Homosexual Propagation in Ukraine

Evelina Habrel The Exploratory Paper Sanna Karosas ENG 113 Academic Writing 6 March 2013 Homosexual Propagation in Ukraine Ukraine is a post-Soviet country; therefore, many Soviet-style values and beliefs still exist in Ukrainians’ minds. Ukraine still shows negative about promotion of gays as it was in Soviet Union. In 2012, Ukraine faced the problem of homosexuality propaganda. Because homosexual couples became very visible, the issue of how to relate to homosexuals propagation became urgent in the society.This issue has influenced not only Ukrainian government and population, gays but also European Union. Ukrainian Parliament presented a bill against promotion of homosexual relationships which is supported even by the president’s representative. The law bans â€Å"propaganda of homosexuality,† which is defined as a positive attitude to gays in public (The Associated Press, 2012). Some politicians proposed to confirm the anti-gay law 8711 where the Ukrainian go vernment wants to prison people up to five years for any positive public depiction of homosexuality.In addition, this bill would ban such events as gay pride parades or TV dating shows for same-sex couples. An author of the Ukrainian bill, Pavlo Ungurian, stated that the bill would help to protect â€Å"the moral, spiritual, and physical health of the nation,† while Ruslan Kukharchuk, a campaigner for the bill and the leader of the â€Å"Love Against Homosexuality† group, named a homosexuality â€Å"a disease †¦ a psychological disorder,† and such people should get â€Å"rehabilitation therapy† (Druker, Boissevain, Caloianu, Persio 2012).Ukrainian political branch is strain because there are many powers that shows negative attitude towards homosexual propagation. This conflict made the Ukrainian population to split into supporters and fighters against gay promotion. Statistics shows that only 3% of Ukrainians have quite positive attitude to sexual mi norities, 10% have rather positive, 14. 5% – rather negative, and 57. 5% – entirely negative (Stern, 2012). In the article â€Å"Tajik Fighting Ends, Ukraine Gets on Anti-Gay Bandwagon† it is reported that people who participated in a march last May in Kyiv promoted the traditional family and rotested against homosexuals’ rights with a slogan â€Å"Homosexuality – No. † People in Ukraine do not want to accept homosexuals in society. As a result, they might do some protests where they express what the feel and think. The way people show their attitude to gays and the words or physical power they use is unethical in some cases. There were situations in Ukraine when homosexuals were beaten by citizens just because they promote nontraditional sexual orientation. For instance, masked assailants kicked and jumped on Svyatoslav Sheremet, the head of Gay Forum of Ukraine.A month later, unknown muggers assaulted Taras Karasiychuk, another of the para de investors, on the street as he was coming home at night (Stern, 2012). These cases show the cruelty of some anti-gay supporters. Ukrainian homosexuals fight for their rights. They ask for help and support for lesbian and gay organizations. Because of the new law, they need a protection because anti-gay movements became very cruel. Homosexuals do not think that propagation of nontraditional orientation can harm Ukrainians population (Danilova, 2012). They ask to provide civil liberties and equity for the sexual minorities.In spring 2012, Ukraine was supposed to have a pride parade, but because of the mass riots against homosexual demonstrations, organizers decided not to conduct it (The Associated Press, 2012). Homosexuals need social comfort because they feel eradication of the prejudiced and stigmatic attitude. Even though they might not promote homosexuality, they still will be treated as those who propagate it. Svyatoslav Sheremet, who leads Ukraine's Gay Forum, said, â€Å"E ventually, society comes to realize that one can only live peacefully when one is tolerant† (Danilova, 2012).Homosexuals feel themselves unsafely and prejudiced in Ukraine, and they want people to be kinder to them. The next perspective of this issue belongs to the European Union that shows its disappointment in Ukraine because of the anti-gay law. For Europe people should be treated equally no matter what sexual orientation a person demonstrates. According to Reid-Smith’s article â€Å"Europe May Punish Ukraine for Gay Censorship Law,† European Union may put new visa rules to punish Ukraine if it confirms law plan against homosexual propaganda. Of course, it will be harder for Ukrainians to have an access to Europe.The draft anti-gay law creates hostility between Ukraine and European Union. The United Nations Human Rights Committee insisted that such law could not exist with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that Ukraine approved (Intergro up on LGBT Rights, 2012). The European Union does not discriminate homosexual propagation, and if Ukraine accepts the law against it, than the results will be noxious for the Ukrainian population. Many homosexuals nowadays feel themselves uncomfortable because they cannot be accepted in the Ukrainian culture. Lots of them feel they are not treated in the same way as heterosexuals are viewed.Many Ukrainians began arguing whether homosexual propagation can exist in Ukraine or not. Lots of people were raised in families where traditional relationships were encouraged, and for them it is very hard to accept gays’ demonstrations. Based on previous political power in Ukraine, the government does not want to accept homosexual supporters in the country. Moreover, this issue forced the European Union to be involved. Indeed, Ukraine has had strain relationship with Europe, and now it can become worse. European Union wants Ukraine government to be loyal to homosexual propagation.There c an be some limits for demonstrations, but it is unethical to prison those who promote them, as a Ukrainian government wants to do. Ukrainian Parliament should think about European Commission’s reaction. The Parliament should realize all the pros and cons of the 8711 law for the Ukrainian future. References Danilova, M. (2012, Jul 18). Leaders of Ukraine's gay community say intolerance, and violence against homosexuals on rise. Yahoo! News. Retrieved from http://news. yahoo. com/leaders-ukraines-gay-community-intolerance-violence-against-homosexuals-173017972. html Druker, J. , Boissevain, J. , Caloianu, I. & Persio, S. (2012, July 26). Tajik fighting ends, Ukraine gets on anti-gay bandwagon. Transitions Online, 4. Intergroup on LGBT Rights. (2012, December). European Commission: Ukraine’s anti-gay law obstacle to visa-free travel. Retrieved from http://www. lgbt-ep. eu/press-releases/european-commission-ukraines-bill-8711-obstacle-to-eu-ukraine-visa-agreement/ Reid-Smi th, T. (2012, October). Europe may punish Ukraine for gay censorship law. Gay Star News. Retrieved from http://www. gaystarnews. com/article/europe-may-punish-ukraine-gay-censorship-law031012 Stern, D. (2012, October). Ukraine takes aim against ‘gay

Why did Charles V Abdicate?

After a nearly forty year rule over an empire of unprecedented size and complexity, Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire abdicated his throne in 1555-6. His rein saw much adversity yet he had great success and during his rein, the empire grew and prospered. However, a series of political, militaristic and health problems culminated in Charles’s retirement. To explore these problems and to fully comprehend why Charles relinquished his power is the topic of this essay. By and large, Charles V was the most powerful leader in Europe during his rein (Cavendish 2006). His realm was described as â€Å"an empire which the sun never set on† and it encompassed about 1,500,000 square miles. A Habsburg in his teens, in 1516 he inherited Spain, which had been unified by his grandparents Isabella and Ferdinand. In 1519 he succeeded his paternal grandfather Maximilian I as Holy Roman Emperor (Cavendish 2006). He was Duke of Burgundy and Archduke of Austria and he also ruled the Netherlands, Bohemia, Hungary, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia. Ruling Spain meant ruling Spanish America and in Charles’s time Cortes took Mexico and Pizarro conquered Peru (Cavendish 2006). The wealth of Spain paid for his efforts to control Western Europe. Despite sizeable incomes from parts of the empire, Charles’s rein encountered monetary difficulties attributing to military defeats. Encircled by the Holy Roman Empire, France existed as the empires great rival and had three major conflicts with the Holy Roman Empire during Charles’s rein. The first began in 1521 against Charles’s nemesis Francis I of France and was highly successful, driving the French out of Milan and defeating and capturing Francis at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. There were three later conflicts where the outcome was less conclusive and France acted as a constant oppose to the empire. Another great rival of Charles’s were the Ottomans, who put pressure of the Holy Roman Empire’s Hungarian border and from piracy in the Mediterranean, especially in the 1530s. The predominately Islamic Ottoman Empire had a longstanding feud with the H. R. E. who was seen as the defender of Christendom (Claydon 2009). Charles the V is among the many rulers since ancient times who desired to create a neo-roman empire and as a Catholic, Charles hoped to unite all of Europe in a Christian empire of which he would be ruler. Unsurprisingly, the notion was met with fierce opposition. Not only did the French and the English prove resistant to the idea, but in 1517 Martin Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg: Charles’s ambitions deteriorated on the Protestant Reformation. Not only a factor for political defeat, his staunch religious belief also be attributed to his decision to abdicate. When something went right he attributed it to God, his failure to unite Europe made Charles V feel unworthy and that God must surely want another ruler to extend the empire and destroy Protestantism and Islam. In addition to the great stress of battling a multitude of enemies, Charles had to bear loyalty problems from within the Holy Roman Empire. In 1520, the Comuneros in Castile demanded lower taxes, an end to Burgandian dominion of Castile. They would have preferred Charles’s mum, Joanna the Mad to rule (Claydon 2009). Charles’s brother Ferdinand, archduke of Austria and king of Bohemia and Hungary placed higher priority on defeating the Ottomans than on France and getting rid of Protestantism which were Charles’s goals. Charles failed to control Germany and the Princes saw Ferdinand as their actual ruler (Claydon 2009). In 1529, the Diet of Speyer saw the Lutheran princes protest Charles’s catholic policy in direct defiance of the empire. The princes of Germany also largely adopted protestantism which Charles abhorred and considered heresy. Another factor for his abdication is that by the 1550s that Protestantism in Germany would have to be tolerated. The Holy Roman Empire saw major finance problems during Charles’s rein. The cost of training and maintaining the armies of the H. R. E. were vast and Charles struggled to find the money (Claydon 2009). Charles had to cancel a successful campaign against France where victory was near due to funding problems. A large portion of the empire’s income was through taxes but in certain areas people highly resented taxes due to feelings of localism, for example, the Spanish resented paying for Charles’s efforts on the other side of Europe whilst the German states saw Charles as a ‘foreigner’ and resented his rule over them and considered their own Princes as supreme (Claydon 2009). A similar situation existed in Burgundy where the Flanders estates rejected a 1534 plan to be organised into an imperial ‘circle’ to provide regular taxes and troops. Also, Charles’s claim of Italy was not profitable because Italy was financially dependant and contributed little to the empire monetarily (Claydon 2009). After a series of unfortunate militaristic failures and chronic finance and loyalty problems, in about his mid-forties, Charles was afflicted by severe health issues, most notably agonising gout, as well as epilepsy and chronic indigestion which was caused by his Hapsburg jaw, a condition where the jaw is deformed and creates difficulty eating. It was common to his family line due to aristocratic inbreeding. Tests have been conducted on a finger of Charles’s (which was preserved separately from his body) by researchers at the University of Barcelona who have concluded that severe gout was the main cause of Charles’s abdication (Emery 2006). They concluded that anyone with a condition that severe could not work. Historically, gout is seen as a ailment of the very wealthy due to food that increase risk are red meat. Such lavish food was not available in great quanities to people of medium to little wealth. He suffered from a particular severe gout and many scholars think Charles V decided to abdicate after a gout attack in 1552 forced him to postpone an attempt to recapture the city of Metz, where he was later defeated. This incident appears to have acted as the straw that broke the camel’s back in Charles’s decision to exit power. By now, Charles faced a great variety of tribulations. The implications from Charles’s failed was efforts, money and loyalty problems suggest he lacked full control of his empire. He felt that if God wanted him as ruler, he would have had an easier time. Overall, despite numerous reasons that probably influenced his decision, like failed military efforts, loyalty issues and his unwillingness to tolerate Protestantism in the empire, Charles’s health afflictions causing increasing inability to meets the demands of being Emperor, appears to be the key factor in his abdication. His epilepsy, gout and chronic indigestion (caused by his Habsburg jaw) surely made an already stressful and life dominating role of ruling a vast empire overwhelming and the various problems he faced culminated in his abdication. Despite being only fifty-eight at the time of his death, Charles must have appeared a frail and crippled old man who could barely walk (in his later years, he was carried around in a sedan chair) or use his hands (Emery 2006). Not a desirable public image for a mighty Emperor. Peaceful retirement to holy surroundings must have seemed a welcome change to a life of constant travel, warfare and turmoil. Charles V’s abdication has been interpreted differently. While many condemned it an unsuccessful man’s admission of failure and escape from the world, contemporaries of the time thought differently. There is evidence that Charles himself had been considering the idea even in his prime. In 1532 his secretary, Alfonso de Valdes, suggested to him the thought that a ruler who was incapable of preserving the peace and, indeed, who had to consider himself an obstacle to its establishment was obliged to retire from affairs of state. Upon the finalisation of the abdication, St. Ignatius of Loyola had this to say: â€Å"The emperor gave a rare example to his successors . . . he proved himself to be a true Christian prince . . may the Lord in all His goodness now grant the emperor freedom. † By today’s standards, Charles’s abdication would be nothing extraordinary considering his ailments and the stressful job requirements of emperor. Charles abdicated as Emperor in 1556 in favour of his brother Ferdinand; however, due to lengthy debate and bureaucratic procedure, the Imperial Diet did not accept the abdication (and thus make it legally valid) until May 3, 1558. Up to that date, Charles continued to use the title of Emperor. Charles gave Burgundy, Spain and the American colonies to his son Philip II. He retired to the Monastery of Yuste, near Cuacos de Yuste. The monastery was expanded in 1556 to make room for the emperor and the fifty to sixty members of his entourage. Charles was occasionally visited by notable people, including his illegitimate son Don Juan de Austria, as well as his heir Philip II of Spain. Like many former men of power in history, Charles was deeply interested in politics and was routinely posted on the news of the empire in his retirement. Probably hoping for news that his successors had created a miraculous Christian unification of Europe! He lived his few remaining months on earth amid works of art, of which he had a keen appreciation (Titian was his favourite painter), amid the books which, as a cultured man, he studied and took pleasure in enjoying the music (Knight 2009). His health afflictions worsened and he died of malaria on September 21, 1558 (de Zulueta 2007, 107-9). He was buried in the monastery church, though his remains were transferred twenty-six years later to San Lorenzo del Escorial.

Adidas Marketing Plan

Adidas is the number two sporting goods maker in the world, second to Nike. The company has long focused on being the footwear for sports and high performance. The company has three components: Adidas, Reebok, newly acquired in 2006, and TaylorMade, well known on the Pro Am Golf Tour. (Adidas Group Annual Report, 2008) This marketing plan will focus on the Adidas brand. While research indicates there’s a belief that Adidas makes better footwear than Nike (Vertical Ascent Website), it has been unsuccessful in penetrating the young hip-hop crowd. With a generation that has grown up with i-pods, blogs and video games, Adidas is looking to appeal to his younger generation through technology that they have become used to using. (Marina, 2009) Adidas 1, claimed to be the world’s first computerized smart shoe, went on sale March 18, 2005. Adidas has long focused on being the footwear for sports and high performance with its core base being sports. According to the Adidas Group 2008 Annual Report, the company targets three brands: sports performance, sports heritage and sports styles. It’s known for its technological innovation and cutting edge design, with its mission being to challenge and lead through creativity. Adidas has positioned itself as a leader in professional and competitive sports, notably soccer, basketball, and running. As the technology permeates everyday life, Adidas hopes to live up to their changing expectations and deliver the best consumer experience through using creative new initiatives including interactive fitting footwear for peak performance and fit. With that focus on technological innovation, Adidas is going high tech, with everything from high tech sneakers, high tech virtual stores, and high tech promotion. This high tech is not just for show or glitz. It has a purpose – to deliver the best fitting, and best performing footwear tailored to the consumer’s individual needs. Adidas is hoping the high tech approach will eliminate potential customer dissatisfaction through virtual fitting. This eliminates producing shoes that don’t fit properly or perform well. It also leads to the best fit for the best performance out of footwear, something desired by professional or amateur athletes, as well as anyone embarking upon a running or fitness program. Adidas is looking at the changing interests of the up and coming market who also have i-pods, video games, email, internet, youtube and other highly technological devises as a way of life rather than traditional television or print media. With this change in media delivery, there’s also a change from it being one way to two-way communication, and with rapid advances in technology, they expect new and different things, and new and different footwear and sportswear is a way to reach that market. With an emphasis on fitness in today’s world, Adidas must create an image that Adidas footwear excels for everyone who is looking to improve their health. The goal is to maintain its traditional base as well while developing a technological environment that will broaden appeal to a younger consumer. Adidas’ strategy is to come up with a technology that meets a consumer need – excellent fitting footwear that has top notch performance. By having technology where one is not just fitted for the footwear, but also can gauge them for exact pressure and running posture, the company continues to follow its positioning as being the world’s favorite footwear for sports, and setting the pace for their footwear to meet their customer’s performance needs. The company is taking that image to its traditional promotional use of television and print advertising, as well as its exclusivity banners at major sporting events, especially European soccer matches. It also has made deals with professional football players and the New York Yankees to endorse Adidas. The company is the official sponsor of the 2008 Beijing Olympics that will reach millions, billions, and potentially open up strong Chinese Markets, and renew interest in sports performance which will lead to increased sales Adidas is distributed in corporate stores, throughout the web, high end sporting stores, the internet, and more limitedly in sporting goods stores throughout the US and Europe. It is also rethinking its distribution practices after last year’s purchase of Reebok and will close Reebok sports apparel and sneaker distribution centers in Massachusetts, Tennessee and Kentucky, and move those operations to an expanded center in South Carolina. Spartanburg was chosen for the two brands' consolidated distribution center in part because it's close to the two brands' product shipping locations and to many customers (The Associated Press, 2008) Adidas high tech strategy is moving into its internal operations departments, adopting a better delivery system, increasing retail distribution, and taking customer service to a new level, beyond satisfaction to delight, thus trying to obtain return and possibly ifetime customers, something that would be very profitable for the company. The company can benchmark its success by measuring sales, web traffic to its innovative color based on-line advertisements that never mention the product, the number of downloaded pod casts and the number of visits to their Paris high-tech store. Works Cited http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/2005-03-02-smart-usat_x.htm

Oxygen Isotope Perturbation and Its Effects on Temperature and Essay

Oxygen Isotope Perturbation and Its Effects on Temperature and Salinity in the Bay of Bengal - Essay Example Oxygen isotope ratio is a climatic proxy, an environmental variable, and it assists climatologists, including paleoclimatologists, to determine certain important climatic parameters, both existing and past, from it. (UNST 232a Mentor Section Assignment 5) Another phenomenon the isotopes are involved in is that oxygen accumulates in the calcium carbonate (CaC) of the shells of marine animals called foraminifera -"Forams". The isotope ratio in the shells depends upon on the temperature and existing isotope ratio of the water in which the animals live or lived. Over periods of time these animals die and their shells descend to the bottom of the sea and form layers that present researchers with important data from which past temperature and isotope ratios can be determined. (UNST 232a Mentor Section Assignment 5) The isotope ratio in any singular stretch of water changes over time. Water molecules made up of the lighter isotope evaporate easily leaving water molecules with the heavier one back in the seawater. When the evaporated water precipitates back into the sea there is little change in the ratio but when the water vapour precipitates on land the lighter isotope is transported to land from where it may come back to the sea via rivers and other waterways or it may remain trapped for thousands of years in the form of ice if it is precipitated as snow on places like the polar icecaps and high mountain tops. (UNST 232a Mentor Section Assignment 5) During normal times the isotope ratio in sea and ocean water is fairly constant but during glacial periods when the icecaps advance beyond normal limits the isotope ratio shifts in favour of for obvious reasons. This is in a comparative sense to normal times. (Oceanography 540, 2002) The isotope ratio is expressed as delta (lower case) with the isotope contents expressed in parts per thousand (per mille) as the following equation demonstrates. = - / x 1000 Higher negativity in indicates greater depletion. (UNST 232a Mentor Section Assignment 5) The standard in this case is of 'Standard Mean Ocean Water' or 'SMOW'. (Oceanography 540, 2002) 3. The 'Foram' Fractionation Factor The foraminifera species being investigated in this report is the planktonic

Applied Ethics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Applied Ethics - Assignment Example The responsibility of educators is to ensure that they have the highest standards of conducts. Social justice is facilitated when educators abide by the codes of ethics. The code of ethics that offers practical advice that would help me to make ethical decisions states is the School Ethics Act (State Of New Jersey Department Of Education, 2010). It states that public trust is a fundamental issue. Consequently, one should endeavor to enforce and uphold all rules, laws and regulations of the State Board of Education. The code provides a set of principles and values that will guide my conduct and decision making when I face with ethical issues (State Of New Jersey Department Of Education, 2010). In addition, the application of the code gives a context in which the code is considered. The situation that could have a better outcome if I had adhered to a professional code of ethics is an instance when I received a gift from a state education officer, but failed to disclose the gift to the department head (Felicio & Pieniadz, 1999). This situation led to accusations of bribery. If I had adhered to a professional code, I would have disclosed the gift to a state officer. This would help in reducing notions that the gift was a

Aspect of Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Aspect of Leadership - Essay Example In the modern age, it is not unusual for a government to be selected by the number of votes, that are a shear representation of the total population in a country. This results in a state of anarchy and is detrimental to the peace and harmony among individuals of a nation. Authenticity of the leader is one of the most basic requirements that maintain followers’ faith in their leader. A leader has to frequently make commitments with his followers because of the tough nature of his job. Authenticity of the leader dawns upon the followers cardinally by compliance of the leader’s actions with his commitments. Authenticity in a leadership can be measured on the scale of certain factors. Compliance of the leader’s actions with prior commitments with his followers, maintenance of consistency in the theme of a leader, and, frequent and open confrontation of the leader with the followers are some of such factors. A leader should be very particular about defining his theme. Theme of a leader serves as a focus of all his progressions. It is imperative that the followers are well educated on the theme of the leader so that they can fully comprehend the leader’s intentions and rationalize his approach towards attainment of the ultimate goal. In addition to that, a leader needs to confess all potential mistakes, that he did unintentionally or that raised doubts among the followers in any manner. These factors solely pertain to the leader in person. A leader also needs to ensure that he ensures the use of authentic means to convey his message to the followers. Followers, act as per th e instructions of their leader and their level of compliance with the leader’s instructions decides for the effectiveness of the leader’s approach. It is, therefore, the leader’s responsibility to ensure that the message that is conveyed to the followers is authentic in all

Does Having a Strong Defense Make you an NBA Playoff Teams Essay

Does Having a Strong Defense Make you an NBA Playoff Teams - Essay Example Data have been obtained from the website, EPSN.com (http://espn.go.com/nba/standings/_/year/2010). According to this paper, a strong defense is equated to registering lower scores against for the respective teams, while entering the NBA playoffs is measured based on the percentage of wins registered by a team. For the purposes of this research, it will be assumed that a team qualifying for the play is supposed to win at least 60% of its games. However, this assumption will only be used for the purpose of developing descriptive statistics to use in this research. The descriptive statistics in relation to the percentage of wins registered by the respective teams are provided below. Although the table provides descriptive statistics for both variables, this section will focus on the variables relating to percentage of wins registered by the respective teams. This is considered a key determinant of any team that managed to make the playoffs. See the table below for the descriptive stat istics on this matter. Descriptive statistics N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Dev. Variance Skewness Statistic Statistic Statistic Statistic Statistic Statistic Statistic Std. ... Considering that the results used in this study came from one season, they cannot be conclusively said to represent all seasons. For this reason, a t-test is performed to evaluate the results of a larger sample at various confidence intervals. One-Sample Test (95% confidence) Test Value = 0 t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Percentage wins by the teams 17.046 29 .000 .50000 .4400 .5600 From the table above, at a 95% confidence level, the average percentage of wins is expected to be within .4400 and .5600. One-Sample Test Test Value = 0 t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference 90% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Percentage wins by the teams 17.046 29 .000 .50000 .4502 .5498 At a 90% confidence level, it is expected that the mean will be within the range of .4502 to .5498. One-Sample Test Test Value = 0 t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference 99.9% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Percentage wins by the teams 17.046 29 .000 .50000 .3927 .6073 At a 99.9% confidence level, it is expected that the mean will be located between .3927 and .6073. One-Sample Test Test Value = 0 t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference 99% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Percentage wins by the teams 17.046 29 .000 .50000 .4191 .5809 At a 99% confidence level, it is expected that the mean will fall within .4191 and .5809 Testing hypothesis At the hypothesis stage, it was presumed that teams that made the playoffs recorded at least a winning percentage of 60% within a season. The hypotheses described below are therefore based on this assumption. These include:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   H0: 40     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   H1: 40   The test for this hypothesis is based on 30 teams. According to the findings, the mean

SIMS Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

SIMS Review - Essay Example As these discounts are likely to be provided on several years terms, it is impossible to eliminate the cash shortage problem by changing these discount immediately. This measure would affect the quality of the patient care in the hospital and make it lose even more money. The company must try to cut down the variable costs of the company which are usually subject to economies of scale. Up to certain point the marginal cost of providing extra unit of care is less than the average cost and thus the company should try to achieve the optimal level of servicing clients and try to cut down the variable costs. The second problem was estimated as giving nurses too high wages as the need for acute nurses was not met. If the increased wages were due to the fact that there was need for such services, this choice cannot also be eliminated and the staff should not be downsized. On the other hand, the best strategy would be to downsize the agency staff costs which are not directly associated to providing care services and thus must be at the optimal level. The agency staff hiring that the optimal number needed for successful hospital operation was estimated wrong and must be revalued as agency or contract staff is usually paid twice as much as regular workers for the same amount of utility they bring to the hospital. The third problem was low medical reimbursement levels which amounted to 70% charged to clients. As the hospital derives approximately 40% of its' revenues from Medicare patients this is a big loss for the company and this reveals that the staff hired to work in this direction is not performing efficiently thus resulting in working capital shortage. As the Medicare payments cannot be changed directly by the hospital and are set based on historical costs, the company can eliminate this problem only by providing efficient system of monitoring in time receiving these payments. The company has also experienced dramatic growth in current liabilities which mean that the company was spending a lot even though no major purchases for the company were made. This means that the hospital is not allocating resources efficiently. The next problem was estimated as unused equipment in patients' rooms which means some strategic mistakes which lead to purchasing this equipment but now it is not used. Together with reducing agency staff expenses the second strategy was chosen to reduce the staff benefits which include health insurance, retirement, salary increases above the market salaries, different bonuses and paid leave benefits. This can be a bad strategy in the long term as the best doctors can leave the hospital but the optimal choice would be to reduce these benefits for the newcomers to the hospital and reward those who add the highest value to the hospital services quality. This will on the other hand give incentives to newcomers to work harder to achieve higher rewards. This will generate sufficient cash flows for the hospital in the short term and will not affect the customer services quality hypothetically and slightly. These two measures of cost reduction will save the company $4,717,000 while the hospital has savings goal of $900,000 and is expected to receive over $2,300,000 in three months that is why it has to generate some cash until

Legacy of British colonialism in the Caribbean Essay

Legacy of British colonialism in the Caribbean - Essay Example Britain’s imperial possessions in the Caribbean were collectively called the British West Indies. These were comprised by Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The West Indies also included the sub-grouping called the Caribbean Anglophones composed of the now independent states such as Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Prior to the British and European occupation, the Caribbean is home to some ancient agricultural civilizations. The oldest settlement, which was considered to be those of archaic age, dates back to around 7000 years. At the time of the European colonization, settlers are comprised of three Amerindian ethnic groups, namely: the Tainos, Carib and the Ciboney. The importance of the Caribbean among its European rulers is mainly due to the sugar industry, which has prospe red in the islands. "Sugar was the foundation of the Golden Age of West Indian prosperity during the eighteenth century" (Tomich 14)

Modern World Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Modern World Cinema - Essay Example In the past two and a half decades movie industry in Nigeria was in bad shape, most films produced then were of very poor Quality, just a few exceptions like those produced by Late Actors and producers, by name Chief Hubert Ogunde and Moses Olaiya a.k.a Baba Sala.These two actors took Nigeria movie across the Globe and they were largely applauded for their immense contribution to the Nigerian movie Industry. The films produced by Hubert Ogunde include Aiye and Jaiyesimi, all these films were masterpieces of their own time, and today these films are still available at special occasions in cinemas all over the country. Chief Hubert Ogunde single-handedly built a film village in Musan, Ogun State in Nigeria. The film village is equipped with state of the art African artifacts required to give Nigerian films the necessary African background and other required parafinaliars, the Structure is still there today for use.

Work Teams Essay Example for Free

Work Teams Essay One of the most important things to keep in mind when assembling work teams is team efficacy. Team efficacy is basically where effective teams have confidence in them and each other in the ability to succeed. Everyone that will be a part of this developmental team will have to come together and agree on what is best for the subject at hand. You will have to come in agreement with one another to work effectively as a team. Working as a team will create positive synergy that will allow an increase in performance. Having the correct work team established will also allow an easier and more organized work environment. When members know their role and what is expected of them, their job becomes easier. To create an effective team, you will need to be able to function and work together while displaying certain characteristics. Those characteristics are as follows: Adequate resources – must have adequate amounts of resources outside of the group to sustain it. You must have support on a variety of levels. In this case your support would be from the different jobs each of you holds in your development group. Those of you from the school system can provide classrooms, teachers and first hand encounters with students. Those of you with NCPIE can provide outside eyes looking in. Diversity, racial, ethnic, gender and disability issues are your main concerns. Lastly, those with The Woodson Foundation can provide logistical support, program development and measurement of the staff. The next characteristic you must show would be leadership and structure. You must be able to agree on who can perform what duties to the best of their abilities. Your team’s performance depends on the knowledge and skills of its members. From the list of possible candidates, those I feel that would be able to adapt to the thoughts and ideas of others with the outcome being that of a successful program are listed in no particular order. I would appoint Victoria Adams (Superintendent of Washington, DC schools) as part of the team. Miss Adams made the initial contact with The Woodson Foundation. She knows that the school system, communities and families should be involved, but believes that the school system should be playing the largest role. Being the superintendent of all area schools can also provide adequate esources in classrooms and with the teaching staff. I would also appoint Community Organizer Mason Dupree. Having so much contact with the community would provide the outside voices a way in. Communities are an important part of a successful school system, so you will need someone the community trusts and is comfortable with. Lastly, from The Woodson Foundation, I would select Meredith Watson to the team. Miss Watson has both experiences working as a teacher and with the foundation. She will be able to relate to both sides as well as providing the resources the Foundation has to offer. I would also consider having Victor Martinez from The Woodson Foundation as well. Mr. Martinez seems to have an open mind frame and welcome change when and if needed. He could serve as a possible mediator for the team. For the other candidates that were not chosen, I would say to open up to all sides of the equation. If you are deadest on your ways and have no room for change, the chances are your way will not work. You have to be willing to give a little as well as lose a little. Having a mind frame of only things that you agree and believe in will only satisfy you. To finish up characteristics, you will also need a climate of trust among team members. If you can’t trust those you are working with then how are those you are working to support going to trust you. With all this being said, it will be a long bumpy ride. With twists and turns and bumps along the way conflicts are sure to arise. Conflicts that may occur might not all be necessarily bad. Task conflicts happen often within teams. Many only wish to be able to form a team and agree instantly on everything, but in reality there will be a lot of conflicts and disagreements along the way. When these conflicts do arise, and they will, the best thing to do will be to talk the issue out. Debate it if you have to, discuss the pros and cons, and get outside opinions as well as the opinions of those involved. Do not get angry or irritated which in the end will only make the problem worse. Using interactive negotiating strategies will also benefit the team. Throwing out a variety of ideas is a perfect start. Once you have a set of ideas, you can start to determine ones with the perfect fit. Being able to successfully demonstrate and following through with negotiations shows you are willing to come to an agreement for the issues at hand. You must be able to find within your group those that excel in certain areas and appoint them that category. When you begin making decisions as a team, you will see how easy it is to work together for the best. Program Team: To be a good leader, you must be able to understand and work with those on all levels of the project. You have to be open to change as well as being able to handle a diverse group of people. The school district, NCPIE and The Woodson Foundation all revolve around different varieties of people. You must be willing to step in the shoes of others to fully understand the issues at hand. All groups must show certain characteristics of organizational culture such as: innovation and risk taking, attention to detail, outcome orientation, people orientation, team orientation, aggressiveness and stability. All three groups have their own organizational culture, but they all are looking for job satisfaction. Culture creates distinctions between organizations. To get all members to agree despite their different organizational cultures, members must come together as one. Setting aside difference will lead to productivity, commitment and overall better expected outcomes. In order for you as leaders to succeed with the parents and employees, you much be willing to incorporate their ideas and opinions into your own. You have to think about the team as a whole. Including members in your work team as well as the audience surrounding you (the parents). Making sure you are the best fit as a leader as well will determine the success of the situation. Leaders should earn the trust of the students and parents as well as the teachers, if you can’t earn trust you won’t be able to fully succeed. Once you have established trust you will want to provide chances for interaction. You will also want to establish a vision. Leaders should work towards capturing individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, and inspirational motivation and idealized influence. Working towards the satisfaction of all involved should be of main concern. If problems do happen to arise, thing about the conflicts and use communication to work them out accordingly.

Christian-Only Hiring Policy Essay Example for Free

Christian-Only Hiring Policy Essay Case Study: Matthew is planning to open a manufacturing facility. He is considering a â€Å"Christian-only† hiring policy whereby he would determine to hire only professing, evangelical Christians to work in the facility. He asks you for your advice on the following questions: 1. Would such a policy be legal? If so, under what terms and what might the restrictions be? 2. From a Great Commission perspective, would this policy be advisable? 3. How would your answers change, if at all, if they planned to open a Christian school rather than a manufacturing facility? Matthew is planning to open a manufacturing facility and is considering a â€Å"Christian-only† hiring policy. The only way that this policy would be legal is if the manufacturing facility was considered to be a non-profit organization. A non-profit organization is an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals rather than distributing them as profit or dividends. The extent to which a non-profit organization can generate surplus revenues may be constrained or use of surplus revenues may be restricted. If this manufacturing facility was deemed to be a non-profit organization, then the organization would be exempt from the Civil Rights Act and would be able to implement their â€Å"Christian-only† hiring policy without facing charges down the road of discrimination. Due to the fact that a manufacturing facility would be unable to be classified as a non-profit organization because their purpose is usually to distribute its products for profit, then my advice would be that this policy would not be advisable for Matthew to use a â€Å"Christian-only† hiring policy. Using this policy would cause people to be discriminated against due to religious preference, and this is clearly illegal in the United States. If Matthew was planning to open a Christian school rather than a manufacturing facility, my answer would still be that it is illegal to discriminate in a for-profit organization. There are times when a faith-based humanitarian organization has prevailed over the lawsuits brought against them for discrimination due to religious preference, however, I do not advise toying with the gray area of the laws. I would advise Matthew that if he intends to open his manufacturing facility, it is not legal and not advisable to implement his â€Å"Christian-only† hiring policy.

India Tradition Of Joint Family System Sociology Essay

India Tradition Of Joint Family System Sociology Essay Indians are known for family-oriented culture. The family values play a very important role in their social life. A very important responsibility of family is the transmission of beliefs, traditions and core values. India has a strong tradition of joint family system, in which members of multiple patrilineal related generations stay together and may or may not linked with possession of joint family property (Ghosh Basu, 2008). Married women usually live with their husbands families, with retaining bonds with their natal families. They live under same roof, working, worshiping, eating, and cooperating together in social and economic activities. Under this structure, there are clear lines of hierarchy and authority. And great respects should be shown to the members who are at higher position in the hierarchy. In general, elders rank above juniors, and among people of similar age; males outrank females. And traditionally, the oldest male member, which is usually the grandfather in the family, is the head in this family unit. And he has the authority over the whole family, especially in terms of big decision making and discipline creation. However, in some cases, grandmother also has certain authority over the younger females in the family (Essay on the concept of joint family system in India, n.d.). With the economy development and urbanization, traditional large families face difficulties to adapt to modern rapid and flexible life style. More and more traditional joint families have split into nuclear families, in which a couple live with their unmarried children, as a reaction to a variety of conditions, including the requirement for some members to move from village to city, or from one city to another to obtain the advantage of employment opportunities. And this trend has been increasing under the impact of westernization and secularization. However, the relative ties are still strongly connected to each other within kinships and loyalty to family is still a deeply imbibed principle from family members. When facing with crucial decision and emergencies, seeking family agreement and support are still their first consideration. Numerous prominent Indian families, such as the Tatas, Birlas, and Sarabhais, retain joint family arrangements even today and they work together to control some of the country`s largest financial empires (Indian family structure, indian society, n.d.). Indian Family Structure Indian families Some family types bear special mention because of their unique qualities. In the sub-Himalayan region of Uttar Pradesh, polygyny is commonly practiced. There, among Hindus, a simple polygynous family is composed of a man, his two wives, and their unmarried children. Various other family types occur there, including the supplemented subpolygynous householda woman whose husband lives elsewhere (perhaps with his other wife), her children, plus other adult relatives. Polygyny is also practiced in other parts of India by a tiny minority of the population, especially in families in which the first wife has not been able to bear children.Among the Buddhist people of the mountainous Ladakh District of Jammu and Kashmir, who have cultural ties to Tibet, fraternal polyandry is practiced, and a household may include a set of brothers with their common wife or wives. This family type, in which brothers also share land, is almost certainly linked to the extreme scarcity of cultivable land in the Himalayan region, because it discourages fragmentation of holdings. The peoples of the northeastern hill areas are known for their matriliny, tracing descent and inheritance in the female line rather than the male line. One of the largest of these groups, the Khasisan ethnic or tribal people in the state of Meghalayaare divided into matrilineal clans; the youngest daughter receives almost all of the inheritance including the house. A Khasi husband goes to live in his wifes house. Khasis, many of whom have become Christian, have the highest literacy rate in India, and Khasi women maintain notable authority in the family and community. Perhaps the best known of Indias unusual family types is the traditional Nayar taravad , or great house. The Nayars are a cluster of castes in Kerala. High-ranking and prosperous, the Nayars maintained matrilineal households in which sisters and brothers and their children were the permanent residents. After an official pre-puberty marriage, each woman received a series of visiting husbands in her room in the taravad at night. Her children were all legitimate members of the taravad . Property, matrilineally inherited, was managed by the eldest brother of the senior woman. This system, the focus of much anthropological interest, has been disintegrating in the twentieth century, and in the 1990s probably fewer than 5 percent of the Nayars live in matrilineal taravads . Like the Khasis, Nayar women are known for being well-educated and powerful within the family. Malabar rite Christians, an ancient community in Kerala, adopted many practices of their powerful Nayar neighbors, including naming their sons for matrilineal forebears. Their kinship system, however, is patrilineal. Kerala Christians have a very high literacy rate, as do most Indian Christian groups. end (need to simplify into 5 sentences) Family-building strategies in urban India: converging demographic trends in two culturally distinct communities Contemporary South Asia Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2009, 141-158 Since the early 1950s, Indias population is characterized by a persistent trend of a masculine sex ratio4. In recent census enumerations, this trend has been especially noticeable in sex ratios at birth and in the child population (0-6 years old). Several studies on inter-regional variation in the overall sex ratio and child sex ratio report stronger masculine sex ratios in the northIndian states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh than in the southIndian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu 5. The widely discussed divide between north and south also relates to gender relations, status of women, and the kinship systems. Traditionally, the south Indian kinship system has been described as bilateral, with women having some rights ofinheritance and flexibility of residence after marriage. This is in stark contrast to the patrilineal, patrilocal, and exogamous kinship system in the north (Dyson and Moore 1983; Kishor 1993). Some studies suggest that desire for a small family size in India is associated with a decline in preference for sons and in balancing of the sex ratio among children in the family (Bhat and Zavier 2003; Saluja 2005). A recent analysis of the National Family Health Survey II data suggests that a majority of married couples in Kerala and Punjab want a sex-balanced family and that a decline in the desired family size is associated with a weakened preference for sons in India. end The nuclear family The extended family Dynamics of the family Parental roles For Indian women, giving birth to a child is a socio-religious obligation, adding accomplishment and fulfillment to their social roles. And after 30 years old is considered old to give birth to the first child. Besides of breast-feeding their children, traditionally, the mothers usually put great effort on taking care of the food and eating aspect of their children. With female literacy growing to 54% in the 2001 census, more and more women are taking part in work force (need reference). Marriage and courtship http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles/tips-for-the-visitor.asp It is amazing to see how often well-educated, independent professionals have to consult their parents before accepting a job offer or traveling abroad. At the core of Indian culture lies an innate respect for parents and other elders in the family, and usually no major decision is taken without consulting them. Parents often live with their married children, typically with a son. There is really no concept of a grown-up son or daughter moving out of the house unless it is the result of circumstances like a job in a different city. The arranged marriage is another practice that illustrates the importance Indians place on the family. A majority of marriages in India are arranged by families and several people are involved in the decision-making process. As popular belief goes, a marriage tied with many knots will not come undone. This is in complete contrast to the American culture where only two people tie the knot and experience has indeed shown us that it can be undone more easily. The divorce rate in America is much higher than in India. American culture can sometimes appear to be too rebellious and independent, with children growing apart from their parents as they grow older. At other times Indian culture can seem too dependent on other peoples opinions and subject to unnecessary involvement from relatives, near and far. There are positives and negatives in both cultures. However it is important for foreign businessmen visiting India, especially those who are new, to remember that in general, important decisions are not made individually but as a family. This may not be apparent on a daily basis but will surface in critical situations. end Female/male roles (changing or static?) http://www.indianchild.com/culture%20_1.htm Certain families observe a matriarchal concept i.e. the groom resides in the house of the bride or also follows a tradition as per the brides ancestors. Generally India is patriarchal in the sense the children get the surname of the father and the wife changes her surname to follow that of the husbands. It is also a tradition in certain families that the wife changes her maiden name but again this concept is also changing. Indian families are very accommodating and willing to accept change. It is a concept to observe the karva chauth or the raksha bandhan with great aplomb. There is an occasion for gifting and seeking the blessings of elders. It is important to respect and hold certain family traditions which are unique in terms of cooking, rituals and beliefs. Families give a lot of importance to lighting the diya in the evening and also each person in family has a habit of doing the puja in his own way. end Education http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+in0044%29 Education is divided into preprimary, primary, middle (or intermediate), secondary (or high school), and higher levels. Primary school includes children of ages six to eleven, organized into classes one through five. Middle school pupils aged eleven through fourteen are organized into classes six through eight, and high school students ages fourteen through seventeen are enrolled in classes nine through twelve. Higher education includes technical schools, colleges, and universities. end Summarized from (Cheney, Ruzzi, Muralidharan, 2005) Historically, Hindu education was tailored to the needs of Brahmin boys. Together with the colonial rule under British from 1700s until 1947, the education system was geared to preserve the position of the more privileged classes, permitting an avenue of upward mobility only to those with resources. Even today, the vast majority of students with high school education come from high-level castes and middle-to-upper class families in urban area. Due to the historical barrier and previous education focus on tertiary education, more than 1/3 Indian citizens (42% of adults) is illiterate, with 25% males and 46% females, according to 2001 Census (need original data search). Summarized from (Cheney, Ruzzi, Muralidharan, 2005) From: A Profile of the Indian Education system (in education folder) cited in above text as (Cheney, Ruzzi, Muralidharan, 2005) National center on education and the Economy, 2006 India has the second largest education system in the world (after China). Experts estimate that 32% of its current population is under the age of 15. Males in India complete just 2.9 years of schooling on average, females just 1.8 years. The quality of instruction varies widely, depending on the region of the country and whether one is enrolled in a State-supported public school or a fee-based private school. Despite the highly inefficient delivery of public services, high levels of tesacher absenteeism and non-teaching activity, many Indian students remain motivated to succeed on the college entrance exams. The high level of competition for entry into the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management and other top institutions is enough to spur millions of students to achieve at remarkably high levels, particularly in the areas of science and mathematics. Only 10% of the age cohort is actually enrolled in higher education. But in a country with sucha a large population, it amounts to 9 million students, resulting in 2.5 million new college graduates a year. end 1. The role of education in society a. Primary education (quality, levels of development, etc.) Summarized from (Cheney, Ruzzi, Muralidharan, 2005) The Indian school system follows the British structure. Primary school consists of grades 1-5 (ages 6-11) and middle school consists of grades 6-8 (ages 11-14). Primary school and middle school are compulsory. However, researchers estimate that an average of 70% percent of children between the ages of 6 and 14 actually attend school (need to search source, Karthik Mualidharans work). Quality of state-run schools ranges from top-notch to abysmal. Private schools are, on the whole, better, but are charging high fees and are competitive to get admission. Mostly, they are choices of middle and higher class families. A recent phenomenon is the rising of low-cost private schools in both rural and urban India. Facilities and infrastructure are poorer, but they can offer smaller classes and greater teaching activity due to the lower salaries paid to the teachers and more teachers hired. 2 out of 5 first-grade students will not complete the primary cycles of 4 to 5 years (depending on the State) (need source, world bank). Primary Stage (5 years) The curriculum includes: Grade 1 and 2 One language- the mother tongue/the regional language Mathematics Art of Healthy and Productive living Grade 3 to 5 One language the mother tongue/the regional language Mathematics Environmental studies Art of Healthy and productive living Upper Primary/Middle stage (3 years) Grade 6-8 Three languages the mother tongue/the regional language, Hindi and English Mathematics Science and Technology Social Sciences Work Education Art Education (fine arts: visual and performing) Health and Physical education The issue is not a lack of demand, but the quality of supply. The main reason for students to drop out is because their public school experiences are often so poor that students can learn very little. Girls get less chance to be supported in education. It is estimated that for every 100 girls that enroll in school in rural India, only one will make it to grade 12. Parents perceive returns to investment in educations of boys higher than that of girls. The PROBE study revealed that 98% of parents surveyed felt education was necessary for boys, and 89% of them felt it necessary for girls. Secondary education India has more than 100,000 secondary and senior secondary schools serving 30 million students, with the average teacher to student ratio of 1:34. The education in government schools continues to be free for grades 9 and above. But the majority of enrollment is in private schools whose fees vary considerably. Secondary stage grades 9 and 10 (2 years) Curriculum includes: Three languages mother tongue/regional language, Hindi, English (some schools offer as electives other languages such as Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, etc.) Mathematics Science and technology Social sciences Work education or pre-vocational education Art education (fine art: visual and performing) Physical and health education -Summarized from (Cheney, Ruzzi, Muralidharan, 2005) b. Secondary education (quality, levels of development, etc.) c. Higher education (quality, levels of development, etc.) 2. Literacy rates Languages: With 15 main languages and hundreds of other languages and dialects, India has more languages than any other country. With 30% primary tongue, Hindi is the national language. English is ubiquitous language, because of the historical colonization by British. Other main languages include Bengali, Gujarati, Paunjabi, Tamil and Telegu and Urdu. In 1980s, about 4 to 5 % of the population were estimated to use English. In 1997, 1/3 of population in India had the ability to carry on a conversation in English. And its estimated that there are 350 million English-speaking Indians in 2005 a8 (need data 2012). Referrence: Essay on the concept of joint family system in India, n.d. Retrieved Sep 19, 2012 from http://www.preservearticles.com/201106027427/essay-on-the-concept-of-joint-family-system-in-india.html Ghosh, A Basu, D. 2008. Evolution of joint family structure in India and the role of legislative inroads. West Bengal. Indian family structure, indian society. n.d. Retrieved Sep 19, 2012 from http://www.indianetzone.com/38/indian_family_structure.htm a8 David Crystal (honorary professor of linguistics at the Unileversity of Wales, Bangor) sub continent raises its voice. Yale global online. Nov 30, 2004. Political system Political structure http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/Indianpoliticalsystem.html the Indian political system is a much more recent construct dating from Indias independence from Britain in 1947. The current constitution came into force on 26 November 1950 and advocates the trinity of justice, liberty and equality for all citizens. Indias lower house, the Lok Sabha, is modelled on the British House of Commons, but its federal system of government borrows from the experience of the United States, Canada and Australia. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The head of state in India is the President. As members of an electoral college, around 4,500 members of the national parliament and state legislators are eligible to vote in the election of the President. for the first time a woman now occupies the role of Presidency: Pratibha Patil who was formerly governor of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. Vice-President is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament. The Vice-President chairs the the upper house called the Rajya Sabh. The head of the government is the Prime Minister who is appointed by the President on the nomination of the majority party in the lower house or Lok Sabha. Currently the Prime Minister is Manmohan Singh of the ruling United Progressive Alliance Ministers are then appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and these ministers collectively comprise the Council of Ministers. pause THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH http://loksabha.nic.in/ Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the people chosen by direct election on the basis of the adult suffrage. The maximum strength of the House envisaged by the Constitution is 552, which is made up by election of upto 530 members to represent the States, upto 20 members to represent the Union Territories and not more than two members of the Anglo-Indian Community to be nominated by the Honble President, if,   in his/her opinion, that community is not adequately represented in the House. The total elective membership is distributed among the States in such a way that the ratio between the number of seats allotted to each State and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States. end end pause Currently the size of the house is 545 made up of 530 elected from the states, 13 elected from the territories, and two nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. By far the largest state representation is that of Uttar Pradesh with 80 members. Each Lok Sabha is formed for a five year term, after which it is automatically dissolved, unless extended by a Proclamation of Emergency which may extend the term in one year increments. The upper house in the Indian political system is the Rajya Sabha or Council of States. pause http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/council_state/council_state.asp Article 80 of the Constitution lays down the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha as 250, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President and 238 are representatives of the States and of the two Union Territories. The present strength of Rajya Sabha, however, is 245, out of which 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi and Puducherry and 12 are nominated by the President. The members nominated by the President are persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service. end end pause end Political parties http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/Indianpoliticalsystem.html In India, political parties are either a National Party or a State Party. To be considered a National Party, a political party has to be recognised in four or more states and to be either the ruling party or in the opposition in those states. The original Congress Party espoused moderate socialism and a planned, mixed economy. However, its spin-off and successor, Congress (I) I in honour of Indira Gandhi now supports deregulation, privatisation and foreign investment. Over the years, India has evolved from a highly centralised state dominated by one political party to an increasingly fragmented nation, more and more influenced by regional parties and more and more governed locally by unstable multi-party alliances. The Indian Congress Party is the leading party in the Centre-Left political coalition called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) which embraces a total of 16 parties. The other major, but more recently-established, political party in India is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Created in 1980, it represents itself as a champion of the socio-religious cultural values of the countrys Hindu majority and advocates conservative social policies and strong national defence. The BJP, in alliance with several other parties, led the government between 1998-2004. The Bharatiya Janata Party is the leading party in the Right-wing political coalition called the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). When it was originally founded in 1998, there were 13 parties in the coalition but currently there are eight. -end http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+in0147%29 At the beginning of the 1990s, political domination by the Congress (I) branch of the Indian National Congress (see Glossary) came to an end with the partys defeat in the 1989 general elections, and India began a period of intense multiparty political competition. The Congress (I) political leadership had lost the mantle of moral integrity inherited from the Indian National Congresss role in the independence movement, and it was widely viewed as corrupt. The main alternative to the Congress (I), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJPIndian Peoples Party), embarked on a campaign to reorganize the Indian electorate in an effort to create a Hindu nationalist majority coalition. Simultaneously, such parties as the Janata Dal (Peoples Party), the Samajwadi Party (Socialist Party), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSPParty of Societys Majority) attempted to ascend to power on the crest of an alliance of interests uniting Dalits (see Glossary), Backward Classes (see Glossary), Scheduled Tribes (see Glossary), and religious minorities. The structure of Indias federalor unionsystem not only creates a strong central government with centralization of power. end 3. Stability of government 4. Special taxes 5. Role of local government D. Legal system 1. Organization of the judiciary system 2. Code, common, socialist, or Islamic-law country? 3. Participation in patents, trademarks, and other conventions 4. Marketing Laws

The Beatles :: Essay on The Beatles

The The English ROCK MUSIC group The Beatles gave the 1960s its characteristic musical flavor and had a profound influence on the course of popular music, equaled by few performers. The guitarists John Winston Lennon, b. Oct. 9, 1940; James Paul McCartney, b. June 18, 1942; and George Harrison, b. Feb. 25, 1943; and the drummer Ringo Starr, b. Richard Starkey, July 7, 1940, were all born and raised in Liverpool. Lennon and McCartney had played together in a group called The Quarrymen. With Harrison, they formed their own group, The Silver Beatles, in 1959, and Starr joined them in 1962. As The Beatles, they developed a local following in Liverpool clubs, and their first recordings, "Love Me Do" (1962) and "Please Please Me" (1963), quickly made them Britain's top rock group. Their early music was influenced by the American rock singers Chuck BERRY and Elvis PRESLEY, but they infused a hackneyed musical form with freshness, vitality, and wit. The release of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964 marked the beginning of the phenomenon known as "Beatlemania" in the United States. The Beatles' first U.S. tour aroused a universal mob adulation. Their concerts were scenes of mass worship, and their records sold in the millions. Their first film, the innovative A Hard Day's Night (1964), was received enthusiastically by a wide audience that included many who had never before listened to rock music. Composing their own material (Lennon and McCartney were the major creative forces), The Beatles established the precedent for other rock groups to play their own music. Experimenting with new musical forms, they produced an extraordinary variety of songs: the childishly simple "Yellow Submarine"; the bitter social commentary of "Eleanor Rigby"; parodies of earlier pop styles; new electronic sounds; and compositions that were scored for cellos, violins, trumpets, and sitars, as well as for conventional guitars and drums. Some enthusiasts cite the albums Rubber Soul (1965) and Revolver (1966) as the apex of Beatle art, although Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), perhaps the first rock album designed thematically as a single musical entity, is more generally considered their triumph. The group disbanded in 1970, after the release of their final album, Let It Be, and during the 1970s pursued individual careers. On Dec. 8, 1980, John Lennon was fatally shot outside his Manhattan apartment by Mark Chapman, a 25-year-old former mental patient who, earlier that same day, had asked Lennon for his autograph. Lennon's murder was universally mourned with an intensity of feeling usually inspired only by political and spiritual leaders. Bibliography: The Beatles Complete, 2

Death of a Salesman :: essays research papers

My Father’s Dream and My Reality The bond between a boy and his father is one that should sustain the test of time. I have looked up to my father for the majority of my life and he’s beliefs of life have influenced the way I grew up to be the man I am today. However in the end, a true man will follow his own dreams and make his own future. My dream was working with my hands in the outdoors. It has taken many years but I now knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. My father, Willy Loman, I believe shared this same passion, however, he suppressed his dreams as it did not fit in with is predetermined mould for a beloved salesman. So, it then became my father’s dream to work in sales and be well-liked. This is what my father had implanted into me from a young age. Now returning home after fourteen years of trying to ‘find myself’, we still had money to pay off on the refrigerator and the mortgage on the house still needed to be paid. These pending debts, like daggers ripping through my dreams, forced me suppress my own dreams and now seek the stable career of a salesman. I had once worked as a salesman for Bill Oliver so I decided to go to him in order to find a job. Bill Oliver’s office was finely furnished and had a wafting smell of cologne. The waiting room walls seemed to tower down upon me somehow mocking me. As with each hour that went by the walls seem to become larger and I become smaller. Sitting in that room waiting hour after hour for Bill Oliver made me think about why I was there and what I was doing. After much deliberation I concluded; I was never a salesman for him, I was just a shipping clerk. I had talked my self up so much that I had turned my dishonesty to what I believed to be true. I had blurred the line between illusion and reality foolishly thinking everyone else would follow. I questioned myself why this was so. The answer to my question lied somewhere in the foundations of my past. Throughout my life I have been filled with great ideas and aspirations but nothing has ever become of them. I am a failure.

Natural Born Japanese Killers :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Natural Born Japanese Killers Americans and Japanese are both fond of pointing out the difference in crime rates. To many Japanese, America is seen as an outlaw nation, bristling with guns. And for many Americans, the juxtaposition of Japan's often ultra-violent entertainment with their low crime rate is fascinating. Japanese pop culture and crime statistics are often cited to defend American entertainment when it is accused of inspiring violence. But for anyone paying attention, startling crimes have a way of popping up in Japan unexpectedly. There were the "Otaku Murders" of 1988 and 1989, where Tsutomo Miyazaki kidnapped and killed four girls of around five years of age, reenacting gruesome scenes from his hentai collection. The serin gas attack in 1995 is another notable incident in the analogs of Japanese crime history. Perpetrated by the Aum Shinrikyo cult, almost a dozen people were killed during the terrorist attack. I asked a Japanese friend of mine once, "Are there gangs in Japan?" I've since learned that Japan has a long history of gangs, including everything from high school motorcycle gangs to the Yakuza, but he shook his head. He said there were no gangs, but in Japan sometimes kids just go crazy. He told me the story of a boy who would kill people on the street, discretely, and then hide in an alley to watch the ensuing action. He was eventually caught with the murder weapon near one of his crime scenes. This was several years ago, and I wrote the story off as an urban legend. Recently, however, there have been several articles published about teenage boys committing gory crimes in Japan. Over the last year there have been multiple incidents. A 65-year old woman in Aichi prefecture was murdered on May 1, 2000. On May 3, a boy in Saga prefecture hijacked a bus with a knife. He held a six-year-old girl hostage, killed one woman, and wounded five others. There have been more crimes, including knivings in people's homes, baseball bat bludgeonings and matricide, budgeonings with hammers, and, just two weeks ago, a 15-year-old boy on Kyushu crept into a house during the night and attacked a family. All six family members were attacked, and three died. Incidents such as these have been reported in many newspapers and online news sites, but I take the examples above from two articles on the subject. Tim Larimer, a correspondent for Time wrote "Natural-Born

Inspire to educate Essay

Education is an avenue that enables the production of individuals who knows the proper way to live, learn and work together for the foundation of a strong community. Each and every child deserves the chance to be educated. Such learning must be the kind that involves challenges and stimulates them to achieve their maximum potential. On the Importance of Education The importance of education is quite clear. Education is the knowledge of putting one’s potentials to maximum use. One can safely say that a human being is not in the proper sense till he is educated. This importance of education is basically for two reasons. The first is that the training of a human mind is not complete without education. Education makes man a right thinker. It tells man how to think and how to make decisions. The second reason for the importance of education is that only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world; to acquaint himself with past history and receive all necessary information regarding the present. Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world (Khan, 2007). Education has an immense impact on the human society. One can safely assume that a person is not in the proper sense till he is educated. It trains the human mind to think the right decisions. In other words, man becomes rational when he is educated. It is through education that knowledge and information is received and spread throughout the world. An educated person cannot read and write and hence he is closed to all the knowledge and wisdom he can gain through books and other mediums. In other words, he is shut off from the outside world. In contrast, an educated man lives in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world. The quality of human resource of a nation is easily judged by the number of literate people living in it. This is to say that education is a must if a nation aspires to achieve growth and development and more importantly sustain it. This may well explain the fact that rich and developed nations of the world have very high literacy rate and productive human resource. In fact these nations have started imparting selective training and education programs so as to meet the new technical and business demands of the 21st century. Keeping the importance of education in mind, the US Department of Education aims to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. It also establishes policies regarding federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds. It also continuously strives to focus national attention on key educational issues and providing equal access to education. The importance of education cannot be neglected by any nation. And in today’s world, the role of education has become even more vital. It is an absolute necessity for economic and social development of any nation (Goel, 2007). Inspiring Children to Learn At one of their forums organized by the Walden University entitled â€Å"M. S. In Education: Teaching in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Classrooms,† the speakers addressed the issue on how to be able to inspire the children to learn, especially the ones who due to their culture are not supported by their family to succeed in their education. This is what they have to say: Set and environment where they choose to become inspired, where the students choose to make the decision. Many families who are from ethnic minorities are not people who have traditionally been successful in school. You need to initiate the phone call to the parents on a consistent basis and let them know how important they are to their children’s education. Do it in ways that are consistent and that show people you care. This is an idea that transcends culture. A mother’s love for a child transcends culture. If you can get through to the mother, that’s what transcends. You can really be proud of knowing that you have changed a life. I have never met a parent who wasn’t interested in his or her child doing well in school. Don’t think you can motivate people. You set an environment where people elect to be motivated and ultimately empowered. It’s a choice that people make and that sets them up for success. Don’t give up on anyone. Understand people’s prior knowledge of schools, where they came from. Give them a message of hope and inclusion. Don’t give up and don’t try to motivate. Set this environment, and you’ll meet with unexpected success (Walden 2006). The need for such environment has never been so great. As educators, we need to trace the path that realizes the many needs of our children. We’ve come to the realization that we cannot do it alone. We need the role of the parents as part of the team. This involvement nonetheless affirms the role of the parents as primary stakeholders in their children’s future, particularly in education. A team whose aim is to be able to provide for our children a great investment that they made be able to reach their true promise. This teamwork is headed to achieve an increased engagement in the advocacy of parents on behalf of their children’s opportunities in learning. We are after molding fully developed citizens who will do good things to their community in return. Academic achievements are only a bonus and not an end in itself. The realization of the importance of education forbids us to deny our children the ability to achieve their fullest promises. Through this light, we cannot deny our society the benefits of our children’s untapped talents. References Alrisala Organization. (2007). The Importance of Education.Retrieved December 8, 2007 from www. alrisala. org/Articles/mailing_list/importance_of_education. html. SearchWarp. com. (2007, July 6). The Importance of Education. Retrieved December 8, 2007 from http://searchwarp. com/swa230219. html. Results for America. (2007). Learn More About Education. Retrieved December 7, 2007 from http://www. resultsforamerica. org/education/learn. php. Walden University. (2006, June 6). M. S. in Education: Teaching in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Classrooms. Retrieved December 6, 2007 from www. waldenu. edu/c/Files/DocsSOE/Q-a_Ed_DiverseClassrooms. doc.

Tata Motors Going Global

TATA MOTORS—GOING GLOBAL The wave of liberalization, privatization and globalization, which started sweeping India since the early 1990s, gave Tata Motors (established in 1945) a new direction in the path of globalization. The Tata Motors firstly, realized that if it wants to grow then it cannot afford to keep its business connected solely to the fortunes of one country. Secondly, with the dismantling of import restrictions in the near future or it the rupee begins to gain ground then India may not continue to have the low-cost manufacturing advantage which it has enjoyed so far. In that scenario, a transnational presence across countries that could offer greater cost advantages for manufacturing, will pay off. Thirdly, the automotive business is highly competitive and the competitiveness depends on economies of scale, quality and efficiency which could directly improve if the organization enters the foreign markets. The question that came in the minds of the senior management at Tata Motors was— â€Å"Should we remain an exporter of vehicles, which we have been doing since 1961 or should we venture into the international automobile market as a company that can match the best in the business? The answer was to widen its foreign campaign to more than just exports. As a result, recognizing the need to integrate its international strategy with its domestic one, the company split its previously independent international business arm into the two business units—the Passenger Car Business Unit (PCBU) and the Commercial Vehicle Business Unit (CVBU). T he company’s passenger car range comprises the hatchback Indica, the Indigo Sedan and the Marina, its station wagon variant, in petrol and diesel versions. The Tata Sumo, its rural variant, the Spacio and the Tata Safari (the country’s first sports utility vehicle) are the company’s multi-utility offerings. The company’s Commercial Vehicle Business Unit (CVBU) has over 130 models of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles ranging from two tonnes to 40 tonnes, buses ranging from 12-seaters to 60-seaters, tippers, special purpose vehicles, oil-road vehicles and defence vehicles. Dr. V. Sumantran, Executive Director, PCBU, says, â€Å"The company has now embarked on a road where we have made exports an integral part of our business. We do not think of sales outside the country as a separate activity. It is now integrated within the mission of each of its businesses. † Ravi Kant, Executive Director, CVBU, says, â€Å"In a cyclical business such as ours, it is important that we hedge against cyclicality. International business offers an opportunity as different countries go through peaks and troughs in demand at different points in time. Our capacity utilization is more effective and risks of downturns can be mitigated. † The two units have classified different markets in terms of size, growth opportunities, product segments and target volumes. After analysis of markets the company has decided to focus on 15 to 20 key countries, where the company will have a significant presence in terms of volumes and market shares, against being present as an exporter in 70 countries. Says Praveen Kadle, Tata Motors Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs, â€Å"Tata Motors does not plan to be all over the world. Supply will follow demand and the company will need to address the markets tor different vehicles as stand-alone projects. For example, the compact- sized Indica will be marketed in countries where the company perceives a substantial market for it, like it did in Europe. The same goes for our commercial vehicles business. † The implementation of new business strategy involves three stages—product upgradation, sales and distribution processes, and deeper penetration into foreign markets. Tata Motors has taken a number of initiatives to strengthen both product reliability and durability. Through its subsidiaries and joint ventures, the company is engaged in engineering and automotive solutions, automotive vehicle components manufacturing and supply chain activities, machine tools and factory automation solutions, high-precision tooling and plastic and electronic components for automotive and computer applications, and automotive retailing and service operations. The company also draws on the resources of leading international design and styling houses like the Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering, SPA, Italy and Stile Bertoni, Italy. The company has been successful in Sri Lanka and Malaysia where the installation of a sales process system and face-to-face customer meets through road shows and service workshops have started giving results. In order to enter foreign markets the company is following three routes. The first is the traditional method of exports, at which the company has been quite successful, notching up export revenue of Rs. 969 crores in the first nine months of FY 2004—05, recording a growth of 41 per cent from sales in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The second is the setting up of assembly operations in foreign markets. Tata Motors first used this strategy when it set up its first assembly operation in Malaysia in 1974. Since then, the company has successfully used it for expansion into Malaysia, Bangladesh, Senegal, South Africa and Ukraine by way of setting up assembly operations there through its distributors. The third is the route of acquisition and alliances. Tarn Motors entered into a tie-up with MG Rover, U. K. , to supply 1,00,000 Indica to be badged as City Rover. Highlighting the importance of the tie-up, Dr. V. Sumantran, points out that the Rover agreement has been an important step in helping Tata Motors to gain very quick access to a fairly large market. ‘Working alone in this area would have taken us much longer to create a distribution network. The exposure that the company and the products have received through the agreement validates the belief that we have arrived at a significant milestone in promoting the Tata brand,† elaborates Dr. Sumantran. It acquired Daewoo Commercial Vehicles, S. Korea, in 2004, keeping the synergies in mind which are quite significant—a presence in the 250 to 400 HP range of trucks is what the Korean company brings to the table, as this complements the existing product range of Tata Motors which delivers vehicles up to 210 HP. The process gave not just a manufacturing asset base, but access to the market through an already strong brand identity. In 2005, it acquired a 21 per cent stake in Hispano Carrocera, a reputed Spanish bus and coach manufacturer, with an option to acquire the remaining stake as well. Hispano’s presence is being expanded in other markets. Today, Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company, with revenues of Rs. 20, 483 crores (USD 4. 7 billion) in 2004—05, and is the world’s fifth largest medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer. Its immediate goal is to achieve a 20 per cent contribution to its overall revenue from its international businesses by 2006. The leading global auto majors, for whom anywhere from 30—50 per cent of their business accrues from overseas sales, Tata Motors is still a long way off, but Mr. Kadle believes that with its aggressive growth strategy a contribution of around 35 per cent maybe achievable in the next five-six years. Questions 1. What are the objectives that drove Tata Motors towards globalization? 2. What are the entry strategies that are being followed by Tata Motors in order to capture the foreign markets? 3. Discuss the logic behind the entry strategies that are being followed by Tata Motors. 4. In your opinion to what extent Mr. Kadle’s belief of overseas sales contributing 35 per cent of overall revenue, in the next five-six years, appears attainable?

Relationships In A Time That This Novel Is Set Essay

How does Steinbeck present ideas of relationships in a time that this novel is set? Steinbeck portrays a world dominated by authoritative white males. It is the attitude of this social structure that permeate ranch society and those who come from outside these expectations are inferior. Of Mice and Men describes the plight of which women, disabled people, black people and people with mental difficulties endure and suffer simply because they do not fit into the ideal category which we see whilst they interact with each other. Lennie’s brief interaction with Crooks reveals the complexity of racial prejudice during the ranch life. Like many of the men on the characters in the story, Crooks admits to being very lonely. â€Å"This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.† When Lennie visits him in his room, Crooks turns him away, in hope that he will prove a point that if a black man cannot enter a white man’s room then it is unacceptable for the re verse to occur. However, his desire for company ultimately wins out and he invites Lennie to sit with him. In addition, he seems very suspicious of any kindness he receives. The fact that he doubts Lennie being kind to him refers to the strong racism on the ranch. Crooks is not sure how to react to Lennie and his instant reaction is for Lennie to leave. This outsider status causes him to lament his loneliness, but we can see the corrosive effects it has on him as he seems delighted in seeing loneliness in others. For example, he suggests that George is gone for good and it is not until Lennie threatens Crooks with physical violence does he relent. We cannot blame Crooks. On the other hand, this evokes sympathy as the origins of his cruel behaviour are made evident. We can infer that he is jealous and lonely that he wants to see someone else hurt just like he is. Curley and his wife have an unstable marriage, lacking in respect, compassion and communication. Curley believes that his wife is his posse ssion and shows her off to the other men. Throughout the novel we see Curley asking the other men where his wife is and likewise we see Curley’s wife looking for him. This could be a metaphor that although they are together they are still lonely. Their relationship is unhealthy as he manipulates and intimidates his wife. However, Curley seems very selfish and he did not seem to care for his wife. He used her for sex. Furthermore, the fact that she is referred to as â€Å"Curley’s wife† suggests that women did not have an identity. Curley is too protective over his wife as he knew she flirted with the other men and  Curley felt threatened, especially as she was the only woman on the ranch. There is not trust between them which is very unhealthy and not good. I think she enjoyed flirting because she felt isolated and lonely. Most of the ranch hands looked down upon her and thought she was a â€Å"slut.† This was the typical attitude towards women during this time period. They were seen as possessions of their husband. At the end of the novel, Steinbeck said that when she died, she was released and â€Å"discontent and the ache for attentions were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet.† When she was alive, she was wearing a mask and no one knew her true identify, as there was no one there to understand or get to know the real her but now she is dead, and the mask is off she looks better: â€Å"Her reddened lips made her seem alive.† Finally, in death, she could find the peace and calm that evaded her when she was alive in the harsh society. Ironically, her corpise is praised more in death than she was life. We begin to question Steinbeck’s intentions in giving us an unsympathetic view of this women and in women in general. Whenever she expresses her loneliness they are followed by acts of manipulation or violence. He seems to characterise women as trouble and they are â€Å"the downfall of man.† She is the catalyst of the drama which links to that point also. I don’t necessarily think that Steinbeck was sexist and is instead making a point about society’s sexism. She is the only character without a name, and even Crooks- who at that time was a member of a even more hated social group and if she talks to anyone â€Å"he gets mad.†

The Greeks and Achilles

The opening of Virgil’s epic [â€Å"I sing of warfare and a man of war† or â€Å" I sing of arms and of the man†] is a skillful allusion to Homer’s Iliad [â€Å"Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles†]. Both rely on nouns. Discuss how the two interact in both works. Just as Homer used the first lines of the Iliad and Odyssey to announce the main themes of those poems, Virgil presents the two main themes of the Aeneid in the first line.What are these two central themes? In The Aeneid, Virgil's first two lines â€Å"I sing of warfare and a man at war. / He came to Italy by destiny. † Like with Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, Virgil's central theme for The Aeneid is war, though in a vastly different light than that of Homer's two epics. With Aeneid, the central character Aeneas fleas Troy during a darkened time for his native city, when it is being ravaged in a war between the Greeks and Achilles.The line He came to Italy by destiny tells me that The Aeneid's focus is central to fate and destiny and how so many people during this time put a lot of their energy believing in, and raging wars in the name of both. What universal force is responsible for Aeneas's sufferings as an exile (see line 3)? In accordance with this universal force, what is the purpose of his sufferings? Land and sea are what are responsibile for Aeneas sufferings as an exile while he made the journey from Troy to Italy.Aeneas' suffering was at the hands of Juno, who was angry that with Aeneas' arrival into Carthage meant that the fate of her most favorite city would soon be teasted when the war made it's way from his beloved Troy, where he was fleeing from, to Carthage. Explain the reasons for Juno's hatred of the Trojans. Juno's hatred towards the other Trojan's was because the arrival of another Trojan, Paris, voted in a beauty contest against Juno, a contest that she ended up losing.Compare and contrast Homer’s de scription of the shield of Achilles in the Iliad (XVIII. 572ff. ) with Virgil’s description of the shield of Aeneas in the Aeneid (VIII. 24ff. ). Both Aeneas and Achilles are given shields that help to defend against their enemies. With Aeneas, he is given a shield to help protect Rome from an invasion, whereas Achilles is given a shield to face off and carry out his revenge against Hector. Both similar in their uses are vastly different in design. For Achilles, his holds engravings of common life during his time.

Bad Boys II Movie Review

Bad Boys II Movie Review The film Bad Boys II, starring two cops named Marcus and Mike (Martin Lawrence and Will Smith), is set in Miami where both partners are assigned to look for clues and evidence for an international drug dealer’s arrest. As they start with the investigation and stake outs, they find themselves insulting each other, fighting like little brothers, and messing up operations. Aside from cop work, Marcus soon discovers some information about the whereabouts and actions of his sister (Gabrielle Union), who is also an undercover agent working for the FBI. Stunned, Marcus becomes irritated with his partner and debates if he really should transfer. The movie’s genre was mostly action-packed. The strengths of the action part because the actors were racing against time to achieve a goal, the shootouts that took place, and tons of explosions. The strength of the romance parts shows Mike and Marcus’ sister together occasionally showing their love affections to one another while trying to hide the secret from Marcus. The strength of the comedy part is when the partners argue or when Marcus freaks out about his sister dating his Mike. A weakness throughout the entire movie was there was too many arguments between the partners when the focus of the movie should’ve been on the case. The movie fulfilled all the parts of story plot, but the visual effects and the audio needed work. One problem was that during the night scenes, the lighting throughout the scene wasn’t good because I couldn’t tell who was talking, who the characters were, and where the cameras were supposed to be focused in on. Naturally, actors’ voices tend to be quieter at night to fit the mood in the scene but I could barely hear the characters’ lines. There were no big distractions that deterred my attention away from the focus of the scene, it’s just the work of the audio and visual. This could’ve been fixed by adding mics on the actors adding props like light posts to or candles near them to enhance the lighting in the scene. While the movie is filled with action and is barely slowed paced, certain parts are realistic but not all. For example, when the international drug dealer, Carlos ‘Johnny’ Tapia’s (Jordi Molla) operation is discovered by the cops, he decides to takes Marcus’ sister hostage after discovering she is an agent. In my opinion, this isn’t realistic because you wouldn’t have your sister working as an agent, she wouldn’t be working on the same mission as you, and she wouldn’t get kidnapped to be forced to leave to Cuba with the enemy. Another example is during a chasing scene, Mike is behind the wheel, Marcus and his sister are trying to lose the enemies in pursuit by shooting at them. At one point they cross through a village where there looks to be inhabited by Cubans but there is no people in the huts or around the village. If there are two trucks running through a village, destroying their property, where was everyone? Where did they go? The least the movie directors could’ve done is have people scream in fear to make it look inhabited. Compared to the first â€Å"Bad Boys† movie, this movie is completely differently but does have the same story plot. In the first movie, there is a drug dealer or the antagonist, the two heroes, the sidekick, and operations. The second movie has everything the first movie has just a little more detailed than the first. The difference between the two movies was the time difference. The time was really important when comparing the movies together, because of the advancement in the camera technology, the filters used, and how realistic the explosions were or the actors’ lines. Overall, I believe the movie is an ok movie. It’s a film worth seeing if you’re into action, and like explosions spraying across the television. Aside from being action-packed and funny, it can also be informative, which is something not a lot of movies directors input into movies nowadays. Michael Bay has proven to world yet again that this film can be a hyperkinetic. Bay gives the audience a new surprise around every corner, giving the movie a new kind of excitement. Some of the viewers and fans have also requested a third movie to come out and directors have heard requests and plan on making a sequel, meaning this won’t be the last time hearing from the two bad boys for life.