St. Augustine' Art of Rhetoric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

St. Augustine' Art of Rhetoric - Essay Example a long time. I have experienced his works and heard one of his statements that I truly delighted in light of the fact that it clarified persuasively one of my fundamental interests throughout everyday life. The statement goes The world is a book, and the individuals who don't travel read just a page. (Saint Augustine). Hearing that statement got me keen on becoming familiar with this Saint and his life and manner of speaking works. St. Augustine was an amazingly insightful man. He was conceived at Tagaste in proconsul Numidia in 354, to agnostic dad and a Christian mother. After his first examinations in quite a while local city, he went to Carthage, with the budgetary guide of Romanians, to finish his investigations in way of talking. Simultaneously, notwithstanding, he fell a captive to his energetic interests and even got associated with the Manichaean strict faction. In the wake of finishing his investigations, he previously settled his school at Tagaste, and later at Carthage, where he showed way of talking for a long time, simultaneously contemplating way of thinking and the regular sciences. Augustine was significantly affected during his instruction and in his immaturity byCicero, a Roman rhetorician, an incredible ace of Latin manner of speaking and sythesis and particularly one of his works in particular,Hortensius. Augustine expressed that manner of speaking is neither acceptable nor terrible in it self, however can be utilized to adequately protect both what is valid and what is bogus.

Edward Teller and the Hydrogen Bomb

Edward Teller and the Hydrogen Bomb What we ought to have learned is that the world is little, that harmony is significant and that collaboration in science... could add to harmony. Atomic weapons, in a quiet world, will have a constrained significance. - Edward Teller in CNN meet Importance of Edward Teller Hypothetical physicist Edward Teller isâ often alluded to as the Father of the H-Bomb. He was a piece of a gathering of researchers who imagined the nuclear bomb as a major aspect of the U.S. government-led Manhattan Project. He was additionally the fellow benefactor of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where along with Ernest Lawrence, Luis Alvarez, and others, he developed the nuclear bomb in 1951. Teller burned through a large portion of the 1960s working toâ keep the United States in front of the Soviet Union in the atomic weapons contest. Tellers Education and Contributions Teller was conceived in Budapest, Hungary in 1908. He earned a degree in substance designing at the Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe, Germany and got his Ph.D. in physical science at the University of Leipzig. His doctoral proposal was on the hydrogen atomic particle, the establishment for the hypothesis of sub-atomic orbitals that remainsâ accepted right up 'til today. Despite the fact that his initial preparing was in synthetic material science and spectroscopy, Teller additionally made considerable commitments to various fields, for example, atomic material science, plasma physical science, astronomy, and measurable mechanics. The Atomic Bomb It was Edward Teller who drove Leo Szilard and Eugene Wigner to meet with Albert Einstein, who together would compose a letter to President Roosevelt asking him to seek after nuclear weapons investigate before the Nazis did. Teller chipped away at the Manhattan Project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and later turned into the labs aide chief. This prompted the development of the nuclear bomb in 1945. The Hydrogen Bomb In 1951, while still at Los Alamos, Teller came up withâ the thought for a nuclear weapon. Teller was more decided than any time in recent memory to push for its advancement after the Soviet Union detonated a nuclear bomb in 1949. This was a significant motivation behind why he was resolved to lead the effective turn of events and testing of the main nuclear bomb. In 1952, Ernest Lawrence and Teller opened the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he was the partner executive from 1954 to 1958 and 1960 to 1965. He was its chief from 1958 to 1960. For the following 50â years, Teller did his examination at the Livermore National Laboratory, and somewhere in the range of 1956 and 1960 he proposed and created atomic warheads little and light enough to be continued submarine-propelled ballistic rockets. Grants Teller distributed in excess of twelve books on subjects extending from vitality strategy to guard issues and was granted 23 privileged degrees. He got various honors for his commitments to material science and open life. Two months before his passing in 2003, Edward Teller was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom-the countries most elevated common respect during an uncommon function led by President George W. Bramble at the White House.

How did the printing press affect the Reformation Essay

How did the print machine influence the Reformation - Essay Example The print machine helped in the spread of new thoughts and regulations that were accessible to people in general in such an alternate way which was never experienced. The print machine was created around 1450 and it quickly spread to other huge urban areas in Europe as per Arman, Bird and Wilkinson (163). As renewal exercises came to balance out themselves, around 200 printing habitats were at that point built up in the significant urban communities of Europe. The printing communities were utilized as primary makers of crafted by renewal by Protestants. For example Martin Luther was among the individuals who previously perceived the force behind imprinting in preparing ground support for changes. The print machine took two significant bearings in renewal process. One of the headings was the printing of numerous mainstream books which had a significant effect in science. In this way there were significant changes in logical work because of the print machine. Researchers had the option to print and offer their works with different researchers in different pieces of Europe. The researchers could likewise have precision in their works which upgraded singular information just as understanding. The development in logical changes coming about because of the impacts of the print machine prompted the logical transformations. This later changed the manner in which the Europeans saw the world and the universe on the loose. The second heading of the print machine reconstruction was the manner in which it took duplicating of books from the congregation. Thusly, it made it practically incomprehensible for the congregation to control the vast majority of the composed functions as it did previously. This was because of the huge number of books that could be printed at a small amount of cost in a day. Subsequently it tends to be asserted that disunity which confronted the European strict thinks during the protestant reorganization was driven by the quick development of the prin t machine. Martin Luther was fruitful in reconstruction exercises as he knew about the utilization and impact of print machine. Along these lines he had the option to beat different journalists, for example, Hussites in reconstruction works. Reorganization was considered as the main move of recuperating the Lord that was supported by the impacts of the print machine. Luther’s achievement in reorganization works was likewise helped by the reality when he was conceived; printing had set up itself in Europe. Print machine was imperative to Luther changes on account of two elements. He had specialized gear which could print in enormous volumes and various styles. He was likewise fit for printing content that pulled in the peruser. The vast majority of the Luther’s printed work coursed quicker in Wittenberg which was an amazing focus during the renewal time frame. Luther had three well known renewal works in Germany because of his adequacy in print machine. These works incl uded Appeal to the German Nobility, The New Testament interpretation just as the Christian opportunity works. The New Testament interpretation which was a main thrust for the protestant transformation was the most well known among crafted by Luther. He utilized an alternate style recorded as a hard copy the New Testament and another dialect. He made an interpretation of it into basic man language; in this way individuals could peruse the book of scriptures and decipher it for themselves. This followed the protestant renewals because of the various interpretations of the book of scriptures. The foundation of protestant

9 Ways to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand

To get people interested in your brand and have them become loyal customers, it's no longer enough to simply produce a good product or provide a great service. Related: 4 easy tips for effective online brand management What buyers are looking for today is an impeccable user experience—one that really makes them feel like they're getting their money's worth. This is why top brands appeal to their customers' emotions; they realize most purchases aren't rational. Your brand exists in the minds of your audience as all the experiences, impressions and interactions they've had with you, both positive and negative. The power of branding is so incredible that 72% of marketers say branded content is more effective than print advertising. To help you harness that power, here's our list of 9 ways to make people fall in love with your brand. 1. Focus on user needs, not features This is where many brands go wrong. They choose to toot their own horn and go on about how great their product is, when in reality, the market couldn't care less about it. What they really care about (whether they're looking to buy a lawnmower or reaching out to cheap writing services) is what the brand and its product can do for them. Make sure your brand focuses on how buying your product will solve a particular issue for your audience or address a particular pain point. Make them feel like the hero for choosing you. 2. Research what your target audience wants While it's fairly easy to assume that the attention span of most millennials is only a few seconds or that older generations are not present on social media... If you're basing your branding strategy on these assumptions, you have failed spectacularly right off the bat. Researching your target audience and identifying their needs is crucial if you want your brand to connect with them on an emotional level. Find ways to speak to your customers—and ideal customers—about what really matters to them. 3. Respond to consumer feedback whenever possible According to research, 57% of consumers say that brand's failure to respond to negative feedback is a good reason to cut ties with that brand. Responding to user feedback and acknowledging it, even if it's negative, can help turn things around if you try your best to remedy the issue. By responding to customer reviews and feedback, you're showing that communication is a two-way street, and that your brand is not generic and faceless like all the others out there. 4. Provide a free solution Obviously, the whole point of marketing and building your brand is to get potential customers to purchase from you—but getting there doesn't have to involve you pushing for a sale. For example, you can provide your audience with helpful, applicable, free content that will help them overcome a particular problem. What this does is inspire trust and establish you as an authoritative resource. When they're ready to make a real purchase, your brand will be their first choice. 5. Deliver more than you've promised One of the most effective ways to create a positive brand experience is to delight customers by delivering more than you initially promised. For instance, if you surprise them with a discount or throw in a free sample, they'll be thrilled. While it might be a sizable investment on your part, keep in mind that customer loyalty can be worth ten times more than a single purchase. 6. Find the right distribution channel While mobile advertising and branding are the trend of the moment, how successfully you're going to reach your consumer audience depends on how well you've done your research. For instance, if you're trying to reach older people with your brand, you might assume mobile advertising is off-limits. And while it's true many of them don't use social media, they do still use smartphones—which would mean that your brand might benefit from SMS marketing. Think carefully about all your options, and don't take any off the table before giving them proper consideration. 7. Tell a story It's pretty easy to fall into the trap of making your brand's message too salesy. A much better strategy is to tell a story with your message. For example, if you're trying to sell an espresso machine, don't talk about how it's made of stainless steel or how it can make you a cup of coffee in less than 30 seconds... Instead, focus on how amazing that first cup of freshly brewed coffee feels on a lazy Sunday while the kids are still in bed. You're selling a better quality of life, and your product can make that happen. Figure out how to tell a story that captures what your brand can really do for your ideal customer. 8. Pay attention to the visuals Up to 90% of purchases are influenced by visual factors—especially color, which can increase brand recognition by up to 80%. Having a website which features eye-catching responsive design is a must, but your brand identify should also extend to your social media, marketing materials and product packaging. Every visual touchpoint is an opportunity to tell your brand story, so don't let them go to waste. 9. Find out where your audience hangs out Make peace with the fact that your brand cannot be all things to all people. While casting a wide net might help you attract a bigger audience, it might not be worth it when you take into account all the marketing expenses. Instead, find your intended audience online and figure out what they want. Regardless of what your product or service is, there's a target audience for it out there. It's up to you to find out where they are, how they communicate, and what they value. Key takeaway These techniques will not only make people fall in love with your brand—they will keep them coming back for more. And when it comes to building brand loyalty and driving growth, that's really the best-case scenario, isn't it? Tell your brand's story beautifully and consistently with Lucidpress, the world's only brand templating platform.

Justin Martyr Answered The Romans Objection Of...

Justin Martyr answered the Romans objection to Christianity by writing his Apologies. Justin’s Apology 2 to the Romans shows how Christians make better citizens of Rome than do other Romans because of their reason and virtues. Justin gives a thorough discussion of Christian virtues of not being afraid to die and their truthful nature. And he also discusses their belief in the Logos as being Christ and that Christians are definitely not atheist he shows reasonable objections to the Roman’s beliefs concerning Christians. Justin says that Christians are not afraid to die when faced with imminent death due to persecution. They are not afraid of death because they know where they will be going when they die. They will not fight or run or hide somewhere to avoid the hangman’s noose or the executioner’s axe. They know Christ and have a personal relationship with their Saviour. Justin even says in Chapter 11 of his Apology 2, â€Å"we give thanks when we pay this debt.† (Justin, p 81, ch. 11) He is saying that death is â€Å"a debt due each person who has been born.† (Justin, p81, Ch. 11) He says citizens that do not have this same belief as the Christians would want to continue living the way they were in debauchery and not die. (Justin, p. 82, ch 12) This is but one way that Christians make better citizens of Rome. Justin, also, includes remarks about the truthfulness of Christians to show the Romans they make better citizens of Rome. Justin speaks about the Romans belief in honesty

`` Night Women `` By Edwidge Danticat And The Story Called...

The story called â€Å"Night Women† by Edwidge Danticat and the story called â€Å"The Awakening† by Crystal Wilkinson portray womanhood in different ways. However, both stories are very interesting and convey powerful ideas to the readers. Although the portrayal of womanhood is different, they share some similarities. To start with, I would like to express my thoughts about â€Å"Night Women†, which has become one of my favorite stories due to its unique language, exquisite metaphors, and powerful message. It is about the life and hard times of any single mother who has to do whatever possible to provide a means for their family because her son’s father decided to â€Å"disappear with the nights shadows a long time ago.† It shows different feelings, which are mixed, and some of these feelings are the innocence of a child as well as the care and love of a mother through hard work, sacrifice, and dedication. She was a prostitute, a job that is very h ard for any woman, but most of them depend on it in order to succeed and make money to cover their costs of living. In this story, the woman is portrayed as person who doesn’t depend on a man to succeed and give a good life to her kid. She was alone, she didn’t have the company of her mother either; but she was facing the challenges that the life put on her way, showing that women have the same strength, power, and ability to achieve success as men. I think that Danticat portrays the woman in that way in order to make

Crime And Punishment Essay Example For Students

Crime And Punishment Essay Comparison Essay between Crime and Punishment and Notes from theUndergroundFyodor Dostoyevskys stories are stories of a sort of rebirth. Heweaves a tale of suffering and how each character attempts to deliverthemselves from this misery. In the novel Crime and Punishment, hetells the story of Raskolnikov, a former student who murders an oldpawnbroker as an attempt to prove a theory. In Notes from theUnderground, we are given a chance to explore Dostoyevskys opinion ofhuman beings. Dostoyevskys characters are very similar, as is his stories. He putsa strong stress on the estrangement and isolation his characters feel. His characters are both brilliant and sick as mentioned in each novel,poisoned by their intelligence. In Notes from the Underground, thecharacter, who is never given a name, writes his journal from solitude. He is spoiled by his intelligence, giving him a fierce conceit withwhich he lashes out at the world and justifies the malicious things hedoes. At the same time, though, he speaks of the doubt he feels at thevalue of human thought and purpose and later, of human life. Hebelieves that intelligence, to be constantly questioning andfaithless(ly) drifting between ideas, is a curse. To be damned to seeeverything, clearly as a window (and that includes things that arentmeant to be seen, such as the corruption in the world) or constantlyseeking the meaning of things elusive. Dostoyevsky thought that humansare evil, destructive and irrational. In Crime and Punishment, we see Raskolnikov caught between reason andwill, the human needs for personal freedom and the need to submit toauthority. He spends most of the first two parts stuck between wantingto act and wanting to observe. After he acts and murders the oldwoman, he spends much time contemplating confession. Raskolnikov seemstrapped in his world although there is really nothing holding him back;he chooses not to flee and not to confess, but still acts as though hessuffocation (perhaps guilt?)In both novels defeat seems inevitable. Both characters believe that normal man is stupid, unsatisfied andconfused. Perhaps they are right, but both characters fail to see thepositive aspects of humans; the closest was the scene between thenarrator of Notes from the Underground and Liza. In this scene healmost lets the human side show, rather than the insecure, closed offperson he normally is. I assert that Dostoyevskys characters are (clinically) depressive ofsome sort. They complain of a detachment to life and alienation fromother people, just going through the motions. They are suffering, butare unwilling to give up and are also helpless in terms of feelingbetter. They are confused as to what to do in the future and see itonly as a bleak possibility, just more problems. And with the collapseof certainty, men and women will do crazy things.

The speech used is full of double meanings and there are many symbolic features in the play Essay Example For Students

The speech used is full of double meanings and there are many symbolic features in the play Essay Romeo and Juliet is a very intense and dramatic play which requires a lot of thought. The speech used is full of double meanings and there are many symbolic features in the play. The author of the play, William Shakespeare was born on the 23rd of April 1564 in Stratford upon Avon. He was initially a schoolteacher and then a playwright. Shakespeare started writing books in 1592, he also wrote for James the 1st. He married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway. They had two daughters and one son who unfortunately died at an early age and was buried in Stratford upon Avon. William Shakespeare died at the age of 52 on the 23rd of April 1616. He too was buried in Stratford upon Avon. We will write a custom essay on The speech used is full of double meanings and there are many symbolic features in the play specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The play Romeo and Juliet shows what life was like at that time that Shakespeare was writing. It shows the culture of the time and what the people believed in. Girls were considered to be the property of their fathers, for example. The graphic details and his vivid imagination really bring the play to life. Juliets father has arranged for her to marry the count, Paris. We know that Juliet does not want to marry Paris because she is always thinking about Romeo, she is also afraid because she has sinned against god, she says in the script for I have need of many orisons to move the heavens to smile upon my face. Juliet is given a potion which will make her appear dead but will not kill her so that she can marry Romeo secretly. Juliet is scared to take the potion as it may not have the desired effect on her, What if this mixture do not work at all? Shall I be married then tomorrow morning? No, no, this shall forbid it, lie thee there. laying down her dagger. And then she goes on to say what if it be a poison which the Friar subtly hath ministered to have me dead. She almost calls the nurse back because she is so frightened and she is also very lonely but decides there is no need for the nurse to be there and that taking the potion is an act that she should do in her own company. William Shakespeare describes Juliet very well. He uses the start of the scene to show the audience the immense pressure that Juliet is under. His use of words such as cold fear thrills and freezes up the heat of life shows how desperate she is for the potion to work and how she feels about it not working. She does not want to marry Paris and would rather die than do so but has no choice. Shakespeare has used the conversation between Juliets mother and the nurse to show the viewer how lonely Juliet is feeling. This goes on to Juliets soliloquy. Juliet starts questioning herself about taking the potion. On the stage direction it shows us she has prepared a knife, Laying down her knife. It shows she acts alone, she does not want to marry Paris and this shows she intends not to. William Shakespeare takes us through at least five interesting situations between Juliet and her conscience. For each one Shakespeare uses graphic description to give us a better understanding of the conflict and confusion Juliet is going through. These graphic descriptions that Shakespeare takes us through get increasing tense. Juliet is filled with fearful thoughts, Is the Friar honest?, and Will I awake in the tomb before he comes? Juliet thinks about this potion, what will happen is she takes it, what will happen if she doesnt? She is also scared that potion might actually kill her. I have a faint cold fear thrill through my veins. Despite this she still drinks the potion. .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea , .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .postImageUrl , .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea , .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea:hover , .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea:visited , .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea:active { border:0!important; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea:active , .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4246fb237ac101d7621a22b3b3bfabea:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Shylock is a tragic figure, trapped by prejudice and driven to revenge by the treatment he receives EssayIf this mixture does not work will she marry Paris in the morning? She lies down with a dagger next to her in case the potion does not work as it is said to. What if this mixture is poison that the Friar gave her as a punishment for her sin? These are all thoughts going through her head. It seems as though she is going mad. What if she wakes up in a tomb buried with all other rotten flesh of her ancestors? She might even be laid to rest next to Tybalt! What if she awakes buried, what loathsome smells and shrikes like mandrakes torn out of the earth. O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught, environed with al these hideous fears, and madly play with my forefathers joints, and pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud, and in this rage with some great kinsmans bone, as with a club, dash out my desprate brains? The use of words here is really strong and shows Juliets anguish at the potion not working and how confused she is about the situation. She then falls on to her bed. There is definite and powerful theme in Juliets soliloquy of death and suicide. A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, is the initial phrase that suggests this. The language used throughout the play and certainly in Juliets soliloquy has many negative connotations which engage the audience as they want to know what the outcome will be.

Romanticism and the Supernatural in Edgar Allan Poes Ligeia

Romanticism and the Supernatural in Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia Although the movement began more than 130 years ago, readers today are still trying to define the highly complex genre known as  American Romanticism. Understanding the meaning of the literary period is challenging. Romanticism in America consisted of several common themes that questioned earlier ideas of  literature,  art, and philosophy. This feature will discuss Edgar Allan Poes Ligeia (1838) to demonstrate how one writer uses  supernatural themes than the more traditional, classical themes of the 18th century. Ligeia's Unusual Beauty Not only does Ligeias unusual beauty represent a reoccurring theme throughout the story, but the text portrays Poes method of rejecting the ordinary, a common theme in past literature, while still promoting the ideas of Romanticism. One example of this is how Poe repeatedly points out how flaws in the classical appearance of Rowena, the fair-haired, the blue-eyed, by comparing her to Ligeia whose features were not of that regular mould which we have been falsely taught to worship in the classical labors of the heathen. Poe explains through the narrator how more exalted and meaningful Ligeias beauty is specifically because she exhibits more natural features instead of the classical features. Poe clearly rejects classical beauty by killing off Rowena and having Ligeia, the heroine and the personification of Romantic beauty, live on through Rowenas body. The narrator describes his beautiful spouse almost like a ghost: She came and departed as a shadow. He also thinks her beauty, more specifically her eyes, as a strange mystery. Her eyes make her seem unreal or superhuman because of her large expressive eyes that the narrator cannot explain except that they are far larger than the ordinary eyes of our own race. The rejection of the classical values and the welcoming of the supernatural through unusual, mysterious beauty indicates Poes bias towards Romantic themes particularly since the narrator describes her eyes and voice further as which at once so delighted and appalled meby the almost magical melody, modulation, distinctness, and placidity of her low voice. In this statement, Ligeia almost frightens the narrator because of her grotesque and supernatural qualities. He cannot explain what he sees, but in Romanticism, many times the writers threw out the rational and replaced it with the irregular and unexplained. When Did We Meet? Another contradiction of the narrators relationship with Ligeia is how he cannot explain how he knows her, or when and where they met. I cannot, for my soul, remember how, when, or even precisely where, I first became acquainted with the lady Ligeia. Why is it that Ligeia has taken away his recollection? Consider how unusual this episode is since most people can remember the smallest details of meeting their true love. It seems that she almost has control over him. Then, her love for him demonstrates more Romantic themes of the supernatural since she returns from the dead through Rowena. Often, Romanticist literature tried to disconnect itself with past literary styles by adding a theme of unusual remoteness concerning time and space. For example, Ligeias identity has no clear beginning or end. This fact clearly demonstrates another example of this excessive, irregular, and unexplained style of writing commonly found in Romanticist literature. We never know how the narrator meets Ligeia, where she was after she dies, or how she is capable of resurrecting herself through another woman. All of this is in strict defiance of Restoration literature and a rejection of 18th-century writers philosophies. By challenging what 18th-century writers labeled as appropriate themes, Poe writes Ligeia to promote his belief in Romanticist theories and ideas. His originality, specifically the use of the supernatural, is a consistent example of the innovation projected throughout Romantic literature.

True Grit by Charles Portis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

True Grit by Charles Portis - Research Paper Example However, Mattie goes after them and La Boeuf expresses his displeasure by switching her with her rod, and Cogburn intervenes. Mattie and her team, in their pursuit of Chaney, find two criminals, Moon, Quincy, and as Cogburn interrogates Moon, Quincy kills him, and thereafter Cogburn shoots Quinsy dead. The Pepper gang knowing the hideout of Chaney arrives at the dugout where Cogburn and Mattie hide. They kill two members of the gang but Pepper manages to escape. In the same hideout, Mattie meets Chaney and tries to kill him but to no avail. He grabs Mattie dragging her to Ned who intervenes by threatening to murder Chaney if he kills her. Consequently, she is saved by LaBouef who knocks Chaney. After this, they devise a plan on how to confront Ned and his gang. Cogburn decides to fight against Ned’s team, assassinating two and wounding Ned. LaBoeuf kills Pepper, and Mattie, using a rifle, kills Chaney. In the fight, Mattie loses one arm that results from snake bite and the movie ends by the death of Cogburn. The 2010 sequence of True Grit was produced by the two Coen brothers and it is borrowed from Charles Portis novel of 1968 entitled True Grit.The version stars Hailee Steinfeld, who takes the character of Mattie Ross, and Jeff Bridges, as Reuben J, a US Marshall. Other actors in the movie are Barry Pepper, Matt Damon, and Jeff Bridges. The production of the movie was in March 2010 and was officially released in the United States of America on December 2010 (Portis & Tartt 24).

Porter's Five forces model goes some way towards guiding managers how Essay

Porter's Five forces model goes some way towards guiding managers how to make capacity decisions under uncertain demand. Howev - Essay Example Porter’s Five Forces model, a strategic analysis tool, allows organisational leadership to examine consumer and supplier characteristics, market trends, and competitive activity to determine what market-related factors maintain the most probable characteristics to disrupt or otherwise impede strategic advancement. The PESTEL/SWOT template of evaluation allows a firm to examine its internal strengths and weaknesses, based on the tangible characteristics of the external market, including political, economic, and social forces relevant to the strategic plan and new business direction. An organisation cannot determine capacity without first understanding what dynamics of the internal and external market environment will demand either flexibility in operations or create some degree of resistance toward meeting a specific strategic goal. This report utilises data uncovered using Porter’s Five Forces model and PESTEL/SWOT to determine how a solar panel manufacturing company ca n assess new strategic commitments and ensure the organisation is aligned with market conditions to achieve profit success with key target markets. 2. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis There are five forces that influence or shape competition that include competitive rivalry, threat of new market entrants, the degree of substitute products on the market, as well as both supplier and consumer buying power on the market (Porter 2011). A solar panel manufacturing plant, in order to achieve a new strategic goal or market positioning strategy, must be concerned with establishment of a partnered and adaptive supply chain network (as one example) in order to achieve maximum business outputs. In this scenario, the plant management must examine whether the existing supply network is sufficient for adaptability to meet just-in-time demands (in a lean environment) or whether the supply partners are able to reduce their switching costs to defect to other high-profit-building buyers in the sa me industry. The framework of the Five Forces Analysis is to give the business a strategic snapshot of current, external market conditions so as to translate such findings into internal operational restructuring or human capital development (as two examples) necessary to achieve strategic results. Bennet and Rundle-Thiele (2004) remind the business world that the nature of today’s markets make it easy for competition to replicate existing products and services. The only feature of a business that cannot be replicated is the firm’s brand image (Nandan 2005; Bennet and Rundle-Thiele 2004). In the solar panel industry, products are largely homogenized, meaning that they have similar features, benefits, pricing and function that are easily replicated by competitors maintaining strong capital resources and manufacturing know-how. This is why, to this industry, the degree of competitive rivalry as well as consumer characteristics are so vital to establishing a strong competi tive edge. Porter (2011) iterates the importance of understanding the potential risks of buyer brand defection. In the solar panel industry, consumers have a great deal of buying power. This market is characterised by concentrated markets, where there are actually few buyers that maintain the majority of market share (Porter 2011). Further, solar

United States Economy since November 2004 to November 2007 Essay Example for Free

United States Economy since November 2004 to November 2007 Essay The distinction of the United States as the only remaining super power in the world may not only apply in their military force but in their economic might as well. But historically, according Bernard Baumohl, it was only during the early 1970s that the U. S economy was open to international market following the collapse of the Bretton Woods Agreement, which was intended to establish a stable foreign exchange system. As a result, Baumohl said â€Å"currency values in the world financial market began to float freely, sometimes moving wildly up and down† (p. 240). The immediate impact of this is that the world trade grew faster than ever. Baumohl point out that this development resulted to the influx of cheaper foreign goods which were often of better quality and â€Å"increasingly found their way into the U. S market and started to pose serious competition for US producers† (p. 240). As this was the case, American companies responded by operating more efficiently, and lower their prices while also seeking new market overseas. Baumohl noted that since then, trade has evolved to become one of the most important forces shaping the US economy† (p. 240), the United States economy soared so high that in the short span of time they became one of the most if not the wealthiest economy in the world. Price stability in the United States As the US economy soar high in the international arena and the purchasing power of the US dollar remains strong against the euro, the US has maintained a stable price. The OECD economic outlook noted that inflation in the US has remained with in a desirable range through the help of the long-term household survey measures. Inflation, the OECD noted â€Å"have remained well anchored, even if indexed-bond have drifted somewhat† (p. 24). The article point out that this stability has helped â€Å"limit the second-round effects from the oil price and exchange rate shocks, but it is all the more important that further policy action validate the still serene expectation† (p. 24) In the OECD Economic Surveys United States 2004 article, it noted that in price stability, firmly anchored long term inflation expectations are especially important , not only to maintain public confidence in the durability of low inflation achieved over the past two decades, but also to limit the risk of a potentially self- reinforcing deflationary spiral in the face of hypothetical negative shock (p. 46). Unemployment . Nazimudeen Saleem stated that unemployment in the US soared to a record high in 2004 at 5. 6% reaching over the threshold of 5%. An internet article from entitled Unemployment noted that in April 2007 unemployed adult men stands at 4. 0 percent while adult women, at 3. 8 percent, Caucasians, 3. 9; Hispanic (all races, at 5. 4 percent; African American, 8. 2 percent, and teenagers with the highest number of unemployed at 15. 3 percent. Amadeo noted that the weakest year-by-year employment was 1. 2% in 2004 indicating a trend of decline since 2006. She point out that unemployment is not worsening at all, but it indicate declining trend as unemployment was up at 4. 7% from 4. 4% in October and only slightly up by one percent in May 2007 at 4. 5 percent. Indeed there is a trend of slight decline in the unemployment rate from 2004 to 2007. Healthy Economic Growth In the report to congress on International Economic and Exchange rate policies in December 2006, it cited that the United States has made substantial progress in reducing the federal fiscal deficit from 3. 6 percent of gross Domestic Product in 2004 to 1. 9 percent in fiscal year 2006 Gross Domestic Product, posting an improvement of 1. 7 percent. The report also cited that the United States economy has experienced continuous healthy economic growth in 2005 up to the third quarter of 2006, but during the last quarter economic growth slowed down up to the most recent quarter. From the first quarter of 2004, Gross domestic product or GDP stands at 3. 9% and slightly up by one percent during the second quarter of the same year at four percent. But it slowed down during the third and fourth quarter registering only 3. 1% and 2. 6 percent respectively. However during the first quarter of 2005 GDP was up again jumping to 3. 4% but down by 1% at 3. 3% on the next quarter. The third quarter of 2005 posted a highest growth rate since the first quarter of 2004, at 4. 2 but drastically fell to 1. 8 percent during the last quarter. According to the report of the U. S. Economic Recovery and resurgence as of march 2007, economic analysis of the GDP for the last quarter of 2006 indicates that growth rate has accelerated from 2. 0 percent on an annual basis to 2. 5 percent. The report further cited that although there were difficulties in GDP during the first, second, and third quarter of 2006 but the economy still registered a growth rate of 3. 4 percent, which is still in line with the real growth rates in past few years. According to an article entitled United States Economy 2007, GDP growth rate was under girded by the significant gains in labor productivity that despite of the damage caused by hurricane Katrina it had caused only a minor impact on overall GDP, which stand in 2005. Even the soaring oil price in 2005 to 2006 had only limited impact though it threatened inflation and unemployment. The Purchasing Power Parity GDP in2006 stands at $12. 98 trillion while official exchange rate GDP is $13. 22 trillion, Per Capita GDP $43,500. The graph at the bottom page of this paper shows the economic performance of the United States economy pertaining to the discussion above (see Figure 1). Healthy Balance of Payment (Export/ Import) Francisco Carrada-Bravo pointed out that the best way to learn about the country’s balance of payments statistics is to â€Å"take a careful look at them for a particular period† (p. 110). Bravo noted that the balance of payments of the United States, and other balance of payments from any country in the world, encompasses several main accounts†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 110). Bravo explained that the value of current account is determined, at large extent by the result of trade, service, and transfer of sub accounts. Bravo further explained that â€Å"the United States shows a current account surplus, when the sale of US goods and services to the rest of the world exceeds the US acquisition of these items from other countries. How ever, the United States has a deficit in the capital account when US corporations invest abroad in excess of what foreign multinationals invest in the United States. Translating the above explanation to the US balanced payment, Export promotion, which is managed by the Ministry of Finance, provides subsidies in forms of interest rate support, direct financial support, and export rewards and bonuses. In a report made by OECD staff, the total number of firms of exporting goods was 238,284. Out of the total number of firms, 97% percent of that is SME or small-medium enterprise (p. 365). The success of this export sector is through the assistance of government since it has assistance programs and overseas trade offices to help them their small business with â€Å"market research and local assistance (p. 365). Another factor for steady rising of the economy is a policy issued on November 19, 2004, which â€Å"blocked state and local governments from taxing connections that link consumers to the internet for the next three years (OECD, p. 367). This is because the Federal government believed that e-commerce is â€Å"a growth engine for exports and international expansion. Figure 2 of this paper (see bottom page) explains the balance of payment, which includes details on American economy that includes the year 2004, 2005, and 2006. Main Macro economic Policies by the United States John Atlee in his executive summary of the Macro Economic Agenda Recovery Now and Democratic Comeback 2004 outlined macro economic policies that the US government used during the last three years. First is the Analytical Policy Focus, which features an Adopt a growth trend standard of reference for economic policy and analysis. This policy also denies economic recession instead suggest that the country is just experiencing a mild recession. Significant recovery is yet to begin and maintaining structurally balanced growth with unemployment below 4% should be the aim of this policy with reference fro the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978. Another macro economic policy, which the United States government employed during the last three years, is the Budget and Management. John Atlee noted that Bush economic policy is quite weak in its budget, and that this budget vulnerability must be understandable to the voters as well as to the investors who are demanding transparency in government. This policy also instructs that deficit projections and budget should not be based on ever changing and unreliable economic forecast. Furthermore it also to keep deficit close to zero, and eliminate economic forecasts, which is unreliable and ever changing. The government also used Social Security policy making it financially sound to effectively discredit the privatization campaign as this privatization mover promulgates falsehoods perhaps, against the capacity of the government. Taking Social Security (SS) can help finance non-SS deficits. Monetary Policy is one of the key macro economic policies of the government as this is where everything can be fluid. This policy is to recognize the creation of checkable-deposit money by bank, which finances GDP growth through eighteen to one monetary multiplier effect. The policy also aims to eradicate the pretense of interest rate control by increasing reserve requirements and direct control to the Fed. The government also used the Systematic Coordination of Monetary and Fiscal Policy over the last three years. Atlee reports that Fiscal policy is separate from budget management as it is mainly concerned with the over all effect on the economy of the budget. In Atlee’s executive summary of these macro economic policies, he pointed out that the main engine of recovery is the reformed monetary policy, which is facilitated by flexible fiscal policy. Tax Policy is another very important measure that the Bush government had utilized to encourage new businesses in the form of entrepreneurial incentives to new high tech industries and small businesses. This incentive is an exemption from the undistributed profit tax and some measures to avoid unsustainable and excessive stock price increases. These policies aim to sustain the momentum of economic growth experienced by the country since 2004 to 2007. Demand Policy and Supply Side Policy Demand policy is a government policy based on the extremity of the need of a certain sector of the government or society such as the labor sector or the energy sector. Demand policies in the labor sector is increasing the number of quality jobs Mark Rank noted that this policy approach â€Å"has assumed that the labor market by itself will generate enough jobs to meet the needs of those seeking work—that, as the supply of labor increases, the labor market will in turn respond by generating more jobs to meet the demand† (p 204). Thus, Rank suggested various labor demand policies are needed in order to generate a more â€Å"robust rate of job growth† (p. 204) Egbert Tellegen and Maarten Wolsink pointed out that supply-side policy and demand side management â€Å"require widely different abilities from the organization† (p. 184) They contend that the main challenge of supply-side management is â€Å"to develop and manage facilities of the highest technical quality at the lowest possible costs in order to fulfill customers’ needs under all circumstances† (p. 184). Conclusion/Summary American economy since November 2004 to November 2007 despite of ups and downs in the economic performance, yet it remained a steadily growing economy. The 2004 saw its drastic economic decline but it was able to rebound during the first quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006; registering at steady GDP growth rate of three to four percent. Unemployment was also declining as more jobs opportunity is created each year. In general, the United States economy are performing strong up to the recent quarter of 2007 despite of their current internal debt of about 1. 3 trillion and about ten billion dollars in external debt. They remained economically powerful despite the current depreciation of the dollar against Euro and other foreign currencies. Moreover, US economy has purchasing power of about 12. 98 trillion while official exchange rate GDP is $13. 22 trillion, Per Capita GDP $43,500, which continuously grows in the preceding year.

nato and the united states :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States had an isolationist outlook on international policies during its early history. But that has changed, starting in the 20th century. The United States is now involved in many international organizations, including The North Atlantic Treaty Organization. â€Å"The North Atlantic Alliance was founded on the basis of a Treaty between member states entered into freely by each of them after public debate and due parliamentary process. The Treaty upholds their individual rights as well as their international obligations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. It commits each member country to sharing the risks and responsibilities as well as the benefits of collective security and requires of each of them the undertaking not to enter into any other international commitment which might conflict the Treaty†1. There is a now a debate in the United States over whether or not we have a place in the international community. Many say that the United States is only making things worse by interfering with other countries such as Iraq, but in reality the U.S. is helping throughout the world. How is it possible for people to live without freedoms and at least a small sense of peace? It’s not possible and that’s one of the main reasons that the United States plays and important role in the international community; the United States is bringing newfound freedoms to countries that have not previously known of them. We are also bringing a sense of peace and well being to those countries. The United States is meant to be involved in the international community.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a regional defense alliance that was created by the North Atlantic Treaty. It original signatories include: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States. Other countries were admitted later, including, Greece and Turkey, in 1952;West Germany, in 1955; Spain, in 1982; the newly unified Germany, in 1990; and Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic, in 1999. Today 19 nations are full members of the alliance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the years between 1939 and 1945, many western leaders believed the policies of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) threatened international stability and peace. Their forcible installation of Communist governments throughout Eastern Europe, territorial demands by the soviets, and their support of guerrilla war in Greece and regional separatism in Iran appeared to many as the first steps of World War III.

Importance Of Sociology As A Field Of Study Essay

Sociology as a field of study attempts to explain the relationship between an individual and society. Sociological theories are a tool used to explain sociological problems and social structures. (Blumer, 1969) Societies can be viewed as organic structures. This was first explained by Parsons and Durkheim as they developed structural theories. These theories can be applied in education i. e. how students view education. Societies can also be viewed as economic structures. Under this concept, falls the conflict theory developed by Carl Marx. Marx looked at a number of theories that attempt to explain how people’s lives are shaped by social structures. Other theories that share a similar perspective are the functionalist theories. Societies can also be looked as social action. This implies that society shapes how people view themselves. In line with this perspective, sociologists came up with the idea of symbolic interactionism. There are also other ideas that go hand in hand with this idea i. e. GH mead. Lastly, one must apply all the sociological theories stated above and many others that have not been mentioned. For example one can consider Medicalisation of society’s problems. This can be explained by a number of sociological theories like: Marx’s theories, interactionist theories and Durkheiman’ theories. Importance of sociology as a field of study Conflict theory Sociology assists in explaining social change. It helps us to understand what the role of the individual is in changing society. This is best explained by the Conflict theory. This theory does not have only one name connoted to it although the founder of the theory was Karl Marx. There are various regions in the world where sociologists elaborated on this theory. Some of these sociologists are; †¢ Ralf Dahrendorf – Germany †¢ Ludwig Gumpolvicz – Germany †¢ Lewis Coser and Collins – USA †¢ Max Gluchman and Rex – UK (Garfinkel, 1967) The conflict theory’s main idea is that there exists a constant struggle in society and every entity in society is trying to make the most of their reimbursement consequently bringing about social change. This change can come in form of revolutions or it may be political. It focuses on coercion by groups and individuals to alter or control others’ actions. The theory helps us to understand why ideologies like socialism and capitalism. There is a constant struggle within society for paybacks. This theory can be viewed from two angles. The first angle is a radical one; society will forever in conflict while the second angle is that conflict combines with struggle to make up society. This moderate angle is best explained by the functionalism. The latter mentioned theory postulates that every member of society has a specific role to play. Conflict theory can best be perceived as a pyramid. Influential people are at the top and they impose their will upon less powerful people who happen to be the majority. This implies that people in power are taken to be superior and they are the ones responsible for modern day laws, institutions and traditions. This theory can be stretched to explain how morality or deviance is defined. The powerful individuals in society label deeds or actions as immoral if those actions challenge their influence and power. Conflict theory also attempts to explain stratification in society but from an individualistic point of view. It looks at individuals needs instead of society’s needs as a whole. Every individual tries to struggle for respect, goods and services as well as power; these e all very scarce. In this light therefore, individuals belong to organisations that represent their own interests. The theory views organisations as entities that are mostly influenced by external rather than internal factors. (Goffman, 1958) In the theory, there are a number of conflicts that fall under. These include; †¢ Class †¢ Race and ethnicity †¢ Gender †¢ Religion Marx believed that class conflict was caused by differential ownership of property. However, this theory was later challenged by other sociologists who believed that there is more to class than property ownership. These sociologists believe that this is only one aspect. Racial conflict has its root cause in differential power. According to the theory, superior races are those one who are well endowed with power, prestige and education. There are four basic assumptions in this theory. The first is that there is inequality in society’s structures, secondly there is revolution as a result of struggle between a numbers of social classes, thirdly there is competition for resources and lastly war exists to unify or divide society. Conflict can take the form of a strike where workers struggle to gain back control after it has been taken from them by their employers. Another form of a conflict could be through wars. Wars usually represent clashes between social classes. Taking the case of military coups, this is an example of a conflict between the main population and the military. (Durkheim, 1915) Ethnomethodology Ethnomethodology is the study of how people interpret their social world. This theory has its history back in the mid twentieth century and was founded by Garfinkel who was an American sociologist. The theory is quite different form other well known theories. This theory is founded on the fact that there is no order in society; society is chaotic or has the potential to be chaotic. According to the theory, any semblance of order is created by the minds of actors within society it simply does not exist. This is in sharp contrast to other well known theories. Social order may be defined as the systematic pattern of behaviour within society. It opposes the fact that actions are not thought out and are simply haphazard. Ethnomethodologists believe that individuals encounter several experiences in their lives. These individuals try to make sense of these encounters by placing them into a form of organised system. They believe in a documentary method. Here, individuals simply pick out certain events within a social situation and try to make sense of them. After they have organised those events into a pattern, then they use that pattern as a template to explain other situations that may arise. Garnfinkel used an experiment to demonstrate this theory. He got a number of students and instructed them to ask a supervisor about a number of issues on their mind. The students could not see the advisor but could talk to him. They asked him a number of questions and this advisor could only say yes or no. What the students did not know was the advisor was reading out a list of responses that did not match their questions in any way. It was found that most of the responses did not make logical sense but most of the students tried to interpret them nonetheless. They did not question the integrity of the advisor but they tried to compare past responses with present ones in order to come up with an orderly pattern. For example one of the students thought that he should quit school and asked the advisor this. The advisor told him ‘no’ and out of disbelief the student repeated this same question after which the advisor said ‘yes’. It was found that this particular student did not dismiss the advisor but tried to make sense of the situation. According to the theory, the students were trying to form sense out of senselessness. They were trying to turn chaos into order. Garfinkel introduces the idea of indexicality. This means that human beings have a tendency to index things that occur to them i. e. they always try to put things within a certain social context. They must relate it to other things that have occurred to them before or during a particular scene. For example, the interaction that took place between the students and the advisor followed a certain path because the students held the advisor in high esteem. This implies that if the student could see what was happening with the advisor behind the screen that had covered him, or if their classmates asked answered their questions, then their reactions would have been totally different. This is because the students would simply have formed another documentary. People who adhere to this theory believe that all human beings have preconceived notions about their daily lives. This means that if a sudden change was brought into someone’s life their reactions are quite different. This is justified by the fact that it would be very chaotic if we looked at things differently at all times. We must become familiar with some aspects of our lives so as to be able to Symbolic interactionism This theory has its history in the late nineteenth century. It was pioneered by a sociologist from Germany called Marx Weber. The theory is best known for its subjectivity rather than its objectivity. Interactionists focus on individuals rather than on society as a whole. They perceive human beings as creatures whose behaviours are reactive or subject to the approval of others. This is because all actions, according to them, are like symbolic actions which are interpreted differently according to one’s perspective. This theory also looks at human beings as symbolic objects who can think and react to situations. This means that individuals within a society are active participants of their society. They determine what happens to them. Sociologists adhering to this theory believe that we are not passive entities who must mould themselves to society’s rules and standards. This theory focuses on external issues and simple interactions. It cannot be used to interpret deeper social settings like capitalism. It is also quite crucial to note that this theory perceives society’s norms as transient and constantly changing. Stability and order in society is determined by negotiations. The systems themselves are not stable but the means by which these systems in society are created is stable. (Merton, 1968) The theory therefore points one on the direction of roles played by people in society. The theory places importance in role making and role taking. This means that individuals must put themselves in a certain perspective in order to understand another person’s point of view. Studies on interactionism are therefore done through active role taking. This is because they believe that one must interact thoroughly with another party in order to understand the reason why they made their decision. However critics have claimed that the theory is too narrow and cannot be applied to macro situations. It has also been criticised for its impressionism during research methods. (George, 1964) Functionalism The theory was pioneered by a French sociologist called Emile Durkheim back in the mid to late nineteenth century. This theory compares the individual with his/her society and also scientific method of analysing society. This implies that one can be able to study the social world using observation and analysis. It also assumes that studies of society can be done freely and without any bias. Another crucial aspect of the theory is the organic aspect of society. It compares society to an organism. That there are various parts of the body that each has their own function. This is analogous to society and its members. It is also important to note the homeostatic nature of interactions. This theory looks at society as a system that must remain in equilibrium. Any deviation from this is corrected by a number of mechanisms like gossip or even imprisonment depending on the scenario. Conclusion Interactionists believe that social order is continuously remade as people interact. Social order is not static and changes with time. Functionalists believe that order within society exists as a result of an agreement between members of society. That is collective behavioural patterns that are regarded as the norm in society. Again, the theory strongly affirms that social order does exist. Marxists believe that social order is created from a struggle to gain control of limited resources while ethnomethodologists mould situations to fit into a certain behavioural pattern. All these theories attempt to explain why human beings behave the way the do either as individuals or as a group on a macro scale. This is the essence of sociology.

Changing the Constitution Without the Amendment Process

Since its final ratification in 1788, the U.S. Constitution has been changed countless times by means other than the traditional and lengthy amendment process spelled out in Article V of the Constitution itself. In fact, there are five totally legal â€Å"other† ways the Constitution can be changed. Universally acclaimed for how much it accomplishes in so few words, the U.S. Constitution is also often criticized as being too brief—even â€Å"skeletal†Ã¢â‚¬â€in nature. In fact, the Constitution’s framers knew the document could not and should not try to address every situation that the future might hold. Clearly, they wanted to ensure that the document allowed for flexibility in both its interpretation and future application. As a result, many changes have been made to the Constitution over the years without changing a word in it. The important process of changing the Constitution by means other than the formal amendment process has historically taken place and will continue to take place in five basic ways: Legislation enacted by CongressActions of the President of the United StatesDecisions of the federal courtsActivities of the political partiesThe application of custom Legislation The framers clearly intended that Congress—through the legislative process—add meat to the skeletal bones of the Constitution as required by the many unforeseen future events they knew were to come. While Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress 27 specific powers under which it is authorized to pass laws, Congress has and will continue to exercise its â€Å"implied powers† granted to it by Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution to pass laws it considers â€Å"necessary and proper† to best serve the people. Consider, for example, how Congress has fleshed out the entire lower federal court system from the skeletal framework created by the Constitution. In Article III, Section 1, the Constitution provides only for â€Å"one Supreme Court and †¦ such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain or establish.† The â€Å"from time to time† began less than a year after ratification when Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 establishing the structure and jurisdiction of the federal court system and creating the position of attorney general. All other federal courts, including courts of appeals and bankruptcy courts, have been created by subsequent acts of Congress. Similarly, the only top-level government offices created by Article II of the Constitution are the offices of the President and Vice President of the United States. All of the rest of the many other departments, agencies, and offices of the now-massive executive branch of government have been created by acts of Congress, rather than by amending the Constitution. Congress itself has expanded the Constitution in the ways it has used the â€Å"enumerated† powers granted to it in Article I, Section 8. For example, Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 grants Congress the power to regulate commerce between the states—â€Å"interstate commerce.† But what exactly is interstate commerce and what exactly does this clause give Congress the power to regulate? Over the years, Congress has passed hundreds of seemingly unrelated laws citing its power to regulate interstate commerce. For example, since 1927, Congress has virtually amended the Second Amendment by passing gun control laws based on its power to regulate interstate commerce. Presidential Actions Over the years, the actions of various presidents of the United States have essentially modified the Constitution. For example, while the Constitution specifically gives Congress the power to declare war, it also deems the president to be the â€Å"Commander in Chief† of all U.S. armed forces. Acting under that title, several presidents have sent American troops into combat without an official declaration of war enacted by Congress. While flexing the commander in chief title in this way is often controversial, presidents have used it to send U.S. troops into combat on hundreds of occasions. In such cases, Congress will sometimes pass declarations of war resolution as a show of support for the president’s action and the troops who have already been deployed to battle. Similarly, while Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives presidents the power—with a supermajority approval of the Senate—to negotiate and execute treaties with other countries, the treaty-making process is lengthy and the consent of the Senate always in doubt. As a result, presidents often unilaterally negotiate â€Å"executive agreements† with foreign governments accomplishing many of the same things accomplished by treaties. Under international law, executive agreements are just as legally binding on all of the nations involved. Decisions of the Federal Courts In deciding many cases that come before them, the federal courts, most notably the Supreme Court, are required to interpret and apply the Constitution. The purest example of this may be in the 1803 Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison. In this early landmark case, the Supreme Court first established the principle that the federal courts could declare an act of Congress null and void if it finds that law to be inconsistent with the Constitution. In his  historic majority opinion in Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, â€Å"†¦ it is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.† Ever since Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court has stood as the final decider of the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress. In fact, President Woodrow Wilson once called the Supreme Court a â€Å"constitutional convention in continuous session.† Political Parties Despite the fact that the Constitution makes no mention of political parties, they have clearly forced constitutional changes over the years. For example, neither the Constitution nor federal law provides for a method of nominating presidential candidates. The entire primary and convention process of nomination has been created and often amended by the leaders of the major political parties. While not required by or even suggested in the Constitution, both chambers of Congress are organized and conduct the legislative process based on party representation and majority power. In addition, presidents often fill high-level appointed government positions based on political party affiliation. The framers of the Constitution intended the electoral college system of actually electing the president and vice president to be little more than a procedural â€Å"rubber stamp† for certifying the results of each state’s popular vote in presidential elections. However, by creating state-specific rules for selecting their electoral college electors and dictating how they might vote, the political parties have at least modified the electoral college system over the years. Customs History is full of examples of how custom and tradition have expanded the Constitution. For example, the existence, form, and purpose of the vitally important president’s cabinet itself is a product of custom rather than the Constitution. On all eight occasions when a president has died in office, the vice president has followed the path of presidential succession to be sworn into the office. The most recent example happened in 1963  when Vice President Lyndon Johnson replaced the recently assassinated President John F. Kennedy. However, until the ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967—four years later—the Constitution provided that only the duties, rather than the actual title as president, should be transferred to the vice president.