Classes 2.0

Classes 2.0 Here’s to a basically mid-semester check-in to what I spend my time doing. I waited because I naively hoped that life would settle down into a rhythm before I profile it, but also because I was procrastinating as bloggers do. Probably primarily the latter. 6.009 Fundamentals of Programming I made that cat black and white and blurry (on purpose)! That was me! Mind you, this was the very first problem set. About a month and half in now, it’s safe to say that I will have learned a lot by the end of this semester. Perhaps even enough to compensate for the fact that my Sundays have been renamed “Day of 6.009 Office Hours.” 6.006 Introduction to Algorithms This class focuses on “mathematical modeling of computational problems,” which basically means runtime and common algorithms, like merge sorts and Dijkstra’s shortest path. I fluctuate in this class from really feeling like I have a grasp on the material to feeling like the professor is speaking a foreign language. This bipolarity often occurs within the same lecture, but if I sit in office hours for enough time, it sometimes starts to make a little sense. 7.012 Introduction to Biology Every year, registration for this class is lotteried probably because Professor Eric Lander, one of the leads on the Human Genome Project, is a lecturer for the class. The best part is I have the opportunity to take him out to dinner through the Student-Faculty Dinner, assuming we can fit into his busy schedule. Currently debating whether it’s too weird to ask for an autograph or something. ES.S41 Nonviolence as a Way of Life This class is taught under the MIT Prison Initiative, with philosophy Professor Lee Perlman, and philosophy it is. We’ve spent entire classes focused on the word forgiveness, discussing it objectively and subjectively, defining it meticulously, and creating counterexamples that take us right back to square one. I take this class with the inmates of the Norfolk medium security prison, who are often serving very long or life sentences for their crimes. To hear an MIT student’s perspective is interesting, but to hear a gang leader’s opinion on nonviolence is something else. For them, the parallel experience of hearing our perspectives and similarities with their thoughts have surprised them as well. It’s a five hour block every Thursday, given transportation and processing time, but this is probably (hopefully) the only context in which I’ll ever set foot in prison, and that experience has already been profound and educational in more ways than simply discussing the readings of Gandhi on campus. My plan is to post more in depth about this in the future, after I figure out the boundaries of privacy and legality (someone hold me to this). 13.Ballroom In an attempt to gain some semblance of body awareness, I’ve found a new hobby (yay for things besides psets)!! This weekend, I’m competing (so soon wowza) at Brown in like 9 different dances, currently knowing only three-ish and feeling like I have two left feet, so this should be fun! I’d say ballroom is my “let’s try something new even if I suck because that’s part of the amazing human experience” item of the year. So far, it’s been a blast, despite tipping over several times in high heels already while dancing. Updates (most likely) coming in the future. 13.UROP To support my lack of a meal plan and therefore, constant take-out ordering, I have found a cool CSAIL lab to work in (coincidentally in the same group as Anelise N. :o). Here’s the rig I get paid to play with: The idea is to create a dataset that a machine learning model could train and test on to reconstruct the scene not in the frame, using tonality data. Applications of this include using the model to “see beyond corners” and also render items in augmented/virtual reality. It’s some really cool stuff that I don’t necessarily entirely understand yet, but I’m so happy to be at the intersection of photography and machine learning applications. 13.HireMe (pls) Wow, trying to get a job is like a full-time job. Even with job postings swimming in buzz words like “Harvard MBA looking for app coder,” “machine learning,” and “startup culture,” it’s hard to sell yourself to the recruiter, while also convincing yourself that you won’t just be another cog in the corporate machine. I shouldn’t even be complaining. I was talking to a Course 1 Environmental Science major (so rarely found in the wild, I know!), and she was explaining to me what the job search struggle really sounds like when companies are only big enough to hire one intern per summer, but there are often moral issues with working at big oil companies that can afford a herd of interns. 13.StateofWorld The past few weeks have been very heavy, weighed down by things that happened within the MIT community and the world, from losing a member of our class to natural disasters near my family. The result is that the hours I’ve laid awake in bed could easily amount to time I’ve spent in class. What a time to be alive. I’ve been writing this piecemeal as I wait for data collection in my UROP, or if I ever get tired of banging my head against a wall for a problem set, so apologies on any discontinuities or tangential trains of thought, as I am hOsEd. Post Tagged #6.006 #6.009 #7.012 Intro to Biology #Ballroom Dancing #CSAIL (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab) #CSAIL (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab)

The Effects Of Violent Media On Children - 1813 Words

Effects of Violent Media on Children With the growth in popularity in films, media has been a major influence in people’s lives. In recent years we see movies and tv shows impacting the way we talk, move, and even think. In recent events, theories on violent behavior have emerged with the belief that media is causing it. The issue becomes even more serious whenâ€Å"...watching violence in the media becomes enjoyable and does not result in the anxious arousal that would be expected from seeing such imagery.† (Violence in the Media.). A lack of anxiety leads to apathy in people when it comes to doing violent crimes themselves. People become so used to watching violence and crime that it becomes apart of their lives and could influence them into behaving the same way as a character in a movie or tv show that they watch. This is especially true for children because they are watching these types of shows and movies while their minds are still developing. Violence in media is a serious issue because as media in fluence grows, the bigger the chance that crime rates will go up do to the impact it has on children in such an early stage of their life, and parents of these children need to get involved to stop the promotion of violent behavior. Research has shown that children are more prone to changing their behavior after watching certain tv shows. A study was done with a group of one hundred preschool kids at Tsaturian 2 Pennsylvania State University. These children were dividedShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Violent Media On Children952 Words   |  4 PagesWhen it comes to the topic of violent media being beneficial for kids, most of us will readily agree that there is an ongoing debate on whether or not children should be exposed to violence. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of whether violent media can help children express their rage and other feelings that they are taught to deny. Whereas some are convinced that exposure to juvenile violence in the media is harmful to children, others maintain that it can help themRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Media On Children975 Words   |  4 PagesIn discussions of violet media on children, one controversial issue has been that violent media effects children in a negative way. On the one hand violet media causes children to build up aggression and are at risk to be more criminally active as adults. My own view, is some peopl e blame violent media for children’s aggression but media provides knowledge of what the content contains, to caution viewers from violent action. Violet media can also be beneficial to children, it causes them to expressRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Media On Children971 Words   |  4 PagesIn discussions of violent media on children, one controversial issue has been that violent media effects children in a negative way. On the one hand violent media causes children to build up aggression, and are at risk to be more criminally active as adults. My own view, is some people blame violent media for children’s aggression, but media provides knowledge of what the content contains, to caution viewers from violent action. Violet media can also be beneficial to children, it causes them to expressRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Media On Children901 Words   |  4 PagesIn discussions of violent media, one controversial issue is whether violet media, like videogames, or com ic books have a negative or positive effect on kids. On the one hand, some people argue that they enjoy expressing built up anger and emotions through reading comic books. On the other hand, violent media can effect young children and have them think it’s okay to be violent in real life. My own view is violent media does cause kids to have a mindset that killing or violent actions are okay toRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Media On Children2635 Words   |  11 Pages4: The Effects of Violent Media Introduction As the internet becomes an essential part of daily life for most of the population, the youth have quickly adopted its usage. The increased availability of television, film, music, and video games has made these forms of entertainment popular choices for young consumers. Along with the increase in media options, media’s depiction of violence has increased as well. Concern over the increased violence in the media has prompted research on its effect of childRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Media On Children And Youth990 Words   |  4 PagesEssentially since media is more violent than ever, and children and youth are getting more attracted to violent media. Studies on violent media shows a clear evidence that violence on media rises the possibility of aggressive behaviors in both short-term and long-term situations (Rowell Huesmann, Moise, Podolski, Eron, 2003). Most researchers agree that aggressive behaviors are more disposed to the harmful impact of violence on media. The ne gative effect is much larger for younger children because theyRead MoreThe Effects of Violent Media on Children, Adolescence, and Adults2656 Words   |  11 PagesThe Effects of Violent Media on Children, Adolescence, and Adults Cheri Burns COM/220 August 17, 2011 Mary McWilliams The Effects of Violent Media on Children, Adolescence, and Adults Violence in every form of media is a part of daily life. Children of all ages all over the world are being affected by violence in one form or another. This paper is focusing on television and gaming that children are engaged in. There have been many studies looking at this problem and ways to prevent childrenRead MoreViolent Media Does Not Have an Effect on Children Essay1974 Words   |  8 Pages Violent media is a prominent part of Americas culture. America is the home to dozens of multimillion dollar industries that specialize in making violent media. This media usually has a rating label on it, categorizing it as being made for young children, teens, or adults. The purpose of this is to protect children from the disturbing and/or violent scenes depicted in the media. Yet, millions of children under the age of 17 still have free access to violent media. However, even though childrenRead MoreViolent Media Is Good For Kids1324 Words   |  6 PagesWhen it comes to the topi c of violent media, some of us would readily agree it’s a controversial subject as to whether kids should or shouldn’t be exposed to it. This is because many children who view violent media react negatively rather than not being affected at all. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of what effects does it have on children. Whereas some are convinced that it is a healthy alternative for kids to express themselves, others maintain that it causes kidsRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Media On Aggressive Behavior1590 Words   |  7 Pagescorrlation between violent media and aggressive behaviors in individuals. This paper represents an effort to provide a source for individuals who are interested to gain information on the effect of violent media on aggressive behaviors. Most of the peer-reviewed and scholary articles used in this paper provided conclusions that violent media have multiply harmful affects on individuals especially children. Krahà © and Mà ¶ller (2011) discussed the relationship between usage of violent media and aggressive

Chile s Economic Freedom - 4108 Words

Introduction CHILE From the point of view of economy freedom, Chile’s score is 78.7 (2014 Index of Economic Freedom Chile, 2014). This makes Chile’s economy the 7th free economy in the index of 2014. The total ranking is a bit lower than previous year. There is a change, to be more precise it’s a positive change in the investing figures of Chile. Chile is considered at a very high position with regards to its economic freedom in Southern and the Central parts of America. Chile’s economy has been constantly considered as one of the most freely run economies in its 20 year old history of index. It has also been successful in achieving economic freedom, which is highly impressive at 70. There are 10 economic freedom concepts, out of which three have been successful in gaining a score of 20 points or above since 1995. Those three economic freedom concepts are corruption freedom, freedom for investing and financial ease of freedom. Looking at Chile’s high levels of effici ent operations, monetary freedom and business freedom has improved efficiently as well. Chile is considered worldwide leader in economic freedom. It continues to go by the concept of limited government through public financial management. Through this concept Chile has been successful in keeping its finance debts and deficits under control. Chile has actively participated in Trans-Pacific partnership negotiations and this further shows that it has been steadily committed to its trade and business relations.Show MoreRelatedChile : A Global Perspective1141 Words   |  5 Pagesforeign direct investment due to its sustained economic growth and stability and due to favorable investment and business development climates. Chile is committed to trade and investment liberalization. Chile is the first country in South America to sign a free trade agreement with the USA (effective January 1, 2004). (Mogab, Spring 2011) Since then there has been increasing economic interdependence between th e U.S. and Chile. American exports to Chile have increased by 545% to over $17.5 billionRead MoreThe Chilean Press1602 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"The Chilean press has managed to uphold a strong tradition of editorial freedom ever since the country’s first newspaper,† (RoughGuides). The media and its median is ever changing and evolving all over the world, to truly understand any form of media today we must trace it back to its beginnings. Every country has their own set of laws for the press and we need to understand how economical and social issues, as well as events, influenced in changing and shaping the media, as we know it today.Read MoreChile, A South American Country1496 Words   |  6 PagesChile is a South American country that contains a population of around 18 million people. Chile s population is composed predominantly of mestizos, who are descended from marriage between the Spanish colonizers and the indigenous people. Out of those 18 million people, 11 million are just consisted of women population. Ever since, Ferdinand Magellan, the first European to set foot on what is now called Chile, women have been neglected of many of their rights. Facing domestic violence and gender-basedRead MoreThe Impact of the Cold War on Developing Nations Essay1175 Words   |  5 Pages1940’s to late 1990’s. United States wanted to flex its political muscle and try to curtail the spread of Soviet Communism in the developing nations. Most of the nations in developed world had already made their political and socio-economic stand regarding the form of governance and leadership pursued. Underdeveloped nations in Asia, Latin America and Africa were still vulnerable and easily influenced in terms of ideologies and political direction. Most nations in Latin America like Chile were recoveringRead MoreThe Competitive Advantage Of Chile990 Words   |  4 PagesCompetitive Advantage Chile has a competitive advantage in the forestry sector since pine grows exponentially faster in the southern forests of Chile than in New Zealand, Sweden, and Canada. While Chile has a competitive advantage in the forestry sector, it is not the leading export. Chile’s leading export is the mining sector which makes up 51 percent of the exports, and contributes more than eleven percent to Chile’s GDP. Not only is the forestry and mining sector important to Chile’s exports,Read MoreAnalysis Of The Book Overthrow By Stephen Kinzer1713 Words   |  7 Pagesoperations† throughout the late 19th and 20th Centuries. The United States government overthrown foreign governments for economic benefits. Some economic benefits that were gained would be promoting American economic interests and access to natural resources. For instance securing trade and support for American private investment abroad was another way United States gained economic benefits. While reading the book Overthrow by Stephen Kinzer there are examples on how United States overthrow Hawaii,Read MoreNeo Liberalism1568 Words   |  7 Pagesneoliberalism in Peru and Bolivia. The intent behind neoliberalism policies is to remove control from the government and allow more freedom to the private sector. â€Å"Broadly speaking, neoliberalism seeks to transfer part of the control of the economy from public to the private sector, under the belief that it will produce a more efficient government and improve the economic health of the nation† (Neoliberalism, 2010). Simply, the point of these policies is to provide a healthier government and allowRead MoreHistory Of Trans Pacific Partnership899 Words   |  4 PagesJuly 2015 History of the Trans-Pacific Partnership The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a secretive, multinational trade agreement being negotiated among countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, including the United States, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Mexico, and Brunei Darussalam. Together they represent about 40% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The TPP is expected to reduce (or eliminate) trade barriers, facilitate the development of productionRead MoreEssay on Colombia: A South American Country1068 Words   |  5 Pagesabout 105 people per square mile. Colombia is divided into 32 departments and a capital district. The capital of Colombia is Bogota, which has a population of 7.6 million people. The official currency of Colombia is the Peso, which is also used in Chile, Uruguay, Cuba, and Mexico. Currently, one US dollar is equal to 2017.82 Colombian pesos. Since the equator runs though the southern part of Colombia, it is considered to have a tropical climate. Due to small changes in temperature throughout theRead MoreThe United States Foreign Policy1433 Words   |  6 Pageshuman rights violations in Latin American countries in order to advance their political, economic, and cultural agenda. The United States has been involved in several covert operations to maintain political dominance in Latin American countries such as Chile, Nicaragua, and El Salvador by supporting violent dictators and corrupt governments. Due to the election of Socialist president Salvador Allende in Chile in 1973, the U.S. government distributed propaganda and weapons that destabilized the Chilean

Effects of Punishment Free Essays

Punishment and sentencing are an integral part of our criminal justice system. There are four basic philosophical reasons for sentencing retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. There are some factors that that can affect how a wrongdoer is punished. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of Punishment or any similar topic only for you Order Now There is a debate surrounding capital punishment with very distinct viewpoints. These topics will be covered in this paper. Purpose of Sentencing There are four basic philosophical reasons for sentencing retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. Retribution is the oldest and most common justification for punishing someone. In a system of justice that favors retribution, a wrongdoer who has freely chosen to violate society’s rules must be punished for the infraction. Retribution relies on the principle of just deserts, which holds that the severity of the punishment must be in proportion to the severity of the crime. This is not the same as revenge because retribution is more concerned with the needs of society as a whole instead of just the victim or victims. Deterrence seeks to punish wrongdoers and to prevent future crimes by â€Å"setting an example. By setting an example society is sending a message to potential criminals that certain actions will not be tolerated. There are two forms of deterrence: general and specific. The basic idea of general deterrence is that by punishing one person, others will be dissuaded from committing a similar crime. Specific deterrence assumes that an individual, after being punished once for a certain act, will be less likely to repeat that act because she or he does not want to be punished again. Incapacitation is another strategy for preventing crime. Incapacitation is the detention of wrongdoers in prison, preventing the offender from committing any future crimes. The final philosophy is rehabilitation. The philosophy of rehabilitation is that society is best served when wrongdoers are not simply punished, but provided the resources needed to eliminate criminality from their behavioral patterns. Factors of Sentencing The sentencing ritual strongly lends itself to the concept of individualized justice. There are two factors that most judges consider before sentencing a wrongdoer, the seriousness of the crime and if there are any mitigating or aggravating circumstances. The Seriousness of the Crime is the primary factor in a judge’s sentencing decision. The more serious the crime is, the harsher the punishment. Every judge has their own method of determining the seriousness of an offense. Most judges will simply consider the â€Å"conviction offense†; that’s where they base the sentence on the crime for which the defendant was convicted. Other judges focus on the â€Å"real offense† in determining the punishment for a wrongdoer. The â€Å"real offense† is based on the actual behavior of the defendant, regardless of the official conviction. Many prosecutors and defense attorneys are opposed to â€Å"real offense† procedures because they can render a plea bargain meaningless. Mitigating and aggravating circumstances are circumstances surrounding a crime that may prompt a judge to adjust the sentence so that it more accurately reflects the totality of the crime. Mitigating circumstances are circumstances that may justify a lighter sentence and aggravating circumstances are circumstances may justify a harsher sentence. A defendant’s youth or the fact that the defendant was coerced into committing the crime could be considered a mitigating circumstance. A prior record, a blatant disregard for safety, or the use of a weapon can be aggravating circumstances that could lead a judge to inflict a harsher penalty than might otherwise be the case. Capital Punishment Capital punishment is the use of the death penalty to punish wrongdoers for certain crimes. Capital punishment is the ultimate deterrent by rendering those executed incapable of committing further crimes. If a murderer is dead they will no longer be a threat to society. Another viewpoint is that the criminal justice system is infallible. What this viewpoint says is that many American men and women who had been convicted of capital crimes and sentenced to death were later found to be innocent. That is the problem with the system that sometimes prosecutors will convict an innocent person just to close a case. Conclusion The four basic philosophical reasons for sentencing are an integral part of our criminal justice system. There are some factors that that can affect how a wrongdoer is punished. The debate surrounding capital punishment will most likely never end since every side has their own viewpoints. How to cite Effects of Punishment, Essay examples

Legal Rights of Black Americans free essay sample

A discussion regarding the legal rights of Black Americans from the time they were brought to America as slaves. Specific reference is given to the various laws that were passed during the 19th Century. In this paper the author discusses the situation of Black Americans and assesses whether the abolishment of slavery has provided any greater protection under the law. The author starts at the beginning of the 19th century and looks at how Blacks were taken into slavery and brought to America. The author moves on to discuss the Missouri Compromise and the discussions that took place regarding ?slave free states?. The author then discusses then various laws that were passed during the 19th century and how the issue of slavery was eventually brought before the nation. From the paper: ?For a brief period during Reconstruction, many African Americans voted, and some were elected to public office. In the late 1870?s, however, enthusiasm for ensuring black equality waned in both the North and the Republican Party, and by 1877, when federal troops were withdrawn from the South, blacks were left to the power of whites committed to restoring white supremacy. We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Rights of Black Americans or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ?

The Pros and Cons of Solar Power

The Pros and Cons of Solar Power The prospect of generating pollution-free power from the sun’s rays is appealing, but to-date the low price of oil combined with the high costs of developing new technology have prevented the widespread adoption of solar power in the United States and beyond. At a current cost of 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, solar power costs as much as five times more than conventional fossil fuel-based electricity. And dwindling supplies of polysilicon, the element found in traditional photovoltaic cells, are not helping. The Politics of Solar Power According to Gary Gerber of the Berkeley, California-based Sun Light Power, not long after Ronald Reagan moved into the White House in 1980 and removed the solar collectors from the roof that Jimmy Carter had installed, tax credits for solar development disappeared and the industry plunged â€Å"over a cliff.† Federal spending on solar energy picked up under the Clinton administration, but trailed off again once George W. Bush took office. But growing climate change worries and high oil prices have forced the Bush administration to reconsider its stance on alternatives like solar, and the White House has proposed $148 million for solar energy development in 2007, up almost 80 percent from what it invested in 2006. Increasing the Efficiency and Lowering the Cost of Solar Power In the realm of research and development, enterprising engineers are working hard to get solar power’s costs down, and expect it to be price-competitive with fossil fuels within 20 years. One technological innovator is California-based Nanosolar, which replaces the silicon used to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity with a thin film of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS). Nanosolar’s Martin Roscheisen says CIGS-based cells are flexible and more durable, making them easier to install in a wide range of applications. Roscheisen expects he will be able to build a 400-megawatt electricity plant for about a tenth of the price of a comparable silicon-based plant. Other companies making waves with CIGS-based solar cells include New York’s DayStar Technologies and California’s Miasolà ©. Another recent innovation in solar power is the co-called â€Å"spray-on† cell, such as those made by Massachusetts’ Konarka. Like paint, the composite can be sprayed on to other materials, where it can harness the sun’s infrared rays to power cell phones and other portable or wireless devices. Some analysts think spray-on cells could become five times more efficient than the current photovoltaic standard. Venture Capitalists Investing in Solar Power Environmentalists and mechanical engineers aren’t the only ones bullish on solar these days. According to the Cleantech Venture Network, a forum of investors interested in clean renewable energy, venture capitalists poured some $100 million into solar start-ups of all sizes in 2006 alone, and expect to commit even more money in 2007. Given the venture capital community’s interest in relatively short-term returns, it’s a good bet that some of today’s promising solar start-ups will be tomorrow’s energy behemoths. EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E.

How to Use the Typical French Expression Ah bon

How to Use the Typical French Expression Ah bon The everyday French expression, Ah bon ?, pronounced  Ã‚  [a bo(n)],  is used primarily as a soft interjection, even when its a question, just as we say the equivalent in English, as in: Im going to the movies. Oh, really? The speaker is indicating interest and maybe a little surprise. Its the same in French. An Interjection With Many Meanings Ah bon,  literally means oh good, though  it  commonly translates into English as: Oh yes?Really?Is that so?I see. But there are a dozen more ways it could be correctly translated, too, depending on what you want to express. The expression ah bon, among the most common in the French language,  is, as we noted, really more of an interjection, and, in general, its used to acknowledge what another person just said, to reinforce a sentiment, or to ask for confirmation. Dont be fooled by  the use of bon. It doesnt carry the meaning of good here, so ah bon can be used when talking about both good things and bad things. Examples With ah bon, bon, ah, oh   Jai vu un film intà ©ressant hier. Ah bon ?  Ã‚  I saw an interesting movie yesterday. Oh, yes?  Nous avons dà ©mà ©nagà © aprà ¨s le dà ©cà ¨s de mon pà ¨re. Ah bon.  Ã‚  We moved after my father died. I see.Je pars aux États-Unis la semaine prochaine.  Ah bon?   Im going to the States next week. Really?  Jaimerais vraiment que tu viennes!  Bon, daccord. Id really like you to come! OK, I will.Bon, je reste.   Right, Ill stay.Il est venu. Ah bon  !   He came. Did he really ?Ils nen ont plus en magasin.  Ah bon  !  [with a ton of resignation] They dont have any more in stock. Oh well !Ah non alors  !   Certainly not !Ah oui  ?    Really ?  Pousser des oh et des ah To ooh and ah