The Fatherhood Movement Essay -- essays research papers

Throughout the United States, more than one-third of children don't live with their biological fathers, and about 17 million of those children don't live with any father at all. Of those, roughly 40 percent haven't seen their fathers in the last year. The over 500 Father's Rights organizations are trying in a variety of ways to change these statistics because they believe that fathers are necessary to the intellectual, psychological and emotional well- being of all children. "Family values" groups encourage long lasting stable, marriages and tough divorce laws to increase the number of two- parent households. Some organizations focus on reasonable child support and visitation, as well as creative joint custody arrangements to combat fatherless ness after divorce. Still other sects within the movement encourage responsible fatherhood through counseling for "Deadbeat" or "Dead-broke" Dads, job training and placement to increase the likelihood of child sup port payments and educational seminars to teach men how to be emotionally supportive fathers. The unique coalition of conservative pro-marriage groups, white middle-class divorcà ©es and low- income fathers is an unusual alliance. But regardless of philosophical and tactical differences, the essential mission is the same- to improve the relationship between our nation's fathers and their children. A Brief History Throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, wives and children were considered property of the husband. Divorce was very rare, but when it did occur, children would automatically become custody of the father. Even if a father died, his wife was not assured custody of the children unless his will explicitly stated so. In the Early 1900's, courts and state legislatures began to support maternal rights, viewing the mother as the more nurturing parent. The "tender years" doctrine, implemented in many states, encouraged courts to place young children with mothers because mothers were seen as essential to emotional development. The maternal preference continued to increase throughout the 1950's and 60's. With the spread of no-fault divorce laws throughout the late 1970's, and the increase of women's participation in the work force, women were more able to obtain divorces from unhappy marriages. Maternal preference in custody battles gave women a huge advantage, and a vast ... ...hers Manifesto or Dads Against the Divorce Industry, who use feminist bashing, gay bashing and make up outlandish statistics to support their cause. Aside for the fact that they support the repeal of the 19th Amendment, the Father's Manifesto web site includes a non-sensical graph which proves that 0% of 12th grade girls know anything about math and/or physics! Although I understand that many of these men are angry and frustrated, they will achieve nothing by make ludicrous claims and discriminating against women and homosexuals. Groups like this serve as easy targets for people opposing the movement, and reflect badly on educated reformers who see a need for change. I think that in order to be successful as a movement, positive Father's Right's organizations should distance themselves from the fringe groups, and try to make a cohesive movement excluding the reactionary organizations. Overall, I think that this movement focuses on a problem that many policy makers have ignored for two long. Our children do need fathers, and while I don't necessarily agree with the different ways these groups want to achieve their goals, I commend their efforts and think this is an important cause.

Empiricism & human knowledge Essay

Empiricism is a notion that is derived from epistemology studies in philosophy that is centered on nature and limitation of our human knowledge (Kenny 36). The proponents in empiricism school of thought assert that the main source of human knowledge is through our sensational experience. In other words, what a man may claim to know is purely from experience with environment (Kenny 218). However, approaching this argument holistically need to consider some fundamental questions that prove worth informing the argument: What is the nature of propositional knowledge? How can we gain knowledge? And what are the limits of our knowledge? These question though less informative and may not give the full parameters and modality of the argument, it help to move further and creates a well investigative argument. In this regard, the paper central thesis shall be: Does all our knowledge come from experience? If not, where does it come from? And how can we prove that as necessary truth? The question of human knowledge derivation in field of epistemology has been a controversial issue with both rationalists and empiricists pulling toward each others side. However, as the paper shall be concluding it shall be quite evident that no side can stand alone in the proving ground for human knowledge. Since upon exploring each side of the competing explanations, it comes out clearly that human experience is necessary component in attaining knowledge yet at the same time its insufficient condition that can facilitate knowledge gaining. Therefore, this validates the essence that empiricism can not be self explanatory subject content without input and insight from rationalism school of thought (Kenny 41). In regard to Philosophical argument of empiricism, two juxtaposing positions do assist to answer this question. I find it difficult to neither accept nor deny the fact that empiricists assert that our knowledge comes from our experience because we are born as a ‘tabula rasa’. This is the light that some phenomenon experience can not be affirmed by sense experience alone. For instance, when a blue candle is placed on the table and observes with eyes and affirmed that it is a candle since the sense tells and confirm its solid and hard; then when the same candle is placed close to the flame and melts down; using the same sight observation it is difficult to affirm that the liquefied wax is the same blue candle. Basing on this example, it becomes challenging to entrust the experience as a source of understanding that strange phenomenon that challenges our senses to derive knowledge (Bonjour 273). Therefore, in such case rationalist gain a score in the sense that is only through reason that the individual observing the instance can affirm that the liquid was is the same candle in liquid form. Contrary at the same time the knowledge of changing states of wax shall be gained through sight and not reason, though reason facilitate construction and conceptualization of such concept. Evidently the two competing positions have a problem. According to Aune’s (1970) presentation of Plato’s dialogue â€Å"meno† give me an interesting position in his attempt to support rationalism that instead gives insight to validity of empiricism. Plato gave an example aimed at asserting that he met a slave boy who had mathematical knowledge (basic arithmetic); this should be innate. This is because according to him, knowledge from reason is eternal and do not change while that fro experience does. Using that example it is not true that lack of mathematical knowledge to that slave boy validates lack of mathematical experience. This is in the sense that even abstract mathematical concepts are centered on real figures or objects that does exist. For instance, the relationship given by Pythagoras’ theorem is a proposition that expresses a relation between the sides of a right angled triangle. Thus, the knowledge of these kinds of propositions can be discovered purely by thinking but an individual must in his or her earlier stages of learning been exposed or seen the figure of a right angled triangle, which is something that actually exists in the universe. On the contrary, the propositional knowledge about relation of sides of height, base and hypotenuse can be discovered purely by thinking, without the need to attend to anything that actually exists in the universe. This implies that empiricism is the basis on which reason can advance the knowledge gained primary to other higher understanding forms in such arenas as the sciences of geometry, algebra, and arithmetic. On the other hand, matters of fact as a second category object of human reason cannot be established like matters of relations as individuals lack strong grounding to think them as true. Instead, the opposite of every matter of fact is possible since it does not imply a contradiction and is easily conceived by our minds. For example, saying â€Å"the sun will rise tomorrow† is logical and has no more contradictions to saying â€Å"the sun will not rise tomorrow†. Basically, saying that the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less logical a proposition and implies no more contradiction, than the assertion that it will rise. As a result, it will be futile to try and prove its falsehood. If it can be proven false, it would imply a contradiction, and could never be clearly conceived by the mind. Thus, empiricism scores in knowledge that regards maters of fact as opposed to the knowledge of the relational of ideas. Human knowledge acquisition does not need prior reasoning to acquire, but comes from our experience of finding, connecting and inferring that particular objects are constantly associated with one other. For example, if a man is presented with an object that is new to him, no amount of reasoning about its perceptible qualities will enable him to discover it rather than observing, touching and smelling it so that he can conform to already formed knowledge base, or accommodate it as a new object discovered (Hume 173). If next time the same person comes into contact with this object again, thinking can help to connect the object to the past event and claim to know the object. This can be demonstrated by a stranger to fire and moving water; from the light and warmth of fire, one cannot assume that they can be burnt or cannot infer that the fluidity and transparency of water can drown him or her respectively. Thus, such knowledge can only be established if there are incidences that an individual was burnt by fire or drawn fast moving water, which forms the basis of knowledge which is taught. Based on this example, it follows that the qualities of an object that appear to the senses cannot reveal the causes or effect nor can reason, unaided by experience, ever draw any conclusion about real existence which constructs our knowledge. Consequently, it can be seen that experience enables us to know the cause-effect relation which enables us construct the knowledge base. For example, when burnt by fire, one will know its effect and when seeing someone light a fire, one will understand the cause. The reasoning faculty should be seen as the tool that aids in connecting past and present events and facilitate the making of inferences to already existing knowledge derived from experience. From the arguments it is however increased my difficult to neither assert nor deny the thoughts that emanate from empiricism school of thought. Thus, it is evident that experience is necessary to our knowledge acquisition but insufficient mechanism in knowledge gaining and application to different situation. It is in this line of thought that I assert that experience is truly a source of our knowledge for instance language acquisition which a basic foundation of other knowledge acquisition. In conclusion, from various argument discussed and exemplary illustrations the proposition that knowledge discoverable not by reason but by experience is true. Firstly, there are past examples of objects that were once unknown to us and from experience, we now know what would arise from those objects. This is totally in contrast to the objects we have never been in contact with. Secondly, events that are not much like the common course of nature are also known only by experience. For example, without prior knowledge, nobody could guess that magnets attract or gunpowder explodes. Thirdly, when an effect is believed to depend on a secret structure of parts, we tend to attribute all our knowledge of it to experience.Yet, we highly depend on the reason for the connecting, construction, affirming and making inferences. Work cited Aune, B. , Rationalism, Empiricism and Pragmatism: An Introduction, New York: Random House, 1970. Bonjour, L. , In Defense of Pure Reason, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Hume, D. , An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding: Indianapolis, Bobbs- Merrill, 1955 Kenny, A. , Rationalism, Empiricism and Idealism, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.

Marriage Viewpoints over the World - 1194 Words

Wedding is the celebrating party where a couple decided to be united in marriage. Every country has different tradition, cultures, social classes and religion for wedding. However, the United States has a large population, and it includes many types of people who come from different countries over the world. Therefore, The U.S. has a very diverse cultural and traditional environment, especially in marriage. Based on the number of American couples married in 2010 by â€Å"Marriage Rate in America†, and it shows that the number of marriages in 2010 was less than the previous year, but why did it happen? Are people afraid of marriage? Or what does it really mean? Some people say it is just the way that people live together. After that, are the happy? Marriage is not an easy issue because there are different traditional points of view about it on over the world In India, marriage is a mean that relies on the parents decisions. For example, Marriages in India are arranged marriages, they are forcing two people to get married. Marriages in this country is not a relationship of love for two people, but a connection between two families. Moreover, in this type of arranged marriage, the husband and wife have never met each other, and they have to live as a lifetime term with a partner that they don’t even know before. Indian family said that â€Å"Their kids will love and understand each other when they spend time to live together. Even though the arrangement of marriage in some countriesShow MoreRelatedThe author I have chosen to use to write about is Laura Kipnis and her essay: Love’s Labors. For1700 Words   |  7 PagesThe author I have chosen to use to write about is Laura Kipnis and her essay: Love’s Labors. For this Capstone Essay I have chosen to write about Divorce rates, and how they have been increasing over the years. Divorce can come about in many different ways, each unique in the reason of interest/motivation to get a divorce. Kipnis speaks entirely to an audience ripe for divorce; adulterers, fantasizers, the side chick/guy, or even the suspicious spouse. The reasons of increased divorce vary dependingRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legalized1309 Words   |  6 PagesKaterina Do Dr. Clay ENGL 1302-013 29 September 2015 Issue Proposal I would introduce this issue to an audience explaining that same-sex marriage, also called gay marriage, is a marriage or a civil union between couples of the same sex. I would continue to explain it as a controversial and moral issue discussed worldwide today, due to many gay couples coming out and openly expressing their need for equal rights. I would add onto and explain how supporters of equal rights and those who oppose theRead MoreDigging Deep: Homosexuality Revealed Essay1647 Words   |  7 Pagesextent. Now, not all people are homophobic. There are actually many people whom are not gay that support and advocate gay rights. Not to mention the many influential figures and leaders we have in our country who are openly homosexual. Even though gay marriage is not legal everywhere yet doesn’t mean homosexuals don’t live together happily, they can live and love just as if they were united by law. Scientists and psychologists are still baffled at what makes someone a homosexual. Is it a genetic phenomenonRead MoreEssay on Gay Marriage Is a Human Rights Issue1091 Words   |  5 PagesThe divorce rate among homosexual couples is nearly half the divorce rate of heterosexual couples, in states where homosexual marriage is already legal. This statistic makes it evident that homosexual marriage is as successful as heterosexual marriage. However, out of 49 states with laws regarding gay marriage, only 13 legally recognize the union of two same sex people. Some of the reasoning for this is because some people believe that homosexuality is against their religion and thus, homosexualRead MoreMarriage and Symbolic Interactionism Essay1069 Words   |  5 PagesMid Term Research Paper Marriage and Symbolic Interactionism Marriage continues to be a popular institution in the United States. Although looking at the statistics in regard to marriage today you can see how commitment to marriage is faltering. Due to over half of all marriages ending in divorce, the institution of marriage and what it represents is continually coming into question. In researching different theories in Sociology, the central idea of symbolic interactionism, andRead MoreThe Union Of A Man And A Woman972 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Oxford Dictionaries, marriage is â€Å"the legally or formally recognized union of a man and a woman as partners in a relationship† (Definition of Marriage in English). 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Ap English/2P. 24 January 2017.1481 Words   |  6 PagesTyler Dudley Ms. Elliott AP English/2p 24 January 2017 Same Sex Marriage Research Paper There are many different topics in the world that split people’s opinions. Some stronger than others. These views and opinions are often swayed by one’s political views, and one of the biggest topics that sparks controversy are the rights of all people. Some of the bigger groups are Black Lives Matter and feminists. While these are very big and prominent, the one that sparks the most controversy is the LGBT communityRead MoreEssay about Gay Marriage Does NOT Destroy Traditional Marriage1703 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is marriage? Marriage is defined as the legal union of a man and a woman. According to Psychology Today, marriage is the process by which two people who love each other make their relationship public, official, and permanent. While given the definition of marriage and most of society making same sex marriage nearly impossible; Psychology Today recognizes that â€Å"any† two people who love each other can come together and be united. In 1970, in Min nesota, the first gay couple to apply for a marriageRead MoreDivorces Have Negative Effects on Children Essay1050 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction In our nation divorce is a big part of life. Divorce is the legal dissolution of marriage or the termination of an existing relationship or union. Divorce starts with two adults but always ends up impacting the children in the biggest way. Sons and daughters of divorce often feel confused and abandoned, lose their family structure, and experience identity crisis. Many parents never bother to think of how divorce will affect their children. Children are impacted by

Freedom Among The African Americans - 1292 Words

In the early 19th and late 20th centuries, freedom among the African Americans has been a constant battle between his U.S born given rights and the limitations places on such rights by the states. Through the expansion and development of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the term freedom had been ironically used, for example through the 13th amendment where a former slave could be called a free man yet his freedom was limited and strictly outlined by the government. Slavery, though said to be abolished after 1865, had taken numerous new forms in society to continue the oppression of the colored race. For example, the idea of separate but equal that was once seen as constitutional. There is indubitably irony a between the government acceptance of slaves as freed American individuals and the deprivation of basic rights. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, freed Black individuals were increasing in government participation as soldiers and we re served with a sense of inclusion in society through the adoption of amendments yet were constantly deprived of social acceptance by shunning blacks through segregation and disenfranchised through the regulation of the African American’s lives. As problems within our nation between slave states and non-slave states, in the late 19th century began to peak, many African Americans rose to the occasion to fight with those who sought equality. In the early onset of the American Civil war, thousandsShow MoreRelatedMartin Luther King Jr. Is A Famous Figure In African American1416 Words   |  6 PagesLuther King Jr. is a famous figure in African American and American history. He is one of the most celebrated African Americans who lead the Black Civil Rights Movement to fight for the equality and freedom for African Americans. The speech I Have a Dream is King’s most famous speech, which helped African Americans fight for their rights of equality. The I Have a Dream speech purpose was to seek equality among blacks and whites, while feminism discusses equality among men and women. The rhetorician perspectiveRead MoreThe Origin Of African American Music1462 Words   |  6 Pages The origin of African-American music Nowadays, the United States has the largest music market in the world. Inheriting from the European tradition music from the European immigrants, American music has been deeply influenced by African-American music in both rhythmic and lyrical styles. 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However, King Jr. was not an ordinaryRead MoreThe Irony Of America s Liberty1031 Words   |  5 PagesIllusion of Freedom; The Irony of America’s Liberty America loves the idea of liberty; throughout history, liberty has been â€Å"given† through the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Civil War, even the American Revolution. In, Give Me Liberty! Eric Foner focuses on the major issue and theme is the idea of liberty and freedom. However it was only granted to the whites. Liberty was not given, and our country was based off of harsh treatment and oppression. African Americans were forcedRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement and World War II1075 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to president Franklin D. Roosevelt the future world shout be a world that people have essential human freedoms also known as the four freedoms; freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. The reason of the United States took part in the World War II was to fight for human’s freedoms to liberate humanity in Europe and Asia, and to spread the American democracy to the entire world. â€Å"A revolution which goes on steadily, quietly adjusting itself to changing conditionsRead MoreEssay on Nonviolence or Violence: Which Was More Effective?1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe Civil Rights Movement brought many accomplishments to African Americans such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The key issues that African Americans fought for were voting rights, integration and racial equality. They were tired of the discrimination and humiliation they received as a result of the segregation laws imposed on them. â€Å"State laws mandated racial separation in schools, parks, playgrounds, restaurants, hotels, public transportationRead MoreWhat Was Freedom For African Americans?961 Words   |  4 Pagesof problems. (Lecture 1) After the destruction of slavery, it left nearly four million African American with no property, little training, and few rights; which made the definition of freedom for African Americans the central question on the n ation’s agenda. The big question of the time period was, â€Å"what was freedom for African Americans?† (Give me liberty! An American 550) From 1865 to 1900 African Americans, despite being presumed free; blacks quickly realized they were only free from was theRead MoreThe Book 1776 by David McCullough Essays1324 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout history, Americans have sought to spread the spirit of equality, which is believed to be the realization of true freedom. Before establishing this freedom, every American had only one question stuck in their head: What is freedom? Our country received it in the year of 1776 from the British through a series of difficulties and wars. African Americans defined it as an escape from slavery, while immigrants defined it as their acceptance into a new society. More yet, women of the women’sRead MoreRace, Ethnicity, And Culture1329 Words   |  6 Pages As society progresses and history is created, many factors such as race, ethnicity, and culture tend to shape the ideas among different people. One major group of people that were severely impacted was the African Americans in the United States during the periods from 1804-1813, 1819-1831, and 1832-1848. Based on the definitions from the Asian Pacific Americans: â€Å"Keywords,† Concepts and History, it is said that race is impossible to be defined race from the biological view, because peopleRead MoreAfrican American And The American Revolution1277 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican American and the American Revolution â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.† The American Revolution is considered one of the greatest and most memorable eras in United States history. Colonist were under the rule of the British which eventually created a problem for them. They came to the realization that being under Great

Who I Am My Life - 1077 Words

One day, I asked myself a question: Who I am and how I become who I am? I take art classes, instrument class, basketball class afterschool even though I have never liked them; I skip class in the university to go shopping with my roommate; I am on a strict diet through the whole semester to lose 30 pounds; I study hard to become one of the top students; I stay humble and helpful both inside and outside of the classroom; I join student council and many student clubs at college; I am punctual at work. To be honest, I don’t enjoy every single thing I do, however, I do it anyway to please my peers, gain their acceptance, and maintain my popularity. After so many years, these things have become part of me and shaped who I am at some point. We as human beings live in the society through interactions with peers, and peer pressure has a great impact on us, negatively or positively. Peer pressure refers to the social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain action, adopt a certain value, in order to fit in with a certain peer group. Consequently, it shapes one’s view of the environment, and on oneself. People seek group conformity and acceptance, therefore, peer pressure impact us on a day-to-day basis, especially, on teenagers. According to Erik Erikson’s developmental stage, teenagers seek their identities. Peer pressure encourages them to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors in order to conform to group norms. Negative peer pressure can mislead teenagersShow MoreRelatedWho I Am? My Life?1006 Words   |  5 Pages Who I am? Who I am? It look simple question but to explain it that very hard. I could say I’m little girl grown up in many towns got a lot of experience at the short time believe in life and freedom. However, I learn all my believe from my religion, family and inspiration. One day when I was in elementary school my teacher was talking about the student behavior in school and I discuss that with her but she tried to avoid me many times I tried to get her attention than she got angry and blame meRead MoreWho I Am As A Person1080 Words   |  5 Pages I have a detailed past and an exciting future ahead, but in this moment I am still figuring out who I am as a person. My view of myself may be slightly skewed compared to what others notice. I can gain a general sense of which I am today by using the characteristic assessments previously taken, and how others view me. Using these two resources I find myself, in this fragment of my life, to be Achievement oriented, introverted, and empathetic. In both the Emotional and Social Competency InventoryRead MoreThe Is Not A Fun One911 Words   |  4 PagesHello Everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful week. Lately on my mind has been dealing with PCOS! This disease is not a fun one. 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In both the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory and theRead MoreReflection Paper : Reflections And My Mental State Of A Man Who Has Not Gone Through My Life1468 Words   |  6 Pages8/6 From what I read, I am supposedly going to become a better person by following the guide of a man who has not gone through my life and has not borne witness to my suffering. I know that considering my background and my mental state that reading this book will only make me angry for it seems to be a mockery of myself, a teen. I am nothing like a ‘teen’ I have matured much faster than I should have and have never been in trouble or done anything that requires me to ‘straighten up.’ I feel that underRead MoreLittle Girls With Dreams Become Women Of Vision Essay1661 Words   |  7 Pagespast few weeks I have had this reoccurring theme that consists of fear, guilt, shame, failure, and being vunerable. I have now realized that I have allowed fear to become the driving force within every facet of my life. I have A LOT of guilt, shame, and fear built inside of my soul, mind, body and spirit. I am angry with myself for allotting others the capability to have the fin al say and to decide if I am worthy or unworthy. When I was 17-years-old my life took a drastic turn and I remember duringRead MoreThe Road to My Dreams Essay1294 Words   |  6 Pagesof your life, and that saying holds true because high school has truly made a positive impact on my life. High school has cocurriculars, classes of various levels such as basic, academic, honors, or advanced placement, and various opportunities such as athletic sports. I have had a traditional high school experience, but the memories that I have made along the way have been priceless. It is sad for me to think that this amazing part of my life is almost over. During this time in my life, I tend toRead MoreMany Mes866 Words   |  4 PagesQuestionnaire Words or phrases I use to describe my physical self 1. I am blue eyed man 2. I am 5’11 3. I am Stocky built 4. I am Balding 5. I am Average Words or phrases I use to describe my personality 6. I am Authoritative 7. I am curious 8. I am analytical 9. I am kind 10. I am ambitious Words or phrases I use to describe my social self (me interacting with others) 11. I am outgoing 12. I am comical 13. I am a good listener 14. I am a good communicator 15. I am not easily intimidated Read More My Personal Identity Essay948 Words   |  4 Pagesfactors may have more of an influence than others and some may not have any influence at all. As a person grows up in a family, they are influenced by many aspects of their life. Family and culture may influence a person’s sense of responsibilities, ethics and morals, tastes in music, humor and sports, and many other aspects of life. Friends and surrounding environments may influence a person’s taste in clothing, music, speech, and social activities. Personal interests are what truly set individualsRead MoreWhy I Am I?1576 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Who am I? â€Å"A question often asked by many individuals, ranging from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. Each individual, in some way or another, is struggling to come to terms with this question and are looking for answers within themselves. However, this simple, yet, complex question, involves more than loo king into oneself and evaluating one’s own self- identity. Lately, I have also been wondering about the kind of person I am. Exploring my â€Å"Self† and â€Å"Identity,† has been a constant

Cloud Computing Two Articles Free Essays

Cloud Computing Articles One of the recent trends in the fast paced field of Information Technology is the development of cloud computing. Simply put, cloud computing is the outsourcing of business processing and storage to â€Å"virtual† servers over a network, most commonly the internet. The advance of network technology has allowed companies to transfer large amounts of their business intelligence systems to outside servers, without compromising data-transfer speed. We will write a custom essay sample on Cloud Computing: Two Articles or any similar topic only for you Order Now Two recent articles from different publications covered the subject of cloud computing. The first, found online from InfoWorld. om, describes the different levels of cloud computing and what each entails. The second article, found in a monthly publication of Computer World, details the pros and cons of clouds in IT. According to the InfoWorld. com article, cloud computing is â€Å"a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT’s existing capabilities. † (InfoWorld. om) Clouds are a modern answer to IT’s ever increasing needs for storage space and computing power. There are several types of services that these virtual servers offer, ranging from utility applications to email spam filtering. Currently, most of the servers must be accessed ind ividually, but they are becoming more integrated as the field progresses. One type of cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), is the hosting of one software application through the internet. An example this type of application is Salesforce. com, a sales representative management system. By providing the software online, Salesforce. com provides an easy way for managers to monitor and diagnose sales data, without the need for their own costly IT system in-house. SaaS also gives an advantage to the host company, because updates and bug fixes are limited to one program which they control. There are several variations to the Saas system that are offered in cloud computing. Utility computing involves a company’s memory, input / output Storage, and computational capacity being accessed through the network to a â€Å"virtual† server. Currently, most cloud utility computing is for non critical intelligence, due to newness of the system. According to the article, these online servers could one day replace most of the current physical datacenter. Another variation to Saas within cloud computing is web based application programming interfaces. APIs are â€Å"interfaces implemented by an online source that enable interaction with other software† (Wikepedia. org). There is a wide range of APIs used with business intelligence. Some examples would be Google Maps used by delivery services, shipping tracking for UPS, or online tax processing programs such as TurboTax. One of the original forms of cloud computing are managed service providers (MSPs), which are applications that are exposed to the host company, rather than the end user. Examples of MSPs are e-mail virus scanning and anti-spam services, or desktop management offered by companies such as CenterBeam. Managed security services, such as firewalls, are also found within cloud computing. The Computer World article goes further to describe an aspect of cloud computing called infrastructure as a service (Iaas). â€Å"With public cloud IaaS, organizations pay per use or per cluster of resources for an external cloud service provider to host their virtual servers†¦ IT maintains control over the applications without worrying about configuring, upgrading or patching servers and other infrastructure. If a new application is needed, IT simply loads that application onto the service provider’s virtual server and the software is available to users† (Computer World). By migrating the physical datacenters to virtual servers, companies are saving maintenance, power and labor costs from the upkeep of those resources. Most established companies are making the transition to clouds slowly, a couple of datacenters at a time, as they become outdated. Startup businesses, however, can use virtual servers as a great advantage to avoid costly equipment purchases. â€Å"Bernard Golden, CEO of consultancy HyperStatus, agrees that Iaas offers a lifeline when it comes to rising data center costs and real estate constraints. It offers IT the opportunity to reduce the data center management burden, yet improve customer service† (Computer World). For a company who is contemplating the switch to virtual servers, there is also security and legality issues to consider. Migrating large amounts of data, without disrupting critical files, can be risky. One company, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, â€Å"started slowly with self contained, non mission critical applications such as testing and development so they could learn the ins and outs of moving into the cloud† (Computer World). The company should inquire as to the host server’s security and firewall systems, and should always keep hard copies of important data and applications. Business documents that are highly valuable to a company, such as patent documents, customer databases, and technical drawings are not usually stored in the cloud network. The international field of computer hacking is expanding, especially in developing countries, making industrial espionage a serious subject for businesses to consider. A company migrating to cloud computing must also consider the legal aspects of moving their IT systems. Software licenses may not apply to a public network, where the applications can be shared by several end user computers. The company should also know the terms of contracting with the cloud servers, should they decide to break or end the agreement. All data that could be detrimental to the firm should be destroyed by the host server once the contract is void. Some businesses are closely regulated by government agencies such as the FDA or ANSA, and should keep relative files readily accessible. There are also government regulations to consider concerning customer information. The article describes how IT manager Charles Swartz, of Preferred Hotel Group, adheres to regulations. â€Å"Because the company deals with credit card transactions, it must follow the Payment Card Data Security Standard, which requires physical control over servers handling that data. To avoid any complications, Swartz makes sure all credit card transactions go directly to a third party and he avoids keeping any of that data on his outsourced infrastructure† (Computer World). Another issue to consider when switching to a cloud network is computing speed. Where IT systems may have been fast to load or run on a local area network, a wide area network could transfer at a higher or lower speed. With modern business transactions becoming faster than ever, customers expect quick response. â€Å"Delays of just a few milliseconds can cause them [end users] to be frustrated† (Computer World). Switching to cloud networks can be an advantage to speed, if the cloud provides a larger bandwidth than the in-house servers. A higher bandwidth also allows more end users to access the system at once without slowing download speeds significantly. Jason Harper, vice president of technology at Morgans Hotel Group in New York, say customer satisfaction has increased at his shop because end users are accessing their files faster via the cloud† (Computer World). One recommended use of the cloud system is test run or seasonal IT systems. Rather than expanding physical datacenter space for temporary projects, the public servers can be easily setup to run and store data. â€Å"The public cloud is great for short term usage, since very few enterprises have spare servers lying around anymore. Instead, it enables IT to have quick response to new projects without having to preplan† (Computer World). The article does warn, however, that low barrier to entry can be over-sourced. Often-times end users might jump into applications on cloud networks without consulting their IT professionals. This could lead to costly changes down the line, which could have been easily fixed at the setup of the systems. Despite being in an early stage of development, cloud computing already has a definite niche in the business and IT world. One of the main drawbacks at this point is the lack of integration between systems. Previous attempts to create cloud integration technology, such as CapeClear’s enterprise service bus, and a universal bus system by Grand Central, have failed to stay in business. The overall trend of using virtual servers, however, does seem appear to be here to stay. Sources: â€Å"What Cloud Computing Really Means† Infoworld. com Knorr, 4-27-2008 http://www. infoworld. com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means-031 â€Å"Moving to the cloud: Big savings, but plan ahead† Computer World Gittlen, March 2010 How to cite Cloud Computing: Two Articles, Papers

Sex addiction free essay sample

Sex Addiction is the hidden pitfall of life. Many people do not take this condition seriously because they do not completely comprehend the illness. Often times addicts dont even know they have a problem until some life-altering event brings them to reality. In this presentation you will learn what Sex Addiction is, how it develops, how the condition affects those who have it, and the different ways it is treated. Ultimately, the goal of this presentation is to warn against the ignorant perspective people have about this disorder, because once you know the facts youll be empowered in understanding how it relates to you and how you can use the knowledge gained to help yourself and others. Sex Addiction may be identified as any compulsive or impulsive sexual activity that falls into one of three categories: shameful, secretive or abusive. It is difficult for some people to accept Sex Addiction as a legitimate addiction since sex is a normal and natural part of life. But it is classified as an addiction because people who live with it are dependent on the chemicals our bodies produce when sexually stimulated, much like how a drug addict gets hooked on the chemicals their drug of choice provides. Some studies even suggest that Sex Addiction is a form of mental disorder where the addict has a sexual compulsitivity deriving from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sex addicts become so obsessed with the sexually high that they will engage in risky activities to have it regularly. These risky ventures encompasses many things and have great influence on personality and behavior, such as: compulsive masturbation, infidelity, multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands, consistent use of pornography, unsafe sex, phone and/or cybersex, prostitution or use of prostitutes, exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual harassment, molestation, rape, and other sex-related crimes. Basically, sex addiction can lead to embracing a nymphomaniac lifestyle where the addicts priorities revolve around sexual stimulation. Statistically, an estimated 6 to 8 percent of Americans have a sex addiction. That is approximately 18 to 24 million people living in America. On the internet, 25 million Americans visit cyber-sex sites between 1-10 hours per week, and another 4. 7 million in excess of 11 hours per week. At least 200,000 Americans are addicted to E-porn, and with 1 out of every 6 women struggling with porn addiction it is no surprise that the number one searched topic on the internet is sex. In terms of money, the pornography industry has larger revenues than Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, Apple and Netflix combined, and in 2006 Worldwide Pornography Revenues totaled $97. 06 billion. With the business of sex showing no weakness in the market, its safe to say that the subject of sex addiction wont soon go away. But how does a person develop a sexual addiction in the first place? Is there a genetic factor? Are sex addicts just natural hypersexuals? Do some people simply have a strong sexual curiosity, or are easily stimulated because they are more sexually sensitive than others? Or is it completely environmental? Is the culprit our culture, the fault of a sexually suggestive society? Should we point the finger on the sexual revolution? Can we blame the sexual images and messages we see in the media? Or perhaps some addicts were raised by parents with very liberal views towards sexuality? Whatever your disposition isnurture, nature, or a combination of bothlike all addictions, experts can agree that it is something that develops overtime, not overnight. It is also a common belief that sex addiction is a result of sexual abuse since many sex addicts have been victims of a sex crime. Some studies also suggest it may be caused by other traumatic events like a break-up or loss of a loved one. But however the addiction forms, despite the various reasons the process is similar for all. For a developing sex addict, sex has turned into an insatiable itch that must be scratched. Sexual gratification gradually dominates the addicts daily thoughts, and sex becomes the first answer to relieving stress. Then the addict views sex more casually, and having an emotional connection with a partner no longer is a prerequisite for potential lovers. It is all about physical pleasure now and much of the addicts motives is driven by the promise of sex. But eventually the mind becomes so imbalance that sex loses its pleasurable effects, and instead of relief the addict feels shameful after sex. It is this emotional distress that sets a person apart from those who have a healthy state of mind in regards to sex. It is similar to the guilt people with eating disorders feel after eating food. Psychologically, a sex addict will feel inferior for not having control of their sexuality. They lose self-esteem as a result of their abuse of sex, which consequently produces more stress and the urge to relieve it the best way they know how: sexually. This is the mechanics that continues the cycle of sexual addiction. When sex addicts finally realize that they have a problem, usually the wake up call that does it is a major one. Sex addiction can lead to arrest and imprisonment, financial ruin, break-ups and divorce, homosexuality, disease, and even death. The judgment of a sex addict is distorted when making decisions because sound reasoning is always in competition with the sexual urges of the addict. An addict will have difficulty concentrating due to the mind being preoccupied with sexually orientated thoughts. There is a constant sense of discomfort because of all the sexual tension the addict is under, and the overwhelming pressure to ease it. At its worst, the addict will stop at nothing to release this sexual stress, even if it means risking marriage, health, and career. It used to be that when addiction is mentioned in the media it usually referred to a chemical dependency on a certain drug, but now more and more references to addiction pertain to sex. Recently it is Tiger Woods who has been portraying the poster child of sex addiction, but there were other flag bearers before him as well. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign from office after a sex scandal involving a high-priced escort ruined his career. The once popular childrens show star Peewee Hermann was arrested and sentenced to jail for lewd conduct inside an adult theater. Former President Bill Clinton risked his presidency after giving false claims concerning an affair with then white house intern Monica Lewinsky. And from Paris Hilton to Kim Kardashian more and more sex tapes are being leaked and the people starring in the films feeling regretful about it. These are just few examples of what sex addiction can do. Besides a persons public image being ruined, there is also the family factor and all the shame and pain they have to go through because the addict they cared about lost self-control. It must feel like a sad irony for the addict: the same organ that can make a family, can break a family. But once an addict does acknowledge the problem and resolves to get better, there are programs designed help treat a sex addict. Mainly, the most common approach is structured after the 12-Step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous. The goal of the treatment is to help sex addicts regain control over their sexual urges. It does not aim to stop the addict from ever having sex. The objective is to educate the addict to recognize the difference between a healthy sexuality and an addictive one. A therapist will teach an addict about the abnormality of their sexuality, how it developed, what triggers it, and the consequences of acting out their addiction. Through education and support groups, addicts will become more conscious about their disorder and can take preventive measures to avoid committing acts of addiction. One of the first steps to rehabilitation is investigating the problem and its roots so that the right approach to alleviate the issue can be devised. The best method to retrieve information is to actually study the addict’s fantasies and why he or she has them. For example, if an addict is a chronic masturbator and likes to be in master/slave fantasies where he plays the dominating role, there may be a control issue involved possibly stemming from a failed relationship with one of or both parents. This was the case with one patient with a sexual addiction. He admitted his mother was very controlling in his childhood and because of it he developed a comfort in roles where he was the aggressor. Because there is more security and control in the act of masturbation, the sex addict actually developed a preference to this over sex with others, and also assumed a dominatrix role because of the power he would command. By reviewing a patients past and fantasies the counselor was able to determine the mother as the variable to his development of sexual addiction. But because a lot of trust must be given to a therapist since the information is very personal, many people are not ready to share private thoughts with a stranger, which is biggest problem concerning addiction in general. Addicts cannot start recovery if they can’t accept they have an issue in the first place. Usually they are very adamant in their denial because they really think their behavior is normal. And sometimes, if the addict is involved in an industry where an overly sexual attitude is accepted and encouraged, this makes treatment more complicated. In industries like porn and prostitution, sex addiction is welcomed because it allows people to tolerate some of the disturbing things people in those industries are subjected to. And the fact that a sex addict can get paid for performing sexual acts is not helping their progress at all. The sad thing about the people who are in this situation is that they won’t start seeking help until they are removed from the negative environment, which is not an easy task if they have made it their profession and source of income. Just like with any other addiction, recovery is not a concrete word. Sex addicts may go through cycles of relapse. It is a day to day struggle to stay focus and not let addiction rule you. Learning to cope with the addiction is difficult because certain cultures of society have conflicting points of view about sex. Some see sex with multiple lovers and opposite sexes as an act of freedom and sharing and expressing your love, while others view exhibitionism completely acceptable like nudist colonies. On the other hand there are groups that believes engaging in improper sexual activities is a quick way to get a ticket to hell. In some subcultures of men sex is a mark of manhood and nothing says masculinity more than having sex with many women. And to be fair, some members of the female gender also treat sex objectively, using it to feel a sense of power over males, wielding their sexuality like a weapon to coerce favors from willing men. Children who grow up in this social environment, unless they are properly educated about healthy sexual behavior, are at risk for developing sex addiction. One of the best ways to fight sex addiction is early education because these days children are exposed to a lot more adult matter than ever before, and preparing children young will help prevent future manifestation of this addiction. What contributes to the complexity of this illness is diverse. Compared to drug and alcohol addiction, sex is something that can be self-performed through masturbation. There is no need to obtain a physical substance. Even with obesity a person still needs food to abuse the body, but with sex addictions the tools of sex are conveniently built-in, cost nothing, and is ready for use anytime and anywhere. All an addict needs is an imagination and privacy and the addiction is fueled with the stimulation it craves. Sex addiction is a silent crisis that affects a lot more people than what official records states, because not all addicts have come forward to be accounted for. And with the advent of the Internet, sexual resources like porn and websites that sell sex toys are now easily accessible. The temptation for sex addicts is everywhere in the media, providing a constant reminder about the subject of sex. On a biological aspect, every animal on this planet have this primal instinct to find a mate and reproduce. Our intense drive to procreate is as natural to us as eating and sleeping. And because we are so biologically obliged to have sex, that is why sexual addiction is such a sneaky addiction. You can be very wary and avoid substance abuse by steering away from that path altogether, but for most people sex is a route that has no detour in most relationships. It is how marriages are consummated, how babies are made, how lovers physically profess their affection, and how emotional bonds are kept and strengthened. Because sex can be beneficial to relationships, many people are reluctant to admit they might have a problem because sex addiction might not seem like a problem they are seriously willing to address. Though however complex the issue is, the truth remains: Sex Addiction is a valid form of addiction and it has real negative consequences on the addicts and their families. But because of social views it is not taken seriously until it ruins an addicts actual life. There are different ways an addict might develop the disorder but that would have be determined by a therapist. But some addicts do not seek help either because they see the addiction as a normal and natural thing, or are simply opposed to sharing personal information since much of the evaluation process investigates sexual fantasies and childhood memories. But if an addict does agree to treatment, programs are available to educate and empower the recovering addict to regain the control theyve lost to addiction.