Free Essays on Guam Pollution

While you Quarrel amongst yourselves upon our problems, the people –the disregarded- seek solutions.My letter may be read with a trifling interest, but that is all it will be deemed as. It will be dismissed upon the heap of letters sent by my compeers, â€Å"I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this years fashion.†(Lillian Helm). And though I do possess the vibes of sagaciousness, I do it not on my account, but do it as a reaction which one might form and comprehend when Guam’s destiny is put at hand.To the rulers of Guam’s fate, our environmental fate, OUR fate, I ask you put a 10% interest in my letter, which is slightly more than the 1 % being given thought, more or less, to my fellow peers. I would like to address the easily perceived negative effects of an incinerator, and thus upon it form a resolution to our fiasco. My ideas were neither influenced by business nor commercial enterprise, neither was it any way a result of political affiliat ion. I create my answers based on the concrete evidence I am presented with, and unless shown otherwise, will remain adamant to my views. Rather than bore you with the tedious information on the negative effects of an incinerator, which officials like yourselves, with such high regard, should indeed know by heart, considering your standing and relatively vast knowledge of Guam’s problems, I will make it terse for you, so as not to squander more of your precious time. I’m here to propose a logical, and yet un-widely accepted idea. The pentagon is currently seeking to repeal the prohibition on dumping nuclear waste in space. Yes you know where I’m going with this and you are becoming skeptical, but here me out. Currently China has started it’s first man space program, and though it is a third world country, it can still afford it, why?, you ask, because space based programs have become relatively cheap. Currently you can send most a... Free Essays on Guam Pollution Free Essays on Guam Pollution While you Quarrel amongst yourselves upon our problems, the people –the disregarded- seek solutions.My letter may be read with a trifling interest, but that is all it will be deemed as. It will be dismissed upon the heap of letters sent by my compeers, â€Å"I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this years fashion.†(Lillian Helm). And though I do possess the vibes of sagaciousness, I do it not on my account, but do it as a reaction which one might form and comprehend when Guam’s destiny is put at hand.To the rulers of Guam’s fate, our environmental fate, OUR fate, I ask you put a 10% interest in my letter, which is slightly more than the 1 % being given thought, more or less, to my fellow peers. I would like to address the easily perceived negative effects of an incinerator, and thus upon it form a resolution to our fiasco. My ideas were neither influenced by business nor commercial enterprise, neither was it any way a result of political affiliat ion. I create my answers based on the concrete evidence I am presented with, and unless shown otherwise, will remain adamant to my views. Rather than bore you with the tedious information on the negative effects of an incinerator, which officials like yourselves, with such high regard, should indeed know by heart, considering your standing and relatively vast knowledge of Guam’s problems, I will make it terse for you, so as not to squander more of your precious time. I’m here to propose a logical, and yet un-widely accepted idea. The pentagon is currently seeking to repeal the prohibition on dumping nuclear waste in space. Yes you know where I’m going with this and you are becoming skeptical, but here me out. Currently China has started it’s first man space program, and though it is a third world country, it can still afford it, why?, you ask, because space based programs have become relatively cheap. Currently you can send most a...

The 22nd Amendment Sets Presidential Term Limits

The 22nd Amendment Sets Presidential Term Limits The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution establishes term limits for persons elected to the office of President of the United States. It also sets additional eligibility conditions for presidents, who after assuming the office through succession, serve out the unexpired terms of their predecessors. Under the 22nd Amendment, no person may be elected president more than twice and no person who has already served or acted as president for more than two years of an unexpired term may be elected president more than once. The joint resolution proposing the 22nd Amendment was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification on March 24, 1947. The 22nd Amendment was ratified by the required 36 of the then-48 states on February 27, 1951. Section 1 of the 22nd Amendment states: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. History of the 22nd Amendment Before the adoption of the 22nd Amendment, there was no statutory limit on the number of terms a president could serve. The Constitution merely stated that the president’s term in office lasted four years. The Founding Fathers had believed that the shifting political views of the people and the Electoral College process would prevent third presidential terms. After George Washington and Thomas Jefferson chose to limit their presidencies to two terms, the two-term limit became a respected tradition- sort an unwritten rule. The two-term tradition held sway until 1940 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose to run for a third term. With the nation facing the Great Depression followed closely by World War II, Roosevelt was elected to not only a third but a fourth term, serving a total of 12 years in office before his death in 1945. While FDR was the only president to be elected to a third term, he was not the first to try. Both Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt had run unsuccessfully for third terms. In the 1946 midterm elections, just 18 months after Democrat FDR had died in office, many Republican candidates made limiting presidential tenure a large part of their campaign platforms. In the election, Republicans succeeded in winning control of both the House and Senate and immediately pushed the 22nd Amendment establishing presidential term limits to the top of the legislative agenda when the 80th Congress convened in January 1947. In less than one month- on February 6, 1947- the House of Representatives, with the support of 47 Democrats, passed a joint resolution proposing the 22nd Amendment by a vote of 285-121. After resolving differences with the House’s version, the Senate passed the amended joint resolution on March 12, 1947, by a vote of 59–23, with 16 Democrats voting in favor. The 22nd Amendment imposing presidential term limits was submitted to the states for ratification on March 24, 1947. Three years and 343 days later, on February 27, 1951, the 22nd Amendment was fully ratified and incorporated into the Constitution. The Constitution’s Framers and Presidential Term Limits The Constitution’s Framers had little to go on as they debated how long the president should be allowed to hold office. The Constitution’s predecessor, the Articles of Confederation, provided for no such office, granting Congress both legislative and executive powers instead. Their only other example of a supreme national executive- the King of England- against whom they had just revolted, was a troubling model. Some of the Framers, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, argued that presidents should serve for life and be appointed by Congress, rather than elected by the people. Of course, that sounded far to â€Å"kinglike† for others, like Virginia’s George Mason, who said it would make the American presidency an â€Å"elective monarchy.† Surprisingly, however, when Hamilton and Madison’s proposal for lifelong, appointed presidents came to a vote, it failed by only two votes.      With the â€Å"presidents-for-life† option off the table, the Framers debated whether presidents could be re-elected or be term-limited. Most of them opposed term limits, arguing for presidents who would be elected by Congress and could run for re-election an unlimited number of times. But that, warned Gouverneur Morris, would tempt incumbent presidents to make corrupt, secret deals with Congress in order to get re-elected. That argument led the Framers to adopt Article II of the Constitution with its complicated and still controversial Electoral College method of electing presidents with no term limits. Since the 22nd Amendment amended Article II in 1951, some politicians and constitutional scholars have argued that desperate circumstances, like the Great Depression and World War II faced by Franklin Roosevelt, warranted unlimited presidential terms. Indeed, some two-term presidents of both parties, including Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, lamented their constitutional inability to run for third terms. 22nd Amendment Key Takeaways The 22nd Amendment establishes term limits for the President of the United StatesUnder the 22nd Amendment, no person may be elected President of the United States more than twice.The 22nd Amendment was approved by Congress on March 24, 1947, and ratified by the states on February 27, 1951. References Neale, Thomas H. (October 19, 2009). â€Å"Presidential Terms and Tenure: Perspectives and Proposals for Change.† Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress.Buckley, F. H.; Metzger, Gillian. â€Å"Twenty-second Amendment.† The National Constitution Center.Peabody, Bruce. Presidential Term Limit.† The Heritage Foundation. Updated by Robert Longley

Personal statement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal statement - Assignment Example It needs to intellectually stimulate me and be emotionally gratifying. I want to feel that I am making a positive difference to society and the people around me. My choice of application to the courses I have chosen reflects upon how I want to spend my life. With my mother a midwife, I knew from a very early age that I would like to follow in her footsteps some day. While my mother discussed her day’s work with me, I got to know of many things that sparked my interest. She used to tell me stories of her patients, the babies she helped bring into this world and the happy mothers who held their babies in their arms for the first time thanks to my mother. I remember how she glowed when she would be telling me all that. I felt that she made a bond with every single one of those new lives. It was amazing to see that most, if not all, of the new mothers remembered her. I remember some of the mothers bringing up their toddlers to meet her if she ran into them while walking with me on the street. To her, it was more than a profession: it was her passion and she probably passed her love and passion on to me. Bringing a new life into this world is a huge responsibility. And it would really make me feel honoured to be a part of it. Sometimes childbirth it is a tricky process and skill is the only difference between life and death. A skilful midwife is indispensible in such situations. And to be a good midwife, one needs dedicated study from a professional institution as well as gaining field experience afterwards. To be able to be a good midwife and do justice to my chosen profession, I wish to enrol in a full time course of study. The field of medicine and medical care is not new for me. I was enrolled in a nursing course back home in Poland along with having a part-time placement at the local hospital. I was very happy with that career choice and found myself settling in without effort. Unfortunately, due to some personal reasons, I could not finish the course an d hence was not entitled to a professional qualification. I was upset at not being able to continue and have been looking for a chance to be able to enrol in a course of study. I know that without obtaining proper qualification, I will not be able to work in this field. It is absolutely necessary to have a good education to be able to turn my passion into my career. My second choice of Early Childcare perhaps also reflects on my first choice – how I like working with people in general and children in particular. Childcare requires someone who is thoughtful and understanding as well as sympathetic to the needs of others. Newborns require special attention during the first few days of their lives and there are cases where pre-mature babies need to be taken care of round the clock. Being a kind and caring person, I believe that I can really make a difference as an early childcare nurse. I love babies and would really feel that in caring for them, I am making a difference. I alre ady have a little experience and would love to pursue it further as a career. As I have mentioned above, I fully understand the importance of getting a proper education before entering this field. My third choice is Pharmacology, once again directly related to the field of medicine. I have always had an interest in medicine and the miraculous life-saving drugs that are wonders of modern

Discuss in what ways have these two technological innovations had an Essay

Discuss in what ways have these two technological innovations had an impact on international relations - Essay Example In addition to its ability to connect the different IT systems, internet also facilitates people on individual level to connect to one another. Internet has provided people living in different countries with the most cost-effective means to interact with one another more often. Thus international relations have been promoted through internet both on the level of a common man in the society and the nation as a whole. Since the introduction of internet into the society, it has been frequently used by the virtual organizations to create online democracy. Input for the decisions that affect the national and international political scenario is retrieved from the internet voters. Where this has generally provided the concerned authorities with a fairly convenient means of getting the public opinion on one hand, it has also, on the other hand, limited the representation of a significant population that is uneducated on the use of internet. It is noteworthy that a vast majority of the intern et users all over the world belong to the elite minority that represent â€Å"a fairly narrow spectrum of political discourse relative to local contest, rather than witnessing the emergence of cyberspace democracy or the incipient triumph of the internet in promoting civil society and democracy† (Moon-Gi 58). This speaks of the fact that the internet is yet far from being a setting for the democratic society that wants to share its views and make an impact through the cyberspace. The expansion of the cyberspace has conventionally had a huge impact upon the nature of political dialogue amongst the nations in general and their economic development in particular. Another prime driver of the online activity is the social sustainability. Cyber democracy requires increased representation of all communities of the society. Nuclear Bomb With the creation of nuclear bomb, the nature of war has undergone an altogether change. The world would have been a much different place to live in had nuclear bomb never been invented. Perhaps, there would have been more frequent breakouts of wars both within and among the countries all over the world. In the past, success in the war fundamentally depended upon the manual strength. People used to fight with arrows, swords and guns. Nuclear bomb has obviated the need to make use of any of these ancient weapons in the contemporary wars, yet nations tend to find other ways including dialogue and reconciliation to settle their disputes with their rivals rather than starting the war because there is no â€Å"winning the war† when it is a nuclear war. The nuclear war is just as harmful for the nation that is attacked as it is for the one that attacks, provided that both of them are nuclear powers. Since the division of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947, tensions between the two nations only strengthened. The two countries have twice had a war with each other once in 1965 and the second time, in 1974, whe n East Pakistan got separated from its Western wing and became Bangladesh. At the time of division, it was decided that the cities with Muslim majority would make part of Pakistan. Kashmir, the Indian-held place with a majority of Muslims into it has conventionally

Women's role in The Bronze Age Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Women's role in The Bronze Age - Research Paper Example The Euripides world has been in existence since the dawn of times and this has been usefully applied to support human life. This shows that is role is unique and applies to all the spheres of humanity. People therefore embrace bronze age and define it depending on the specific role it plays in defining the role of humanity in the prehistoric period. The archeological environment appears to be minute and is administered at various integrated levels, making it important to the entire group of people or even to the community. The stylistic consideration helps to establish the power of women and how these were centered in the definition of possession, position and family setup. In virtue of Menelaus, the wife' appeared to be mostly attached to the people’s believes and undertakes a reflection of battling for position. The narrative identifies the Greek originality and hence redefines the cultural thought that has been ideologically classified on the basis of willingness to underst and the empirical role of women in the ancient Bronze Age. Cultural formulations in the descriptive content offer people’s understanding of their role and especially when it comes to ensuring that the poor are supported. Further, the society provides the required morals and this is equally identified by its notable change in thinking, (Abramson and Inglehart, 1994). The assumptions hypothesized explore the optimism created by people’s voluntary support. This consciousness is explored based on notable possibilities described by scholars of psychology. The nature of Bronze Age is far beyond inborn character and it is non objective, it is non-predictive yet it is direct and based on a willing heart. In accordance with the moral exercise defined above, the notable inclusion of women in the changing attributes of the Greek mythology is considerably balanced against any possible disruptions. The conceptual analysis of the Women in Bronze Age brings body determinants as well as child disturbances in growth and relative human development values. The aggressive process involved in any developmental platform involves paths taken within the complex human evolution; growth and Archaeological record offers a reflection of existing sexual theories. Development precedents as well as essential incremental issues are phenomenal and this greatly impact on the increasing role of archaeological record complex. However, a comprehensive look at the elaborated natured of its visualized terminology provides a judgmental point of reference that relatively prevails in today’s family changeover compositions. Further, the core aspects which are re-enacted are provisionally defined through a list of processes working on political, social and managerial positions, (Banfield, 1958). An integral analysis of a conceptualized approach give a consultative terminology which womanly experience give a significant impact on the tremendous definition of erotic desires including incestuous desire as well as matricide. The understanding and study analysis of psychopathology as well as related human behaviors equality create significance in identifying the roles of women in the Stone Age period. This reflection projects the impact of universal fantasies in areas of parentage, incestuous relations and growing situational reflections explain dissatisfaction and high levels of uncalled substitutions within which marital challenges are supplemented. Conflict presentation has presently been frequented according to Archaeological record and a correlative composite explain parent’s contrasting roles and opinioned transference which actually give a non-predictable ideals within a family setting. Tragedies attached to growing disconnection between a family unit including sexual malfunctioning and

What Really Is Actor Network Theory Philosophy Essay

What Really Is Actor Network Theory Philosophy Essay In the 1990s there was a war going on in science, or maybe a few wars the so called Science Wars. From one side there were the postmodernists (better known as post-structuralists), on the other side there were the natural scientists. The war started, or better, culminated with an article, that was really a hoax, published in the journal Social Text, one of the most notorious postmodernist journals. The article/hoax entitled Transgressing the boundaries: Towards a transformative hermeneutics of quantum gravity was written by the physicist Alan Sokal (1996), and its purpose was to show to the world how stupid and meaningless was/is the postmodernist endeavor in the studies of science. The whole article was made up just by meaningless phrases that sounded postmodern (see Sokal 2008 the entire Part I). After the revelation of the hoax Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont wrote a book entitled Fashionable Nonsense. Postmodern Intellectuals Abuse of Science  [1]   (1998) in which they bombed the whole French post-structuralist scene, and a little bit more. In a nutshell, they showed that most of the French post-structuralists and other close-to-post-structuralism philosophers hadnt had really a clue about science, and that most of their theories come out of ignorance of the fields they were/ are writing about. One of the fashionable guys attacked in Fashionable Nonsense was Bruno Latour (92-99, 124-133  [2]  ), the major representative of Actor-Network Theory (from now on: ANT). He was attacked mainly for pushing extreme social constructivism in social sciences and sciences all together. Basically, Latour supported the thesis that there arent scientific facts but just the social construction of scientific facts as was a fashion of the strong program in the sociology of science  [3]  . Hor instance, he used, no more no less, Einsteins theory of relativity to explain how scientific knowledge is socially constructed, but it seems he didnt really understand Einsteins theory. Latour has lately (2004) changed a little bit his mind about the extreme constructivist positions, maybe because he has seen that his positions really helped not sociology but the political and religious conservative and far right in pushing their ideas about creationism, global warming and similar issues. He even asked himself [w]as [he] wrong to participate in the invention of this field known as science studies? Is it enough to say that we did not really mean what we said? Why does it burn my tongue to say that global warming is a fact whether you like it or not? Why cant I simply say that the argument is closed of for good? (2004:227). This retreat isnt that new. As Gross and Levitt  [4]  noted (1998:59), Latour is aways ready to recast and, in effect, retract what he previously said. In other contexts he will, with an apparently straight face, admit that there is a natural universe out there and that scientific theories are shaped by it in important ways. Simultaneously, he will censure rigorously the dogmatics of strict cultural constructivism. Just as he pictures (literally) the mind-set of science as a Janus-faced dualist, he too is constantly springing from one side of a dichotomy to the other. Bruno Latour, even though he, as we have seen, did repent for the consequences that his and other strong program theorists work provoked, in 2005 wrote an introductory book on ANT: Reassembling the Social. An Introduction to Actor-Network Theory. In that book he tried to explain again the whole ANT story, but not that well, in my opinion  [5]  . In the following lines Ill try to explain, more or less, what ANT is or should be, not just based on the mentioned book, but also on various articles on ANT that can be retrieved on the Internet and other books and journals. ANT seems to be a particular or distinctive approach to social theory and research which has its origins in the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS), mostly developed by Michel Callon, Bruno Latour and John Law. In the last twenty years ANT has been used as a tool for research in fields such as organizational analysis (for ex. Cochoy 2009), informatics (for ex. McInerney 2009), health studies (for ex. Dent 2003), geography (for ex. Smith 2003), sociology, anthropology, feminist studies and economics (for ex. Jones 2008). Already the title of the theory is very problematic. Bruno Latour states in his book (2005:9) that [] the historical name is actor-network-theory, a name that is so awkward, so confusing, so meaningless that it deserves to be kept. Every part of the ANT is questionable. Its not really about actors in a classic sociological sense, the network part is misleading (see Latour 1998) because it doesnt refer to the concept of network as in Social Network Analysis or electronic networks  [6]  , and it is not really a theory in the classic sense, it can be reckoned as a set of theories which have similar characteristics. As a matter of fact, he admits that he was ready to drop this label for more elaborate ones like sociology of translation, actant-rhyzome ontology, sociology of innovation, and so on []. (2005:9). How then we can recognize a theory that belongs to the ANT family? Latour puts forward three tests in order to do that (2005:10-11): One of them is the precise role granted to nonhumans. They have to be actors [] and not simply the hapless bearers of symbolic projection. [] [A]ny study that gives non-humans a type of agency that is more open than the traditional natural causality but more efficient than the symbolic one can be part of [ANT] corpus, even though some authors would not wish to be associated in any way with this approach.(10). Another test is to check which direction the explanation is going in. [] If the social remains stable and is used to explain a state of affairs, its not ANT. (10) A third and more difficult test would be to check whether a study aims at reassembling the social or still insists on dispersion and deconstruction. [] Dispersion, destruction, and reconstruction are not the goals to be achieved [as in postmodern theories,] but what needs to be overcome. Its much more important to check what are the new institutions, procedures, and concepts able to collect and reconnect the social []. (11). We can see that Latour is very vague, and it seems he wants to be like that. In short we can say that in ANT humans, nonhumans and language are all on the same level. They all together form a network of actors that form the world. He uses and criticizes very often the concept social, many times as opposed to the concept associations. Social is for him a concept that many sociologists use as a name for a material the society is made of (2005:1), or some glue of society. But thats wrong, because there isnt something social, there are associations between heterogeneous elements (2005:5). Thus, social, for ANT, is the name of a type of momentary association which is characterized by the way it gathers together into new shapes. (2005:65). In my opinion this is not that groundbreaking. Well, the association of humans and nonhumans might be a little bit strange (or Im too positivist and backwarded), but the idea of not using concepts as social forces and similar black magic (or as Latour wo uld call, as we shell see, black boxes) terms is present in sociology much longer than ANT. For example we can check Howard S. Becker (2007) where he explains the errors of using vague concepts as social forces, etc So, interactionists (try to) explain already very well what people do and how they create everyday life, without going into exotic theories that are not that clear even to their main representatives. ANT is considered sometimes a method and sometimes a theory. [A]nti-essentialism informs both the conceptual frame used for interpretation and guides the processes through which networks are examined. (Ritzer 2004:2). There are three methodological principles in ANT: agnosticism. We should abandon any a priori assumptions of the nature of networks, causal conditions, or the accuracy of actants accounts (Ritzer 2004:2). There should be impartiality from our side. This principle reminds us about Grounded Theory methodology with the added value of impartiality towards objects that are not humans. generalized symmetry. Everybody in a network is the same: computers and programmers, clerks and computer networks Basically we should dissect everything free association. there shouldnt be any distinction between natural and social phenomena. The ANT methodology is usually ethnographic. To be precise they often use the case study method. They use to spend time like anthropologists, but not in forests, and other places typical for anthropological research, but in laboratories with scientists. ANT scholars also study inscriptions, a phrase which refers to all texts and communications in all media (Garson 2008). Let us see which are the central concepts of ANT. I will use secondary analyses of ANT by Felix Stalder and David Garson. Here are the main concepts: Actors: entities that do things (Latour, 1992a, p. 241, as cited in Stalder 1998), no matter whether they are humans or any kind of nonhumans. Some authors use actors for humans and actants for other parts/ system elements of the network (Garson 2008)  [7]  . The distinction between humans and non-humans, embodied or disembodied skills, impersonation or machination, are less interesting than the complete chain along which competences and actions are distributed. (Latour, 1992a, p.243, as cited in Stalder 1998) [] An actor is an actant endowed with a character. (Akrich, Latour, 1992, p.259 as cited by Stalder). In Ritzer (2004:1) we can find that [t]he volitional actor for ANT, termed actant, is any agent, collective or individual, that can associate or disassociate with other agents. Actants enter into networked associations, which in turn define them, name them, and provide them with substance, action, intention, and subjectivity. In other words, actants are considered foundationally indeterminate, with no a priori substance or essence, and it is via the networks in which they associate that actants derive their nature. Network: the network is defined as a group of unspecified relationships among entities of which the nature itself is undetermined. (Callon, 1993, p.263 as cited in Stalder 1998). The inclusive character of this definition becomes more evident when contrasted with one of the conventional sociological definitions of network where a social network consists of a finite set or sets of actors and the relation or relations defined on them (Wasserman, Faust, 1994, p.20 as cited in Stalder). An actor-network is not restricted to social actors, not even to actors in the theorys broader sense. There is no structural difference between large and small actors, between a major institution or a single individual or even a thing as mundane as a door opener (Latour, 1992 as cited by Stalder 1998). Black Box: simply put, a black box contains a sealed network of people and things. But lets see what ANTers say: A black box contains that which no longer needs to be considered, those things whose contents have become a matter of indifference. (Callon, Latour, 1981 p.285 as cited in Stalder 1998). A black box, therefore, is any setting that, no matter how complex it is or how contested its history has been, is now so stable and certain that it can be treated as a fact where only the input and output counts. (Stalder 1998). For example, all the concepts in sociology as social forces, etc are black boxes. Cars are black boxes because we can drive them even though we dont know how are they built. The more it costs to reopen a black box, the more it will be stable. Its not just a matter of the black box, but also of the environment in which it is settled (well, everything is in the network). At the end of the day it seems that ANT became a black box too, because it became a fixed center or obligatory point of passage by the mid-1990s (Ritzer 2004:3). Other important concepts are: Punctualisation: a concept that means that the whole actor-network is greater than the sum of its constituent parts. As networks build, synergistic capabilities are enabled; as networks fall apart, de-punctualisation refers to the collapse of networked capabilities as individual components struggle to pursue their individual goals separately. (Garson 2008). Tokens: are the quasi-objects created through the synergy of network punctualisation. (Garson 2008). The constant creation of tokens reifies a network, when they stop being reproduced the network breaks down, or, there is de-punctualization. Translation: is the process of forming a network. This process occurs in the four following moments or steps (Garson 2008): Problematisation: defines the problem and the set of relevant actors who become indispensable Interessement: primary actor(s) recruit other actors to assume roles in the network, roles which recognize the centrality of the primary actors own role Enrolment: roles are defined and actors formally accept and take on these roles Mobilisation: primary actors assume a spokesperson role for passive network actors (agents) and seek to mobilize them to action. Translation is really a negotiation among human actors and representatives of material actants. Stories: The complex process of translation which forms a network also occasions some actors to emerge as spokespersons, articulating the views and wishes of other silent actors in the network. Negotiation in the translation process is marked by: Obligatory points of passage (OPP): they are critical network channels often designed by the primary actor to ensure that communication must pass through his or her domain. In this way the actor becomes functionally indispensable to the network Cooptation: it is a subprocess by which actants seek to have their individual objectives become agreed to by other actants as part of defining network objectives. Actors advance favored goals and solutions, then recruit other actors to be allies in the process of forming commitments to emerging networks. (Garson 2008). Translation model of power: it is a term for viewing power as a relation emerging bottom-up rather than imposed top-down. Those who hold power in principle may not hold power in practice as the latter requires the ability to define, create, and stabilize networks of actors motivated to work in conjunction to accomplish a task. That is, power is seen as a consequence of convincing, enrolling, and other network-building activities. (Garson 2008). This concept reminds a lot the foucaultian concept of microphysics of power. Black-boxing: it is a subprocess by which the network becomes more simple by treating subnetworks as single elements in an actor-network Irreversibility: is achieved by an actor-network when it is no longer possible to return to an earlier network state or to alternatives present prior to the network Network instability. Actor-networks are in a continual state of becoming, including possible dissolution. Networks demand continual maintenance or order In my opinion all the concepts are vague, probably intentionally. I really wonder if the whole theory and its concepts could have been explained in a more simple way, and I wonder why is it always like that in post-structuralism (I know, this is an ad hominem mistake)? ANT was often criticized for being managerialist, for emphasizing Nietzschean mastery, as Machiavellian, for colonizing the other, for being antihumanist, and for representing the powerful. (Ritzer 2004:3). I would add that the founders of ANT write pretty much in an elitist and unclear way. It sounds more like poetry or showing off with strange PoMo-style phrases difficult to understand. I got used to that with Baudrillard, Lyotard, etc But what can we do with it in everyday life? We cannot stop natural scientists to laugh about ANT mumbojumbo for sure. I would say that ANT as a research methodology brings nothing new, or nothing newer than the good old methodology of case study, the grounded theory methodology (Glaser/Strauss 2008) or ethnomethodology on which ANT is partially based. As an explanation for what is really going on it is still a safe bet to stick with interactionist theories from one side, and on the other side, we should use more explanatory theories based on strict field research and model building. For that is handy the analytical sociology approach developed, among others, by Peter Hedstroem (see Hedstroem 2005). With the analytical sociology approach we could finally develop more core knowledge which is feeble in sociology (see Cole 1994) but nevertheless it exists (see Collins 1989) and leave the research frontier to a few artists. Analytical sociology seeks to explain complex social processes by carefuly dissecting them and then bringing into focus their most important costituent components. [] It is an approach that seeks precise, abstract, realistic and action-based explanations for various social phenomena. (Hedstroem 2005:1). So, in the analytical approach we have to explain social phenomena, not just describe it as most grand social theories do. We have to dissect the social phenomena to its smallest parts and then abstract the most important parts and build a model. In doing that we must be precise and clear. If it is not perfectly clear what a given theory or theorist is trying to say, how can we then possibly understand and assess the potential merits of the theory being proposed ? (Hedstroem 2005:3-4), asks Peter Hedstroem, and as an example of unclear theory he takes a French (who else could he take?!) sociologist Pierre Bourdieu and his definition of habitus (2005:4). I agree with Hedstrom that social theories should be based on the construction of models, or explaining social mechanisms, and a social mechanism is a constellation of entities and activities that are linked to one another in such a way that they regularly bring about a particular type of outcome (Hedstroem 2005:10). To conclude, I think that ANT is maybe an approach that could have a major success in the future when there will come the time people will understand French philosophy much better  [8]  , until then I propose to stick with more positivist approaches that can actually really explain why things happen.

Dewar’s leader in U.S. Scotch whisky industry Essay -- Business and Ma

Dewar’s leader in U.S. Scotch whisky industry 1. Situational Analysis 1.1 SWOT Analysis Strengths - Dewar’s leader in U.S. Scotch whisky industry, with a market share of 15%. - Past success with the advertising campaigns in maintaining a positive image for Dewar’s among Scotch drinkers. - Strong research and development. - Backup from United Distillers, which is an International leader in the Scotch whisky and Gin markets, and one of the most profitable spirit’s Company in the world. - Dewar’s is positioned as a premium and prestigious blend of Scotch whisky. - Schieffelin & Somerst, distributor of Dewar’s within U.S, is the product of a Joint Venture with Moet Hmessy Louis Vuitton, allowing cost reduction. Weaknesses - Lack of promotional strategies to attract new customers. - Targeting a segment market that is not growing. - Slow reactions. Opportunities - US, the largest liquor market in the world (13% market share) with high profit margins. - Young adults’ good attitude towards the consumption of withe spirits. - Social acceptance of mixed drinks. Threats - Sales in Industry of liquor and withe spirits with a negative growth. - Scotch whisky in the declining stage of product cycle. - Mature target market consuming less Scotch whisky. - Growing social resistance and regulations of liquor consumption in the U.S. - Shift of consumer preference towards lighter alcohol beverages, such as wine and beer. - Risk of becoming over analytical and moving to slowly when implementing the repositioning strategy. 1.2 US Scotch whisky Industry Analysis. Both the industry of liquor and the industry of distilled spirits had suffered a reduction in consumption since 1978. This represents 15 years of constant negative growth. Some of the factors that had caused this phenomenon are the growing of social, regulatory and legal restrictions over drinking. Also, drinking preferences have shifted towards lighter alcohol beverages, such as wine and beer. The Scotch industry has suffered an even greater decline due to the fact that its target market is drinking much less. It has become the distilled spirit with lower consumption per-capita. Mature customers are not loyal to a brand, they are lower priced oriented. If all these factors remain the same, ... ...f the campaigns. 3. Analysis and evaluation of options Three strategies have been developed in order to help managers to take the last decisions in the release of the campaign. Strategy 1 Implementation just of the maintenance campaign directed to mature adults. Strategy 2 Implementing truths and maintenance campaigns at the same time. Strategy 3 Line extension 4. Recommended course of action The most realistic, and practical option that I can recommend to the manager is the second one. She already had researched and developed a big campaign that in just two moths is supposed to be released. We just hope that no changes in the perception of the mature audience will be produced due the expose to both campaigns. Also in terms of lees cost and almost immediate effect in profits, the best choice is the second one. But let's say if there is no budget or time constrains the best option for me is the third one. Keeping each segment with different products it makes it easier to target the audiences. When this young adults reach certain age they will immediate cross the bridge to Dewar’s classic bottle, giving a more serious and respectful image.