Learning machine Essay Example for Free

Learning machine Essay The author believes that like a learning machine the human brain is capable of adapting anything new regardless of the age of the person. This she deduces this from a number of arguments in the form of research done from different points of view but all leading to her conclusion. The author is not describing other peoples’ opinions. Rather she uses their arguments as the premises to end at the conclusion that she states at the beginning of her excerpt. The author uses information on neural plasticity from presentation done by Gregg Recanzone using animals, Merzenich Michaels’ research on â€Å"shaping the machinery of our brains† using the elderly and   Alison Gopniks’ research on plasticity of the brain using children and the connection to the logic of imagination all from the University of California. Columbia University’s Walter Mischels’ discussion on the ability to control our desires based on the imaginations we put on them and Sir Michael Rutter of King’s college made a presentation of the effects of early institutional deprivation[1]. To arrive at the conclusion, the author used the data from done research as the premises to support her conclusion. Though the author does not use the solid research data to support her argument, she uses the findings of the research as her arguments. The research was done correctly. There are various experiments done where there was need for comparison. There was physical experimenting in the case of study. The author shows only one side of the issue. The author relies on isolated researches, which makes the findings reliable. The author makes a valid conclusion form the data that was well intended for showing that indeed the plasticity and changes in the brain is a life long process. At any time, the conclusions made should be based on concrete and sound arguments. Arguments based on facts or pre-proven researches are valid arguments. To make a conclusion, one needs to provide valid arguments that are in line with the conclusion to be made. The conclusion made should therefore be in tandem with the arguments presented to make a valid conclusion. This is because there can be a situation where there are valid arguments but an invalid conclusion. In the excerpt, the author has used valid arguments in the form done researches to arrive at the conclusion made. The conclusion is also valid. In making a good argument, there should be no assumptions made. In the excerpt, the argument that uses the animal species of a monkey to relate to the human situation is challengeable. Real research in the human context would have been the best line of action in the case study. The education sector in the United States today is a very good example. In the New York Times on 6th July 2010. The unions are accusing the government for â€Å"undermining public education†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Is the conclusion right? What is the basis of their conclusion? In the National Education Association’s convention that began on Saturday, there is no one from the Obama administration is set to speak in the convection. This is despite the previous two-year addresses that the president had made to them. They claim that they have not seen the change they hoped for from the government. â€Å"Today our members face the most anti-educator, anti-union, anti-student environment I have ever experienced,† Dennis Van Roekel, president of the union, the National Education Association, told thousands of members gathered at the convention center.[2] The angered teachers are being blamed for the prevailing situations in the public schools. There is a connection in the article and except, the teachers unions are deriving a conclusion from the arguments that I have briefly summarized among the many more in the article. The concept of using valid arguments to arrive at a conclusion is utilized here. Like any other animal man is no exception to nature. Nature requires that the species adapt to survive. The human brain is the control system of the human body, this makes it the first to respond to the changes and hence give directive to the whole body in order to survive. As we grow, the rate of responsiveness to changes will decrease. The brain is an organ in the human body, all the body tissues are subjected to wear and tear and old age makes the body not able to replace the worn out tissues as fast as before. Therefore, the brain will have worn out tissues that will make it unable to adapt as first as before. BIBLIOGRAPHY Dillon, Sam.2010. Teachers’ Union Shuns Obama Aides at Convention. The New York Times July 6th, 2010. Retrieved on 6th July 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/education/05teachers.html?_r=1hpw Nelson, Leah.2006. A learning machine: Plasticity and change throughout life. Retrieved on July 6th, 2006 http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=2029 [1] Leah Nelson. 2006.   A learning machine: Plasticity and change throughout life. Retrieved on 6th July 2006   http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=2029   [2] Sam Dillon. 2010. Teachers’ Union Shuns Obama Aides at Convention. The New York Times 6th, July 2010. Retrieved on 6th July 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/education/05teachers.html?_r=1hpw

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Victims, Bullies and Bully-Vict

Conceptual Framework Many people have different views on what they think bullying might be. It is often interpreted in different ways by different people. Rigby et al (2002) cited a definition of bullying as ‘an intentional harm where the power is differential between the bully and the victim’ (p.1). This meant that the bullies are likely to suffer from a range of problems than the children who are uninvolved. The researcher’s main assumption is to consider victimisation and bullying separately and secondly to consider victimisation and bullying simultaneously to examine the genetics and environmental influences on the covariation between the two. The paper focuses on three groups of children that are involved in bullying. The three groups are as follows: one being the victim, two being the bullies and third one being the bully victims who are both the bullies and the victims of bullying. According to Egan and Perry, (1998) they believe that the bullies and victims have an increase in emotional and behavioural problems than the children who are not involved in bullying. One of this problem being is low self regard where as Hawker et al (2006) stated the problems are anxiety and depression where as Schwartz (2000) stated that the bullying victims are more depressed and anxious and have higher rates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and are more likely to be referred for psychiatric care and also are more likely to be rejected by a school (Kempulainen et al 1998) compared to the children who are uninvolved in bullying, the victims or bullies. Hawker and Egan et al both have similar views as they both sta ted that the bullying victims are depressed and anxious. Various studies have been car... ...ousehold income. Overall it has been proved that bullying was influenced by genetic factors and to a small extent by non shared environmental factors. Patterson et al (1992) suggested that socialisation via parenting and peers (Harris, 1998) contribute to share and non-shared environmental influences on aggressive behaviour. The correlation between victimisation and bullying indicated that fewer children are the bully-victims while more are ‘pure’ victims or ‘pure’ bullies. This confirms earlier research that has been carried out has found a similar correlation between victimisation and aggression (Hodges and Perry, (1999); Crick and Bigbee, (1998). The correlation was seen as high in girls as in boys between the victimisation and bullying. This concludes that the chances of being a bully given to that one victim are just as high for girls as for boys.

Review on My Name Is Khan

To write a review about a film which contains not only the magical combo of Shahrukh Khan-Kajol-Karan Johar but also something different from melodramatic love story or usual remake of hardcore commercial film is pleasurable. My Name Is Khan has a excellent point to a class of audience who likes to watch Shahrukh Khan in a different characteristic. But the film does not show the excellence enough to get a perfect worship from all audiences and critics.In the movie Rizwan embarks on a touching journey and gets the true recognition of his love,love for Mandira_we reveal a simple but touchy characteristic of an ordinary man’s love,we go through an extra ordinary journey. The movie has some points for which it can be appreciated. Firstly, though such story is not brand new but it has a fresh and own style of presence. Though it can not pass through the mark, made by movie like Forrest Gump but the point is it is not bullshit in any sence. MNIK also gives you a massage and create a different and sometime authentic feelings while you are watching.Secondly,the script makes you feel for the character. It is not Shahrukh Khan,it is Rizwan Khan for whom you will think. It is not chiffon sarees or bubbly dialogue for which you will adore Kajol,it is Mandira. It is a woman who really reflect the motherly affection, a loving and caring wife. Thirdly, the tempo of the movie. It has many subplot but they are quite interesting. It’s an exceptionally relevant to a concept-the unity of nations is of paramount importance, We are all coming together to fight for a common cause – called humanity.Everyone knows that terrorism has no religion and it will never have a religion. As a film, it tries to show social responsibility and the character tries to fulfill that from their position. Though the specificity of activities is not beyond question. Fourthly, the movie can clear it’s idea. It’s not all about a disabled man’s fight against disabil ity. It’s a disabled man’s fight against the disability that exists in the world—terrorism, hatred, fighting. My Name is Khan is also about Islam and the way the world looks at Islam but it not takes any sides.It only tries to say that there are only good people and bad people. There are no good Hindus, bad Hindus, good Christians, bad Christians. Either you are a good person or a bad person. Religion is not the criterion, humanity is. Fifthly, all the actors and actresses has done well. Specially Shahrukh-Kajal combo has got another dimension in bollywood after this movie. Kajal has done very well. Her maturity is used very consciously. We get Shahrukh in a new and pleasant avatar after Chak De! India and Swades. Zarina Wahab is very good as Rizwan’s mom.Thanks Shahrukh for making the character more closer to the audience. Yes we can say he can act. Sixthly, the director has used the complexity and complication provoked by rational and regional aspect th ough it is not totally agreeable in some sense. Moreover sometimes there are many reasons behind any happenings like- 9/11, which can not be described so easily. Moreover, Indian Film Indusrtry don’t have the trend to take a risk by making film relevant to such touchy issues though films like New York ,Kabul Express,Main hoon Na had made.But they were not totally focused. I am not telling that MNIK is all focused but it has got some solid point to relate with a serious issue. Use of metaphorical shot is also notable. Specially Rizwan holding poster-Repair Almost Anything headlined is a brilliant one. This stands for a meaningful thought. The narrative style of story telling and blending past time and present time is good but continuity error like showing objects which don’t match with the time showed in the movie is not expected.The narrative style may influenced by The Shawshank Redemption and Godfellas. The ending is quite good but it may be more gothic and more auth entic. The journey of Khan may be showed more smartly in accordance with happenings as sometime it has feel us melodramatic. Cinematography is worthy off a hand of applause, specially using the background and wide angle shot. Editing is fine. Thanks Ravi K. Chandran (director of photography) and Deepa Bhatia (editing) Shankar-Ehsan-Loy has done a great job both in soundtrack and background score.Thanks to the lyricist(Niranjan Iyengar and Javed Akhtar) The songs such as â€Å"Noor-e-Khuda† blend western bar blues and techno sounds with Indian classical styles such as Sufi and Hindustani. The soundtrack is thus representative of the â€Å"indie fusion genre†. Unlike Karan Johar's other films, this film has no lip-sync songs. All the songs are in background. â€Å"Tere Naina† is a good one. In short The content of My Name Is Khan is diametrically opposite to whatever Karan Johar done in the past. My Name Is Khan is â€Å"not all about terrorism, or 9/11.Itâ€℠¢s about a relationship between two people, between an individual and the State, and between an individual and the country. In short, there the three important components: love story, Islam and a mild form of autism. You can watch it. Sometime it is impressive, dramatic, a little bit slow, inspiring, may be controversial but enjoyable too. The pick up line is – There are only two kinds of people in this world. Good people who do good deeds. And bad people who do bad. That's the only difference in human beings. There's no other difference.

Censorship Is The Control And Suppression Of Ideas And...

The simplest definition of censorship is the control or suppression of ideas and information released within a society. In the early 20th century, censorship was achieved for the purpose of altering offensive or objectionable information that may have brought negative attention to government or a political figure. However in recent times censorship has taken a more iron-fisted approached with suppressing information and it can be argued that nations across the world are stripping away our freedom of speech through the internet. This has become a pressing issue throughout different communities around the world and it has divided content creators and internet surfacers alike. Censorship has become such a talked about topic that news outlets such as The Washington Times and Huffington Post have taken a stance on the matter. Washington times took a biased stance posting an article titled â€Å"Blankly, we need censorship† while Huffington Post takes a more unbiased approach coveri ng both sides of the argument. Finding multiple perspectives on the same issue is key when analyzing different news stories and it is important that one is able to see what information may be biased or not when taking it in. The rationales for censorship has always been up to to discretion by whoever has control of the information. Censors usually target material that may be found indecent or obscene by an audience, however some block material that could be seen as seditious or even treasonous. This isShow MoreRelatedArguments For and Against Censorship Essay1044 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Censorship is defined by Caso as the suppression of speech or any other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive politically incorrect as determined by the government or any other control body (3). Censorship may be justified from the conservative view whereby the free speech can be maltreated where it undermines the customary principles and communal solidity as withheld by a particular community. Arguments for censorship One of the argumentsRead MoreBook Burning in Nazi Germany1237 Words   |  5 Pagesother written works by fire. And it is done in public. Also it is a representation of censorship. The drive behind such acts can either be political, cultural, or religious resistance to the material in question. The purpose of the Nazi book burning was to destroy all ideologies that were considered to be un-German. In 1933, university students were on a mission to cleanse Germany of Jewish intellectual ideas (Fishburn, 2007). They believe that the book burning would keep the German literature andRead MoreGovernment Must Not Censor The Arts Essay2561 Words   |  11 Pagespreoccupations of an era shape a society. And the best insights are revealed, not through the clarity of connection, the union of expression or the dominant ideology, but through the chaos and rupture caused by the dissenting voice. It is often when an artist is most at odds with his or her world, most subject to critical debate, t hat we glimpse the dominant values of society, giving way to the cultural conscience of the time. One of the artists and humanists greatest value to a society is in the mirror ofRead MoreTerrorism Is Motivated By Fear1599 Words   |  7 Pagespsychologically affecting the public. Oftentimes, nations attempt to minimize terrorism by increasing the degree of power held by the governing institutions. However, democratic societies must retain the freedom to criticize and hold the government accountable. The government should not enhance its authority for the sake of arbitrary control but should use its power in cases when there is reasonable suspicion of impending harm. In 2002, India introduced its Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) which enhancedRead More Censorship in Media Essay2359 Words   |  10 Pagesviewing audience. Censorship is defined as Policy of restricting the public expression of ideas, opinions, conceptions, and impulses, which are believed to have the capacity to undermine the governing authority or the social and moral order which authority considers itself bound to protect? (Abraham 357). Political, religious, obscenity, and censorship affecting academic freedom are all equal in their destructiveness towards free speech. ?There are two different forms that censorship takes; prior, whichRead MoreEmergency and Laws Imposed on Media5949 Words   |  24 Pagesrefusal to submit to her unseating from power in a judgment by the Allahabad High Court on an election petition charging her with electoral corruption in her Lok Sabha General Elections.. Immediately after this declaration, the government tightened its controls on the Indian mass media, especially on the newspapers which had reputations of being free and lively under the protection of Article 19(A) of the Indian constitution which i s the fundamental freedom of speech and expression. Courts and judgesRead MoreEssay on Islamic Societys Treatment of Women4405 Words   |  18 PagesIslamic Societys Treatment of Women From the time of birth, a Muslim womans place in Islamic society already has a shadow cast over it. Instead of the joyous cry that boys receive of Allah Abkar1 when they are born, a baby girl is welcomed into the world with a hushed Qurannic prayer. Although Islam venomously denies its role in the suppression of women, a survey of Islamic countries reveals that women are denied their humanity. The status of women in Islamic countries is undeniablyRead More Biography of Margaret Sanger Essay5092 Words   |  21 PagesMargaret Sanger Margaret Sanger founded a movement in this country that would institute such a change in the course of our biological history that it is still debated today. Described by some as a radiant rebel, Sanger pioneered the birth control movement in the United States at a time when Victorian hypocrisy and oppression through moral standards were at their highest. Working her way up from a nurse in New Yorks poor Lower East Side to the head of the Planned Parenthood Federation of AmericaRead More Clear Channel and the Cultural and Socio-Political Ramifications of Media Consolidation6315 Words   |  26 Pagesstations in the U.S., â€Å"controls 20% of all radio industry revenues,† and, according to testimony by CC’s CEO Lowry Mays before the Senate Commerce Committee in January of 2003, the company plans to continue to acquire stations when and where possible (Cornell Univ. 2004: 3; Chen 2003). While the phenomenon of rampant media consolidation made possible by the government’s deregulatory practices has been greeted with general enthusiasm by the corporate world, it has left others in society gravely concernedRead MoreEthics of Information Communication Technology (Ict)27618 Words   |  111 Pages239 ETHICS OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) Paper prepared by Tengku Mohd T. Sembok, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for the Regional Meeting on Ethics of Science and Technology 5-7 November 2003, Bangkok UNESCO Regional Unit for Social Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific (RUSHSAP) 241 ETHICS OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) 1. INTRODUCTION Globalization and digital convergence in the emerging knowledge society has raised complex ethical, legal and