R.F.I.D. Technology †Information Systems Essay

R.F.I.D. Technology – Information Systems Essay Free Online Research Papers R.F.I.D. Technology Information Systems Essay The implementation of Radio Frequency Identification Device (R.F.I.D.) technology around the world is both a blessing and a curse. The benefits of these chips to society is undeniable. Theft will become virtually non- existent, audits of product inventory will no longer be necessary, and standing in line anywhere becomes a ritual of the past. However, the privacy implications created by the use of this technology also give reason for great concern. Everything you buy will be registered to your name and your bank account. Thieves could read every item that is in your home, without ever actually stepping foot inside. In fact everything you have will be readable from a distance. So the purpose of this paper is to explain R.F.I.D. technology, and weigh the pros against the cons, to see if some middle ground can be met where business gains the most and privacy loses the least. R.F.I.D. is a new consumer goods tracking system. It mixes radio frequency identification with greatly miniaturized computer chips that enable a product to be tracked from its beginning in the manufacturing line to its end on the shelves of a retailer. This technology can be applied to nearly every physical item, ranging from pill bottles (1) to cows (2); humans included (3). This improves the safety of products in as much as it tracks the history of the product. In theory our drugs can’t be counterfeited, as they wouldn’t be able to be tagged, livestock with diseases, such as mad cow, could be traced back to their source farm and a lot of other securities will be available to make the world a safer place, such as making all guns require a corresponding R.F.I.D. implanted to the owner. R.F.I.D. employs a numbering system called EPC. This stands for Electronic Product Code and is intended to replace the current UPC system.(4) The UPC system only identifies product categories, with the advanced new EPC system having the ability to assign a number to every individual item. This means that your can of Coke is going to have a different number than my can of Coke. And it also means that your can of Coke is registered in your name. Think about that for a moment, we will have the ability to fine people who litter possibly months later, when the school students go and clean out the ditches along highways! This technology also appears to have the ability to keep our streets cleaner, which saves money that could be used somewhere else. It is worthy to note here that the implementation of R.F.I.D. tags is not a political issue. From a conservative stand point, this technology is a great business tool within a free market capitalist society. The impacts from this technology, towards a business’s ability to continuously track all their products, from assembly through the shipping process, onto retailer’s shelves and out their doors, will revolutionize the business world. And all this money saved logically leads to lower prices for the consumers. In our nations current economic state, lower prices on goods all around is a blessing to every consumer. On the Liberal side of this issue, we find altogether different benefits. This technology is a blessing for society. It virtually stops all theft from retailers. It’ll help keep the food supply safe. And we could even use it to chip the homeless so society is better able to keep track and care for them.(12) Counterfeiting will no longer be possible when chips are inserted into the currency supply.(15) But the more important argument of the Liberal side is one of security. Security for the children of today and tomorrow. And these tags have the capabilities to ensure the well-being of the elderly, providing those that need it with a type of security blanket which guarantees that medication is taken when needed and making care more readily available.(5) Overall, the privacy issue takes a back seat to the possible benefits from the liberal standpoint. Although neither the Conservatives nor the Liberals oppose this technology as a political issue, it remains an issue of privacy and the argument should be made. It is an important issue and will become much more so in the next few years. The authors of this paper feel that neither side really discusses or responds to the privacy issue adequately, nor are they moving to do so fast enough. This technology is being pushed for now, by the U.S. top retailer chains, most recently Albertson’s. (6) And since laws tend to take a considerable amount of time be finally agreed upon and passed something needs to also be done now. Yet, the implementation of the tags will bring almost immediate relief to millions of people and businesses. So the question then becomes, can technology fix societal ills? The implementations of R.F.I.D.’s will alter the very way we live our daily lives. In the grocery store, R.F.I.D.’s will protect unsafe food from being sold by alarming as it gets close to expiring. In the home, parents will no longer have to worry about their children being lost or stolen.(7) With a microchip surgically implanted into the little one’s hand or forehead constantly sending off a helpful signal, if the child gets lost, the parents can rest assured that they are not, and in fact, are nothing more than a properly placed phone call away. Tags in all crates would help solve the recent fears over terrorism and trains coming in from Canada. It would be much harder than it is now to keep items hidden from inspection by authorities. Even with all these obvious benefits a person can still wonder if tracking and tagging everything is good. And in the process of researching its easy to come across fears of ‘the Mark of the Beast’. In fact, we believe that it’s an argument worth mention. In Revelation 13:16-17 John writes that no one will be able to buy or sell anything without the mark. And that is after all, the ultimate goal of this technology. But if a person doesn’t buy the aspect of religion being involved, then why else would they oppose it? The negative side to this Alpha-Omega tracking is that it leaves a record of your purchase with whatever business you made a purchase from. And we all know that businesses and the selling of personal data is not a new issue. So the question is, can we trust the major corporations with our personal data? And what about the centralized grand databases that this information is supposed to go in, who is looking in on that data? It is relatively certain that businesses cannot be trusted with our personal information and this point is easily proven by looking at how fast the government do-not-call list overflowed with overjoyed citizens telephone numbers. Too many calls from too much sharing leads the people to say ‘leave us alone’. And too much sharing also led congress to the same conclusion about a different information sharing entity. Soon after September 11th, DARPA announced its Total Information Awareness program.(13) This program was in essence the final database where everything everyone in America did would finally be stored. Then the program would compare all transactions against everyone else’s to look for any red flags, like dynamite purchases or something that would stick out and be noticed as terrorist activities. As William Safire from the New York Times wrote, â€Å"Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every Web site you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend – all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as ‘a virtual, centralized grand database’.†(8) It must now also be said that the funding was cut for this program, but that is besides our point. The fact is, DARPA was researching this project way before September 11th and only brought it into the public eye as a supposed reaction to terrorism. This program seems to be a case of Hegalian dialectic or problem-reaction-solution. This program however, is not the solution to terrorism and congress thought the same. And even though the funding was cut, all it takes is another big attack on our homeland to bring back this program. Even Dave Obey said that an attack is not preventable at this time. The government did not fully end Total Information Awareness. In essence, all they really did was move the research and it’s data-mining computer programs to other branches of the government, such as the CIA, NSA, and FBI etc. and gave new names to the various parts of the program.. (9) For example, in a February 24, 2004 Homeland Security Press Release (10), the government states speaking about the launch of their Joint Regional Information Exchange System (JRIES) is, â€Å"An integrated component of the wider DHS Information sharing and collaboration architecture (author’s emphasis) that will help provide situational awareness, information and collaboration across the 50 states, U.S. territories, and major urban areas.† And it is these various ‘components’ that are coming from the supposedly closed TIA program. It is possible to see this as a kind of Orwellian doublespeak because the funding was cut, but then the components and programs start to ac tually be used. (Our chocolate rations must have been increased.) I would like to say that this is one of the big reasons why this isn’t a political issue. As you know, the Liberal side of the issue wants to give the government control over this technology. They feel that the American government is reliable and innocent enough to be trusted with control over the data and the data-mining, while at the same time exclaiming how it could never turn out as a privacy issue if we let the feds have jurisdiction over how and how much R.F.I.D.’s can be used and what can be done with the data. Why would you give the power to control the technology, to the same entity that wants to use the data from it to spy on you and have been caught doing it? (14) And to the argument that says ‘if you ain’t got nothing to hide what, do you have to worry for?’ Ben Franklin responds, â€Å"Protect even your enemy from oppression, lest you establish a precedent that reaches to yourself.† It just doesn’t make logical sense when l ooking at the big picture. And it’s also the same from the lassie faire Conservative side. Let the corporations be, it’s a free market. But this leaves another entity in power of the data, who is just as irresponsible and deceitful as some branches of our government. So again, do you want to give control of this technology to corporations, who we know cannot be trusted with our personal data? Obviously not. It is also hard to come to some middle ground on this aspect of R.F.I.D. technology. Of the 103 major funders for the Auto-Id center’s project, 5 of them are from the government (USPS, DoD, and others). Eight of the top ten U.S. retailers including Wal-Mar , Target, and Home Depot are also major contributors. Many of Britain’s major chains such as Tesco are on the list. (11) So is a mix of both corporate and government control any better when they are both funding the research and potential usage of it? We have to say no and use the analogy that they are both arms on the same beast. And some kind of compromise is needed immediately. If some compromise cannot be met, then this technology should be restricted or at least regulated. When this is done a chance will be given for the law to catch up with the technology, which progresses at a faster rate than the law. If the technology must be implemented now, then all products with tags in them should be labeled so the consumers can know what they’re buying. All tags should be turned off when a consumer leaves the store. Instant registration of products should not be put into effect without the proper laws and procedures in place. Tags should be placed on the products packaging instead of on the product at all times if possible. Remember, technology alone does not solve society’s problems. Research Papers on R.F.I.D. Technology - Information Systems EssayOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThe Project Managment Office SystemPETSTEL analysis of IndiaGenetic EngineeringDefinition of Export QuotasThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationStandardized Testing

Managing Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing Change - Essay Example A ‘hard’ definition of HRM can also be derived that is it helps to maximize the economic benefit an organization gets from its human assets (Wilkinson, 2000). Currently one of the biggest challenges organizations are facing relate to a rapidly changing environment where global, technological and economic factors make it necessary to make decisions under uncertain conditions and adapt quickly in order to survive or maintain their competitive edge. Flexible organizations with a knowledgeable workforce are at an advantage in these conditions as any change initiated within an organization can only prove beneficial if it is widely accepted by the workforce. These changes may be technological in nature or allow for the modification of organization structure or the management, acquisitions, mergers, and other operational changes are increasing in trend. However, a survey done in 2010 indicated that for most corporations the changes made did not bring the desired results, with 6 2% measure somewhat successful and 24% having no change at all. (APQC, 2010) The reasons for the failure of these measures, is usually the inability of the top management to actively involve HR in the change management process. Employees who are not given complete information or training regarding the changing measures are often skeptical and hostile towards them as they may perceive them as threat to their position, daily routine, status in the organization or overall job security. These employees may be so resistance to change that they will not be able to adapt to the new conditions and even be outwardly hostile. For employees who don’t have a hostile attitude towards the change and disruption they may still have no receptivity towards it; without enthusiasm to embrace the new measures it is possible that the optimum level of benefits may never be utilized. The survey done indicates that employees who don’t understand the reasons behind the change and are still forc ed to adhere to the new rules and practices face a decline in engagement level of upto 71% with over a 43% increase in unwanted turnovers, which could lead to a prominent loss of productivity after the change is implemented. HRM practices can effectively work on transforming the negative attitudes of the employees. To support the change management there are two avenues for HR to take, firstly they can work on removing the hostility from the employees by assuring them that their fears and skepticism are unfounded by increasing their knowledge about the change being initiated through seminars, programs and training. â€Å"HR Professionals have to lead the change programme through a systematic drive of providing education, communication, facilitation and support to the employees, so that we may secure the involvement, participation and commitment of the complete workforce† (Lal, 2001) Lal, J. (2001). Managing Change through HR, Presidential Address. Delhi Business Review A well informed workforce will be more willing to admit why the change is necessary and management should make

Homeschooling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Homeschooling - Research Paper Example Home schooling program has been legal in the United States. Its rapid growth comes as a big surprise to educators both in public and private schools. An estimate from The National Center for Education Statistics of the US Dept. of Education sets it at 1.1 million in 2003 an increase from 850,000 in 1999 and 1.1 million in 2003. Parents cited many reasons favoring this system. But there are evidences that lead me to an argument that this program needs tighter regulation, either banned or to conclude that it is an educational neglect. If you are a parent, and convinced that home study program is right for your child, see the disadvantages first and weigh its consequences after. Disadvantages Personality change. Home schooling deprives the child of the opportunity of gaining social skills that could only be gained or developed when the child is with his/her peers. A child learns to interact with other students from all walks of life in a school environment, thus leading to growth and development. Studies of Scott, White et.al. supports my argument such that their Examination of Previously Homeschooled College Students with the Big Five Model of Personality showed that the unique socialization practices of homeschooled families may impact their children’s personality development. Communication. A regular school gives children a chance to work with other people, hear different opinions, values, and beliefs.

Coffee Shop Essay Example for Free

Coffee Shop Essay I. Introduction The proposed study revolves around the creation of The Coffee House, a proposed small scale business that will be situated in the fast changing environment which is constantly changing due to constructions of buildings and other facilities in the Global City in Taguig City. The study will tackle from the history of the business up to the technical and financial aspects of the study, the said study will also develop the keen observation skills of the students in terms of the marketable value of a specific brand of their liking and will also hone their analysis skills in the business side of the proposed study whether technical or financial. II. Business History The Coffee House is a new small scale business that targets the coffee industry with an expected opening date of July of 2011 in 38th Dr. N. University Parkway, Bonifacio North Triangle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The business is a coffee shop, located near prestigious schools and business districts in the area. The business specializes in coffee, tea, and homemade pastries. There are other shops that only serve coffee in the vicinity, the nearest being over one kilometer away which is stationed at Market Market Mall in the vicinity. The target audience of the business is individuals which are both in the workforce and in the academe, students and professionals alike. Currently, there are no places in the surrounding area that cater to the said target audience. III. Vision and Mission Statement The vision of â€Å"The Coffee House† is to become the leading coffee shop in the area of Bonifacio Global City that is under the governance of Taguig city that also practices the â€Å"green† operation of its store and eventually provides a common area for business meetings, hang-out with friends and even a place for studying while enjoying the products of the business. The mission of â€Å"The Coffee House† is to bring back the appreciation of the masses to the local coffee, to break social norms through the business, to create an environment that can cater to different types of people all in the same time, to contribute to the development of one’s self being, to take part in the solution of environmental problems and to be able to encourage others in doing the same thing and lastly to help deflate the rise of unemployment in the country. Objectives The proposed studies primary goals over the next year are as follows: 1. Secure financing for start-up of at least P1, 380,000 for space and equipment. 2. Renovate our space in Global City. 3. Acquire equipment necessary for business, i. e. coffee pots, cappuccino machines, blenders, etc. 4. Make agreement with coffee distributors, and bakery vendors. 5. Create a cozy, clean environment (i. e. choice of colors, choice of music, decor) 6. Open for another branches and become the foremost coffeehouse in the area. Ownership The Coffee House is a corporation that was formed in the early stages of the study. Each individual are equally involved in the operation and management of the said proposed business. Since the ownership type of the business is a corporation type, in terms of profit, responsibility and liability each individual has equal share, therefore each decision that the business will take before it will be implemented into the business the owners will first assess the proposed implementation before implementing it on a first hand basis and if the decision fails, each one of them will also share the consequences of it. Location and Facilities The Coffee House is located at the 38th Dr. N. University Parkway, Bonifacio North Triangle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The proponents currently own the building that the proposed business will occupy. Thus, expenses for the renovation of the area will be taken from the funds of the business. Since building a business from the ground up, the proponents took a risk in renovating the proposed location to save the business for monthly increase in cost if the business will rent a commercial location. In terms of facilities, the proponents will avail the basic facilities to jump start the business and will acquire more equipment when the business has received its return of investment, which in the estimation of the proponents would be on the succeeding months from its launch date. Products and Services Description of Products and Services The Coffee House will offer high quality coffee our primary product at a very reasonable price. We will also sell homemade cookies, brownies, and doughnuts, also reasonably priced. Key Features of the Products and Services All drinks will be made with filtered water and the highest quality ingredients we can get. Frozen drinks will have caramel or chocolate syrup drizzled in the glass and over the drink. Cappuccino and hot coca will have whipped cream toppings as well as the option for candy sprinkles. Cookies will have the option of a chocolate or caramel dip and sprinkles. We will offer designer flavored cream and five kinds of sweetener, i. e. sugar, honey, Equal, and Sweet-n-Low. Cream and sweetener is at no extra charge. Production of Products and Services We will use only filtered water and will brew our coffee in commercial coffeepots that will be thoroughly cleaned between uses. We will bake cookies, brownies and pizza pandesal in our own on-site oven from proven recipes, daily. Future Products and Services Within the next three to five years we expect to branch out into catering and offer homemade pies, whole or by the slice. Comparative Advantages in Production Our low overhead and cheaper pricing will be the key to our success. Industry Overview Market Research There are other businesses that serve only coffee in the area. Size of the Industry Nationally, the coffee shop industry is quite large, but in Global City, there are only three. The nearest one is in Market Market which is less than one (1) kilometer away. Industry Outlook The coffee business does not show signs of slowing down. With new innovations such as flavorings and additives, it should continue for some time. Marketing Strategy. Target Markets Our target market is artists and writers who need a nice quite cozy place to think and do their work. Description of Key Competitors Of the three coffee shops in the area, one is a large chain with a very expensive product, one is really a home style restaurant, the last one, and our biggest is a Famous Coffee Shop with an Elegant Style Setting. Analysis of Competitive Position Our pricing strategy, comfortable atmosphere and offering free wifi access will be the key to our success. None of the other shops in the area can offer this. Pricing Strategy The business will offer three sizes of drinks, small, medium and large. Which ranges from 50 pesos to 100 pesos, our cookies and brownies will sell for P50. 00 each/Pizza Pandesal P46 each Promotion Strategy We intend to advertise in the local newspapers and offer a frequent drinkers club discount to our best customers. We will also send out ads via direct mail, which will include cents off coupons. Management and Staffing Organizational Structure Our organizational structure will be a simple pyramid style with the owners putting in as much work as the employees. Management Team Rachelle Ann Heyres and Marilou Deondo will share management and supervisory responsibilities equally. Rachelle for the morning shift. Marilou for the afternoon shift. Staffing We will hire two busboys, two waitresses, cooks, cashier, janitors, and also security guard these will be recruited from the STI. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Busboys- Security guard- A security guards duty is to perform the duties allotted to him either to secure a place from external infiltration of people or danger that may disrupt the functioning assets of the organization. His responsibilities include performance of the duty allotted to him, to report to his superiors and be accountable for any lapse of duty. Janitors or cleaners- Labor Market Issues In this area there are College students looking for work, part time or full time, we want to fill that need. Regulatory Issues Global City and the state of Taguig City both have regulations regarding food service establishments. We have already obtained the appropriate business permits. Risks Market Risks The main risk is monetary. The area may not be ready for a place like ours and we may not do a great business but it can be prevented we will offer( free wi-fi )access to all customers as long as they want as long as they are drinking our coffee. Implementation Plan Implementation Activities and Dates 1. Begin building renovation 7/11 2. Complete renovation 7/5/11 3. Begin preliminary advertising 7/6/11 4. Purchase and setup equipment 7/10/11 5. Open for business 7/15/11 Financial Plan Beginning Balance Sheet This will be a listing of all of your assets and liabilities, before you open for business. You may want to use a spreadsheet program to make this go easier. Balance Sheet Current Assets: Building P6, 900,000 Computer P69, 000 Sound System P92, 000 Furnishings P200, 000 Equipment P138, 000 Cash Rachelle P230, 000 Marilou P207, 000 Accounts Receivable None Inventory Coffee P46, 000 Tea P23, 000 Other Assets Cups P138, 000 Total Current Assets P8, 043,000 Liabilities: Accounts Payable (monthly) Water P9, 200 Phone P6, 900 Electric P23, 000 Donut Vendor P46, 000 Warehouse Club P46, 000 Coffee Distributor P46, 000 Wages P230, 000 Advertising P46, 000 Taxes Payable Property Taxes P23, 000 Employee Taxes P92, 000 Operating Loans Payable Startup Loan P23, 000 Total Liabilities P545100 ongoing per month Projected Income This will be a listing by month of your projected income. List the projected income each month for each product, this way you can compare actual sales to projected sales at the end of the year to determine what products to concentrate on. (Below is a sample month) July 05 Coffee P276, 000 Tea P92, 000 Cookies P69, 000 Donuts P115, 000 Misc. P184, 000 Total Income for March P736, 000 Total Projected Net Profit (Cost/Benefit) P144, 900 for July This would assume 20 pots of coffee sold a day, plus an assortment of other items. This also assumes the market will not increase or decrease due to weather or economics. This would be an average month. This of course would be adjusted monthly once you start business. Then based on the adjustments and actual sales, you can build a new balance sheet at the beginning of next year. Conclusions After you have created the business plan and examined the cash flow estimation you may find that your net profits are not what you would like them to be. In this case you may have to revise your pricing strategy to fit with your expectations or change your expectations. A coffee shop is not a get rich quick idea; it takes lots of hard work and long hours to realize your dream. But, in the long run, careful planning will make it all worth it. S. W. O. T analysis Strength * The Coffeehouse will offer foods compatible to the coffee that customer’s orders. * The environment of the business is always clean and well ventilated for customers to feel relaxed. * The beverages that the business offers are locally and naturally produced that ensures the quality of the products and lowers additional costs. * Ingredients for other products that will be offered by the business like pastries, salads and the likes is organically produce in the businesses green house. * The business is located near establishments for business, academic, rising condominiums and the occasional joggers of the area. Weakness * Unlike other coffee shops the location of our store is not inside the mall. * Lot of expenses. * Slow regaining for profit. * We need to advertise our coffee shop to the public to be known unlike the others. * Low competitiveness when it comes to name or brand. Opportunities * The coffee that we offer is new to the every individuals so the opportunity in it is that the coffee drinkers may want to try our products to compare it to their usual coffee. * Threats * The other coffee brands is popularly known by every individuals that drinks coffee. *

Book Review Freakonomics Essay -- Steven Levitt

"Anybody living in the United States in the early 1990s and paying even a whisper of attention to the nightly news or a daily paper could be forgiven for having been scared out of his skin... The culprit was crime. It had been rising relentlessly - a graph plotting the crime rate in any American city over recent decades looked like a ski slope in profile... Death by gunfire, intentional and otherwise, had become commonplace, So too had carjacking and crack dealing, robbery, and rape. Violent crime was a gruesome and constant companion... The culprit was the so-called superpredator. For a time, he was everywhere. Glowering from the cover of newsweeklies. Swaggering his way through foot-thick government reports. He was a scrawny, big-city teenager with a cheap gun in his hand and nothing in his heart but ruthlessness. There were thousands out there just like him we were told, a generation of killers about to hurl the country into deepest chaos... Criminologist James Alan Fox predicted two outcomes. The optimistic: that the rate of teen homicides would rise another fifteen percent over the next decade. The pessimistic: that it would more than double... Then all of a sudden, instead of going up and up and up, the crime rate began to fall. And fall and fall and fall some more. The crime drop was startling in several respects. It was ubiquitous, with every category of crime in every part of the country. It was persistent, with incremental decreases year after year. And it was entirely unanticipated, especially because the public had been anticipating the opposite... Even though the experts had failed to anticipate the crime drop, which was in fact well under way even as they made their horrifying predictions, they now hurried to... ...age. Levitt explores this passage with the same approach that he uses to explore the hidden side of many other such examples in society that have been overlooked and accepted as conventional wisdom for far too long. Take the parents who feel confident that they have made the right decision to forbid their child to play at a friend?s house whose family owns a gun, but allows their child to play at a friend?s house that has a pool. Levitt shows that the child is about ten thousand times more likely to drown in the swimming pool than in a gun accident, but that the violent conventional mindset associated with guns wrongly portrays their potential of causing death. Through these examples, Levitt establishes Freakonomics as a way by which the reader should live their life, never totally accepting something until every stone has been upturned, eventually exposing its hidden

Analysis of the article from Foucault’s perspective Essay

In â€Å"Discipline and Punishment†, Foucault focuses on the major social control institution, which is penitentiary system, or system of punishment and prevention of delinquent and deviant behavior. Andrew Jacobs in his article entitled â€Å"Whistle-Blowers in Chinese City Sent to Mental Hospital† discusses the government’s struggle against undesirable, yet legal, actions of citizens like petitioning and seeking justice. The present paper is intended to analyze the article through the lens of Foucault’s framework of punishment.   First of all, it needs to be noted that neither Foucault nor Jacobs write about the justice as the conceptual and moral foundation of the so-called law enforcement authorities. In Foucault’s opinion, what actually underlies the entire punishment system is striving for power as the end in itself: in the Middle Ages, for instance, public executions were administered in cases of those criminals who obviously undermined the ruler’s power and political influence. The article by Jacobs in fact is additional evidence of this thesis: whereas the citizens do actually nothing unlawful by   preparing petitions, they are nevertheless placed in mental health institutions, due to the fact that they to certain degree interfere with the execution of absolute power. This also proves the fact that the modern authorities and power/ governance institutions nowadays have become so complicated and autonomous system that they begin to function for their own sake, â€Å"forgetting† about their initial purpose, which consisted in serving the interests of the multitude. Foucault admits that the present-day punishment is free of tortures in order to evoke in potential criminals the fear of the penalty itself, rather than the pain and physical suffering. The scholar also adds that science in technology increasingly more often serve the purposes of this system so that a number of professionals including lawyers, police officers, engineers and psychiatrists are involved into the examination and investigation.   In this sense, the case of Shandong Province clearly shows that relatively painless measures are used to prevent citizens from excessive petitioning ; moreover, a successful tandem of police authorities and mental health specialists increase the reliability of this practice: â€Å"During a 20-day stay, he said, he was lashed to a bed, forced to take pills and given injections that made him numb and woozy. According to the paper, when he told the doctor he was a petitioner, not mentally ill, the doctor said: â€Å"I don’t care if you’re sick or not. As long as you are sent by the township government, I’ll treat you as a mental patient† (Jacobs, par.5). Thus, even health care as a social institution in general is actually an institution of social control, fully supporting and following the ambitions and interests of the existing authorities. Due to the fact that justice-seekers, as it has been noted above, act legally, they are not eligible to become prison inmates, so law enforcement agencies send them to mental hospitals. This means, the punishment and corrections system has become so vast and multifaceted that it can now achieve a number of different goals, including the goal of imposing a penalty on the individual, whose actions are not fully beneficial for the institutions of power.   Thus, such institutions, which serve their own needs, find strategies of curbing unfavorable behavior and select a path of minimal resistance: instead of officially declaring active petitioners as criminals (which will result in the need for reviewing and revising the entire legislation), these officials make an open statement that truth-seekers are simply mad and need special medical treatment. Thus, they even show this situation as the act of saving the society from one more mentally imbalanced citizen and preserving or improving this   person’s health. Thus, the philosophy ostensibly underlying this practice   seems noble, but it needs to be remembered that the institutions of power and social control work moistly for their own sake and attempt to expand and strengthen their influence. Foucault also dedicates a part of his work to describing the concept of discipline. In particular, the scholar asserts that discipline is one of behavioral compliance-gaining techniques, which consists in managing the distribution of individuals in space, controlling their time and clearly defining their relations with the institutions of social control. In this sense, the Chinese authorities obviously seek to introduce a new discipline and eliminate the habit of creating petitions and lawsuit against the governmental institutions, i.e. the practice of   hospital confinement is intended to deter individuals from interfering with the government’s course. This is actually the heart of discipline – the recognition of power, obedience and absolute acceptance of the programs and campaigns of the ruling institutions. Moreover, this out of common type of discipline allows finding supporters, who would be the social engines of the promotion and progress of the government’s activities. Finally, it is important to focus on the pure concept of punishment as explained by Foucault and addressed by Jacobs. Obviously, hospital incarceration includes all the components of punitive measure including control over the inmate’s body (i.e. the person depends on the institution in terms of the satisfaction of their basic needs); management of the prisoner’s time and activities and, thirdly, modulating the penalty. In the context of the article by Jacobs, the last component means administering additional therapies, which make the person half-unconscious for days or suggesting the release from the institution in exchange for signing a refusal of the petition. Importantly, the inmate is surveilled, but cannot see all of their â€Å"watchers†. As one can conclude, although the incarceration in mental hospitals is not a traditional form of punishment, it is actually similar to the regular imprisonment, because of the similar concepts like panopticism, discipline, painless punishment and the execution of the government’s authority. Bibliography Rainbow, P. The Foucault Reader. New York: Random House, 1984. Jacobs, A. â€Å"Whistle-Blowers in Chinese City Sent to Mental Hospital†

Pope Julius II Biography

Pope Julius II was also known as Giuliano della Rovere. He also became known  as the warrior pope and  il papa terribile. Pope Julius II was known for sponsoring some of the greatest artwork of the Italian Renaissance, including the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. Julius  became one of the most powerful rulers of his time, and he was more concerned with political matters than theological ones. He  was enormously successful in keeping Italy together politically and militarily.   Important Dates Born: Dec. 5, 1443Elected Pope: Sept. 22, 1503Crowned: Nov. 28, 1503Died: Feb. 21, 1513 About Pope Julius II Julius was born Giuliano della Rovere. His father Rafaello was from an impoverished but probably noble family. Rafaellos brother Francesco was a learned Franciscan scholar, who was made a cardinal in 1467. In 1468, Giuliano followed his uncle Francesco into the Franciscan order. In 1471, when Francesco became Pope Sixtus IV, he made his 27-year-old nephew a cardinal. Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere Giuliano showed no true interest in spiritual matters, but he enjoyed considerable income from three Italian bishoprics, six French bishoprics, and many abbeys and benefices bestowed on him by his uncle. He used much of his considerable wealth and influence to patronize artists of the day. He also became involved in the political side of the Church, and in 1480 he was made legate to France, where he acquitted himself well. As a result he built up influence among the clergy, particularly the College of Cardinals, although he also had rivals... including his cousin, Pietro Riario, and future pope Rodrigo Borgia. The worldly cardinal may have had several illegitimate children, although only one is known for certain: Felice della Rovera, born sometime around 1483. Giuliano openly (though discreetly) acknowledged and provided for Felice and her mother, Lucrezia.   When Sixtus died in 1484 he was followed by Innocent VIII; after Innocents death in 1492, Rodrigo Borgia became Pope Alexander VI. Giuliano had been considered favored to follow Innocent, and the pope may have seen him as a dangerous enemy because of it; in any case, he hatched a plot to assassinate the cardinal, and Giuliano was forced to flee to France. There he allied with King Charles VIII and accompanied him on an expedition against Naples, hoping that the king would depose Alexander in the process. When this failed, Giuliano stayed on in the French court. When Charles successor Louis XII invaded Italy in 1502, Giuliano went with him, avoiding two attempts by the pope to seize him. Giuliano finally returned to Rome when Alexander VI died in 1502. The Borgia pope was followed by Pius III, who lived only a month after taking the chair. With the help of some judicious simony, Giuliano was elected to succeed Pius on September 22, 1502. The first thing the new Pope Julius II did was to decree that any future papal election that had anything to do with simony would be invalid. The pontificate of Julius II would be characterized by his involvement in military and political expansion of the Church as well as his patronage of the arts. The Political Work of Pope Julius II As pope, Julius gave the highest priority to the restoration of the Papal States. Under the Borgias, the Church lands had been notably diminished, and after the death of Alexander VI, Venice had appropriated large portions of it. In the fall of 1508, Julius conquered Bologna and Perugia; then, in the spring of 1509, he joined the League of Cambrai, an alliance among Louis XII of France, Emperor Maximilian I, and Ferdinand II of Spain against the Venetians. In May, troops of the league defeated Venice, and the Papal States were restored. Now Julius sought to drive the French from Italy, but in this he was less successful. During the war, which lasted from autumn of 1510 to spring of 1511, some of the cardinals went over to the French and called a council of their own. In response, Julius forged an alliance with Venice and Ferdinand II of Spain and Naples, then called the fifth Lateran Council which condemned the actions of the rebellious cardinals. In April of 1512, the French defeated alliance troops at Ravenna, but when Swiss troops were sent to northern Italy to help the pope, the territories revolted against their French occupiers. Louis XIIs troops left Italy, and the Papal States were increased by the addition of Piacenza and Parma. Julius may have been more concerned with the recovery and expansion of papal territory, but in the process he helped forge an Italian national consciousness. Pope Julius IIs Sponsorship of the Arts Julius wasnt a particularly spiritual man, but he was very interested in the aggrandizement of the papacy and the Church at large. In this, his interest in the arts would play an integral role. He had a vision and a plan to renew the city of Rome and make everything associated with the Church splendid and awe-inspiring. The art-loving pope sponsored the construction of many fine buildings in Rome and encouraged the inclusion of new art in several notable churches. His work on antiquities in the Vatican Museum made it the greatest collection in Europe and he decided to build a new basilica of St. Peter, the foundation stone of which was laid in April of 1506. Julius also developed strong relationships with some of the foremost artists of the day, including Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo, all of whom executed multiple works for the demanding pontiff.   Pope Julius II appears to have been more interested in the status of the papacy than his own personal fame; nevertheless, his name will be forever linked with some of the most remarkable artistic works of the 16th century. Although Michelangelo completed a tomb for Julius, the pope was instead interred in St. Peters near his uncle, Sixtus IV. More Pope Julius II Resources: Julius II: The Warrior Popeby Christine ShawVisit merchantMichelangelo and the Popes Ceilingby Ross KingLives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to John Paul IIby Richard P. McBrienChronicle of the Popes: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Papacy over 2000 Yearsby P. G. Maxwell-Stuart