Naive and Naivety

Naive and Naivety Naive and Naivety Naive and Naivety By Maeve Maddox A reader asks about the use of the word naivety: I recently read this in a copy of Nature: â€Å"They challenge the naivety of the idea that science, proceeding openly and aloof from its sociopolitical environment, reaches incontrovertible truths by unassailable reason.† I do not recall ever seeing that use before. Pronunciation note naive [nye-EEV] naivety [nye-EEV-uh-tee] The adjective naive is a badly assimilated French borrowing. Ever since it entered the language as naà ¯ve in the seventeenth century, it never has managed to look like an English word, and it presents many English speakers with difficulty in pronunciation and spelling. No longer spelled with the two dots over the i, naive originally meant â€Å"natural and unaffected, artless, or innocent.† Additional meanings that have attached to the word are â€Å"showing a lack of experience, judgment, or wisdom; credulous, gullible.† The earliest citation for the noun naivety in the OED is dated 1709, but the word doesn’t show much life on the Ngram Viewer before the 1960s. In current usage, some political writers seem to use naive and naivety as euphemisms for ignorant and ignorance. Naivety is frequently used with the verb expose, as if to imply that being naive is something best concealed. Sports writers are fond of the words as well, but I’ve yet to figure out exactly what they mean by them. My best guess is overconfident or, perhaps, ill-advised. To me, naivety implies a belief in the good intentions of others. A judge handing down a sentence in the case of two people who stole from a ninety-year-old couple used the word in this sense: They allowed you access [to their home] in innocence and naivety andwere repaid by you in taking the only items of value which were on open display.- The Telegraph. Naive is an appropriate and neutral adjective to describe the innocence and inexperience of a young person. When applied to politicians and business leaders, it takes on a connotation of reproach, even contempt. Here is a random sampling of naive and naivety as used on the Web: Exposed: Ron Paul’s Foreign Policy Ignorance and Naivety Is Stuart Lancaster just a  naive coach  taking another high-risk gamble?   Manchester City Pay Heavy Price for First-Leg Naivety vs. Barcelona Is Social Media making Young People Naà ¯ve and Unhappy? (Some writers still use the dots.) For decades, senior executives have used  naivety  as an excuse when customer data has been stolen.   Was [Chamberlain] just hopelessly naive about Hitler’s Germany and too embroiled in domestic agendasto handle the run-up to war? Both naive and naivety are useful words to convey trusting innocence or idealistic expectations. It seems a shame to use them as insults. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Types and Forms of Humor40 Synonyms for â€Å"Different†55 "House" Idioms

Socially constructed (i.e. ideologies and mindsets) nature of the Essay

Socially constructed (i.e. ideologies and mindsets) nature of the current economic recession - Essay Example One of the biggest problems the U.K. economy is facing is the rise in the unemployment rate. The current unemployment rate of the United Kingdom is 7.9%. The unemployment epidemic is occurring throughout the entire world. There are approximately 115 nations that have an unemployment rate that is as high or worst than the United Kingdom with Zimbabwe being the worst victim with an astronomical unemployment rate of 95% (Cia, 2011). Zimbabwe is also facing hyperinflation. When people don’t have a job there are not able to cover their living expenses. There are other problems the British economy is facing. There are millions of British people living in extreme poverty. For instance the amount of homeless people is huge. There are approximately 400,000 people in the United Kingdom that do not have a roof over their heads. Extreme poverty is not just occurring in emerging economies. It is also a reality of a developed nation such as the United Kingdom. These figures do not make sens e to me since the gross domestic product per capita in the United Kingdom is one of the highest in the world at ?22,241 (CultureGrams, 2011). The government has not done an adequate job to ensure British wealth is distributed more evenly. The government should raise the tax rates to 50% for any person that has an income above ?1,000,000 a year; also people who make between ?200,000 and ?999,999 should pay a higher rate of between 40-45%. The added revenues should be used to help out the poor people in the United Kingdom. The world has become a harsher place to live for underdeveloped countries since the global recession. More than half the world’s population is living with a daily income of ?1.60. The global recession hurt the developed countries which caused a chain reaction that lowered the donation money and other economic assistance that underdeveloped countries used to receive from the private citizens and governmental institutions of developed countries around the world . The United Kingdom is also facing other economic issues that are hurting the quality of life of the population. The prices of basic need items such as food and medicine are on the rise. When British citizens go to the supermarket or grocery stores they are paying more money to buy vegetables, milk, bread, and meats among other food products. The poor and lower middle class in the United Kingdom are paying the consequences of food inflation. The rise in food prices has affected the global population severely. Things have gotten so bad that nearly 25,000 people are dying everyday of hunger and hunger related causes (Poverty, 2011). The children are the biggest victims of this epidemic since there is nearly one billion children globally that are suffering from malnutrition. Another sector that is facing major inflationary forces is healthcare. The annual cost of healthcare per capita in the United Kingdom is ?1483. The added money that the government is spending in healthcare cost du e to inflation could be used more effectively to help the poor people living in the United Kingdom A factor that is lowering the quality of life of British people is the rising cost of fuel. Gasoline is necessary to be able commute to work and to get from one place to another. The price of gasoline has gone down a little in 2011, but it is still way too expensive. The United Nations should impose

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) - No Specific subject yet Thesis Proposal

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) - No Specific subject yet - Thesis Proposal Example As experience has it, with a sudden change of that person, system appears back firing than functioning as per the previous standards. Despite the Drills, SOPs, Regulations, besides all the money and material benefits, the work force seem capable of disrupting the harmony and productivity of the system. Though, previous century witnessed enormous research in this regard. Management techniques have been revolutionized than 20th century methods, with increased economic incentives and social securities / assurance to the working force, yet it appears that Human element still tops complicating the Business triangle. With huge investments in personality development and skills honing, management transformation and all necessary amendments in coercion removal, still some irritant asks further pondering upon. The point offers a food for thought to further explore and work upon the Human and system factor to overcome flaws and suggest ways to help gear up the business machinery in forward motion. Reasons for deterioration on part of any organization may be attributed to both the linear or parallel way between management and work force. Partly the rigidity of the system and its requirements and partly Socio – Psycho make and type of the stake holders may be blamed. System’s Inability to drive and demand output through systematic checks and â€Å"will and skill matrix† of the persons involved running matters also affect the cohesiveness of the system. Ease of access to info and layered complexity of the life, where, tensions control attitudes, do have a part in play. Change, certainly is the hardest of idea to enforce as Jack Welch would have put it â€Å"Change Yourself Before†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.† R’aisen Detre calls for re evaluation of the existing management practices and re defining these outmoding norms amid transnational competitive work environment. Probably that’s why management level

How to Become a Straight A Student by Cal Newport Essay

How to Become a Straight A Student by Cal Newport - Essay Example What works for a particular student may not work for another. However, there are certain study methods that can work for most students. Students can determine for themselves the study methods that work best for them. Often, most students choose study methods such as making short notes to remember key information, repeating or verbalizing the information studied and using memory tools to help retain the information. Jim was always an average student. Although he was always poring over his books, trying to memorize facts, he was never a good student, only managing to scrape through exams and never getting the grades he wanted. Jim’s parents were disappointed. Jim himself thought that he was a loser with a learning disability. Jim always wondered why some of his friends who spent much of their time partying seemed to breeze through their exams while he was burning his midnight oil and yet flunking some of his exams. For Jim, sitting for an exam was a stressful time that always to ok a toll on his health and emotional strength. He longed to ask some of his friends the secret of doing well in their exams, but they were all such jerks. They would probably laugh at him. Jim was getting tired of the embarrassment of failing and letting his folks down. He was sick of working hard and obtaining poor grades. Sebastian 2 One day, Jim had to study for some important exams in his high school. He tried to cram everything. He tried to practice rote memorization by reading his notes over and over again. Unfortunately, there was too much to memorize and he realized that his brain was not a computer to store everything he had studied. Moreover, there were too many distractions and he just could not concentrate. Jim was desperate. He had to find a quick solution. He sat at his computer and started surfing the internet. It was then he came across a web site that got him interested. It was actually a book â€Å"The Overnight Student† by Dr. Michael L Jones. It did not t ake long for Jim to read the book but it all made perfect sense. By the time he came to the end of the book, Jim realized that he had been doing wrong all these years. He had employed all the wrong study methods to prepare for his exams. He learnt a few things that dramatically changed the way he studied for exams. The book advocated that the student become a teacher of an imaginary class. Jim tried this. He read small segments of a particular topic. Then, he taught what he learnt to an imaginary class. Slowly, he began to understand better what he had studied. Jim began to feel more confident. The wall he was teaching did not laugh or ridicule him. By closeting himself where no one can hear him and vice versa, Jim was able to concentrate on his studies. By teaching the imaginary class, Jim was actually going over his notes in segments. Soon, Jim was getting better grades. Jim’s story teaches us several valuable lessons. Effective learning can only take place when a student s tudies in an environment free of distractions. We all face distractions all the time. We take breaks to browse the internet, we answer phone calls and sometimes the lure of television programmes is just too great a temptation to resist. Distractions not only increase our stress Sebastian 3 levels, they interfere with our studies. Moreover, regaining concentration after a distraction can be time consuming. Therefore, it is best to set aside a study area at home and remove all sources of distractions.

Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 16

Reflection Paper - Essay Example Allen infers that he never bothers to use a more energy intensive and expensive technology in areas where a simple technology can serve a similar purpose. In place of industrial fertilizer, he opts to create his own compost rations that serve the same purpose as the industrial fertilizer. The captioned picture in the book where Allen is standing at the top of a gigantic compost pile speaks volume of the sheer capacity of a simple technology which is less energy intensive. The compost is made from recycled farm waste, brewery waste, coffee grounds, and food waste. The composting operation is run in a greenhouse that absorbs several thousand pounds of coffee grounds from the surrounding restaurants and mash which is an output from an organic restaurant. Other inputs include tons of vegetables and fruits that are usually collected from local food banks. The composting process emits enough heat to warm up the greenhouses during the freezing winters in Milwaukee. In case of alternative, heaters and lighting in the greenhouse can be used to warm up the structure. This would have been a more costly exercise as heaters and lighting equipment would have to be acquired at a cost and additional costs put in place for fuel or electricity. Simple technology from the compost making process has addressed the problem. The way the compost is managed also depicts Allen’s preference towards simple technology which is energy efficient. Instead of commercially manufactured enzymes, Growing Power uses thousands of worms which are tasked with the responsibility of producing castings by breaking down the food scraps (Allen & Charles 62). The process makes compost and top-grade organic fertilizer every eight weeks. The thousands of worms are equally bred in huge bins which are made out of scrap lumber. Allen finds ways to innovate through fabrications of much simpler version of technology which achieves the desired

Carrybacks and Carryovers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Carrybacks and Carryovers - Essay Example Net loss operating carrybacks is taken to be each for two taxable years that are prior to the taxable years of incurring such a loss. Carryovers are for twenty years that follows the year of tax the loss accrued (Irs.ustreas.gov, 2011). To each category, the amount of unused foreign tax will be the amount in which the qualified taxes that are cleared or accruing exceeds the specific category limit. The amount that will exceed the limit in each category is the amount of qualified taxes that have been paid or the accrued qualified taxes that is above the limit. In 2011, there is an unused foreign tax of $200 to be carried to the other years. It is considered that the unused foreign taxes have been paid in 2010 which is the first preceding year and this will be up to excess limit in the year of $100. The remaining $c100 which is referred to as unused tax is carried forward. Sometimes a debt can be canceled because of the insolvency of a person or being bankrupt. In such a case the carryovers of unused foreign tax are reduced to or from the year of income of the debt cancellation using the formula; for each $1 of canceled debt that is excluded from the gross income, reduced by 33.333%. The estate of the bankrupt may make this reduction if it is deemed to have acquired the carryovers of the unused foreign tax. It is not permitted to carry back any foreign tax that is unused to a year preceding the year of bankruptcy.

Tourism and Hospitality Promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tourism and Hospitality Promotion - Essay Example Easyjet follows certain value systems for the purpose of objective setting strategy. This includes designing and maintaining the highest safety standards for its customers, breaking the shackles of traditional methods of thinking and find innovative ways and means to attract new customers, providing services that transcend the expectations of the travelers, converting newer customers into long term customers by providing customer satisfaction and best service possible, focusing on a double-digit growth rate in future years, enhancing capacity utilization, reducing fixed cost, providing the highest quality resorts thereby helping the customers to gain the best experience possible which will in turn bring profits. (About easyJet, n.d.) PEST Analysis of Easy Jet: Political-legal factors: The Political legal factors affecting the Easyjet include the political unrest and war signal in the Middle East. The Air Miles scheme is not recognized by the government as taxable perk in the same way s as tax is levied on company cars, which may help the Easyjet to contend on the same base with that of British Airlines. Engagement with the EU market gives them the widest network access. Economic factors: Increasing fuel costs, legal and environmental regulations and possibility of higher security along with insurance costs increases the risk for terrorism. Globalization helps the traffic to grow in longer term, the introduction of a single currency helps in boosting the business with the whole of Europe getting integrated. Socio-cultural factors: General reluctance in using credit cards seems to be the concern for attracting French and German travelers. Customers being more comfortable with cheaper flights get angry when they have to pay a premium to actual cost for a particular time of flying. Technological issues: The major issue is how much the application of Internet has synergized the cost and distribution resulted from integration of the industry causing reduction in the u pward rise in price. (Geiger, Schlottke & Schrade 2009) Porter’s model: Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Only two suppliers Airbus and Boeing provide aircrafts and face stiff competition. This helps the Easyjet to buy aircrafts at cheaper price. However the switching cost to another supplier is also very high. Bargaining power of customers: The price bargaining power of the customers is very high for Easyjet. With so many other LCCs in the market it becomes important for Easyjet to provide economical price to retain customers. Threat of New Entrants: There is a huge capital investment required upfront in the airline industry. Moreover higher efficiency is required to maintain sustainability. Moreover with so much air carriers, the introduction of a new one creates high competition facilitating price war. Threat of Substitutes: The main objective for Low cost Airlines includes faster and cheaper travel. Moreover the whole of Europe is connected with well-networked extensive trai n system, which provides transportation at a cheaper cost. So there is a definite threat for Easy jet in this regard. Rivalry among competitors: Easy jet faces huge competition among its competitors, as there is an intense competition to maintain cheaper airfare and providing better customer services. (Geiger, Schlottke & Schrade, 2009, pp. 2-4) SWOT Analysis: SWOT Team (2007) Strength: The overall cost-leadership model, the