Human Nature View Essay

Within the western view of human nature, it emphasizes that humans are made in the image of God. It is mostly composed within Judeo-Christian tradition. This view looks at human nature to be loving, rational, and relational to God. The way the western view decides good or evil depends on actions and choices. Good expresses life, charity, happiness, and love. Evil would consist of discrimination, humiliation, destructiveness, and so on. Society would be fair and just to a point and limitation. The view expresses that we are all brothers and sisters under the image of God. That all of our actions and observed and judged. Depending on our actions, results into a metaphysical afterlife to heaven or hell. The western view is free and open-minded to all, and very safe to society. There would be no power group. In the hands of the less fortunate, it is taught that we should help them and think of them as the same position disregarding wealth. However, the eastern view of human nature differs. The eastern view is mostly related with the Hindu and Sufi traditions. Their state of thinking expresses that humans are caught in an illusion of difference. They believe in reincarnation and karma. Similar to the western view, they also believe in a system of good or bad choices. Although, there is a difference in beliefs. Unlike the western view, the eastern some may consider it to me more harmonious and free without believing in absurdities, while still being able to participate. There is no power group either. Everything is sought out for is for peace, harmony, and justice. On the basis of having disabilities or being less fortunate still considers to be assisted but viewed the same in regards to social status. This view, also believes in a rebirth while the western view does not. Practices of sacrifice for a better outcome in the future is also practiced in this view.

Paiute Indians Essay

Paiute (sometimes written as Piute) is the name given to two related groups of native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Nevada and Oregon, and the Southern Paiute who originate in the modern day states of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah. The web page Paiute says that the southern group moved in California in about 1100 C. E. The name may mean either Water Ute or True Ute. Members of both groups speak languages which belong to the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan family of Native American languages. Other people groups, namely the Bannock, Mono, Timbisha and Kawaiisu peoples, also speak Numic languages and live in adjacent areas, so they too are sometimes referred to as Paiute, though in some cases are more closely related genetically to the Shoshone people. Powell and Ingalls, in their Ind Alf. Rep. , 1873 said that the name originally belonged to only one group, those from Corn Creek in Utah, but was gradually extended to other bands. The group generally known as the northern Paiutes are closer in relationship to the Shoshone than they are to Southern Paiutes and the southern group are closer to the Utes than to the northern Paiutes. It is in language and customs that they are most closely alike. Ethnologue . com reports that the language of the Northern Paiute, alternately called Paviotso, is spoken over a distance of about 1000 miles although each reservation, there are twenty, tends to have its own dialect. There are about 1,600 speakers out of a population of 6,000, most of these speakers being older people. The group have several names. The Northern group call themselves Numa or Numu while those in the south refer to themselves as Nuwuvi. These terms have an identical meaning , â€Å"the people. † The northern people are on occasions called Paviotso. There was contact between early Spanish explorers and some Southern Paiute who called them the â€Å"Payuchi† (they did not make contact with the Northern Paiute). Other early settlers referred to both groups as ‘Diggers’, now thought of as a derogatory term, but which referred to the people’s practice of digging up roots. Life styles Before other settlers arrived in their areas the people of the north existed in their desert environment. Each smaller band had a specific territory which generally centered on an area of lake or other wetland that ensured a supply of both fish and water-fowl says one web page, but the web page Paiute says definatively that the northern group did not eat fish. Food gathering tended to follow a seasonal pattern, including trading with coastal groups by Southern Paiutes. Communal drives in conjuction with neighbouring bands were the means of hunting animals such as mountain sheep, rabbits and the larger pronghorns, a form of antelope. There seems to have been quite free movement of individuals and families between the various bands. Pinyon nuts, a form of pine nut were gathered on mountain trips in the fall. Pinon nuts have outstanding nutritional value, supplying all amino acids and various vitamins and compare well with pecans, peanuts, and walnuts. They supply all amino acids and provide significant amounts of vitamin A, and have been likened to soya beans as an important food source according to the ‘Goods From The Woods’ web pages. The seeds of wild grasses, berries and other fruit and vegetables such as musk melons, beans, tubers and roots were also food sources. Important implements were a grinding stone and hand stone ( metate and mano) and these were used to crush seeds and make a paste which could be cooked as shown on the Surweb site page Paiute People of Southern Utah. Cultivation was in the hands of the women who created irrigation channels using sticks as digging tools. Each band came from a characteristic food source, the people of the Lovelock area for instance being known as the Koop Ticutta or Eaters of Ground Squirrel. Michael Hittman, in his 1996 book, â€Å"Corbett Mack, the Life of a Northern Pauitr, mentions, ( page 2) the Tabooseedokado or ‘Grass Nut Eaters’ of Smith and Mason valleys, Nevada In the fall the various groups would gather together for dances, ceremonies and marriages, the latter not being marked by any ceremony, but was simply the setting up of a household jointly. Edward Curtis in his book ‘the North American Indian, (Volume 15, page 66) describes dances both for amusement and as a prelude to war. He describes the war dancers as wearing head dresses of eagle feathers and kilts of cords including downy feathers Although monogamy was the most usual form of marriage variants such as sororal polygamy i. e. one man marrying a groups of sisters, as is sometimes the pattern among Mormons, and polyandry, which is when one woman has several husbands, also took place according to Ronald Host in the Utah History Encyclopedia. Houses were of the most basic kind, because the bands moved frequently, and little clothing was worn, but blankets made of rabbit fur were used according to Spartacus Educational. Contacts with Settlers Although the first contact with westerners may have taken place in the 1820s, really sustained contact between the Northern Paiute and Euro-Americans did not occur until 1840s. At that point the native culture was not particularly influenced by the settlers except that they began to use horses. Large numbers however fell victim to smallpox brought to them by infected settlers. However there were some bands in the south who remained more or less in their pristine, pre-settlement state until the1870’s having acces to neither guns nor horses according to S. G. Ellsworth. in ‘the New Utah Inheritance’. In 1851, Mormon settlers began to occupy Paiute water sources. Relations between the Paiutes and the Mormons were on the whole peaceful, mainly because of the efforts of Mormon leader Jacob Hamblin. In 1854, Brigham Young had sent Jacob Hamblin and others to open the Santa Clara Region. The goal was to befriend the Indians and eventually convert them to Mormonism. Hamlin believed that if he never killed Indians, they would kill him Hamblin, together with some Paiutes, was able to establish a settlement near the Santa Clara River where dams were built in order to irrigate the area on a much larger scale than previously according to the Surweb site. There were a number of violent disputes between the natives and settlers such as the Pyramid Lake War of 1860 and the Bannock War of 1878. Such incidents in general began with disagreements between settlers and Paiutes about property. Such disputes would escalate until they required the involvement of the military. European contact with the Southern Paiutes happened first 1776 when Roman Catholic missionaries Silvestre Velez de Escalante and Francisco Atanasio Dominguez came across them while seeking an overland route to the Spanish missions in California. They reported seeing beard men and much later photographs were taken showing bearded Paiutes by John Hilliers, as can be seen on the Surweb page ‘ The Paiute People of Southern Utah’. Between 1854 and 1858 the Mormons tried hard to convert the Paiutes to their beliefs. The two sides on occasions worked together in negative ways as when, in 1857 A mixed group of Mormon militia and Paiutes attacked and killed a group of migrants at Mountain Meadows, Utah according to Virginia Simmons in her book of 2000, ‘The Ute Indians of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico’. A treaty was signed between The Utah Paiutes and the federal government in 1865, but the senate failed to ratify this. In early 1871 John Wesley Powell reached Southern Utah following his exploration of the Grand Canyon. On his first trip the party had run out of food. With the aid of the Paiutes, and their immense knowledge of the area Powell was able to arrange a successful second expedition according to the Surweb page the Paiute People of Southern Utah. The second trip was a scientific one and John Hilliers, a photographer, accompanied Powell. He was able to take many pictures of people who up to that point had had no or minimal contact with westerners. His pictures can be seen on the Surweb Pages, the Paiute People of Southern Utah. The Europeans of whatever origin practised settled agriculture and also introduced large herds of cattle, which led to over grazing. This made it hard for the native people to continue with their traditional life habits. Those living near rivers practised agriculture using the river waters as their means of irrigation. They grew corn, various types of squash and gourds, sunflowers, melons and, in later years, winter wheat. Although there were chiefs, some very influential, leadership was often to do with abilities and so was task orientated such as hunting or making baskets. With the coming of settlers there also came slaving raids from other native groups such as the Utes and Navajos, who then sold their slaves to Europeans. There were other important intrusions into Paiute life. Beatrice Grabish in her article of 1999 ‘Dry Tears of the Aral’ mentions the Owens Valley which was originally populated by Paiutes, but where the water was an attraction to urban developers seeking a permanent supply of water for Los Angeles. She reports how the local environment was devastated by the loss of ground water. Religion The supernatural belief world of the Paiutes revolved around Wolf and Coyote There was a tradition of storytelling about the activities of Wolf and Coyote together with those of other spirit animals. t the fall and winter gatherings. Wolf was considered to be the elder brother and so the more responsible god, while Coyote was often given the role of the trickster. Jesse Jennings, who has studied closely the anthropology of Utah said in 1957 in ‘Memoirs of the Society for American Archaeology’, No 14, when speaking of the people’s traditional life style :- In such situations there is little leisure, and almost no certainty about the morrow. No long-term building projects, no complicated rituals, no extensive amassing of personal property nor any long range plans can be undertaken in such circumstances. Reservations In 1874 the American government took away all Paiute land. The Malheur Reservation in Oregon was the first reservation for the northern Pauite. The government’s intention was that the Northern Paiute would be concentrated there, but because of the distance from the traditional areas of th emajority of the bands, together with poor conditions on that reservation, many Northern Paiute refused to go there or quickly left. When it became impossible for them to continue to follow their traditional patterns of life they either looked for work on white farms or in the cities. stablished Small Indian colonies were also formed where they were joined by many Shoshone and Washoe people. Later other large reservations were created such as those at Pyramid Lake and Duck Valley, but the usual pattern was small reservations near cities or farm districts. These often had mixed inhabitants including both Northern Paiute and Shoshone people. 20th Century â€Å"For many Indians the depression years were a relatively good period,† stated Professor Ronald L.  Holt of Weber State University as quoted by Becky Bartholomew ‘History Blazer’ on the web page ‘Utah History to Go’ In the early 20th century the colonies began to be awarded land by the government. In 1927 a Paiute agency was created in Cedar City under the auspices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Despite this there was little real help available for the Paiutes. The women worked as maids and the Paiute men worked on the railroad, sometimes taking intermittent work on farms as well as working their own small plots on reservation land. In 1933 President Roosevelt had appointed John Collier as a new commissioner of Indian Affairs. With the passing of the Indian Reorganization Act in 1934 colonies were given recognition as independent tribes. Known as the IRA, this act protected existing Indian lands as well as providing the means for additional land purchases. The establishment of tribal and band constitutions and councils was encouraged and funds were provided for the purchase of water rights and the creating of irrigation systems were needed. In the 1950’s the government had a policy of terminating aid to certain groups and the Paiutes were included, although Holt makes it clear that the department of Indian Affairs knew that by the they were then incapable of coping without help. Some of these terminations took a long time to come into effect. Prucha in his 1984 book ‘The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians’ states, ( page 1048) that in the case of the Southern Paiutes there was a three year gap between the act of termination and the date on which it took effect. Over the years the Paiutes campaigned for compensation for their lost lands and this was eventually paid, but at extremely low rates. In 1980 the then president Jimmy Carter ensured that the Paiute people again received federal recognition. In 1984 the Paiutes received 4,470 acres of poor land, not all in one place, but scattered throughout southwestern Utah. There was also a fund of $2. 5 million fund from which the group could draw on the interest. This was to be used for economic and tribal services and has been used to build houses, to open two factories and to provide health and educational facilities. The Future The future for this relatively small people group, probably about 4000 people according to Spartacus International, looks promising at present. Other estimates are rather higher, such as that on the Paiute Indian Tribe History, which claims there are up to 7,000. Naturally as time goes by there will be ever more mixing with the surrounding populations, but, unless there are major legislative changes, Paiutes will be able to follow at least some of their traditional way of life, while at the same time being active citizens of the United States. However it is obvious that certain things are in decline. A language with so few speakers spread over a vast area will soon be only of academic interest, a second language at best rather than a living mother tongue, unless there are moves such as with the Celtic languages in Europe to sustain them for example the Celtic tongues are used in the media and as a teaching medium in schools. There should be no need for war dances in modern America, so these will be just a focus for tourist cameras. With an increased interest in sustainable life styles and the protection of the planet’s resources however the Paiute still could have a valuable role if ancient skills are not lost , but passed on generation to generation.

Dexterity Impairment

Definition: Dexterity Impairment (Arms/Hands/Fingers) Reduced function of arms and hands makes activities related to moving, turning or pressing objects difficult or impossible. This does not influence speech communication itself but makes it hard to make a phone call or use a wide range of other equipment. Big button phones, text-to-speech and other handy products If you have problems with dexterity you don't have to struggle with small buttons or fiddly switches. Many of our phones have features which may help make using them easier.More about Easy grip handsets Handsfree and headset options Large or well-spaced buttons Memory store to reduce the number of times you have to press buttons to make a call Speed dial options so you can store frequently used numbers under dedicated buttons for one touch dialing Pre-dial facility to check the number you have entered is correct before dialing Dedicated 1571 buttons for easy message retrieval. BT Big Button 200 The BT Big Button 200 is our most popular phone, with lots of features to make calling easier.It has large, well spaced buttons ideal for anyone who struggles to see a smaller keypad, easy volume controls, an inductive coupler for use with a hearing aid, and much more. . Simple tips to help with dexterity Keep items you use regularly in places that are easy to reach, perhaps get a cordless phone. Don't use your hands for a long period of time without breaks, you may like to consider a hands free telephone. Consider making adjustments to your home like adding hand rails or lever taps.

How can implementing the importance of education upon our youth Speech or Presentation

How can implementing the importance of education upon our youth fortify our chances for a better tomorrow - Speech or Presentation Example Due to this reason, the youth sometimes overlooks the more obvious advantages of equipping oneself with a solid education before venturing into the career world. They lose sight of the fact that education gives a person a universally recognized advantage in the job market, helps them take advantage of opportunities, which ignorant people would waste, and contributes to their growing as a person in a unique way. These, amongst several other reasons, show us why it is imperative for responsible guardians and role models of today to impress the importance of education upon their youth. One argument that people often raise against education is that it is usually not even relevant to a person’s school and education, what job they end up doing. This argument has been substantiated with proof over the last decade, as people graduate from engineering schools and go on to start a business, or people who have studied accountancy for several years grow up to be social workers (Schwartz e t al, pp. 198 – 192). It is not possible to detect a pattern in these random yet common examples, except the obvious pattern, which is that all these people studied years to obtain degrees, which they never utilized in their careers. This, however, does not mean that the education they obtained was useless. It only indicates a lack of proper decision-making and awareness at the age when these people chose their college majors. Had the same person who became a social worker thought thoroughly about what they wanted to when choosing a major earlier, they would have never spent four years studying accountancy when it had no relevance in their career. They would have instead studied something more relevant, like communication or social sciences. Jim Collins, the author of ‘Good to Great’ introduces the Hedgehog Concept for such young people struggling to make a career choice (Collins, pp. 130-150). He tells them to find a career for which all of the following three c haracteristics apply: it is economically feasible for them to do, they are passionate about that career, and they have the skills required for such a career. According to this leadership expert, once a person identifies such a career, they should concentrate fully on trying to achieve it, whether this entail getting more education pertaining to it, or more experience. If a young student trying to choose a major applies this principal from the start, they are almost certain to choose an educational path that will facilitate their career, instead of going to waste. Moreover, there is no doubt that a person applying for a job while having the necessary education for it is much more likely to get the job, as opposed to someone who is either uneducated, or educated in an irrelevant field. For this reason especially, the youth should consider education an imperative part of their preparation to become adults and survive in the career world. Apart from this major aid in career advancement, education also presents itself as a tool to living a better life (Randall, pp. 457). It may not act as a complete guarantee to a better life, but it is a tool that helps a person perceives their life more clearly, whether this is in identifying opportunities or avoiding problems of several kinds. For instance, a person educating themselves in health and nutrition will be prepared not only for a

The Three Ideological Elements on Totalitarianism Essay

The Three Ideological Elements on Totalitarianism - Essay Example American Revolution focused more on the political freedom instead of the basic economic needs. She also determines an important link between the constitution and revolution; totalitarianism and modernism and post modernism and ideology and terror. Introduction: Totalitarianism has been the driving force for the political and philosophical debates for centuries, resulting in direct questioning of the ideological thinking of the time which induces a person or society to act in accordance with the existing system. Hannah Arendt can be considered a feminist authority on the political debates which as emerged in the context of Totalitarianism. Her political philosophy is diverse and challenging; has been nurtured for the sole purpose of evoking strong desire for freedom and emancipation which has been the core force leading to revolutions around the world. This element is very significant in the forces which lead to American and French revolution. The issue of totalitarianism is as present today as it was centuries ago, it is the push for domination leading towards evil and terror experienced by the dominant society, in which the strings of control lies in the hands of selected few autocratic and power hungry people like Hitler an d Stalin. Her phenomenal attention to the understanding of the ideology behind totalitarianism is rooted in the concept of 'total domination' (Bernestein, 2002). According to Arendt total domination, "strives to organize the infinite plurality and differentiation of human beings as if all of humanity were just one individual .... The problem is to fabricate something that does not exist, namely, a kind of human species resembling other animal species whose only 'freedom' would consist in 'preserving the species'. Totalitarian domination attempts to achieve this goal through ideological indoctrination of the elite formations and through absolute terror in the camps. . ."(Arendt, 1968,pg.438). The concentration and extermination camps symbolize this "logic of total domination"(Bernstein,2002); they are the laboratories in which the ideological conviction that "everything is possible"(Bernstein,2002) is tested. Her insightful analysis of the political thought draws its force from the general political concepts which are seated in the core drivers of the political vehicle like authority, power, state and sovereignty. She evaluates the ideologies in the light of the totalitarian movement for "total domination" and its terror filled impact on the human race leading to revolutions and global political changes. She aims to integrate the phenomenological prioritization which is based on experiential characteristic of the human race and attempts to uncover the fundamental structures of the political experience through the ages of turmoil, revolution and political changes. Arendt's phenomenological approach aims to investigate the availability of the structures and the characteristics of the political being as distinct from the moral, practical, artistic, productive and other forms of life. Her work focuses on the human action oriented with labour, action and work which are the characteristics use d to uncover the phenomenologi

Corporate Communication Strategy-Toyota case Essay

Corporate Communication Strategy-Toyota case - Essay Example The unintended acceleration was attributed to floor mat issues, brakes and sticky gas pedal. The company has since recalled nearly 8 million cars of different models that were deemed to have potential problems with gas pedal mechanism which could lead to unintended acceleration (McKenzie & Scott, 2010). 2. Environmental scanning of the company Toyota has enjoyed an unblemished reputation within the auto industry. In the fast transforming business dynamics, the various environmental factors become crucial paradigms to maintain competitive advantage within the industry. PESTLE and SWOT analysis become vital tools for firms to identify and evaluate elements that can help them compete and succeed in the highly competitive business environment (Burnes, 2009). They promote the wider understanding of socio-political environment within which the firms operate. They were conducted to understand Toyota’s market position prior to the crisis and how it was impacted in post crisis period. (Refer to Appendix A) 2a. PESTLE analysis for America In the current environment of rapid globalization, practice of international businesses is considerably impacted by the different political, economic and legal systems of nations (Hills, 2004). The businesses therefore need to become more flexible and adapt to the changing technologies and work environments. PESTLE analysis of Toyota has been conducted for America because the case focuses on the Toyota’s American market and the performance and quality of its various models in America. PESTLE has emerged as critical issues that need to be incorporated within the business strategy when firms expand across globe. 2a.1 Political environment America is one of the largest democratic states of the world. The public is hugely empowered with information and the socio-political environment promotes proactive participation of people in issues which affect them. Thus, businesses need to be more accountable in their actions and take in to account the expectations of the people at large. The sticky pedal case of Toyota had drawn more public attention towards the firm undermining it’s hitherto brand reputation of quality, dependability and value. 2a.2 Economic It is a very important factor because the market is driven by the demand and supply that is mainly dependent on the buying capacity of the consumers. It has big market in America. Despite the current environment of recession, the networking solutions have become the critical part of industrial success and therefore, an intrinsic part of business strategy. Toyota therefore has huge economic stake in the American market and needed to restore public trust by responding favourably to the crisis situation. 2a.3 Socio-cultural paradigm There is huge socio-cultural diversity amongst the masses. With multi-cultural society, the demographic factors are vital ingredients that have huge cascading effect on the market. The demographic changes vis-a-vis population s ize, age distribution, gender ratio, income group etc. have immense influence on the changing consumer preferences and consequently on the profitability of the firm. Kotler et al (2007) emphasize that in the fast changing global business, demographic compulsions have significant impact on market position and therefore, they need to become intrinsic part of the market strategy of the

'The accounting 'economics' of innovation Essay

'The accounting 'economics' of innovation - Essay Example Success in these 2 markets depended on product quality, price, availability, and on-time delivery. Currently, with the wide scope of Whirlpool’s operations, it has disjointed information systems implemented in the various business units which hamper the company’s success in meeting its customer and operations requirements. To remedy this, Whirlpool is evaluating the plan to implement a company-wide enterprise resource planning system, called Project Atlantic. The cost of Project Atlantic is sizeable both in financial and non-financial terms. A rigorous capital investment appraisal, both quantitative and qualitative need to be conducted before embarking on the project (Case Resource). Question 1: Summarize the main factors that Whirlpool Corp needs to take into account when deciding whether to invest in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems named Project Atlantic. Your summary should include: Whirlpool Corp’s Project Atlantic is an undertaking to design and implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that would allow the company to better serve its consumer and contract markets for appliances, as well as reduce its inventory by 12 days of sales. Enterprise resources are the manpower, machines and materials necessary for business operations and which have to be properly allocated and utilized to achieve business objectives. The main factors that Whirlpool Corp needs to take into account to decide whether to invest in Project Atlantic are the benefits that can be derived from the project; the costs of design, implementation and maintenance; whether benefits outweigh the costs and when will the company get payback from the ERP systems; how long will the process of designing and implementing take and what external and internal resources are necessary; and what changes need to be undertaken by the company to enable the new systems to fit in, how will

Merger and Acquisition Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Merger and Acquisition - Research Proposal Example This proposal considers the factors that drive firms to buy or merge with others, or to split-off or sell parts of their own businesses and the resulting tax consequences for firms and for investors. The main motive behind buying a firm is to create shareholder value above and over that of the sum of the two companies. The main assumption behind merging two companies is that two companies together are more productive than two separate companies. This underlying principle is particularly attractive to firms when the going is tough as has been the case for some of the companies in the prevailing economic crisis. Strong firms will opt buy other firms to create a more competitive, cost-efficient firm. The firms will merge with the intention of gaining a greater market share or to achieve greater efficiency. Due to these potential advantages, target firms will most of the time agree to be purchased when they are aware that they cannot survive alone. In fact merging or being acquired may b e the only way for some smaller and less established firms to survive this prevailing economic crisis. A merger occurs when two companies, most of the time roughly the same size, agree to proceed as a single new firm rather than be separately owned and operated. This sort of procedure is more accurately referred to as a "merger of equals". The stocks of both the firms are surrendered and novel company stock is issued in its place (Tibergien, 2006). For example, both Daimler-Benz and Chrysler ceased to exist when the two companies merged, and a new firm, DaimlerChrysler, was born. Although most of the time they are used in the same context and used as though they were synonymous, there is a slight difference in meaning the terms merger and acquisition. When a firm purchases and clearly establishes itself as the new owner, the taking over is called an acquisition. From a legal perspective, the target company ceases to exist, the buyer company takes over the business and the buyer's stock continues to be traded. In real world however, actual mergers of equals don't happen that regularly. Usually, one firm will buy another and, as part of the deal's terms, simply allow the acquired firm to declare that the action is a merger of equals, even though technically it's an acquisition (Donald, 2008). Being bought out most of the time has its negative implications, as a result, by defining the deal as a merger, deal makers and the top management attempt to make the acquisition more pleasant. A purchase deal will also be called a merger if both CEOs agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies. But when the target company does not want to be purchased-that is when the deal is unfriendly - it is all the time considered as an acquisition. Whether a purchase is regarded a merger or an acquisition actually depends on whether the purchase is friendly or hostile and how it is announced. That is the actual difference is in how the purchase is communicated to and received by the target company's top management, other workers and shareholders. The economic crisis and anticipated slowdown in spending has made a number of firms that have great technology but weak balance sheets seek the shelter of a merger or an

Assignment (Economics) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

(Economics) - Assignment Example The adverse impact of tax hike was phenomenal for casual drinkers as they massively reduced their consumption, thereby resulting in overall decrease in aggregate beer demand. Obviously, the producers were unable to increase prices substantially considering demand / consumption pattern and thus suffered stupendous financial losses. For instance, the producers adopted downsizing strategy, which in turn resulted in 50,000 job losses. The revenues to government also declined in general as the beer industry did not record significant market expansion and growth. The demand from hardcore drinkers also reduced as they switched to other cheap drinks to ensure their balance of their financial budgets. All in all, the rollback of levies / taxes would not lead to mammoth rise in consumption; rather will reduce financial burden on producers as well as consumers. Next, consumers would not change their drinking habit and start consuming irresponsibly; therefore, this is just a myth that rollback o f beer taxes may cause grave healthcare issues. Reference Beer Tax Website â€Å"Just the Facts† Roll Back the Beer Tax http://www.rollbackthebeertax.com/

Japanese Food †General Analysis and Comparison to American Food Essay Example for Free

Japanese Food – General Analysis and Comparison to American Food Essay It is generally true that different countries have distinct cultures. The culture of a country is shaped by various factors unique to that country, directly affecting it during its historical development. An example of such factors is geography. The geographic nature and location of a country dictates what resources it may have; a country surrounded by water tends to depend on the aquatic life for food, while a country endowed with vast fields of fertile land tends to feed its citizens through harvested crops. As one can infer, the food source of a country is in a direct relationship with its culture. This concept in turn supports the development of unique variants of food, also defined as its local or traditional food. The United States of America and Japan, in this sense, are two vastly different cultures with diverse food variants. The American continent, although of course surrounded by bodies of water, has a vast land area which it is known for. This prompted the development of the country to be generally agricultural and crop-based. Hence, corn and potatoes are considered as its staple food. Japan, on the other hand, is considerably less in terms of total land area; therefore, the development of its agriculture is quite limited and crop variants held to a minimum. The whole population instead focused its attention on the sea as a limitless source of food. Such basic differences in food also result in additional variance to the details regarding it. Suggested food intake, nutritional claims, health claims are expected to be different to a certain extent between the two. Health issues are expected to vary as well. Hence, the American food culture and the Japanese food culture are expected to be distinctly different with consideration to these aforementioned points of comparison. Methodology In order to begin the analysis of the characteristics of the food from the unfamiliar Japanese culture, a direct sampling of Japanese food is required. Hence, the first major portion of the methodology requires that a restaurant serving authentic Japanese cuisine is to be located within the locality. After choosing one, also keeping in mind that the price range is well within the reach of the researcher’s budget, a sample Japanese dish is to be ordered or bought. If possible, the method as to how the dish is prepared should be properly observed and noted. The characteristics of the dish should also be considered and inspected. Specific details in terms of taste and appearance are to be listed down. If possible, the constituents of the dish or its basic ingredients are also to be identified. After assessing such details regarding a sample dish of Japanese cuisine, a more technical and research oriented approach towards analysis is to be started. The second main segment of the methodology pertains to the technical and research oriented part of the study. Specific details regarding the whole Japanese food culture are to be determined. Further research into the Japanese food culture and its historical development is to be accomplished. Further insights regarding the differences with the American food culture and standards will be provided by searching for the occurrence of a localized food pyramid as well as rules or guidelines for food labeling, health claims, and nutrient content claims. Also, health concerns regarding food in the Japanese culture will also be taken into account. The common health problems, its sources and effects, will be established. Resulting data from the two main sections of the research method gathered through such methods will be properly collated and completely analyzed afterwards. Results Upon locating a restaurant that offers authentic Japanese cuisine, a choice was made to order a highly popular and common Japanese specialty, the sushi. In this case, an unlimited amount of sushi was made available, each variant served in differently colored plates riding on top of a conveyor belt like mechanism. There were so many variants of sushi, making the process of identification more troublesome. Fortunately in this case, each plate was properly labeled. The first variant of sushi sampled is called the nigiri sushi. In physical form, the nigiri sushi mainly consists of hand-shaped rice with a single kind of topping per serving. This variant is however not simply a single kind as there were notable difference in toppings between servings. There were four main types of nigiri sushi served; one type had squid as topping, the second had shrimp, the third had raw fish, and the fourth was egg. Upon immediate sampling, the shrimp, and squid were notably very lightly cooked, if cooked at all. The thin slices of fish served as toppings were obviously uncooked. Also, no additional flavor was added to enhance the flavor of these two toppings. The egg however, was noticeably scrambled and sweetened. The rice below the topping, aside from being shaped, had no detectable additional flavoring. The second variant of sushi sampled was considerably more complex in both structure and appearance. Called as the maki sushi, this variant evidently had more ingredients. There were two main types of maki sushi sampled, futo maki and hoso maki. In both, a thin dried seaweed preparation, known in Japan as the nori, covers the outer area of the flat circular shaped sushi. Another common ingredient noticed for this variant is cucumber, sliced in small portions and apparently used fresh with no additional cooking procedures. Carrots were also noted to be present in both types, having been prepared in the same manner as the cucumbers. The last notable similarity between the two is the use of caviar. The nature and source of the caviar was not determined; the only detail noted regarding it was that it was commonly used as additional toppings or dispersed within the sushi. In terms of differences, the main distinguishing factor between the futo maki and the hoso maki is the inclusion of fish. Of the two, only hoso maki had slices of fresh raw fish, known to be commonly tuna, interspersed within the roll. As an additional note, the sushi variants were dipped in a mixture of Japanese soy sauce and a spicy paste known as wasabi, with the resulting ratio dependent on one’s preferences. After discussing the structure and constituent parts of the sampled dish in detail, findings regarding the taste are placed in focus. It is noticeable that the overall taste of the sushi alone is quite simple and plain, and at the same time pleasant and cool. It draws its appeal from the combined flavor of its parts. Such taste is expected since the parts used are neither seasoned nor flavored in any matter. However, upon the addition of the wasabi and soy sauce concoction, the sushi is given a stronger flavor, mainly a combination of salty and spicy taste. Upon completion of the sampling phase of the study, research was done to determine the historical context of Japanese food. Japan is one of the several island based countries throughout the world which is mainly surrounded by the sea, and along it also contains several bodies of water; hence, even from the early points of Japanese history, food is commonly gathered from aquatic sources (Minnesota State University [MSU], n. d. ). Since fish and other aquatic creatures such as shrimp, crabs, squid, octopus, and urchins, are commonly associated with the Japanese diet, people tend to think that the Japanese consume these exclusively. This however, is not the case in reality. The Japanese also consume various land grown products including well known ones like eggplants and carrots, along with rice which is considered as their staple food (MSU, n. d. ). Another subject of research conducted in the study is concerned with something more current: government issued guidelines and policies regarding the food industry as well as the presence of a food pyramid. Specific points analyzed include food labeling, health claims, nutrient content claims, and of course, the food pyramid. Details regarding food labeling, health claims, and nutrient content claims were not very much analyzed in this case, but rather, the focus was placed upon whether such policies exist. In terms of food labeling, it has been noted that a similar system exists in Japan in comparison to other countries such as America. In fact, there has been a movement by the Japanese government to further increase the scope of the law, making it considerably more stringent in comparison to those of other countries (Gale Group Incorporated [GGI], 2008). As for laws regarding health claims, Japan has a well-defined and extensive policy system, pointing out specific categories for health and nutrient claims and requirements for the application of companies for such claims to be approved for their product (National Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods [NCEFF], 2004). Japan currently has a well-adapted food pyramid. Commonly encountered food items in Japan are included as examples; some of these are rice, miso, honey, soy sauce, milk, soy milk, tofu, fish, clams, plums, and kelp (Southeastern Michigan Dietetic Association [SEMDA], 1998). The final aspect looked upon in the research was regarding the usual health problems accompanying the local cuisine. Given the fact that Japanese food preparations often utilize raw to lightly cooked seafood, parasitic organisms is a usual threat (Ransom, n. d. ). Examples of these parasitic organisms are worms which latch on to various areas of a person, usually the gastrointestinal tract, in order to provide themselves vital nutrients. Another problem arising from their preference towards seafood is the possible occurrence of heavy metals in the flesh of sea-based organisms due to global environmental problems (Ransom, n. d. ). Discussion The results point out evident differences and similarities between the American and the Japanese food cultures. First, regarding food preparation and taste, from what was observed with the sushi, Japanese food preparation is simpler in constituent and is also rather simpler in terms of preparation. The focus of the Japanese cooking is to maintain the natural form and flavor of the ingredients while blending well in combination. This is very much unlike the American way of cooking since the focus is usually to use a main ingredient and season or flavor it in a way that after being cooked for a certain amount of time, the food has acquired an enhanced taste. In relation to this, the Japanese cuisine has a preference towards the uncooked and seafood, while American cuisine focuses on cooking techniques and the use of beef, pork, and chicken. These differences mainly arise from the varied historical development of each country. In terms of the more technical side of food and its culture, specifically food labeling, health claims, and nutrient claims, due to the trend of globalization, it is quite understandable that in general, both Japan and America have law pertaining to food labeling, health claims, and nutrient claims. Differences on these are mainly observed when inspecting the specifics. Aside from this, both countries have food pyramids. The difference on this point pertains to the food examples written in the pyramid; the main structure and recommendations remain the same. Lastly, health issues and risks differ for both countries to a certain degree. The Japanese mainly worry about issues regarding contaminants and parasites due to seafood consumption, while the Americans worry about problems such as heart disease and obesity due to the way food is prepared. Conclusion The historical and geographic differences of America and Japan have led to a distinct difference in terms of their local cuisine. Japan focused on seafood as one of the main food sources unlike America. The staple food is also different for both countries, being rice for Japan which is rather uncommon in the United States. Hence, in relation to this, food-related heath concerns also differ for both countries. However, far from what is expected in terms of Japan and America being completely different, current trends in relation to globalization and exports have shown that in the subject of food in general, America and Japan have several points in common. These points mentioned laws and policies pertaining to food labeling as well as health and nutritional claims. Therefore, although different at various points, Japan and America evidently has certain points of close similarities in the general subject of food contrary to what is commonly thought of.

Social Exclusion Of Different Types Of People Social Work Essay

Social Exclusion Of Different Types Of People Social Work Essay To what extent are EITHER children OR people with disabilities OR older people OR people with illnesses socially excluded? Social exclusion is a blend of multi-dimensional and mutually reinforcing processes of deprivation associated with a progressive dissociation from social milieus, resulting in the isolation of individuals and groups from the main-stream of opportunities society has to offer (Vleminckx and Berghman, 2001, p6) In this piece of work I am going to discuss the notion of social exclusion using the service user group of people with learning disabilities to give examples of social exclusion and to show what the Government is doing to tackle social exclusion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The quote above is a complex description of the term social exclusion, and perhaps a simpler explanation would be the definition given by BMJ Journals (2001) which defines social exclusion as the inability of our society to keep all groups and individuals within reach of what we expect as a society and the tendency to push vulnerable and difficult individuals into the least popular places (p1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Exclusion is linked to a persons identity, and the identity of a person that has been excluded becomes oppressed, which in turn leads to the person finding it difficult to control their own life, and which inevitably leads to further exclusion from society (Dominelli, 2002). It is also important to realise that when discussing exclusion you must also need to take into account the Government initiatives on inclusion, as these initiatives are proactive rather than reactive, which means they react to the problem instead of trying to prevent the problem before it arises (Thompson, 2001). The report, Inclusion through Innovation: Tackling Social Exclusion Through New Technologies is a good example of how exclusion and inclusion are linked together (www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk, 2006). This report explores the improvement of the quality of life for the most excluded groups in society by using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to meet their complex needs (www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk, 2006). The Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion, that was published by the EU in 2005, tells us how a well designed social protection system not only leads to good economic development but helps to combat the problem of social exclusion (www.europa.eu.int, 2006). A significant piece of legislation that affects the whole population is the Human Rights Act 1998, and Mind (2006) makes us aware that there are articles within this Act that are specific to people with learning disabilities; these articles include the right to life, prohibition of inhumane or degrading treatment, prohibition of discrimination and the right to education. Whilst this piece of legislation is in place, our society should not be facing the problem of social exclusion, let alone having to produce and implement more initiatives in a bid to control the problem (Mind, 2006).   People with learning disabilities are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, and the Government is committed to improving their life chances (www.dh.gov.uk, 2006) The Government in various ways is dealing with social exclusion, although this is difficult because social exclusion comes in many different forms. Despite this, the Government is dedicated to tackling these problems, although many initiatives come late in the process, addressing consequences rather than causes (www.mind.org.uk, 2006, p1). Mind (2006) also informs us that in our society it is the learning disabled that are amongst the most isolated groups.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thompson (2001) tells us that disabled people have never had priority status in social work, and this particular area has often been given very little attention on training courses for this profession. This in itself can be seen as discriminatory and leads to what is now known as disablism (Thompson, 2001). Thompson (2001) describes disablism as referring to the combination of social forces, cultural values and personal prejudices which marginalizes disabled people, portrays them in as negative light and thus oppresses them. This combination encapsulates a powerful ideology which has the effect of denying disabled people full participation in mainstream social life (p112).   Ã‚   When discussing the exclusion of learning disabled people from society it is important to take into account the medical model of the disability and the social model of the disability; the medical model of disability looks at the person and their difficulties in terms of their condition and looks to repair the person, whereas in contrast the social model of the disability looks towards the society being disabling as society is not making enough provisions to enabled the disabled person to lead what we consider to be a normal life (Thompson, 2001).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is an important link between social exclusion and poverty; because of benefit rules people with learning disabilities are effectively unable to gain employment which means that they have to rely on benefits to survive, which rules out the chance of them ever owning their own home which is a common goal for much of the nation (Davies, 2002). Although education is becoming increasingly available for people with learning disabilities, especially opportunities for further education, the reality is that there are still no jobs available for people that are learning disabled, and inevitably this group of people end up re-entering education again as there are no other opportunities for them (Davies, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   People with learning disabilities often struggle to find relationships; if they are still living with their parents they very rarely spend time with other people of the same age, and those who have left their parents home tend to have only a small social group of people with similar disabilities to their own (Davies, 2002). Because of the protectiveness of parents of children with learning disabilities their children become very dependant on them so when they get older they find it difficult to cope on their own which in turn leads to further segregation for society (Davies, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another aspect that excludes people with learning disabilities is that they have a lack of information of the range of services that they are entitled to, from health to housing, although Mencap has produced a picture bank of information to help resolve this problem. The picture bank is a range of visual explanations that can be accessed by people with learning disabilities (www.mencap.org.uk/html/accessibility/accessibility.asp, 2006), and has also helped the Guardian newspaper to publish a news stories with easy to read words and pictures. Watt (2001) tells us that it is in the past 20 years that society has become immensely unequal in the UK, where some people have done extremely well and others have not. It appears that the Government has recognized the issues surrounding social exclusion for many years, but their proposed solutions are small for the problems that apply to the whole of society (Watt, 2001). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2006) emphasizes the fact that people who have become socially excluded often become part of a vicious cycle of related problems which include unemployment, low incomes, poor housing, bad health and family breakdown, and its focus is to prevent this from happening in the future by fighting the problem now. The Social Exclusion Unit repeatedly tells us that it is critical to implement early preventative action, and children and young people are especially vulnerable to the effects of social exclusion (www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk, 2006, p1). Valuing People (Department of Health, 2001)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The white paper called Valuing People: a new strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century was published by the Government on 20th March 2001, and was a key turning point for people with learning disabilities, and not only addressed their needs, but proposed a way of trying to make their lives better (www.mind.org.uk, 2006). Four of the key principles in this white paper were civil rights, independence, choice and inclusion things that people born without disabilities take for granted (www.mind.org.uk, 2006). The main aim of Valuing People was to give people with learning disabilities a chance to have a real say in where they live, what work they should do and who looks after them (Department of Health, 2001a). Valuing People sets out proposals from the Government to improve the life chances and opportunities for people with learning disabilities and their families, and looks towards collaboration between different agencies in order to ac hieve this (Niace, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nothing about us without us (Department of Health, 2001b) This report was published by the Department of Health regarding the rights of people who have learning disabilities, and the report says that a person with learning difficulties cannot have their lives discussed without them being present so that they are involved in making the decisions about their life (Department of Health, 2001). The report also says that if decisions are being made that could affect people with learning disabilities then there must be people present that have learning disabilities (Department of Health, 2001). A report called Hidden Lives was published by the charity Turning Point, in which they examined how effective legislation had been in tackling social exclusion (Batty, 2004). The results of the report were quite alarming, with many service users claiming that improvement had been very slow, and the charity fear that people with learning disabilities are facing social exclusion forever (Batty, 2004). The solution to social exclusion lies not in myriad attempts ro repair society at points of breakdown, but in persuading relatively affluent groups that social inclusion is worth paying for (Watt, 2001)

The role of religion in society | Reflective piece

The role of religion in society | Reflective piece Growing up in a strong Christian household, my parents always emphasized the importance of helping others. My father was a Methodist Minister at three local churches and encouraged my family to take part in the community. He was very active in the Urban Missions Christian Care Center located in Watertown N.Y, participated in Bridge meetings (an alternative to incarceration program), and was also the founder of the Watertown N.Y based Wheels to Work Program. I remember as a young child having my dad come home with the look of pure joy on his face when he gave his first car away to a single mom. I was so amazed how he could literally transform the lives of individuals through his ministry and participation in the community. One of my fondest memories as a child was going to the Urban Mission with my dad on the weekends and just following him around. The Urban Mission offers many great services to individuals in need such as a food pantry, thrift store, critical needs assistance, housin g assistance, and the Christian Care Center, which provides a place of caring and acceptance. It was always wonderful seeing the joy on the recipients faces after receiving such services. My dad definitely set the foundation for my interest in the social work profession. Up until my dad died in 2005, I would often volunteer my time at picnics that my dad hosted for families in need, primarily those with little or no income who were regular visitors at the Christian Care Center. I enjoyed preparing food for the picnics because I knew how much these individuals looked forward to a cooked meal. During the picnic, I loved socializing with teens my age. At first I was uncomfortable because I did not know what to expect from someone whose lifestyle differed so much from mine. But soon I determined that these individuals were not that different from myself. Yes, they were less fortunate than I, some were even homeless, but these girls still had the same aspirations and goals as I did, still enjoyed the same activities, and still needed someone they could relate with. I realized how much of a difference I was making just by looking past our differences and embracing our similarities. From that point I recognized the true importance of treating others with di gnity, regardless of their lifestyle. Eventually, I realized that I, like my dad, had developed a genuine passion for helping others. Upon entering 12th grade, I knew that I wanted to enter the human services profession. I originally wanted to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, so I did my undergraduate work in psychology. But I soon realized that the MSW degree was a more effective degree for my career choice. My ultimate goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a concentration in Mental Health, and open a private practice. Currently, treatment by LMHCs is not covered by insurance. Therefore, becoming a LCSW is the better option for me because in regards to treatment, I will be able to bill insurance, which will make my services more affordable. In addition, opening a private practice will allow me to be financially flexible with those who do not have insurance. It is extremely important to me to help those with low income and give them the option to take advantage of such services. Inadequate resources is a huge social problem faced by many, primarily those with low income. I feel as though everyone has the potential to improve their overall well-being if the proper resources are available. However, all too often, certain resources such as counseling are not available financially to those with low income. Without these resources, many individuals may not have the chance to reach their highest potential and become productive members of society. That is why I have a passion to enter the Social Work field, and provide beneficial services to those even in the low income population. Another major social problem is that there is a strong stigma attached to mental illness. Many believe that having a mental disorder such as depression is attached to personal weakness. As a result, those suffering from mental illness are sometimes reluctant to seek out treatment. I strongly affirm that it is important for society not to label individuals with mental illness. I personally encourage others not to define people as their illness but to see their illness as just a part of who they are. Thankfully, religious institutions have a role in society in promoting social and economic justice, by providing behavioral guidelines and offering moral support. The Methodist churches that I have been a part of growing up were non-judgmental and worked to provide social equality. As a teen, I was able to experience the diverse community of the congregation at my church. The organist of the church was gay but the congregation did not discriminate against him. Not all churches accept homosexuality, but my dad lived by the rule that you should treat others how you want to be treated. He emphasized the fact that you do not have to support their lifestyle, but you still need to treat them with dignity and respect. He was very accepting, and encouraged our family to be the same way. He always enforced living by the Ten Commandments, which gave our family a solid Judeo-Christian foundation. My dad definitely had an extraordinary influence on how I live my life today. Religion was and stil l is an important aspect of my family, and these values have continued with me throughout my adult life. I strongly believe that my solid family and religious foundation has enabled me to acquire characteristics, which will help me succeed in the Social Work field. One characteristic I am blessed with is empathy. I am able to understand others emotions and feelings and convey my understanding of how they are feeling. My parents always said when I was younger, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“How would you feel if you were in his/her shoes?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  I often think of that statement, and I do put myself in others shoes and I am able to understand what others are feeling. In regards to counseling, I believe empathy is an important characteristic because it allows the client to feel heard and understood. Empathy will help me as a counselor to connect with my clients. I also believe that I have exceptional communication skills. One strong component of communication that I often demonstrate is active listening. I believe this will be beneficial in a counseling setting because it will allow me to interpre t what the client is saying and as a result will enable me to deliver a beneficial response. Most importantly, active listening is important in the counseling setting because it will enable the client to develop trust and respect for me as their counselor. Aside from my strengths, I also have areas in which I need to grow and change. One weakness of mine is that I often find it difficult to establish boundaries. I believe that being able to set up boundaries in the Social Work profession, especially counseling is critical. My main problem is not being able to say no to individuals. I feel as though if I say no to people, they will be disappointed and I therefore, will experience a strong sense of guilt. However, with the direct practice offered at Roberts Wesleyan College, I believe I can transform my weaknesses and learn effective ways of setting up boundaries. I believe that the ability to set boundaries relies on self-confidence. At Roberts Wesleyan College, I know I will be able to develop a stronger sense of self-confidence through the compassionate and supportive environment. Based on the Christian context offered at Roberts, I trust that my weaknesses will be accepted and my strengths will be recognized which will ultimately lea d to my growth and development. Overall, Im convinced that the MSW program offered at Roberts Wesleyan College is the best program for me. I believe aside from my determination, my current GPA reflects my ability to succeed. My grades have placed me on the Presidents list for the last two semesters here at Potsdam. I know that graduate level work will be challenging, but with my motivation and determination I have faith that I can succeed. I am determined to get accepted into the best MSW program, which I believe is offered at Roberts Wesleyan College. Education and religion have always been important to my family and I. I know that my dad would truly be proud to have a daughter attending Roberts Wesleyan College, which offers a solid education foundation along with a Christian context. I know this is the best college for me and will ultimately allow me to achieve to my fullest potential and improve my overall well-being.

Class Struggle and the Communist Manifesto Essay -- Karl Marx Communis

Class Struggle and the Communist Manifesto The Communist Manifesto is profoundly marked by the history of class struggle and social inequality throughout history. In fact Marx suggests that history is in essence merely a timeline of class struggle, unchanging apart from the alteration in mode of production. The document is the story of the conflict between the Proletariat and the Bourgeois, the oppressed and the oppressor, the haves and the have nots, etc? However, this is not a new idea and Marx is really not all that radical. In his Politics, Aristotle wrote, ?Those who have too much of the goods of fortune, strength, wealth, friends and the like, are neither willing nor able to submit to authority?On the other hand, the very poor, who are in the opposite extreme, are too degraded.?[i] As Marx states it in the document, modern history is the manifestation of centuries of a system that was and still is built on the delicate balance of inequities. [ii] For our purposes we will begin this timeline with the 17th century in Europe. It is a time period marked by a hierarchy of ranks and sub ranks. These positions were hereditary and binding for the duration of someone?s life bar any incredible circumstance. These ranks were also marked specifically by wealth. In this time period serfdom, a system in which peasants worked land that was owned by a wealthy member of the nobility was the standard. The very distinction of classes was what the wealthy had; what they wore, where they lived, and how they lived. The countryside was marked by sets of self-reliant villages with the noble?s manor at the center. [iii] According to Marx serfdom was a step above slavery for the people were laboring but not benefiting... ...e Communist Party. Transcribed by Allen Lutins with assistance from Jim Tarzia. Appearing at http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/treatise/communist_manifesto/mancont.htm. [iii] Sherman, Dennis, and Joyce Salisbury. The West in the World. 2nd ed. Boston, McGraw Hill Publishing, 2001. [iv] Landtman, Gunnar page 77. [v] Hoch, Stephen. Serfdom and Social Control in Russia: Petrovskoe, a Village in Tambov. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986. [vi] Hoch, Stephen page 4. [vii] Ossowski, Stanislav. ?The Marxian Synthesis.? In The Logic of Social Hierarchies, edited by Edward O. Laumann, Paul M. Siegel, and Robert W. Hodge. Chicago: Marham Publishing Company, 1970. [viii] Sherman pages 488-515 [ix] Sherman pages 517-520 [x] Sherman pages 570-582 [xi] Engels webpage

Daniel Millers Material Cultures: Why Some Things Matter Essay example

In the introduction to Material Cultures: Why Some Things Matter, Daniel Miller describes the book as part of the second stage of the development of material culture studies. The first stage was the recognition by writers such as Appadurai and Bourdieu as well as Miller that material culture is important and worthy of study. The second stage is the argument made in this book: that it is crucial to focus on "the diversity of material worlds" without reducing these material worlds to symbols for "real" social processes nor cloistering them in sub-studies of like objects. That things matter has already been ascertained; this books intends to investigate "why some things matter" more than others and in particular contexts. Miller claims a focus on objects themselves that does not however "fetishize" :What we may regard as unique to our approach is that we remain focused upon the object that is being investigated but within a tradition that prevents any simple fetishization of material form. Indeed we feel that it is precisely those studies that quickly move the focus from object to society in their fear of fetishism and their apparent embarrassment at being, as it were, caught gazing at mere objects, that retain the negative consequences of the term ‘fetishism.’ It is for them that Coke is merely a material symbol, banners stand in a simple moment of representation or radio becomes mere text to be analyzed. In such analysis the myriad diversity of artefacts can easily become reduced to generic forms such as ‘text’, ‘art’, or ‘semiotic.’ In such approaches it is not only the objects that remain fetishized but also, as Latour (1993) has argued with resp ect to the fetishism within debates about science, it is the idea of ‘society’ as ... ...usic is a good example. Besides the aural experience of listening to music, there is the physical experience of the bass vibrating your body; that feeling is directly related to the nature of the medium by which you are listening. The stereo with four foot speakers or the kitchen radio are things that matter too. CDs come into one’s possession bearing, besides music, artistic cover art, printed lyrics, and the thanks to families and deities by the musicians involved. Things are polyvalent, and things are made up of other things and attached in literal and figurative ways to still other things. And I think it is worth gazing a bit more intently at those objects and all their physical, sensual attributes. That fear of objects does not seem to be entirely gone; there is still a tendency to switch rapidly to the social and symbolic valences of those sensual experiences.

Concert Report

Andrew Griffin Roberta Gregg Music Appreciation 10-17-11 Concert Report 1 Initial Response:My initial response to the concert was of much surprise. First, when I walked in I didn’t expect to see such a formal event. Thank goodness I showed up in my work clothes! My initial reaction to the music however was one of great surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect from the Lee’s Summit Symphony because honestly I didn’t even know they existed. Once the symphony began to play â€Å"Don Giovanni† my mood instantly changed. The symphony was incredible, and the music was not what I had expected at all.I was surprised by how much of the music I had actually heard before and just not realized it. First Half: Instrumentation and Technology: The instrumentation in the symphony was incredible. The symphony included multiple violins as well as numerous other sting instruments, but also instruments from the percussion, and woodwind groups. One instrument that really helped set the undertone of the music was the timpani. The timpani also really help to keep the rhythm. The drums are membranophones which are instruments that are played by being struck, plucked, or rubbed. Another instrument that really stuck out to me was the harp.The harp was played quite a bit and created a beautiful tone for the music. Technological wise, there wasn’t a lot in the symphony. There was one electrical piano that was located in the back of the symphony, but I wasn’t able to really hear it. The piano however would be an idiophone which is an instrument that produces sound by striking itself. Harmony: The harmony of the Overture was mostly consonant but showed some dissonance to reflect the overall mood of the music. The consonance and dissonance led to the harmonic progression which established a clear sense of key.The harmony in â€Å"Don Giovanni† was very stern. In Classical music most if not all pieces had a privileged harmony which is one harmony that is more important than the others. This was evident in the overture. The harmony seemed to be most evident during the instruments noisiest parts. Mozart was known for these daring types of harmonic innovations. Musical Time Period: As far as the musical time period we haven’t covered the Classical era yet in class. However, new developments such as Mozart’s daring harmonies and the rise of opera music were characteristics new to the classical era.Second Half: Melody: â€Å"Titan† in the beginning had a very gentle melody. As it opened the music was calm and peaceful. The shape started out very contour or a small wave, but as the music progressed the shape began to show ascending and descending patterns. The movement of the music was both conjunct and disjunct. A climax was present in the 4th section. There are a couple of times when the music builds up as if it were about to reach the climax but then descends and doesn’t reach the clim ax until nearly the end.Tempo/Dynamics: The tempo of â€Å"Titan† was pretty upbeat and sprightly. As far as instrumentation wise, the strings were very fast similar to those of the baroque era. It had a dance style speed like the baroque era as well. The third movement is the slowest of the four, and fourth is the most involved. The drums really become a part of the fourth section and they make it seem as if the tempo changes drastically because they play in between the beats. The dynamics are very similar to the tempo in this piece. The introduction is slow but steadily picks up.The piece appears as if it were written to build up to the climax which is pretty cool. Throughout the third and fourth parts the music builds up to the climax but doesn’t actually reach the climax until the very end. Musical Time Period: This piece of music took place in the Romantical time period. We haven’t covered this time period yet in class but one of the biggest things I took o ut of this music was the climax build up. The climax was built up multiple times but descended and then the climax was finally reached at the end. This was very unique.

Becoming a Crime Scene Technician Essay

Ever since I was a little girl I always thought about what I wanted to do when I was older. I wanted to be a doctor or a veterinarian just like most children wanted to be. As I grew up and matured I started thinking about what occupations really interested me. At first I thought about something regarding sports or possibly something involving mental health. I was all over the place until senior year. I finally decided I wanted to work on crime scenes and specifically a forensic science technician. However, before I decided that this is what I wanted to do, I needed to know information regarding being a forensic science technician. I need to know exactly what a forensic science technician does on and off the clock and the requirements such as school and special training. After plenty of research I am aware of the pros and cons of becoming a forensic science technician and it is an occupation I am extremely interested in. I plan to take the appropriate classes o pursue this as my career. A forensic science technician plays a very important role at crime scenes and laboratories. Forensic science technicians that work at crime scenes, better known as crime scene investigators are responsible for assisting in investigating crime scenes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. They walk though the scene and determine what evidence should be gathered. They also take photographs of the evidence and different parts of the crime scene. They make sketches of the crime scene, take notes of their findings, collect all physical evidence and preserve and catalog evidence before it is transferred to the laboratory. Forensic science technicians that work in the lab also play a crucial role regarding crime scenes. They typically classify and identify evidence, explore links between suspects using the results of the physical and chemical analyses. Also, they work with experts regarding the case to study and examine their findings. Then they reconstruct crime scenes bases on their findings. Being a crime scene technician requires a lot of patients and availability because they have to work a regular day shift and must be available at all hours of the day. They could be called to investigate a crime scene so they must be available to travel to many different locations depending on where the crime scene is located. Crime scene technicians must also be aware of disturbing and unpleasant sights at certain crime scenes. This requires a lot of important qualities. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are extremely important. Technicians must use their best judgment to match physical evidence to suspects. Also, this would help assist law enforcement officials with solving crimes. Writing and speaking skills are very important as well. Technician may need to prepare written reports to provide in court as well as demonstrating their findings to the police and other law enforcement employees. Last but not least, technicians must control composure when working on crime scenes. Certain crime scenes may be extremely violent and gruesome and technicians must maintain professionalism when working on the scene. The first thing to do in order to become a crime scene technician is finish all of the essential requirements. First of all, in order to investigate crime scenes and work in the laboratory, a bachelors degree in most departments are required and an extensive amount of on-the-job training. For example, newly hired crime scene technicians are trained by more experienced technicians and they teach them the methods and procedures for collecting and documenting evidence. They are also trained in many other things as well. This includes firearm-analysis training which typically lasts up to 1-3 years and DNA-analysis training that last 6-7 months. Then technicians must pass a proficiency exam before they are allowed to perform independent case work or have the ability to testify in court. Many crime scene technicians have met the requirements for the police academy as well. However, some larger law enforcement agencies are obligated to have a bachelor’s degree in natural or forensic science. Technicians who work in the laboratory typically have a bachelor’s degree in natural forensic science as well. Students who want to become a forensic science technician are required to take extensive coarse work in biology, chemistry and mathematics. Knowing all of the requirements and what forensic science technicians must encounter on a daily basis definitely motivates me to work extremely hard. There are a lot of pros and cons regarding being a technician and I am determined to endure all of the challenges in becoming one. I am fascinated with forensics and working on crime scenes which is why I think becoming a crime scene technician is a good fit for me. My goal is to return to Western Illinois University in the fall and continue my education. Western is an excellent law enforcement school and it would provide education resources to help me follow my dream of becoming a crime scene technician.

Monroe Motivated Sequence Design Essay

Gain Attention: We have all seen and heard the stories nationally and locally on the topic of the measles vaccination. Most recently, Disneyland in December of 2014, 59 cases were documented due to an outbreak at the amusement park. Out of those 59 cases 34 had their vaccinations (www.quora.com). Locally, according to the Reno Gazette Journal on February 12, 2015, there are 27 possible cases and four of them are confirmed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that measles is the most deadly of all childhood illnesses. We need to know our facts and be knowledgeable on the signs, risks, and potentials of getting this vaccine. Establish a Need: According to an article in the Washington Post, a survey performed showing 83% of Americans feel the measles vaccination is safe. The other 9% are Americans between the age of 18 and 29 are most likely to state that vaccinations are unsafe. That 9% is in the age group that hasn’t seen or witnessed the effects of the measles due to vaccinations requirements in the past. Additional education must be taught in regards to the effects of not having this shot. We need to establish a guideline for those that do not wish to be vaccinated. By not educating yourself and others you are speculating on the chances of contracting the virus. Provide Satisfaction: Referencing the website for The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, in the decade prior to the measles vaccine in 1963, an average of 549,000  measles cases and 495 measles deaths were reported. They speculate that 3-4 million measles cases occurred each year. After the implementation of the vaccine, cases declined dramatically in the US. Over the decade of 1989-1991 the epidemic came to the surface again when over 55,000 cases and 123 deaths were reported. It is stated this was caused by unvaccinated preschool age children who were not vaccinated. Thus in turn created the need for a second dose to be recommended. In 2000, the measles were considered â€Å"eliminated from the United States. Now we are seeing the virus popping up again all over the country and locally, once again to non-vaccinated due to religious or health concerns with the vaccine. In addition, there is concerns with the importations of the virus from travelers coming in and out of the country. There is a reason this vaccine is available to the public and there should be a law restricting those who do not wish to have the vaccination. Visualization (either utopia or tragic): As we have seen throughout the decades this vaccination works and has proven result. When it is not administered we see the death rate increase. No one wants to see a child or a loved one suffer physical and mentally from the measles, if prevention is possible. Why risk your life or someone you love based on a uneducated decision. These cases have been reported and documented resent by the Disneyland outbreak. And how quickly this virus spread has multiplied. This could be you or someone that is unvaccinated that could cause the spread of this disease leading to death in some cases! Call to Action – concrete, do-able, practical actions: In conclusion, It is our own responsibility to take care of ourselves and the ones we love in life. We need to educate ourselves and look at the real statistics related to the measles vaccination. If we take the time to learn more about the virus its causes, risks, and effects, we can create a more thought out opinion to getting this vaccination. We all do not like the saying â€Å"could of, would of, should of†, don’t let that be you.

Only Child Syndrome Essay

When most couples today are thinking about kids, they wonder how many they should have. Some people want big families and others would rather have smaller ones. Then there are others that have no clue. They may worry about ‘the only child syndrome†, there are some people that believe it’s true. The question is ‘what is the only child syndrome? It’s a myth that dates back all the way to the late 1800s. When G. Stanley Hall said being an only child was â€Å"a disease all in itself.† Susan Newman, a social psychologist at Rutgers University and the author of the book â€Å"Parenting an Only Child† says the myth has been continued because, â€Å"People articulate that only children are spoiled, they’re aggressive, they’re bossy, they’re lonely, they’re maladjusted and the list goes on and on and on.† (Only-Child Syndrome or Advantage) But there is no science to prove that the stereotype is true. Newman has said, â€Å"There has been hundreds and hundreds of research studies that show that only children are no different from their peers.† (OCSA) Even though most parents fear that their child will have â€Å"the only child syndrome†, there are many positive aspects of having an only child. Children are expensive. According to the department of Labor, for families that make roughly $60,000 a year, each child costs more than $250,000 by the time he or she reaches 18, and that doesn’t include the cost of college (What’s Better: One Child or Siblings?). Children cost their parents roughly $50,000 in just food by the time their 18. †Twenty percent of the family population is one child,† Susan Newman said. â€Å"In the major metropolitan cities, like New York and Los Angeles, that number is thirty percent. People are having children later, which leaves less time for having the second child. Housing is expensive. The divorce rate hovers at fifty percent. Often both parents are working, and child care is a factor.† (WB:OCS) By being in an only child family, the child can develop better verbal skills and excel in school because they have more time to read than children with siblings. They also tend to have high IQ’s because their parents hold them to such high expectations and have more money to give them for schooling. Only children usually have good leadership benefits. They are both born first and last so they have both roles that they have to assume. Only children don’t usually take to groups often, but when they do they more that usually will dominate the group in leadership positions (Only Child Versus Multiple Siblings). As an only child they don’t have to worry about sibling rivalries. They don’t have to worry about competing for their parent’s affection. Sibling rivalries may become out of control when a younger, rebellious siblings compete for their parent’s affection. In some instances, sibling rivalries have become fatal when inheritances or other emotional affection come into play (OCVMS). It’s no fun having a sibling that your parent’s think can do no wrong. The child always has to get compared to this sibling no matter what they do. It would put a strain on the relationship with the sibling and also the relationship with the parents. An only child wouldn’t have to deal with any of that. Only children can grow up to become more independent, that is if their parents haven’t spoiled them by tending to their each and every need (Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Only Child). They wouldn’t have an older sibling to depend on to help them every step of the way so they would have to fend for themselves. There may be many advantages of being an only child but there are also some disadvantages. â€Å"The Little Emperor Syndrome† is one that comes to mind. The Little Emperor Syndrome is an unintended consequence of China’s one-child policy. The parent gives their love, attention, resources to the one child and the results are that the child becomes spoiled and behaves like a â€Å"Little Emperor†. (ADBOC) The child gets used to having everything done for them by their parent so much so that when they live in the real world, they are faced with real problems they may not be able to cope with. They may also lack self-confidence, and may feel lost when they are outside of the shelter that their parent have made for them. This may not always be the case though. It can be overcome with good parenting. Another big disadvantage of being an only child may be the feeling of loneliness. They wouldn’t have any siblings to talk to and share memories with, or to play with on the weekends. When their parents are no longer around, not having someone to talk to or look up to for any kind of help or support can be a real problem for the child. Furthermore, when their parents are older and need to have someone to take care of them, the only child would have to have all of that responsibility on their shoulders and it could get very overwhelming (ADBOC). An only child could have a lot of pressure put on them by their parents. Like pressure to keep the family name going, or academic pressures. Also being an only child could mean having your parents watch you like a hawk, which may be quite suffocating and stressful. Having siblings could take some of that pressure off that one child and they could have a more of a stress free life. But again this may not be true in all cases. The only child may be able to handle stress easily or have no stress at all. Only children have to work twice as hard at making friends. They don’t have the opportunity of learning social skills by having other children in their household. So that means they have to learn all of their social skills in the real world with other children. An only child may be labeled as a â€Å"spoiled brat† by others that are jealous of their success. They usually receive more negativity from the world than children who were raised with multiple siblings (OCVMS). They may also be labeled as â€Å"loners† because they are used to working on their own on solving problems. A â€Å"loner† isn’t usually taken well by society. Only children usually value their privacy and the luxuries of having their personal lives communicated only to trusted groups of individuals (OCVMS). On the other hand, having multiple siblings can have its advantages, too. Children with siblings learn to negotiate, dominate or submit to other people. They learn to interact with each other at home first rather than with other children. Siblings tend to learn from each other’s mistakes. The first born usually take the role of the â€Å"teacher† or the boss in the family. They can teach the younger siblings about the things they did wrong when they were younger and didn’t know themselves. People who must deal with multiple siblings learn to be better leaders. They are taught to cooperate negotiate and in some instances, compete at home (OCVMS). Most likely the oldest sibling is usually the natural born leader. When individuals have siblings they tend to learn early n what their strengths and weaknesses are and they can build their lives accordingly. Negotiating with multiple siblings is usually a big reason so individuals to learn fast what their strength and we aknesses are so they can use them. Like being an only child, having siblings has its disadvantages too. Having to fight for parent attention and financial support is a big one. Parents who often have to educate multiple kids and enroll them in social activities find themselves in financial strain (OCVMS). So if there is a big age difference between kids, one child may have completely different experience that the other siblings. The blame game is another disadvantage. Younger siblings are usually more rebellious and less successful. The older sibling is usually the one that takes the heat for the younger sibling’s proclivities or personality traits. Younger male siblings are more likely to become homosexual. In fact, there is a 20% chance that a younger male sibling will become gay (OCVMS). Jealousy is often directed toward the older and usually more successful sibling. The younger siblings may form a group to unseat the older sibling from their â€Å"throne.† Younger siblings may be jealous of the older siblings’ money, knowledge, spouse, status, or the time that was spent with their parents before they were born. This happens especially when there is a significant age different between siblings. Many couples now days have to worry about many different things when they want to become parents. They worry about how many kids they want and financially strains of having children. I come from a family where I am the eldest of four younger siblings. Even though I don’t experience it first hand, I am not one who believes in the only child syndrome. Works Cited â€Å"Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Only Child.† HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. . â€Å"Joys of Parenting.† Joys of Parenting. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. . â€Å"Only Child Syndrome a Myth.† Discovery News. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. . â€Å"The Situationist.† The Situationist. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.

Why is the UK the TOP Destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Essay

Why is the UK the TOP Destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the European Union - Essay Example The United States yet maintains to be the forerunner amongst the investors into the UK alongside Germany, Japan, India and France. The recently published World Investment Report, nowadays by the â€Å"UNCTAD† (Green 2011) illustrates that the UK is one of the most favored nations for FDI in European Union and third globally. According to the report published by UNCTAD, the stock of FDI in the United Kingdom is $US 1,086 billion of FDI stock. This report strengthens the position of the UK as one of the most attractive business destinations of the world. Susan Haird, acting CEO of UK Trade & Investment talking about this report said that this report strengthens the attractiveness of UK’s Foreign Direct Investment. Significant potential future Foreign Direct Investment gains are likely from further incorporation, particularly subsequent successful liberalization of services organizations. The long-term FDI cost of withdrawal would be significant. EU Impact on UK FDI: UK ha s been capable to attract comparatively more FDI than a number of other European financial systems as a consequence of market incorporation. As a percentage of GDP the UK also catch the attentions of more FDI than the United State. UK Trade & Investment has played a significant role in promoting UK as an attractive FDI location to the overseas investors and to come them to the UK for investment. â€Å"Worldwide, most FDI is between Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The USA accounts for just under a quarter of global FDI, outward and inward† (Milne 1999). Worldwide, the United Kingdom is the second largest outward depositor and the third largest receiver of inward investment. In the year of1998 and 1999 outward British Foreign Direct Investment was alike in value to outward United State Foreign Direct Investment. The UK, with stretchy labor marketplaces and a tradition of physically powerful incorporation into worldwide FDI flows would be well-placed to catch the attention of an important share of future FDI flows, mainly in high- efficiency knowledge- rigorous businesses. The World Investment Report demonstrates that, the UK has outperformed a declining European marketplace, the share of UK’s FDI stock enlarged â€Å"while the overall stock of FDI in Europe declined to $7,614 billion from $7,951 billion† (UK is Europe’s Top Destination for Foreign Direct Inward Investment 2011) in the year of 2009 and that in the European Union fell to $6,890 from $7,296 in the year of 2009. According to the report, 46% of the investors are faithful to the United Kingdom, which helped attracting repeat business. Now, it is very much necessary for the government of UK to focus more on attracting new shareholders from BRICs. Infrastructure and Technology, quality of life and constant financial environment, customs and language are cited as the key characteristics that made the UK more attractive for the investors . â€Å"The UK attracted 728 FDI projects in 2010, up 7% on 2009, compared with 562 projects in France and 560 in Germany — whose projects rose by 34%, bolstered by its position as the number one location for Chinese investment.† (Destination UK: Sustaining Success in the New Economy 2011). This denotes that since in the year of 2004, the UK has been chosen as the site of choice for around one in five of every investment announcements crossways Europe. Why UK has been Successful in FDI: FDI brings various advantages to the UK financial system such as rising employment and productivity, inspiring competition, and rising efficiency.

Four Centuries of Guitar Masterpiece by Robert Wetzel Essay

Four Centuries of Guitar Masterpiece by Robert Wetzel - Essay Example This was punctuated by some breaks. The concert was conspicuously characterized by the use of the classical guitar. The classical guitar is different from the ordinary guitar in terms of the sound it produces, its weight, size, and material used in making it. The guitars used had six nylon strings, as used in the making f nylon and acoustic guitars. The family of classical guitar that was used was flamenco guitar. It is worth noting that this name is derivative of the modern classical, but what sets them apart are the materials that are employed in making them. The strings are plucked to produce sound and this comes with the advantage that different sounds could be produced by plucking at different positions, as well as in different ways (Julian 34). The guitar player was characterized by alternation. This was arguably purposed at achieving the effect of tremolo, as well as fluent scales of passages. Alternation is whereby the guitar player is restricted from plucking a single string using one finger within one row. The presentation of Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757), which included Tombeau sur la Mort de and Cajetan d’Hartig is what could never have gone unnoticed. The presentation was a depiction of a sonata that assumed a single movement, which was in a binary form. Furthermore, it appears the presentation was written either in the pianofortes and harpsichord. The presented gave one the opportunity to have an experience of the harmonic audacity, as far as the use of the discords, as well as the unusual remote key modulations is concerned. There are other distinctive features of the Scarlatti style and these included the influences of the Spanish and the Iberian music styles. What could also be discerned from the Scarlatti's presentation are the dissonances and figurations are suggestive of guitar forms.