The Overview of the US Federal Government

The Overview of the US Federal Government The Federal Government of the United States of America is as old as the country and the nation themselves – they were formed immediately after the War for Independence and are considered the first federal government in the history of human race. From the very beginning, the spirit of the nation was expressed in the so-called system of checks and balances – that was the American ideal of the body that leads the country the government of the laws, or of the system, and not that of men. The system of checks and balances presupposes that the government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial ones, each not only dealing with particular sets of issues without overlapping, but also being more or less equal in power, making the prevalence of any of these branches impossible and thus excluding the possibility of emerging the so-called â€Å"big government†, the government that is controlled from one center and tries to impose its rule over all the aspects of citizens’ lives. For quite a long time this system seemed to work. However, the 20th century showed that the temptation of power seems to be too strong – contemporary government shows all the signs of trying to expand its power as much as possible, making all three branches work in one and the same direction. Of course, it didn’t happen suddenly – the process was gradual, but always growing faster. The government generally began to expand its powers since the US Civil War, but only now it became really obvious. It is sad, to tell the truth. The very thing that has always been the core of the American lifestyle ebbs away gradually, and what will this country be when it is completely gone?

Music and the Brain Essays - 1320 Words

Music and the Brain In Macedonian hills, the music of Orpheus was said to possess certain magical qualities, having powers strong enough to alter the very behavior of people and animals. Among its abilities, the notes of Orpheus lyre were said to calm the guard-dog of Hades (1), to cause the evil Furies to cry, and to tame the deadly voices of the Sirens (2). Was this power simply a divine and magical gift with no other explanation, or can we explain more specifically the connections between music and behavior? Sound is an important input affecting the nervous system. The brain reacts to sound input because information signals are able to travel from the outside environment, across action potentials and through the neural†¦show more content†¦Specifically, music has been associated with healing abilities, and has been used for such purposes throughout history. Traditionally, the types of sound responsible for healing are characterized by distinct rhythms, and by specific emphasis on repetition that stems from those rhythms. The existence of repetitive beat seems to aid in the achievement of meditative state. Shamans are well known for their use of drum beats to access healing powers both within themselves and for the people they wish to treat (5). It has been suggested that in the meditative state—a state of extreme awareness and internal mental calmness—the two hemispheres of the brain become synchronized in brain wave production, rather than generating signals of varying frequencies and amplitudes. It would thus make sense that the repetitive nature of chant, and the underlying beat of music, is central in the unifying and rhythmic effect that such practices have on the brain. Specifically, we find the underlying repetitive drone, a constantly held baseline tone, in numerous types of spiritual chant, including the Hebrew, Byzantine, Arabic, Tibetan and Gregorian traditions. The Om sound is also an important tone in traditional chanting practice which calls upon repetition and harmonics for its restorative effects. A striking example relating rhythm, brain function, and health is found in a story which occurred forty years ago among a group of Benedictine monks inShow MoreRelatedMusic : Music And The Brain1928 Words   |  8 Pages Musical Preference People enjoy different types of music. Some enjoy classical selections such as Beethoven and Mozart, while others would prefer the rock and roll of The Beatles . Every person has their own taste in music. What defines an individual’s dislikes and likes in music are often overlooked. Musical preference has been proven to be connected to parts of the brain that are linked to age, personality and cultural identification as concluded from scientific experiments. Events in our livesRead MoreMusic : Music And Brain Development1112 Words   |  5 PagesMusic and Brain Development Brenen E. Dapkiewicz Music and Brain Development Start by speaking the ABC’s. Within that process I have a decent feeling they were vocalized in song form; more than likely it sounded like Twinkle Twinkle. A well known melody from birth. Hearing music everywhere, tuned into our favorite station on the radio, throughout stores in the mall, or even the drumming to the tempo of the car’s turn signal in front of ours. As individuals, we have developed over time the senseRead MoreMusic, Memories, And The Brain Essay844 Words   |  4 PagesWhen music plays as significant of a role in American society as it does today, many researchers focus their work on understanding the effects of music on the brain. In the podcast entitled Music, Memories, and the Brain, Steve Mencher interviews Dr. Petr Janata to find out more about how music is associated with human memories. Janata works in the psychology department at the University of California, in Davis, California. Janata’s research suggests that humans unintentionally store and create aRead MoreThe Effects Of Music On The Brain1443 Words   |  6 PagesThe human brain is said to be a very special and important organ in the human body, but what happens to it when it comes in contact with music. There are many studies on what music can do to the brain. There are negative and positive affects of music on the brain. The positive effects of music on the brain are numerous and expansive, with a heavy emphasis on focused concentration. Usually people can interpret faces based on how they feel, but with the help of music humans can see neutral faces differentlyRead MoreMusic Influences On The Brain1541 Words   |  7 PagesThe power of music is inevitable. It is a driving force that fuels society and can affect the emotions and thought processes of its listeners. The tones, rhythms, beats, and melodies of various musical genres has harvested Earth for years. From the Medieval Era to the Romantic Era and the 21th century, musical genres continue to evolve with time and leave everlasting impacts. Music possesses the ability to create a strong emotional and developmental influence on people, which in turn causes theirRead MoreMusic Effect On The Brain896 Words   |  4 PagesMusic affects the brain in many different ways. What would our world be like without music? Music has a direct path to our brain. It is a very big part of our daily lives. Everywhere a person goes, they hear music. Music affects chemicals in the brain that affect our emotions. Different types of music affect the brain differently. Music can be used in therapy to help a person with emotional problems. Music is even part of every country on earth. Humans are a musical species. Music has a majorRead MoreMusic And Its Effect On The Brain2402 Words   |  10 PagesMusic has a positive affect on mood and behavior through listening to lyrics of music, music therapy, and influence of music. Music has been around for many years, as far back as cavemen. Most Don t know but music has more of a purpose than just mere entertainment. Music is used in many cases as a therapy to help heal people. Music affects many different parts of the brain in a positive way. Music is also used to express pain and sorrow or other emotions and in many cases magnifies the feelingsRead MoreThe Effects Of Music On The Brain2152 Words   |  9 Pageswas conducted to see if certain types of music have different effects on the brain and to see if music has a positive or negative effect. To test the experiment three different types of music were played and the control was no music. Pop, rock and classical music was used. The results were that pop was the most beneficial and rock and class ical were the same. No music was the least beneficial. Introduction Many studies have proven that classical music improves your ability to solve arithmeticalRead MoreMusic s Effect On The Brain1027 Words   |  5 Pages4-21-15 Music’s Effect on the Brain The effect of music on the human brain may have much stronger powers than one might think. Music can directly improve brain functioning depending on the musical genre. Some studies show, music whether listening or playing, is able to improve the ability to process speech, evoke different emotions, stifle sound when concentrating, and help heal ill patients with cancer or memory disorders (Gholipour). Thats not all, also music can boost reaction time, bringRead MoreThe Effects Of Music On The Brain And Body1638 Words   |  7 PagesVarious studies have shown different effects of music on the brain and body. According to the results of a study published in Neuroscience Letters, listening to a piece of music interpreted as happy or sad can make a person perceive a neutral face as either happy or sad. PET scans have been performed on a variety of people, some scans focusing on a person’s brain activity while listening to a piece of music, and some scans focusing on a pers on’s brain activity while playing a musical instrument. In

Smileys people, spy game Free Essays

â€Å"In the world of espionage the value of trust Is paramount† represents a valid statement to an extent. The characters values and Ideologies are a reflection of the context of which they live. The novel Smiley people by John Lee Care, the movie Spy Game, directed by Tony Scott and the Interview Kim Billy’s great betrayal presented by Phillip Adams represent this statement through different portrayals of the world of espionage. We will write a custom essay sample on Smileys people, spy game or any similar topic only for you Order Now These three texts exhibit a power struggle between communist and western democratic societies, both very different political ideologies. The world of espionage is fraught with manipulation, betrayal and deceit and aiming to achieve the â€Å"greater good†. It is a world where its inhabitants will do anything – even if it means performing acts that are seen criminal by mainstream society – Just to complete a mission. It Is a world where information is gold and an important document Is worth more than a persons life. Trust sustains a relationship In the spy world, a relationship that allows communication and control of knowledge and power. The spy world demonstrates a context where trust Is a value, not valued by all who inhabit this world. For spies that â€Å"play the spy game† they have to have trust in those that control their missions and must have trust in themselves, to be able to get the job done. But for others such as defectors and double agents trust is tool used to get information and used to manipulate and gain power over the opposing side. A clash between the personal and the professional values is seen in Tony Scoots Spy Game, through the character of Tom Bishop. It is shown in the scene where Bishop must bring Schmidt across the border from east to west Germany. When Bishop and Schmidt realism that they will get killed if they attempt to cross the border, Schmidt pleads with Bishop to take him â€Å"But my wife, my kids†. When Schmidt says this we can see Bishops realization that Schmidt Is human and not just an expendable pawn, or an asset. This clash between the personal and professional values of Bishop challenges his moral outlook on life. However in order to stay alive and protect himself he must leave Schmidt, whys trust he has manipulated for use of his own organization and his own professional gain. Whilst having to trust someone who may be doing the same thing to him. The context has had an effect on the values of Bishop, his values compromised by the situation he has been placed in. The choice to leave Schmidt behind to die was not a choice that Bishop would have made on his own accord, yet he has had to. This is a direct result of his immediate context, which has forced a re-evaluation of his values. The value of trust one that all spies must have, has turned bishop against his personal humanity and has set him to achieve what Is seen as the greater good, to leave Schmidt because he Is less Important. The trust placed In agents to carry out the Nilsson that they are assigned with Is a tepee for agencies to take in process of completing the mission. The agents who are to best that they should or mess it up completely, it is in these times that the value of trust is seen to be most paramount. An example in Tony Scoots Spy game is when Bishop is sent to manipulate the doctor to have the sheik assassinated however he let down Mir and he didn’t get there in time so Mir had sent in a suicide bomber to blow the apartment building. Bishop had played on Emir’s trust and let him down, after the explosion Bishop asks Mir if he’s happy with the outcome â€Å"Seventy four casualties and an entire apartment block leveled, one dead terrorist. Yeah IM happy’ is the reply from Mir. In this statement we can see the stark contrast in perspectives of success and the values required in order to obtain this success. Seventy four casualties for one terrorist is a high price to pay, but it shows that Mir is more about getting the Job done, and working for the greater good as he believes that their sacrifice is better than one terrorist living. Mir throughout the book is a representation of freedom pictured almost always with the American flag which is a presentation of the values upheld by the county and the values that he upholds within himself driving him to become better as a spy, the flag is a symbol of the trust placed in him by his superiors working in the CIA and other government organizations it is because of this trust and expectation that Mir pursues his missions to the fullest extend as he is not a person to those who trust in him down. George Smiley on the other hand, an old school spy born and raised in a democratic society. Stuck in his ways as a spy is more wary about who to trust. Smiley is enraged with the circus or MUM for breaking their promise to protect Vladimir. This trust that Smiley had placed in MUM, much like that of Mir in Bishop, is broken. Smiley must now take matters into his own hands not sure who to trust but close friends. To find the truth is what fuels Smiley search for the mystery behind the death of his old friend Vladimir. Smiley is a perfect representation of a mans internal struggle of conflicting values, and he must overcome the conflict to get to the bottom of the case an bring down Karl. The conflicting values is depicted in the quote â€Å"Wrestling with troubled dreams†. Smiley eventually through internal conflicts of morals and values rings down Karl. Smiley disregards this as a victory as he had compromised values precious to him, he sees the victory as double edged the fact he caught his man but had to give up who he is to do this his views on the sanctity of human life differ from those of Mir, Smiley is seen throughout the novel to try and save people like Castrato’s and not to let them die. His use of manipulation and deceit was what had allowed him to get the information he needed, but has left him feeling dejected that his morals and values have become irrelevant in order to achieve the greater good. Deception is the way of the spy and most of them have used methods of this nature to obtain information and as a way of being able to use people we see this in the interview â€Å"Elliot deceived by Kim Philly’ Elliot was one of Philips friends inside MUM and the trust that he showed in Philly was the weak link in the relationship. Although some spies might consider the morals behind their actions on the other end of the scale there are those that don’t have moral and will use trust for their own gain and take advantage of those closest to them. These are the people that totally n the novel Smiley People would be something along the lines of a evil master mind set to take smiley out at all costs. Karl however isn’t, he has mixed his personal with professional because of the love for his daughter. Trust in the spy world is complicated due to the fact that everything is to be kept secret from each other, so how are you supposed to trust someone whilst they aren’t telling you everything that they know. This is where trust comes into play, to be able to trust someone and their Judgment of what is right whilst figuring out for themselves what their values and morals say is right is what the fullest extend of the rust in the world of espionage. Trust in the spy world isn’t at a constant in different contexts, situations, different people and agents will all see trust in a different light, and of different importance. Trust is what keeps agents alive to able to trust yourself at any time to do what is best for those around you and to trust those around you that they have your back. Yet there is no difference in those fighting and working for the greater good and those working against trust is recognized as a necessity and a value needed to be able to compete in the spy game. How to cite Smileys people, spy game, Papers