Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Ethics In The Age Of Information Essays - Hacker, File Sharing
Ethics In The Age Of Information Essays - Hacker, File Sharing Ethics in the Age of Information The information age is the age we live in today, and with the information age comes an age of ethics. When we deal with the new technologies introduced every day, we need to decide what we must consider ethical and unethical. We must consider all factors so that the use of the information readily available to many persons is not abused. "Information technology will be the most fundamental area of ethical concern for business in the next decade" (Houston 2). The most widely used tool of the information age is the computer, whether it be a PC or a network of computer systems. As we enter the information age the newness and power of information technologies tests the ethics of the average person, not just the criminal and causes thousands of computer crimes to be committed daily. The most common computer crime committed daily, some aware and many not, is the illegal sharing of computer software. Software is any of the programs used in operating a digital computer, as input and output programs, as defined by Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. When you purchase computer software, you purchase it with the underezding that it will be for use on a single computer, once installed on that system, it is not to be loaded on any other computer. However many people are not aware of this underezding, and many load a program on a couple of computers or on a whole network of computer systems not aware that they are committing a crime. Even though you probably will not be prosecuted for loading a program on a friends computer, this is where your ethics come in. Do you consider anything when you share a program with others? If not then consider the programmers of the software who are denied compensation for their developments every time you distribute a piece of software. "Why is it that people who wouldn't think of stealing pack of gum will copy a $500 piece of software" (Houston 3)? A popular form off illegal software distribution is throughout the online world. Whether it be the Internet, America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy, or a BBS (Bulletin Board System), software "pirates" thrive freely online. These so called "pirates" operate by uploading pieces of software, commonly referred to as "warez", into an online service's database then sending through e-mail the rights to download them. "The Information Superhighway has opened the door to a new kind of highway robbery - the home shoplifting network" (Mattia 43). When you access a online service, you are identified through an account which most commonly consists of a user ID and password. The password is so you only can access the online service with your user ID. Many people online use their own accounts to access their service, but many steal and use the accounts of others or make fake accounts. When online, these account "pirates" many times trick other users into giving their passwords to them by impersonating an employee of the online service. Others can hack into the online services mainframe computer and steal thousands of accounts. Probably the most common method of getting online without paying is the use of fake or fraudulent accounts. These are made by giving false information when attempting to gain access to an online service. Name, address, phone number, and billing information, such as checking account or credit card number, are all falsified in obtaining an online account. With these stolen and fake accounts, software "pirates" have virtually unlimited time to download their "warez" without any charge to them. Many people don't consider the people behind the creation of software when they illegally distribute it. The developers of software are not properly compensated for their work because of the extent of software piracy. No one can argue with a software company's desire, and right, to make sure everyone using their products has paid for it (Furger 73). The numbers add up, it is estimated that in 1994 alone that software companies lost $15 billion from illegal software copying (Maremont 65). It is not only illegal, but clearly unethical to distribute software knowing that the people behind the software are experiencing the downfalls of it.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Social Media Gaffes That Get You Fired
Social Media Gaffes That Get You Fired Jim Vassallo over at Gig.com has some cautionary tales for young workers, raised in social mediaââ¬â¢s first big heyday, who may not see how their online communication habits can affect their worklife. 1. Using Social Media At WorkUnless your title includes ââ¬Å"social media managerâ⬠or youââ¬â¢re on your lunch break, you shouldnââ¬â¢t be posting on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram while youââ¬â¢re at work. If your employer finds out, it may suggest youââ¬â¢re not sufficiently engaged by your job and might be happier on the couch with severance instead. So, protect your account if youà mustà tweet on the way to the conference room.2. Posting Photos With AlcoholThis is mostly for underage employees- no employer in their right mind could make a case banning consenting adults from having a beer- but do keep an eye out for unflattering or unprofessional photos of any kind on public social media accounts. True, you have the right to be off the clock and the righ t to drink- but you wonââ¬â¢t want to face your office on a Monday after a photo of you passed out in a pool of tequila went viral on Facebook.3. Making Complaints About WorkThis is obvious. Take your favorite coworker out to for coffee a healthy distance away rather than tweeting through it.4. Discussing Confidential InformationRemember the hospital staffer who posted the name of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynoldsââ¬â¢s daughter? If you donââ¬â¢t, itââ¬â¢s because she was fired immediately.5. Posting About ClientsMany companies make their employees sign non-disclosure agreements; even if yours doesnââ¬â¢t, consider anonymous venues likeà Clientsfromhellà if you really need to vent. Kvetching on social media is unprofessional, can cost your employer paying business, and even ruin your reputation for future jobs.As satisfying as it is to rant online, thereââ¬â¢s no sense in letting it compromise your career- not when there are so many privacy settings currently avai lable for millennials with chips on their shoulders!
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Physica Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Physica - Research Paper Example As the car moves at a speed, the objects inside will also move at the same speed. When the car stops suddenly the objects inside the car will continue to move forward unless it is stopped by some object like seat belt. The physics principle behind this process is inertia. Inertia is explained by Isaac Newton in his first law of physics. Inertia is the idea that moving objects will continue to do so unless an external force is applied to stop it. Inertia is one of the basic principles of physics that has innumerable applications. Principles of inertia are applied in several fields where speed, motion and direction are crucial factors. Knowing the basic idea of inertia helps us understand the way objects move in the universe. Inertia is therefore important in the development of various products. The interesting principle of inertia touches almost every aspects of our daily life. Appliances like refrigerator, air conditioners and heat pumps function on the second law of thermodynamics. Heat energy spontaneously flows from a hot body to a cold body. In order to make heat flow from cold body to hot body work must be done. A process, a cycle is continuously happening in a refrigerator. A liquid refrigerant substance is getting vaporized in the cooling coils. Heat in the surroundings is absorbed by this fluid. The fluid gets vaporized and this cools the fridge. The same principle is applicable in heat pumps and air conditioners. Pressure cooker which is used in our kitchen works on a physics principle. Vaporization principle is the secret behind pressure cooker. Pressure gets formed inside the cooker as the water boils. Boiled water produces steam which makes the temperature rise. The pressure and the high temperature inside the cooker make the food cooked. The high pressure and temperature reduces the cooking time. The pressure of the steam aggravates the gas pressure above the water. Boiling point is easily achieved by increase in pressure. Pressure cooker works on this principle. Devices like radio and telephone convert acoustic energy into electrical energy and electrical energy back to acoustic energy. Wirelessly transmitted electromagnetic waves are received by television and it is converted into light energy and acoustic energy. This is the principle behind the working of television. Toothpaste we use in every life is an example of the application of a physics principle. Applyig pressure on any part of the toothpaste tube makes the paste come out through the outlet. Pascal a Frenchman found out that if pressure is applied to any area of a confined fluid, pressure would get transmitted to all other parts with no loss. The applied pressure would put equal force on all parts of the confined walls. The force also comes perpendicular to the walls. If we put a hole in the toothpaste tube and push at any part of the tube, paste would come out through the hole. The force gets transmitted from one place to another through the liquid, which is the toothpaste. The same principle is used in hydraulic machines. Bicycles we use in daily life works on a physics principle. The prominent force that helps a bicycle to balance is centripetal force. A bicycle has two wheels kept in straight alignment. For a beginner it would be difficult to balance a bicycle. However, certain physics principles makes bicycle ride possible. When a revolving wheel rotates around a central axis in a single direction the wheel is prompted to continue moving in the
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Health Science and Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Health Science and Medicine - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear thatà there are various features present in the patient engagement applications available. For one, all these patient engagement applications offer medical tips and advice. This information helps the patients learn more about various diseases. The advice given on these applications helps the patients manage how to manage particular diseases. The other feature is that these application offer platform for the patients to give their feedback to the hospital or ask any questions.This study highlights thatà patient education is one of the most important factors when it comes to ensuring that their health is made a priority. Patients who have been empowered with knowledge will be able to spot any problems in their health, signs and symptoms of various ailments. The patients are going to be more responsible in matters concerning their health and when the symptoms persist, they will understand when it is a must to see a doctor. It is for this reason that there are Patient Engagement programs set up by hospitals so that the patients can learn more. Through patients learning more about different ailments, they will also make it easier for the doctor handling them. They have an interactive platform to ask any questions and give feedback to the hospitals about their services and areas that may need improvement on.à One of the patient engagement programs is the Kaiser Permanenteââ¬â¢s HealthConnect program.à This program used a registry and support program that offers electronic care.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Alina Humanities Essay Example for Free
Alina Humanities Essay PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of the course, students should be able to accomplish the following. 1. Understand and appreciate outstanding cultural expressions of the humanistic tradition. 2. Interpret and analyze selected artistic and ideological expressions. 3. Compare and contrast selected artistic and ideological expressions. 4. Identify causal influences in the chronological development of arts and ideas. 5. Applywhattheyhavelearnedaboutonecultureorculturalexpressionwhenexamining another. 6. Demonstrate how selected artistic and ideological expressions do or do not illustrate a cultural period or a stylistic concept. 7. Defend personal opinions regarding the interpretations of selected artistic and ideological expressions. 8. Demonstrate rhetorically effective writing appropriate for the study of humanities and meeting all requirements for college level writing. ***Please advise instructor if you will be taking exams at DSS. *** CLASS PROCEDURE OBLIGATIONS Class sessions will consist primarily of PowerPoint presentations that include representative images, texts, and audio from the humanist tradition. Students will be responsible for viewing/reading the powerpoints and/or other material prescribed for each presentation. When 1à engaging literary texts, the students must read the assigned pages before classes, be ready to pass written quizzes on the readings and be ready to discuss each respective dayââ¬â¢s assignment. *** Using laptop computers or other electronic devices is not allowed in class. For each incident, violators will be docked ten points on the following exam. Classroom Etiquette: 1. No talking during class. Private conversation cannot and will not be tolerated. 2. No reading the newspaper, or other outside material, or doing other homework during class. 3. Due to the abuse of using computers in class in the past, I ask that you do not use a laptop forà taking notes. 4. Arriving late and leaving early are disruptive. Please be considerate of your instructor and fellow students by arriving on time. If you should need to arrive late or leave early, please notify the instructor. 5. Turn off cell phones before entering the classroom. Attendance Policy Classroom attendance supplements and enriches text materials through films, slides, lectures, and discussions. In addition, class discussions suffer without each student present, since all viewpoints in discussion are important. Class attendance and punctuality are important. TCCsà Catalog states, ââ¬Å"All students enrolled in the College are expected to attend all classes, since regular attendance and regular application constitute the two most significant factors that promote success in college work. Until midterm during fall, spring and summer C terms, any student absent from any class for more time than that class meets in any one week (i. e. , two classes) may be withdrawn by administrative action (AW grade). â⬠Tardiness and/or leaving class early both disrupts the continuity of the class and reduces other students engagement with the material. Both, therefore, will be counted as absences.à Since late arrivals and early departures constitute class disturbances, each instance of tardiness to and early departure from this class will be counted as an absence from an entire class session. Consequently, STUDENTS WHO ARE TARDY OR WHO LEAVE EARLY FOR ANY REASON, INCLUSIVE OF BATHROOM USAGE ON MORE THAN A TOTAL OF FIVE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE WILL BE SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE WITHDRAWAL. STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE ON TIME AND POWER OFF THEIR CELL PHONES BEFORE CLASS BEGINS. Eight absences will lower your final grade in this course one full letter grade. A student with nine absences will automatically fail theà course. There will be no distinction made between excused and unexcused absences, so plan your absences wisely. 2 STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE ON TIME AND POWER OFF THEIR CELL PHONES BEFORE CLASS BEGINS. OBLIGATIONS I. Exams Students will be responsible for performing well on three exams. The course will be divided into three units, and a non-cumulative examination will be administered at the conclusion of each unit. All three exams will be comprised of slide identification, multiple choice, matching, short answer, and true/false questions. Students should bring a #2 pencil on the dates of the exams. IF FOR ANY LEGITIMATE REASON A STUDENT IS UNABLE TO TAKE AN EXAM ON THE ASSIGNED DATE, HE/SHE MUST NOTIFY THE INSTRUCTOR BEFOREHAND. Otherwise, no make-up exam will be administered, and failing to take an exam will result in an ââ¬Å"Fâ⬠for the course. The key to doing well on the exams: attending class, taking notes, and studying diligently. Each exam will include 20% extra credit. II. Writing Assignments Students will be responsible for submitting a total of three essays (600-650 words each). Each one of the three essays corresponds with each one of the 3 exams, and each of the three essaysà will be a response to prompts aligned with each unit/exam ââ¬â that is, each of the three essay assignments must be related to the readings for each exam. Further instructions and the essaysââ¬â¢ prompts will be posted on BlackBoard. The due dates are specified on the calendar at the conclusion of this syllabus. Note: Students must complete successfully a short grammar quiz before submitting each of the three essays. Essays may include MLA prescribed in-text citations. That is, if you quote or paraphrase from a source, you must parenthetically cite that source after the quote or paraphrase. Also, you willà need to include a Works Cited page. ***If you plagiarize, your essay will receive a zero, and your overall grade will drop to an F. Grading Each of the students three exams and the writing assignments will receive a letter grade: 100-90 = A; 89-80 = B; 79-70 = C; 69-54 = D; 53-0 = F. The three exam grades will each count 30%, totaling 90 percent of the studentââ¬â¢s final course grade; and the three essay grades total 10 percent of the final course grade. *Failure to submit an exam or essay will result in an F for the course. * 3 A studentââ¬â¢s excellent attendance, punctuality, Discussion Board participation, and attitudeà (citizenship) can count up to 10%++ ââ¬Å"extra creditâ⬠toward the final exam grade. Conversely, a studentââ¬â¢s poor attendance, poor punctuality, and poor citizenship/attitude (which includes talking, texting, ââ¬Å"acting outâ⬠in class) can affect negatively the final exam grade. Tardiness or leaving early will be counted as an absence and will therefore negate a studentââ¬â¢s extra credit for that particular class. Academic Honesty Policy Plagiarism: Websterââ¬â¢s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary states: to plagiarize is ââ¬Å"to steal or pass off ideas or words of another as oneââ¬â¢s ownâ⬠¦to use created productions without creditingà the sourceâ⬠¦to commit literary theftâ⬠¦to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing sourceâ⬠(p. 1371). Academic dishonesty is not accepted at Tallahassee Community College, and I will pursue and prosecute any instances of such dishonesty. ***Do not plagiarizeââ¬âthat is, do not use the research, ideas, or words of others as your own without giving proper credit to your source. This policy especially includes copying or paraphrasing written materials from gallery brochures, play programs, books, periodicals, encyclopedias, CD-ROMs, the Internet, or someone elseââ¬â¢s paper. ***Do not cheat. Students who cheat or plagiarize will receive an automatic zero on the assignment and will be referred to the academic dean for expulsion from TCC. By the act of submitting written work or an exam, the student acknowledges that she/he understands the definition of academic dishonesty and is willing to accept the consequences for any violation. COURSE WEB SITE: This course has been designated ââ¬Å"WAâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Web Assistedâ⬠) in the schedule of classes, and the ââ¬Å"WAâ⬠designation means: ââ¬Å"Some use of computer online technology required. â⬠In this regard a course web site has been established for students in this class. The purpose of the web site is to allow students access to important course materials (syllabus, writing assignment, study guides, presentation assistants, images, et cetera). The materials are intended as supplemental to the classroom experience; they should not, in other words, be viewed as substitutes for in-class presentations. Students may also use the course web site to communicate with one another by means of the ââ¬Å"Discussion Board,â⬠which can be found by clicking on the tab labeled ââ¬Å"Communication. â⬠Via the Discussion Board, students can introduce themselves to one another,à ask questions about the material covered in class, and ask questions about the course writing assignments (be careful, though, not to copy the answers of another student). Activating Your TCC E-mail Account If you have not already done so, you will need to activate your TCC e-mail account. To activate your TCC e-mail account, go to the TCC homepage at http://www. tcc. fl. edu/, click on ââ¬Å"Online Access,â⬠click on Student NetMail Guide; click on ââ¬Å"Activate your eAccount,â⬠and follow the directions. You will be given ââ¬Å"Student eAccount ID (or Name) and a Password (or PIN) that you need to record and store in a secure location. You will need your eAccount ID and Password to access both the course web site and your TCC e-mail account. If you have any problems, call 850-201-8535. Finding the Course Web Site 4 You may find the course web site by going to the TCC homepage at http://www. tcc. fl. edu/, clicking on ââ¬Å"Online Access,â⬠clicking on ââ¬Å"Blackboard. â⬠After logging in with your username and password, the next screen should display the name of the course in which you are enrolled. LIST OF CLAST SKILLS TAUGHT OR REINFORCED: The State of Florida requires each student to demonstrate proficiency in certain College Level Academic Skills (CLAST). The students of HUM 2210 will have the opportunity to practice and develop their reading and writing skills. As for their reading, students will engage their Literal and Critical Comprehension Skills; and, as for their writing, students will engage their English Language Skills: Content, Organization, and Grammar/Mechanics (i. e. , appropriate word usage, syntax, spelling, punctuation). Advising The Associate of Arts degree offered through TCC requires the completion of six credit hours in humanities with a grade of C or better. There are three different tracks through which those six hours may be obtained. The common track runs through both HUM 2210 and HUM 2230, Humanities of the World I and II. If students pass HUM 2210, then, to fulfill the humanities requirement, they must also pass HUM 2230 (and vice versa). Another track runs through HUM 2740 and 2741, Humanities Abroad I and II. If students pass HUM 2740, then, to fulfill the humanities requirement, they must also pass HUM 2741. The third track offers two humanities courses from four different categories. Those categories include courses relating to (1) Art History, (2) Literature, (3) Music, and (4) Philosophy and Religion. For the third track studentsà must pass two courses, and the two courses must fall into two different categories. Students cannot fulfill the humanities requirement by completing courses in different tracks. If, for example, students pass HUM 2210 and then pass REL 2300 (World Religions), they have not fulfilled the humanities requirement. ACADEMIC ALERT! Students enrolled in the same college-prep or college-level course for the third time shall pay one-hundred percent of the full cost of instruction (which is the equivalent of fees paid by out-of-state residents) except in approved cases of documented extenuating circumstances. Students may not withdraw on the third attempt and will receive a grade in courses taken the third time. An appeal to take a college-level course for the fourth time may be allowed based on academic goals. The appeal process is executed through the Counseling Department. If a fourth attempt is granted, a student will not be permitted to withdraw and will receive a grade for the course. The counting of attempts began in the fall of 1997 and includes only those attempts at the Florida college where one is currently enrolled. Take your course work seriously. Consult with your academic advisor, make an educationalà plan, attend class, and take advantage of the skillsââ¬â¢ labs available to you. * * * PRESENTATION TOPICS AND RECOMMENDED READING 5 Unit I: The Earliest Traces of Culture Ancient African Egyptian Culture Ancient Mesopotamian and Hebrew Culture Ancient Hindu and Buddhist Cultures Unit II: Ancient Greek Culture Ancient Roman Culture Early Christian and Byzantine Culture Unit III: Islamic Culture Japanese Culture: chs. 16, 23 (if time permits) Medieval European Culture Renaissance European Culture IMPORTANT DATES Classes Begin Holidays: Labor Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Break Monday, August 25 Monday, September 01à Tuesday, November 11 Wednesday-Friday, November 26-28 Last day to cancel registration/drop courses and receive a refund; last day to change from credit to audit or audit to credit Last day to withdraw from a course(s); last day instructors may assign AW Friday, August 29 Monday, November 03 1st Exam 1st Essay due Sept. 18 (Slide ID) Sept. 23 (Multiple Choice, etc. ) Sept. 16 2nd Exam 2nd Essay Due Oct. 21 (Slide ID) Oct. 23 (Multiple Choice, etc. ) Oct 28 Last Day of Classes Friday, December 05 Final Exam 3rd Essay Due TBA Day of the Final Exam TBA Final Exam: TBA Twelve Ways to make sure You Pass Your College Classesà 6 1. Study the text, lecture material, or additional assigned recommended reading. Superficially scanning the reading the night before the exam ââ¬Å"doesnââ¬â¢t cut it. â⬠2. Observe due dates. Late work, no matter what the excuse, will be downgraded or not accepted. 3. Do not urge the instructor to ââ¬Å"cut you some slackâ⬠or ââ¬Å"give you a break. â⬠If he or she did that for someone else and not you, what would your reaction be? 4. Attend class. While you may think class is boring, the teacher might just provide some insights that will help you better understand the content of the course. 5. Come to class on time. If you really want to get on the wrong side of the instructor, just make tardiness a habit. 6. Do not play with your cell phone, iPod, or other electronic device in class. Unless you have childcare problems or are a first-responder, these actions tell the instructor that something else is more important than what is being taught. 7. Do not copy from Wikipedia, a Google search, or someone elseââ¬â¢s work without proper citations. Teachers usually can identify plagiarism and material that is not yours. 8. Do not sleep in class. We know that school interferes with your social life, but do not make it so obvious! 9. Do not try to con the teacher. Telling an instructor that this is the last course you need to graduate or transfer will not earn you any leniency. 10. Do not tell the teacher that this class is the only one with which you are struggling and you have ââ¬Å"Aââ¬â¢s and Bââ¬â¢sâ⬠in all other classes. Donââ¬â¢t give the impression that your other teachers are too easy. 11. Do not tell the teacher that you must have a good grade or you will lose your eligibility for sports, scholarship, or grant; lose your G. I. Bill; or be on academic probation. 12. Take your course work seriously. Try your best to learn.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
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Asian Carp The Great Lakes system affects our lives in various ways. Not only does this water system affect people, it has an impact on the natural environment as well. The weather, climate, wildlife and habitat are all affected by this arrangement of five lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, and Erie. The lakes are huge and powerful, however they are very fragile when it comes to being mistreated. The ecosystem has been placed under stress in the past, and we now realize the importance of protecting and preserving our lakes. Years ago, a species of carp were brought into the United States to help our lakes, and now they run the risk of destroying them. Asian carp are a species of fish native to Siberia and China, but they were imported by fish farms in the southern United States to control algae and snail population. In the early 1990ââ¬â¢s, aquaculture facilities in the southern United States were flooded and the carp escaped into the Mississippi River and spread into northern rivers. The carp moved north becoming the most abundant fish in some areas of the Mississippi river, triumphing over native fish and bringing hardship to the people who fished the river. The carpsââ¬â¢ domination over the Mississippi is reason for concern in the Great Lakes region growing concern in the Great Lakes; the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal connect the Great Lakes to the Mississippi. Last month, a survey was taken that found Asian carp only 55 miles south of our very own Lake Michigan. Unless the Asian carp are deterred, they will infiltrate our great lakes, potentially bringing disastrous effects to the entire region. à à à Asian carp are a serious threat to the Great Lakes for a number of reasons; the primary concern being that they would become the dominant species after they enter the system. Asian carp can grow to the enormous size of four feet and weigh as much as 100 pounds. Their massive size results in a large appetite as well. In addition to this, Asian carp are a fast breeding species; upon entering the great lakes, it is likely that the carp will become the overwhelming majority of the fish population. Female carp carry up to one million eggs, allowing for this species to easily replace the local fish. These fast-growing Asian carp are not easy to get rid of. While smaller fish are scored and sold easily, this species of large fish are harder to process and score because their bones are big and difficult to remove.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Literary Analysis ââ¬ÅLife After High Schoolââ¬Â Essay
The short story, ââ¬Å"Life After High Schoolâ⬠by Joyce Carol Oates, is set in the small town of South Lebanon, New York in 1959. The first three quarters of the story is the tragic tale of one-sided love where Zachary Graff, the intelligent but socially awkward teenager falls in love with Sunny Burhman, the attractive and popular girl that everyone adores. She rejects his proposal and he canââ¬â¢t take it and decides to take his own life. Later, we find out his real love was Tobias, his one friend. His love for Sunny was his last way to fit in with the norms of society. Oates shows us the intertwined lives of three high school students and the paths taken to free themselves of the entrapment of their uncomfortable 1950s conventional lifestyles. Barbara ââ¬Å"Sunnyâ⬠Burhman is known as the popular too good to be true Christian girl in the story. She was everything the perfect, all American 1950ââ¬â¢s girl was supposed to be. In the beginning of the story she is referred to as ââ¬ËSunnyââ¬â¢ because her 6th grade teacher suggested calling her this because of her sunny personality. ââ¬Å"Tell you what, boys and girls ââ¬â letââ¬â¢s call Barbara ââ¬ËSunnyââ¬â¢ from now on ââ¬â thatââ¬â¢s what she isâ⬠(Oates 512). Sunnyââ¬â¢s freedom came by Zachary taking his own life. ââ¬Å"The irony had not escaped Barbara Burhman that, in casting away his young life so recklessly, Zachary Graff had freed her for hersâ⬠(Oates 518). She drops the name Sunny and just goes by Barbara Burhman. When she goes off to school she excels in college and solely works on academics. She drops all the ââ¬Å"Sunnyâ⬠aspects of her life that trapped her and she became a prestigious teacher and author. There was no place for an agnostic gay male like Tobias Shanks in a 1950ââ¬â¢s small town high school and he is forced to lead his life in secrecy. After Zacharyââ¬â¢s death Tobias Shankââ¬â¢s secret is safe from his fellow high school students. Tobias, like Barbara, changes his name after high school and goes by T.R. Shanks. Unlike Barbara, the author doesnââ¬â¢t let us know Tobiasââ¬â¢ exactà point of his freedom from the restrictions of the 50ââ¬â¢s lifestyle, but it does come. It possibly comes after the changing times of the 60ââ¬â¢s and 70ââ¬â¢s. T.R. is able to come out and find his place in the world as a gay man. He goes on to become a successful playwright and director winning many awards Oates leads us to believe that in the beginning of the story Zachary is a typical awkward intellectual that falls in love with the perfect girl in his high school. In reality, his true love is his one friend Tobias, but the constraints of the 1950ââ¬â¢s lifestyle led Zachary to believe that Sunny was his perfect choice. Up until death Zachary was conflicted. When both Sunny and Tobias reject him, death seems his only way to freedom. Oates gives some additional insight about Zacharyââ¬â¢s thoughts by telling the reader the contents of his car after his suicide. The author, by her quirky ending, left it up to the reader to decide that Zachary may have contemplated other scenarios that possibly wouldnââ¬â¢t have been appropriate with the 50ââ¬â¢s perfect life style. In Zacharyââ¬â¢s suicide note he takes responsibility and releases all parties of any guilt. This suggests that he did feel constrained by the 50ââ¬â¢s lifestyle to the very end. Oates writes a story about three high school students of the 1950ââ¬â¢s that students of today can empathize with. Although there still may be other issues of acceptance, the time period in which the story is placed was an especially conservative time. Suicide, homosexuality, and women playing important roles in society outside the home were not part of the social norm of the 50ââ¬â¢s. Today these issues are much more accepted. Oates shows us the intertwined lives of three students and the paths taken to free themselves of the entrapment of their uncomfortable 1950s conventional lifestyles.
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