Trick the user to accept a foul certificate. this is often the classic approach once targeting users of SSL. the concept is to get the user to click through to a website despite the fact that a warning or error is flaunted to the tip user. whereas this attack is simple to launch, it needs the victim to just accept a certificate that clearly has issues. Most users can notice this kind of fraudulent activity; so, the threat level is low. Fraudulent certificates: whereas this approach might seem far-fetched, its been winning within the past. in a very few cases attackers are able to acquire valid certificates and use them maliciously. In one case, hackers breached a Dutch certificate authoritys security in 2011 and so created phone certificates for sites like Yahoo, Google, WordPress et al. With possession of valid certificates, the attackers got past HTTPS protections. Still, the threat level of this attack remains low. Take away the SSL and send data via clear text: In 2009, a new technique to subvert SSL was pioneered with one thing known as SSLStrip. rather than trying to urge the user to click through warnings, this tool acts as a proxy and strips off the S in httpso the user is instead bestowed with HTTP. SSLStrip conjointly permits the assaulter to gift the user with the favicon lock therefore the solely indication that one thing is wrong is that the browsers show of http rather than HTTPS. If the user doesnt notice this one small detail, the attacker will gain access to secure data. The threat level of this attack is medium. Crack the keys: Most certificates presently use 1,024-bit or 2,048-bit keys. The 2,048-bit-length keys are extraordinarily robust and would need eons of your time to crack employing a standard PC. That said, its been reportable that the National Security Agency has created nice strides in gaining access to SSL traffic. whereas some theorize that the NSA could have discovered new quantum computing techniques, its additionally entirely potential that the agency has merely obtained cryptography keys or maybe placed backdoors (entry points) into computer code and hardware. The threat level of the NSA or others accessing secure data during this approach is unknown. Man in the middle: This attack may be a style of active eavesdropping within which the attacker makes independent connections with the victim and relays messages to the server. Case in point: Lucky 13, named once 13-byte headers in Transport Layer Security Media Access management calculations. whereas this ciphertext attack is in theory potential, itd need a controlled setting and a awfully long quantity of time; so, the threat level is taken into account terribly low. Side-channel attacks: Over the last several years, several side-channel attacks are incontestable that may be used to recover http requests and cookies used for authentication. Browser intelligence operation and Exfiltration via adaptive Compression of hypertext (BREACH) is one example. BREACH leverages compression and takes advantage of http responses, that are compressed victimisation mechanisms like gzip. For the applying to be vulnerable, it should use HTTP-level compression, mirror user input in http responses and expose cross-site request forgery tokens in http response bodies. whereas on paper attainable, controls is accustomed mitigate this attack, and therefore its thought-about an occasional threat. 10.1 What is DROWN? It is a heavy loophole infect protocol HTTPS and different services that consider TLS, SSL and a few of the essential secret writing protocols for the security of the internet. These protocols enable everybody on the web to browse sites and electronic messaging, looking and transfer of vital data while not permitting a third party the flexibility to ascertain whats being changed between a user and also the World Wide internet.The name of the shortcut Decrypting RSA with Obsolete and Weakened encryption. 10.2 What do you get it from penetrating this gap? Gets anything is passed between the user and the server, and includes, for example, user names and passwords, account numbers, e-mails, instant messages, important documents, and according to some Scenarios can also forward the work of spoof secure site content and intercept the requests and what the user sees.[10]. When you log in to an Access Enforcer, or any UTM device, you will see a number of network attacks detected and blocked. The number may be in the thousands, or even hundreds of thousands. Many of these attacks are scans precursors to attack. Depending on your settings, a good number might also be firewall policy violations. But what are other types of network attacks? What are the most common ones today? One answer comes from the latest Threat Report from McAfee Labs. The chart below aggregates data from the companys network of millions of sensors across the globe. It shows the most common network attacks detected in Q1 2015.[5]. SSL is important to net security. It provides a robust sense of confidentiality, message integrity, and server authentication to users. The business of e-commerce is tied closely to client confidence within the operation of SSL across world wide web. within the future, SSL termination devices are able to handle additional transactions at a quicker rate. The secret writing of key lengths and therefore the cipher suites used also will still evolve so as to ensure the safety of sensitive info over the net. This way, e-commerce are ready to still grow in quality as users grow additional intimate in searching and banking on-line, and clutches new on-line applications . [1]Three attacks in SSL prot ocol and their solutions. Hong lei Zhang , https://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/courses/compsci725s2c/archive/termpapers/725zhang.pdf . [2]SANS Institute.pdf.Holly Lynne McKinley,https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/protocols/ssl-tls-beginners-guide-1029 . [3]Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Secure Socket Layer (SSL). Raj Jain,http://www.cse.wustl.edu/~jain/cse571-09/ftp/l_15tls.pdf . [4]Transport Layer Security..Giuseppe Bianchi,http://www.uniroma2.it/didattica/iss/deposito/4_tls.pdf .