Yellowstone National Park Essay Example for Free

Yellowstone National Park Essay â€Å"Leisure, in its broadest sense, provides an excellent lens through which we can better understand contemporary Western society’s relationships with nature. † Such a thesis can be best understood through a socio-cultural exploration of the complex relationship of man with nature, and how it has evolved through time. Engaging the literature reveals that there is NO singular ‘nature’ as such, only a diversity of contested natures each â€Å"constituted through a variety of socio-cultural practices from which such natures cannot be plausibly separated† (Macnaghten and Urry, p. 1). For Williams (1972) the idea of ‘nature’ contains an enormous amount of human history, of which the current understanding derive from a complicate array of ideas, linked to may concepts of Western thought (i. e. modernity, democracy, romanticism, etc. ) The ways in which has historically been made singular, abstract and then personified provides key insights on how people thought about themselves, their place in the world, their relationships with each other and the land, their sense of general power and powerlessness in the shaping of their lifeworlds (Macnaghten and Urry, p. 8). In understanding human-nature relationships, a popular theme appears to be religious in tone – the Christian interpretation of the Genesis story. From Merchant (2003), one gets the idea that mankind’s attempt to return to Eden has been a driving force behind Western culture. In the Age of Enlightenment, this manifested in the European zeal to discover new territory, and transforming it into a new paradise through colonization (Adams and Mulligan, 2003; Merchant, 2003) From the patriarchal white European perspective, the New World is depicted as a hapless female in need of rescue. This narrative derived from the story of the Fall of Adam and Eve has been to the detriment of women and people of color (Merchant, 2003; Gibson, 2002). From an environmental frame, we are faced with the message that man ‘screwed up’ paradise, we’re still falling and if we don’t get our act together, things are bound to get worse and we instead get hell on earth (Rees, 2003) – as if we are witnessing endless reruns of Lord of the Rings’ â€Å"The Two Towers† or Star Wars’ â€Å"The Empire Strikes Back. † On the other hand, the mainstream frame on nature maintains that though we did make terrible blunders in managing resources, weve also accomplished a lot for human progress in terms of innovation, technology, and hard work (Porritt, 2005; Boyden, 2004) – a grace-saving â€Å"Return of the King† or â€Å"Return of the Jedi,† of sorts. Images of and references to nature as female, particularly as a â€Å"Mother,† are also found in popular culture. Roach (2003) uses three approaches – gender studies, psychoanalysis, and theology – to unearth the meanings behind the â€Å"Mother Nature† theme, which according to her are generally three: good mother (nurturing and life-giving), bad mother (i. e. gendered references to natural disasters), and hurt mother (repair-based pattern of reconnecting to nature). She illustrates the â€Å"bad mother† motif using an advertisement for the Nissan Pathfinder (a sport utility vehicle), urging the consumer to control your mother, as the SUV helps you control just about anything Mother Nature throws your way. The advertisement’s underlying message is the human conquest of nature and in a gendered manner, the male conquest of females, common throughout Western history and tradition: from Pandora and Eve’s fall from grace, to the Salem witch trials and Sigmund Freuds view of women as ‘morally inferior,’ among others. Movies have also shaped our perception of nature – the untamed, vengeful mother – as evidenced by the popularity of film genres with man-hunting beasts such as â€Å"Jaws† (a great white shark terrorizing a New England town) and â€Å"Anaconda† (a monstrous snake strikes a travelling party deep in the heart of the Amazon). On the other hand, films such as â€Å"Free Willy† tend to highlight Mother Nature’s nurturing side, as the young troubled boy Jesse befriends and develops a bond with fellow orphan Willy, an orca whale in the park aquarium. At the same time these films bring attention to the plight of endangered animals in the wild, and the need for humans to help and protect these creatures. Cartoons and animation targeting the young audience also have a consistent roster of animal characters – think of old Yogi Bear in Yellowstone National Park, Simba the Lion King in the plains of Africa, and more recently Nemo and his underwater exploits. In the end, Roach (2003) argues for the need to draw on other possible images for nature, including the home, as coupling nature too closely to gender affects both feminist and environmental causes negatively, to a certain degree. Cable channels such as Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and National Geographic also provide regular in-depth nature-oriented programs. In a way, these help inform and familiarize today’s largely urban-based generation with nature and ‘the wild,’ and are also powerful means of getting the environmental message across: we need to help save our planet, stop the destruction of ecosystems and protect endangered species. Music is also one influential component in garnering support for the environmental movement. Global concerts in support of environmental causes and projects feature top performers and tend to draw young crowds, such as the 2007 â€Å"Live Earth† concert series initiated by former US Vice-president Al Gore to bring attention to climate change. Overall, the utilization of mass media and technological advances help bring nature closer to people. A recent development is what has been referred to as ‘wildlife tourism,’ based on encounters with non-domesticated animals (Higginbottom, 2004). Tourism is recognized as a very large global business enterprise because people seem to really like travelling. And exotic places, where encounters with wildlife provide people new experiences, stimulate their emotions, and create different impressions, are fast gaining popularity. Wildlife tourism is a fairly recent, specialized aspect of this tourism phenomenon. From a historical perspective, only a generation or two ago, peoples encounter with animals was virtually everyday, with wildlife ubiquitous in the countryside. Today, visions of nature in its gloriously natural state are made available through television. Electronics is now the standard medium for people to experience the wild. Though people may not necessarily be physically in touch with nature, they might be connected mentally to certain aspects of wildlife. Thus in this way, wildlife tourism offers an opportunity to people to get closer to the virtual reality of experiencing nature as our ancestors did. Wildlife tourism provides urbanites the chance to renew their relationship with nature the promise of a different thrill when one faces lions in a safari, or scuba-diving and swimming with whale-sharks in the Pacific. In view of large-scale habitat destruction in the name of progress and development, wildlife tourism provides an essential appeal for governments to help conserve biodiversity. Wildlife tourism now appears to be an important phenomenon, one that has both negative and positive impacts on animals affected by such activities. Negative effects can be in short-term physiological/behavioral changes in individual animals or long-term, i. e. increasing mortality of entire populations which in turn affect the ecosystem. Thus, there is a need for wildlife tourism to be properly managed in a sustainable manner, so as to minimize the impact of animals and their ecosystems. Though people often assume that wildlife tourists tend to empathize with conservation efforts, even they can cause damage, as well as socially and environmentally irresponsible wildlife tour operators. Wildlife tourism is a modern form of leisure, one that augurs well for sustainable development if it could be properly managed and regulated. On a parting note, leisure in its various forms is shaped by our relationship with nature; particularly the way we interact with it, as influenced by our own understanding of nature and how it relates to human existence. Bibliography Adams, W. M. and Mulligan, M. eds. (2003) Decolonizing Nature: Strategies for COnservation in a Postcolonial Era. Sterling, Earthscan Publications. Boyden, S. (2004) The Biology of Civilization: Understanding Human Culture as a Force in Nature. Sydney, University of Sydney Press. Gibson, D. (2002) Environmentalism: Ideology and Power. New York, Nova Science. Higginbottom, K. ed. (2004) Wildlife Tourism: Impacts, Management and Planning. Victoria, Common Ground. Macnaghten, P. and Urry, J. (1998) â€Å"Rethinking nature and society† in Contested Natures. London, Sage. Merchant, C. (2003) Reinventing Eden: The Fate of Nature in Western Culture. London, Routledge. Porritt, J. (2005) Capitalism as if the World Matters. London, Earthscan. Rees, M. (2003) Our Final Century: Will Civilization Survive the Twenty-first Century? London, Arrow. Roach, C. M. (2003) Mother/Nature: Popular Culture and Environmental Ethics. Bloomington, Indian University Press. Williams, J. (1972) as cited by Macnaghten, P. and Urry, J. (1998) â€Å"Rethinking nature and society† in Contested Natures. London, Sage.

Threats to Quality Web Designs Network System (QWD)

Threats to Quality Web Designs Network System (QWD) Executive Summary The main purpose of this report is to existent the potential security threats that aspects Quality Web Designs network system (QWD). QWD specializes in website and web content design for dissimilar types of business and any type of security threat can significantly disturb its business operations. It is significant to uncover any potential vulnerabilities, assess potential threats, and the potentials of the threat happening. It is also vital to calculate what might happen to the business process and competitive edge of the company if the threat occurs. Two security vulnerabilities in both QWD security policies and software are deliberated in the report. Finally, we discuss the impact the security modifications have on the business process. Company Overview Quality Web Design (QWD) is an institute that focusses in the Web site and Web content design for all different types of businesses. QWDs assignment is to deliver best quality Web design that will increase consumer income to QWDs customer Web sites. QWDs database comprises over 250,000 branded images and graphical designs that will improve most Web sites demand to a goal demographic. QWD is able to offer its clients the capability to offer their audience a customized interface. Indifference lot of consistent services were delivered by Quality web Design Company to their customers in such a way that there wont be any security problems in the organization anymore. There were several limitations to every company and Quality web Design can overcome them. QWD superiorities itself in having their own web designers that use ritual scripts and applications. This sets the company apart from other competition. The company operates Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Service server to promise constant development of the site from start to end. The company also has its own payroll, marketing, and accounting departments which are significant to the business operations. Security Vulnerabilities Security Policy Vulnerability QWDs security policy does not discourse the topic of employees using company equipment such as the IPhones, Windows cell phones, and laptops for personal use. This should be lectured in an Acceptable Use Policy. By the company not making a policy, only for the company use only they are making the equipment, it grasses the company vulnerable to open occurrences. It is not impracticable to contemplate that employees do use company delivered equipment for personal use. Employees usage the devices to send and receive private emails through non-related company sites such as Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo. They use the company devices to surf the web, shop for items, play games, download applications, get on social networks such as Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter, watch videos, and even listen to music. According to one site on employee internet use, employees spend about one-third of their time on the Internet for personal reasons. (Employee Internet Use) This means that out of a regular 40 hou r work week, employees are spending 13.33 hours doing personal Internet usage. This also relates to employees who offer their mobile numbers for personal use on the Internet. Sometimes sites need registration and things such as contact phone numbers must be included, Unfortunately, for some employees, the only number they have to use is the company issued mobile phone. It means that the employee is given that the company mobile phone as their point of contact number. This type of vulnerability delivers the prospect of pressures beside the company by not having a policy in place. The threat that can arise is if an employee downloads a virus, malware, or Trojan to their mobile phone, laptop, and even desktop. This is especially so for the remote devices because when these are connected to the Exchange server, it can infect the corporate network. If an employee is using their desktop to surf the Internet for private usage and they open an email sent by a contact that has a virus attached, it can infect the network. Another example is if an employee registers for something personal online, such as sweepstakes, this can be a problem. If a hacker gets a hold of the information, the hacker could send a text message that has instructions to download something that contains a virus. If an employee is under the guess that they have won something that they know they signed up for, many will not hesitate to download the link. Since devices such as mobile phones and laptops are used more often off site by employees, providing them more time to use for their personal use, it makes the risk highly likely. If statistics suggest that employees are on the Internet one-third of the time for private use at work, it would seem to be a lot higher when employees are at home or not at work. This means they are checking emails more often and downloading content which could be infected. They could even let family members and friends use their devices to access the Internet. Employee Internet Use editorial also conditions that over $85 billion is vanished each year by companies because employees are using company time to access the Internet for personal use. If anything the employee has downloaded and allowed to infect the company network, it is safe to say that number goes up. If infections are passed onto the network, it could halt business processes. In order to fix the problem, it would cause the company time and money. The company also has to try and assess how much and what type of damage was caused by the attack. It could also keep employees from accessing necessary applications, emails, and work on time sensitive projects. Software Vulnerability Agreeing to Microsoft Visual Studio (2008), the Team Foundations Server (TFS) is a software implement that offers project administration abilities, recording, work stalking, and source control. Team foundations server also holds a data warehouse where all data from testing implements, source control, and item tracking are stored. QWD customs TFS in its business routes as a warehouse of custom applications, procedural written scripts, and web site templates. The TFS warehouse contains a database code source, an application server, and a web server. QWDs TFS server is placed at their corporate office, though it can also be opened distantly by Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) tunnel connecting the corporate office to the database server. TFS has a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that may give an unofficial remote attacker admission to an application (Cisco, n.d.). XSS is in the list of the top 10 web application vulnerabilities and signifies 26 percent of assaults from a review done by the Open Web Application Security Project (Nithya, Pandian, Malarvizhi, 2015). The vulnerability is a result of not sufficient confirmation on user-supplied input in constraints referred to the exaggerated application. A remote attacker who has not been authenticated may use the vulnerability to convince a QWD user to follow a malicious link that leads to a malicious site and use deceptive instructions to convince the user to click the link. If the remote attacker is successful, they can execute cross-site scripting attacks and can motive severe security damages such as cookie hold up and account hijacking (Shar Tan, 2012). The vulnerability will result in insignificances to assignment serious business procedure since the attacker can increase access to QWDs intranet, Microsoft Share Point, the web server, and cookie-based validation. The assailant can delete or alter QWD website patterns and custom written scripts that are deposited on the server. In addition, QWDs competitive advantage will be exaggerated by the damage of integrity, loss of key customers and associates. Reserved data can be sold to competitors making QWD suffer losses and bear the cost of repair. Summary In any organization, the corporation must take into explanation any security matters that can offend the company, employees, and its customers. QWD must take into account the vulnerabilities related to its technological procedure and how it can mark the business. It is main to look at the software and security policy vulnerabilities and how to defend the company from any probable pressures and threats. It is supposed that by addressing the satisfactory use policy of company equipment for private use and the wireless access points of company laptops, this can aid in keeping the company network more secure. References Clancy, Heather. (2011). Mobile device security strategies. Retrieved on March 21, 2012, from http://searchnetworkingchannel.techtarget.com/feature/Mobile-device-security-strategies Defending Cell Phones and PDAs Against Attack (2006 August 9). Retrieved on March 21, 2012, from http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-007.html Elliott, Christopher. (2011) Retrieved on April 10, 2012, from http://www.microsoft.com/business/en-us/resources/technology/broadband-mobility/6-wireless-threats-to-your-business.aspx?fbid=Hsna4GJxWrg Employee Internet Use. Retrieved on March 29, 2012, from http://www.connections-usa.com/employee-internet-usage.html Evil Twin. Retrieved on April 4, 2012, from http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/evil-twin Hotspot Usage to Reach 120 Billion Connects by 2015, Says In-Stat (2011 August 29). Retrieved on March 29, 2012, from http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8751194.htm MiFiÂÂ ® 4082 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. Retrieved from http://www.novatelwireless.com/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=276:mifir-4082-intelligent-mobile-hotspotcatid=19:mifiItemid=12 Mobile Broadband Cards. Retrieved on April 10, 2012, from http://www.todayswirelessworld.com/mobile-broadband-cards/ Mobile Broadband Cards

Brothers of the Bible Essay -- Christianity God Jesus Cain Abel Essays

Brothers of the Bible The Old Testament sibling rivalries between Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers were similar in some ways and different in others, but they all hold lessons for us today, for brothers today still face many of the same problems in life that challenged brothers thousands of years ago. Cain and Abel were in a situation much more unique than Esau and Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers faced, for the society they lived in was extremely small, and they each had a direct relationship with God. As the book of Genesis tells us, Cain was the first born son of Adam and Eve. Their next son was a boy whom they named Abel. As Cain and Abel grew up both took responsibilities for making a living. Abel took care of the sheep and Cain became a farmer. (Genesis 4:7) Both brothers in the space of time began to offer sacrifices unto God. Cain, being a farmer, offered the produce of his fields, and Abel offered the first-born sheep with its fat. God had respect for the offering of Abel but rejected the offering of Cain. It thus comes as something of a surprise that God accepts Abel?s offering but not Cain?s. Two puzzles emerge: (1) We are not told how Cain discovered that neither he nor his offering was accepted. Given God?s way of responding in the story, Cain may have told directly. (2) No rationale is given, hence God?s action appears arbitrary (Abingdon, 373). The biblical text gives no explicit reason for God?s preference for Abel?s offering. This has given rise to speculation. (Doubleday) And envious of his brother so angered Cain that he killed him. Cain?s response ? the downcast face ? reveals more the idea of dejection, feelings associated with rejection, than anger. Cain must care about what God thinks of him and his sacrifice. But the ba sic issue becomes not that Cain acts in a dejected fashion, but how he responds to God?s interaction with him about his dejection. That God responds at all reveals a divine concern for Cain. (Abingdon, 373) When God confronted Cain with what he had done and asked, ?Where is Abel your brother Cain replied, ?Am I my brother?s keeper (Genesis 4:15) The answer is yes, and relates to Esau and Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, and to us today, for we are all our brother?s keeper. We live our lives in close relation to our family, neighbors, friends, and even people we only casually me... ...howing us that when the ancient Israelites got involved in sibling rivalries they didn?t fool around, they also illustrate for modern day readers how harmful parental favoritism can be. Today?s parents should make every effort to treat their children equally, for the psychological consequences may be severe if they don?t. Finally, these Old Testament stories demonstrate to us today that sibling rivalries can be controlled if brothers or sisters make efforts to treat one another fairly. They show us as well that it is very important for siblings to forgive one another if their rivalries lead to hard feelings or even lengthy estrangement. Bibliography Abingdon. The New interpreter?s Bible, Volume 1. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1994. Chait, Israel. ?Joseph and His Brothers.? Online. Available: http://www.mesora.org/_private/mesora.html. 20 June 2001. Doubleday. The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume 1. New York: Doubleday Dell Pulbishing group, 1992. Smith, Dictionary of the Bible. London, 1893. The Holy Bible. New York: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. White, Ellen G. Patriarchs and Prophets. Washington D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1958.

Cat in the Rain

Review on Cat in The Rain of Ernest Hemingway A couple of Americans traveled in Italy. At the hotel, on a raining day, the wife found a cat crouched in the rain and wanted to take the cat and possess it. She went out and searched the cat in the rain, to find it had gone. Coming back, she told her husband her wish to change her hair style and was turned down by her husband. After her several other wishes were also turned down, a waitress of the hotel knocked the door, at the demand of the hotel owner, and sent her a cat. These are the main plots of Hemingway’s novel, Cat in The Rain. Main characters in the story are the American wife and her husband. Hemingway’s purpose of writing this novel is to illustrate the relationship between the couple. But when focusing on the simple but meaningful story, it’s easy to get confused, or even worse, get nothing out of it. In this novel, as many people have pointed out, there are many metaphors. Like the cat and the rain. These metaphors could lead us to the theme. In the very first paragraph, we can see that the description is showing the state of the couple’s relationship: at first it was once quite nice, just like the beautiful scene outside, and when it’s raining, their relationship got cold, too. And also, readers can find three symbols: the sea, the garden and the war monument, which can be seen in the American couple’s room. Compared with the sea, the garden is much delicate. In some cases, the garden may be washed out by the sea at ease. The garden is at the mercy of the sea. This scene, together with the monument, illustrates the background of the novel. As for the monument, it’s the symbol of conflict and sacrifice. This symbol indicates that a â€Å"war† is ahead. We would have a better understanding in the following paragraphs. The first scene in the room is the out-looking wife and her husband who is lying on the bed. Viewing this, the relationship of the couple is obvious to readers: they do not enjoying a happy life. The wife is eager to run away from her husband. While her husband, the American man who is reading on the bed, is giving pressure on her wife. And he would like to lie on the bed comfortably and read the book. The book is a â€Å"wall† between him and her wife. It’s a barrier that prevents communication from these two persons. Along the spreading of the story, the focus turns to a cat, a cat in the rain. The American wife finds that the cat is crouching under a table, trying to avoid the rain. Thus there is a kind of connection built up between the woman and the cat. In fact, the cat reflects the woman’s situation. Both of them are under some kind of troubles and have nothing to do on their troubles: the cat can’t change the weather, just like the wife has no influence on her husband at that time. In similar situation with the cat, the woman goes out, trying to get it when finding the poor cat. While being out and searching for the cat, she can’t find it. It has gone. It’s making its effort to flee. Whether it has run away from the rain, it has gone. Anyhow, the cat’s result is a good sign. The cat is gone, but the woman has to come back. The conflict between her husband and her hasn’t come to an end. The woman comes back and makes her new effort to make some changes. She even sits on the bed, trying to communicate with her husband. But she fails. Her husband is still reading. She comes up with some other demands, desperately. But her husband still ignores her wish for change. It’s getting dark. Their relationship is getting dark, too. The woman’s efforts do not work. Her wish to transverse her husband’s influence breaks down. Suddenly,there is a change. The light comes on the square outside the window, and the change for the American woman comes, too. She is sent a big tortoise-shell cat. It doesn’t matter whether this cat is the cat in the rain several minutes ago. It’s just a symbol of change for the woman. It’s not enough for the woman. It’s just a beginning. What she wants is not just a cat. She wants to change. Anyhow, it’s a good sign, too. Also,the using of words shows some attitudes, too. The different titles of the cat, like the kitty; and that of the woman, like the girl. These different addresses show the childish characteristics of the woman. This feature shows that her inferior statue comparing with her husband. All in all, the main problem of the story is their relationship: the husband controls all affairs, while the wife’s failure of trying to make a change. However, there is still a sign of change at the end of the story, which shows the author’s hope for future.