Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The Bolshevik Of The Soviet Revolution - 1936 Words

The Bolsheviks success in the 1917 October revolution, gave them full power under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin. Their aim after successfully overthrowing the Russian autocracy was to create a socialist state. â€Å"His[Lenin’s] view was that socialism should be a society where the working people control their own fate, a society organized to benefit the vast majority. This view was the foundation for Lenin’s efforts in socialist construction.† In order to create this society they; formed a new socialist government; introduced the ‘first stage’ of communism- state capitalism; issued a decree on land as promised in their manifesto and focused on industrialising and collectivising in order to facilitate a socialist state. However, problems which may cause failure in the creation of a socialist state include the civil war for slowing down progress, the introduction of the NEP- (a revert back to capitalism?), the need to consolidate power and the bru tal use of the red army. The Bolshevik’s first protocol was to create a socialist government. Lenin began by replacing the government of the capitalist class with the rule of the working people. This new socialist government was compiled of mass organizations called Soviets, councils democratically elected by workers, peasants and soldiers. One of the key functions of the socialist government, in Lenin’s view, was guaranteeing democracy for the working people. As opposed to a capitalist government which exists to ensure theShow MoreRelatedThe Russian Bolshevik Revolution And The Soviet Revolution1578 Words   |  7 PagesRevolution provides some of the most dynamic and complex parts of history. New countries and governing systems arise from revolution, and these changes not only affect said countries, but also the rest of the world. In the case of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution, the political changes that occurred sent the rest of the world into panic, as they sensed a dangerous threat to th eir political and social systems. With social and political issues tracing back to 1891, the conditions of Russia in 1917Read MoreLeon Trotsky, a Leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and Early Architect of the Soviet State741 Words   |  3 PagesMost historians agree that throughout his political career Trotsky displayed various talents and abilities. However, these skills alone were not enough to enable him to become the supreme leader of the USSR. In the context of the workings of the Bolshevik party to rise to the highest office of the politburo required certain traits and qualities as well as an ability to utilise the party machine and exploit its members-talents, traits and qualities Trotsky clearly lacked. For these reasons the statementRead MoreReasons for Russias October Revolution922 Words   |  4 PagesWhat were the reasons for the October revolution? The revolution in Russia started spontaneously in February 1917 when the Bolsheviks leader Vladimir Lenin plotted to overthrow the government and take power. The Tsar in Russia Nicholas II was abdicated in March 1917 and the provisional committee of the Duma formed the provisional government. The â€Å"duel power† interrupted the government authority and the soviets were in control. Now the provisional government decided to continue with the war becauseRead MoreBiography of Lon Trotsky Essay1070 Words   |  5 Pagescontribution to Soviet Russia was immense through his practice of Marxist and Trotskyist theory for Russia and the world. His rise to prominence in the Soviet Union was characterized by his work and partnership with Lenin. Trotsky’s most significant accomplishments included his leadership of the Red Army and success in the February Revolution, which consolidated Bolshevik power. Trotsky’s ‘talent’ and ability’ was undoubted, howev er, it was insufficient to attain leadership of the Soviet Union. FollowingRead MoreKarl Marx and The Russian Revolution Essay example967 Words   |  4 PagesKarl Marx, a German philosopher, is known for his revolutionary political ideas during the Russian Revolution. He established the idea of â€Å"materialist conception of history†, meaning how society and the economy is organized is determined by changes material conditions. He published this thesis in his manuscript called The German Ideology. While writing The German Ideology, Marx also joined the Communist League, an international proletarian organization, and wrote a polemic against P.J. Proudhon’sRead MoreThe Russian Revolutions of 1917 Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesThe Russian Revolutions of 1917 There were two revolutions that occurred in Russia in 1917. The first one, in February, overthrew the Russian monarchy. The second one, in October, created the world’s first Communist state. The Russian revolutions of 1917 involved a series of uprisings by workers and peasants throughout the country and by soldiers, who were predominantly of peasant origin, in the Russian army. Many of the uprisings were organized and led byRead MoreThe Life of Leon Trotsky Essay1462 Words   |  6 Pagesremoval of the Tsar during the Russian Revolution, Trotsky returned to Russia in May 1917. In August 1917, Trotsky joined the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party whose leader was none other than Vladimir Lenin. Trotsky assumed key roles in the events and policies concerning the Bolshevik Government, which included the Bolshevik Revolution, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Civil War and views on Russias economic policies. The Bolshevik party focused on their one aim: overthrowRead MoreLeon Trotsky s Influence On The Soviet Revolution1496 Words   |  6 Pagesrevolutionary who played a leading role in the 1905 Revolution, in the eventual Communist Revolution of October 1917, and in the Russian Civil War. Without Trotsky’s impact in the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks would have been defeated. His own beliefs on Marxism combined with his intellect made Trotsky a target and influential leader in the Soviets. From his studies on Marxism, he created Trotskyism, a Marxist ideology based on the theory of permanent revolution. Also, his organization-building skills andRead MoreVladimir Lenin And The Soviet Revolution1308 Words   |  6 PagesRepudiator.† In other parts of the world, he is viewed as a man who tried to make the best out of a failing situation. Lenin was a revolutionary intellectual who establish the Bolshevik Party (later renamed the Communist Party). He was the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, and, therefore, began the first government of the Soviet Union. Lenin became leader of the USSR in 1922 and ruled until his death in 1924, when Joseph Stalin assumed power. Though many argue that Lenin started one of the worstRead MoreLenins Revolution Essay704 Words   |  3 PagesLenins Revolution At the start of the 20th century, the ruling Tsar of Russia had absolute power and his Government was corrupt, hence, the majority of the people were against him. Vladimir Ilich Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks Socialist Party wanted a revolution to overthrow the Government. Relative to these times, it was Lenin who directed the course of the oncoming Russian October Revolution. The outbreak of the unrest, in January 1905, found Lenin anxious to set down a novel

Monday, December 16, 2019

Analysis Of Tiffany Austin s The Concert - 865 Words

On 29 January 2016. My friends and I went to a concert performed by Tiffany Austin. The concert was entitled Tiffany Austin’s Blues de Voyage hosted by Presidio Officer’s Club at San Francisco in partnership with the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music. As I attend the concert, I categorize myself as a casual listener to a well performed music. I didn’t have enough knowledge yet back then to analyze critically on the performance as it is my first time attending a house concert. It was an exciting experience and I enjoyed it a lot. The atmosphere was good as everybody in the room also enjoyed the singing and music played by the performers. In the concert, the performers consist about 5 people, which are the pianist, Glen Pearson; the bassist, Ron Belcher; the drummer, Sly Randolph; the trombone player; and lastly the lead vocalist, Tiffany Austin. The concert session was a short as it compromised into two parts and a slight break. In each part, the band perform ed four to five songs. The songs performed in the concert are mainly from the legendary jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmicheal, Johnny Cash and many others jazz performers mainly from the year 1929 to 1937. She also included one of her own song in her debut album, â€Å"Nothing but Soul† in the concert. Regarded as the fastest raising singer in Northern California with tradition-rooted yet modern style in her music, Tiffany continues to amazed people with her music as she sang various song that captureShow MoreRelatedSadie Hawkins Day and Valentine Grams18321 Words   |  74 Pagesby wholesalers to schools, hospitals and other institutions and its peanut products that are used by manufacturers in food such as granola bars, ice cream, candy and cereal,† according to Bloomberg.com. More laboratory testing and epidemiological analysis with the aid of the Center of Disease Control and Preventiom (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have traced th e strain of Salmonella Typhimurium found back to the PCA, confirming contamination. However, traces of salmonella have alsoRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesON TWENTIETH-C ENTURY H ISTORY In the series Critical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Corporation Law The Commercial Scallop

Question: Describe about the Corporation Law for The Commercial Scallop. Answer: 1: In the given case, Bob Beech is a scallop fisherman, who is engaged in the commercial scallop fishing in the coastal water of Jervis Bay in New South Wales. The subject of scallops fishing in the coastal water comes under the protective legislation that ensures the diferent rules and regulation in the concern of this activity. Scallop Fishing and Marketing Act provide a quota system for each fisherman. Under the quota system, fishermans can apply for a permit to catch 50 tonnes scallops in a year. Further, the act provides the power to Scallop Marketing Authority to purchase scallops up to a limit for the fisherman. As per the regulation and act of Scallop finishing and marketing, no one fisherman has right to beynod than fixed quota. If authority provides, fishing scallop more than the quota limit then it is offensive. Along with this, if the New South Wales government establishes the high scallop production then variable recruitment problem of juvenile scallops must be addressed. Therefore, New South Wales will need to establish a substantial scallop farming industry for the scallop fishermen. It implies fisherman and authority dont have right to produce excess Scallop fishing beyond the Quota then it is an offense. If anyone goes over the quota then it can be a matter of the penalty that may be up to $100,000. As per the capacity of Bob Beech, his daughter Alice tells to Bob that by the incorporating a company they can double their catch. In the case of Bob Beech, the main issue is that whether Bob can double his catch by the incorporating a company. According to Australian corporation act 2001, corporation is a legal entity. This defines that liability of corporation is similar to an individual. Cause behind this, Australian corporation act is separated from the corporation rights and corporation owners (Bottomley, 2016). Corporation and owner can work independently on the basis of their situation in the case. According to Scallop Marketing Authoritys act, it is not possible that individual can get an exemption to a corporation. Because Australian corporation act says that an individual can get 50 tonnes quota of Scallops in a calendar year. It indicates that if an individual is a genuine person and legal entity can set catching quota according to allotted quota. Moreover, Scallop finishing and marketing act statement includes specific and particular word to him or her. It indicates that regulation and laws of Australia dont allow to the corporation to enter into catching the double Scallop. And Scallop finishing and marketing act statement defines that quota of catching Scallop will be allotted to a legal person and genuine person. This means a person is not eligible to get the quota of catching the Scallop after incorporating a company. According to Australian corporation act 2001, an incorporated association is a legal entity that will be registered with the state and territory authority. Therefore, it can be said that suggestion of Bobs daughter is not correct because the suggestion of Alice is opposite to Australian Scallop fishing and marketing act. Australian Scallop fishing and marketing act does not consider the fishing activity of the corporation. Along with this, area of the Jervis Bay in New South Wales is for the regeneration because stock of scallops in this water is limited (NSW Department of primary Industry, 2016). So, allocation of more quotas can affect the eco-system of Jervis Bay and regeneration policy of the New South Wales. The area of Jervis Bay of Scallop fishing has the limited availability of Scallop stock. It means, if New South Wales increases the limit of quota in a calendar year it can affect the regeneration policy and process. 2: In the given scenario, New Nirvana limited named company formulates the band that basically focused on the hard rock songs. The company has so many subsidiaries which handles all types of functions of the company. All the working policies and ideologies of the company are formed by the New Nirvana limited company and also all the guide lines of its subsidiaries are made by its parent company as well (ALRC, 2016). As all know that any incident in the subsidiary will impact the entire company. In the same way an incident in the subsidiary company named Nuclear Blast Sounds Limited affected the audiences who were at the event of the company and suffered the hearing problems forever in their life. Now the matter is that the affected persons are claiming insurance from the subsidiary Nuclear Blast sound limited. The following case will be explained with the following arguments that will the subsidiary company give the insurance claim to the affected person or not. And if yes, then will it be given by the subsidiary company or by the parent company. According to the corporation law of Australia mentioned in the 5th part of section 588 to 10th part of the section 588, the subsidiary company will need to acquire the claim from the parent company and will give it to the affected persons during any incident happened at the site of the subsidiary company (Insurance Law, 2016). In that case it is the responsibility of the parent company to maintain its reputation to deal with the entire problem and help the subsidiary in that matter. But if the parent company refused to pay the claim, then the subsidiary company do not have the right to force the parent company to pay the compensations to the affected persons. According to the laws, the subsidiary company will be treated as the separate company and also the decisions or rules of the parent company cannot be inter related to each other as all the decisions are taken by the different teams of the higher authorities. From the above discussion, one needs to keep following points in mind while dealing with the present case study that is given. The points can be: As all know that the revenues of the subsidiary company can be assumed as the revenues of the parent company. In the same way the profits earned by New Nirvana Limited will be assumed to be of the profits of Nuclear Blast sound limited. Further the business ideology of the subsidiary should be regulated by the parent company (Puig, 2000). The following concept is raised in the case of New Nirvana Limited and Nuclear Blast sound limited company. The business values and visions are set by the parent company. In the given case study, it is the moral value of the parent company to give the compensation to the affected people. Also it is well known that the entire business of a company is always regulated by the parent company only and no matters how much subsidiaries it have (Morris Black Burn, 2016). The profits in the business are always shared in between the parent company and the subsidiary company. From the following points, it is concluded that the parent company is liable to give the insurance claim to the affected persons in case the subsidiary company is refused to give the claim. Also, it is the parent company named New Nirvana Limited who have assigned the event to be completed by its subsidiary company named Nuclear Blast sound limited (Morrison and Anderson, 2015). And it is the moral duty of the parent company in case of any miss happens in the site of its subsidiary company and gives the relief to the affected persons. 3: In the given scenario, Millennium Private limited company formed by the three persons named Simon, Don and Michael for the work of the management of the projects. According to the given case, Don is given the responsibility to deal with all the matter of property or lands (Legislation, 2016). According to the company laws, the company needs to appoint an arbitrator to solve the matter in between the company and the employees before going to the court. But after a period Michael and Simon decided to terminate the position of Don from the company because they are not satisfied by the work performance of Don. Now the issue is that the decision of Simon and Michael is acceptable or not and will the decision will impact the company laws or not. The law related to the corporation in Australia is responsible for all the legal issues related to the internal composition of any company and can work on the basis of following two rules that are corporations provision act of 2001 and the law regarding the constitution of the company. Both the laws have their criteria and worked according to that only. Both the law followed by some sections like section 135 and 136 and according to that main idea of the corporation law is to process the business as well as to run on the basis of the constitution that is set to run the entire company. In the same way according to the law of corporation of 2001, all the changes that are made in the constitution must be reminded to all the employees or the members of the company in a gap of seven days and is mentioned in 139th section of the corporation law (ASIC, 2016). Finally it is concluded that all the changes in the legal aspects of the company must be according to the constitution and must be fo llowed by the company in any prospective. Form the entire scenario one can easily find that all the issues of the changes made in the company were done by Simon and Michael and both of them did not follow the entire process of the constitution of the company in terminating the responsibility of the third member named Don. According to all the statements made by both the members it is clear that that wanted the new member in the team who can earn more profit for the company than Bob and more efficient to take the entire responsibility for the beneficial of the company (Austlii, 2016). Rather all the situation they assured that Don will not be avoided to get his part of share in the profit earned by the company. But the issue got worse when Don reached in the court to take the legal against the other two members where both of them showed the entire case and stated that all the matter regarding the issue was informed to don earlier and all the issue was resolved according to the law of the corporations and do not abide any law that opposed the legal aspects of constitution that were formed to run the business of the company. They also stated in the court that all the matter is clearly mentioned in front of all the members of the company and all have given their acceptance in the matter. The decisions taken are in favor of the company growth and to increase the reliability or effectiveness of the company in front of all the shareholders of the company. The decision to add new member in the company is taken to reduce the burden of Don as the entire responsibly cannot be taken by an individual (Mitchell et al, 2016). Simon and Michael also argued in the court that decision to take the legal against the company by Don is not right as Don had to follow all the company laws in the best member and should not go beyond the constitution established by the company. As according to the corporation law Don did not have the right to go in the court first. Don must meet the arbitrator first as formed by all the members of the company and if the matter is not resolved then only had the right to move in the court to get some assistance. So both the members named Simon and Michael can appeal in the court to reject the plea made by Don as Don had violated all the law regarding the corporations and also not follow the constitution of the company (Unimelb, 2016). Also stated that the legal aspects of the company need to be followed properly and also assured in the court that profits of Don must be properly shared by the company rather than to terminate Don from his job. This showed that how the company takes the legal aspect in the right way and proves their decisions to be right in the end. References: ASIC (2016) Constitution and replaceable rules. [Online]. Available at: https://asic.gov.au/for-business/starting-a-company/constitution-and-replaceable-rules/ (Accessed: 20 October 2016). Bottomley, S. (2016) The Constitutional Corporation: Rethinking Corporate Governance.UK: Routledge. Mitchell, R., O'Donnell, A., Marshall, S., and Ramsay, I. (2016) Law, Corporate Governance and Partnerships at Work: A Study of Australian Regulatory Style and Business Practice. UK: Routledge. Morrison, D. and Anderson, C. (2015) Is corporate rescue a realistic ideal? Business as usual in Australia and the United Kingdom.Nottingham Insolvency and Business Law e-Journal,2015(3), pp. 417-435. NSW Department of primary Industry (2016) Scallops - research information sheet. [Online]. Available at: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquaculture/publications/species-saltwater/scallops (Accessed: 20 October 2016). Puig, G. (2000) A two-edged sword: Salomon and the Separate Legal Entity Doctrine.Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law,7(3). ALRC (2016) Insurance in Australia. [Online]. Available at: https://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/4-insurance/insurance-australia (Accessed: 20 October 2016). Insurance law (2016) Insurance law service. [Online]. Available at: https://insurancelaw.org.au/fact-sheet/ (Accessed: 20 October 2016). Maurice Black Burn (2016) Insurance claim lawyers. [Online]. Available at: https://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/superannuation-and-insurance/insurance-claims/ (Accessed: 20 October 2016). Legislation (2016) Corporation Act 2001. [Online]. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013C00003 (Accessed: 20 October 2016). Austlii (2016) Corporations law. [Online]. Available at: https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/repealed_act/cl184/ (Accessed: 20 October 2016). ASIC (2016) Your company and the law. [Online]. Available at: https://asic.gov.au/for-business/running-a-company/company-officeholder-duties/your-company-and-the-law/ (Accessed: 20 October 2016). Unimelb (2016) Key documents in history of Australian corporation law. [Online]. Available at: https://law.unimelb.edu.au/centres/cclsr/resources/history-of-australian-corporate-law/key-documents-in-the-history-of-australian-corporate-law (Accessed: 20 October 2016).

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner

Morality finds voice through minor characters. This is observable in case of both Les Miserables and The Kite Runner. The main theme of redemption is similar in both the concert Les Miserables and the novel The Kite Runner. Morality presides through the presence of minor characters – animate or inanimate. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In case of the musical and the novel, it is reflected through minor, nondescript characters. Both Les Miserables and Kite Runner narrate the process of redemption, and that is through human deed (Llosa 101; Hayes 95). In this story of redemption, there is a constant presence of two characters, which stay away from the hubbub of the main plot and remain as a constant remainder of morality or conscience. These characters almost act as guiding angels who keep the mind of the main characte rs on the path to redemption. These characters are Bishop Myriel in Les Miserables and Rahim Khan in The Kite Runner. This essay discusses the way these two characters shaped the path to redemption for the other, more vital characters, and the way they became the moral voices. Bishop Myriel and Rahim Khan are minor but essential part in both the musical and the novel. The candlesticks given to Valjean by Bishop Myriel are symbolic of the transgression of a hardened convict to a life of good. The Bishop’s act of mercy and sympathy transforms the life of a treacherous and conniving convict. The Bishop welcomes the tired and starving convict under his shelter in the musical, and gives him food and â€Å"bed to rest till morning† (Hugo Act 1, On Parole). In the solo sung by the Bishop in the musical (Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven) the Bishop helps in saving Valjean by misleading the policemen stating that he had given the candlesticks to Valjean as gifts and given tw o more to sell them. This act ensures freedom for Valjean from both the authorities and the symbolic freedom from evil, as is expressed by the Bishop: And remember this, my brother, See in this some high plan.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More You must use this precious silver To become an honest man. By the witness of the martyrs, By the passion and the blood, God has raised you out of darkness: I have bought your soul for God. (Hugo Act 1, Valjean Arrested/Valjean Forgiven) Thus, Myriel becomes the moral force who that changes the course of Vajean’s life. This act teaches us that mercy done to others will save a soul. He becomes the symbol of goodness, a symbol that is shown to Valjean and changes the course of the musical. He shows Valjean the road to redemption, and obliges his mind to follow the path of goodness.Advertising We will write a custom essay samp le on Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Rahim Khan is the moral voice in the story The Kite Runner. However, a minor character, and one that has not been developed fully, Rahim Khan plays a vital role in the novel. He was the best friend of Baba (Amir’s father) and a father figure to Amir. Amir often wished that Rahim Khan were his father instead of Baba: â€Å"When they left, I sat on my bed and wished Rahim Khan had been my father.† (Hosseini 28) Rahim Khan is a character that stays away from the main plot or the main character. He is also different from them – from the good characters of Hassan and Ali, and the complete devilish character of Assef, and Baba and Amir lying somewhere in-between. Rahim Khan cannot be categorized in any of these character types. He is almost a celestial figure standing beyond the bounds of moral questioning. He becomes the gui ding light for Amir in his journey to redemption (like Bishop Myriel in Les Miserables). From the very beginning of the story, Rahim Khan had helped Amir and boosted his self-confidence. The note he wrote to Amir showed the character’s support to Amir: â€Å"My door is always open to you, Amir jan. I shall hear nay story you have to tell. Bravo.† (Hosseini 28) Rahim Khan told Amir his deepest secret in order to ascertain what was going through his mind. He told Amir that he could tell him anything he wanted to: â€Å"You know, you can tell me anything you want, Amir jan. Anytime.† (Hosseini 87) Amir almost told him his betrayal of friendship towards Hassan but stopped as he thought that Rahim Khan would hate him for this, as he related â€Å"For a moment, I almost did tell him. Almost told him everything, but then what would he think of me? He’d hate me and rightfully.† (Hosseini 87) Though Amir did not tell his story to Rahim Khan then, he alread y knew. Rahim Khan calls Amir to Pakistan from America and asks him to rescue Hassan and his family from Afghanistan. He is the one who reveal to Amir that Hassan is actually his half-brother. He asked Amir to rescue Sohrab from Afghanistan. When Amir said, â€Å"I can’t go to Kabul,† Rahim Khan simply said, â€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (198) Rahim Khan showed Amir the â€Å"way to end the cycle† (198) and showed the path to redemption. Bishop Myriel and Rahim Khan are nondescript characters. However, they are the catalyst of the main theme. They become the wind that changes the course of the life of the main characters in the musical as well as in the novel. The right direction that can be found for redemption can be found from simple and non descript characters, rather than the more elaborate and complex characters. In both Les Miserable and Kite Runner, the direction towards salvation has been clearly etched by two characters who are minor , but are strong in their own accord. Thus, it teaches us that a guiding light may be small, yet is significant in moulding the course of action.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Bibliography Hayes, Judi. In search of The Kite Runner. Danvers, MA: Chalice Press, 2007. Print. Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2003. Print. Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert. By Victor Hugo. Royal Albert Hall Concert , New York. 1995. Concert. Llosa, Mario Vargas. The temptation of the impossible: Victor Hugo and Les Misà ©rables. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2004. Print. This essay on Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner was written and submitted by user Lara Hebert to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Timeline of Greek and Roman Philosophers

Timeline of Greek and Roman Philosophers What was the first cause of our existence? What is real? What is the purpose of our lives? Questions like these have become the basis of the study known as philosophy. While these questions were addressed in ancient times through religion, the process of logically and methodically thinking through lifes big questions did not begin until about the 7th century BCE. As different groups of philosophers worked together, they developed schools or approaches to philosophy. These schools described the origins and purpose of existence in very different ways. Individual philosophers within each school had their own particular ideas. The Pre-Socratic philosophers are the earliest of the philosophers. Their concern was not so much with the topics of ethics and knowledge that modern people associate with philosophy, but concepts we might associate with physics.  Empedocles and Anaxagoras are counted as Pluralists, who believed there is more than one basic element from which everything is composed. Leucippus and Democritus are Atomists. More or less following the Pre-Socratics came the trio of Socrates-Plato-Aristotle, the schools of the Cynics, Skeptics, Stoics, and Epicureans. The Milesian School: 7th-6th Centuries BCE Miletus was an ancient Greek Ionian city-state on the western coast of Asia Minor in today’s Turkey. The Milesian School consisted of Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes (all from Miletus). The three are sometimes described as materialists, because they believed that all things derived from a single material. Thales (636-546 BCE): Thales was certainly a real historical individual, but very little evidence remains of his work or writing. He believed that the first cause of all things was water, and may have written two treatises entitled On the Solstice and On the Equinox, focusing on his astronomical observation. He may also have developed several significant mathematical theorems. It is likely that his work strongly influenced Aristotle and Plato.Anaximander (c.611-c.547 BCE): Unlike Thales, his mentor, Anaximander actually wrote materials can be credited to his name. Like Thales, he believed that just one material was the source of all thingsbut Anaximander called that one thing the boundless or infinite. His ideas may well have strongly influenced Plato.Anaximenes (d. c. 502 BCE): Anaximenes may well have been a student of Anaximander. Like the other two Milesians, Anaximenes believed that a single substance was the source of all things. His choice for that substance was the air. Accor ding to Anaximenes, when the air becomes finer, it becomes fire, when it is condensed, it becomes first wind, then cloud, then water, then earth, then stone. The Eleatic School: 6th and 5th centuries BCE Xenophanes, Parmenides, and Zeno of Elea were members of the Eleatic School (named for its location in Elea, a Greek colony in southern Italy). They rejected the idea of many gods and questioned the idea that there is one reality. Xenophanes of Colophon (c. 570-480 BCE): Xenophanes rejected the anthropomorphic deities and considered there to be one incorporeal god. Xenophanes may have asserted that men may have beliefs, but they dont have certain knowledge.Parmenides of Elea (c. 515-c. 445 BCE): Parmenides believed that nothing comes into being because everything must derive from something that already exists.Zeno of Elea, (c. 490-c. 430 BCE): Zeno of Elea (in southern Italy) was known for his intriguing puzzles and paradoxes. Pre-Socratic and Socratic Philosophers of the 6th and 5th Centuries BCE Anaxagoras of Clazomenae(c. 499-c. 428)Greek philosopherProtagoras(480-411)Greek philosopher SophistSocrates(c. 469-399)Greek philosopherPlato(c. 427-347)Greek philosopherDiogenes of Sinope(412-323)Greek philosopher Philosophers of the 4th Century BCE Aristotle(384-322)Greek philosopherEpicurus(341-271)Greek philosopherEuclid(c. 325-265)Greek mathematicianAristarchos(c. 310-250)Greek astronomer Philosophers of the 3rd Century BCE Chrysippus(c. 280-207)Hellenistic philosopherEratosthenes(276-194)Hellenistic astronomer Philosophers of the 2nd Century BCE Panaetius(c. 185-110)Stoic and Neo-Platonic PhilosopherLucretius(c. 98-55)Roman poet and Epicurean philosopher Philosophers of the 1st Century CE Epictetus(50 - 138)Roman philosopherMarcus Aurelius(121-180)Roman emperor and philosopher Philosophers of the 3rd Century CE Plotinus(c. 204-270)Greco-roman philosopher Philosophers of the 4th Century CE Hypatia of Alexandria(c. 370-415)Alexandrian philosopher Philosophers of the 4th Century CE Boethius(480-525)Philosopher and Christian martyr who was called the last of the Romans.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Famous Female Chemists and Chemical Engineers

Famous Female Chemists and Chemical Engineers Women have made many important contributions to the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering. Heres a list of female scientists and a summary of the research or inventions that made them famous. Jacqueline Barton - (USA, born 1952) Jacqueline Barton probes DNA with electrons. She uses custom-made molecules to locate genes and study their arrangement. She has shown that some damaged DNA molecules do not conduct electricity. Ruth Benerito - (USA, born 1916) Ruth Benerito invented wash-and-wear cotton fabric. Chemical treatment of the cotton surface not only reduced wrinkles, but could be used to make it flame resistant and stain resistant. Ruth Erica Benesch - (1925-2000) Ruth Benesch and her husband Reinhold made a discovery that helped explain how hemoglobin releases oxygen in the body. They learned that carbon dioxide functions as an indicator molecule, causing hemoglobin to release oxygen where carbon dioxide concentrations are high. Joan Berkowitz - (USA, born 1931) Joan Berkowitz is a chemist and environmental consultant. She uses her command of chemistry to help solve problems with pollution and industrial waste. Carolyn Bertozzi - (USA, born 1966) Carolyn Bertozzi has helped design artificial bones that are less likely to cause reactions or lead to rejection than their predecessors. She has helped create contact lenses that are better-tolerated by the cornea of the eye. Hazel Bishop - (USA, 1906–1998) Hazel Bishop is the inventor of smear-proof lipstick. In 1971, Hazel Bishop became the first female member of the Chemists’ Club in New York. Corale Brierley Stephanie Burns Mary Letitia Caldwell Emma Perry Carr - (USA, 1880–1972) Emma Carr helped to make Mount Holyoke, a womens college, into a chemistry research center. She offered undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct their own original resarch. Uma Chowdhry Pamela Clark Mildred Cohn Gerty Theresa Cori Shirley O. Corriher Erika Cremer Marie Curie - Marie Curie pioneered radioactivity research. She was the first two-time Nobel laureate and the only person to win the award in two different sciences (Linus Pauling won Chemistry and Peace). She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Marie Curie was the first female professor at the Sorbonne. Irà ©ne Joliot-Curie - Irà ©ne Joliot-Curie was awarded the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for synthesis of new radioactive elements. The prize was shared jointly with her husband Jean Frà ©dà ©ric Joliot. Marie Daly - (USA, 1921–2003) In 1947, Marie Daly became the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. The majority of her career was spent as a college professor. In addition to her research, she developed programs to attract and aid minority students in medical and graduate school. Kathryn Hach Darrow Cecile Hoover Edwards Gertrude Belle Elion Gladys L. A. Emerson Mary Fieser Edith Flanigen - (USA, born 1929) In the 1960s, Edith Flanigen invented a process for making synthetic emeralds. In addition to their use for making beautiful jewelry, the perfect emeralds made it possible to make powerful microwave lasers. In 1992, Flanigen received the first Perkin Medal ever awarded to a woman, for her work synthesizing zeolites. Linda K. Ford Rosalind Franklin - (Great Britain, 1920–1958) Rosalind Franklin used x-ray crystallography to see the structure of DNA. Watson and Crick used her data to propose the double-stranded helical structure of the DNA molecule. The Nobel Prize could only be awarded to living persons, so she could not be included when Watson and Crick were formally recognized with the 1962 Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology. She also used x-ray crystallography to study the structure of the tobacco mosaic virus. Helen M. Free Dianne D. Gates-Anderson Mary Lowe Good Barbara Grant Alice Hamilton - (USA, 1869–1970) Alice Hamilton was a chemist and physician who directed the first governmental commission to investigate industrial hazards in the workplace, such as exposure to dangerous chemicals. Because of her work, laws were passed to protect employees from occupational hazards. In 1919 she became the first female faculty member of Harvard Medical School. Anna Harrison Gladys Hobby Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin - Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin (Great Britain) was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for using x-rays to determine the structure of biologically important molecules. Darleane Hoffman M. Katharine Holloway - (USA, born 1957) M. Katharine Holloway and Chen Zhao are two of the chemists who developed protease inhibitors to inactivate the HIV virus, greatly extending the lives of AIDS patients. Linda L. Huff Allene Rosalind Jeanes Mae Jemison - (USA, born 1956) Mae Jemison is a retired medical doctor and American astronaut. In 1992, she became the first black woman in space. She holds a degree in chemical engineering from Stanford and a degree in medicine from Cornell. She remains very active in science and technology. Fran Keeth Laura Kiessling Reatha Clark King Judith Klinman Stephanie Kwolek Marie-Anne Lavoisier - (France, circa 1780) Lavoisiers wife was his colleague. She translated documents from English for him and prepared sketches and engravings of laboratory instruments. She hosted parties at which prominent scientists could discuss chemistry and other scientific ideas. Rachel Lloyd Shannon Lucid - (USA, born 1943) Shannon Lucid as an American biochemist and US astronaut. For a while, she held the American record for the most time in space. She studies the effects of space on human health, often using her own body as a test subject. Mary Lyon - (USA, 1797–1849) Mary Lyon founded Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, one of the first womens colleges. At the time, most colleges taught chemistry as a lecture-only class. Lyon made lab exercises and experiments an integral part of undergraduate chemistry education. Her method became popular. Most modern chemistry classes include a lab component. Lena Qiying Ma Jane Marcet Lise Meitner  - Lise Meitner (November 17, 1878 – October 27, 1968) was an Austrian/Swedish physicist who studied radioactivity and nuclear physics. She was part of the team that discovered nuclear fission, for which Otto Hahn received a Nobel Prize. Maud Menten Marie Meurdrac Helen Vaughn Michel Amalie Emmy Noether  - (born in Germany, 1882-1935) Emmy Noether was a mathematician, not a chemist, but her mathematical description of the conservation laws for energy, angular momentum, and linear momentum has been invaluable in spectroscopy and other branches of chemistry. She is responsible for Noethers theorem in theoretical physics, the Lasker–Noether theorem in commutative algebra, the concept of Noetherian rings, and was co-founder of the theory of central simple algebras. Ida Tacke Noddack Mary Engle Pennington Elsa Reichmanis Ellen Swallow Richards Jane S. Richardson  - (USA, born 1941) Jane Richardson, a biochemistry professor at Duke University, is best-known for her hand-drawn and computer-generated portaits of proteins. The graphics help scientists understand how proteins are made and how they function. Janet Rideout Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau Florence Seibert Melissa Sherman Maxine Singer  - (USA, born 1931) Maxine Singer specializes in recombinant DNA technology. She studies how disease-causing genes jump within DNA. She helped formulate the NIHs ethical guidelines for genetic engineering. Barbara Sitzman Susan Solomon Kathleen Taylor Susan S. Taylor Martha Jane Bergin Thomas Margaret E. M. Tolbert Rosalyn Yalow Chen Zhao  - (born 1956) M. Katharine Holloway and Chen Zhao are two of the chemists who developed protease inhibitors to inactivate the HIV virus, greatly extending the lives of AIDS patients.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Discussion question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 12

Discussion question - Essay Example t they are self-evident and inalienable (MacKinnon, 76).† In fact, American Declaration of Independence 1776 is the clearer formulation of this concept. Thomas Jefferson mentions a quote about the equal rights of all men â€Å"....... that all men are created equal, .......... with certain inalienable rights........† This is the source for ascertaining what should be weighed â€Å"natural right.† Another time, the U.S. Border Patrol Agents’ similar assertion from the case when they state it is justified for the reason that a considerable amount of Latinos in border regions are in America illicitly (MacKinnon, 76) their assertion moves against the â€Å"natural right† in accordance to what Jefferson told. Moreover, the statement disagrees with the equality principle. Author also defines the principle of equality in this book as, â€Å"It is unjust to treat people differently in ways that deny to some of them significant social benefits unless we can show that there is a difference between them that is relevant to the differential treatment (MacKinnon 196).† America has archaic laws regarding drugs. Against the trade of drugs, the law enforcement has been very restricted to imprisoning causal drug users. In Mexico, the drug lobbies, and the prison lobbies that are operated privately, both expend obscene amounts of wealth, to see that recreational drugs stay illicit. Until the U.S. laws are restructured, the jails will be overloaded, with people who are young, incarcerated for non-violent offences, like use or possession of just a small amount of drugs. As noted by Auroch, most of the privately operated jails are owned by the â€Å"1 per cent,† and the Republican Party is controlled by this â€Å"1 per cent†. (HumanJustice.org. 2010) However, it is obviously not accepted and the U.S. government should consider this massive issue and make suitable laws about this because this is against the human

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Thesis Exercises Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Thesis Exercises - Assignment Example Since our real world is not single sex, it’s hard for those students who go to single sex school to adapt themselves into society. For instance a female might be afraid of conversation with other guys, or guys might not be able to ask girls on dates, which is horrible in my perspective. Therefore, same sex schools are not a good option. I should take pride in my work. It because a lot of people will judge me with the quality of my work. Doing quality consistent quality work will become a good habit helping me become successful in the future for constantly doing quality work. Volunteering is important. Having many volunteers help society and other people during their time of need making it easier for them to recover. By having many volunteers around, it makes our society more compassionate People should watch less TV. Excessive watching of TV is bad idea because it is a distraction to study. If we will watch less TV, this would mean we will have more time for studying and other more productive activities. People who responsible should be the ones allowed to drive. Being responsibility is being determined by passing the driving test which should be done both in written and practical exam. This would eliminate the irresponsible drivers and would result to fewer accidents on the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Accuracy Of Sensory Information Essay Example for Free

The Accuracy Of Sensory Information Essay There are many reasons to believe the accuracy of sensory information. Here are three feel, see and smell. Feeling sends a message to your brain letting you know what something is. Just say you have been blind folded and an object (cake) has been placed in front of you. In feeling the object you would be able to tell the texture and what the object is. See provides you with accurate information about your surroundings. For instance, if you see individuals playing chess it is certain that they are actually playing. Another good example would be children playing kick ball, what you see is what it is. Smelling means that there could be danger but not in all cases. When there is a desirable smell that could sense that something is cooking or a fragrance. Now there is the type of smell that senses danger. For instance, the smell of smoke means something is on fire. Now I would describe the inaccuracy of sensory information. In the past we all have jumped to conclusions at some point and time. Just say there is a case where you walk in a room and everyone starts to look at you. There’s no doubt that they are looking at you but you sense that they may be talking about you. Now this could mean that you are just insecure and feel that everyone is against you. Your surroundings can determine the action of your sensual organs. Like going down a street and you notice that your car is the only one on the street. The first thing pops into mind is maybe this street is closed or everyone is in a building. If the street was closed it looks like there should be some type of signage. Regardless of the sensual organ we are using it’s not always accurate. This is why we shouldn’t be dependent on them. Nature and nurture is a very debatable topic. Research is still being conducted about the debate on nature and nurture. Nature is said to refer to the qualities of an individual. It has been proven that nature not nurture was responsible for intelligence. On the other hand the genes are nature as well which the physical and personality state is. The physical state consist of weight, eye and hair color. Personality state would be how the person is defined to self and others. On a more personal experience that is considered to be nurture. The way that you were raised or the relation to your childhood plays its role. One’s personal traits are predetermined by their genes. Now overall it’s due to life experiences that define that individual. In my view of nature and nurture I see it as not being stable. There is no doubt that both nature and nurture plays a part in whom we are. When it comes to nurture or otherwise known as environment, it has a higher impact on which we are as individuals. We as humans have brains that all receive a different message. The amount of education a person receives doesn’t tell exactly their level of intelligence. Now it does have some effects on beliefs, behavior and intelligence. Not the person as a whole does it has an effect on. It’s only human that we learn from each other. Being influenced or develop ways of thinking and acting coincides.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Overcoming the Constraints of Society Essay -- literary Analysis, Kate

he focus of this paper will be to examine Kate Chopin’s The Awakening chapter ten, specifically paragraphs five to ten. Throughout The Awakening Edna is constantly fighting with the expectations of society and her desire to be a free woman. As a woman, Edna is expected to be the perfect wife and mother, however she longs to embrace and free her creative self. Because of this battle within herself she shows many of the characteristics of depression. The passage mentioned above is very symbolic of Edna’s fight to overcome her mental illness. The thesis of this paper is that Edna’s yearning to swim is a metaphor for her longing to overcome depression, patriarchal expectations and societal constraints. By taking an in-depth look into the author’s word choice, a parallel can be found between learning to swim and the ability to overcome the depression within. The water mentioned in the passage is symbolic of Edna’s depression, and the fact that she had been trying to learn how to swim shows that she is trying to conquer it. Edna’s inability to swim shows that she was struggling to defeat her depression, however she was actively trying to find help by asking others for assistance. Edna describes that â€Å"A certain ungovernable dread hung about her when in the water† (Chopin 73), this shows her fear of succumbing to the depression but also her anxiety to rise above it. By giving in to the depression Edna would accept society’s expectation of her, she would have to become the perfect mother and wife at any cost. Meanwhile, in order for her to rise out of the depression she would have to give in to her desire to be free of these expectations. Before Edna was able to swim, she describes herself as a â€Å"tottering, stumbling, clutching chi... ... the water in this passage, and her decision on whether or not to conform to the expectations of society. Her inability to swim in the beginning exhibits how Edna has been conforming to the expectations of society by becoming both a wife and mother, and as a result has developed the depression. Edna was able to defeat her depression, represented by her learning how to swim, by choosing the more solitary path. It can also be seen that Edna’s hold on her depression is very unsteady and wavering, which shows that she might not be able to control it. In the end she was â€Å"reaching out for the unlimited in which to lose herself.†(Chopin 74), which shows that she is unable to contain her creative self within and she is looking for an escape from society. It also represents that she cannot keep control of her depression and that she is also looking for an escape from life.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

It’s Your Ship

Book Information Title: It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy Author: Captain D. Michael Abrashoff Publisher’s Name: Warner Books, Inc.Publisher’s Location, Year of Publication: New York, NY, 2002 Number of Pages: 210 pages Content The overall objective of the book is to teach new, and old, leaders to become better leaders. While anyone can benefit from reading this book, the intended audience is leaders in any organization. One statistic that should be alarming to all leaders of businesses was that 65 percent of people leave their companies because of the managers (Abrashoff, 2002). How do leaders change that statistic?Abrashoff believes that running a ship is very similar to running any business; it takes motivating a crew to perform at the best of their abilities to achieve optimal efficiency and completion of tasks. He successfully takes his experiences from leading a Naval crew and teaches the audience how to apply it to t heir organizations. Along with highlighting every winning moment he and his crew experienced on the USS Benfold, Captain Abrashoff also shows failing moments the team had to endure. Those examples show the audience that in order to succeed, there has to be some trials along the way.Abrashoff introduces readers to the 11 lessons he has learned that helped him become a better leader: take command; lead by example; listen aggressively; communicate purpose and meaning; create a climate of trust; look for results, not salutes; take calculated risks; go beyond standard procedure; build people up; generate unity; and improve the crew’s quality of life. He dedicated a chapter to each lesson and explains the importance of each and how to apply them to any business. Chapter one talks about how Abrashoff became the captain of USS Benfold and how he had to take command.His first obstacle was wondering if everyone was going to like him. He quickly realized that â€Å"be likable is not hi gh among a ship captain’s job requirements†¦ to be respected, trusted, and effective† is (Abrashoff, 2002, p. 12). After that, he realized â€Å"a challenge for leaders†¦ is attracting and retaining †¦ the best employees and more important, how to motivate them so that they work with passion, energy, and enthusiasm† (Abrashoff, 2002, p. 12). Leaders need to listen to their employees so they can better understand what they are going through. Along with listening, employees need to be motivated.Motivation helps employees want to do their work and do the best job. Another obstacle was learning the real reason why soldiers were not re-enlisting. Abrashoff (2002) stated the following: I read some exit surveys, interviews conducted by the military to find out why people are leaving. I assumed that low pay would be the first reason, but in fact it was fifth. The top reason was not being treated with respect or dignity; second was being prevented from maki ng an impact on the organization; third, not being listened to; and fourth, not being rewarded with more responsibility. p. 13) All of those reasons are very similar to why people are leaving civilian jobs. Only one conclusion could come from it: all leaders are making the same mistakes. The best answer for those obstacles was summed up perfectly when he talked about his organizing principle. Abrashoff (2002) said â€Å"the key to being a successful skipper is to see the ship through the eyes of the crew† (p. 13). The leader does not always come up with the ideas; leaders would benefit greatly if they listened to their crew more. Empowering employees makes them realize their potential.When â€Å"given the right environment, there are few limits to what people can achieve† (p. 31). After taking command, a great leader must lead by example. In chapter two, Abrashoff discovered â€Å"90 percent of the time, I was at least as much a part if the problem as my people wereâ €  (p. 33). When things go wrong and tasks are not completed, a manager usually blames the employees. Abrashoff used a different approach; he looked at himself and wondered what he may have done wrong in certain situations. By recognizing their own faults, a leader can learn from them and show their employees that they are learning from them.There were four sections of the chapter that was very important. The first section was on remembering the effect one has on people. Leaders need to understand how they affect their people, â€Å"their optimism and pessimism are equally infectious† (p. 35). If the leader is in a bad mood, the employees will sense that and be in the same mood. Abrashoff talks about his â€Å"dark side† and how he purposely stays away from his crew when he is having a bad day. The second section talks about holding leaders accountable. Leaders need to make sure they recognized their part in a mishap and take some of the blame.The Washington Post te st was the next section. If there is any concern on whether something is the right thing to do, picture it being on the front page of a newspaper. Would it cause embarrassment or would it be something to celebrate? Abrashoff thinks that every decision a leader can make should be based on that test. The last section is about obeying a policy even when a leader disagrees. There are plenty of times a manager will disagree with a policy or procedure handed down by upper management; a great leader will support it anyway.Undermining superiors will show employees that they can do the same. In chapter three, Abrashoff stresses the importance of listening. He talked about his experiences with watching William Perry have conversations with people and how Perry always gave his complete attention to each person. In result, Perry was respected and people felt good in his presence. Abrashoff started to focus on really listening to his crew and treating each conversation like it was the most impor tant conversation he was having. While having these conversations, Abrashoff learned to â€Å"see the ship through the crew’s eyes† (p. 4). He discovered that his crew had many good ideas about how to make the environment more enjoyable; they were there every single day and knew a lot about the day-to-day operations on the ship. It would make sense to listen to their ideas. One of his first goals was to learn every soldier’s name, their spouse’s name, and all the names of their children. Then, he continued to learn different things about each of them. He talks about realizing his crew was just like him, â€Å"they had hopes, dreams, loved ones, and they wanted to believe that what they were doing was important† (p. 46).In turn, his crew earned more of his respect and it became easier for them to talk to him and share their ideas. Finding round people for round holes was his next point in the chapter. Since he knew his people so well, he was able to match them with the perfect job. After having an assistant that was not good at handling paperwork, Abrashoff found a younger seaman named David Lauer, who was labeled as a â€Å"troublemaker† to take over the task. Lauer shined in that task and Abrashoff asked him why he had so much trouble in his last job. The seaman said that he felt like his suggestions were not being heard and he just gave up.This example proved that listening aggressively can benefit leaders immensely. â€Å"Word magic† was the last lesson Perry taught Abrashoff. Abrashoff believed â€Å"if leaders back their words with action†¦ practice what they preach, their words create a self-fulfilling prophecy† (p. 50). Every time someone talked about the USS Benfold, it was referred to as â€Å"the best damn ship in the Navy. † He wanted his crew to say it so they believed it and in turn, everyone else believed it. The next lesson is about communicating the purpose and meaning of every task.Abrashoff said it best in the first sentence of chapter four, â€Å"the whole secret of leading a ship or managing a company is to articulate a common goal that inspires a diverse group of people to work hard together† (p. 52). When employees understand why a task it needed and how they can benefit from it, they are more likely to give their all in completing it. It is a shame that someone spends so much time at work and does not believe in the work they are doing. He wanted his crew to really love what they were doing every time they boarded that ship.If a leader makes their crew think they can do anything, they will believe it. Abrashoff thought that if he communicated with his crew about everything, they would understand and be more involved. He was against keeping his people in the dark, â€Å"secrecy spawns isolation, not success† (p. 55). It would be an advantage to the entire team when everyone knew the goals. That ties into opening up the clogged channels in an organization. By communicating the information effectively, the team produced better results. Abrashoff gave the example of the communication system in the Gulf War and how vital messages were never received.With the idea from one of his crew members, John Rafalko, the airways were cleared and messages were received. Abrashoff gave complete credit to Rafalko, claiming he only listened to the idea and supported Rafalko. Chapter five addressed the importance of creating a trusting environment, â€Å"the best way to keep a ship—or any organization—on course for success is to give the troops all the responsibility they can handle and then stand back† (p. 63). When employees are trusted to do their jobs, it makes it easier for them to focus on the task, not the micromanaging.Another way to encourage trust in the workplace was to not make employees compete against each other. Abrashoff wanted his candidates to work together instead of working against each other . He believed that that competition created distrust and division among the crew and in the long run, did not help the entire crew. Abrashoff said that anyone can bounce back from a bad decision. By helping someone recognize their screw up, it sends a message to the entire team that they will receive the same attention. By giving up on someone, â€Å"they understand instantly that there’s no room for redemption†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 7). Also, never bring a problem to the boss if it can be fixed without him; Abrashoff did advise to only get the boss involved if it cannot. Finally, when dealing with a difficult boss, it is best to shield the crew from that person. The morale stays high and it is less likely for employees to be corrupted or turned off by that person. The chapter on looking for results, not salutes, talked about looking at every one as an equal. Abrashoff encouraged leaders to let their crews speak up with their ideas; they should be able to question the authority.B y knocking down barriers between the captains and the crew members, it encourages people to get to know one another and be more likely to speak up when something can be done better. Abrashoff gave many examples throughout the book about his team questioning some of the decisions and policies in place and in the end, the team improved some things. Here, again, he stresses the importance of involving the team in everything and letting them get involved in the decision-making process, â€Å"innovation knows no rank† (p. 96). With the achievements, he did tell leaders to accept failures.Leaders should not reprimand employees when they make an attempt to solve a problem and it does not work; everyone should have the â€Å"freedom to fail† (p. 94). The next chapter talked about taking calculated risks. Employees worry about taking risks because the consequences can be devastating. Disciplinary action, even termination, can be the result of taking a risk and failing. Abrashof f believes in celebrating the risk-takers, even if it ends in failure. Everyone makes mistake; â€Å"show me someone who has never made a mistake, and I will show you someone who is not doing anything to improve your organization† (p. 04). The people that make their own decisions are the ones leaders should really be behind. Abrashoff said â€Å"if all you give are orders, then all you will get are order-takers† (p. 107). Leaders need to let their employees take responsibility; that is how self-starters are born. When that self-starter is unearthed, leaders need to take a chance on them. Abrashoff proved that even the delinquent crew member can turn out to be a hard working one. He used the example of the crew member who was left behind because he forgot to set his alarm.The sailor was placed on restriction since it was a serious offense, but he continued to excel in his job. When he found out his mother was ill, he put in for leave and was turned down by every leader. Abrashoff decided to grant him the leave and it did wonders for the sailor. He was very motivated to do a great job and to not let down his team mates again. In the end, the sailor left the Navy and became a defense contractor. The last section of the chapter was about breaking rules. Abrashoff said to break the rules that did not make sense and break the ones that did make sense, just very carefully.This part was pretty self-explanatory; it is okay to challenge the rules. As he was saying throughout the entire book, if something is wrong, find another way to do it. There are bad rules and it is the leader’s job to find a better way to do things, or encourage their employees to find a better way. Chapter eight was all about going above and beyond. Abrashoff thought to get outstanding results, leaders had to go beyond the standard procedures, â€Å"innovation and progress are achieved only by those who venture beyond standard operating procedures† (p. 119).Like he has said many times in the book, Abrashoff wanted his crew to take those risks and really think of way to change the system. He wanted self-starters and people with great ideas because it was not just his ship, it was everybody’s ship. In chapter nine, Abrashoff goes back to his people and talked about building them up. This chapter had a lot of points in it and it is one of the important lessons in the book; confident employees help any organization. Building self-esteem in the individual benefits the entire team, â€Å"never tear them down; help them grow strong† (p. 41). The message ties in with the trust piece; showing an employee that they are trusted and cared for makes a big difference in the way they work. Praise every single success, no matter how big or small, was important to Abrashoff. He believed that this practice, not only, worked on crew members, but it could be used on the big bosses: If you want to achieve anything in a large bureaucracy, get inside the b osses’ head. Anticipate what they want before they know they want it. Take on their problems; make them look so good that you become indispensable.When they can’t get along without you, they will support nearly anything you seek to accomplish. (p. 141) If leaders just trusted their people more, they would see that they usually get it right. People with talent, when motivated, can surprise people and move up in the ranks. Employees want to do a good job and prove they can do the job; leaders should trust that they can. And leaders must trust the new people and teach them well. New people are a great asset to any organization; they can be molded, with the proper training, into anything the leader wants.It is important to keep them fired up; any old influences—older crew members—can ruin their attitudes with any negativity. A proper â€Å"welcome aboard† program is imperative; newbies can be discouraged very easily if their first day is a disaster. Mo st importantly, expect the best from every employee. Leaders need to invest fully into their people and they will get it back tenfold. Abrashoff stated that if we â€Å"stopped treating them as if they are stupid, they would perform better† (p. 158). When they are not performing at their best, leaders should give honest feedback constantly.The employees cannot fix their problems if they do not know what they are doing wrong. This reduced the surprises during the review process; leaders would not have to talk about all the things that need improving during the review if they do it in the moment. Another best practice is to ask the bottom performers to rate their performances themselves. They are more honest to the fact that they are the bottom performers compared to their team mates. After that, come up with an action plan and set expectations on when to fix the problems.Leaders, then, should continue to coach in the moment and be open and honest with their employees. A team c annot succeed if they is no unity. Chapter ten addressed the importance of unity in a team and how the leader must create that with his employees. He claimed that â€Å"one of the toughest things for organizations to accomplish is to get people to set aside personal differences and work for the good of everyone involved† (p. 168). One of his main focuses was to train for unity. He started off with finding common interests among everyone. Then, he wanted his crew to find â€Å"positive reasons to value others† (p. 173).He, ultimately, experienced a decline in the reports on racial prejudice and sexual harassment because the ship’s morale was very positive. Punishment needs to be dealt out fairly in organizations. Leaders need to hold their team accountable for their actions, but also, learn to give them a second chance. Every employee needs to know they will be punished accordingly and after they have paid for their crime, the slate is wiped clean. Going back to the chapter about accepting the failures, it is important to learn from it and move on. Abrashoff believed everyone deserves a second chance, just like the sailor how overslept.Now any man would say if his woman is not happy, he is not happy; Abrashoff agreed with that ideal. By making the women feel like part of the team, just as the men did, Abrashoff prevented gender issues. Sexual harassment was down and everyone respected one another. It, also, helped the men on the ship calm down and be more mature. They saw the women as their equals and pushed them to step it up a bit. This lesson is very important in civilian organizations; equality between the sexes still has not been achieved and many leaders should take notes on this chapter.Abrashoff ended the chapter with examples of extraordinary female sailors he has worked with and how important they were to his team. The last lesson that Abrashoff talked about was improving the quality of the team’s life. He embraced the idea of having fun with the team and making the work environment fun. Many leaders frown upon fraternization and would probably look at Abrashoff’s practices as that. But his message was all about enjoying life and friends and he did it in very simple ways. He organized karaoke and alcohol-free happy hour on Fridays, movie nights on Saturdays, and playing music anytime work was involved.It lifted the morale and everyone was laughing and having fun. Good food was another important part of improving the quality of life in the crew members. Abrashoff saw food as an important part of the ship. People could relax and socialize over a good meal and productivity could only increase. Even having a Thanksgiving meal when one is far away from home sends a caring message to the crew and makes people feel good. Reviewer’s Evaluation In my opinion, this book can be very helpful to anyone trying to be a better manager.It really opens the reader’s eyes on the proper way to manage and how to let go of the â€Å"typical† manager style. I really like the part about looking through the employee’s eyes and getting the employees more motivated to do a better job. I believe Abrashoff really challenges the common ideal that managers should be unapproachable and listened to; authority and rules should never be questioned and always followed. He promotes risk-taking and challenging bad rules and really wants the leader to empower their team to make decisions and be innovative.It’s Your Ship is an informative book that can help any leader become a better leader or learn new techniques to become the best leader. I am not sure how this book looks compared to other books like it, but I know the title alone is catchy and I would probably pick this one up first if I had to choose (I think it is because the word â€Å"damn† is on the cover! ). I think it was very appropriate for us BBA students in the business administration field because most of the jobs are supervisor positions. Not only can we students benefit from it, I think everyone can take some pointers from this book.Some may not make it to a supervisor position in an office or retail setting, but there are leader positions everywhere: churches, volunteer work, etc. Each and every leader/manager can really profit from this book. The contribution of the book is huge; the message is so important to all managers. From my experience, I have been managed by many managers and became a manager myself. Many of these lessons would have been an advantage to my superiors and to me. Some of the chapters really spoke to me, such as learning to trust people to do their jobs.I can admit that that was one area that I struggled in when I was a store manager. I really feel that Abrashoff did a great job explaining his practices and he made it very interesting to learn about them. I would definitely recommend this book not only to BBA students, but to many of my retail friends and som e of my current supervisors. Reviewer’s Information Name: Shanita Kitts Affiliation: Averett University Address: 1300 Dover Place, Lynchburg, VA 24502 References Abrashoff, D. M. (2002). It’s your ship: Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy. New York, NY: Warner Books, Inc.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Cultural Approach Towards Brandsing by Starbucks

Study of cultural approach taken by Starbucks to branding in global marketplace ABSTRACT: _The international marketing promises to solve managerial problems using technical and universalizing approach. Ethnocentric approach to branding is been adopted by the researchers. As the global market develops this seems to be problematic. Thus it is important that some key premises and foundation needs to be revised. The branding research needs to be historically and contextually grounded, polycentric in orientation, and acutely attuned to the symbolic significance of brands of all types. INTRODUCTION: Brands are going everywhere in the global popular market. The Nike tick mark, the Coco-Cola symbol or McDonald’s M triggers tens and hundreds of responses. Brands are becoming integral part of our culture thus there is a great need for international marketing scholars to change with the changing global market condition and also contribute to the public dissonance of branding practices. T he theory and tools available are not sufficient to analyze the complexity of globalization and the brands role in it. The international marketing still does not suggest the appropriate theoretical and methodological challenges brought by globalization, and also in branding. AIM: Study of cultural approach taken by Starbucks to branding in global marketplace. OBJECTIVE: Theoretical and methodological blueprint for studying the cultural role of Starbucks in global market. LITERATURE REVIEW: 1. A* Cultural Approach to Branding in the Global Marketplace*. Review: Related Questions: Premises: What cultural differences (national, regional) do branding strategies embed? How have different branding concepts and theories emerged and for what purposes? Analytical approach: How do traditional brand landscapes affect globalized brands? How do brands at different geographical scales interact in market space? What kinds of mythic elements make for good brand stories? Can we predict the emergence of â€Å"antibrands† (e. g. , Mecca Cola, fair trade)? Units of analysis: How do brands globalize? To what degree do various brand architectures translate across cultures? Is it possible to develop an archive of commercially compelling narrative elements? Review: The Starbucks Brandscape and Consumers’ (Anti-corporate) Experiences of Globalization Review: Significance of Research: Help Starbucks understand the cultural effect on globalization. Help Starbucks to adopt appropriate strategy depending on the cultural aspects and consumer behavior geographically. Data collection: Journals from Internet. Personal visit to Starbucks. Interview with the staff and manager of Starbucks. BIBLOGRAPHY: Burgess, Steven M. and Jan-Benedict E. M. Steenkamp (2006), â€Å"Marketing Renaissance: How Research in Emerging Consumer Markets Advances Marketing, 23 (4), 337–56. Aaker, Jennifer and Patti Williams (1998), â€Å"Empathy Versus Pride: The Research, 25 (December), 241–61.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Qué es estatus PRUCOL y qué inmigrantes están amparados

Quà © es estatus PRUCOL y quà © inmigrantes estn amparados Los inmigrantes PRUCOL son indocumentados que pueden tener acceso a algunos beneficios sociales. Los derechos que pueden tener depende de cada estado. PRUCOL significa residente permanente bajo el color de la ley, segà ºn sus siglas en inglà ©s. No es una de las 7 situaciones migratorias creadas por las leyes, sino que es consecuencia de una sentencia judicial. Para ser amparado por PRUCOL los requisitos son los siguientes: estar en Estados Unidos como indocumentadoque el gobierno federal sepa de la presencia en el paà ­s de se inmigrantey que a pesar de estar indocumentado el gobierno ha manifestado su intencià ³n de no proceder a su deportacià ³n, expulsià ³n o remocià ³n de Estados Unidos. Esto puede suceder porque el migrante se encuentra en una categorà ­a contra la que el gobierno no actà ºa para deportar o porque se le ha notificado al inmigrante que no va a ser deportado. Tienen que darse al mismo tiempo esos tres requisitos Ejemplos de situaciones migratorias que pueden ser amparadas por PRUCOL Personas en proceso de ajuste de estatusSolicitantes de asiloMigrantes con un Estatus de Proteccià ³n Temporal (TPS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s)Situaciones de cancelacià ³n de la deportacià ³n (cancellation of removal)Suspensià ³n de la deportacià ³nAccià ³n Diferida (DACA, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) para muchachos que llegaron a USA antes de cumplir los 16 aà ±os y reà ºnen otros requisitos.Las personas extranjeras que al llegar a una aduana de Estados Unidos no cumplà ­an los requisitos para el ingreso pero se les permitià ³ un parole por razones humanitarias   y hace menos de un aà ±o de esa situacià ³n. Por ejemplo, caso de cubanos por pies secos pies mojados o de haitianos.Las và ­ctimas de violencia o de trfico de personas que han solicitado una visa U o una T.Migrantes que han solicitado por carta un alivio de la deportacià ³n hace ms de seis meses y no han obtenido una respuesta por parte de las autoridades. Beneficios sociales que pueden tener las personas consideradas PRUCOL Va a depender de cada estado. Algunos no conceden ningà ºn derecho, mientras que otros conceden algunos, como por ejemplo Nueva York, Nuevo Mà ©xico, Nueva Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, Hawaii y Pennsylvania. California se encuentra entre los ms generosos. Por otro lado, Texas, casa de aproximadamente el 14 por ciento del total de indocumentados presentes en USA, no brinda beneficios para los PRUCOL. Como los derechos y los requisitos cambian de estado a estado, verificar con las administraciones del lugar en el que se reside. Entre los beneficios ms comunes para los PRUCOL en los estados que asà ­ lo permiten se encuentran: MedicaidSSI/SSP, ingresos y pagos complementarios.CAPI, programa de asistencia en dinero, dependiendo de la edad o si sufren una incapacidad.SNAP, programa de asistencia para alimentos. En California se conoce como CalFreshAdems, en California hay ms programas especà ­ficos de ese estado, como CFAP, programa de asistencia para comidas que puede aplicar a algunso PRUCOL y CalWORKS. Adems, todos los indocumentados, incluso los que no son PRUCOL, tienen beneficios como Medicaid de Emergencia, que incluye entre otras medidas el parto y nacimiento de un bebà ©, y tambià ©n WIC, que es un programa de asistencia para alimentos para embarazadas, lactantes y bebà ©s. A tener en cuenta   No confundir PRUCOL con qualified immigrant, que es el requisito que pide el gobierno federal para tener acceso a programas financiados federalmente. Los PRUCOL no son inmigrantes cualificados a estos efectos. Asimismo, las personas que ingresaron a Estados Unidos antes del 22 de agosto de 1996 podrà ­an tener acceso a mayores beneficios sociales, ya que para ellos aplica una ley anterior.   Por à ºltimo, tener presente que PRUCOL no da derecho a obtener la tarjeta de residencia ni la ciudadanà ­a americana. Muchos inmigrantes PRUCOL podrn legalizarse siguiendo un camino especà ­fico para su caso, pero otros muchos permanecern toda su vida en esa situacià ³n de indocumentados a los que se les permite permanecer en Estados Unidos. Este artà ­culo es sà ³lo informativo. No es consejo legal.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

A Simple Summary of Shakespeares Hamlet

A Simple Summary of Shakespeare's Hamlet William Shakespeares famous work Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a tragedy set across five acts written around the year 1600. More than just a revenge play, Hamlet deals with questions about life and existence, sanity, love, death, and betrayal. It is one of the most quoted works of literature in the world, and since 1960 it has been translated into 75 languages (including Klingon). The Action Begins Otherworldly As the play begins, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is visited by a mysterious ghost resembling his recently-deceased father the king. The ghost tells Hamlet that his father was murdered by Claudius, the king’s brother, who then took the throne and married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude. The ghost encourages Hamlet to avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius. The task before Hamlet weighs heavily upon him. Is the ghost evil, trying to tempt him to do something that will send his soul to hell for eternity? Hamlet questions whether the specter is to be believed. Hamlet’s uncertainty, anguish, and grief are what makes the character so believable. He is arguably one of literature’s most psychologically complex characters. He is slow to take action, but when he does it is rash and violent. We can see this in the famous â€Å"​curtain scene† when Hamlet kills Polonius. Hamlet’s Love Polonius’ daughter Ophelia is in love with Hamlet, but their relationship has broken down since Hamlet learned of his father’s death. Ophelia is instructed by Polonius and Laertes to spurn Hamlet’s advances. Ultimately, Ophelia commits suicide as a result of Hamlet’s confusing behavior toward her and the death of her father. A Play Within a Play In Act 3, Scene 2, Hamlet organizes actors to re-enact his father’s murder at the hands of Claudius in order to gauge Claudius’ reaction. He confronts his mother about his father’s murder and hears someone behind the arras. Believing it to be Claudius, Hamlet stabs the man with his sword. It transpires that he has actually killed Polonius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Claudius realizes that Hamlet is out to get him and professes that Hamlet is mad. Claudius arranges for Hamlet to be shipped to England with his former friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who have been informing the king about Hamlet’s state of mind. Claudius has secretly sent orders for Hamlet to be killed on arrival in England, but Hamlet escapes from the ship and swaps his death order for a letter ordering the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. To Be or Not to Be †¦ Hamlet arrives back in Denmark just as Ophelia is being buried, which prompts him to contemplate life, death, and the frailty of the human condition. The performance of this soliloquy is a big part of how any actor portraying Hamlet is judged by critics.  Ã‚   Tragic Ending Laertes returns from France to avenge the death of Polonius, his father. Claudius plots with him to make Hamlet’s death appear accidental and encourages him to anoint his sword with poison. He also puts a cup of poison aside, in case the sword is unsuccessful. In the action, the swords are swapped and Laertes is mortally wounded with the poisoned sword after striking Hamlet with it. He forgives Hamlet before he dies. Gertrude dies by accidentally drinking the cup of poison. Hamlet stabs Claudius and forces him to drink the rest of the poisoned drink. Hamlets revenge  is finally complete. In his dying moments, he bequeaths the throne to Fortinbras and prevents Horatios suicide by imploring him to stay alive to tell the tale.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Citizenship and Naturalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Citizenship and Naturalization - Essay Example A policy is being proposed by many that such a test should also be designed for these American people too as they should also know enough about the roots to which they belong. In my opinion such a policy is best suited for the people of America so that they are forced to know about their nation. Andrew Romano in the Newsweek Magazine provided details about the citizenship test which was attempted by the citizens of America. He briefs that 38% of the citizens failed the test and 29% of these citizens did not even know the name of the vice president. This clearly shows that the citizens of America have been quite ignorant because of no restrictions imposed upon them. Romano further compared the results with the people of Europe and found that they knew much more than the Americans did. A great percentage of the European knew about Taliban whereas a lesser percentage of the Americans knew about Taliban even though United States has been actively involved in the charge against them. The problem cannot be rooted out if the citizens do not realize the problem at the first instance. These citizens would only realize the gravity of the problem if they are posed w ith restrictions (Romano 2011). An implementation of the Naturalization Test would help these citizens to know more about their nations so that they can work as a whole. Jack Cafferty from CNN further highlighted these problems in the citizens of America. He puts forward that eligible voters do not even know about the roots of America and they end up voting the wrong person in the Congress. A naturalization test would urge these citizens to know more about their nation so that they can vote the right person for the right seat. An American citizen and an immigrant should not have much of a difference when these tests are being conducted because altogether both of these classes will turn out to be the voters for the United Nations (Cafferty

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Unknown . see criteria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Unknown . see criteria - Essay Example role of the East India Company in the expansion of the British Empire directly correlates to the activities of key individuals such as Robert Clive and Lord Hastings and the focus of this analysis is to critically evaluate the roles of Clive, the East India Company and Lord Hastings in the expansion of the Empire in India. To this end, it is submitted that it is vital to consider the historical backdrop and evolution of the Company from trading entity to leading military strategist for the British objectives in expanding political and economic control in India. Moreover, whilst the expansion of the East India Company symbolised increasing British executive control in India, it is submitted that this was significantly contributed to by the roles of key individuals such as Clive and Hastings, which is further evidenced by the contrasting British position in China. Indeed, it is submitted in this paper that the very contrast between British power in China and the Crown Jewel of India highlights how the roles of Clive and Lord Hastings effectively engineered the status of the East India Company towards achieving British political goals in the expansion of the empire. Accordingly, on this basis I shall undertake a background overview and analysis in section 1. In section 2, I shall critically evaluate the role of Clive, followed by a comparative analysis of the role of Hastings in section 3. I shall then conclude with an overview of the interrelationship between Clive, Hastings and the East India Company in the expansion of the British Empire in India. In Pirenne’s â€Å"History of the Universe†, he comments that â€Å"in the middle of the seventeenth century, Asia still had a far more important place in the world than Europe2†. This was primarily due to the trading opportunities offered in India and China, which the British and their European counterparts wanted to exploit for profit and increasing political control in the race for empire3. Directly correlated to

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

FDI final report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

FDI final report - Coursework Example This implies the robust performance of the country in the complexity of the financial crisis. The factor which has been responsible for the growth in the FDI flows is the rise in the price of the commodities and has attracted further investment in the field of the natural resources (OECD, 1999). This paper will analyze in details the FDI inflows in three of the major Latin American countries namely Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The primary objective is to compare the environment of FDI in these three countries which can aid the prosperity of business in Latin America. This paper chooses the British retail giant, Tesco and captures the benefits that it can achieve, if it follows the FDI trails and makes its presence felt in the prospering economies of Latin America (Yapp and Paulo, 2011). For this purpose, the competitive advantage of the FDI flows of the countries will be discussed in details and the decision of choosing the country will be established. Company Profile Tesco is a Brit ish multinational department store selling grocery with its headquarters at Chestnut. It is one of the major players in its genre, ranking only second to Wal-Mart in terms of profit and third in terms of revenues after Wal-Mart and Carrefour. Presently, it operates in three of the continents, Asia, Europe and North America. The company has over the years diversified its portfolio to include a variety of services like, telecom, clothing, electronics, financial services and software. Considering the business boom that it had experienced in the recent years, it would be interesting to observe the benefits that it can derive from tapping the FDI inflows in the developing economies of Latin America. FDI Literature In Foreign Direct Investment, a firm invests in the manufacturing or service facility or any other type of its assets in a foreign country and retains effective control on it (Sagepublications, 2007). FDI implies a high level of commitment as the firm which chooses to enter has to remain in the foreign country for a long time, investing high quantity of resources (Froot, 2008). FDI can be done in two different ways which include mergers or acquisition and Greenfield investment. Recent times have seen a surge in the former type. There can be two different types of integration in FDI. One in which the firm invests in the same products in the foreign country that it produces in its own country and the other type, where it chooses to invest in the value chain of the firm (Ramondo, Rappoport and Ruhl, 2013). The nature of ownership also varies in the FDI. There can be partial acquisition of the existing firm or wholly-owned investment, in which the investor owns the foreign assets or equity joint ventures, in which both the parent firms come together to create a new legal entity by investing assets and share the ownership and profits (Hauswald and Hege, 2009). This process benefits the multinational organizations immensely as they can utilize the advantages of location and learn from each other’s structural differences. They can also leverage their learning and enhance their capabilities (Blonigen, 2005). There can be three different motives for following an FDI scheme which are market seeking motives, resource seeking

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Portrayal Of Homosexual Characters In Disney Film Studies Essay

Portrayal Of Homosexual Characters In Disney Film Studies Essay The Walt Disney Company first appeared in America (and soon after the rest of the world) in the 1920s. 90 years later and it is still going strong and is a corporation to be reckoned with. From their beginnings as a simple animation company, it now covers lots of different genres of film as well as branching out to television companies, theme parks, books, theatre adaptations, cruises and music labels. To date, Disney has produced 49 animated films, 10 live-action, 11 DisneyToon productions, two stop-motion and 10 Pixar films with the hugely anticipated release of Toy Story 3 in June 2010. But concentrating on their main produce, their range of animated films has been experience by everyone from the ages of 1 to 101. Disney is at the forefront of family entertainment as well as a form of escapism (a flying elephant, living toys, mermaids and monsters?!) and a hidden (if not obvious to adults) way to introduce morality to children as early as possible. However, who decides what morals to portray in these very Americanised films? In recent times, Disney films have reflected the social climate with the introduction of the first black protagonist in The Princess and the Frog (2009). So as these films are becoming true to life and educating future generations, has there been an introduction of non-heterosexual characters as well? The Disney Companys first feature length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937) was a colossal project which pushed every employee working on the production extremely hard but the results were worth it. The amalgamation of a moral filled story with realistic animation then paved the way for the following Disney films during, what was known as their Golden Age: Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942). The morals contained within these films and all to follow, were seen by conservative Americans as important family values and trusted upon Disney to teach these values to everyone. For more than 50 years Walt Disney Company has represented all that is good and pure and wholesome in our nation. Families flocked to Walk Disney World and Disneyland because they knew that Walt Disney respected and nurtured the traditional American family and its strong moral values. Disney could always be counted on to provide parents and children alike with family-friendly, good-natured entertainment Letter from a coalition of Florida lawmakers, 1995 However, are these morals and values shared by all? And does the way in which they are portrayed actually reflect reality? They are American ideals of conservative family values which support the life storyline of romance, marriage (to someone of the opposite sex) and then children in a parallel world to that of the traditional Anglo-Saxon, Christian American upbringing. Reading further into these ideals are that of the issues of individuality, love and capitalism that are being depicted to all Disney viewers, namely children. These viewers cannot differentiate what is being shown to them as not necessarily the reality of the world (as the world consists of more than just the one religion of Christianity). New generations of children subjected to Disney films are growing up with ideologies from these stories as they have faith in them to contain some element of truth. Not all the storylines can be deemed as promoting negative beliefs though. Disney movies always contain an aspect of the follow your heart love which if regarded as the most important moral, then maybe some people will overlook the American family values shown in favour of love. However, this follow your heart belief can only really exist within some religions as others have strict rulings as to who you can marry and really fall in love with. Throughout film history (up until recently), there were very few storylines which contained a gay or lesbian character as a protagonist. The general film public saw those films, which did include a main gay character, as gay-themed (so not to their tastes) or alternative. In recent years, filmmakers have seen a niche in the market for gay films, although it was in 1896 with The Celluloid Closet that a gay subtext was used within in a film. It would then take some 70 years later before Queer Cinema would come about. Censorship on homosexuality in films came about in Britain in 1912 with the founding of the British Board of Film Censors and in 1934, the Production Code in America was enforced. Within this strict guideline for good taste was that homosexuality or bisexuality must never be represented or even inferred. Slowly though, gay and lesbian characters were brought into films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Clueless (1995) and Billy Elliot (2000). But as previously sa id, only in supporting roles as the gay best friend. When they finally were given the main storylines, the characters were shown to imitate heterosexuality as much as possible to be accepted. This can be seen in Philadelphia (1993) where many believe this to a patronising look at gay life and the yearning to be accepted as normal in a heterosexual world. There are no outrageous scenes of affection between Hanks and his partner within in the film. Queer identity can be related to many different people not just gay and lesbian individuals. The Western world may seem like a land of equality but to those in the minorities, it is not. Studies have shown it is suggested by traditional teachers and career advisors that schoolgirls go into feminine jobs (Apter, 2000) while schoolboys are driven away from jobs seen as traditionally female (Woodward, 2000). Men and womens identities have changed however as equality for women in the workplace is fought more and more showing that females can be the provider that men traditionally were. This leaves the men unsure of their identity in the world but through popular culture and mass media, they can be shown as well as women where they belong in contemporary life. So as society has become accepting of women in the workplace by it being reinforced by popular culture and mass media (but perhaps not by Disney films) that when non-heterosexual characters are introduced, tolerance towards them sho uld improve? With Disney films, the morals and values are chosen so it can be said that capitalism will control how homosexuality is visualised and dealt with. Despite this limited perspective, society is becoming more accommodating of different sexualities although many non-heterosexuals are still facing prejudice and discrimination from older generations and others. America is slightly less open-minded than the UK as a survey by Gallup showed that although homosexuality is tolerated more as an acceptable lifestyle, 42 per cent of the people surveyed felt that homosexuality should be illegal. Contrasting against this is a poll from the same year showing that just 17% of people in England felt less positive towards non-heterosexuals (MORI, 2001). Heteronormativity can be defined as a set of lifestyle rules to which society follows and falls into a specific gender with an outlook of a traditional role in life. Heteronormativity occurs in nearly every film in various ways. It can promote the message of men being the dominating person in a relationship with women following after them being housewives. However it is usually seen to promote that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation and any kind of sexual relationships should only be between a man and a woman. Sometimes it is obvious and other times the viewer does not realise that the story they are watching is promoting heterosexuality and that this is the ideal (or assumed, expected, ordinary and privileged) sexuality. Viewers can recognise that films have hidden meaning and semes such as good vs. evil, rich vs. poor, children vs. adults etc. However it is the seme of heterosexuality vs. homosexuality, which is the problem with films pushing heteronormativity. Films that set up neat systems of good and evil dos and donts are part of the pervasive simple-mindedness that posits heterosexuality and queerdom as irreconcilable opposites which cannot co-exist respectfully. Todd Hayward, The Lyin King Planet Homo 69 (21st Sept 1994, 17) With heterosexuality being the assumed sexuality of society, this only reinforces discrimination and prejudice towards non-heterosexuals. The amount of different heterosexual storylines shown will increase the amount of heteronormativity within the media in general as generations are exposed to it. With heteronormativity shown in most popular culture, it also redefines how homosexuality is perceived. It can be compared to public vs. private, with heterosexuality being public and homosexuality being private therefore something to be hidden. Even before a viewer experiences heteronormativity in a film, the masculine/feminine definitions of gender are promoted first. From this, sexuality, pleasure and identity can then come forth as the storylines and characters develop, which leads to heteronormativity. Obviously it is easy to see that Disney films promote heteronormativity although many people believe Disney films to be sexually free, it can still be a non-sexual part of our lives. Disney films show the traditional domesticity of the roles of men and women against a credible heterosexual backdrop by replacing sex with romance and reinforcing the patriarchal family structure. This can be seen in Bambi (1942) as Bambis character is promoted as the King of the Forest and will take over from his father. It also depicts his forsaking of his dependence on his mother as she is killed during the film. The very over-used storyline of the princess or girl being romanticised by the male character, which then leads to an eventual wedding, is predominant in many Disney films. A comparison of Disney films against other animated films from different companies made during 1990-2005, show that there is a much stronger hetero-romantic storyline in Disney films. Many Disney films have a reference to a hetero-romantic storyline, usually as the main plot but they also contain sexiness (Kazyak and Martin, 2009) as womens bodies are portrayed as curvaceous with semi-revealing costumes. With these hetero-romantic storylines, heterosexuality is glamorised as being special and different from other kinds of relationships. It is shown to have the power to change the world (either by breaking a spell (Beauty and the Beast), belonging to the ideal world (The Little Mermaid), stopping a war (Pocahontas) or changing an old-fashioned law (Aladdin)). These storylines are usually only shown through kissing and no other sexually embodiment. This can reinforce the heteronormativity, as Conservatives believe that any two characters have to be heterosexual unless seen kissing someone of the same sex. For instance, there could be some homosexual affection between Aladdin and the Genie but viewers do not read into this friendship with this outlook. The friendships portrayed in Disney films do not re flect reality as it is unusual for a female character to have a same sex friendship with another character unless they of a maternal nature, whereas in reality, many young girls and women have a female best friend. For males they usually have a comical friend/sidekick which could be said to show reality slightly more. All of this can be shown that Disney endorses heterosexuality within the majority of their films and even tries to influence the thinking that being heterosexual is far more glamorous than being homosexual. With this educating outlook, Disney actually took another step by creating military and educational films during the 1940s. As the Second World War took its toll, Walt Disney knew his company was facing bankruptcy as the profits from Snow White were transferred into the productions for Pinocchio and Fantasia but these did not reach the same high profits. With a strike by animators also, productions were delayed for months. Disney knew he had to keep his company going and believed that his animation films could be used to help the war effort through education and propaganda. Military training films were churned out at an amazing rate and low budgets. The films used the, by now, well-known characters and newly designed mascots to keep the soldiers morales high. Soon they were being made to also keep the spirits high of Americans at home, while their loved ones went overseas to fight. With these films, the federal government and Disney were forming a strong relationship, as the studios were used by army personnel and kept afloat for the duration of the war. The federal government even made it possible for Disney to obtain the chemicals needed to make the films despite its requirement for the making of weapons. The films were hugely popular as they used the traditional animation and moral-driven narrative used for the previous Disney films and this suited the governments needs. Many cartoons started to take on a wartime theme to entertain but also to educate. Disneys public health and education films were, in part, attempts to provide models for domestic life (Cartwright and Goldfarb (1994), 175). Within these educational films, there was the notion that hard work combats illness whereas laziness breeds disease. So as well as supporting heteronormativity within their films, Disney had started to educate not just America but the world, in their ideals. Being practically sponsored by the federal government, the issue was then whose ideals were being portrayed Americ as or what the government wants its country to represent? Even within their films for children, Disney started to become an influential power over everyone who watched their films. Subliminal messaging started to occur in its short films as a humorous way for the animators to disrespect Disney as he refused to share creative credit. However, some of Disneys films from the 1990s started to have questionable sexual subliminal messaging. Some instances of these hidden messages are an erect penis on the cover of The Little Mermaid video as well as an erection in the film (which was actually the characters knee). Others saw the word sex depicted in The Lion King (it says SFX as a credit to the special effects team) whilst others heard someone whispering All good teenagers, take off your clothes in Aladdin. And finally it was thought you could see that Jessica Rabbit wasnt wearing any underwear in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? These supposed messages could be seen as queer readings (not in the non-heterosexual meaning but in the non-standard meaning) as people started to think of Disney as a lewd company with a gay agenda. However these messages are focussed on sex not sexual orientation and really do rely on the viewer knowing to listen or look for them. But when a child likes a film, many will watch it over and over again. And through this repeated viewing, children can begin to understand more and perhaps the innuendoes that were meant only for adults. This is particularly so as it is becoming almost impossible to avoid popular culture and advertising which can broaden a childs mind prematurely. A survey in 2006 of 1,300 UK families showed that seven in 10 children now have their own television in their bedrooms, with more than half of these also owning a DVD player. Similarly, a survey in America released in November 1999 showed that 88% of all US households have two or more televisions, 60 % have three or more and 53% of all children have a television in their bedrooms. With all this access to popular culture, children are growing up with the medias point of view on situations and relationships. With Disney such a presence in childrens lives also, once again whose morals are they growing up with? (EXPECTATIONS OF ENTERTAINMENT PARAGRAPH) Disney films can be a used a form of escapism, not just for children but also for adults. Despite whether its supporting heteronormativity or Americanism, their storylines often show that a good life is possible despite misfortune and difficulty. Even the homosexual culture has adopted this chance of escapism (QUEER READINGS PARAGRAPH) However as the 20th Century progressed, as did the heads of the company. With the passing away of Walt and then his brother Roy Disney, Michael Eisner took charge during the mid 1970s and started to change a few things about the company. Miramax films were brought under the Disney umbrella, which allowed an outlet for (more profitable) R and X-rated films (15 and 18 under the BBFC). This started to threaten the Disney ideals that had been so strongly portrayed in many of its films. Right wing Christian fundamentalists felt it was a betrayal of their trust in a company they had believed in for so long. Various organisations (the American Family Association, the Family Research Council and Morality in Media for example) started to boycott Disney as they thought that the company