Why We International Students Need For Share Our Stories

Why We International Students Need to Share Our Stories Once there was a girl named Grace, who came from a very poor Christian family in Africa. It was hard for her family to get the basic needs such as food, clean water to drink or bathe, payment for rent, and clothes. As time went by, her family saw God working in their life, meaning they started getting the basic needs, and when Grace finished her secondary school, she got an opportunity to go and study at a university in America. She was very excited for this opportunity because she knew that it would open many opportunities for her and her whole family. Thus, when she arrived to the university in America, everything was amazing for her, and she thought it was a dream. As a result, she†¦show more content†¦These stories will benefit others, even if some people might not respond well. Now let’s explore why international students have the right to write an autobiographical essay. First of all, we know that not everyone gets the opportunity to go study in a university, and those who study in American universities somehow seem to have the same life experiences or lifestyle. So, when an international student enters into this new stage of life, we become very afraid because we realize that we are different from the rest of the people around us. Our first reaction is to isolate ourselves, or â€Å"self-segregate,† as Pamela Leong said in â€Å"Coming to America† (Leong 468). This self-segregation occurs due to language and cultural barriers. Because of these barriers, we see that the solution would be to just associate ourselves with the people who look like us or who are experiencing the same situation as we are and not associate with the American students who are around us. Having this reaction is normal. Unfortunately, it is not a healthy practice because isolation can cause depression, or sadness in a person’s life and also there is always a reason why people are put in a certain place. As a result, I urge my fellow international students to practice being themselves and share their stories to the people around them because it is the healthiest way to live in the community. After all, every single person is called to live in a community—a community where not everyone is the

The Global Financial Crisis Hits The World Economy

Going global was common for almost every company out there, until the year 2008 when the global financial crisis hits the world’s economy. The global economy since then entered into a new phase of globalization, known as ‘guarded globalization’. Developing nations began defending their local industry, and became more cautious when allowing multinational companies to operate in its soil (Bremmer 2014). They heightened their national security, recognizing the importance of more sectors and taking measurements to prevent multinational companies from entering the country. They are now swayed into promoting their domestic and stated owned businesses. Prices of goods were affected, for example Pfizer. It is worth to take note that the escalation†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Globalization also means the growing integration of markets and nation-states and the spread of technological advancement. A high globalization speed may also generate opportunities for specu lation, uncertainty, and risk† (Martens Raza 2010, p. 281) Free trade for goods and labor are encouraged across borders. These economic and social developments had improved the global economy thus improves standard of living and human development (Martens Raza 2010). Firms should look out for global market opportunities to expand their business into various markets and also to estimate the demand for products and services in various economies. There are many markers that could indicate favorable opportunities for companies to export, invest, source or partner in foreign markets, and these could be promising mixtures of circumstance, locations and timing (Cavusgil et al. 2014). Firms can carry out a global market opportunity assessment to analyze a market’s suitability to the firm. There are six tasks for the global market opportunity assessment. Firstly is the organizational readiness to globalize. This could gauge a firm’s preparedness to conduct international business with an initial assessment, which includes its financial resources and management’s commitment. Secondly is the suitability of products and services for foreign market. Products that sell well in the domestic market might not be suitable to sell in other marke ts, so firms need to determine how

India on its way to become manufacturing hub Free Essays

India as WorldS Manufacturing Hub For long, Taiwan and China have been at the outsourcing manufacturing boom in Asia. So much so, that 80% of toys sold in the US are made in China. But things are slowly working in favor of India. We will write a custom essay sample on India on its way to become manufacturing hub or any similar topic only for you Order Now India is on its way to become a major contract manufacturing hub. There is a huge opportunity In manufacturing waiting to be tapped. A new India Is transiting from a third world country status to a league of developed nations. It Is the world’s third-largest repository for foreign direct investment (FDA), after China and America. Goldman Sash’s Report (Brazil, Russia, India, and China – BRICE major players), projects India as a potential winner ahead of China and would overtake U. S. A. And China by 2025 in terms of Real GAP. India- Past Present The ass’s, ass’s and ear ass’s: There was dominance of Public Sector across industry. The market was mainly governed by sellers with limited competition. There existed closed Economy with negligible presence of multinationals. GAP growth was below 4% (Hindu rate of growth) and primarily agriculture based. India post 1991 and counting: 100% FDA in most sectors has seen Pepsi, Coke, Shell, Ford, GM. Suzuki.. Toyota, Ames, Citibank, GE, Microsoft, Pfizer, Innovation, ASK, Merck operation in India (availability of world class products). A new India is transiting from a third world country status too league of developed nations. Current Scenario: Indian’s manufacturing sector Is gaining momentum and has been ranked fourth In terms of textiles, tenth in leather and leather products etc. Government of India, to promote exports and make India a manufacturing hub, has taken various initiatives including the development of Special Economic Zones. Major global companies have already invested in India to name a few like Samsung, LAG, Suzuki, Soda Auto, Philips re among the some who have already invested and most of the global giants have stated the process to enter In India STRENGTH: The country has become a manufacturing outsourcing destination because of cheap labor, talented and knowledgeable workforce, supportive governmental policies, improved quality control measures, world-class technology and consistent economic growth. The most promising sectors for India are auto components, pharmaceuticals, electronic hardware, apparel, foot ware, toys and specially chemicals. Cost of employing engineers – essential to manufacturing services – is en-third to one-fifth lower in India than in industrialized nations such as the UK and the US There is adequate availability of manpower and skills. WEAKNESS: India is growing by leaps and bounds but there is a major problem of unemployment. There is an immediate need to generate 10 million Jobs per year. And above all, due to multi party rule, India need to accommodate political ideology with economic reality (reservation, labor law reforms). Growth has been urban centric. Rigidity in labor laws is also contributing to higher capital intensive. Population increase of about 100 million in last 5 years, which has seen about 50 lion new Jobs, is largely in the unrecognized sector. Transaction costs are high due to capacity constraints at ports resulting in delays. Opportunities: India has become a growth destination for several global companies. Organizations are becoming increasingly competitive on the efficiency and flexibility of their supply chains and not merely on their product features and quality. They have realized that being technology driven and updated is the key to compete in the global market. Fastest growing sectors: Automotive: The Indian automobile sector currently generates revenues of $34 billion a year; Auto sector could grow to $145 billion by 2016. India has gradually become a sourcing hub for auto companies worldwide. Among the companies outsourcing from India are General Motors, Ford, Daimler Chrysler, Handy, Fiat, Toyota, Delphi, Invariants, Visited, Cummins and Caterpillar. Healthcare Pharmacy: Indian’s Pharmacy market ranks 4th in the world in volume and 13th in domestic consumption value. Indian pharmacy market estimated at US$ 3. 8 billion ranks 12th in value terms and accounts for around 1% of the global market. Expected to grow at 12-14% p. A. , as against the global average of 6-8%. At the current pace of growth, IIS$ 2 billion industry by 2012. Construction: The Indian construction industry grew by 5. 5 % to reach a value of $35 billion in 2006. The sector will continue to grow at a CARR of 6. 5% to reach $38 billion by 20011 representing an increase of 35. % since 2004. India accounts for 4. 7% of the Asia- Pacific construction and engineering market. Retail: Indian retail industry ranked second most attractive retail destination by AT Carney. The total domestic retail market is currently estimated to be over IIS$ 330 billion and is growing at a rate of 4-6 % in real terms. Organized sector accounts for Just 2 % of he market (I. E. IIS$ 4 billion)- expected to grow four-fold to IIS$ 15 billion by 2012. There are 12 million retail outlets in India out of which 9 lack are in the organized sector. Computer hardware: The rapid growth of software exports has attracted thousands of people into the industry and has stimulated the demand for computers. Sales of personal computers rose by 20% in 2004-05, to MN. Import liberation’s and the entry of foreign manufacturers has transformed this industry, which, until five years ago, was tiny and dominated by a few Indian manufacturers. The ease of importing components as nurtured hundreds of unbranded assemblers, which command 62% of the market. Biotechnology: Huge potential from large base of skilled technical personal and the lower costs. Number of biotechnology firms in India has increased exponentially over the years. Developing biotech based therapeutic products takes 10-15 years and costs $ 500 million to $1 billion. Similar product development cost in India is $ 250 million or even lower. Opportunity for new investments is estimated to be in the $ 1. 5 to $ 2 billion range. Food processing: India – One of the largest food producers of the world. Output of the organized segment – IIS$ 34,827 million. Marine and Spices together contribute more than 70% of export earnings. Investment requirement is around IIS$ 15 billion. The Indian scientific and research talent – a knowledge source that can be tapped for advantage. Steel: India produced 31. Mm tones of crude steel in 2004-05, making it one of the ten largest steel producers in the world. Landscapes demand from China as well as strong domestic demand, particularly by consumer -durables and automotive manufacturers and the construction sector are the key drivers of production growth. Around 40% of output is produced in integrated steel plants; the remaining comes from mint-plants, of which over 180 exist, almost all in the private sector. Light Engineering: The size of Indian Light Engineering industry is estimated at US $ 7 billion. In India, the light engineering industry has a diverse industrial base with significant unrecognized market. The exports from the light engineering industry in India mainly consists of structured steel products; motorcycles, cycles and auto components; machine tools; fans, filters and pumps; and metal machine tool parts. The products veered under the engineering industry are largely used as input to the capital goods industry. Textiles: Textiles account for around one -fifth of total export earnings. Because the government discriminated for decades against integrated textile mills, with the aim of helping cottage handloom, most mills closed down. Production in the textile industry is based on a decentralized system with continuing small-scale reservation for many items. The industry has a natural competitive advantage in terms of a strong and large multi-fiber base, abundant cheap skilled labor and presence cross the entire value chain of the industry ranging from spinning and weaving to the final manufacture of garments. Threat: India faces competition from other developing countries, especially China. Continuous Quality Improvement is need of the hour as there are different demand patterns all over the world. Presence of Quota system leads to rigidity in Export Demand. International labor and Environmental Laws do not strike trade-off between demand and supply. Power crises and the virtuous growth cycling manufacturing sector needs immediate attention. Large informal sector, poor irking condition and low wages pose equal threat to the growth of economy in India. Inclusion of social (Labor) issues in trade dialogues generally found in exports (e. G. Child labor). High corruption and inadequate environmental safety norms affect sustainability. INDIAN’S PROSPECTS: The nations who are competitive with India are facing some or the other predicaments. Brazil is uncomfortable with force inflows and so has given its manufacturing base. Its reluctance was evident in the imposition of a 2 per cent transaction tax on capital flows. Russia is a basket case and unless oil recovers to tu ning heights, internal demand is unlikely to resurface any time soon; hence, it has very little potential to attract firms to set up shop. China is not a trusted partner; investors have learnt that China makes it easy to get in but difficult to operate. The lack of protection of hard-earned PR is a major issue in China. Restrictions on borrowing from local banks for working capital can also work as a disadvantage. Reason for optimism of the world towards Indian market: Large intellectual capital base Annual additions to the stock of science and engineering graduates Demand side – Expanding domestic market Total number of households to increase from 188. 2 million in 2001-02 to 221. Million by 2009-10 Benefits to Indian people due to the changing industrial scenario: Enterprises In Wealth Creation Government In Revenue And Employment Employees In Development And Increase In Standard Of Living Customers – Value For Money (Choice, Affordability And Speed) From an Indian industry perspective, the emerging situation may drive three trends. Within the next year or two, India should witness growth in demand and h ence capacity in manufacturing. The driver will be higher internal demand and, in a short while, the needs of customers overseas. In three or five years, India will have to develop contract manufacturing skills. A supplier must be able to make the components he or she is good at, source components and parts, assemble and test to deliver directly to the manufacturer. This cannot happen in China as the reliability of many firms, except those that have moved with their partners form Singapore or Malaysia, is suspect. In the long term, Indian manufacturers will have to develop and build, design and development partnerships. Many entrepreneurs are considering investments in small power plants to beat the lack of electricity. How to cite India on its way to become manufacturing hub, Papers

Origin Company for Australia Pacific LNG -myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theOrigin Company for Australia Pacific LNG. Answer: Introduction This paper presents a comprehensive formal report for a stakeholder (potential investor) that interprets the annual report of an Australian company (Origin Energy) and makes appropriate recommendations. The core business of Origin Energy is to natural gas exploration and production, energy retailing, electricity generation and Australia Pacific LNG. Origin Energy has a diverse exploration portfolio. This entails the Cooper, Surat and Bowen basins in the Central Australia. It also include the Otway as well as Bass basins in the Southern Australia. The company further has interest in Perth Basin alongside Browse in Western Australia. Origin further operates externally in Kupe gas field in Taranaki basin of NZ. Origin holds interest in NZs Canterbury basin. Besides the companys local gas operations; Origin works with ConocoPhillips alongside Sinopec in Australian Pacific LNG. This is a joint venture that deliver the largest Australian coal seam gas (CSG) to the LNG export project in Que ensland. Origins energy retailing has approximately 4.217.0 million customers. It services both huge energy customers and residential alongside small business market. Origin commodities offering encompass natural gas, electricity and LPG. The company is also leading provider of the low-carbon products like GreenPower, solar PV and Green Gas. Origin also operates one of the countrys hugest power generation portfolios with 6010.0 of capacity. The firm is further active in renewable energy. The firm has spent many years to developing in this arena. As a potential investor who needs to invest in Origin Energy, this paper needs to provide key analysis of its financial performance, financial position and the cash-flow management. The investor needs to know the profitability, cash management and liquidity of the Origin Energy and well as detailed understanding of the , companys performance and management of the company. This will include P/E ratio = (Market Price/Earnings per share), Earning per sha re ratio = (Profit after tax/No. of ordinary shares), dividends per share ratio = (Total dividends of the year/total number of ordinary shares) *100, dividends yield percentage = (dividends per share/market per share) *100, profitability and liquidity ratios to get an overall view of how the company is performing. Profitability, cash management and liquidity The earning per share of the company can be categorized as diluted and basic. The basic EPS for year June, 2015, June 2016 and June 2017 are given as (0.52), (0.37) and (1.27) whereas the diluted EPS for the same years are given as (0.52), (0.37) and (1.27) same as the basic ones. The EBITDA for the same years are presented as 475, 426 and (1,178). The dividend for the last three years have also been presented as 0.48, 0.11 and no dividend in 2017. The dividend payout ratio is given as 116.3 in 2015 and there was no dividend in 2016 and 2017. The dividend yield percentage for the last three years have been given as 4.39, 5.64 and 1.7 for 2014, 2015 and 2016. In terms of profitability, the EBT margin for the company for the past four years are given as 5.15, -4.62, -6.18 and -15.21. The ROE has been given as ratio has been given as 3.97, -5.03, -4.33 and -17.19. The return on invested capital for 2014 through 2017 include 4.16, -1.79, -1.28 and -8.63. In terms of cash flow ratios, the free cash flow/net income from 2014 to 2017 include 2.56, -0.15, -1.21 and -0.39. The free cash flow/sales percentage for the same period included 9.35, 0.86, 5.98 and 6.38. In terms of liquidity/financial health, the current ration from 2014 to 2017 include 0.97, 1.62, 1.24 and 1.3 while quick ratio include 0.86, 0.48, 0.92 and 0.71. The financial leverage include 2.32, 2.62, 1.99 and 2.21 whereas the debt/equity ratio for 2014 to 2017 include 0.67, 0.93, 0.66 and 0.74. Companys performance, management of the company The financial results of the company has not been performing well in the last three years. As reflected in the analysis, it is clear that Origin is not promising for the investment. There has been a decline trend in most of the ration as indicated in the above analysis. For example, in terms of profitability, there has been a decreasing from the 2014 through 2017. The ROE percentages declined to negative values from +3.97 in 2014 to -17.19 in the year 2017. This is an indication of less performance and negative returns and hence the investor needs not to invest in the company. Also, in terms of the return on capital invested there has been a decreasing trend in from 2014 to 2017 from +4.16 in 2014 to -8.63 in 2017. This is a further justification that things are not well in Origin and hence it is not appealing for the potential investors (Henderson, Peirson, Herbohn and Howieson 2015). Also the interest coverage also show a declining trend between 2014 and 2017 from +2.65 to negative 2.75. Such decreasing trend was also noticed in net margin that decreased from +3.65 to -16.31 between 2014 and 2017. The asset turnover (average) and the return on assets also declined between the periods. Also, financial leverage (average) recorded a declining trend from 2014 to 2017 from positive 2.32 to 2.21. The firm is not also appealing for potential investment in terms of its financial performance. For example, the earnings per share showed a declining trend between 2014 and 2017 indicated by +0.4 in 2014 to -1.26 in 2017. This means that this trend will still continue and hence the potential investor will lose his investment in case he invests in the company. Also, the dividends showed a declining trend between the period with 2014, 2015 and 2017 figure being +0.49, +0.48, +0.1. This is a clear indication of the decrease in profitability of the firm and hence less dividends being paid. The dividend payout ratio also showed were rising between 2012 and 2015 at 75.9 and 116.3 but there were no dividend payout in the subsequent years through 2017. The operating cash flow also showed a declining trend and reduced from 2227 in 2014 to 1289 in 2017 while free cash flow per share were rising and decreasing between the periods. In terms of growth performance, the dividend yield percentage increased between 2014 (4.39) and 2015 (5.64) but sharply dropped to 1.70 in 2016. This was a clear indication of rough times ahead in the company and hence not advisable for any investment by the potential investor. The current market potential is as weak as can be seen from the analysis of key ratios. This can be demonstrated by the declining profitability of the firm. It is advisable that the potential investor need not to invest in the firm until some promising figures are realized which, however, do not seem to be the case any soon (Bjrnson, Hoydis, Kountouris and Debbah 2014). Origin, however, may have a future potential by when the returns on massive investments in the renewable energy picks up well. The company will still do better in the future by changing the strategies and ensuring that only better strategies are prioritized. The firms current business current business strategy is the integrated energy company that is operational throughout 3 segments of energy supply chain including natural gas as well as oil exploration and production, energy retailing as well as electricity generation. The company draws its strength via the integration-fuel integrated generated and the retailer. The firms strategic focus stays on competitive segments of Australian as well as New Zealand energy markets with potential opportunities in rapid growing energy market in the Asian region. Origin further seeks to deepen the integration within the business crossways energy supply chain to become more effective manger in terms of risks and create growth opportunities (Flammer 2015). I terms of CSR rating, Origin is rated 56 CSR rating compared to all the companies. The energy production means that the firm has to interact hugely with the environment. However, Origin undertakes to disclose the effects of its operation on the environment and what it is doing to minimize the risks to the community where it operates. However, the company has not disclosed all the non-financial information and this is critical to the potential investors since it determines the reputation of the company and hence profits. From the sustainability report, the firm has disclosed its developments in the renewable energy as measure to be sustainable and create the sustainable environment (Ngo, Larsson and Marzetta 2013). One of the major strength in the management of Origin relies on the existence of qualified and motivated staff. This is critical to the potential investor as this has a direct impact on the organization in future financial years. For example, the management team thrives to ensure that change the business model and strategy by ensuring that they engage in the production of green energy which will boost their efficiency. The potential investor is more concerned with the long-term viability of the business for continuous dividend payment. Therefore, with the qualified and determined Origin management team, it is expected that once the renewable energy production is fully implemented the firm will starting improving in terms of its financial performance and profitability and this will attract the investors as the stock performance will improve (Minton, Taillard and Williamson 2014). Origin Energy has adopted various types of remuneration trends from last year to this year for the highest earners. For example, the firm is using the stock for its employees. This is essential as it motivates workers to work hard. Many employees are taking the stock option compensation and this can be attracted to the potential investors who would want to see the stock performance and the dividend payout ratio and yield rising. However, Origin pays less than other companies in terms variation in wages (Lewis, Walls and Dowell 2014). This is a critical concern to the investor as it might lead to staff turnover and hence making the company to lose its qualified and determined staff. The company also give non-wage benefits including the bonuses for better performers. The bonuses are means of motivation its workers and this creates an increasingly inspired workforce in the organization. The current management structure and ownership structure of the firm is under the oversight of the Board. Origin Energys Board is under the chairmanship of H. Kevin Mccann who is an independent non-executive. There are other 8 directors who help in run the Origin at the board levels (Gillingham, Rapson and Wagner 2016). Some board members are non-executive whiles others are executive directors. Apart from the Board, Origin has an executive management team under the executive General Manager Energy markets, Frank Calabria, group general counsel and company secretary, Andrew Clarke. Executive general manager major development project Andrew Stock and other five executive members. The institution ownership of Origin accounts for 18.57% while insider ownership account for 0.13%, the general public ownership accounts 80.94% and private accounts for 0.15%. Conclusion/Recommendation The main need for potential investor in Origin is to invest in the company stock/shares. But, as things stand now, Origin is not performing well and has not even paid the dividend in 2016. Therefore, it is recommended to the potential investor not to invest in Origin at the moment. There is a need to wait for the company to fully benefit from its potential integrated business strategy. Investment in the firm at the moment will make the potential investor lose. This is because Origin Energys profitability is declining as indicated by the negative profitability figures. For example, EBT margin for the company for the past four years are given as 5.15, -4.62, -6.18 and -15.21. The economic cause for lack of profitability is due to the 2.20 billon loss at the APLNG. That even led to the firm declaring no dividend in 2016/17. This means the firm is not profitable enough for the potential investor to invest. As has been acknowledged in the report, there has not been dividend paid out in 20 16 and the trend will not change in 2017 either. Therefore, the potential investor needs to look for new business with rising and predictable performance to invest their money in to get attractive returns on investment. Origin Energy is still in the process of adopting the renewable energy and this will bring more benefits to the firm once full integrated in its trio-business model. There is a promising future in the firm coupled with its strong Board of Management and the Executive Management. References Barbose, G.L., Goldman, C.A., Hoffman, I.M. and Billingsley, M., 2013. The future of utility customer-funded energy efficiency programs in the USA: projected spending and savings to 2025. Energy Efficiency, 6(3), pp.475-493. Bjrnson, E., Hoydis, J., Kountouris, M. and Debbah, M., 2014. Massive MIMO systems with non-ideal hardware: Energy efficiency, estimation, and capacity limits. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, 60(11), pp.7112-7139. Flammer, C., 2015. Does corporate social responsibility lead to superior financial performance? A regression discontinuity approach. Management Science, 61(11), pp.2549-2568. Gillingham, K., Rapson, D. and Wagner, G., 2016. The rebound effect and energy efficiency policy. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 10(1), pp.68-88. Henderson, S., Peirson, G., Herbohn, K. and Howieson, B., 2015. Issues in financial accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU. Lewis, B.W., Walls, J.L. and Dowell, G.W., 2014. Difference in degrees: CEO characteristics and firm environmental disclosure. Strategic Management Journal, 35(5), pp.712-722. Minton, B.A., Taillard, J.P. and Williamson, R., 2014. Financial expertise of the board, risk taking, and performance: Evidence from bank holding companies. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 49(2), pp.351-380. Ngo, H.Q., Larsson, E.G. and Marzetta, T.L., 2013. Energy and spectral efficiency of very large multiuser MIMO systems. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 61(4), pp.1436-1449.

Videocracy A Double

Look Deeper into the Abyss – and Watch It Look into You Throughout the history of the world, there has always been the kind of power which could not be suppressed or overthrown. The people of the greatest influence, these beholders of the world’s power were merely the TV officials. Despite the fact that many people consider the TV as merely a means of entertainment, its role is of much more importance for the mankind. Seemingly only a means of entertainment, it shapes people’s ideas of the world and the politics even in a more impressive way tan any political campaign ever undertaken.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Videocracy: A Double-Sided Sword for the Fame-Hungry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Way the Movie Flows In accordance with its name, Videocracy is completely devoted to the role of the mass media in people’s lives. A snapshot of the life path of the great, the miserab le plebs and the cunning in-between specific social layer, journalists, the movie director has managed to show the amazing fusion of tragedy and mockery of the Italian TV. However, was it only the Italian television that the film director depicted? Applied to any other country, this situation would look quite the same. Disclosing the vices of the modern people, their striving not for prosperity, but for money overdose, Eric Gandini created an unforgettable masterpiece which mirrored the lowest of the low which is hidden within people’s souls. It was extremely wise of the film director to choose the shape of a documentary to create the vision of one’s life grasped in the camera focus. It is obvious that there was only one genre which could embrace all the issues which the topic of the movie touches upon. Episodes Merging into a Story In spite of the fact that in the end, shown as a premiere, the movie looks like a complete, whole piece which cannot be separated and take n apart, it must be kept in mind that at the moment of creation the film was a sequence of short scenes and breakdowns. Thus, the original course of the operator’s thoughts can be traced even as the movie is shown to the public, eventually trimmed and with all the unnecessary elements cut. Thus, following the stream of ideas which the movie director sends the audience through, it can be observed that Videocracy has much more than the twists of the plot to expose to the loyal audience. As W. W. Norton noticed, A storyboard is a shot-by-shot (sometimes scene-by-scene) breakdown that combines sketches or photographs of how each shot is to look with written descriptions of the other elements that are to accompany each shot, including dialogue, sound, and music. (Norton 116) Thus, it must be admitted that in Videocracy, the sequence of the breakdowns was linked into a fascinating cadence of the accidents and actions of the lead characters. Making a sequence of episodes, this chain of events was developed into an intrigue spinning around the issue which has always been and will always be on the agenda of the day – people’s concern for the life of celebrities.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A deep and insightful movie offers much more than merely entertainment. Taking a look at the way in which the pieces of the film have been organized, it becomes obvious that there is much more than meets the eye in the movie plot. Although the film cannot be considered what could be called a mocumentary, the author of the film approached the border between the tragic and the comic in Videocracy with help of the expressive and effective mise-en-scenes. Structuring the movie, Gandini enclosed the most significant scenes as the parts which must hook the audience’s attention and increase the excitement. As Norton explained, The visual elements of mise-e n-scene are all so crucial to shaping out sympathy for, and understanding of, the characters shaped by them. (156) It is peculiar that the scenes of the movie create a specific rhythm which is nard to conceive from the very beginning nut which one can feel as the film goes on. It can be traced that some of the scenes float into each other smoothly and softly like a river, yet some of them are roughly interrupted to show the unceasing motion of live going on both in the big world of the great celebrities and the feeble lives of those who follow the track of the celebrities’ lives. One of the most dramatic film episodes, the one in which the lead character watches the life of the celebrities on TV, is the key to the entire movie. It is quite peculiar that with a single scene the film director has managed to open the audience’s eyes on the idea of the movie and on what is concealed behind the film plot. Fixing the audience’s eyes on the ordinary people’s pas sion for the snatches of the celebrities’ lives, Gandini crates a perfect illusion of an ersatz life with all its sad consequences. Looking at a Different Angle The complicacy of movie-making presupposes that the shits should be arranged into a composition which could draw people’s attention to what is happening on the screen in a blink of an eye. Putting people and events in their places is truly a great gift which is rather hard to acquire and completely impossible to master. With his wisdom and the feeling for the film rhythm, the movie director arranged the pieces of the story in a unique, the one and only correct way which made people gasp in awe. As Kawin said, Film composition is dramatically affected by camera placement, not just in terms of camera-to-subject distance, but also in terms of angle. A horizontal line, seen from a certain angle, can become a diagonal or even a vertical. (171)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Videocracy: A Doub le-Sided Sword for the Fame-Hungry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, it is absolutely clear that with help of the camera placement the movie obtained the necessary depth and the specific accent on certain elements. Changing the angle of the camera shot, making the objects pop out into the focus of the camera, or, vice versa, hide in the dark of the perspective, the cameraman did an amazing job on the movie. A perfect example of the way the shift of the camera focus made the audience pay specific attention on certain details were the episodes with the lead character watching the celebrities. Exposed to the audience’s gazes, the face of the lead showed the whole palette of the fan’s emotions, while the celebrities in the rear created an impression of pathetic nothingness. Another piece to analyze is the sounding of the movie. Such is the nature of sound that it can either turn the movie into a complete masterpiece, or ruin it completely. In the case of Vidoecracy, the sounding was quite different from the ones in the range of other Italian movies. One of the typical sore spots of the Italian movies, the lack of sound effects, was turned in a movie peculiarity of Videocracy. As LoBrutto marked, â€Å"Italian movies are very sparse. They have dialogue, then music, and then very few sound effects.† (258) It is obvious that Videocracy is no exception; however, taking into consideration the specifics of the movie, one can understand that the abundance of sounds would have spoiled the film. For the movie to look like a snatch of the real life, the true vision of a fan’s existence, his/her thoughts and course of actions, it was absolutely necessary to employ the most precise system of sounding. What must be especially marked about the movie sound system is the background for the dialogues of the lead characters. Considered as the accidental noises, the creak of a door, the water rustlin g in the bathroom or the sound of someone’s breath was designed to emphasize the atmosphere of the movie, so tense and thought-provoking, making the audience think what is going to happen in the next couple of minutes. The Way People See It Although Videocracy was the only work of Eric Gandini which gained the worldwide recognition, the film director had a number of other works. However, taking a retrospective on Gandini’s works, it can be supposed that the previous films were the steps which slowly but surely led the film director to Videocracy. The peak of his creativity, Videocracy could be traced in every work of Gandini.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although none of the previous works of Gandini touches upon the issue of political life, there is certain breeze of rebellion in the other works of his. For instance, in Sacrfiicio: Who Betrayed Che Guevara Eric Gandini also considers the issue of fame and notoriety, emphasizing that there is actually very little difference between the two. Another Gandini’s work where the premises of Videocracy could be traced is Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers, is interconnected with Videocracy even more closely. Considering fanaticism and loyalty to certain famous personalities in Videocracy, Gandini actually develops the idea which he expressed in Surplus. Taking into consideration these movies, one must admit that the idea of Videocracy as the continuation of these topics and their further development into another set of ideas is quite plausible. In spite of the fact that the depth of the movie allows several interpretations, it seems that there is the one which fits the movie b est. Making people see the life of the famous personalities as it is, without the specks of glamour caught in the focus of the camera, Gandini makes it clear that the impact of the TV on people’s course of thoughts has become increasingly shocking and even frightening. Helping the audience understand the absurdity of believing in what is pouring out of the TV-set right into people’s minds, Gandini suggests a â€Å"pill† which will heal the TV-addicts from their weird mania. Conclusion With help of the specific means of sounding and arranging the scenes of the movie into a sequence which made a double sense and made the plot more complicated, Eric Gandini created a movie which explored the popular topic in an unorthodox method. Although the topic which Gandini chose as the key idea of his movie was rather beaten track for the modern cinema, the way in which he mirrored the life of celebrities’ and their fans was more than merely creating another vision of the popular problem – it was in fact the revelation for the audience. Employing special techniques of sounding system which added a specific air to the movie, Gandini made the movie stand out of the range of Italian movies. In spite of the fact that the means which the movie director used were rather conventional and time-tested, he broke a new ground in the movie-making with help of the original way in which he conveyed his ideas to the public. Considering the idea of TV-addiction and the plausibility of the information which TV suggests, Gandini raised quite a topical issue. Works Cited Barsam, Richard. Looking at the Movies. W. W. Norton EBook Reader. N.D. Kawin, Bruce F. How Movies Work. Thousand Oaks, CA: University of California Press, 1992. Print. LOBrutto, Vincent. Sound-on-Film: Interviews with Creators of Film Sound. Westport, CN: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994. Print. This essay on Videocracy: A Double-Sided Sword for the Fame-Hungry was written and submitted by user Gisselle R. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Comparative Politics US Vs. Mexico

Comparative politics US vs. Mexico This paper will discuss the similarities and differences between the United States and Mexico’s Political parties, including there history and current political make-up. It will also include a brief History of the country as a whole. Britain’s America’s colonies broke from British rule in 1776 and where recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The Original 13 colonies became the original 13 states that formed the new country. Since then they have added 37 new states to bring the grand total to 50 states and 1 district. Current population of these 50 states is 280,562,489 people as of July 2002 (TWF 2002). The United States has a Population growth rate of .89% (TWF 2002). The average Life expectancy at Birth is 77.4 years (TWF 2002). Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. Mexico is currently mad up of 31 states and one federal district. Current population of these 31 states is 103,400,165 as of July 2002 (TWF 2002). Mexico has a growth population rate of 1.47% (TWF 2002) the average life expectancy at birth is 72.03 (TWF 2002) As you can see by the above numbers The US and Mexico have some similarities in regards to population growth and life Expectancy. The large gap is when they achieved independence and the actual population with The US having a 180 million people advantage. This contrasting number could be a direct reflection on the size of the two countries Mexico is approximately 1,972,550 Sq Km or slightly less than 3 times the size of Texas. Whereas the United States is approximately 9,626,091 Sq Km making it the 3rdlargest country behind Canada and Russia. Mexico and the United States both operate a Federal republic style of Government. The US however is well steeped with a strong democratic tradition whereas the Elections in July of 2000 for Mexico ar... Free Essays on Comparative Politics US Vs. Mexico Free Essays on Comparative Politics US Vs. Mexico Comparative politics US vs. Mexico This paper will discuss the similarities and differences between the United States and Mexico’s Political parties, including there history and current political make-up. It will also include a brief History of the country as a whole. Britain’s America’s colonies broke from British rule in 1776 and where recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The Original 13 colonies became the original 13 states that formed the new country. Since then they have added 37 new states to bring the grand total to 50 states and 1 district. Current population of these 50 states is 280,562,489 people as of July 2002 (TWF 2002). The United States has a Population growth rate of .89% (TWF 2002). The average Life expectancy at Birth is 77.4 years (TWF 2002). Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. Mexico is currently mad up of 31 states and one federal district. Current population of these 31 states is 103,400,165 as of July 2002 (TWF 2002). Mexico has a growth population rate of 1.47% (TWF 2002) the average life expectancy at birth is 72.03 (TWF 2002) As you can see by the above numbers The US and Mexico have some similarities in regards to population growth and life Expectancy. The large gap is when they achieved independence and the actual population with The US having a 180 million people advantage. This contrasting number could be a direct reflection on the size of the two countries Mexico is approximately 1,972,550 Sq Km or slightly less than 3 times the size of Texas. Whereas the United States is approximately 9,626,091 Sq Km making it the 3rdlargest country behind Canada and Russia. Mexico and the United States both operate a Federal republic style of Government. The US however is well steeped with a strong democratic tradition whereas the Elections in July of 2000 for Mexico ar...

Hacking the Accounting Information System Essay

Hacking the Accounting Information System - Essay Example These authorized personnel will for this reason have passwords and codes to access these document. Mostly these passwords to the system will be only available to heads of departments. These passwords can sometimes be breached by individuals with capability to unlock them and thus access some accounts. This act of illegally accessing accounts of a firm by breaching their password is what is referred to as hacking. These hackers usually illegally enter into these accounts with the intentions of getting confidential information of that particular firm either to help them counter competition illegally. Accounting system provides firms with a platform to record and document all their daily business transactions. In today’s technology environment, most firms choose to launch and keep their accounting system in modernized recording keeping platforms (Turner &. Weickgenannt, 2013). Accounting system can also be launched and kept through manual record keeping system though. Both manual and electronic systems come in with different benefits and challenges. Manual systems for example tend to be costly considering expenses and time needed to manage it. The manual system however provides a relatively better platform for understanding the underlying guideline of accounting (Turner & Weickgenannt, 2013). Electronic system on the other hand comes in handy in terms of speed of processing accounting data. These automated systems are never prone to mathematical errors. This error free attribute is due to the fact that in automated systems, the accountant just need to enter information and then the alternate steps like keeping up ledgers and accounts is performed from the prior information documented earlier. The automated systems are thus quicker and work well in recovering already stored data. Most advance firms tend to prefer this system to the manual system. The automated system is however often exposed to several sever danger like hacking (Turner & Weickgenannt,

Differences in Insurance Policies Between American Airlines, Delta Research Paper

Differences in Insurance Policies Between American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines - Research Paper Example In reciprocation, the insurance companies are expected to compensate for damages to the insured. The insurance policies are for meeting certain well defined purposes and have very complicated features and conditions which should be well understood by the person taking insurance cover. In airline transportation, there are various insurance policies which are available to protect the travelers as well as their properties. Nevertheless, difference airline companies have different policies to their customers. Differences in Insurance Policies between American Airline, Delta Airline and United Airline Introduction The airline insurance policies are also referred to as aviation insurance policies. They are insurance policies or insurance covers aimed at enhancing operations in the aircraft as well as protection of the possible risks that accompanies the aviation activities (Lesley and Karl, 2007). There are laws which govern and regulate the policies in the airline operations. The airline policies are always distinct from other protection policies. They are enriched with airline and aviation ideologies, limitation, clauses, and terminologies. The airline companies have several insurance covers to their customers. The policies are identified and defined depending on the frequency of risk in the past. The cost depends on the departure and destination terminals of the customer, the implication of the insured risk, and the distance to be covered by the customer (Lesley and Karl, 2007). The time of travel is also another factor which is important in deciding on the premium to the policy. The luggage’s commuted through airlines are also insured against destruction or loss. Various airline companies have different insurance policies to their customers and also differences protocol for claiming the compensation. The differences are as a result of competition in the airline transportation sector (Lesley and Karl, 2007). The essay below will address various insurance po licies to the customer among American airline, Delta airline and United America airline and the liabilities covered. American Airline insurance cover The company insures the customers who are traveling through the policy called the travel insurance policy. It’s a unique combination of insurance benefits that insures the customer when they are away from home (Lesley and Karl, 2007). The cost of the policy varies depending on the cost and the length of the trip, the customer’s age, and health. The company charges between 5% and 10% of the total vacation cost. The company responsible of granting the insurance policies on behalf of the American airline company is Allianz global assistance (Lesley and Karl, 2007). The travel insurance policy also ensures that, the America airline customers’ valuable products are protected from unexpected circumstances through the liability of baggage protection. Some of the unpredicted situation that the insurances policy covers enta ils; bad weather which can destroy the good in transit, job loss before the return journey, and illness within the vocational period. The liabilities covered by the America airline for its customer under the following insurance policy include strip cancellation liability, trip interruption, baggage’s liabilities, emergency medical transportation, emergency medical and dental liabilities, and loss and damages liabilities (Lesley and Karl,

Hong Kong Government dealing with Pollution problems Essay

Hong Kong Government dealing with Pollution problems - Essay Example In this paper, we particularly look at Hong Kong’s strategy of limiting emission of chlorofluorocarbons and analyze its effectiveness. As one of the most important export hubs of Asia, Hong Kong is beset with pollution problems which are regarded as the inevitable and necessary consequences of development (Ibid.). The amount of air pollution in Hong Kong, primarily come from the city’s dense population, from the factories and power stations that emit smoke, from the seemingly endless construction activities as well as the increasing number of vehicles which all have contributed to the very dangerous levels of air pollutants like particulate matter or the so-called RSP and the greenhouse gas nitrogen dioxide or NO₂ (Lou, 2007). In fact, the situation has been so bad that the visibility level in the area has been recorded at less than eighty kilometers for about thirty percent of a year (Ibid.). One of the most felt effects of Hong Kong’s high level of air pollution have been mostly on the residents’ health, which range from allergies like rhinitis, bronchial ailments, and asthma, among others. However, such are not the only effects of air pollution, as researches have reported many others as well as other causes and related issues, which will be tackled in further details in this paper. This paper intends to take a further look at Hong Kong’s pollution problem that has been very alarming even among the international institutions and companies who have stakes in the city, in relation to how the Hong Kong government responds to the situation. In the attempt to carefully analyze the government’s mechanisms and programs that have been put in place to resolve the issue at hand, as well as the milestones and failures of the government’s efforts, this paper will first take a look at the whole scenario to provide better understanding of the responses to it. The Government’s Strategies. The Hong Kong government, as a

Characteristics Of The Hospitality Industry

Characteristics Of The Hospitality Industry Explain the unique characteristics that separate service businesses from other business the deal with tangible product. Discuss what should a person prepares if he/she wants to become an hotelier. Question 1 The hotel industry is also known as the service sector. The reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers with liberality and good will. Hospitality industry is a board of category about the service industry also including event planning, theme park, restaurant, lodging and also tourism industry. A hospitality unit such as a restaurant, hotel, or even an amusement park consists of many groups such as facility maintenance, direct operations management, marketing, and human resources. Therefore, hospitality industry also includes accounting, tradesman ship, computer services, restaurants, and tourism.To be a successful manager in the hospitality industry, you must exhibit many skills and command much specialized knowledge all directed toward achieving the managerial objectives such as make the guest feel welcomed, make sureproductsor serviceswork for the guest and make sure the operation continues to provide service and make a profit. Besides that, the hotel industry is a multibillion-dollar industry, mainly depends on the availability of leisure time and disposal income. Therefore, that hospitality industry also include service sector. Answer Hospitality industry has many characteristics such as intangible, perishable, inseparable, simultaneous, variable, shift work, graveyard shift and guest satisfaction. Intangible servicecharacteristic in hospitality industry mean cannot see and touched but can felt. In addition, sales or service owned by the person, but it cannot be opened, from the service providers to service consumer. Example, a service only can be sold and owned by the person, but it cannot be opened, from the service providers service consumers. Sole proprietorship, provide services, can be entrusted to the service provider, you must generate and provide services in the different requirements of the authorized service consumers. Perishable service characteristic in hospitality industry mean wont last long and wont experience the same experience. When this service has been fully rendered to the requesting service consumer irreversibly disappear, because it has been consumed by service consumers. For example, service resource allocation processes and systems to provide services within a certain period. When the service has really given to users of the service request, this particular service irreversibly vanishes as it was used by the service users. Inseparable service means production, and from the customers experience. The indivisibility requirements, consumer service is to interact with its manufacturer to accept its benefits. Because someone must timely produce and the services provided by service providers is essential to provide services require service consumers. Performed automatically in many cases, but the service provider to provide the service must be prepared to allocate resources and systems, and active conditions and the ability to maintain appropriate services. Example, the service consumer must be sitting in the shops and hair stylist chair, or aircraft and seating, to the hairdresser or the pilot must in the same store or aircraft, respectively, to provide services. Simultaneous service means the service is some kind of horse, and at the same time consumption. As long as the service requirements of service consumers, especially the service must start from scratch generated without any delay and friction and services, consumers instant consumption rendered interests, for the implementation of his upcoming events or tasks.Example, waiter in the restaurant, or the cashier at the bank, is an integral part of the services provided. The client also participates in a certain degree of service, and the service may affect the results. People can be part of the service itself; this could be a service marketing advantage. Variable service is a service which means disposable generating, rendering, and consumption can never be accurately repeated time points, locations, and the case, under the conditions of the current configuration information and alocation of resources is different from the coming up delivery, even is the same kind of service to the same service consumers request. Example, Taxi service from his home to the opera, the consumers of transport services is different taxi service, transportation service consumers from opera to his home another point in time, the other direction, might be another route, may be another taxi drivers cab. Shift work in hospitality industry means an employment practice, use of, or the provision of services across, all 24 hours of the clock each day of the week. Shift work is the way hours of work are organized for an organization to operate outside regular hours. Different types of shifts includeshifts that rotate or change, shifts that are split apart by several hours, permanent shifts (day or night) and also changing shift lengths (8, 10 or 12 hours). There is few effect of shift work, for example, shift work can course such as digestive problems, including ulcers, stomach and intestinal problems reduce appetite, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and depression. People need to sleep. Shift work can affect how much sleep and sleep, the kind you get. Sleep during the day and sleep at night is not deep or refresh. Shift workers time to sleep when the bodys natural activities gear. When you do not sleep, you might always feel tired. Especially the night shift, night shift or third shift (3 shifts) means to change their work throughout the early morning, morning, and transfer to midnight to 08:00 or 23:00 to 07:00. Example, employee will make day shift and night shift in hotel when the time is alternative. Guest satisfaction in hospitality industry means that the guest was satisfy with the service of the employee. Guest satisfaction depends on hotel service because guests have rising expectation for hotel, but their overall satisfaction with service. Guest can be satisfied hotel rates hotel service.Example, guest feel satisfy with the service and what they expect to hotel. Conclusion At the end, as an employee must have a good service to any customer. Guests satisfywith the service and will be happy with the good service.The hotel industry will contributes employment and economic growth of the country. The government is very lenient regulatory and licensing of hotel, because the increase in the average daily rate of foreign tourists. Question 2 The hoteliers mean a people who supervise or manage the hotel. He or she may be established owner, operating a hotel, the Chief Executive of the hotels location, or chain, or in the hotels general manager, the Chairman of the Board. Hoteliers responsibility will vary according to how the word is applied. Who owns a hotel will be responsible for the care of all matters of common ownership of real estate, as well as the implementation of the ultimate liability for any and all taxes and appropriate compliance-run hotel building codes and local laws. The title hotelier Chief Executive will supervise the publicity and general business operations, and facilities responsible for the profitability of the owners or owners. Hotelier who is the Chairman of the Board will provide the current status of the communication line, investors and the owners of the hotel, and the hotel manager will provide oversight of a variety of functions, affect the day-to-day operation of the hotel.As a hotelier has responsible to handle each problems such as public relations, guest service, maintenance of facilities, reservation procedures, build relationship with customer and marketing. No matter what department you work in the hotel we also call hotelier. Depending on how the term is applied, the responsibilities of a hotelier of department is difference. A success hotelier must have good relationship with guest especially regular customer. Answer To be a successful hotelier in the hospitality industry you should be discipline, manners, good services, more experience, responsible and so on. As a hotelier has responsible to handle problems such as public relations, guest service, maintenance of facilities, reservation procedures, build relationship with customer and marketing. Hotel operators managing the property and, in some cases, they can also be the owner of the hotel. Hotel managers supervise other hotel, and they work long hours during peak travel and when events are scheduled at the hotel. They are often called upon to handle emergency situations and disputes. For good performance, hoteliers should have the skills required for the position.Therefore, as a good hotelier must be very discipline during working time. Besides that, to be a good hotelier also need to be responsible. It will show that you are good employee and good staff. First of all you must make the guests feel welcome and also be friendly because it is manner. You must be discipline and good service in front of the guests. To be a good hotelier you should know what their guests want and are willing to go that extra mile to put them at ease. Secondly, to be a good hotelier you should be hard working. Willing to work hard is always a plus point for a people who want to be successful hotel management line.Therefore, it is the opportunity to build a good relationship with the guest and enhance the reputation of hotel. HOW TO BECOME A GOOD HOTELIER The hotelier is a good diplomat, patience, tolerance, generosity and good intentions. A good hotel operator must have self-discipline staff, quick workers, and quick thinkers and always to help client and manager at all times. Diplomat Diplomat mean is a person who appointed by the national diplomacy with other countries or international organizations. Representation and protection of the people are the main functions of diplomats around the state and sent, as well as the promotion of information and friendly relations.As a diplomat can easily build an own relationship with the customer and day by day they will become a general customer of hotel. Patience Patience in hospitality industry means whatever the guest scold you, you cannot scold them back.Resistance state in difficult circumstances, this may mean that persist in the face of delay or provocation, no worries, anger, a negative exhibit patience when under pressure, particularly when faced with a long-term problem. Tolerance Toleration in hospitality industry means a person who tolerates something or somebody unpleasant. Toleration is meaning the practice deliberately allowing or permitting the things one does not agree. Many people are sometimes dont know how to behave themselves and also dont know show some respect to other people; so thats why we have to be tolerate and patience. To be a hotelier everyday will face difference temper of guests, so as a hotelier should be tolerate and not to argue with them. Also, as a hotelier should give what they need to make them feel satisfy. Guests always are the right whatever happens so as a hotelier should be toleration and also patience. Liberality When employee facing any high demand guests, we should need to be liberality and keep smile to serve our customer until they satisfy with the service. Any guest that is high demand, we shouldnt complain it because it will affect the whole hotel and will give a bad image and impression to the hotel. As a good hotelier must be professional during working time. Good Will Good will means willing to help each other when facing problem. Good will is one of the important things to any hotelier because it always reminds us to be helpful to our guests and also help them to solve problem. Front office staff is the first employee to serve the customer. So that why good will is very important to any front office staff. Conclusion It is not easy to become a hotelier, but it is not so difficult. It depends on how to treat customers, if you use your heart to your guests, they will feel. Most of the students have chosen the hotel management, because working in the service sector is very interesting and funny. Enterprise management is very useful for our future operations, but it is very boring, which is why I chose the hotel management. Another reason to select the hotel management, we can see so many different customers and increase our knowledge. When you have experience in the service industry, and then set the target a certain extent, the growing knowledge does not always stay in the same place, become one industry professionals. Peter Drucker pointed out that, today, the centre of our social productive forces, knowledge workers. In other words, knowledge is the key to success, do not know is equal. Unfortunately, remain forever in the failure. Thus, learning as an important part of our comprehensive preparat ory work supervisor or manager career.

Dame Ragnell: Searching for the Truth Essay -- Arthurian Legends Lite

Dame Ragnell: Searching for the Truth Throughout the Arthurian legends, the role of the mysterious hag is one that continually appears. The hag is often associated with great magical power and revelations - both physical and psychological. In "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," Dame Ragnell is the magical hag that aids Arthur in his quest for the answer to the "Holy Female Question." It is ultimately because of the noble, chivalrous and courtly Sir Gawain, that the true identity of the hag can be revealed. While Dame Ragnell is not an evil character, the hag is ultimately a character of question. One must wonder how trustworthy the hag truly is when magic is involved. From other Arthurian legends, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we can see that the hag is a malevolent character who uses the hag image as a guise to fool others. In the end, the hag's real image is generally revealed along with her goal. Dame Ragnell is not a beautiful woman who has intentionally taken the form of a hag trying to deceive o thers like Morgana LeFey in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Dame Ragnell offers the truth to the men of the story and proves Sir Gawain to be as honorable as his reputation says he is. The story begins with Arthur hunting a stag in the forest. After the kill of the stag he stumbles upon a giant of a knight, Sir Gromer Somer Joure. In order to live, the knight makes a deal with Arthur. If he returns in a year and a day with an answer to the question "What do women want?" his life will be spared. Arthur and his confidant, Sir Gawain, ride throughout the land with two books. In these books they write down the answers they receive from women all over the land to Sir Gromer's question. Upon comparing their b... ...n cursed? Where is the proof of this curse? Apparently she can become fair at some point on her own. Does this mean she too practices magic? How do we know Sir Gromer and Dame Ragnell are not one in the same? How do we know Dame Ragnell is not really Morgana LeFey? Who IS Dame Ragnell? What exactly is her goal in this story? Does Dame Ragnell simply want to show the men with the highest power the way to fulfill a woman's true desire? Is she, like countless political women, plan to change things from the inside of hierarchy? Dame Ragnell may not have been quite the innocent maiden she was portrayed as in her marriage to Sir Gawain. The lessons she teaches, and the awareness she brings to the court of Arthur are definitely timeless lessons that human beings are constantly being taught. Never judge a book by its cover - you never know what it might really have to say.

Prose Style

Action 3. 7 1. Although we use models in teaching prose style but it does not inprove the clarity and directed in student writing. 2. When we precisely plot the location of building foundations the possibility of enhance the accuracy of reconstruct the village. 3. If members of the established procedure depart it may terminate the membership by the board. 4. 5. To implement a new curriculum successfully depends on facility and students are cooperating in setting achievable goals within a reasonable time. CorrectedAction 3. 71. Although we use models in teaching prose style, it does not improve the clarity and directness in student writing. When students practice writing using models it does not improve the clarity and directness of their writing. Students don’t acquire clarity and directness in their writing by practicing models. Using models to improve the clarity and directness in student writing doesn’t work. 2. If we precisely plot the location of the building found ations, we might be able to accurately reconstruct the village.We might be able to accurately reconstruct the village if the building foundations were precisely plotted. The precise plotting of the building foundations might allow us to reconstruct the village accurately. 3. If members depart from established procedures, the Board may terminate their membership. The Board can terminate their memberships if members break the rules. If members break the rules then the Board can terminate their memberships. 4.When students are not socialized into a particular field by professionals they often have trouble writing effective arguments. When professionals don’t socialize students into their fields those students can’t create effective arguments. Only students that have been professionally socialized into a particular field can craft and employ effective arguments. 5. To implement a new curriculum, faculty and students must cooperate in setting achievable goals within a reaso nable time.

Hybrid Car Battery Life and Replacement Costs

Hybrid Car Battery Life and Replacement Costs It is expensive to replace hybrid batteries- it can cost in the neighborhood of $3,000 for a full hybrid battery replacement. But on the other hand, hybrid batteries have proven themselves to be extremely reliable. And as long as they are not abused and the vehicle charging control system operates effectively, they can be- not unrealistically- expected to last for nearly the life of the vehicle. Manufacturers are providing generous battery warranties (generally about 8-10 years and 80,000 to 100,000 miles), but as with most warranted components, they are designed to last well beyond the coverage period. It would not be unreasonable to expect the life of a battery pack to exceed 150,000 miles. Something to keep in mind: as more hybrids take to the roads, reclaimed batteries from out-of-service (wrecked) cars will become more available at steep discounts.

Paul Reveres Midnight Ride essays

Paul Reveres Midnight Ride essays Paul Revere was a very patriotic man who would later save some of the leaders of what now is our country. Paul was a silversmith in the town of Boston. He came over to the colonies from France. His father taught him the silversmiths trade. He also became a gold and copper smith. Then on, He became very interested in patriotism and independence from Britain. He engraved alot of cartoons which were published in the Boston news papers. He was also one of the fifty people who took place in the Boston Tea party. He married Sarah Orne and had eight kids who most died at infancy. Then his wife Sarah died after having their eighth child . A few years later he married Rachel Walker and had eight more children. He served for the people of Boston as a special messenger.(101) On March 5, 1770 people were taunting the British and throwing snowballs at them . They got so fed up and started firing shots. Six people were killed. The Boston Massacre was just one of the many violent acts that were to follow. After the Boston Massacre the British removed all taxes except for a small tax on tea. Boston wasnt the only town who refused the tea just one of the most violent. Paul Revere and his accomplices came up with a plan. They would paint their faces and dress up like Indians and go aboard the boat that held tea from the East India Company. They emptied the tea chests into the water while people cheered from the docks. One man stole some tea for his own use had to run around town(100) with no water or breaks and they also nailed his coat to a wall which was some kind of symbolic gesture. After the Boston Tea Party King George shut off Boston Harbor which was Boston's only resource. Pauls first ride was to ride to other colonies and tell them about what h appened and to ask them for resources. The colonies brought food, sheep, cattle and any other thing they needed. Paul made other rides after that. The Boston news paper oft ...

First day in college Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

First day in college - Essay Example The beginning of college meant the initiation of a different social environment where I would have to settle with my class fellows. When I entered college, my levels of anxiety raised and I walked in quietly towards the seminar room where there was a welcome address for the new students. I was very conscious because of the fear of being bullied. But my experience in the seminar room was not bad as I had expected it to be. This is because I came across many friendly people who like me were trying to settle in the new environment. I started a conversation with two of my class fellows and by the end of the session, we were all pretty comfortable. After the welcome address we moved to our classrooms and I started pondering on who would be teaching us and whether we would be having good teachers or not. I took a seat in my new class and our class teacher entered. She was a sweet lady who understood that most of us were stressed. She calmed us down and interacted with us prior to starting her teaching session. She proved to be not only very friendly but an extremely skilled teacher who was perfect at what she was teaching us. This was a relief as it was a good beginning of the day. When college ended and I was leaving the premises, I was happy that I had taken the decision to join this college. My anxiety had gone and I knew it that I was at the right place. It was a well disciplined place with high quality teaching and a perfect learning environment. I was also glad that I was in a class where the students were positive and optimistic about learning. My first day at college proved the nightmares that I had imagined with regard to it to be wrong. It was a good beginning of a new chapter of my life as I saved many precious memories from my college. Following the first day, I looked forward to going to college as the

Software Development Life Cycle Models and Design Techniques Essay

Software Development Life Cycle Models and Design Techniques - Essay Example Let us take a look at the contemporary models being used by the software industry. This is the first derivative of the classic Software Development Life Cycle model which goes through the processes of requirement capturing and analysis, System Analysis and Design, Code Generation, testing and maintenance. Water fall model (Royce,1970) differs from the sequential software development life cycle in inserting iteration at the end of every phase to reduce large iterations over several phases which could turn out to be costly exercises. It also provides for a validation at the end of every phase output, defining the deliverables at the end of every phase. In this process, incremental development was introduced for both requirement capturing and for development, along with a clear validation at the end of every phase made this process more successful than the sequential SDLC. Software projects more controllable. This model, though under use in various unofficial forms across the developing community, became a standard process in 1991. (Pomberger,1991). The phased model that was introduced in the waterfall model was seen more as an iterative possibility. At the end of every phase, a prototype was made and shown to the customer. ... During this methodology, experiments are conducted on the prototype at every iteration to check the effectiveness of the prototype for various functionalities expected out of the system. This way when the customer receives the software, he is very satisfied. 4.0 Object Oriented Life Cycle Model In this model, we do not train our eyes on the functionalities of the software needed, rather on the objects that we have and we can construct. After the requirement analysis, which is very similar to the other models discussed earlier, the objects are identified and development is taken up for those objects that need to be done fresh. Others that could be inherited, are taken from the earlier objects already existing. Advantages of this life cycle is that, since it inherits and reuses many of the objects already existing, the development cycle time should be coming down. By the same measure, it should also bring down the time to test, the time to maintain and the time to make changes in the software. Primarily, this model postulates reusability of objects and classes within programs / projects and across programs / projects2. Clubbing with the prototyping model, most of the common object models use prototyping of individual classes / objects with their performances resulting in easy spotting of errors and inconsistencies early on. Error fixing and modifications are much more easily understood and presented under such conditions resulting in easier fixes. 5.0 Design Techniques Derr (1995) is the first major proponent of the object model that follows the following steps to reach design solutions: 1. A Problem Statement 2. Identify object classes and their attributes 3. Discard unnecessary classes and attributes 4. Inherit

The Causes and Effects of Being a Student in a Foreign Country Essay

The Causes and Effects of Being a Student in a Foreign Country - Essay Example It could be that a relative who lives aboard is in need of their assistances. The student therefore will travel to come to the aid of their kin. Not wanting to leave their education aside for the time that they are in that different country, they enroll in school. However, it is not always the case that the family has an issue, sometimes there are positive causes in the family, such as relocation. In the case of relocation the parents of the student might have obtained a job abroad. Then the student would move just to stay with their parents, and end up attending a foreign school as a result. Some of the more depressing reasons that a student might need to study abroad without truly wishing to do so it because of health reasons. The student could become ill and need special medical assistance that they cannot receive in their own country. The student would, therefore have to move where that medical care is provided. Students might also find that they have to study in different countr ies because of financial reasons. ... If fact, it is more common for students to study abroad simply because they choose to than because they had no other choice. For many students, studying in a foreign country is an exciting opportunity. The Effects of Study Abroad Rather the student is studying abroad because of their active decision or because of issues in their life that thy found unavoidable, it is clear that learning in a foreign environment has great benefits for the development of the student’s intellect. As it was reported, â€Å"International educators at either side of the Atlantic have long recognized that college students returning from studying abroad show positive changes† (Hadis, 2003:p.3). Some of the benefits to the student include a greater awareness of global affairs, heightened foreign language acquisition, increased cultural sensitivity, and new experiences. These benefits are becoming more and more important in today’s society, where globalization is being spread at a rapid pa ce. One day, only those who have a better global view will be able to truly be successful. Since students are such because they are seeking to better themselves, it would seem that the opportunity to study abroad is one that no student should pass up on. IT keeps them from having tunnel vision. Overall View of Study Abroad Getting an education is a powerful way to change a person’s life. Getting an education in a country that is not their own is a way of adding even more power to their education. One of the best ways to be a success is to have a diverse set of experiences from which to draw. Studying abroad is a method to gain these experiences. This route of

The Fall of Classical Greece Essay Example for Free

The Fall of Classical Greece Essay The war between Athens and Sparta in the fifth century BCE was a major turning point in western history. It marked both the end of Athens as a Mediterranean superpower, and the end of the Greek Golden Age. The war lasted nearly thirty years, left hundreds of thousands dead, disrupted trade, bankrupted both societies, altered the course of warfare, and rattled the platform of democracy. Though Sparta emerged victorious and Athens brutally subjugated, neither city state was able to recoup their former prosperity and power and both yielded to another Greek superpower after less than a century of tenuous peace. Nothing would be the same after the Peloponnesian War. In Classical Greece most states allied with either Sparta or Athens, the two most opposite states in the Greek world1. The Spartans focused on creating the perfect warrior; they were a militaristic oligarchic state dependent on slaves2. They viewed the democratic Athenians with suspicion and increasing resentment, especially after the Persian wars when Athens was becoming the authoritative economic and cultural centre of Greece. With its commanding navy Athens was able to accumulate many tribute-bearing allies and to devote itself to spreading democracy. According to Thucydides, the leading source of the events during the Peloponnesian War, the prime reason for the war was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta3. By 431 BCE both sides were prepared to go to war, and both believed victory would be quick. The war lasted twenty-seven years. It began with Spartan raids on Atticas countryside in the summer of 431 BCE. Soldiers attempted to burn olive trees and grape vines, the mainstay of Athens economy4. They hoped the ruined crops would force Athens to sue for peace or face the deadly Spartan hoplites in battle. Spartan soldiers were fabled; the rest of Greece knew that they would lose any land battles against Sparta5. But Athens refused to bow to Sparta. Pericles, a powerful Athenian statesman, believed he had a winning plan. He moved everyone from the hinterland into Athens city walls so that Spartan raids on the countryside would have little effect6. He also kept up military pressure along the coast by sending superior fleets to harass the Peloponnesus. This move into the city was disastrous. With pressure on food, housing, and sanitation a plague broke out within Athens, one so deadly that Spartan soldiers refused to advance to the Long Walls. Thucydides, a survivor of the plague, states that the disease, first settling in the head, went on to affect every part of the body in turn, and even when people escaped its worst effects, it still left its traces on them by fastening upon the extremities of the body7. This was a time of complete and utter chaos. There was nowhere to bury the dead, and no way to treat the infected or even reduce their suffering. When people became affected they often resorted to unprecedented lawlessness8. Many lost their entire family and died alone in the streets. The exact numbers are debatable but Attica likely lost one-quarter to one-third of its population9. The plague, in only the second year of a twenty-seven-year long war, is what ultimately drove the Athenian defeat. It caused more deaths than all the battles the city fought against the Peloponnesian League. Thucydides states that nothing did more damage to Athenian power than the plague10 because it changed the entire course of the war. The state lost about one third of its hoplite troops and cavalry forces, and between forty and fifty thousand women, children and slaves, as well as the level-headed Pericles11. So few eligible sailors and rowers remained that slaves were given these positions in exchange for freedom12. It left Athens profoundly demoralized The plague was followed by a series of poor decisions by both sides. For the most part the two states never directly faced off, this was largely because of their opposing strengths; Spartas hoplite army could defeat any land-based enemy and Athens had the most powerful navy in the Aegean13. Athens did not want to fight Sparta on land, and Sparta did not want to fight Athens at sea. In 424 BCE Athens attacked Boetia, a Spartan ally just north of Attica that allowed Spartan raiders easy access into the Athenian countryside. This was supposed to be an equal-sided pitched battle14. Hoplite battles were normally fought on even ground at a set time and with roughly an equal number of troops. There were generally no surprises and winning was determined on the individual strength and resolve of the men. Battles were usually over in a matter of minutes15. But at the Battle of Delium the Boetians charged downhill towards the Athenian army and eliminated it. The Athenians lost nearly 15 per cent of their hoplite army16. The Athenians received another severe blow when they tried to regain Amphipolis, an important ally that had recently surrendered to Sparta. Thucydides was sent to save the city but arrived too late. He spent the next 20 years in exile. The Peloponnesian War marked the end of formalized warfare in Greece. Whole cities were destroyed and their inhabitants murdered or enslaved. After a decade of fighting the Peace of Nicias sought to ally Sparta and Athens. The terms stated that peace between the Peloponnesian League and the Delian League was to last for 50 years, and both sides were to return what land they had gained from the enemy17. This uneasy peace18 did not last long. By 418 BCE the truce was officially over; Athenian coastal attacks of the Peloponnesus had not ceased, and King Agis of Sparta attacked Mantinea and Argos19. In 415 BCE the Athenians embarked on their most controversial and disastrous military expedition to date. They resolved to sail again against Sicilyand, if possible, to conquer it.they did not realize that they were taking on a war of almost the same magnitude as their war against the Peloponnesians20. The Athenians believed that if they could conquer the large, fertile island they could cease grain imports into the Peloponnesus as well as increase imported grain for themselves21. They underestimated the size and strength of Sicily. The expedition was also poorly led22. The Athenian Assembly sent three commanders: Nicias, Lamachus, and the traitorous Alcibiades who jumped ship in southern Italy and fled to Sparta. After arriving at Syracuse the Athenian fleet waited several months before attacking thus enabling the Syracusans to prepare. When they finally attacked they won a hoplite battle but were unable to breach the reinforced city walls. They began constructing a siege wall, Syracusans built counter-walls but could not keep pace and victory looked certain for Athens. Then the Spartan fleet, having been informed by Alcibiades of the Athenians plan, landed on the island and attacked the Athenians from the rear. Athenian naval reinforcements were sent but modified Spartan and Corinthian ships smashed through the Athenian triremes and 25000 sailors and nearly all the Athenian ships were destroyed23. A night attack on Syracuse also ended disastrously. When the Syracusans began fighting back Athenian soldiers panicked, and in the dark began killing their own men. Some 40,000 Athenian soldiers attempted to retreat to Catana, a city in northern Sicily that was Athenian friendly. More Athenians died while fleeing than in all other Sicilian battles; 9000 hoplites and countless foot-soldiers perished. This wasthe greatest action that we know of in Hellenic historyto the vanquished the most calamitous of defeatstheir losses were, as they say, total; army, navy, everything was destroyed24. This failed conquest of Sicily was the second major factor in Athens fall from preeminence. While the Athenians flailed in Sicily, Spartan troops urged by Alcibiades, set up base in Decelea, which gave them control of rural Attica and prevented food supplies from reaching Athens. The Athenians were forced to break into the Iron Reserve, a secret stash of 1000 talents to construct a new fleet. In order to construct a fleet of their own, Sparta made a deal with King Darius of Persia: the Persians would provide gold for a fleet if Sparta surrendered Ionia25. The Spartans agreed and the Peloponnesian War moved to the sea. The Battle of Arginusae in 406 BCE was the biggest naval battle in Greek history and Athens greatest naval victory. The Athenians destroyed two thirds of Spartas fleet26. Sparta, exhausted and defeated, offered peace but the Athenians refused, arrogantly assuming their rivals could never recover from such devastating losses. This was the third massive blunder of the Athenians. Backed by Persian gold Sparta quickly rebuilt her fleet. The final battle of the Peloponnesian War was at Aegospotami, a harbour in the Hellespont. For days the Athenians tried to lure the Spartan admiral Lysander into battle. He waited until many Athenian sailors were off searching for food and water then, in a surprise attack, destroyed 171 Athenian triremes and killed 3000 soldiers27. With this defeat Athens was forced to join the Spartan alliance, destroy the Long Walls, surrender all but twelve ships, and abandon democracy28. Athens was finished. In three decades the once paramount polis of Athens had lost a third of its population to war, disease, and famine; she was bankrupt and was no longer a player in Mediterranean trade. She was now ruled by the oligarchic Spartans, and a tyrannical group of thirty Lysander loyalists who slaughtered more than five per cent of her remaining population29. The events of the last twenty-seven years, the plague, loss of tribute-bearing states, the violence wrought upon its allies, the financial burden of having to rebuild several fleets, bankruptcy, the humiliation of an enemy-occupied homeland, the Sicilian disaster, the broken down class barriers, political turmoil, and the monumental losses at sea had changed the city of Athens30. She was defeated and demoralized but was not destroyed. Population soon rebounded, arts and philosophy were restored, and trade and agriculture grew productive again. Athens had been brought to its knees by the plague and a few massive blunders, not because of superior Spartan strategic tactics and military ingenuity31. Athens was able to throw off the Spartan yoke in little over a year and reinstate democratic rule. An oligarchic Sparta was incapable of running an empire, even with Persian support. Classical Athens demonstrates a remarkable example of the resiliency of democracy. But, if Athens had not been so determined to spread democracy and to extend their empire throughout the Aegean, the thirty year long battle and its irreparable damage to classical Greek civilization may have been avoided entirely. Lessons to be learned from the Athenian empire are glaringly apparent in todays world of superpowers run by corporations where present-day governments, in a quest for secure oil reserves, again wage war under the guise of spreading democracy. The economic and political costs of the war in Iraq have been devastating to America and her allies. America finds herself increasingly weakened and isolated from the rest of the world. Any claims the United States may have had to moral superiority have been destroyed. Tens of thousands of civilians are being slaughtered in the chaos that the war has created. Iraqs infrastructure has been destroyed and the economy devastated. Much of the population has been reduced to poverty. It is imperative that democracy consider human rights before the interests of the state. The deplorable impact upon the populace by Athens attempts to spread democracy throughout ancient Greece are being echoed today in Americas attempts to impose democracy in the Middle East. The war is undermining and making unpalatable democracy itself. And, like ancient Athens, America risks finding its seemingly infinite power and prosperity irrevocably damaged. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.32 References Bagnall, Nigel 2004 The Peloponnesian War: Athens, Sparta, and the Struggle for Greece. New York: Thomas Dunne Books. Detailed book on the Peloponnesian War, although rather dry. It did however provide a great description of the events leading up to the war and what events may have perpetrated it. It also had good maps, a list of the main players in the war, and a historical survey, which listed all the city-states involved and how they contributed to the outcome of the war. Hanson, Victor Davis 2005 A War Like No Other. New York: Random House A very entertaining and accurate book on the Peloponnesian War. Hanson does not write like an historian, he writes as thought he is telling a story. This made the book enjoyable to read, but I did find it lacked continuity. He explained major themes of the war but had to jump around between events to do so. I often got confused as to which part of the war I was reading about. Hornblower, Simon 2002 The Greek World 479-323 BCE. London: Routledge. This book covers Greek history from the Persian invasion to Alexander the Great, essentially Classical Greece. There is a small discussion on the Peloponnesian War, but the majority of the text focuses on the before and after; that is how much the war changed Greece. It was an interesting read, although at parts rather technical and dry, but nonetheless informative on the causes and effects of the Peloponnesian War. Kagan, Donald 2003 The Peloponnesian War. London: Viking. A mammoth book on nothing but the Peloponnesian War. Kagan discusses every event in the war, taken from the writings of Thucydides and Xenophen. This makes his book very long and descriptive, but like Hanson he writes like a story-teller so his text is very engaging. Some parts (particularly the battle tactics drawn from Thucydides) are less entertaining. Nonetheless, a very clear and complete book. Morris, Ian Barry B. Powell 2006 The Greeks: History, Culture and Society. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc. Survey textbook for my Classical Studies course. Just gives a chapter-long overview of the war, but is very complete in its description. The text lacks analysis, but it helped clarify certain events that some other authors went into far too much detail about. Overall, the book is very good; it discusses every aspect of ancient Greek life. Santayana, George 1906 The Life of Reason. New York: Prometheus Books. I only used his book for the quote. It demonstrates how something written one hundred years ago is still applicable in todays society and justifies the importance of understanding and learning from history. Thucydides 1972 History of the Peloponnesian War, trans. Rex Warner. London: Penguin Books. Thucydides, being our only primary source on the Peloponnesian War (up until 407 BCE at least), writes on the war from the militaristic standpoint. His analysis varies from being dry (when he is describing the military tactics in detail) to being extremely interesting (pretty much everything else). However, there is the problem of reliability when it comes to his discussion: he was not present at many of the events and speeches he writes about. Some of what he says must be taken with a grain of salt, but nothing he wrote about has been archaeologically disproved. His history is as accurate as we can ever hope to get. Notes 1 Kagan, 2003:3 2 Morris Powell, 2006:193 3 Thucydides I.23 4 Hanson, 2005: 37 5 Hornblower, 2002:118 6 Bagnall, 2004:139 7 Thucydides, II.49 8 Thucydides, II.53 9 Hanson, 2005:79 10 Thucydides, III.87 11 Hanson, 2005:79 12 Hanson, 2005:264 13 Kagan, 2003: 4, 8 14 Hanson, 2005: 144 15 Hornblower, 2002:192 16 Hanson, 2005:145 17 Hornblower, 2002:160 18 Thucydides, V.26 19 Hornblower, 2002:161 20 Thucydides, VI.1 21 Hanson, 2005:203 22 Hanson, 2005: 206 23 Morris Powell, 2006: 351 24 Thucydides, VII.87 25 Morris Powell, 2006:354 26 Morris Powell, 2006:358 27 Morris Powell, 2006:358 28 Kagan, 2003:481 29 Hanson, 2005:290 30 Hanson, 2005: 293 31 Hanson, 2005:309 32 Santayana, 1906:248.

The Revolt Of Mother: The Power Of Decision Essay -- Mary Wilkins

The Revolt of Mother: The Power of Decision Decisions shape our lives. In history , the decisions of leaders and generals have changed the course of mankind. In today's world , multi-billion dollar corporations rest on the decisions of a few select executives. On a smaller but no less important scale, acting on decisions can liberate people from stagnation. In the story "The Revolt of Mother" the main character shows us the power of acting on decisions. Mother recognizes the wrongs of her situation and weighs the effect on her family. In the end she acts to free herself and her family from forty years of wrong. Mother lives forty years with a suppressed dream—a new house promised to her after her wedding. She lives with the everyday routine of cleaning the house and cooking pies for the family. This shows the stagnation of her everyday existence; an existence brought about by forty years of non- decision. Mother stays content with her shack. "She was a masterly keeper of her box of a house. Her one living room never seemed to have in it any of the dust which the friction of life with inanimate matter produces"(LACpg.284). This shows the lack of empowerment mother has at this time of the story. This state is partly due to the society—a time that was male dominated and discouraged the wife to speak out—and partly because mother just feel into a routine that included everything except her happiness. I felt that mother centered her life around providing for her family but forgot to look towards her own needs. She bakes pies, cooks dinner and it everything else except things that made her happy. Mother discovers disturbing news when she learns that her future house is giving way to Father's new barn. Mother would have probably let her dream die if it were not for a conversation with her daughter. Mother realizes that it's not just her happiness involved. This breach of contract now involved the happiness of the family. Mother does something that changes her state: she decides and acts on it. Many times our personal happiness takes a back seat in a busy world. I forget my own need sometimes just trying to please loved ones—mom, dad, mom, dad. Sometimes when someone else's happiness is in jeopardy I'm more inclined to act. Mother is ashamed that her daughter is going to be married in such a small, drafty house. "I want you to lo... ...gave Mrs. Penn a name— Sarah—in the end because she claims the god given right to be noticed and heard. Sarah Penn reminds me of another historical figure that forced a change—Mrs. Rosa Parks. Mrs. Rosa Parks decided that she was tired so she sat in the white section of the bus. Her decision to sit and her act of defiance forced us to re-evaluate Civil Rights. We were forced to know her name and realize her wrong. The power of acting out a decision gave Mrs. Rosa Parks a name and a voice that others rallied around to right a breach of contract. A decision that is made and acted upon has no other outcome but results. It forces a change to happen and sets us free from a circular trap of inaction and indecision. I decide tonight to break a cycle of indecision by calling someone. For an entire week I was thinking up reasons to call this person. For an entire week I was caught in indecision. In the middle of writing this paper, I decide to bite the bullet and call. Sure enough, I broke the cycle and received some results. The results raised some new problems—a decision of where to bring her for l unch. I will take this kind of decision over a week or wondering any day.