Business strategy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Business strategy - Assignment Example I strongly believe that Robin Hood and the Merrymen need a completely new plan. Considering the wake of the tremendous changes in the way of operation of the Sheriff’s men, who have adopted new ways of operating characterized by adequate money, apposite organization and efficient coordination of activities. To be at bar with the Sherriff’s men, the Merrymen have to abandon the old ways and forge new ways of performing their activities. This is immensely attributed by the fact that, there a continuous increase of the band men and this has caused depletion of the scarce resources such as food. The band has to move to an expanded place and work towards ways of having an organized band. The new methods of operation should ensure that, all the men are known and their roles defined. For instance, the band men can be grouped into a group of 20 men with their leader. Such strategies will enable their commander, Robin Hood to know all his men by name. This is a fundamental move because it will make it easy to identify the spies who might move into the band without being recognized. Think about your SWOT analysis, and answer the next 4 questions. Think about how each of the 4 opportunities would help (or not help) to solve Robin Hood’s problems. A plan that does not solve our problems or achieve our goals is useless. Also a plan that we cannot execute is also useless. This is a good idea because; a large space will enable the large number of men who have joined the group to be identified. In addition, in a larger space, it is easy for the band men to mark their territory and any oncoming enemy. Moreover, the larger space will offer humble time for proper organization and execution of the band’s activities. A fixed transit tax is a sensible thing because it will save time for negotiating. This is uniform rate for every merchant involved in transportation. This implies that

Frankestein and his creature Evil Essay Example for Free

Frankestein and his creature Evil Essay He ate the berries and other small fruits that he found in the woods. He is good at this stage because He has seen how He was upsetting the family when He was eating their food; He realised this and started to chop wood to repay the family. He is aspiring to be like the family, He wishes to be friends with them and have friends of His own. There are a series of events, which leads up to the creature becoming resentful and violent. He first saw His reflection in a pond; His gaze laid eyes upon His ugly, repulsive reflection. He could not believe that His creator had made Him this ugly. When He saw the blind Grandfather alone one day, He decided He would approach Him because He thought the Grandfather would be more understanding as he was old and more wise. This was so but when the old mans daughter in law and Granddaughter returned, they screamed at the sight and the son came rushing home. The son thought the creature was attacking his father and so the son attacked the creature. The creature ran away and did not respond with violence. The creature did not lash out because He thought that if He did it would ruin any chance of becoming friends with the family. Later on in the week he over heard a conversation between the son and their landlord, the son said, My wife and sister will never recover from their horror. After the conversation the creature gave up all hope of befriending the once, happy, joyous and caring family. The family left the cottage out of fright; meanwhile the creature was angry and very upset. He went back to the empty cottage and set the wooden building alight. He watched the cottage burn and He enjoyed it. Later on in the creatures life He found Victors diary which contained notes on how His creator abandoned Him. In the front of Victors diary it had His home address of Geneva written in it. The creature was determined that Victor would feel His wrath. He set of to Geneva to get revenge. On His arrival in Geneva, he saw a small boy walking on the same lane that He was on. The creature hid in the bushes and wandered whether he should He reveal Him self to the child. He thought that if the child being young would understand His condition. He decided to reveal Him self. He took hold of the small boys arm, He wanted to protect and look after Him. The child screamed, the creature told the boy His intentions, that He wanted to be friends. The boy kept on screaming, He cried out, Monster! Ugly wretch! You wish to eat me and tear me to pieces, youre an ogre, let me go or I will tell my Papa. My father is Mme Frankenstein. You belong to my sworn enemy, Victor Frankenstein. After all the upset He has caused me, I will give Him something to be upset about. With that the creature picked up the small boy William and throttled Him. The creature gained enormous pleasure over killing William, He had the taste for killing and He wanted revenge. The creature met with Frankenstein in the remote mountainous regions of Geneva, no one around to disturb them. The monster did not attack Victor, he wished to talk; the creature wanted Victor to create another being, a female one this time. Victor was served with an ultimatum, if he would recreate another being they would retire to South America or Victor would feel his wrath, fired by hatred, self-pity and desire for a mate. The creature does have a right to a mate, He will go away and not disturb any one ever again or He will destroy Victor if He does not. Victor has reason not to create a mate, She could be even worse, she has not promised to be good, the creature could hate it, they could come back or they might desolate the world. When Frankenstein was on His death bed, He said, Examining my past conduct, nor do I find it blameable. He feels it is not His fault about what has happened and He feels He had done nothing wrong. He knows He had responsibilities but He ignored them thinking the duties towards the beings of my own species were more important. Victor said He was right about not building a new creature. He says the first one went wrong and killed his friends and family, so He will not create a partner for the creature that killed them. He said it was evil and He had to kill it. The creature is very upset, He admits to killing Victor by leading Him to the icy lands. He asked for forgiveness but He knows it will not change anything. It said He had put up with more anguish than Victor ever had, He had to do it even though he didnt want to do it. When Victor was about to be cremated on the ice fields, the ice cracked up, the monster swam across and lit the pyre, and He stayed there next to Victor while He burned. I think that Victor Frankenstein was not evil, He was very confused and completely adsorbed in what he was doing, he was sure he was right, wanting to get rid of death, apart from a violent on. The creature was good in that he helped the family in the winter when food was scarce. However he did turn to evil was towards the end of the book after he failed with living with him self, destine to walk alone for the rest of his life. Another aspect for being evil was that he killed his creator; the man he gave him his pitiful life, and his family.

The Cosquer Cave Discovery :: Antrhopology

The Cosquer Cave Discovery A long, long time ago, 27,000 years ago to be exact, during the glacial period, glaciers over a kilometer deep spanned the country of France from the Alps to the Haute Provence. These glaciers held so much water that they caused the sea level in the Mediterranean Sea to drop well over 100 meters. Prehistoric humans found the entrance to Cosquer cave not far from the seashore and some entered to paint inside it. During this time, men created wonderful pictures on the walls of the cave. But, as the earth warmed up, the sea level began to rise and 17,000 years later the entry to Cosquer cave was completely underwater. The water continued to rise and at present time the cave’s entrance is 37 meters below the level of the sea. This is the incredible story of Cosquer Cave and its discovery. It was a discovery so unexpected that it was believed to be a deception. Read on as I share with you my own discoveries as I, have explored Cosquer Cave. In 1991, a diver by the name of Henri Cosquer from Cassis discovered the cave that is now named for him. His discovery was so extraordinary and unexpected that some scientists believed it to be a deception or very probably a farce. But soon after his discovery scientists using modern procedures performed datings that confirmed Cosquer’s discovery. Henri Cosquer had discovered and important archeological site! The cave is located at Cape Morgiou in the Calanques, near Marseilles. Underwater access to the cave is extremely treacherous, taking explorers through a tunnel 175 meters in length and 37 meters under sea level. As a safety precaution and in order to preserve the site, the entry passage to the cave has now been blocked. However, a three-dimensional reproduction of the cave was created by Electricite de France, allowing a â€Å"virtual visit.† Past dives organized by the French Ministry of Culture have revealed the cave walls to be decorated with a variety of land animals including horses, ibex, shamois, bison, wild ox, megaloceros, and red deer.

Transfer Essay

When I applied to colleges as a high school student, I had little idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to accomplish. I was living in Ethiopia, where things I take for granted now, such as internet connection, were very scarce. Therefore, as far as I was concerned, looking up and researching colleges was a luxury. My mother tried her best to help out, but since she hasn’t done this process in a very long time she could only offer me little advice. I was unsure about how to start the process and I felt very overwhelmed and hesitant. I was also afraid that I might end up in Addis Ababa University, where the standard is below par, if I failed in my college application to the US. I had to act fast because I knew that I would never forgive myself if I failed to grab the opportunity to come back to America for college. Since deadlines were approaching, I picked four schools based on superficial attributes and rushed myself into applying. I was accepted into three colleges which enabled me to relax a bit about my future. I applied for scholarships in each of the school, so when it came down to the financial aid, St. Johns University ended up giving me more so I headed there. I wish to transfer, mostly because I seek a greater challenge. Currently, I do work hard and it has paid off but in the end I wish to challenge myself more and I believe I can obtain that through a transfer. Since last year I have taken much consideration and time to choose which schools can provide greater opportunities and challenges that I want and need to obtain a successful education; the opportunity to learn through the diversity and wider selection within the psychology department, and the challenge that comes with the prestigious reputation of each school. I also sought variety when I considered schools; I wish to transfer to a school that can offer variety both academically and socially, academically with the larger psychology department and socially with the size of the school. I believe variety is important, especially in a broad major such as psychology, for it will help me narrow down a specific area that I wish to further study. Social variety can provide much opportunity to find my place in a larger school. Another factor I wish to achieve from a transfer is control. Last year I felt I had little control of where I could go. My options were limited and I was forced to choose; therefore, there options were not what were best suited for me and my major. Now with proper time and management I can give myself the choice. Finally, College was completely unknown to me a year ago but now I have a successful first semester done and ready to start the next. Unfortunately, I don't envision myself graduating from my current university because the only factor I have become a part of is my studies, I haven't found any place where I feel comfortable and included, but with the size of my university options are limited. The universities I am applying to have an enthusiasm spirit that comes with pride. Each has a community of students who have taken much pride in their work. If admitted, I know I can contribute my own enthusiastic pride for the school and my work. Although my current university wasn't my ultimate choice I have made the best of it and it has helped me to know what to expect from college and what I wish to obtain from a transfer. I am confident in my decision for each of these schools because each can offer me challenges, opportunities, variety, control, and a chance to have a more productive college experience. As my transcript shows, I have done well at Amherst and I am convinced I can meet the academic challenges of Penn. I know I would grow at Penn, and your program in anthropology perfectly matches my academic interests and professional goals.

European Coffee Industry

Research Paper –Europe Coffee Industry Assignment 5-2 Prepared for Professor Harold Bashor MBA 727-F3FF International Business Management October 24th, 2012 Prepared by IRELAND Coffee is a very important product in Ireland. Specialty coffee shops such as Starbucks and other local companies such as Insomnia have helped create strong growth in the industry. From a competition standpoint, Nestle’ continues to dominate the industry in Ireland with a 42% market share in 2011 (www. Euromonitor. om, 2012). â€Å"Nestle’ has managed to maintain its leadership due to its exposure within the fast growing coffee pods area and its widespread offering of price and volume promotions (www. Euromonitor. com, 2012)†. The two domestic players in the industry are Bewley’s and Robert Roberts. Both increased sales shares in 2011, 9% and 5% respectively. The primary market for each of these companies is fresh coffee. The economic downturn in 2008 has hurt the industry as consumers have cut back spending.A 40% increase in the composite price of coffee from the International Coffee Organization in 2011 also hurt demand. The price increases are similar to those seen in many commodity prices. Coffee in particular is facing an increasing demand while supply in 2011 was slowed by a poor Colombian harvest, heavy rains, and issues in Brazil. As you can see from the chart below, the coffee industry in Ireland is very dependent on imports with nearly 90% of it coming from other European countries.This table illustrates the high percentage finished coffee imports into Ireland. Expressed in green coffee equivalent, 2010 green coffee imports were only 42% of the volume of the finished product imports (roasted + soluble). Total coffee imports of all forms into Ireland increased from 8. 746 tons green coffee equivalent in 2009 to 9. 780 tons in 20109 (+11,8%). The vast majority of Ireland’s soluble coffee imports (almost 88% in 2010) came from the United K ingdom.The Netherlands (6,7%) and Poland (2,8) supplied most of the remainder. In 2010 the UK represented 68% of Ireland’s roasted coffee imports. The second largest supplier – at a considerable distance – was Germany (20% in 2010). COFFEE CONSUMPTION Reference List Hill, C. (2011). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace, pg. 49. World Coffee Trade Chart. Retrieved 10/20/12 from http://www. ico. org/trade_e. asp Coffee in Ireland. Retrieved 10/21/12 from http://www. euromonitor. com/coffee-in-ireland/report

Aztec and Mayan Religious Practices essays

Aztec and Mayan Religious Practices essays Aztec and Mayan Religious Practices Thesis Statement: Aztec and Mayan religious practices were unique and sometimes barbaric. From daily rituals to elaborate ceremonies dedicated to the worship of deities the Aztec and Maya were ensconced in their religion. B. Structures Built towards Devotion III. Religions effect on Aztec and Mayan Society A. Similarities and Differences between the two societies Central America is a continent rich in culture as well as history. Inhabitants of Central America are comprised of a mixture of Indian and Spanish decent. The best known of the Central American Indians is the Aztec and Maya. The society of the Aztec and Maya held religion to the utmost highest priority. Aztec and Mayan religious practices were unique and sometimes barbaric. From daily rituals to elaborate ceremonies dedicated to the worship of deities the Aztec and Maya were ensconced in their religion. Aztec and Mayan religious zeal indirectly contributed to their demise. The Aztecs had a number of gods that they worshipped. Many gods had different powers of nature. Some were said to control the actions of a man (Spinden 229). Tezcatlipoca was was said to be a magic and an omniscient god, most likely the chief of the active gods. Aztecs favored the god of war Huitzilopochtli though. Tlaloc was important to farmers for he was the god of rain. Many a sacrifice was made to that god especially in that hot, dry climate they lived in. Ehecatl was the god of wind. Aztecs even had a god for each major city. There were two gods that were, in a sense, imported from another culture. That meant that the Aztecs adopted these gods when they took over a certain tribe or Indian nation. Quetzalcoatl was the most important and had the largest following and history. Xipe was another adopted god worshipped then that is still worshipped by Central Americans today (Spinden ). ...

Apply Porter 5 forces to IBM

Apply Porter 5 forces to IBM With Porter five forces framework, we identify the sources of competition facing IBM:-1.Threat of new entrantsHigh capital requirement needed to fund RD and assets make the threat of new entrants relatively low. IBM spends large amount of funds annually for RD, in order to constantly introduce new high-technology and innovative products and solutions to market to maintain its' competitiveness,Tougher for new entrants to achieve economies of scale due to experience curve effect. In addition, Consumers' preference over established brands, long-term relationship and broad product portfolio make IBM the preferred brand.2.Threat of SubstitutesPropensity to substitute is low for buyers. Threat varies from low to medium with high switching cost and product differentiation such as technology, performance, functionality etc.3. Bargaining power of buyersBargaining power is high during sourcing stage. However, buyers' bargaining power decrease after the purchase stage as switching cost is high with compatibility concerns, migration issues and cost of hardware/software."HP"-Garage in Palo Alto4.Bargaining power of suppliersSuppliers' bargaining power is low for the industry, IBM maintains a diversity of suppliers.5.Intensity of rivalry among established firmsAfter several years of contraction, the global IT industry returns to growth. The competition in the industry is intense with big boys like Microsoft, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems with diversified capabilities.Gerry Johnson, Kevin Scholes and Richard Whittington (2005), Exploring Corporate Strategy - Text and Cases, 7th edition, Harlow : FT/Prentice Hall.IBM Corporation, available online from ibm.comIBM Annual report 2004, An IBM Prospectus, Understanding Our Company, available online from ibm.com/annualreport/2004/prospectus/IBM Public Affairs, available online from ibm.com/ibmIBM corporation, Government and Public Policy, available online : www.ibm.com

Unctuous, A Humpty Dumpty Word

Unctuous, A Humpty Dumpty Word Unctuous, A Humpty Dumpty Word Unctuous, A Humpty Dumpty Word By Maeve Maddox A reader alerted me to a new use of the word unctuous that has escaped me until now: When did â€Å"unctuous† start having a positive connotation?   Watch any cooking show lately and it’s likely you’ll hear someone describe a dish as â€Å"unctuous,† as if that’s a good thing. Many celebrity chefs seem to now use the word to suggest a dish is rich, smooth, or maybe even creamy.† Like the reader, my reaction to hearing the adjective unctuous applied to food is one of disbelief and gagging repugnance. Unctuous derives from a Latin word meaning ointment. The earliest meaning of the word in English is â€Å"of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; oily, greasy.† Like so many other words, unctuous is and has been used with multiple meanings. For example, applied to soil, unctuous refers to the presence of organic matter and fertility. OED citations from 1495-1821 show the word used to describe meat that was â€Å"greasy, fat, and rich.† The OED labels this use â€Å"archaic.† For me, the chief meaning of unctuous is â€Å"smarmy and hypocritical.† This figurative meaning developed in the 18th century from the religious use of the noun unction in reference to religious ritual. Anointing with oil is a symbolic act indicating that a person is being prepared for something serious. For example, the Catholic sacrament Extreme Unction is equated with preparing a gravely ill person for death. Anointing is part of ceremonies associated with the crowning of a king and the ordination of a priest. The noun unction can be used literally to mean â€Å"anointing† or figuratively to mean â€Å"a spiritual influence acting upon a person or the manifestation of such a feeling in language.† In a spiritual context, â€Å"an unctuous person† is one who displays a manner suggestive of religious earnestness. Unfortunately, not-so-religious people often see religious earnestness as hypocrisy. Also unfortunately, hypocrisy frequently takes the form of false humility or religiosity. These human realities led to the use of unctuous to describe hypocrites. Literature abounds with such characters. Iago, Tartuffe, Uriah Heep, Mr. Brocklehurst, and Elmer Gantry are characters who talk a good game, pretending to a spiritual superiority and/or humility they do not possess in order to manipulate people. The literal meaning of unctuous only adds to the aptness of this figurative use: such characters are â€Å"oily and slippery,† like ointment. English speakers familiar with unctuous in the sense of greasiness and hypocrisy are understandably repelled to hear the word applied positively to food. Many food writers, however, have embraced the term. A writer at The Kitchn [sic] calls it a â€Å"favorite food word.† The word is especially popular in headlines above pork recipes: Braised pork belly is an unctuous treat Unctuous Carmelized Chinese Braised Pork Belly Aware that many English speakers object to the use of the word as if it meant succulent, food writers dismiss their critics with Humpty-Dumptian disdain: If you’re a food writer, and you’re doing a review or article about pork belly, you have to use the word unctuous or unctuousness whether you understand what it means or not. (Food Wishes blog) Words acquire different connotations according to the experiences of the people who use them. I’ve read that many modern speakers are grossed out by the use of the word moist to describe cake. To my generation, a moist cake is a good thing. It’s possible that food writers who find unctuous a suitable word to describe palatable pork may be repulsed by the word succulent. The Humpty Dumpty Theory of Language: â€Å"When  I  use a word,† Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, â€Å"it means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less.† â€Å"The question is,† said Alice, â€Å"whether you  can  make words mean so many different things.† â€Å"The question is,† said Humpty Dumpty, â€Å"which is to be master- thats all.†- Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll. Note: The reader whose question prompted this post also wonders about the pronunciation of unctuous: â€Å"Does unctuous have three syllables or only two?   I always thought it had three, but many of the folks on these [cooking] shows pronounce it with only two syllables. The preferred pronunciation is with three syllables: unk-tju-us. Merriam-Webster gives the three-syllable pronunciation first, but also acknowledges a two-syllable pronunciation: unk-tchus. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your Story50 Types of PropagandaHow to Style Titles of Print and Online Publications

Thomas Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Essay

Thomas Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions - Essay Example irst stage, â€Å"pre-paradigm science,† details that individuals seeking to comprehend an observed phenomenon do not share universal stock of background theory. In this stage, individuals start from ground zero and endeavor to construct a science from scratch. The lack of a paradigm to organize the data makes all facts to appear as uniformly relevant (Kuhn, 1996). At this stage, individuals lack a tradition that can be passed from one individual to the other for subsequent development and investigation. At some point, some of the inquirers establish an account of the registered phenomenon that bears adequate substance and explanatory power to draw the attention of a host of community of individuals, who will then propel the inquiry along the suggested lines. A paradigm comprises four critical features, which include a body of theory inclusive of laws, background metaphysical assumptions, values and exemplars. The attainment of a paradigm converts pre-paradigm science into normal science. Normal science predominantly comprises puzzle solving whereby the main task details expanding knowledge of facts identified as significant by the paradigm. Investigators, in this case, do not advance bold, fresh theories but employ the accepted theoretical frameworks in fresh and novel sorts of cases. This phase also incorporates enhancing the similarity between the facts and the paradigm’s forecasts, as well as additional development and articulation of the paradigm (Kuhn, 1996). Scientists undertaking normal science do not necessarily work to counter or depose a paradigm, or even seek out to verify whether a paradigm is accurate. The scientists presume that the paradigm is factual, and continue based on that assumption. Working within a paradigm demands that the scientists embrace the core elements of the paradigm as a dogma. The scientist’s main task in this stage encompasses working out the particulars of the paradigm devoid of calling into question the fundamental

Midterm Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Midterm Exam - Essay Example A country’s state of democracy is affected by its economic state due to the presence of funds and jobs, which reduces the level of poverty in individual country. According to researchers in these regions, oil as a source of wealth has played major role in the political democratization of these countries (Peruzzotti 34). They include the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East that are rich in oil deposits. However, various strategies have been put in place to help as sources of wealth since the economic levels of these countries largely influence democracy levels in these countries. Economic stability due to oil as a source of wealth in these Arab countries has largely influenced the political structure. Various economical factors have led to the democratization of these countries. The economic stability of a country accrues to a large percentage of the political stability. Economic stability means that there are enough funds to cater for the governmentâ₠¬â„¢s operations. Democracy highly depends on the level of literacy in the society. In most of the developed countries, education is highly valued due to its contribution to the level of democracy in the member states, a situation where people are a literate. Education directly or indirectly provides knowledge to members of the society. Most of the countries provide education measures that contribute to the level of awareness. Education of the public provides them with the knowledge to help the society to vote the right representatives in congress or parliaments according to the provided individual government. In most third world countries, illiteracy contributes to political instability, which entails to high rates of in democracy in most of the countries. Leaders from the gulf countries provide the public with political knowledge that helps them to vote for the right representatives. Oil has a major role in the provision of amenities such as education and other social amenities. T here are certain roles that come up due to the presence of oil in a country. Oil provides for the larger part of the country’s heritage by contributing to the tourism industry. The industry has contributed to the economy of these Arab countries due to the increased tourist attraction constructions such as the Palm Islands and other national projects that will help in the provision of funds to most of the running projects in these Middle East countries. Tourism is a project that has been put into consideration to help most of the countries to maintain their budgets after all of the oil reserves have been utilized. For example, countries such as Dubai have started constructing buildings and other tourism facilities that help in attracting the Western countries o these regions after the oil reserves have gone dry. This will balance the economy source of income, which must contribute to political stability in the country. Tourism will ensure that the provision of social utilizes such as education, health and other social responsibilities. Due to education, members of the society have the knowledge to choose some of the elite members. Elite politicians have a major role to shape the political structure in the community. In modern day society, provision of health activities has been an act from the politicians to search lure leaders to look for the best representatives in the community. Oil has contributed as the major source of income in the Gulf members, which helps in provision of funds to provide for government operations. Funds have contributed to health facilities which help in the control of social amenities a such as education that helps individuals to have a broader

H5N1 Avian virus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

H5N1 Avian virus - Essay Example Moreover, this virus also has the ability to undergo antigenic drifts and antigenic shifts. The emergence of new strains of Avian influenza virus is of major public health concern because of the impending threat of a pandemic that it poses. Currently, the virus does not possess the ability of being transmitted amongst humans and it has been postulated that one this quality is acquired it would lead to potentially devastating consequences in the form of a pandemic. Till date, no vaccine for the prevention of H5N1 infection amongst humans exists. Moreover, the treatment options for infection are also limited viz. oseltamivir and zanamivir. Therefore, further research needs to be undertaken in order to develop new vaccines against these organisms and better medications to combat the infection if once contracted. Moreover, vigilant surveillance of outbreaks and epidemics of bird flu is also imperative. Avian Influenza or Bird Flu, as it commonly referred to, is an infection which is caused by the H5N1 virus. The natural hosts of this virus are wild birds, in particular water fowls, who carry these viruses in their intestines while themselves remaining asymptomatic (Auewaraku 404). The transmission of this virus to domesticated birds such as ducks, chickens and turkeys, can lead to outbreaks and epidemics of infection amongst these birds, causing a large number of them to be killed (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Recently, H5N1 virus is not only leading to an increasing number of epizootics, but has also been implicated in several epidemics in humans. The mode of transmission of this virus has been described as being feco-oral amongst birds, whereas humans contract the disease via contact with airborne particles from infected poultry or while contact with the poultry or their fecal matter e.g. during food preparation (Fleming 1066). The first human infection with H5N1 was

History about Elizabethan theatre Research Paper

History about Elizabethan theatre - Research Paper Example Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, Sir Philip Sidney and William Shakespeare were a major influence on the progression of the Elizabethan Theater. William Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies influenced the primary theoretical performances during their era. It is, therefore, imperative to assert that Elizabethan Theater exemplifies England’s structural, historical and theatre production principles that were shaped to a large extent by the influence of William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare’s limelight debut as a famous playwright was largely influenced by the death of Christopher Marlowe who was also influential in the molding of early theaters. At this time, he was famous for the play â€Å"Henry VI†. In 1954, when â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† and â€Å"Love’s Labour’s Lost† were performed, he became an icon in the theatre performance (Lee, 1898). Shakespeare influenced the Elizabethan Theater by determining the theme of the plays, drama and other performance as well as the role of different people in the theatre. During his time, playwrights, actors, and theaters owners acquired a new status of upper classmen in England, they got acknowledgment and rose higher in the society. Shakespeare lay the foundation for performance entertainment where comedies and tragedies were intertwined as more people were shifting from just wanting to watch comedies alone. The popularity of comedy and tragedy during Shakespeares er a led to a distinction between the two through a differentiation in their writing. Tragedy writers were guided by Aristotle’s definition of tragedy where a hero or heroine would be brought down by forces under their own control, but fate or through hubris. However, Romeo, Macbeth and Timon did not seem to adhere to this definition. Comedy was inspired by Plautus and Terence Roman "New Comedy". As such, comedies were happy tales about family affairs, domestic troubles and love but avoided politics (Arnold, 1989).

A comparative analysis of French and other local languages in Conde's Essay

A comparative analysis of French and other local languages in Conde's Traversee de la Mangrove and Chamoiseau's Chronique des sept miseres - Essay Example Condà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Traversà ©e de la Mangrove and Chamoiseau’s Chronique des sept misà ¨res will be closely analysed in this essay in order to provide a comparative analysis of the use of French and other local languages in both novels. Firstly, the narrative technique of both novels will be analysed in order to determine how the French language is presented and the message that each author wishes to portray to the reader as a result. The presentation of local languages will also be considered so that insight can be gained into how each author wishes to represent their place of birth and its culture through linguistic technique. Finally, the use of myth and fantasy will be examined so that a clear form of usage can be defined, in order to decipher its function within the portrayal of the French language. By representing a collection of different opinions, all of which question each other’s motives, Condà © provides a way of presenting collective accounts as a means of several possibilities and ways to write a novel. This free and somewhat disorderly structure may suggest that Condà © wishes to counteract typical order and demands. An argument for this case can be put forward as Condà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s female characters speak in the first person. In Mira’s first account, the first person is employed from the beginning as she explains to the reader about times during her childhood when she spent time at the river. She informs the reader that, The use of the first person is important, out of all the men represented in the novel, it is only Loulou’s son, Joby who is  «Ã‚  un garà §onnet pà ¢lot  Ã‚ »2, a description, which is rather emasculating and Xantippe who Condà © permits to speak in the first person. It is interesting to note on this point that during the classical period of ancient Greece, Xantippe was in fact a woman and wife to Socrates, a

History of Blacks in the Diaspora Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

History of Blacks in the Diaspora - Essay Example The coast was the focal point of trade for both goods from Europe as well as their slaves. Ultimately, the people were dumped in one of the ships meant for the slaves and deported on a transatlantic journey unaware that they will be traded and locked up as laborers. In terms of numbers the African Diaspora is unbelievable. Close to 12 million people were coerced out of Africa and deported to the New World. The key to the African Diaspora was propelled by a thriving economy. The slave trade drew investors from a host of nations such as Portugal, Spain, Brazil, England, the United States, Holland, France, Sweden and Denmark which kept the slave trade alive for a more than hundred years. (The African Diaspora: Melfisher.org) The concept of the African Diaspora considers the worldwide dispersion of Africans throughout history; the surfacing of the cultural identity abroad based on origin and social condition; and the physiological return to their own homeland i.e. Africa. Thus the African presence in Asia, Europe, and the Americas is not a recent occurrence. It had happened in ancient Greece and Rome, and it subsisted in Arabia and also in other parts of Asia prior to the rise of Islam. The growth of the global trade in African slaves by the Arabs for more than a century and half years back and the much more severe business by the Europeans and Americas from the fifteen century made that presence basically global. (Harris 27) Background & History of Blacks in the Diaspora: Spanning a period of nearly four hundred years, more than 4 million Africans were deported to N. America and also to the Caribbean Islands in the Atlantic slave trade. They were imprisoned from their motherland and estranged from the members of their groups and families and they were led to lead lives of slaves in New World where the customs and traditions in the midst they spent their lives were completely absent. The African Diaspora is the account of the manner in which Africans even through scattered and isolated were able to retain their traditions, undergo changes in their identities in a New World. Essentials of African culture such as the religion, language, and folklore lasted and also the links to their previous lives. In the course of Americanization, Africans developed yet another culture that is known as African-Americans or Creolos. The forced migration leading to the transatlantic slave trade is considered to be the largest one in the world. In its effort, it created l asting permanent linkages between Africa and N. America. (African Diaspora: Colorado College) The African populations were transported from a lot of areas of Africa, however mainly from those areas along the coast. The Bantu, lined on the Guinea coast, had the biggest uniform culture after which comes Mande, hence the culture of African-Americans was impacted in a major part by the people of these areas. In these colonies, the demand of the slaves mainly for economic factors and the demographics of the slaves left a huge impact on the development of the Afro-American culture. There was a presence of more than one Afro-American cu

A comparative analysis of French and other local languages in Conde's Essay

A comparative analysis of French and other local languages in Conde's Traversee de la Mangrove and Chamoiseau's Chronique des sept miseres - Essay Example Condà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Traversà ©e de la Mangrove and Chamoiseau’s Chronique des sept misà ¨res will be closely analysed in this essay in order to provide a comparative analysis of the use of French and other local languages in both novels. Firstly, the narrative technique of both novels will be analysed in order to determine how the French language is presented and the message that each author wishes to portray to the reader as a result. The presentation of local languages will also be considered so that insight can be gained into how each author wishes to represent their place of birth and its culture through linguistic technique. Finally, the use of myth and fantasy will be examined so that a clear form of usage can be defined, in order to decipher its function within the portrayal of the French language. By representing a collection of different opinions, all of which question each other’s motives, Condà © provides a way of presenting collective accounts as a means of several possibilities and ways to write a novel. This free and somewhat disorderly structure may suggest that Condà © wishes to counteract typical order and demands. An argument for this case can be put forward as Condà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s female characters speak in the first person. In Mira’s first account, the first person is employed from the beginning as she explains to the reader about times during her childhood when she spent time at the river. She informs the reader that, The use of the first person is important, out of all the men represented in the novel, it is only Loulou’s son, Joby who is  «Ã‚  un garà §onnet pà ¢lot  Ã‚ »2, a description, which is rather emasculating and Xantippe who Condà © permits to speak in the first person. It is interesting to note on this point that during the classical period of ancient Greece, Xantippe was in fact a woman and wife to Socrates, a

Personal Ethics Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Ethics Development - Essay Example Just like education, values are developed continuously. Personal values are more or less the same as DNA, which are unique to everybody. They are those that define and identify a person. Personally, I believe that people are responsible for their own actions. They are the ones to carry their own crosses in case of anything. I strongly believe in the togetherness of families i.e. family unity. I believe in sympathy, I believe in freedom of choice. I believe in integrity. I believe we can be what we want; I believe the father is the hero of every home. I believe in God. I believe in myself. All these ethical systems define who I am and identify me differently from other. Having being born and raised from the Southern background, the idea of family, honest, work ethics and education were instilled to me in my tender age. During that time, we could organize for family meetings and parties where we could meet and share the fun together. These celebrations brought different members of our extended family irrespective of their backgrounds, gender and social status. As I grew up, I learned to live with all family members irrespective of any situation. This has enhanced family unity and togetherness. To my opinion, family unity is watching a member of the family grow morally upright and guiding others with the right values. To me, effective family unity comes from honest and open communication lines. Family has been my favorite source of my values. When I was a child, I remember our family standing with us for guidance in all situations to ensure all was good to us. For sure, I may not have liked everything that was said but I learnt to appreciate them. When I was a teenager, I had developed a valuable belief that family is the best institution to nurture a child for healthy and wealthy living. I remember my parents emphasizing the virtue of honesty, and I ended up knowing that ‘honesty is the best policy.’ For one to determine and appreciate the

Violated Human Rights Essay Example for Free

Violated Human Rights Essay On Oct 10, 2012 a womans rights were violated when an inmate (female) gave birth to her first child. No doctors were present during labor nor during the actual delivery. Said inmate, Julie Bilotta, had reported that the guards at her prison had heard her cries of pain during labour and had chosen to ignore it. If that wasn’t bad enough, the guards even got irritated of her constant yelling and had her transferred to a new cell. Julie eventually gave birth 4 hours after the transfer. Luckily, the baby was born and is healthy. My personal view on this issue is that this is an incident that should have never happened. I think that we are a civilized enough society to realize that these inmates are still people, they are just people who have made mistakes. While paying for it, should they be treated like they are not even humane enough to have a proper health care when in need? Not only that, but because of this epidemic a child’s, or mother’s, life could have been taken away. With almost no help at all, this woman gave birth, endangering both her child and her self. The report even stated that the baby’s birth was something called a â€Å"breech birth† ( that’s when the baby enters the birth canal either buttocks or feet first rather than the head.) something like this is extremely serious during birth because it can sometimes lead to the baby getting caught and choking to death. Also, the woman giving birth can possibly bleed to death. That is why there is usually a medical procedure called a â€Å"c-section† for the safety of both mother and child. So far, the major rights that I see violated are. 1) Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. An innocent child, who hasn’t even been born long enough to even make mistakes, has had it’s life at risk. It has the right to live, and that prison took away it’s right by refusing to give the mother proper medical care. What if that baby really had died for something that could have been easily avoided? 2) Article 25. (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. This article states that everyone has the right to proper health care. Although, in all fairness, the prison guards did have Julie checked out by nurses, the reason why she didn’t receive proper medical attention is due to the fact that they thought it was a false labour. But even at that, they should have made sure that it was indeed false labour by getting a proper checkup by a doctor. At least that’s what standard procedure states, and according to article 25: Everyone has the right to standard living adequate including things like health care. I do believe that something like this will not happen ever again since it caused such an uprising by a group of womens rights activists. Along with all the press the incident got when it first occurred, it seems that everyone has the same thoughts on this matter and that, hopefully, this is the last time that this is to ever happen. However, if people still don’t get the message after this incident, I strongly believe that there should be some prison rule stating that when an inmate is pregnant the baby, and mother’s, well being become top priority and treat the birth the same as if the mother weren’t a prisoner.

In some poems the poets write about their feelings towards people. :: English Literature

In some poems the poets write about their feelings towards people. Compare 3 poems in this collection: the Laboratory, Havisham and My last Duchess The poems ‘The Laboratory’ by Robert Browning, ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning and ‘Havisham’ by Carol Ann Duffy all write about their feelings towards the characters in their poems. The laboratory is about a lady making poison to kill the man she loves ladies that he has chosen over her. In My Last Duchess it is about a man talking about his last duchess and what she did wrong and that the end result was murder. Havisham is about a lady who has gone mad over a love she once had who she was engaged to but at the last moment broke off their wedding and she never moves on from that day. In the poem ‘The Laboratory’ by Robert Browning the persona of the poem shows that she is very bitter towards her love as she wants him all to herself and not have to share him with others. She wants revenge on the times that she has missed out on without him and also for the times when ‘they believe my tears flow’ (Line 6+7) when this is untrue. She has worked out a way to get her revenge by making a poison that they will en joy even though it is going to kill the person who drinks it. In ‘Havisham’ by Carol Ann Duffy the persona of the poem who is Miss Havisham is filled with bitterness like the lady in the Laboratory. Miss Havisham bitterness is aimed at her fiancà © who left her on her wedding day and for this she never changes out of her wedding dress. This bitterness is not only aimed at her once fiancà © but to all men because she believes that they are all the same. In ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning it is not the lady that is

Preventing Bioterrorism Essay -- Biodefense, Biological Attack

September 11, 2001, signifies the most pivotal moment in United States history. It marks a great paradigm shift in the attitude of United States towards terrorism. Prior to September 11, policies to protect against terrorism were perforated with in fighting between government agencies, a lack of centralized intelligence sharing, and general surprise. This event marks the beginning of the largest growth in the United States intelligence community. The United States increased security all around the board, opened up and centralized its agencies, and began to prepare for new kinds of terrorist attacks. The country never experienced a bio-terrorist attack, and yet the threat is very real. From the Cold War, the United States fully understood the harm biological weapons can inflict. The attacks of September 11 demonstrate the preparation against domestic terrorist attacks and the damage terrorist can cause. As the United States continue to increase its security against terrorism, it is imperative it understands and prepares for a potential bio-terrorist attack. There are many events throughout which demonstrate the potential catastrophe a calculated bio-terrorist attack can create. The Black Death of the 14th century illustrates how quickly and how deadly a disease can spread. The plague originated in China and arrived via trade routes to Europe by the mid-14th century. By the end of the 14th century, the disease killed more than half the world’s population. The world witnessed its first case of biological warfare during the French and Indian Wars. British commander of the North America forces, Sir Jeffrey Amherst, ordered his troops to donate to Native Americans blankets infested with smallpox. As result, Native Ame... ...emonstrated the silent nature of such attacks and the damages they can exact on large populations. The plagues of the 14th century, the use of smallpox against the Indians, and the intentional Salmonella poisoning in the 1980’s exemplify this fact. The fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990’s along with other political events, resulted in vast amounts of bio-agents disappearing and falling into the wrong hands. Opponents claim it is too complex and requires too many resources to carry out large scale attacks; however, with biological weapons, a few infected people can spread the disease to thousands. The modern tactics of terrorism are unconventional, unexpected, and able to kill thousands. As terrorists become more organized and funded, it is essential that the United States increase its capabilities at preventing and defending against bio-terrorist attacks.

5 Stages of Team Development – Summary

Five Stages of Team Development December 17, 2012 Abstract This paper will evaluate the five stages of team development; Forming stage, Storming stage, Norming stage, Performing stage and Adjourning stage. â€Å"Building effective, cohesive teams has never played such a pivotal role in a company’s success as it does today†. PI Worldwide 2010 Retrieved from http://www. piworldwide. com/Solutions/Leadership-Development/Team-Building. aspx on December 17, 2012. Team building is an important part of ensuring success within an organization.All the stages may not be used in every instance, however it is a guideline that, if used correctly, will ensure better communication, decision making, increased productivity and overall success. PI Worldwide 2010 Retrieved from http://www. piworldwide. com/Solutions/Leadership-Development/Team-Building. aspx on December 17, 2012. I will evaluate each stage and compare it with real-life experiences to show how effective this system can be. Forming Stage The forming stage is where a group of people come together to work on a project.In this initial stage of team development the members take a more formal approach to how they communicate with each other, â€Å"there would be no clear idea of goals or expectations†. Management Study Guide 2008-2010 Retrieved from http://www. managementstudyguide. com/team-development. htm on December 17, 2012. This stage reminds me of a project I was chosen to be part of. A group of us were chosen to develop a plan of action geared toward increasing patient satisfaction in the hospital, due to poor results from a survey taken.During this Forming stage, we took the time to get to know each other’ what our strengths were, and by doing this we were able to create a mission statement for the team and begin our creative process. Storming Stage â€Å"The storming stage of team development is a period of high emotionality and tension among group members† â€Å"Organizatio nal Behavior† (Schermerhorn J 2012,pg. 156). Competition and resistance to the ideas offered by other team members begin to occur in this stage. Everyone wants their own ideas or that of their friend to be chosen.In my experience with team work, this stage is where member began to become more relaxed and sure of themselves, throwing ideas on the table and thinking their ideas are the best ones. Norming Stage In this stage, members start to remember the reason they are there and re-focus on the task at hand. â€Å"While enjoying a new sense of harmony, team members will strive to maintain positive balance† â€Å"Organizational Behavior† (Schermerhorn J 2012, pg 156). Members begin to feel like they have perfected the ability to work in groups at this time, developing a premature sense of accomplishment.At this stage my team started putting a plan in place to revamp how patients are treated during their hospital visits. Performing Stage In this stage of development , the team becomes more mature and organized. They know what the goals of the team are and work together to achieve success. Team members are able to do their own problem solving since they are sure of themselves and what their duties are. Team members came together and all the ideas that we shared now became a plan of action to improve patient satisfaction at our Hospital’s six facilities. Adjourning StageAt this stage team members learn to come together, get the job done quickly and go about their own business. â€Å"Their willingness to disband when the job is done and to work well together in future responsibilities, team or otherwise, is a long-term test of team success. † â€Å"Organizational Behavior† (Schermerhorn J 2012, pg 157) The five stages of team development really helped me to put the process of team work in perspective. Knowing what these stages all means and represents, gives me a better understanding of how to organize projects and what stage we are at in any given project.

Hum Week

It also states that from 2002 to 2011 Divergence had approximately $250,000 charged to his arsenal credit card, which was paid with the campaign account, but never gave any explanation as to what the charges were for. The strategy for applying creativity that would best be used for this issue would be to devise or modify a process or system. Apparently, the laws that are in place for this matter are not specific enough, and there is a lack of enforcement.These laws need to be modified to make their requirements more detailed, and there needs to be improvement of the enforcement of these laws. ) How might you use the strategies for promoting curiosity In addressing this topic? Why do you think these strategies might be effective? In order to promote curiosity in addressing this topic I think that the best thing to do would be to get more people involved in the process of change. When doing this, opinions can be heard and used to heighten the levels of curiosity. By allowing more peopl e to be involved, it will bring better solutions as well.I feel this strategy would be very effective, because the most effective way to promote curiosity and devise a new yester of laws to avoid any further discrepancies would be with questions. The answers to these questions will provide better Ideas for the changes that are needed. It will also provide ways to change the way the laws are enforced. In my opinion, If the penalties for breaking the laws became stricter, there would be less of a chance that the laws would be broken. A possible solution could be to employ unbiased workers to keep track of what Is being spent and why It Is being spent. ) How might you use the various methods for producing Ideas to eliminate the blabs from the original article and still present a factual and persuasive case? Using the various methods for producing Ideas can eliminate the blabs direction In this article by using forced uncommon responses, using free association, and constructing pro and con arguments. By using forced uncommon responses, the common and familiar (bias) Ideas can be avoided or dismissed. This will give way for the more open minded (non-blabs) Ideas. The use of free association will allow for a more relaxed and controlled responses.Constructing pro and con arguments can be done, but only tit the safeguard of going out of your way to construct arguments and Ideas that can malignant a neutral outlook. It Is very Important to always keep In mind that there Is more than one side to the Issue or problem. Both sides need to have the same attention In order to come up with the most effective solution. Having biased opinions and Ideas will only add to the problem, and make the solution more difficult to achieve. BY Hottentots Essex County Executive, Joe Divergence, was using his campaign funds to pay for of these laws. How might you use the strategies for promoting curiosity in answers to these questions will provide better ideas for the changes that are neede d. It will also provide ways to change the way the laws are enforced. In my opinion, if workers to keep track of what is being spent and why it is being spent. 3) How might you use the various methods for producing ideas to eliminate the bias from the methods for producing ideas can eliminate the bias direction in this article by using ideas can be avoided or dismissed.This will give way for the more open minded (non-bias) ideas. The use of free association will allow for a more relaxed and with the safeguard of going out of your way to construct arguments and ideas that can maintain a neutral outlook. It is very important to always keep in mind that there is more than one side to the issue or problem. Both sides need to have the same attention in order to come up with the most effective solution. Having biased opinions and ideas will only add to the problem, and make the solution more difficult

Comparison and Contrast of Hispanic Culture and Anglo-American Culture Essay

There is no universal culture amongst the world society as each community embraces a unique culture that guides and defines their behavior. The differences that are exhibited within any particular group of people in a country or a cultural group are usually greater than those differences that may be in a homogeneous group. The differences are usually noted in level of education, social standing, religious beliefs, personality definition, previous experiences, and affection that prevails in the home among other many factors that have an influence on human behavioral and cultural practices. Cultural differences are persistent even in the globalized world. It is therefore important to take note of the differences in order to have good knowledge of the customs, beliefs, values and norms of the divergent cultural groups. Cross cultural studies therefore are essential as they assist in coming up with a comparison of the various cultural differences that is observed in the various ethnic groups. When conducting cross-cultural studies, comparison becomes the main essence of the study thereby ensuring that generalized assumptions are inevitable as the researchers seek to categorize the cultural groups. We need however to be cautious that generalizations may lead to serious negative impacts especially when they are made from faulty observations. This paper shall aspire to give a comparison and contrast of the Hispanics and the Anglo-American cultures Hispanics: An analysis of the Hispanic community in the United States is not an easy task as there are several Hispanic groups in the country having different backgrounds especially in relation to their point of origin. The Hispanics are therefore not a single group with similar cultural characteristics as they exhibit differences in regard to political views, customs, religious beliefs, familial and other conventions that distinguish each group from the others. The focus on the Hispanics in this paper shall focus on four categories which include the Mexicans Americans, the Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and those from the Central American region. The Mexican Americans trace their place of origin from Mexico while the Puerto Ricans are considered the citizens of the United States given that Puerto Rico is a United States’ territory. The Cuban Americans on the other hand are those who fled Cuba due to the political and economical turmoil that has been experienced in their country for quite some time. Lastly, the Hispanics from the central part of the Americas are said to have originated from various countries in the region (Kanellos, 1994). The Anglo-Americans: The Anglo-American refers to the ethnic group of individuals of European origin. The term ‘Anglo’ has come to be used to refer to the English speaking Americans with little reference to their particular origin more like the term Hispanic has been used to refer to the various groups that make the Native American population. The Anglo-Americans comprise of English speaking Americans who are in most instances Protestants with minority of them adhering to the Roman Catholicism. The term Anglo-American has been used to refer to all those individuals who originated from countries that traditionally spoke English as their main language and also those whose families have adopted the English speaking culture in the United States and Canada to perfection (Diaz-Guerrero & Szalay, 1991). Comparison and Contrast of the Hispanic and the Anglo-American Cultures: As stated earlier, there are various groups in the United States which form the larger Hispanic category. Nevertheless, the different groupings within the Hispanic block have distinct features which come out especially when compared to the Anglo-American way of doing things. The Mexican Americans for instance, are known to speak Spanish and they are taught in bi-lingual classes which involves English as their second language. The Mexican Americans have various values which are unique of the Anglo-Americans. The familial values of the Mexican Americans for instance are uniquely different from that exhibited by the Anglo-Americans. The Mexico Americans for instance emphasizes on the social structure that is rooted in the family unit (Kanellos, 1994). Though the women are greatly respected in their culture, the Mexican Americans holds that the women are inferior to their husbands in the homes. The husband is seen as the figure of authority and the chief decision maker for the family. They usually cherish large families and extended family ties are maintained. This is in contrast to the typical Anglo-American culture where both the man and woman in the house enjoy equal or almost equal right in the decision making process for the family. The family is based on democratic principles and small nuclear families are cherished. The bond for extended family ties is usually loose in the setting of the Anglo-American culture. Most Mexican Americans are also observed as Catholics and they put emphasis on the holding of religious moral values than their Anglo-American counterparts. Politically, the Mexican Americans have not been quick to stamp their authority in the political landscape within the United States save for the appointment of Alberto Gonzales as America’s Attorney General (Kanellos, 1994). This is in contrast to their Anglo-Americans who have dominated the political scene with most being identified with the Republican Party. Economically, the Mexico-Americans have remained generally sidelined as their Anglo-Americans counterparts continue to dominate the economic landscape. From the study done in 1989 it was revealed that Mexicans Americans earned 21% wages lower than the Anglo-Americans. Though these statistics can no longer be relied upon die to the passage of time, there still remains a significant gap between economic gains by these two groups (Franklin, 2010). The Puerto Ricans are well known for their general proficiency in Spanish and English languages. This concept has made life for this group of Hispanics more bearable than any of the other Hispanic groups. Contrary to the Mexican Americans, most of the households amongst the Puerto Ricans are headed by females. The Puerto Ricans submit to various religious groups which include Baptism, Catholics, Methodist and any other of the world religion more like their Anglo-Americans counterparts. Politically, the Puerto Rican have limited access to the same rights and political privileges enjoyed by any other American citizen though Puerto Rico is considered a United States’ territory from the year 1917. They are for instance not allowed to take part in presidential election. They are however exempted from paying the federal income tax. Though they have limitation on the rights associated with citizenship, the Puerto Ricans continue to enjoy exceptional unrestricted US migration (Diaz -Guerrero & Szalay, 1991). The Cuban Americans have come from a difficult background that was characterized by unstable political environment in their backyard and difficult economic conditions. They however carried with them much of the Spanish culture given that the Spanish had great influence on the Caribbean Island. Most of the Cuban Americans are Catholics though some traces of Protestantism, Jewish, Santeria, and nonreligious beliefs can be traced. It has however been noted that most Cuban Americans have been assimilated in the mainstream culture meaning that they have taken most of the Anglo-American culture leaving their own though they have kept a small portion of their original culture (Diaz -Guerrero & Szalay, 1991). The other Spanish group from the Central American region comprise of the Venezuelan Americans most of whom are Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Though most of them came to stay in America after the completion of their college studies in the US, they still maintain their familial ties which are very strong. They imbue in their children the value of family as an important aspect of the society at an early age. The familial ties are so strong that they at tomes make it hard for them to get assimilated in the American mainstream culture. Most of the Venezuelan Americans are Catholics though most do not hold religion in high esteem as the other Hispanic groups (Franklin, 2010). Other general aspects of the Hispanic groups’ culture include privacy which is only handled by the family members. They value modestly as part of their culture and that the area between the waist and the knees is considered as private. This is not common with the Anglo-Americans who are often exposes their body parts that would otherwise be considered private in Hispanic culture. The old members of the family are greatly respected given their experience with life. In regard to health practice, the Hispanics are known to be emotionally expressive and individuals are expected to be pampered when they fall ill. To most Hispanics, birth control measures are not entertained a part from the natural ones given that most are Catholics. They also view thinness as a problem and plumpness is considered ideal. This is in contrast to the Anglo-Americans who are pragmatic on heath issues and readily accept the birth control methods and also despise plumpness of the body (Culturediversity. rg, 2008). In a study conducted by Pablo G. Cardona, Bonnie C. Nicholson, and Robert A. Fox, in the year 2000 entitled ‘Parenting Among Hispanic and Anglo-American Mothers With Young Children’ it was found that Hispanic mothers had higher frequency of discipline and a lower frequency of nurturing with their young children compared to their Anglo-American counterparts though no differences were recorded in the expectations of both the Hispanic and Anglo-America n mothers (Cardona, Nicholson, and Fox, 2000). Conclusion: The cultural comparisons between the two cultural categories can go on and on without any sign of stopping any soon. The cultural differences observed between the Hispanics and the Anglo-Americans are reflected most in the familial affiliation, language, and religion. Most of the Hispanic groups in the United States have very strong family bonds, they subscribe to the Catholic faith and that they speak Spanish. This contrasts with the Anglo-Americans who speak English as their first language, have loose familial bonds and Protestantism is their main religion. Nevertheless, among the Hispanic groups are some differences especially in regard to how they have been able to get assimilated to the American lifestyle. The Puerto Ricans and the Cuban Americans are the most assimilated followed by the Venezuela Americans who are in the middle of being assimilated whereas the Mexican Americans are the least assimilated.

Energizing Red Bull Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Energizing Red Bull - Essay Example This essay discusses that the â€Å"Red Bull – The Anti-Brand Brand† case showcases the strategic and global growth of energy drink, Red Bull. Discovered in Asia by Dietrich Mateschitz as a drink to boost factory productivity in 1982, the drink became a household name by 2003 with sales in more than 100 markets and a market share of 70%. Being a pioneer in energy drinks segment, Red Bull is an innovative product that tactically filled a gap in the market that only had coffee or natural juices as alternative options for energy. Red Bull, a compund mixture of taurine, caffeine and glucuronolactone, claimed to boost metabolism, improve performance, increase concentration and reaction speed, and increased endurance. Red Bull attained operational excellence by having decentralized sales and distribution channels, making sure that the product was accessible and available at all times. The brand created high barriers to entry by making sure there were â€Å"exclusive† p artnerships with strong distributors. The sales teams helped generate an aura of â€Å"exclusivity† by handpicking initial distributors and deliberate limiting of the supply. As expected in any industry, a growing market always attracts competition. In 2004, Red Bull faced intense competition from giant brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi who were developing their â€Å"health drinks† business and from private lables across the market. Currently, the top competition for Red Bull is from Monster, Pepsi and Suntory. It is seen from recent reports that the market share of Red Bull slipped to 40% in 2010. (Privo, 2010). The following write-up describes the marketing & communication strategies that Red Bull shouls adapt in order to rebrand its image and increase its sales to fight competition. Media Strategy Adopted by Red Bull in the case Key Customers & Customer segments The key customers for Red Bull were Generation Y-ers (18-29 year olds) who were the main consumers of à ¢â‚¬Å"extra energy† projects. Previously, these customers looked out for products (sometimes illegal) such as alchohol to provide them the extra thrill in their lives. Within the young adults customer group, Red Bull segmented them further to customize their promotional activities with respect to their needs. These segments are: Club-goers: All party-loving people who love a vibrant nightlife, like to dance and drink. These customers were the major consumers of thrilling vodka-red bull mix. Outdoors enthusiasts (Skiers, Skate-boarders): Outdoors enthusiasts such as skiers, snowboarders wanted Red bull to keep their energy levels high during their expeditions. Extreme Sports & Action games lovers: Lovers of extreme sports and action games such as racecar, bike racing and skydiving etc. also consumed Red Bull with zest. Hardcire Music fans: Music fans that regularly attend music festivals, rock concerts and other music gatherings were also users of energy drinks as Red Bull. Stu dents: Students who needed extra energy during their exams and university classes were another segment of Red Bull consumers. Product Positioning The manufacturers of Red Bull created an innovative niche for itself by positioning the product as a different, cool and rebellious product, which is available at a premium. Dietrich Mateschitz deliberately separated Red Bull from carbonated drinks (soda), juices or coffee. (Joyner, 2011). Key Messages & Brand Positioning The brand positioning and key messagers were derived from out of the product benefits and after-effects: Red Bull vitalizes body and mind. This key message became the nucleus of all promotional activities surrounding Red Bull with brand attributes as innovative, rebelling, self ironic, intelligent, nonconformist, self-confidence, mysterious, witty, charming, polarising and unpredictable. Red Bull’

Scope for exploiting Big Data and Big Data Analytics in the local Essay

Scope for exploiting Big Data and Big Data Analytics in the local transport industry - Essay Example With great developments in information and communication technology, most of the data produced every day is generated by people all over the world through social networks; however other types of important data are collected using cameras, GPS equipment, satellites and other devices for many uses. Over the last decade, business strategy has become increasingly dependent on information about potential customers and their characteristics. This data is obtained from the huge collection of data referred to as Big Data through processes like data mining and analyzed to help in business strategy. Analytics is the other method of collecting vital consumer information and it involves real time tracking of consumer characteristics. This paper examines how Big data analytics can be used in the transportation industry to improve quality of service, add value to services and develop applications that will enhance service provision in the industry and reduce loss of time and money. The study has d efined Big data and some of the theories that enable its application as well as examined the benefits and challenges provided by big data analytics in the transportation industry locally and globally. 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background More data is currently being generated worldwide than at any other point historically. Over the last five years, the volume of data generated globally is estimated to have increased by a factor of six to over 1000 exabytes (Dumbill, 2012). The ‘digital’ universe is expected to reach 8 zettabytes by the year 2015. In general the data explosion is projected to increase with time especially with new data types being developed and increased access to networked devices all over the world including smart phones and geo-positioning devices (Woo et al., 2011). The data being accumulated comes from a wide range of sources. However, the data growth is driven by two main sources working together with decreasing storage costs. The first source for data is the â€Å"internet of things†. A number of sensors collate information on our activities and environment on a daily basis. These connected devices contribute substantially to the amount of information accumulated daily and they are projected to rise from about 4.5 billion devices in 2010 to over 50 billion in 2020 (Dumbill, 2012). The second greatest source of data is the social web of networks where information about human activities is shared on a daily basis. This includes data about human preferences, interests, and locations. On addition to the two major sources of data highlighted above, there are a number of other private sources including hospital records, phone communications, financial transactions, information captured on CCTV and many others. The McKinsey Global Institute has termed big data as the next frontier for competition, innovation, and global productivity (Manyika, 2011). The analysis of masses of unstructured and semi-structured data which some time a go would have been considered prohibitive in terms of time and money is now considered the next step towards business advantage. One of the reasons why this data has turned out to be very important is that great insight can be gained from the data by monitoring the patterns of human interaction. One of the areas in which big data displays great potential is the transportation industry. This is an industry which increasingly showing great requirement for an industrial big data platform. With increasing urbanization and expansion of many cities across the world, traffic management and related challenges are getting bigger by the day. In some of the largest and more congested cities in the

Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Latin America - Essay Example Last but not the least; deforestation is discussed which is being forecast as pending disaster in Amazonia, Brazil. Some important points are highlighted in this report including the reasons of upcoming disaster and its consequences on the overall economy. Answer 1: Diagnostic characteristics involve the regional, economic, social and cultural differences between Mainland and Rimland cultural areas of Middle America. A well known geographer, John Augelli has highlighted these characteristics and identified Euro- Amerindian as Mainland culture and Euro- African as Rimland culture. It is important to note here that Middle America has great cultural diversity and these groups are considered a main reason of this diversity. Robert B, Kent (2006) has explained that in the areas of Middle America, the RIMLAND population and culture reflect a blend of Euro- African influences. This cultural group covers the areas of West Indies as well as the areas running along east part of Central America. Moreover, RIMLAND cultures are also linked with northern nations of Europe including Great Britain, France and Netherlands. Different European colonies have also emerged that are composed of this cultural group. Rimland cultural group is largely associated with agriculture and plantation economy. Commercial trend of agriculture is also common in this group. Moreover, they are also serving as efficient workers in labor market and various factories. The Euro- Amerindian population of Middle America is associated with Mainland culture. In the beginning, this cultural group prefers to live in Spanish colonies due to the cultural orientations. Nowadays, Mainland cultural group enjoys high estates in Central America. They are self sufficient people associated with agriculture and industry. Answer 3: Most often it is widely claimed that Mexico is the most populated and too crowded country. Among Central American countries, Mexico has the highest population

Analysis of Nike shoes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analysis of Nike shoes - Research Paper Example either orally introduced or written. In the following three scenarios, the terms may be inferred from a contract. (i) In fact- where the contract consists of no specific term but the signatories to contract must have in mind to be included in the same (ii) By law – the provisions contained in Sale of Goods Act 1979 (SOGA). (iii) BY customs followed by the contracting parties. Thus , there exists an implied term of any sale of product contract between a consumer and a commercial seller or between two commercial sellers themselves , that as per S.14 of SOGA , products sold are of reasonably suitable for their purpose and of satisfactory quality and as per S.1 of SOGA, products adhere with any available sample or any description. It is to be observed that a seller will be held accountable for infringement of these implicit terms. (Popat 2010: 319). Under SOGA, if a defective product has been supplied, then it would result in the basic infringement of contract and hence, the buyer can either seek damages or repayment of purchase price or to reject the product itself. As per s.14 of SOGA, the product should of satisfactory quality. ... In â€Å"Camell Laird & Co v The Manganese Bronze and Brass Co [1934] 402,† it was held that for supply of defective products, the seller was accountable under S.14 (1) of SOGA. (Popat 2010:391). In â€Å"Abouzaid v Mothercare (UK) Ltd†, claim for defective product was successful as the Court of Appeal held that product supplied was below the standard of safety of the public and hence was entitled to claim damages under CPA. However, in this case, the claim under tort of negligence was failed because it was not rationally predictable that the product would have caused such a harm or injury. (Rush & Ottley 2006:291). A consumer may bring a claim against supply of a defective product against the seller who sold the goods and in normal parlance, the seller of the products will claim from the manufacturer or the distributor. A single consumer can initiate such a claim individually and where a large number of consumers are affected, then group claim can be made. Normally, as there is no direct contractual remedy is available against the manufacturer for a consumer as there is no direct privity of contract between a consumer and the distributor or the manufacturer. Unless, if there is a contract of guarantee issued by the manufacturer, the consumer has no direct contractual remedy from a manufacturer or a distributor. If a manufacturer gives a guarantee, then it will be considered as a separate contract and will be implemented against the manufacturer. Further, the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 regulate any such guarantees. (Popat 2010:319). CONCLUSION It is advised that Matt’s parent has the right to demand damages or refund of money paid for Nike shoes from

Counseling male rape victims Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Counseling male rape victims - Research Paper Example The victims are also required to process the rape and the possible experiences they may face after the ordeal with their formal and informal providers of support. Second, observations made from evaluating therapeutic techniques show that cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can work quite well in the reduction of the short term post rape anxiety and fear symptoms. Though, feminist therapies focus on the long term issues in dealing with self blame and guilt, they are known to work at times for the short term issues. Finally It is common for the mental health practitioners who deal with the male rape victims to also experience disturbing feelings that are similar to those experienced by the rape victim. These symptoms are referred to as Secondary Traumatic stress usually experienced by practitioners who deal with a high number of sexually assaulted victims, thus, the need for the application of self-care strategies for these therapists. Introduction The term rape/sexual assault are usu ally defined in many different ways, but, it is explained that rape is the unwanted sexual acts that range from touching to penetration. Usually it is assumed that phrase ‘victims of sexual abuse’ or ‘rape victims’ usually refer to women, but contrary to that, men and boys are also victims of the vice and research shows that in America 10% of the rape victims are men and boys. According to the mental health practitioners who dealt with them, men and boys suffer post-traumatic stress similar to those experienced by women, but are not willing to accept that they are rape victims and need assistance. For some time now practitioners, researchers have tried to find out how sexual assault on males impacts the individuals health psychologically and to create therapies that efficient in enhancing the recovery of these male victims. This essay seeks to explain the research results on three major issues for the practitioners who deal with the male rape victims. These issues are: one, the experiences of the male rape victims and the issues they may put forward in therapy, two, the therapeutic techniques and methods that have yielded success in enhancing recovery of the victims, lastly, the effects of dealing with the male rape victims on the health practitioner dealing with them. The experiences of the male rape victims and the issues they may put forward in therapy Currently, research focuses mainly on putting down and explaining the post traumatic impacts ion the male rape victim’s way of life. The research findings show that the victims struggle with the effects of the assault directly and the effects of the assault on the people who are close to them, that is family and friends. Thus, these results shows that the male rape survivors may share a variety of concerns in therapy and the therapists must be informed of the various negative impacts of sexual assault (Odem & Warner, 1998). Sexual assault/ rape are devastating and normally it wrecks the survivor’s ability to maintain a consistent illusion of safety at the personal level, their invulnerability, and threatens some of the beliefs and assumptions the victims identify with and the larger community that surrounds them. The victims are likely to display extreme levels of psychological distress, guilt, fear, shame, tension, anxiety, anger among others. These different psychological symptoms are usually viewed as an exhibition of the

Murder of Emmett Till Essay Example for Free

Murder of Emmett Till Essay Emmett Till was a fourteen year old boy who lived in Chicago. He was very outgoing and friendly with everyone he met. After his uncle, Moses (Moh-ss) Wright, came up to visit, he took Emmett and his cousin down to Money, Mississippi. Before he left, his mother informed him that life is very, very different for blacks in the South and the way he acted at home could not be the same as how he acted down there. He didn’t believe her warnings. As Emmett and his mother got to the train station Emmett ran for the train in haste as to not miss his ride. Mamie Till, his mother, yelled to him â€Å"Emmett, aren’t you gonna say good bye? What if I never see you again?† Emmett said, â€Å"Awhh mama.† Then he gave her a kiss on the cheek and handed her his watch so that she had part of him while he was away. She asked about his father’s ring and he said he was, â€Å"going to show it off to the boys† and was on his way without regard to his mother’s warnings. Money, Mississippi was just a stretch of road with a post office on one end and Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market at the other. Bryant’s sold cool drinks to passing field workers and candy to the neighborhood children. So African Americans were often regulars. As Mamie had said, the south was like a whole other world compared to Chicago. In the south, when a white woman would walk down the sidewalk and a black man was walking towards her, he would have to get off the sidewalk and look at the ground because a black male can never look a white woman in the eyes. Blacks weren’t even allowed to enter through the front doors of white businesses. Moses Wright worked on a field picking cotton. He lived in a small shack on the plantation that he worked for. There were only three small rooms in the shack so everyone squeezed in to the available beds. Emmett had to sleep with his cousin in one room; Moses was in another and in the other room, Wheeler Parker, Emmett’s close cousin and the others. While there Emmet and his cousins would help Moses in the field. On August 24, the boys drove into town from the field and went in to Bryant’s Grocery to get candy and drinks. Emmett went in and purchased two cents worth of bubble gum and on the way out turned back to Carolyn Bryant, the wife of the owner of Bryant’s Grocery, and whistled to her. She was furious and ran out to chase the boys, so they got in the car and drove off to their uncle’s house. While driving home Emmett begged his cousins not to tell Moses of the events that occurred. After three days, the boys forgot about the whole scenario. On the fourth night, at about 2:30 am while everyone lay asleep in bed, Roy Bryant, Carolyn’s husband, and his brother J.W. Milam broke into the house. They went into the first room to find Moses sleeping and woke him, shinning a flashlight in his eye and holding a rifle to his head and asked where Emmett was. Moses pleads for them to leave the boy alone but they did not listen and went into Emmett’s room and kidnapped him. Days went by with no word, so as does most blacks when someone goes missing, they started to check around the Tallahassee River, to try to find his body. Days later, a young man fishing in the Tallahatchie reported Emmett’s body floating in the nearby weeds. When Moses went to identify the body, the only way he could verify that it was Emmett, was by his father’s ring that was on his finger. Both men were arrested and set to be tried in the Tallahatchie County Court in September of 1955 for the murder of Emmett Till. The friends of Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam as well as other white families collected money to buy every lawyer they could for the two. When it came to the trial the defenses main strategy was that the body could not be identified as Emmett Till. They claimed that Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam let him go alive. Any Black people that came forward with information for the prosecution mysteriously disappeared so most remained neutral to avoid having the same fate. The two men were acquitted and set free, Mamie Till sent to higher courts and even President Eisenhower, who all refused to investigate further. After the trail Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam sold their story about what they did to Look Magazine. They made Emmett carry a 75-pound cotton-gin fan to the bank of the Tallahatchie River and ordered him to take off his clothes. They beat him nearly to death, gouged out his eye, shot him in the head, and then threw his body in; with the cotton-gin fan tie around his neck with barbed wire, his body sank into the river. After the story was published and the government did nothing about it, Mamie Till and All African Americans in America, realized the magnitude of their predicament. They knew that their rights as humans were at risk. Thus, the murder of Emmett Till became renowned as the spark that began the Civil Rights Movement.

Does plato’s republic still stand in today’s society?

Does plato’s republic still stand in today’s society? Few philosophers in ancient and modern history continue to have as much influence as Plato. More than 2500 years after Platos death, his teachings regarding justice and the ideal state continue to inspire discussion and debate. The ideal community he envisioned in The Republic continues to influence leaders and political thinkers, and his study of the ideal state formed the foundations of political science. This paper examines the continuing relevance of the book The Republic, with particular focus on Platos concepts of justice, happiness and the ideal society. Plato was born in Athens in 427 BC. He belonged to an aristocratic family, as his father was a descendant of an Athenian king while his mother was distantly related to the lawmaker Solon. Platos father died early, and his mother re-married an associate of Pericles, the statesman. Based on familial ties, Plato had strong connections with both democracy and the oligarchy. Following his stepfathers footsteps, the young Plato had political ambitions. Soon, however, he became disillusioned by the corrupt and inefficient political leadership in Athens. Plato then followed his older brothers who had become pupils of Socrates. Plato eventually became a great follower of Socrates, adopting the great teachers basic philosophy and style of debate. Plato also vigorously adopted Socrates motto, Know thyself, and he pursued this knowledge through Socrates dialectical system of questions, answers and additional questions. This critical method of instruction, however, caused Socrates to fall into disfavor with his students. The teacher was tried for religious impiety and corruption of youth and was sentenced to death. Socrates death further increased Platos dissatisfaction with all existing political regimes. In 387 BC, Plato founded his own school, the Academy, in Athens. This university was for higher studies, with instruction in the sciences, mathematics and philosophy. The academy attracted students for more than nine centuries. Plato continued to teach and served as president of the Academy until his death in 347 at the age of 80. In The Republic, Plato proposes his theory that the ideal state or polis can only be achieved through a balance of elements. Political justice can only be present when people serve their functions, as determined by their tripartite souls. Plato believed that the human soul is divided into three elements. First, there are the bodily appetites, expressed through bodily needs such as hunger and thirst. Second are the spiritual elements, expressed through emotions like love, anger and compassion. Above all, the third element that separates people from animals and makes them unique is the human ability to use language and reason. Plato compared the soul to an organism. An imbalance among these elements leads to conflict, sickness and misery. Plato also believed that there are three types of personalities. The most common is the person dominated by bodily appetites. This person is desires, money and possessions. The second personality is dominated by the spirit. This person would be driven by goals like success, fame and power. Finally, there is the person who is dominated by reason, the person who aspires towards truth and wisdom. He or she would be willing to give up family, forgo basic appetites and live the austere lifestyle to discover the unchangeable human essence. Plato believed that happiness comes when these three elements of the soul are satisfied under the rule of reason. This is a difficult endeavor, for the bodily drives often conflict with reason. However, knowledge and right conduct can only come from a soul dominated by reason. Hence, only those who are governed by reason and knowledge should be in a position to govern the other members of society. Like the human soul, Plato also viewed society as an organism. In Platos ideal society, each persons social role will be determined by the element dominant in his or her soul. People who are ruled by bodily appetites would make the best producers farmers, laborers, hunters, merchants and the others whose work sustains a populaces physical needs. People who are driven by spiritual desires like honor, loyalty, fame and other spiritual elements should be members of a citys auxiliary and military staff. Finally, there are the men and women who are ruled by reason. They are devoid of family ties and do not possess private property. Through years of training, they could enact laws and make decisions based on reason and wisdom, on what Plato termed the idea of the good. These, Plato believed, are the philosophers who should also be kings. Only people who are dominated by reason should become guardians. Plato was critical of Athenian society, which allowed even people who are ruled by bodily appetites to govern. In Platos view, this leads to an imbalance in the social organism, manifesting in the societal conflict and corruption that turned him away from politics as a young man. Platos belief in establishing harmony within conflicting human and social elements led him to conclude that an ideal society must be governed by knowledgeable and reason-driven elite. Platos descriptions of justice, virtue and happiness are very different from the modern understandings of these terms. For Plato, all these concepts are entwined in his understanding of the ideal state and, again, his concept of the tripartite soul. In The Republic, Plato wrote of his concept of individual justice as an offshoot of what he sees as a tripartite soul. Plato believed that the human soul is divided into three elements. First, there are the bodily appetites, expressed through bodily needs such as hunger and thirst. Second are the spiritual elements, expressed through emotions like love, anger and compassion. Above all, the third element that separates people from animals and makes them unique is the human ability to use language and reason (Rice 58-61). The theory of political justice parallels the theory of individual justice. For Plato, a city is man writ large against the sky. Since people are social animals, cities are a natural extension and mirror of the human soul. In Platos ideal society, each persons social role should be determined by the element dominant in his or her soul. Political justice occurs when the guardians rule wisely and the other classes do their tasks, ensuring the smooth function of the social organism. As in the body, when all aspects of society function as one, there will be harmony. This harmony engenders the reign of political justice, resulting in a state that is free from war or civil disorder. An imbalance among these elements leads to conflict, sickness and misery. Individual happiness can only happen when all three elements are in balance. Only when this balance occurs can a person live a just and harmonious life (Rice 61). For Plato, ensuring that the guardians rule wisely and the other classes do their tasks will facilitate the smooth function of the social organism. When all aspects of society function as one, there will be harmony. This harmony begets the reign of political justice, resulting in a state that is free from war or civil disorder. Only in such a society can human happiness be possible, as the alternative is chaos. Plato thus viewed happiness as an abstract, a fringe benefit of living a virtuous life and facilitating a harmonious social organization. Plato used the haunting allegory of the cave as a metaphor for the human condition. Plato believed that ordinary humans who do not bother to, in the Socratic tradition, examine their lives were doomed to live like prisoners in a cave. These prisoners can only see shadows, which are created by artificial light and manipulated by unseen overlords (Plato 514a-519a). These individuals cannot have proper concepts of their existence and their needs. They do not have the knowledge to recognize their victimization and therefore have to desire to be free. Any interruption in their ways of thought such as a prisoner who escapes and returns, telling of the sunlight outside the cave is regarded with disrespect and suspicion. Only by leaving the cave can these prisoners ever learn the difference between what is real and what are artificial shadows. Several criticisms have been written regarding the weaknesses in Platos formulations. Though a modern reading of Plato would find his concepts of democracy and justice as strange, criticisms regarding this work began much earlier. For example, Platos formulation of happiness is understandable given how the ancient Greeks stressed the importance of the polis. However, viewed from a modern perspective, what Plato defines as happiness is more like contentment. People live their lives according to an inner nature that is inflexible. They derive satisfaction from fulfilling their assigned societal roles. Platos definition, however, lacks an important component of happiness passion. True human happiness involves the active and passionate pursuit of a goal. Platos student Aristotle was also one of his earliest critics. Aristotle recognized the weaknesses of Platos concept of happiness and introduced a much-needed layer of empiricism to Platos philosophy. Aristotle was critical of Platos reliance on intuitive reason and a supposedly immutable world of ideas. Instead, Aristotle believed that knowledge should be anchored in real experiences that can be perceived by the senses. Plato thus viewed happiness as an abstract, a fringe benefit of living a virtuous life and facilitating a harmonious social organization. Like Plato, Aristotle also placed emphasis on the virtuous life. However, Aristotles concept of happiness also differed significantly from his predecessor. In contrast to Platos tripartite soul, Aristotle divided the human soul into two elements the rational and the irrational. While humans share irrational elements with animals, they also possess faculties that are distinctly human. For example, humans have the ability to control their bodily desires through reason. In addition, only humans are capable of logical calculation and intellectual activities, which Aristotle defines as intellectual virtue (Grant 256). Unlike Platos concept of happiness as an abstraction, Aristotle believed that happiness is based on human nature. The nature of happiness is itself based on human nature. For Aristotle, happiness can only spring from the rational part of the human soul and is therefore a goal unique to humans (Grant 256-257). The contrast between the two philosophers illustrates one of the greatest weaknesses in Platos philosophy. By emphasizing the all-importance of reason, Plato neglects other important aspects of human nature. These include the emotions, such as happiness and love, as well as desires, such as sex. This strict division of social labor between the social classes runs counter to many feelings that are considered fundamental parts of human nature. For example, while Plato is one of the few philosophers who believes that women can be governed by reason, he also stipulates that guardian women must not raise their own families. If they procreate and bear children, their offspring will be raised by another woman from the lower social ranks. With regards to sex, Plato views the sexual appetites as illicit. The failure to impose restrictions on ones appetites makes a person the victim of disorganized and unfocused demands. This leads Plato to make conclusions that corruption and social illnesses spring from uncontrolled human appetites (Kraut 325-226). Furthermore, other critics have pointed to the absence of a concept of good character in Platos teachings. There is no concept of sympathy or empathy for fellow human beings. As philosopher Max Eastman later writes, Plato sees the good person as ruled by reason, whereas most moral codes see good people as ruled by a passion that of love forfellow (humans) (96). The analogy of the cave underscores Platos emphasis on the importance of the examined life. People who see only manipulated shadows fail to see the bigger picture outside and can thus never be able to make properly informed decisions. They will continue to hold false values and ideals, and will continue to resist efforts made on their behalf to improve their lives. Though Platos vision of the ideal polis is rightly criticized for its strict hierarchical roles, he makes a significant contribution to political thought by maintaining that the political community must promote the well being of its citizens. After all, Plato wrote at a time when tyrants routinely used the resources of the nation-state in their own interests. The idea of the greater good being more important than the rights of the sovereign ruler is thus an important departure. As a result of this, Plato maintained that a good political leader must be educated. Also, while Plato is rightly criticized for ignoring human needs when he abolishes family ties for the ruling class, this severing of ties is geared towards the abolition of property. By removing family and property ties, Plato hopes that a political leader can truly make informed decisions based on reason and not simply based on their won or their loved ones interests. Finally, perhaps the most remarkable feature of Platos Republic is his startling idea of equality although limited among the sexes. Plato believed that qualified women can become members of the guardian class. Like men, Plato believed that there are women who are governed by reason and, by rights, should be accorded the responsibilities of governing (Smith 467). In addition to the Philosopher-Kings, Plato also believed in the possibility of Philosopher-Queens. Plato later expanded this thesis in Laws, saying that all citizen women should be allowed to take part in public affairs. They should be allowed to join athletic and military training, to dine in public communally and to receive education in political virtues (Saunders 480). In summary, much of the weaknesses in Platos political theory, as set about in the Republic, arise from an imperfect and rigid classification of human nature. Plato does not make allowances for basic human emotions and needs. As such, he prescribes social roles that, while supposedly serving the greater social good, force people to sublimate their own needs and desires. However, these weaknesses do not take away from the enduring importance of the Republic. First, Plato laid the foundations for a true democracy by stipulating that those who govern should act in the best interests of their citizens. Second, Plato recognized the importance of education, both in ensuring the qualifications of those who govern and that the citizens themselves can make informed political decisions. Most importantly, Plato presents an ideal community, where no one person is automatically privileged by wealth, birth or gender. It is an attractive ideal, where no ones needs are ignored and where every member strives to live an examined life. Platos ideal society has figured prominently in many later normative conceptions of ideal social orders. In Utopia, the influential 16th century vision of the ideal state, Thomas More incorporated Platos earlier negation of private property and the necessity for educated and qualified rulers. By the 18th century, French philosopher Emile Durkheim once again wrote of society as an organism requiring the integrated function of its parts in his The Division of Labor in Society. More recent history continues to show appropriation of Platos work, even though in very different forms. Max Nomad found significant parallels between the supposedly classless society of the Soviet Union under Nikita Kruschev and Platos ideal society. This included the division in Soviet society between peasants and merchants, the warriors/soldiers and finally, the members of the elite government (Nomad 10). Platos rejection of Athenian democracy should be viewed in its proper historical context, since during his time, the highest government offices were chosen by lottery. Though some may contest whether current democracy, as practiced in the United States, is truly representative, the availability of free expression and genuine public debate remains a cornerstone of many democratic societies today. In summary, despite their limitations, many of Platos ideal principles continue to hold relevance today. First is the general belief that leaders should be qualified through education, and that voters should be empowered to make informed decisions. Most societies also subscribe to the idea of a meritocracy, where the ability to rule is measured independently of wealth, gender or other forms of privilege. Finally, Platos belief in the importance of debate and dialogue continues to be upheld. In conclusion, Platos Republic was, in many ways, a product of its time. It was born out of Platos dissatisfaction with the way Athens was governed, a corrupt democracy and oligarchy that was ruled by the inept. As such, the ruling government did not take care of the needs of its citizens. Those who dared to question their authority, like Socrates, were executed. Many have rightly criticized Platos formulation of the tripartite soul and, based on this principle, the ideal society of guardians, auxiliaries and producers. This formulation privileges reason over other essential aspects of human nature, like emotions and passions. However, a critical reading and appropriation shows that Platos Republic has much to offer political and democratic theory today. The idea that governments should act in their citizens interests seems a given, but tyrants and despots were the norm when Plato wrote about his ideal society. Furthermore, the idea of a meritocracy a system that allows people to progress based on their own qualifications, rather than on privileges of wealth or status remains a strikingly modern idea. In the Republic, Platos most important contribution was to imagine an ideal that addressed the prevailing political and social injustices of his time. Today, more than 2500 years later, societies around the world continue to strive for Platos ideal. Works Cited Durkheim, Emile. The Division of Labor in Society. Translated by W. D. Halls. New York: Free Press 1997. Eastman, Max. Seven Kinds of Goodness. New York: Horizon Press, 1967. Grant, Michael. The Classical Greeks. New York: Charles Scribers Sons, 1989. Kraut, Richard. The Defense of Justice in Platos Republic. The Cambridge Companion to Plato. Richard Kraut, ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. Nomad, Max. Political Heretics: From Plato to Mao Tse-tung. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1963. Rice, Daryl H. A Guide to Platos Republic. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Plato. The Republic. Translated by Allan Bloom. New York: Basic Books, 1968. Saunders, Trevor J. Platos Later Political Thought. The Cambridge Companion to Plato. Richard Kraut, ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.