Is Humanity Suicidal? Essay

I do not think that humanity is suicidal, we just sometimes fail to realize the long-term effects that certain actions have on our environment. I completely agree with E.O. Wilson when he said, â€Å"We are smart enough and have time enough to avoid all environmental catastrophes of civilization-threatening dimensions.† Basically what he is saying is that we have the time and capability to prevent an environmental catastrophe, but the time to act is now. We as a society need to change our thought process in which â€Å"the mind works comfortably backward and forward for a few years, spanning a period not exceeding one or two generations† (Smith 3). We need to start thinking ahead and consider four to five generations ahead of us rather than two or three. The only way to achieve this is by spreading awareness. We need to start convincing people that changes must be made now in order to sustain our environment. People may not listen at first, but they will if enough people start to discuss it and it gains momentum. For instance, I can remember when the topic of electric cars first came up in the media about ten years or so ago. Back then, people laughed at the idea of an electric car, but now hybrids and non-gasoline powered vehicles have become a norm in today’s eco-friendly society. That is just one example, but there are many others in which society doesn’t take things seriously at first, but then comes to realize that maybe there is a problem and we should do something about it. All we can hope for is that we as a society address these problems sooner rather than later.

The Road

Why do you think McCarthy has chosen not to give his characters names? How do the generic labels of â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy† affect the way you /readers relate to them? While reading The Road, a novel written by Cormac McCarthy, I was jerked from the warmth, comfort, and safety of my home and thrown into a cold, dark, and desolate world, walking alongside â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy†. McCarthy composes his work so graphically that readers are drawn right into the story.I believe Cormac McCarthy wanted the figures in this book to be universal, so that the reader could imagine him/her self as â€Å"the boy† or â€Å"the man† at any given moment, and to be able to feel as they do. To do this McCarthy did not designate the characters in his book with names, and because of this, I was able to connect with â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy† on a personal level and envision myself uniting with them in their chilling journe y. As the reader, I was deeply overwhelmed with many mixed emotions such as compassion, sadness, happiness, disgust, remorse, and fear.I have pity for the characters in the book The Road, because â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy† have to pass day to day struggling to survive in a frigid bleak world where food is scarce â€Å"They squatted in the road and ate rice and cold beans they’d cooked days ago. † â€Å"Already beginning to ferment. †(McCarthy 29). The landscape is blackened, and mankind is almost extinct â€Å"The mummied dead everywhere. †(McCarthy 24). As I read on I noticed myself connecting more deeply with the characters.When the boy’s mother takes her own life, I was deeply saddened and my heart broke for â€Å"the boy† simply because his mom, someone he cherished and loved so much, had given up on hope and faith and deserted him. I just wanted to take hold of the child and comfort him even though at this moment he has no clue his mother has left. I also felt sorry for â€Å"the man†, one, because he has to tell his child where his mother is â€Å"For the love of God woman. What am I to tell him? † (McCarthy 58), and two, because his love and best friend was in such despair and there was nothing he could do to impel her to stay.As a mother, in some ways, I also felt sorry for the mother in this book, because most women dream of the day she will have a child of her own to love, care for, and teach, but this mother had to give birth to her son after the great catastrophe, and instead of bringing her tears of happiness, it brought tears of sorrow. She now knows that she has to raise her son in this dark and barley habitable world and that it will be a constant struggle to survive. â€Å"My heart was ripped out of me the night he was born†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (McCarthy 57).On the other hand though, I am also disgusted with the mother for the one reason that she gave up, and now her family , especially her child, has to suffer the consequences due to her actions, but again, given that I put myself in her situation, would I do the same thing? While reading I also felt deep sadness in many parts, for one instance, when â€Å"the man† dies, at this point in the book I had tears streaming down my face. â€Å"He slept close to his father that night and held him but when he woke in the morning his father was cold and stiff. † â€Å"He sat there a long time weeping†¦ (McCarthy 281). â€Å"He knelt beside his father held his cold hand and said his name over and over again. †(McCarthy 281). At one part in the book, remorse, disgust, sadness, and compassion were the stirred emotions that hit me all t once. It was the time when a thief robs â€Å"the boy† while he is asleep on the beach. When â€Å"the boy† was first robbed I was angry and disgusted with the thief who had robbed a sleeping innocent child, I could never see myself doing th is especially in a situation where food is hard to come by and staying warm is almost impossible!When they finally catch up with the thief â€Å"the man† points the gun at him and threatens to shoot him. â€Å"The boy† is pleading with his father not to kill the thief. â€Å"The man† says to the thief â€Å"Take your clothes off. †(McCarthy 256). â€Å"Take them off every goddamn stitch. † (McCarthy 256). Eventually the thief is completely naked, â€Å"the boy† and the thief are begging â€Å"the man† not to do this, but the man looks at the thief and says â€Å"You didn’t mind doing it to us. †(McCarthy 257). Now I feel that the thief is getting what he deserves.When they leave the thief standing in the road â€Å"the boy† becomes extremely upset, â€Å"And They set out along south with the boy crying and looking back at the nude and saltlike creature standing there in the road shivering and hugging himself. â⠂¬  â€Å"Oh Papa, he sobbed. †(McCarthy 258). I am now starting to feel the compassion the boy has towards the thief â€Å"He was hungry, Papa. † â€Å"He’s going to die. †(McCarthy 259). They finally take the thief’s clothes back and pile them in the middle of the road and I am glad of this.Later as they were lying down at camp I believe the man was starting to feel guilty, and he spoke â€Å"I wasnt going to kill him, he said. † â€Å"But the boy didnt answer. † â€Å"They rolled themselves in the blankets and lay there in the dark. † â€Å"He could tell the boy was awake and after a while the boy said: but we did kill him. †(McCarthy 260). When â€Å"the boy† made this comment I felt deep remorse and disgust in myself for having felt so harshly toward the thief in the beginning.I also felt happiness and relief in this story when â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy† found the underground shelter beh ind the house in the field, I felt as if I was there with them discovering the grand riches this den held! â€Å"Oh my God, he whispered. † â€Å"Oh my God. † â€Å"What is it Papa? † â€Å"Come down. † â€Å"Oh my God. † â€Å"Come down. † (McCarthy138). â€Å"Crate upon crate of canned goods. † â€Å"Tomatoes, peaches, beans, apricots. † â€Å"Canned hams. † â€Å"Corned beef. † â€Å"Hundreds of gallons of water in ten gallon plastic jerry jugs. †(McCarthy 138).In this underground hideaway was everything they needed to survive. I was so overwhelmed with joy and comfort that I forgot for a moment about the cruel cold world above. During many portions of this novel I experienced also many sensations of fear. The most prominent passage is where â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy† come across a house and both are vulnerable due to fatigue and starvation. â€Å"They’d had no food and littl e sleep in five days and in this condition on the outskirts of a small town they came upon a once grand house sited on a rise above the road†(McCarthy 105).As they start toward the house â€Å"the boy† becomes frightened and â€Å"the man† or father tries to reassure him that everything is okay and that they have to go inside. At this point I am feeling a little uneasy about the two entering the house. As they cross the porch â€Å"the boy† is trying to convince his father not to go inside, agreeing with the boy I imagine myself in his shoes and I am pleading for â€Å"the man† not to enter. â€Å"The man† is determined and tells the boy â€Å"We’ve got to find something to eat. † â€Å"We have no choice. †(McCarthy 106).When inside the home â€Å"the boy hung on to his hand. † â€Å"He was terrified. † (McCarthy 107). While investigating the house they come across a door in a room next to the kitchen that m ight have been considered a pantry at one time. â€Å"In the floor of this room was a door or hatch and it was locked with a large padlock made of stacked steel plates. †(McCarthy 108). â€Å"The boy† again tries to plead with his father to leave, and I again right along with him, but now my tension and curiosity is starting to rise a bit, wondering what is underneath this door. The man† believes there is a significant reason for this door being locked, so he makes his way to the tool shed â€Å"half dragging the child and went sorting through tools† (McCarthy 109). He retrieves a shovel, heads back into the house, and pry’s the door open. Now I am holding my breath just waiting for the outcome, good or bad, I do not know, but I am very anxious. â€Å"He started down he rough wooden steps. He ducked his head and then flicked the lighter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (McCarthy 110).â€Å"Coldness and Damp. † â€Å"An ungodly stench. † (McCarthy 110). What came next caught me completely off guard! Huddled against the back wall were naked people, male and female, all trying to hide, shielding their faces with their hands. † â€Å"On the mattress lay a man with his legs gone to the hip and the stumps of them blackened and burnt. † â€Å"The smell was hideous. † â€Å"Jesus, he whispered. †(McCarthy 110). Now I am in a complete state of shock, fear, and disgust. Unbelievable! All at once I am feeling the fear and shock of â€Å"the man†, â€Å"the boy†, and the mangled victims that have been terrorized, probably raped, eaten or at least half dismembered and eaten by the wicked and ruthless barbarians! Then one by one they turned and blinked in the pitiful light. † â€Å"Help us, they whispered. † â€Å"Please help us. †(McCarthy 110). My heart is now beginning to race. When they finally reach the top of this grave, â€Å"He shoved the boy through the hatch and sent him sp rawling. † â€Å"He stood and got hold of the door and swung it over and let it slam down and he turned to grab the boy but the boy had gotten up and was doing his little dance of terror. †(McCarthy 111).As if this horrific and vivid image engraved in my head was not enough, McCarthy immediately throws me into a sheer state of terror and panic. â€Å"†¦ the boy was pointing out the window and when he looked he went cold all over. † â€Å"Coming across the field toward the house were four bearded men and two women. † â€Å"He grabbed the boy by the hand. † â€Å"Christ, he said. † â€Å"Run. † â€Å"Run. † I had to literally set the book aside, go outdoors, calm down, and smoke a cigarette to calm my nerves. Finally my heart rate returned to normal and I picked up the book and continued to read.After I completed this part in the story and discovered that â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy† had escaped I got up ch ecked on my children to reassure myself that they were asleep safe and warm in their bed, I quickly ran back through the house like a child with a sense of fear that something was going to jump out and grab me at any moment, I jumped in the bed got as close to my husband as possible and eventually drifted off to sleep. When I finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy, I was astonished at how deep I was able to connect with the characters and the fact that this book touched me as deeply as it did.It also made me think what if†¦? In reality if this were to happen would I have the courage and strength of â€Å"the man† and â€Å"the boy† or would I be like the mother as McCarthy states it â€Å" †¦a faithless slut†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (57), who has taken death as a new lover. Over all I personally believe that this novel was absolutely fantastic, even though I had nightmares for a few nights after I had completed the book. This just goes to show what a great writer McCarthy is, he touches his readers so deeply they even dream about his work. I would defiantly pick up this book and read it again just for fun. The Road The post-apocalyptic novel â€Å"The Road†, written by Cormac McCarthy was published in 2006. [1] It deals with the journey of a father together with his son, who try to reach the coast after America, its nature and civilisation has been destroyed by some catastrophe. Therefore some important issues are implied: travelling, fear of death, nuclear war, goodness, religion, cannibalism and of course the relationship between father and son. Maybe that is the reason why McCarthy dedicated the novel to his son: John Francis McCarthy. In 2007 McCarthy won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for this novel. 2] In 2009 the Novel was made into a film, also called â€Å"The Road† and directed by John Hillcoat. [3] There are some interesting aspects, regarding the similarities and differences between the novel and its cinematic adaptation. The Novel Cormac McCarthy tells the story of a journey, made by father and son. They survived a nuclear catastrophe, which is not described in detail and want to go south in order to reach the coast. They have a card in order to carry their habits. They hope for a humanitarian climate, nourishments and other peaceful survivors. Due to the apocalypse, they have to deal with a lot of trouble during their trip. In order to survive despite the lack of food, a lot of people became cannibals. Cannibalism is no option for the man and his son, because they belong to the good ones. Therefore they have to be carful who they trust and their search for food is more difficult. In addition they have to take care for their clothing, especially for their shoes because it is very cold since the catastrophe. [4] â€Å"Mostly he worried about their shoes. That and food. Always food. † (McCarthy, 2006: 17) [5] The most problematic aspect is the fathers task to raise his son under such circumstances without neglecting the sense of humanness. The world he knows was completely destroyed and there is no common childhood. The son has to cope with aspects like cannibalism and suicide very early. He also has to accept the circumstance, that his father is going to die sooner or later and that he needs to be able to live on his own when the time comes. His father tries to prepare him as good as he can. McCarthy tells the story among 287 pages. He uses 3rd person narration, where the narrator is omniscient, because he knows about thoughts, dreams and fears of the father and his son. His style of writing without chapters stresses the travel motive. It highlights the fact that the protagonists have to go on and on until they reach the coast and that there are no other important stages in between. Another important technique is the avoidance of names which means that both protagonists remain anonym. This technique highlights the aspect, that in case of a nuclear catastrophe, this scenario could happen to anyone. The father and his son serve as representatives for humankind. In addition there are no concrete names of places which indicates, that this scenario could not just happen to anyone, it could also happen anywhere in the world. There are two more aspects, which remain unclear. The first one is the fate of the mother. The book does not make clear what happened to her because for them, it does not matter. She is gone and that is all they need to know. Secondly there are no details mentioned when it comes to the catastrophe which also indicates that it is not important what happened. The man and his son are alive and so they have to challenge the circumstances, indifferent what caused them. â€Å"The clocks stopped at 1:17. A long shear of light and then a series of low concussions. (†¦) A dull rose glow in the windowglas. (McCarthy, 2006: 52) McCarthy creates a very desperate imagery. His preferred chosen words are dark and sad. He uses short sentences, which guarantees that the novel is written in a minimal, but tough very closely style. [6] â€Å"No list of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one’s heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes. † (McCarthy, 2006: 54) Even the dialogues between father and son or between them and strangers they met are very short. In addition there are a lot of details described, no matter if they are tolerable or hardly shocking. â€Å"They could smell something cooking. Let’s circle around, the man said. (†¦) They left their food cooking. (†¦) What is it? He said. What is it? The boy shook his head. Oh Papa, he said. He turned and looked again. What the bay had seen was a charred human infant headless and gutted and blackening on the spit. † (McCarthy, 2006: 198) The two unnamed Protagonists The son is about 10 years old and was born after the catastrophe. That is why he does not know the world as it was before. He has although no childhood like one would think of. He has to grow up without his mom, knowing that his father will also fade away one day. Therefore he has to learn very much important skills in a short amount of time. He has no real toys and no other kids around him. In contrast he knows how to kill himself and feels responsible for his father, who became ill. It is important to say, that the son serves as a symbol for hope. â€Å"He knew only that the child was his warrant. He said: If he is not the word of God God never spoke. † (McCarthy, 2006: 5) Not only for his father, also for other people they met. For example Ely, the second stranger they met thought that he was an angel. Within the story the young boy grows from a child with a lot of questions and fears to a boy with a big sense of humanity, who knows a lot about the world he lives in and feels responsible for other people. â€Å"The man squatted and looked at him. I’m scared, he said. Do you understand? I’m scared. (†¦) You’re not the one who has to worry about everything. The boy said something but he couldn’t understand him. What? he aid. He looked up, his wet and grimy face. Yes I am, he said. I am the one. † (McCarthy, 2006: 259) The father can be characterized as a reactor. Whenever it comes to violent actions he is just acting in self-defence. He knows the world as it has been before the catastrophe, and feels sorry for his son but he also knows that he can not hold the horror away from him. He faces the fact that his son h as to live on his own one day and that it is his job to make sure that he will be able to do so. Therefore he is distrustful when it comes to strangers. He always reminds his son to be less helpful and a bit more wary but often he does not succeed. In addition he is very ill and weak. The only reason why he is able to go on without committing suicide is his son. Everything he does is for him. â€Å"He held the boy close to him. So thin. My heart, he said. My heart. But he knew that if he were a good father still it might well be as she had said. That the boy was all that stood between him and death. † (McCarthy, 2006: 29) Ending The ending of the novel is a happy one. They manage to reach the coast and the father dies in peace. After some days other survivors appear. There is another man, a woman and two other children, a boy and a girl. The boy talks to the man and makes clear that they belong to the good guys who â€Å"carry the fire†, which means that they do not kill and eat other people. After he made that clear, it is okay for him to go with them. Therefore the ending implies a new beginning, because it could be possible that the boy and the girl create descendants one day, which would be a first step to get a new population. â€Å"The woman when he saw him put her arms around him and held him. (†¦) I am so glad to see you. She would talk to him sometimes about God. He tried to talk to God but the best thing was to talk to his father and he did talk to him and he didn’t forget. † (McCarthy, 2006: 286) The Movie The movie â€Å"The Road† was published in 2009. John Hillcoat (Director) and Joe Penhall (Screenplay) produced a cinematic adaptation of the novel with the same title and story which takes 111 minutes. The role of the father is played by Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee plays the role of the son. [7] As already said, the story is almost the same. There are just a few changes within it. For example there are some flashbacks to the time before the catastrophe and shortly after it, when the mother was still alive. In addition there are some omissions because of details which would have been too shocking, like the passage with the infant corpse. [8] Despite those supplements and omissions Hillcoat and Penhall did a really good job. They managed it to copy the imagery of McCarthy’s special style of writing into the atmosphere of the film. Therefore they used a number of techniques. [9] The depressive and sad atmosphere is easily created by mostly grey and brown colours. Furthermore the film was produced in wintertime, when there automatically lies snow and the trees are without leaves. The film implies no ordinary scenery, because it is not a complex story. The contrast comes when the flashbacks to the time before the catastrophe are shown. The colours change into very intensive ones, it is summer and you always hear nice piano music. One could also argue that the piano serves as a symbol for the presence of the mother and for civilisation because it represents culture. When the father remembers his wife there is always piano music which accentuates the scenes. Later in the film he has to cut an old piano into pieces in order to get wood for a fire. This is a clear indication that he is angry with his wife because of her decision to commit suicide. Those scenes are different to the few passages about the mother in the book. She is not a big issue in the novel. Within the book the story is told by an omniscient 3rd person narrator. In the cinematic adaptation the man tells the story. This is a contrast to the book, where the actions, feelings and thoughts of the man are part of the narration. On the one hand one could argue that this contrast is problematic because in the end the father is going to die and the way of narration could be too personal. But on the other hand Hillcoat and Penhall had to choose someone who tells the story and they had no other opportunity if they want to have the option of flashbacks and omniscience. According to the protagonists there is one other existing difference. In the book the boy seems to accept his fate and tries to make the best out of it. He grows up very fast and is rather adulty than childish. In the film he collects some artefacts like a broken comb of his mother, wears her clothes and also has a few toys. He is often scared and cries when he is. All in all, the boy is played like a child and not as grown up as he is described in the book. The overlapping aspect is the importance of â€Å"to carry the fire†. He is always asking if someone carries the fire, which means not to kill other people and disregard morality and values. The biggest difference between the novel and its cinematic adaptation is the ending. In the book it is described as a happy end. The father dies, the son meets another family who also carries the fire and can go with them. In addition the family has a daughter, which means that there is a new beginning for civilisation implied. This procedure is the same at the end of the film but there are some details which change the situation. Firstly the thumbs of the veteran are missing or garbled. That was also the case when they met the thief who has stolen their cart with all their goods. Those missing fingers can lead to the suggestion that he had been a member of a cannibalism commune. This would also fit to the question why a family should voluntary incorporate another hungry child. In fact there is no food left and every additional person is a risk at the same time. One also has to remember that they have a dog in the movie, which is pure luxury according to the circumstances they live in. According to those details there are two possibilities: either they are just as friendly and careful as the boy and it is an act of charity, or they see their chance in getting extra food without killing someone of their family or group. Novel or Movie? In my opinion both works are really great. I like the novel of McCarthy very much because of his style of writing and the atmosphere within the story. The dialogues are short, concise and therefore fit totally in. In addition the characters with their actions, thoughts, feelings and dreams as well as the ending of the story are simply realistic. There are some differences when it comes to the cinematic adaptation but those are no reasons for regarding the film as inferior. As already said, I think that Hillcoat and Penhall did a great job because it must have been very hard to transport McCarthy’s style of writing into a movie. What I like most is the ending of the film. It is less clear than in the book and every viewer can decide which option seems to be more realistic. I think the interpretation of the ending refers to ones personal character traits. If the viewer is as prudent, distrusting and sometimes hopeless like the father he will maybe be more likely to see it critical. In contrast a viewer who is as optimistic as the son will probably see the details as unimportant and therefore recognize the ending as a happy end, like the one of the book. This opportunity of individual interpretation is a great aspect of the movie.Bibliography McCarthy, Comac. The Road. New York: Vintage Books, 2006 http://www.buecher.de/shop/krimi–thriller/the-road/mccarthy-cormac/products_products/detail/prod_id/22749892/session/0c16e28341622398e76f09549b0dc89c/ (23.02.2012) http://www.cormacmccarthy.com/works/theroad.htm (23.02.2012) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/ (23.02.2012) http://sweetcheese.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/41jilx9r0rl_ss500_.jpg (23.02.2012) http://quaterlyconversation.com/the-road-by-cormac-mccarthy-review (23.02.2012) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/ (25.02.2012) Movie: â€Å"The Road†, Universum Film GmbH: 2009 http://www.beyondhollywood.com/the-road-2008-movie-images-gallery/the-road-movie/ (25.02.2012)

Biography of Jorge Chavez

Jorge Chavez was thought to be the country I was born in Peru and was the first hero who tried to jump over the Alps. He crashed on his landing so he did not reach his goal, but his courage and courage was the crucial factor in his career success when he lived. Therefore, in this article we will investigate the performance in Wes' aviation industry and explain how he is fascinated by the aviation industry. Jorge Chavez was born in Paris, Jorge Chavez Dartnell was born in Paris, France on 13th June 1887. Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez was born in a small town near Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927. Cesar was born in a somewhat poor family. Cesar grew up in Arizona and lived with her parents at a small farm house (United Farm Workers 1). - Over the years, individuals have shown that they can make a difference. People dedicated to the cause are brought up with honor, integrity, and courage. Cesar Chavez is such a person. He represents people, transcends their own needs, and meets the needs of people. Cesar Chavez says the best free form has the highest discipline. He lives according to this standard and fights freedom with the highest dignity and character. He often finds himself on the wrong side of decision-making. A provocative new biography on 'Cesar Chavez Crusade' (Bloomsbury), Miriam Pavel Reevaluated with a Grunge Chavez's Legacy For many years, the basic discourse of Chavez's work has been deeply praised for this cause, deeply meditative It was a narration by writer Jack E. Levi. Former reporter Pawell of the Los Angeles Times fixed a project that studded stars. Her previous work, Alliance of their dreams (2009) explored co-farm workers by focusing on their incumbent orders. After talking to people who helped build the alliance, Pavel critically read many of Chavez's actions. Jorge Chavez was thought to be the country I was born in Peru and was the first hero who tried to jump over the Alps. He crashed on his landing so he did not reach his goal, but his courage and courage was the crucial factor in his career success when he lived. Therefore, in this article we will investigate the performance in Wes' aviation industry and explain how he is fascinated by the aviation industry. - Obertura Republicana of Carlos Chavez is the political motivation of the orchestra. This work is based on Mexican Indian tradition. This work includes arrangement of traditional military parade called Zacatecas, famous Sharon Waltz, Cape Verde Club and revolutionary work Laer derita. After listening several times, I must say that this is a loud, exaggerated, marching, Mexican style voice. For me it is no doubt that it is a country relationship.

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 47

Personal Statement - Essay Example I had worked very hard and had good grades in my previous schooling and everyone believed that I was the best nominee for the award, little did I know that a huge disappointment was in the offing. I painfully missed the scholarship and in its place, I received a smaller, insignificant award in my eyes. Whereas I thought I was the best person to receive the token, other people were awarded. I became very angry and unknowingly, I developed a grudging heart against those who won the scholarship. I was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the scholarship committee was biased. This feeling of hatred and jealousy continued for a while until I noted that my negative reaction angry look and avoidance attitude had no apparent effect on the winners. It only increased my frustrations and I became more and more miserable. I decided to force that feeling to fade away. I had no choice as those who received the scholarship were oblivious of the resentment towards them. I decided not to continue a llowing my heart and mind to be swayed by important issues in my life. I decided to move on especially after talking to a few friends and family members. They encouraged me to put that ordeal behind me as there are people who face severe challenges in life. This incident caused a huge impact in my life. It threatened to derail me from my career and cause a permanent heartbreak. Through guidance and canceling, my entire family made me understand that a single failure in life does not define the entire life of a person.

Does age effect performance in Distance Learning Classes Research Paper

Does age effect performance in Distance Learning Classes - Research Paper Example However, certain students’ characteristics presently have led to the emergence of numerous heated debates based on academic performances that entail intensive research. These embrace age, gender, ethnic background and student’s background. The aspects according to numerous personalities’ arguments raised, thus far, cite to have contributed to either failing or excelling of students among those undertaking distance learning especially age (Urtel, 2008). Opposing Perspectives (Pros and Cons) Arguments raised by some people and scholars like Urtel (2008), cite older students tend to perform better than younger people do academically when undertaking distance learning. This is because of their effective study skills that they have attained over the years, which is contrary to the young people (Urtel, 2008). Therefore, according to him age does not have any effect on performance when undertaking distance learning. Conversely, opposing arguments claim the young people because of growing up in a technological knowhow that is advancing by the day; they are proficient in using it almost in all aspects of their lives including learning (Bender, Smith & Project Muse, 2008). Hence, making them excel academically compared to the older students due to their heightened expertise in searching using internet while doing their respective researches. My stand My position is that age affects performance in these classes based on the aspect of technological knowhow. The younger students are more familiar with the technology and with online interactions than those who have advanced (30-40) in years. Therefore, they have heighted advantage in accessing unlimited and most recent pool of resourceful materials online when undertaking their researches. Hence, they spent less time when searching for certain information meant to complete their tasks throughout their respective courses compared to those who have older students. Since, the latter due to unfamiliarity wit h diverse resourceful forums online, majority of them become stuck almost in every attempt before becoming conversant with the system they are using. This is evident when using online libraries whereby the latter are usually conversant with physical libraries, which to date majority use to supplement their researches whereas the younger prefer fast internet libraries (Liu, 2008). This prompts younger people to excel because they solely rely on online information (mostly scholarly), which is current compared to what older students may get from their physical libraries. Since, the latter intensively use what they are proficient in to attain the required information, which is their physical library. Presently, online forums have increased young people’s interactions whereby they can share varied and essential information irrespective of their regions with the intention of aiding them excel in academics (Liu, 2008). This is evident with online libraries like Phoenix besides other social sites where they share tips on how to undertake varied studies or researches. This is hard to old students because they end up disregarding some forums citing they are busy or see the talk (between the young people while chatting) as insignificant. Through these forums and social sites, young people end up increasing their internet savvy expertise, which is essential in aiding them while undertaking distance courses. Since, they will not only be internet savvy but also attain useful information concerning their respective fields,

Economics - Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economics - - Assignment Example It involves the element of comparing the total expected costs against the total expected benefits. To be precise it looks for one fact only; whether the project is a gain project or loss project. The literature background for such study was that previous researches showed that programs designed for early childhood involvements effected child’s health and well-being beneficially. Good quality of involvements was directly related with improved health status, rational skills, accomplishment motivation and keenness at school. This study is the further extension of such results to check whether such programs do influence children positively or not. For the CBA the research was carried out in Chicago Child- Parent Centers located in Public schools. These centers are believed to provide educational and family support services to low -income children between the ages of 3 to 9. The data collected was from 1,539 programs and a comparison group of children selected who were born in 1980 . These children were the participants of Chicago Longitudinal Study. The measures of program participation were considerably but not only associated with higher school achievement and with higher school completion and also with lower rates of remedial education services, juvenile delinquency which is popularly known as youth crime and children maltreatment which means treating children abusively. The economic analyses showed that the economic benefits of the pre- school participation and School- going participation exceeded the costs. This indicated that a public program established for such things proves to be beneficial. If the article is critically analyzed, one would find strengths and challenges within it. The strengths would show the strong points in the argument of the article and the flaws within the argument. The strengths of the article can be analyzed in the following way: I. The first recognizable strength of the article is that it gives CBA of such programs which promi se to play a positive role in a child’s health and well -being. Different benefits of these programs are listed in such an order that they give a comprehensive insight into the benefits of early childhood programs. The program benefits are termed as ‘reductions in expenditures for remedial services’, ‘increase in lifetime earnings, compensation, and government tax revenues’, ‘reduction in expenditures in the criminal justice system for youth and adult program, ‘reduction in tangible expenditures to crime victims of youth and adults and ‘reduction in expenditures for the child welfare system and the victimization form the child abuse and neglect’. The analysis is a comprehensive analysis of such programs, with the help of research methods and data collection; the benefits stated add an objective element to it. The literature part and the analysis part seem to go hand in hand because of the mutual argument. The analysis part is basic strength of the article because of the systematic listing of the benefits. The findings add to the knowledge about the welfares of early childhood programs for low- income children. II. Secondly the research itself lies down as the literature review for the future analysis and researches. The results stated prove to be the background for the researches to be carried out in the same field. Results are brought out in such dimension that they promise to be valid and reliable; thus fulfilling the quality of

Social and Physical Benefits of Parks and Recreation Annotated Essay

Social and Physical Benefits of Parks and Recreation Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example The findings revealed that park use is an instrumental source of physical activity which benefitted users and residents within the area. As such, it was noted that the current number and location of public parks are insufficient to optimize service to the general local population. The article is deemed beneficial as a source of pertinent information regarding accessibility and overall improvement in physical activity of local residents, specifically those coming from the low-income level. Cohen, Deborah A., et al. "New Recreational Facilities for the Young and the Old in Los Angeles: Policy and Programming Implications." Journal of Public Health Policy (2009): Volume 30, S248–S263. Print. The study was conducted to determine any significant changes in terms of use of recreational facilities or parks after being remodeled or refurbished and compared with those which were not changed. The aim was specifically noted as determining whether â€Å"higher quality recreation faciliti es promote physical activity and serve communities better† (Cohen, Sehgal and Williamson S248). One skate park and one senior center were used as observation avenues and compared with two other skate parks and two senior centers that were not refurbished. The methods used the System for Observing Parks and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) and validating interviews. The findings revealed that â€Å"park use results from a complex mix of factors that includes not only higher quality recreation facilities but also programming, staffing, fees, hours of operation, marketing, outreach, and perhaps a host of other human factors† (Cohen, Sehgal and Williamson S257). The information contained herein are therefore useful to the current research in terms of specifically identifying factors that could contribute to increased use of these facilities and therefore are instrumental in improving the health condition of users. Godbey, Geoffrey C.Caldwell, Linda L., Myron Floyd and Lau ra L. Payne. "Contributions of Leisure Studies and Recreation and Park Management Research to the Active Living Agenda." American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2005): Vol. 28, 150 –158. Print. The authors aimed to determine the source of studies involving leisure, recreation and park use with their alleged link to active living. Other concerns pertinent to the study included presenting aspects of government recreation and park services, concepts and methods in leisure studies as well as the management of recreation and park use, urban park use, and diverse factors that were apparently contributory to increased physical activity in leisure times. The findings revealed that a deeper understanding of leisure and the use of recreation and parks provide rationales on how park and recreational activities apparently contribute to physical activity, among others. The information contained in the study would therefore provide valuable insights to the current research. Payne, Laura L ., et al. "Local Park Use and Personal Health Among Older Adults: An Exploratory Study." Journal of Park and Recreation Administration (2005): Volume 23, Number 2, 1-20. Print. The study was reportedly conducted for the purpose of evaluating the relationship between the use of local parks and the health status of elders, aged 50 and above. Five specific research questions were explicitly stated; as the researchers allegedly used the exploratory research method with a conducted

Marketing Research Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Marketing Research Plan - Essay Example with dependable services can be the best available means to capture the market well in time when the idea is still new to capture the cell phone users’ attention by a successful company like JF Electronics. What is a customizable mobile phone? A customizable mobile phone is a built-to-order phone that comes with the feature of snapping the unwanted functionality or adding the functionality as per the customer demand. It could be a GSM phone to be customized or the other. The customer will decide whether the phone should be touch screen, bar, flip or smart phone; whether it has a keyboard or the customer prefers a mobile phone without a keyboard. The customized mobile phone to be introduced by JF’s Electronics will offer the customers the choice to select the operating system of their choice from Google Android, apple, OS X or Microsoft and others. It has been the JF’s Electronics unique selling point to offer custom-made computers of high quality in affordable price range, which has helped it expand throughout the US Northeast. The marketing research plan for the customized mobile is going to follow the same USP of providing a cost-effective mobile phone of high quality. Customers would have the freedom to choose their preferred service provider; no need to subscribe to a particular service provider. The custom-ordered mobile would be available with warranties, after-sale service and repair (Elgan, 2008). The research objective of my marketing plan is to know the response of the customers if a customized mobile phone is offered for sale in the company’s store and on the company’s website. As the idea of a customized mobile phone has been not just in the offing, customers have been purchasing through online stores, so it means ours is not the only company; other companies are there for our company JF’s Electronics to compete with. Considering the current market situation at macro level, research needs to be made first of all at legal level to know

How can the planning system encourage more sustainable patterns of new Essay

How can the planning system encourage more sustainable patterns of new housing development urban design - Essay Example Planning of homes has major impact on functioning level within societies. The planning and design of homes should consider various factors such as access to jobs, community facilities and access to transport. Well organized and planned housing development assist in the creation of unity hence contribute towards reduction in anti-social behavior. Development of cities, towns and leisure centers should consider various development policies such as environmental policies. Various destinations all over the world should consider creation of barrier-free movement within cities which would accommodate people of all walks of life (Scott 2000). Urban planning is defined as the art involved in designing places for the purpose of settling people. Such designs should consider accommodating more sustainable patterns of new housing development. New housing design method presents one of the most important elements of urban planning. The planning process entails various aspects such as aesthetic value of building masses based on the intended functions. In addition enough passage areas are constructed to enhance easy movement of both people and vehicle traffic. This would improve communication links within towns. Urban planning and design incorporates visionary frameworks which projects quality outlook of the development formats capable of accommodating vast developmental activities and at the same time maintains socio-cultural activities (Susan and John 2004). Development of modern quality housing requires the use of upgraded technology capable of producing modern designs and at the same time maintaining a sustainable environment. Infrastructural development does not entirely define an urban metropolis; it is also defined by the expectations and ambitions of its habitants and characterized by its upsides and downsides. The Cities background, practices and communal set up, form the core of city’s existence. There is need to effectively administer

Development of Labor Unions in the United States Research Paper

Development of Labor Unions in the United States - Research Paper Example With the beginning of wage-labor regime, the modern labor movement came into the picture. This project highlights the key issues of the development of labor unions in the United States. The customary chronology report the first American labor strike in 1741. Though they didn’t protest against employers but it was against a municipal regulation regarding the price of bread. The first and second consecutive strike occurred in the year 1786 and 1791 respectively in Philadelphia. The reason of the first was that there should be a minimum wage of six dollars in a week and the second was that there should not be more than ten hours per day. The first organized strike happened by the Philadelphia shoemakers in 1799 by when it got restructured and renamed as Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers. These strikes over wages were the principal weapon of these primordial labor unions and they were held in peaceful manner. But gradually aggressive, violent trade unionism set in. The ind ustrial depression in America curbed trade unionism for some period to maintain their organizations. Before 1820, several trade unions were involved in the effort to cut short the average working hours from 12 to 10.When depression reached its ebb in the year 1820, belligerent trade unions again came into existence. They spread among weavers, tailors, cabinet makers and most importantly among factory workers. And that was the first time when female workers came into action. Many strikes happened during 1824-1825 in the industrial houses but the most striking was the Boston House carpenter’s strike for a ten hour day in 1825. Labor Movement of America began in 1827 with mechanics’ Union of Trade Associations in Philadelphia which is called as the first city centered trade organization in the world. Equal division of all property became prime point in the first workingmen’s meeting in New York in 1829. The first general trades’ union was organized in 1833 i n New York which became New York Trades’ Union later. After which during the twenty five year long depression between 1837-1862 the aggressive Trade Unionism vanished (Perlman, 2004, pp. 3-39). The Nation Labor Union (NLU) which formed in the year 1866 persuaded a weak protest to Congress for an 8 hour a day for Federal workers. The Knights of Labor formed in the year 1869 by Uriah Stephens but it flourished rapidly under Terrance Powdery. Since the membership was open to all types of workers they found easy to achieve a membership of about 750,000 in the next couple of years, but later on the skilled and unskilled workers got fragmented. Suddenly, the Knights found difficult and were unable to handle so much pressure at once, and after taking a hard blow in the Haymarket Square Riots  in May 1886 in Chicago, they collapsed completely. Skilled workers became tired of the unskilled workers’ labor activity and thus they were replaced easily by the high skilled one. The Knights were injured highly by false accusation of anarchistic violence. Even after this they had to face negative publicity and ultimately they were disbanded. The American Federation of Labor was

Malcolm X Citation Essay Example for Free

Malcolm X Citation Essay â€Å"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.† This quote by Malcolm X showed that he was ready for the future, whatever it may be. (Moncur). Malcolm X greatly affected the turn of black de-segregation in the 1950s. He had strong beliefs, suffered a gruesome assassination, and a remarkable legacy. Malcolm Little had many strong beliefs in himself and in people all over the world. Malcolm Little educated himself, so was able to find out what he believed. For one, he changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X because X was the original surname of the slaves from whom he had descended. He insisted that Blacks had the right to protect themselves. He had always believed that violence was occasionally reasonable. Even though he was put into prison in 1946 for burglary, and got out in 1952, he was still a very significantly important person. Malcolm X became very interested in the Nation of Islam. The Nation of Islam is based on conventional teachings, Black Nationalism, and self-help programs that helped the Blacks living in the ghettoes. He believed in and studied Elijah Muhammad, who was the leader of the Black Muslims and popularized their doctrines. He soon became a Black Muslim and as one, he encouraged other Blacks to form all-Black communities. After being a Black Muslim for awhile, he became the â€Å"Top Dog† and representative for them. On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X broke with the Nation of Islam and made a religious journey to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In Mecca, he took the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. When Malcolm broke with the Nation of Islam, he became a target for death threats and pressure. On February 21st, Malcolm X was shot and his life was taken away from him in Harlem. No one thinks it is a coincidence the February 21st, was the first day of National Brotherhood Week. He was shot by a double-barreled shot gun and two pistols. Malcolm’s lawyer, Percy Sutton, said after he was proclaimed dead, â€Å"Malcolm knew he would be killed. He told me repeatedly-and as late as yesterday- that his life was in danger† (Finkelman). There were three men involved in the assassination of Malcolm. They were all members of the Nation of Islam. The main one who shot him in the chest was Talmadge Hayer. Hayer was born in 1943, making him twenty-two at the time of Malcolm’s death. Earlier in his life he was detained in prison for possession of guns and disorderly conduct. He testified that his accomplices were not guilty, but they were all convicted. The Audubon Ballroom was the place where Malcolm was shot. The Audubon Ballroom adjoined a theatre found in Washington Heights, NYC. Washington Heights is in a neighborhood north of Harlem. Recently, it was obliterated to make way for the new Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, the place were Malcolm X was taken when he was shot. Everyone that walks in the doors of the Hospital will see the memorial which was placed there for Malcolm X. Malcolm X was one of the most contentious persons of the century. He had met many people, traveled many places, and influenced many lives. Many young Black activists supported him. Malcolm X was captivating and witty, while his words gave hope to all who heard them. He was an incredible speaker and many people wished to quote him. Malcolm X once said, â€Å"How can anyone be against love?†(â€Å"Malcolm X†). I agree with him, no one can be against love. This is one of the many reasons Malcolm X supported the Blacks and helped them to believe that they had the right to be safe, the right to protect themselves, and the right to love.

Obama and Bush in the Iraq war Essay Example for Free

Obama and Bush in the Iraq war Essay On April 11, 1991, the Gulf war ended with a cease fire that was negotiated between the United States and its allies and Iraq. A policy of containment was maintained by the United States and its allies towards Iraq. This policy encompassed various economic sanctions by the United Nations Security Council, the enforcement by the United States and United Kingdom of Iraqi no flying zones and inspections to prevent Iraq from developing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. In October 1998, the United States official policy toward Iraq became regime change with the enactment of the Iraqi liberation act. The act provided for the transition of Iraq to a democracy following the withdrawal of United Nations weapons inspectors. This legislation however did not correspond with the terms that were set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 which basically focused on weapons and weapons programs and made no mention of change of regime. The United States and the United Kingdom launched the Operation Desert Fox one month after the Iraq Liberation Act was passed. The rationale behind the campaign was to restrict the ability of Saddams government to produce chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. On the other hand, United States national security personnel hoped that the exercise would weaken Saddams grip on power. With the election of Bush as the United States president in 2000, the United States became actively inclined toward the policy of regime change in Iraq. The Republicans campaign became prior to the elections called for complete implementation of Iraq Liberation Act and the ousting of Saddam. The invasion of Iraq may have been planned since the inauguration with the first National security meeting discussing the invasion (Hamilton, 2004). However, there are also claims that the National Security Council discussions were a continuation of Clintons administrations foreign policy. However, little formal step was made by the Bushs administration toward invasion despite its stated interest in liberating Iraq until the September 11, 2001 attacks on the twin towers. The rationale behind the invasion of Iraq after the 9/11 attacks has been questioned as there was little to suggest that Saddam had any cooperation with Al Qaeda. Shortly after the attack, President Bush announced the new war on terrorism which was backed by the doctrine of preemptive military action. Why Bush Started the War The Bushs administration considered Saddam Hussein to be a major distraction and threat not only to American security but also to global peace. As such, the only way to guarantee the global stability and peace was by ousting Saddams regime. The administration believed that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction and thus rushed to conquer the country before they could fire any weapon. The administration also believed that Saddam was a major sponsor of terrorists and with the 9/11 attacks, the American people were thirsting for some form of action. The electorate of the United States was skillfully convinced that the best solution to the problem of terrorism was to get Saddam Hussein. As such, the main reason that was given by the Bushs administration as a justification for the invasion was the Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Other reasons were that Saddam supported terrorism and held the people of Iraq captive. Another primary motive which was however not stated with regard to the invasion of Iraq was the consolidation of oil resources in Iraq (Holtzman, 2006). A report which was commissioned before the September attacks by Dick Cheney indicated unambiguously identifies Iraq as the main destabilizing influence to the flow of oil to the international markets from the Middle East. The report also indicated that Saddam had expressed a willingness to threaten to employ the oil weapon and to use his own export program to influence and manipulate oil markets. Iraq was a destabilizing influence to global oil flow from the Middle East and therefore United States military intervention was inevitable (Moore, 2004). Within the American grand design for the world, oil plays a major role. The Middle East id the only place that is capable of satisfying the demand for oil as it contains the world’s largest reserves. An increase in the demand for oil was conceived by the Bush administration as inevitable, and Iraq was a stumbling block. The invasion was thus necessary for the United States to guarantee its energy needs. By securing a strategic position in the Gulf region through establishing a friendly and compliant government in Iraq, the United States will not only manage check the OPEC but also influence the conduct of other global powers. Why Obama is against the war According to Obama, Iraqs invasion without any clear rationale and without strong international support had the capacity to lead to instability not only in Iraq but also in the Middle East (Ambinder, 2007). The invasion, according to him, would fuel sectarian warfare. The Sunnis, having been empowered by Saddam, were likely to discover that they were the targets of Shia radicals who sought for revenge for the way that they were treated and power to control Iraqs future. Iraqs insurgency will thus be inspired, not only by the desire to kill the Americans but also by the ambition to be in power when the United States leaves. Obama also opposed the war because he envisioned a situation whereby the attacks would increase leading to the death of more American young people. The difference between Obama and Bush with regard to Iraqi war became clear in 2007. The year marked a critical turning point in the war in Iraq. It was during this period that Iraq sunk into a state of savage sectarian chaos with three thousand civilians dying every month. It was also during this period that the American people lost hope in the war and were thus prepared to bring the troops back to America. However, instead of letting the soldiers go back to America, a move that was favored by both Republicans and Democrats, Bush ordered a troop surge to ease the violence, suppress al Qaeda in Iraq and set the stage for political reconciliation. Obama had much to say concerning this issue, predicting that the surge would not be effective (Stone, 2009). Obama was not convinced that the twenty thousand additional troops would not solve the sectarian violence in Iraq. According to him, the effect will instead be reversed (Obama, 2002). This move, in his view, would not solve the long term political strife between the ethnic and religious groups in Iraq. Obama believed that strategic defense is a much more preferable approach to the entire war, an idea that many people seem to agree with. He opposed the war on the premise that the United states did not know how much it was going to cost, what the exit strategy would be and how the invasion itself will affect the relationship of the United States with the rest of the world. Again, he doubted the soundness of the American intelligence and held that capturing Bin Laden ought to have been the priority. Obama felt that because Al Qaeda had not been put to rest, it may act as distraction. Obama conceived of the invasion of Iraq unwise use of the military. According to him, the invasion brought more problems than solutions as more and more money was being used, more American soldiers were being killed and Al Qaeda had grown stronger. With regard to the reduction of the surge due to the deployment of more troops, Obama felt that it the reduction of violence was mainly as a result of the sacrifice by the soldiers. According to Obama, the Bush administrations judgment concerning the length of the war, the conception of America by the Iraqis as the liberator and the view that there was no history of violence between the Shiite and the Sunni were all wrong. Obama referred to the war in Iraq as a dangerous distraction. His view is that central front in the war on terror was never Iraq but the terrorist themselves. As such, his position is that the terrorists should be attacked directly. His new strategy has therefore been to directly fight Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. His first priority has been to end the war in Iraq as he had opposed it from the onset. With his position that the war in Iraq was unnecessary, Obama has made it his responsibility to redeploy the United States combat troops that propel Iraqi leaders toward a political solution, rebuild the military and refocus on Afghanistan and broader American security interests. His plan is to remove the combat brigades from Iraq by 2010 and to send additional combat brigades to Afghanistan. The worth of Iraqi war Assessing the worth of Iraq war requires that one reflects upon whatever would have happened in the Bush administration would have not gone to war in March 2003. There is no secret concerning the things that have gone wrong ever since the United States invaded Iraq but it cannot also be assumed that everything would have gone right if the United States had not invaded Iraq. It is a fact that there was a heavy casualty which does not go well with the American public. However, there is need to address what the alternative to war would have meant. Many people agree that Saddam was not the best leader. Other individuals like Madeleine Albright compared him to Hitler, a comparison that cannot be far from the truth in many respects. Saddam had contempt for human life, killing thousands of his own citizens beside threatening and butchering his neighbors. It may therefore be argued that removing such a man from power was worth some sacrifice. A more intriguing question is however whether the failure of the United States to go to war with Iraq in 2003 would have produced a lasting peace or would have postponed war. It may be said that Saddam would have pushed toward confrontation and war regardless of what might have been done. He brutally and patiently pushed his way to power in Iraq after which he impatiently and brutally made himself the dominant figure in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. In all these instances, he employed war and the threat of war as his principal tools. In short, Saddam was in every conceivable way a threat not only to his people but also to world peace. However, some individuals have argued that even though Saddam posed a threat to world peace and stability, he would have been contained through sanctions and no-fly zones which would have acted as deterrence (Hunt, 2008). This argument was advanced even before the war even with the belief that he had weapons of mass destruction. For the majority of Americans, the question of whether the war was worth fighting revolves around whether the weapons of mass destruction were recovered or not. However, the major issue is whether Saddam could have been contained. Even though the war in Iraq has remained unpopular, the Iraqi people can claim some success with regard to the introduction of democracy. With the help of the United States, the Iraqi people have been successful in establishing the first Arab democracy. This is a major achievement with regard to the war on terror and for the purpose of liberty. The different ethnic and religious groups can now work together in a national army. They have made important steps in repossessing their country from the insurgents that have invaded their homeland. The Iraqi troops are solely responsible for clearing the Basra and Sadr City. The oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein was ousted. Conclusion The main difference between Obama and Bush on Iraq war lies in the objective of the invasion. The bushs administration saw it as a war against terrorism while Obama felt that there were better ways of fighting terrorism rather than invading Iraq. A sensible argument for the invasion was not that Saddam was about to attack anyone with a nuclear bomb. It was that the preservation of containment would nit have been indefinite and that Saddam was defying the international community repeatedly and that this defiance seemed to both the Clinton and Bush administration to be succeeding gradually. It may therefore be argued that if the Bush administration would have not gone to war then the United States would have faced a more daring and dangerous Saddam Hussein. References Ambinder, M. (2007, April 21). Obama’s Iraq evolution. National Journal, 39(16), 79-80. Retrieved on March 29, 2009 from EBSCO host database. Hamilton, W. (2004, April 17). Bush began to plan war three months after 9/11. The Washington Post, p. A01. Holtzman, E. (2006). The impeachment of George W. Bush; A handbook for concerned citizens, New York: Nation Books. Hunt, T. (2008. March 18). Bush: Iraq war worth it. The Huffington Post, Moore, J. (2004). Bushs war for reelection: Iraq, the White House, and the people. John Wiley Obama, B. (2002, October). Barrack Obama’s 2002 speech against the Iraq war. Retrieved on April 23, 2009, Responsibly ending the war in Iraq. (n. d. ). The White House. Stone, M. (2009, May 9). Bush 2007 v. Obama 2009? The Global Buzz. Retrieved on March 29, 2009,

Philosophy of Love and Sex

Philosophy of Love and Sex Philosophy of Love and Sex This paper is concerned with discussing the concept of human sexuality as it pertains to polyamory. In their article Polyamory-what it is and what it isn’t, authors McCullough and Hall discuss the liberating experience that comes with the lifestyle of polyamory as well as dispelling negative uninformed conclusions that are not a definition of polyamory. The article examines the inept description of the negative stereotype of the practice and makes a compelling argument of the practice promoting acceptance rather than rejection. McCullough and Hall’s review on polyamory sheds light sheds light on the discourse and practice of polymory as loving more than one person within the realms of integrity and honesty. It is the notion of having multiple committed relationships with more than one person at a time with consent to knowledge with all the parties involved. Presently, other relationship alternatives i.e. polyamory are slowly gaining a modicum of acceptance because of bl anket assumptions that have diminished the sanctity of monogamous unions. Despite this apparent crisis within our society, most people desire monogamy and choose to be monogamous for the purpose of deepening of bonding into a lifelong commitment. The longer you maintain and grow with an individual in a committed relationship, the longer and stronger the bond. The notion of how natural, innate and viable polyamory is assumed to be, is debatable. Furthermore, the exponentially complex structure of a polyamorous union makes for a much more complicated relationship than monogamy. In relation to other forms of relationships, monogamy is currently the only acceptable, valid and highly recognized structure of human sexual relationships. Most people’s beliefs are a hodgepodge of various philosophies and practices that they found to have worked for them. In this paper, I argue against polyamorous relationships as a rationalized model of human sexuality that adds a dimension of complex ity to the dynamics of a relationship. The authors in their article present an argument for polyamory being a celebration of the human nature to want to enjoy intimacy through physical and emotional bonding without restriction in the unnatural social system of confining oneself to a relationship with just one partner. Polyamorous relationships are thought to be natural and are supposedly found throughout the universe. However, natural does not necessarily translate to better or superior. Polyamory is an individual’s expression of the preference to not stay monogamous, rather than a natural instinct. Generalizations perpetuated about monogamy as being unnatural and against our human nature are imprecise. Rising above nature is not synonymous with shaming personal preference. Imposed personal preferences in favour of polyamory being more inclined with our human nature has deemed monogamy unnatural and insurmountable, when the choice to practice either or is really a matter of preference. Furthermore, the authors asse rt that the western stereotype of monogamy symbolizes confinement, which is against our human nature. The authors challenge monogamy and demonstrate that this constructed image of the West serves to restrict and confine individuals into a relationship that is not necessarily the most ideal, given evidence such as high divorce rates. The evidence given by the authors to support polyamory emphasize the nature of this practice that is not only found in humans, but in 95% of other species as well. However, animals do not possess a conscience like human beings do. Their motive for being polyamorous is an instinct necessary for bonding and survival. Despite how natural to humanity polyamory might seem, it is a lifestyle prone to problematic complications. It is my contention that when love is divided and scattered even with the best of intentions, there is bound to be a cost and a loss. As far as the human race goes, most individuals have the preference of being the sole crowning jewel in their partner’s eyes, the being the only focus of their lover’s attention. Completely free and unbridled love can be dangerous, indecent and even irresponsible. We cannot allow ourselves to love frivolously, in any way that feels good, without any thought to the consequences that may be dismal. A relationship is much more fulfilling when you find one person whom you can give your full being and attention to. The true test of commitment is when you choose to dedicate your attention to one person in multiple ways, instead of availing yourself to multiple people. The human race is not wired to be naturally secure. We possess traits that make us egotistically insecure. To a certain extent, we are a species that exhibit a degree of possessiveness and jealousy. We are not wired to consent to sharing especially when it pertains to the object of our affection. By virtue of these traits, it is not in our nature to be polyamorous. When examining the level at which one can be open in a relationship in polyamory, we need to truthfully expound on the level at which an individual can be realistically be an open book to their partners specifically pertaining to sexual intimacy. Intimacy is a powerful thing when shared between two individuals and can create feelings of jealousy and insecurity when shared with more than two. Perhaps the notion of no jealousy in polyamorous relationship is a forcefully learned comportment under the guise of being secure and tolerant. Trust and completely open lines of communication may be compromised in this union, resulting in competitiveness and difficulty in communication, for fear of hurting your partners with absolute honesty. It may lead to internal conflict of how much honesty can be handled versus sparing your partners’ feelings. According to the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, â€Å"there are many strains that accompany the keeping of so large and important a s ecret. There is the fear of being discovered and shunned by people who might disapprove. There is the stress that comes along with the lack of recognition of one’s partners: for example, the partner who is not invited to family gatherings and office parties may feel excluded and devalued. If the polyamorous individual has children who are not aware of the arrangement, there is the need to arrange a time and place to meet in private, rather than in the comfort of one’s home (NCSF, 2010).† Polyamorous relationships take an infinite variety of configurations connected together for various purposes. The constellation of relationships in a polyamorous arrangement creates the complication of not having a mutual boundary. It takes a lot of time and energy to reach an agreement on what boundaries are agreeable for the relationship. It requires constant negotiation and communication. Being able to be integrated into the flow of constant love and attention may be satisfying but can also be deeply frustrating. This brings up the question of authenticity in polyamorous unions. A significant relationship should have the look and feel of solidity, security, and safety. Monogamy offers a sense of permanence in this regard. The security of knowing that the object of your affection will not be tempted and swayed by someone who can offer something different and new is an added advantage to monogamy. If we do not pathologize and make this notion of security wrong with respect to monoga my, we can appreciate the ingredients that feed this sense of security. Truth telling, reliability and disclosure in monogamy contribute to true solidity and security. The antecedent to the problem of defining polyamory is the lack of proper definition in these arrangements. In my opinion, it is essentially no different than dating. The pattern in polyamorous relationships is quintessential to the monogamous tradition of dating before finally settling on one partner whom we make a commitment to. Therefore, a polyamorous relationship does not promote longevity and commitment, it is essentially long term dating. I believe those who choose to engage in a polyamorous relationship are optimistic that eventually they may perhaps form a bond that might lead to exclusivity. This was evident in former polyamorist and author Jessica. â€Å"On the other hand, sometimes I wonder if maybe I wasn’t waiting for that very thing. Not consciously. I was very happy with my partners, and hadnâ €™t really thought about giving them up, but I did have a certain desire for a deeper connection, which might have planted the seed in my mind. I think poly might have been a phase for me. Maybe all I can really take away from my experience is that you just never know what’s going to stumble into your life and change it completely. I never expected to become this conventional, but I also never expected to be this happy (Ebacher 2014).† Being monogamous is being involved. Being polyamorous is synonymous with long term courting. The authors mention in their article the â€Å"Cultures of multiple fathers† study which revealed that the â€Å"children of women who had sexual relationships with many men had better survival rates because of potential paternity, they were less vulnerable (Hall, McCullough 2003)†. Although the paternity ensures less vulnerability and more survival rates, the downfall is the lack of stability and continuity in having to keep up with the different or new partners during the course of a polyamorous relationship. More people implies more caretakers for the children, however, the caretakers do not necessarily have to comprise of individuals intertwined in a complex and convoluted union of polyamory. A healthy dose of jealousy and vulnerability are necessary in any relationship. The essence of being vulnerable is real courage. You have to risk projected rejection every step of the way. This is a vital part of a relationship that lacks in polyamorous unions and is present in monogamy. Granted, the people we are in a relationship(s) with are more tolerant of us than we are. People in a poly union may surface project you but it’s the projected rejection that is internalized. When we internalize rejection, fear comes in. We hide more and sensor more, to protect ourselves. We then tip toe around so many issues to avoid rocking the boat. The impact is impoverished lives and relationships. It takes a lot of self-knowledge and insight to look reflect on the things that make you jealous. Without vulnerability, there is no intimacy. A monogamous relationship recognizes healthy jealousy as a tool that promotes open and honest communication which facilitates growth in the relationship. McCullough and Hall in their article contend the notion that monogamy stipulates polyamory is unnatural and sinful. Polyamory is unnatural because monogamy is the only valid and highly recognized structure of human sexual relationships; it is sinful because it is a moral state not approved by God and stigmatized by society. Lack of recognition is partly due to polyamory not having the benefit of appropriate scripts to turn to for details on how to properly interact within this lifestyle, resulting in role conflict. Nature has naturally predisposed rational human beings to want to develop continuing and enduring exclusive sexual relationships in the form of marriage for the purpose of sexual bonding and reproductive success. The moral argument against polyamory is that sexual intimacy should be reserved for those in a committed long term relationship (i.e. marriage) and the notion that is it acceptable to share intimacy with more than one person fall outside the confines of a marriage , and thus qualify as immoral (adultery). Polyamory is a static state that removes the â€Å"old† label of traditional relationship values and encourages evolution that is much more about being fluid and open and exploring what is possible outside the realms of monogamy. This threatens to destroy the domestic and traditional structure. We are designed for pair bonding when it relates to intimacy, and to achieve a deep, meaningful relationship, partnership is critical. The union of a man and woman allows for a greater sense of intimacy that is shared when a covenant is made between two individuals only. Author Vincent Punzo in his work on morality and human sexuality stated that â€Å"a man and woman engaging in sexual intercourse have united themselves as intimately and as totally as physically possible for two human beings. Their union is not simple a union of organs, but is as intimate as total a physical union of two selves as is possible o achievement. A total commitment to another means a commitment to him in his historical existence. Such a commitment is not simply a matter of words or feelings, however strong. It involves a full existential sharing on the part of two beings of the burdens, opportunities, and challenges of their historical existence (Punzo, 2002).† It is taking responsibility and choosing to be accountable to one another for the duration of your existence together. According to David Hume, â€Å"there must be a union of male and female for the education of the young, and that this union must be of considerable duration (Hume, 2009)†. Monogamy offers an ideal relationship model that is of considerable duration with a lower turnover rate of partners, which gives an example to children of the benefits and success of monogamy. There are not many relationship models for polyamory as compared to monogamy. The justification of high divorce rates in comparison to monogamy gives the impression that polyamory is without its li mitation. Polyamory, just like any other relationship has its own share of relationship issues irregardless of whether this type of union is solidified in marriage. It is interesting to note that polyamory liberates and encourages freedom to express and experience love without the confines of marriage or commitment to just one person. It should also be noted that monogamy offers the same freedom of experiencing love in a multitude of ways, with just one partner. McCullough and Hall reach the conclusion that we ought to consider the happiness of our partner before our own by allowing someone else to fulfill their needs, not as a symbol of our inadequacy, but as a means to share in the responsibilities of ensuring the happiness of those we love. It should also be obvious that the very qualities which attracted you to your partners are seen as desirable by someone else therefore it should come as no surprise when someone else seeks the attention of your partner. If we adopt this line o f thinking, we are accepting the notion of infinitely pursuing every individual we will ever find attractive. Given this thought process, it is important to note that attraction to another individual other than our only object of affection in monogamy is inevitable. Nonetheless, we are very capable of curbing our desire to want to pursue the object of our attraction romantically. You can place an incalculable and inestimable value on the person your share an exclusive relationship with, by respectfully honouring them and exercising moral virtue. In conclusion, we can choose to transcend the hypothetical idea that we are naturally inclined to be polyamorous and have multiple relationships. We have a conscience, something animals do not possess, therefore this comparison is invalid. Conscience could never evolve because it is not genetic. We have the capability to control our impulses by not acting on them, as it relates to attraction to other people. The richness of a relationship gets diminished when we include more than two people in a union. Faith and trust in a monogamous relationship means that you will respect each other in this sacred union despite what attraction you might feel for someone else. It is very possible to curb our appetite for unhealthy food to prevent obesity and promote healthy eating habits. By the same token, we are able to resist the urge to want to be with other people simply because we find them attractive. Monogamy has a healthiness to it that enhances life expectancy and happiness. It has to be m aintained and constantly developed to enjoy the benefits of longevity and healthy lives for those involved. When you minimize it, you lessen its value and decrease the likelihood of all potential gain that comes with it. We live in a different time where several factors have unhinged us from the somewhat misacted evolutionary biology that stipulates we are a non-monogamous species. References Hume, D. (2009, January 1). A Treatise on Human Nature.. Retrieved July 26, 2014, from https://reserve.library.ryerson.ca/ares/ares.dll?SessionID=V091458693AAction=10Type=10Value=96979 It happened to me: I quit polyamory because I fell in love with a man. . (2014, April 21).. Retrieved , from http://www.xojane.com/it-happened-to-me/it-happened-to-me-i-quit-polyamory-because-i-fell-in-love-with-a-man McCullough, D., Hall, D. Polyamory What it is and what it isnt. .Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality,6. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from http://ejhs.org/volume6/polyamory.htm Punzo, V. (2002, January 1). Ethics in Practice.. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from https://reserve.library.ryerson.ca/ares/ares.dll?SessionID=V091458693AAction=10T ype=10Value=96985 Weitzman, G., Davidson, J., Philips, R. (2010, January 1). What Psychology Professionals Should Know About Polyamory.. Retrieved , from http://instituteforsexuality.com/wp- content/uploads/2014/05/What-therapists-should-know-about-Polyamory-1.pdf

The Structure of a Financial Crisis Essay -- Economics Economy Finance

The Structure of a Financial Crisis INTRODUCTION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The year 2001 had been unlucky for Turkey. Apart from the crisis in 1994 and November 2000, the country had to face another financial crisis, causing problems in the management of its economy. Why does a country delve deep into financial crisis? What are the possible immediate triggers for both the current and potential new crises? What precautions should be taken for the key issues like the fragility of the financial and banking system, belated reforms and privatisation, rampant corruption, exchange rate policy? And how can the governments satisfy the markets and people to undertake these reforms? The current crisis has not hit the country overnight. This article figures out the weakness of the system, years of neglect and mismanagement, possible solutions for other developing countries. One has to bear in my mind that even evaluating the aftermath of the 1994 crisis, Turkey was a rising star, with aspirations towards full membership to the European Union. Among the potential applicants of EU membership, - mostly the Transition Economies of Eastern Europe- Turkey was the mere applicant with a functioning Customs Union with the EU back in 1995. With a relatively large and dynamic market, having high hopes for rapid economic and social progress, Turkey seemed a valuable candidate for the European Integration. Now after the 2000 November and 2001 February crises, the shrinking of the economy suggests that Turkey can only catch up with the figures of year 2000, as far as the year 2004, let alone the EU membership and further growth. To indicate why such a failure has been suffered, we have to go back to the roots of mismanagement. And that begins with the problems of Privatisation practices. THE INITIATION OF PRIVATISATION Privatisation has proved to be a successful method for improving institutions and maintaining corporate efficiency all around the world. But under certain conditions either privatised firms can get into serious difficulties or delaying the privatisation programs could trigger economic crises, together with the impact caused by years of mismanagement, not undertaking the progressive reforms and corruption - as experienced in some of the transition economies of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Far East, and as is the case in this article, in Turkey THE FIRST ... ...90, January 2000, William Davidson Institute. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feldstein, Martin "Refocusing the IMF," Foreign Affairs, March/April 1998, pp. 20-33. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harris- White, Barbara and White, Gordon (eds.), ''Liberalization and the New Corruption,'' IDS Bulletin, Vol. 27 No: 2 , 1996 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nas, F. Tevfik and Odekon, Mehmet (eds.) '' Liberalization and the Turkish Economy'' 1988, Greenwood Publishing Group. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rittenberg, Libby, (ed.) ''The Political Economy of Turkey in the Post-Soviet Era: Going West and Looking East?'' 1998 Praeger Publishing †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shaker, Sallama State, Society and Privatisation in Turkey, 1979-1990 (Woodrow Wilson Center Special Studies)1995 Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Togan, Subidey, Balasubramanyam, V.N. (Eds.) ''The Economy of Turkey Since Liberalization,'' 1996 Palgrave Publishing. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ucer, E. Murat " Monetary Policy Practice in Turkey: From the 1994 Crisis to the Present." October 1999, mimeo, Credit Suisse First Boston, Emerging Markets Economic Research †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vishwanath, T. and Kaufmann, D. "Toward Transparency: New Approaches and their Application to Financial Markets", The World Bank Research Observer, Volume 16, No.1, Spring 2001.

Steve Jobs: A Visionary Leader Essay -- entrepreneurs, business, leade

The business world is full of driven, determined young and old entrepreneurs, all hoping to make it in the competitive industry. A business person encompasses a variety of different virtues: leadership, persistence, confidence and people skills; however, not many people had what Steve Jobs embodied. Born in the vibrant San Francisco, California, Jobs was always interested in technology and its perks. â€Å"Early on Jobs showed a proficiency in electronics and a thirst for education. In junior high, he complained that he was not learning anything in his school, so his parents moved to Los Altos instead† (Gale, np). Even at a young age, Job’s business skills were already seeping through; his mind was constantly working, thirsting to fill his never ending quench for technology. The dream began when Job’s saw potential in his friend, Steve Wozniak, who was working for Hewlett Packard at the time. Wozniak was creating ametuer computers outside of work but never with t he intentions of selling them.With his vision of affordable personal computers, Steve Jobs changed that. On April 1st, 1976 in a small garage, one the most successful and thriving businesses in the computer industry was formed. The company name, Apple Computers, was given because it came before â€Å"Atari† in the phonebook and Jobs was also on one of his fruit diets, with apples being one of his staple foods (Isaacson, 54). Their aim was to create computers designed specifically to be user-friendly desktop machines for the general public, a target that many other rival companies neglected to pursue. Jobs remarks to Cathy book in Time, â€Å"We started out to get a computer in the hands of everyday people, and we succeeded beyond our wildest dreams† (Gale, np). From the beginning, Jobs d... ...entury, 2001. Print. Deutsch, Gail, and Deborah Roberts. "Steve Jobs: 7 Secrets to His Success." ABC News. ABC News Network, 8 Oct. 2011. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. Deutschman, Alan. The Second Coming of Steve Jobs. New York: Broadway, 2000. Print. Elliot, Jay, and William L. Simon. The Steve Jobs Way: ILeadership for a New Generation. New York, NY: Vanguard, 2011. Print. Isaacson, Walter. Steve Jobs. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. Print. Segan, Sascha. "Steve Jobs Is Not Dead." PC Magazine (2012): 33-36. Computer Source. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. "Steve Jobs." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 2000. Biography in Context. Web. 28 Feb. 2014 Surowiecki, James . "How Steve Jobs Changed." The New Yorker. N.p., 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. Turak, August. "Steve Jobs and the One Trait All Innovative Leaders Share." Forbes. N.p., 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2014.

Cultural Taboos :: essays research papers

Axtell, Roger E. Gestures: The DO’s and TABOOS of Body Language Around the World. Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1998 -- Rev. and expanded edition. Over the past decade the author has been presenting seminars, speeches and workshops around the United States on the subject of international behavior. This book is the result of accumulation of more than ten years of research on the subject and it includes research on his travels to England, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. All this reinforced a conviction that gestures are powerful communicators used by people all over the world. The purpose of this book is to let people know how powerful gestures can be when used correctly or incorrectly. He also wants you to know how a gesture can mean one thing here and another thing somewhere else, something as simple as a wave good bye, could get you into a lot of trouble in another country. This book was broken down into seven chapters: Chapter 1, illustrated with numerous examples, is that not only are gestures and body language powerful communicators, but different cultures use gestures and body language in dramatically different ways. Chapter 2 discusses the most popular gestures found around the world, beginning with how we greet each other. Shaking hand is not the universal greeting. In fact, there are at least a half-dozen other social greetings - even different ways of shaking hands. This chapter also deals with farewells, beckoning, insulting, touching and other types of gestures. Chapter 3 gets into the special types of gestures such as, American Sign Language, Tai Chi, flirting & kissing. Chapter 4 is designed to help you learn or trace a particular gesture, using scores of drawings. Chapter 5 describes what the author calls the ultimate gesture, which is simply the "smile". It is rarely misunderstood, scientist believe this particular gesture releases chemicals in the brain called endorphins into the system that create a mild feeling of euphoria. It also may help you slip out of the prickliest or difficult situation's world wide. Chapter 6 is an important list of gestures to keep in mind. It is compiled of 20 gestures that can help you separate right from rude, and rude from crude. Chapter 7 is a listing of country-by-country common gestures and body languages. They group the countries by major geographic region. The organization of the book was a combination of narrative and topical.

Anti-Aging Cream Goes Young

|Anti-ageing cream goes young | |2 Jun 2008, 0155 hrs IST, Amit Sharma,  TNN | | | | | | |  Print   | | | | |  EMail   | | | | |  Discuss | | | | |  Share | | | | |  Save | | | | |  Comment | | | | |Text:[pic] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |NEW DELHI: When consumer products major Hindustan Unilever (HUL) recently relaunched its Pond’s anti-aging skin cream range, it was not | | | | |only   | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |launching a ‘new-improved’ version of the product but also responding to a larger change in the core target consumers of anti-aging | | | | |products — from the middle-aged 35-40-years-old women to 20-something girls, yes, but even men too! | | | | | | | | | |Says Oriflame India national sales manager Shilpa Ajwani: â€Å"Today, we have customers in the 20-years-plus age group who start preventive | | | | |skin care through anti-aging creams and while women are still the larger consumer base, there is faster growth in demand for anti-aging | | | | |products by men too. This is unlike the scenario sometime back when classically 40-years-plus women were our target customers. †Ã‚   | | | | | | | | | |The company launches about six anti-aging products a month, which now account for over a quarter of its sales in India. | | | | | | | | | |Cosmetics are conventionally bundled into three categories — skin lightning, moisturising and anti-aging. Market research firm ACNielsen | | | | |puts the anti-aging cosmetic market in India at over Rs 60 crore. Though just over 2% of the country’s Rs 3,000-crore skin care market, | | | | |the anti-aging segment is the fastest growing at 93% year-on-year. | | | | | | | | |Anti-aging cosmetics include products as diverse as anti-aging lipsticks and eye balms, facial creams, hair lotions and  foot  creams. | | | | |Consumers pay Rs 500-6,000 for such products from brands like Mary Kay, Revlon, Schwarzkopf, Procter & Gamble, HUL, et al. | | | | | | | | | |Schwarzkopf Professional country head Mu rali Sundar confirms anti-aging products’ age defying trend: â€Å"With time, usage of anti-aging | | | | |products has got little to do with a person’s age. Rising consumer awareness means that people in their late twenties have started buying | | | | |our anti-aging hair care products. While the bulk of our customers are still women, men are fast waking up to hair-care. †Ã‚   | | | | | | | | | |While busy lifestyles and concomitant stress hasten skin aging, rising incomes and awareness are facilitating fast consumer adoption of | | | | |anti-aging products. But that’s not all, for there is also another important factor at play here. Consumers today opt to prevent and | | | | |correct rather than repair at a later stage. Marketers are quick to spot this trend and are responding appropriately. | | | | | | | | |Says HUL skin care category head Venkat Shridhar: â€Å"Today, sales of bulk of our anti-aging creams come from 28-30-years-old women. Personal| | | | |care spends have increased a lot in the past 3-4 years. Easy access to parlours, supermarkets and greater exposure to media have led | | | | |people to spend more on hygiene and  beauty. Hence, all our communication also highlights prevention as the way out to delay aging. †Ã‚   | | | | | | | | | |Agrees Mary Kay India senior marketing manager Nirupama Rao: â€Å"Anti-aging products have ceased to be prescriptive in nature. Today, they | | | | |are used for preventive purposes. Consumers realise that they help in delaying the damage caused due to aging. †Ã‚   | | | | | | | | | |Though the current penetration of anti-aging products is low, marketers see huge potential in the category and are prioritising for its | | | | |growth. Says Devendra Shinde, marketing head, Kaya Skin Clinic, Marico’s 56-store strong skin-care division: â€Å"Our age control Botox and | | | | |Fillers treatments have grown up to four times in the last year. | | | | |Currently, age control packages account for 15% of our revenues and are expected to grow even more robustly.    | | | | | | | | | |â€Å"We are witnessing a 30% year-on-year growth in the anti-aging segment. The age of consumers of anti-aging cosmetics is coming down | | | | |rapidly and there is increased penetration of these products in India. This segment is expected to contribute substantially to our | | | | |growth,† says Revlon India marketing director Deepak Bhandari. The company markets it s anti-aging products under the Revlon Reveal brand, | | | | |priced Rs 350-750. | | | |

Organizational Culture Essay

In 1986, Steve job purchased the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm for $10 million and established the independent company called Pixar. Ed Catmull as the co-founder and chief technical officer of Pixar. At that time, there are about 44 people are emplyed at Pixar. Pixar Animation Studios is an Academy Award  ®-winning computer animation studio with the technical, creative and production capabilities to create a new generation of animated feature films, merchandise and other related products. Pixar’s objective is to combine proprietary technology and world-class creative talent to develop computer-animated feature films with memorable characters and heartwarming stories that appeal to audiences of all ages. In November 22, 1995, Pixar Animation Studios forever impacted the future of filmmaking, storytelling and the medium of animation with the release of its first feature film, Disney ·Pixar’s Toy Story. After Pixar founded nine years ago, Toy Story exhibited years of creative and technical achievements from a small group of passionate computer scientists and animators, led by present day President Ed Catmull and Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter. After Toy story released in 1995, Pixar Animation Studios cooperated with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures to create and produce another feature film such as A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. 2001), Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Cars (2006), Ratatouille (2007), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010). Pixar is one of the successful company which climb to the pinnacle of computer animation was a quick one and the company continues to push the envelope in its art and technology inspired moviemaking endeavors. (Pixar, 2012) Issue Identified Pixar is one of the successful corporation in the world. Pixar is famous on creative and it is important breakthroughs in the application of compute r graphics (CG) for filmmaking. Also, Pixar has attracted some of the world’s finest talent in this area. Since 1986, The technical and creative teams of Pixar have collaborated to developed a wealth of production software used in-house to create its movies and further the state of the art in CG movie making. This proprietary technology allows the production of animated images of a quality, richness and vibrancy that are unique in the industry, and above all, allows the director to precisely control the end results in a way that is exactly right for the story. Pixar continues to invest heavily in its software systems and believes that further advancements will lead to additional productivity and quality improvements in the making of its computer animated films. Moreover, Pixar can climb quickly to the pinnacle of cuomputer animation throght creative. Therefore, in this report, I would find out the reason that Why Pixar’s culture is related to creative? Nowadays, If some one talking about Pixar, they must concerned creative in the process. People know Pixar would related to creative. In opppsite, People know creative also would related to Pixar. Therefore, Pixar is important for the creative and the industry. It seems Pixar and creative as a body, they can’t separate each other and they were interact each other. For example, Pixar produced their feature films thorugh their creative and technology team. Thinking in-depth, If the Pixar’s creative and technology are not talent to creation, could the Pixar climbed to the pinnacle of computer animation quickly? Could the Pixar successful in the industry? That all of examples are the assumption, but I think that creative is one of the critical elements for the development of Pixar. Therefore why this report wanted to find out the reason of why Pixar’s culture is related to creative through some theorey. Theoretical Framework For find out the reason that why Pixar’s culture is related to creative, I would use some theorey as reference to find out the reason. The theoretical framework adoted in this report is Mckinsey’s 7s. Although there are other theoretical could be use but why i would use Mckinsey’s 7s. Some theoretical look at internal factors, others look at external ones, some combine these perspectives, and others look for congruence between various aspects of the organization being studied(McKinsey’s 7s model, 2005). However, Mckinsey’s 7s model was developed by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman in 1980 which cannot really be considered as a pure strategy model, but rather as a way of thinking about development or remodelling of organizations. Its name comes from the seven factors that Tom Peters and Robert Waterman found essential in the context of organization development: strategy, skills, shared values, structure, systems, staff and style (Joe Cheal, 2008). Also, The Mckinsey’s 7s model is very useful tool for analysing and diagnosing organisational issues, and then for the planning of interventions and change (Joe Cheal, 2008). In the first phase of the Mckinsey’s 7s model is usually determined. The next step is to define what the organization must be especially good at in order to be able to implement its strategy, in other words, what skills it must develop or otherwise acquire. The final step is to determine what changes are needed in the other five factors to make the change a successful one (McKinsey’s 7s model,2005). The advantage of the Mckinsey’s 7s model is its simplicity and immediacy, and then in the complexity that follows by understanding that these components do not stand alone, but work in relationship to one another (Joe Cheal, 2008). The model involves seven interdependent factors which are categorized as either â€Å"hard† or â€Å"soft† elements. For â€Å"hard† elements including strategy, structure and systems. For â€Å"soft† elements including shared values, skills, style and staff [pic] For the â€Å"hard† elements, the Strategy refers to the plan devised to maintain and build competitive advantage over the competition. Moreover, it is known of the concepts relating to organizational change. The structure refers to the way that organization is structured and who reports to whom. The systems defined as the procedures or processes which exist in a company and which involve many people for the purpose of identifying important issues, getting things done or making decisions such as daily activities and procedures that staff members engage in to get the job done. Also, it is important things that system could strongly influence on the company and it is power tools of management for decision making. For the â€Å"soft† elements, the shared values refers to the core values of the company that are evidenced in the corporate culture and the general work ethic. The skills refers to actual skills and competencies of the employees working for the company. The Staff defined as the employees and their general capabilities. Also, it is concerned with the question of what kind of people the company needs. This is not so much a question of single individuals as of the total know-how possessed by the people in the organization. Last, the style defined as the style of leadership adopted and it could be influence the style of the company performance (Joe Cheal, 2008). Main Body Pixar Animation Studios was succeed since Pixar created the first new generation of animated feature films, Toy Story which obtain the awards and it was the breakthrough to the computer animations. Regarding to the structure of Pixar, the begining of the Pixar since 1986, Steve job purchased the computer graphics division of Lacusfilm and established the indepentent company called Pixar. Also, Ed. Catmull as the co-founder and the chief technical office of Pixar and that time. Moreover, Ed. Catmull attracted John Lasseter who is working in the Disney (Mark Henne, 1996). Now, Ed.  Catmull is the president and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and president of Walt Disney Animation Studios. And John Lasseter is the Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studio, Principal Creative Advisor, Walt Disney Imagineering (Pixar, 2012). They were devoted to the Pixar such as Pixar’s talent of computer animations to led the succeed of creating the first feature films, Toy Story. Till to recently, Pixar is the leader in the industry. Pixar produced many famous feature films through their creative. Also, Pixar can obtain subtantial advantage through all of successful feature film. For example, Pixar can obtain the revenue as $362 million of the Toy Story. Also, Pixar can obtain the reputation such as Academy Award while produced the famous feature film (Datamonitor, 2004). The strategy of the Pixar is the design of the company and the work space. Why the work space’s design would be the strategy. It is the distinctive of Pixar. For example, the work space of â€Å"Cars 2† director and Pixar creative head, Lasster which is blast of color, plastic and nostalgia, filled floor-to-ceiling with so many toys it’s hard for the brain to process. Also, the president of Pixar, Ed.  Catmull’s work space is modest space looks colorless by comparison, with some chairs, a table, a desk and no clutter(Peter Hartlaub, 2011). It seems like that a simply open office design but it is important of the strategy. Most employees like worked in Pixar because Pixar could gave them freedom such as communicate wilth anyone, they work as the familiar so they enjoy to work in the Pixar. Moreover, creative is important for Pixar and each employees so the strategy of Pixar is make each of employees enjoy the company, the work space, the environment (Ed. Catmull, 2008). Also, Ed.  Catmull, the president of Pixar who is bearded comes to work in jeans and a short-sleeved black button-down shirt (Peter Hartlaub, 2011). He wears look like casual and employees also can wears casual that what is creative. Employees didn’t face to pressure and easily to involve the work and perfect integration with other employees when they were brain storming and produce the successful feature films. The systems is the dailies of the Paxir. It is the practice working of daily reviews and dailies, which is a process for giving and getting constant feedback in a positive way. This process is John Lasseter learnt from Disney and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). When John Lasseter joined Paxir and Paxir build up an animation crew for Toy Story. John Lasseter used the process of daily reviews where learnt from Disney and ILM. Then, John Lasseter used what he learnt to develop Paxir’s daily reviews process (Ed. Catmull, 2008). In the process, anyone were encouraged to comment and showed the incomplete state to the whole animation crew. There are several advantages of the process. First, everyone would be more creative after everyone showing the work still in progress. Second, the director or creative lead guidling the review process can communicate and focus on the important points to the whole animation crew at the same time. Third, everyone can learnt from and influence each other. Also, highly creative piece of animation will spark others to raise their game. Last, everyone’s overwhelming desire to make sure their work is good when showing to other and the finished version is possibility that won’t be what the director wants. The daily review process avoids such wasted effort (Ed. Catmull, 2008). The staff of Pixar can defined as three part respectively recruitment, contracts and Pixar University. First, the recruiting standard of Ed. Catmull is extremely special. Ed. Catmull always hired employees by their talent. For example, Ed. Catmull always hired some one who is better than himself such as John Lasseter (Ed. Catmull, 2008). In general, most company wouldn’t hired some one who better than CEO or president because it is threaten for CEO or president. Second, the employees in the Pixar weren’t hired by contracts or signed by contracts. According to Randy S. Nelson, who joined the company in 1997 and is dean of Pixar University. Mr. Nelson said contract allow employees irresponsible as a company. Also, there have the excellent things created in Pixar which incredible workspace, opportunities to learn and grow, most of all greatest co-worker is better than any contract (William C. Taylor & Polly LaBarre, 2006). It is why Pixar wouldn’t need to signed contract of each employees. Last, the Pixar university is one of the improtant thing for training the employees. Every employees even an animator, technician, director, president or other positions in company is encouraged to develop up to four hours per week for a training. In the class, employees might be set next to the direcotr or president. It is also the way of creative. Moreover, Pixar is encouraged even accountants also need to learn drawing. Mr Nelson said drawing class not only teach drawing, it teaches how to improve their observation (William C. Taylor & Polly LaBarre, 2006). The skill of Pixar generally is the breakthroughs in the application of computer graphics (CG) for filmmaking. Also, Pixar has attracted some of the world’s finest talent in this area such as John Lesseter who is hired by Ed. Catmull. Pixar’s technical and creative team have collaborated since 1986 to develop a wealth of production software used in-house to create its movies and further the state of the art in CG movie making. The proprietary technology allows animated images of a quality, richness and vibrancy that are unique in the industry. Also, Pixar continuity to investment on their proprietary technology cause Pixar believes that they can improve the quality of making computer animations by their skills (Pixar, 2012). Moreover, there are important dynamic created by John Lesseter: â€Å"Technology inspires art, and art challenges the technology. The other one might feel that it is a sentence, it just a word. But for Pixar’s technology and creative team, they believes that it is a way of life had to be established and still has to be constantly reinforced. Also, all of the employess in Pixar believes that the technology integrated with art would produce to magic. The magic of the animation, the magic of the creative (Ed. Catmull, 2008). In generally, the style of Pixar must be creative. But, What is the creative come from? The style refers to leadership of Ed. Catmull, according to the above, Ed. Catmull is the president of Pixar. , the style would refered by Ed.  Catmull who is wearing casual and created the modest work space. Moreover, the style of Pixar is full creative and casual, Pixar gave subordinates freefom but not indulge cause relax could lead employees bring talent and creative into full play. Therefore, Pixar give everyone must have freedom to communicate with anyone. Also, when employees offer ideas it must be safe for everyone. For example, employees make a concerted effort to make it safe to criticize by inviting everyone attending these showings to e-mail notes to the creative leaders that detail what they liked and didn’t like and explain why. Moreover, employees must stay close to innovations happening in the academic community. For example, Pixar recommended their technical artists to publish their research and participate to in industry conferences. Although the publish may leak out the ideas but Pixar can keep connection of academic community. It can helps Pixar can attract exceptional talent and reinforces the belief throughout the company that people are more important than ideas (Ed. Catmull, 2008). The shared value of the Pixar that it is clearly in the people development business — going to great lengths to nourish, support, creative and fun for its employees. That means Pixar is the company that focus on the development and the fun. For example, in the Pixar, there had stage is set with Steve Jobs’s inspired design of the curved metal roof resembling an airplane hangar, and the open-air â€Å"incredible-sized† atrium that serves as a â€Å"town square† for impromptu meetings, company celebrations, and just plain having fun. Also, the Pixar university provide training for each of the employees which four hours per week. It is because Pixar focus on developments. Pixar hoped their employees could maintain the competitive, improve their talent and make employess closer as familiar such as when employees could find president Ed. Catmull in a class at Pixar university. This is why Pixar identified as people development business. Also, there are so much fun in the Pixar. For example, employees of Pixar had a lot of freedom such as they could communicate with anyone and they weren’t signed any contracts. Moreover, they never considerd to leave away of Pixar. It is because they enjoy this work, they enjoy this work style and this shared value where Pixar had (Bill Capodagli & Lynn Jackson, 2010). Conclusion In conclude, Pixar is the creativity and development company which was Steve Job established. Also, Pixar is the successful company of breakthroughs of the computer graphics for producing the feature films which climbed to the pinnacle of computer animation quickly. It is the reason of Pixar shared value. The shared value of Pixar is development to the employees and the fun. The Pixar university lead Pixar to be succeed that provide the continuously training for the employees four hours per week. For example, The university provided the drawing course for the employees whether you are animator or accountant. It is because Pixar believes that drawing can help everyone enhanced their observation and high observation can helped emplyees lead to perfect performance. On the other hand, the creative of Pixar concerned the fun of shared value. Pixar is the modest and the most creative company in the computer animation industry. Firts, the workspace’s design in the Pixar is unique and is modest. It can give the special environment to employees and animation for employees who were working in the Pixar. Second, employees of Pixar have most enough freedom that they could communicate with anyone. It can give employees shares their ideas, working progress and they can form a small team to showing their work, brain storming in any time. Third, each of employees of Pixar aren’t signed the contract. It is because Pixar believes that contract led employees irresponsible for company and lack of freedom of employees. It is the reason that why Pixar have a fun. Last but not least, the Pixar produced the feature films through the creativity. It is the talent of the Pixar and there are many feature films were succeed in the world such as the first feature film, Toy Story which obtain the Academy Award, substantial revenue and the reputation to the Pixar. It is reasons that why Pixar need the creative. Pixar couldn’t lost creative, also creative couldn’t lost creative. It is because Pixar and Creative are relatively indispensable. If people wanted to know Pixar, then people must know the creative first cause creative is the gatekeeper of Pixar. Moreover, Pixar is the company improved by creative which the culture is build on the creative. In simply, known Pixar, known Creative. If anyone want to joined the Pixar. , the first critical requirement is talent. Why is not creative? It Is becuase Pixar always recruit the best people and Pixar believes that after you joined Pixar, Pixar can provide the training, the environment that developing the own unique creative progressively. Therefore, Pixar is the most creative company in the industry and Pixar and Creativity wouldn’t separate each other.