Problem Definition at Kudler Fine Foods Case Study

Problem Definition at Kudler Fine Foods - Case Study Example With the reasonable success of its first three stores, Kudler desires to expand into other locations in Southern California as well as in San Francisco. It is also planning to expand its products and services offerings with the addition of coffee & tea, a fish counter, and a deli, as well as more aggressively market its catering services. In order to target high-end areas in other cities, Kudler plans to launch an internet website that will eventually have e-commerce capabilities. Several issues have been identified in Kudler's current operations that need to be addressed before it can successfully achieve its future goals. Currently, it deals mainly in perishable goods which require extremely accurate forecasting of inventories so as not to incur losses. Kudler employs some relatively highly paid specialty personnel such as the butcher, the baker and the wine steward, and finding qualified people for a new store or to replace those who leave is difficult, especially so, since Kudler's pay is a bit below average. Kathy Kudler and her small management team may not be able to handle additional stores in farther locations, if their management approach is not adjusted to this situation, which limits their plans for expansion. The Del Mar location is not doing too well and needs to be addressed. Another gourmet shop opening within Kudler's current market areas would definitely pose a threat. And since, Kudler's gourmet products are pricey, an economic decline in i ts geographic area would definitely hurt Kudler. Problem/Opportunity Taking economic decline as the issue in question, this problem can only be solved by preparing for such an eventuality. According to Joseph Ellis (2005), a Goldman Sachs partner, economic cycles or periods of advancing and slowing are the rule and there are 4 stages of economic downturn: the peak, a modest slowing, intensifying worrying, and the advent of recession. Therefore, preparations to help minimize the threat of an economic decline are always worth undertaking so as not to be caught off-guard when it actually happens. Actions to hedge the disadvantageous effects of an economic decline can present opportunities. Kudler needs to carefully choose locations where it will set up additional stores, like identifying high-growth areas where profitable business operations could be better forecasted. These new locations may be in geographically dispersed areas, therefore the need to take a new management approach for managing more widely dispersed operations needs to be considered. Th e introduction and aggressive marketing of new products and services (such as online selling and catering) in its stores not only enhances Kudler's business viability but will also increase customers' patronage of Kudler as it expands into more stores. In the event of an economic decline in a certain geographic location, Kudler would be able to handle its negative effects because of the increased number of profitable stores operating, while actions are being undertaken to relocate a distressed store. End-State Goals The end vision for Kudler consists of several goals that would have

Electromagnetic radiation Essay Example for Free

Electromagnetic radiation Essay Electromagnetic waves are disturbances caused by the oscillation of charged particles. It consists of two parts, an electric field and a magnetic field oscillating perpendicular to each other. The wave is self-sustaining, and propagates at a direction perpendicular to both the electric field and magnetic field. There is a whole spectrum of electromagnetic waves. The ones with the longest wavelengths (range: 1 cm-1km) are the radio waves. After the radio waves, microwaves have the next longest wavelength (range: 1mm-10cm). Then, we have the infrared waves (range: 1 µm-1mm), followed by light (range: 400nm-700nm), ultraviolet rays (range: 1nm-100nm), x-rays (range: 0. 1nm-10nm), and gamma rays, which have the shortest wavelengths amongst the different electromagnetic radiations (range: 0. 01nm-0. 1nm). b. How you determine the temperature, composition, and motion of an object from its light spectrum? Different elements emit and absorb light waves differently. Hence, when viewed through a spectroscope, different elements will have different spectral patterns. The object’s composition is obtained from noting which spectral lines are present or absent. We can also determine the density of the object depending on the amount of lines present in the spectrum. The more lines and the more continuous the spectrum, the denser is the material. On the other hand, the temperature of the object will affect the shapes spectral lines emitted by the object. If objects have high temperatures, their spectral lines will be broader, that is, it is spread over more frequencies than if it had lower temperature. To determine temperature, Finally, the Doppler Shift tells us the motion of the object, whether it is moving away or toward us, and with what speed. When the observed object is moving toward us, the spectral lines we observe occur at shorter wavelengths when we compare it to those measured in the laboratory. This is called â€Å"blueshifted. † On the other hand, if the object is moving away from us we observe the lines to occur at longer wavelengths. In this case we say that the lines are â€Å"redshifted. † The amount of shifting will determine the speed of motion. c. In what way do astronomers infer that the Sun’s energy comes from nuclear fusion reactions? How do we know it does not come from chemical burning? Even though both nuclear fusions and chemical reactions result in the release of energy, nuclear fusions release much more energy than chemical reactions. This is due to the nature of each reaction. Given that the energy that the sun produces is extremely high, it is impossible that chemical reactions are fuelling it, for if that were the case, then the sun will not be producing enough energy to sustain life on Earth. If it were chemical reactions powering it, it would be producing roughly one-millionth of the energy it is producing now. d. Explain how the Sun produces energy by nuclear fusion. Because of the amount of matter present in the sun, it is in danger of imploding. What keeps this from happening, however, is the nuclear fusion that occurs in its core, which is so hot because of the pressure from its mass that is being pulled inwards by gravity. In the core, hydrogen nuclei are forced to come together. This fusion creates helium-4 and energy. Since the resulting He-4 atoms are less massive than the initial hydrogen atoms that fused together, the missing mass is what was transformed into energy. This is best explained by the most famous equation in Physics, E=mc2, which states the equivalence of mass and energy. e. When we look at stars in the sky, we see a wide range of brightness. Explain the factors that would make one star appear brighter than another. There are two factors that affect the brightness of stars in the sky. The first one is the inherent characteristic of the star, which dictates how absolutely bright or luminous it will be. The second factor that affects the way we see stars is their distance from the earth. The farther they are, the dimmer they would appear. This is because the light they emit would need to pass through interstellar matter that could disperse, absorb or reflect the light in different directions. f. Compare the Sun with other stars. The Sun is called such by virtue of its position, that is, it is in the center of the solar system. Technically, however, the sun is also a star. It differs from other stars in its size, temperature, age, and color. The Sun is a dwarf star, about 4. 5 billion years old, and is classified as â€Å"yellow,† which means that it has an average temperature of about 6000 K. Hotter stars are classified as blue-white, while cooler stars are red. g. Consider a star at the upper part of the main sequence (label it Star A) and a star in the lower part of the main sequence (label it Star B). Which is: 1) Larger? Star A 2) More luminous? Star A 3) More massive? Star A 4) Hotter? Star A h. Compare the life spans of low mass stars and high mass stars. Explain why they are different. The life span of low mass stars is longer than the life spans of high mass stars. The reason for this is that the higher the mass of the star, the more hydrogen is needed to undergo fusion to keep the star from collapsing under its own gravitational force. i. What would an imaginary terrestrial observer see as the Sun runs out of hydrogen? If life is confined to Earth when this happens, would life perish from heat or from cold? Explain. As the Sun runs out of hydrogen fuel, it will start consuming helium. This leads to the sun increasing in radius, eventually turning it into a red giant. When this happens, the sun will grow so large that it can engulf the earth. Life on Earth would perish from extreme heat. When the helium runs out, however, the sun will shrink to a white dwarf. The reason for this is that the sun is too small to continue burning elements larger than helium. j. What kind of stars eventually become white dwarfs? What kind eventually become supernovae? What will be the ultimate fate of the Sun? Why? A white dwarf is an extremely dense star, with the mass of the sun and the size of the earth. It is composed of the remnants of stellar matter, which is mostly carbon and oxygen. In order to turn into a white dwarf, stars need to have a size of about 0. 07-10 times that of the sun. On the other hand, a supernova is formed when a massive star consumes all of its nuclear fuel and thus collapses under its gravitational field. Because of the high gravitational force that causes its collapse, the dead star suddenly explodes. A star that is about 8-10 times more massive than the sun will end its life as a supernova. The ultimate fate of the sun is to become a white dwarf. The reason for this is that the sun is not very massive to turn into a supernova, thus lacking the critical mass that would cause it to collapse under its own weight.

Is Diversity The Solution to Affirmative Action? Essay -- Equality Rac

IS DIVERSITY THE SOLUTION TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Equal employment practices, in many organizations, have been established through affirmative action programs. These programs were created by government mandate to create a fair and non-discriminatory working environment in organizations. The need for affirmative action was recognized as early as the 1940’s, as a concept, based on the racial diversity of our country. The goal was the redistribution of opportunities on the basis of race. Now as we approach the 21st century, affirmative action seems to be a dying issue, legally and otherwise. The fact still remains that we have a racially and culturally diverse population, here in the United States, and something has to take the place of affirmative action. Diversity seems to be the new concept of most public and private organizations, Many Human Resources specialist seem to believe that where there is diversity there is no need for affirmative action. In this report I will look at what affirmative action has done for us, and whe re diversity can take us. President Johnson formally created affirmative action in 1965; it initially targeted employers that held federal contracts. The originating document for affirmative action was Executive Order 11246, which mandated a race-neutral means of equal opportunity and created a level playing field for previously excluded people. Employees should be treated equally without regard for their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. With the passage of time, affirmative action received a broader definition and became the platform for women’s groups, civil rights’ groups and other minorities. The umbrella term, ‘affirmative action’, refers to a variety of highly regulated efforts used ... ... B., & Packer, A. E. (1987). Workforce 2000: Work and workers for the twenty-first century. Indianapolis: Hudson Institute and Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office. Source: Carson Public Library Kessler, L. L. (1990). Managing Diversity In An Equal Opportunity Workplace. National Foundation for the Study of Employment Policy, Washington D. C. Source: CSUDH Library Loden, M. & Rosener, J. B. (1991). Workforce America! Managing Employee Diverstiy as a Vital Resource. Business One Irwin, Homewood, ILL. Source: CSUDH Library Riccucci, N. M. (Spring, 1997). Cultural Diversity Programs to Prepare for Work Force 2000: What’s Gone Wrong? Public Personnel Management, 26(1). Source: CSUDH Library Sunderland, T. (1996). "Diversity in the Workplace." <http://cctr.umkc.edu/wicc/wdpaper.ht Source: CSUDH Internet 4 November 98

It’s about me Essay

On August 28, 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King gave an unforgettable speech. This speech helped establish civil rights for people of color. The speech I am referring to is â€Å"I Have a Dream†. In â€Å"I Have a Dream† by Dr. Martin luther King eloquently discusses segregation and injustices against African Americans. Kings speech uses rhetoric to captivate the audience’s attention on that August day. The first example of King’s rhetoric is in the form of ethos. Dr. Martin Luther King analogizes president Lincoln in his speech, â€Å"Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the emancipation proclamation.† This line uses Lincoln’s power and position on civil rights to develop a sense credibility with the audience. Another archetype of rhetoric in the â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech is a pathos. On page four of his speech King says â€Å"And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tom orrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.† King is using the American dream to address not just colored people, but all Americans. By saying this, King letting his audience know that American dream is freedom and that is all he asking for, freedom.  One of the other rhetorical strategies Dr. Martin Luther King uses is a logo. On page two King proclaims â€Å"America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’ This statement is using deductive reasoning to aid his audience in understanding that African Americans have been allowed to certain rights, but robbed of others. Dr. Martin Luther King used rhetoric to the best of his ability. By doing so he aided the civil rights movement and helped improve the lives of many colored people. Even though American society is steal dealing with racism and discrimination without Dr. Martin Luther King’s rhetorical strategies, we might have still been a segregated nation.

Jespersen vs. Harrahs Case Analysis Essay

Facts: Darlene Jespersen was a bartender at Harrah’s Casino in Reno in the sports bar. She was frequently praised by her supervisors and customers for being an outstanding employee. When Jespersen first started her job at Harrah’s the female bartenders were not required to wear makeup but were encouraged to. Jespersen tried to wear makeup to work a few times but decided that she did not like it due to the fact it made her feel sick, degraded, exposed and violated. She also believed that it interfered with her ability to deal with unruly customers because it â€Å"took away [her] credibility as an individual and as a person.† After 20 years of working for the company, Harrah’s implemented the â€Å"Personal Best† program contained certain appearance standards that applied equally to men and women. Women were now required to wear makeup and when Jespersen refused, she was fired. Jespersen sued Harrah’s under Title VII. Argument for Jespersen: Jespersen refused to wear makeup to work because the cost-in time, money and personal dignity. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 employers are free to adopt different appearance standards for each sex, but these standards may not impose a greater burden on one sex than the other. Women were required to wear makeup and men were not which allowed men to save hundreds of dollars and hours of time. Harrah’s had no right to fire Jespersen because the rule only applied to women. Argument for Harrah’s: Employers are allowed to impose different appearance rules on women than men as long as the overall burden upon the employees is the same. Harrah’s rules did not impose a heavier burden on women than on men. Outcome: Jespersen appealed the judgment of the United States District Court for District of Nevada granting defendant employer summary judgment in the employee’s sex discrimination action filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The final outcome was that the original judgment granting Harrah’s summary judgment was affirmed because Jespersen failed to present sufficient evidence to survive summary judgment on her claim. My Opinion: I agree with the final outcome of this case. Jespersen did not have enough evidence to prove that by Harrah’s requiring her to wear makeup was indeed sexual stereotyping. The â€Å"Personal Best† program had plenty of restrictions and requirements for men as well as women.

A Homeless Concept Essays

A Homeless Concept Essays A Homeless Concept Essay A Homeless Concept Essay A Homeless Concept. An essay about the uncanny. ? ? Table of Contents Introduction 3 The Origin Definition: Unheimliche4 Freud’s point of view 5 The Analysis The works of Emily Stainer6 The works of Penny Siopis8 Conclusion 10 Works cited 11 ? Introduction This essay is an attempt to interpret the aesthetic phenomenon of uncanniness. Things, people, impressions, events and situations which are able to arouse in us a special variety of the fearful; the uncanny (Strachey, 1925). A mythological fiend skulking in our subconscious minds. Das Unheimliche is an Essay written by Sigmund Freud in 1919 in which he approaches the uncanny from various interesting angles. But as this is an essay about uncanniness in art, I will only explore the theories that are applicable. I will firstly and thoroughly define the term â€Å"uncanny†, then review Freud’s point of view a sort of a short history or definition of the occurrence and lastly, but not least, I will apply my knowledge of the uncanny to the works of two very talented South African artists, Emily Stainer and Penny Siopis. The uncanny is a part of human nature that I have always found intriguing. It is as if we do not have any idea as to what secrets our subconscious minds hold, and what secret fears will emerge as a result of that fact. We cannot remember our childhood complexes, and later in adult life they might surprise us at any moment: whether it is in real life or when viewing an art object. ? Definition: Unheimlich The German word for â€Å"uncanny† is â€Å"unheimlich. † Unheimliche is the negation of the word Heimlich. What is interesting is that the word itself is of binary meaning (Strachey, 1925). To begin with â€Å"Heimlich 1† refers to all that is homely, tamed and comfortable. The following meaning of the word is â€Å"concealed, secret, what is not revealed. † As a result if â€Å"unheimliche† is unhomely, then it turns out to be the second meaning of â€Å"Heimlich. † Heimlich can mean familiar, intimate and cherished, but its other definitions shape into apparently contradictory meanings, such as obscured and clandestine (Brewster, 2002). Thus â€Å"Heimlich† is a word of ambivalence, just as the â€Å"unheimliche† is. For Freud this ambiguity is a constitutive element of the sentiment that portrays the uncanny. As a result the uncanny is the homely and the unhomely at the same moment in time. It is both good and bad at the same time (unhomely and revealed). This duality creates a bewildered and then alarmed effect in people. Freud was intrigued by the out of the ordinary semantics of the word. For Freud the circulatory semantics of the word meant that the uncanny was both â€Å"heimlich† and â€Å"unheimlich† at the same time (Amtower, 1925). It is what is supposed to be kept secret but is inadvertently revealed; it is what was not only kept hidden from others, but also from the self. He then defined the uncanny as the division of frightening things that escorts us back to what is known and familiar. He relates all the things, experiences etc. to the primary narcissism of early childhood and primitive cultures (Brewster, 2002). The uncanny is thus in practice a concept which paradoxically thematises the impossibility of conceptualization in the traditional sense of a self-contained entity (Masschelein, 2003) . Like the concept of the unconscious, it is a negative concept and hence internally contradictory, for by virtue of its negativity, it points toward something which cannot be reasonably and knowingly thought. Which is why it is an aesthetic concept: it expresses a subjective sentiment which cannot be detained in words, for the oversimplification of language always in a way betray the eccentricity of experience (Borghart Madelein, 2003). ? Freud’s point of view For Freud, as for Jentsch, the uncanny is a specific, mild form of anxiety, related to certain phenomena in real life and art. Examples of such phenomena include the double, strange repetitions, the omnipotence of thought, the confusion between animate and inanimate, and other experiences related to madness, superstition and death. There are two kinds of experiences that create the effect of the uncanny: events in everyday life and those generated when reading texts (literary as well as art objects). Experiences of the uncanny in everyday life are related to estranging circumstances that seem to stimulate a certain sense of fear in the unconscious (Borghart and Madelein, 2003). The one central theme in the experience of the uncanny is the fear it provokes. Fear generated by the unexpected return from the unconscious of something that was once familiar to us. This fear can take the shape in the following: being the return of surmounted stages of cultural development, the return of repressed infantile complexes, or a combination of both (Borghart and Madelein, 2003). Freud qualifies the uncanny as an aesthetic experience; as a study of the qualities of our sentiment. This can be related to the peculiar grammatical form of the term â€Å"das unheimliche† (Masschelein, 2003). Not everyone is similarly inclined to the feeling of the uncanny. Many people experience this feeling in the highest degree in relation to death and dead bodies, to the return of the dead. Most likely our fear still implies the old belief that the dead man becomes the enemy of his surviving man (Amtower, 1925). We as educated civilized human beings have ceased to believe in this and when faced with ghost stories or urban legends of the dead that the primordial fear arise again. ? The works of Emily Stainer Emily Stainer is a South African artist and art historian, working in mixed media and installation art. Her work is structured to display elements of contradiction and ambiguous shifts: the world of childhood games versus adult knowledge and sexual corruption (Stainer, 2007). In the collection Menagerie, which is made up of boxed peepshows and gyrating doll parts, Stainer seeks to expose the viewers to a sensory overloaded experience, exaggerated by the small space it is exhibited in. In the artist’s own words Menagerie seeks to convey the elements of the strange and the fantastic that coexist with the familiar and domestic (Stainer, 2007). In other words, the uncanny. Figure 1. Emily Stainer, Cage I (2006). Mixed Media. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Cage I (2006) is made up of a pair of animated dolls legs encaged in an elaborate birdcage that is usually meant to house exotic birds. But, according to the artist herself, it also reminds us of the barred enclosures found in strip clubs, usually containing gyrating women on display. Stainer goes on to say: â€Å"It is sometimes difficult, in Menagerie, to determine whether the animated dolls’ limbs are those of an adult or a child, causing a merging of an uncomfortable binary. The uneasy act of watching a child’s pair of disembodied legs, opening and closing, resonates strongly with the taboos of infant sexuality. † (Stainer, 2007). â€Å"People’s† legs aren’t supposed to be detached from their legs and presented in a cage! And â€Å"people’s† detached legs aren’t supposed to move by themselves! Yet they are. Her work is certainly uncanny. If we take Freud’s point of view in consideration, it is the automated severed â€Å"limbs† that cause this unsettling feeling, because of the castration complex of infancy. Menagerie deals with the politics of the gaze. Figure 2. Emily Stainer, Menagerie (2003). Installation Detail. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. The attractive colours and velvet provide the lure of the spectacle, but the voyeuristic nature of the work confronts the viewer with his or her involvement in the unsavoury act of looking. In Figure 2, we see a boxed theatre with a pair of automated doll legs on a swing, trapped in a never-ending cycle of movement, doomed forever to be on display (Stainer, 2007). This collection of artworks reminds me of the travelling carnival phenomenon of yester years. It reminds me of the Freak shows and how people were exploited for an audience’s pleasure. Freak shows aren’t practiced anymore, yet when viewing this exhibition, one feels as if you are indulging in the same revolting practice. The uncanny feeling here, for me, is the guilt one faces when realizing you are indulging in a spectacle and yet objectifying something for your own viewing pleasure at the same time. I might be wrong. ? The works of Penny Siopis Penny Siopis is a seasoned South African artist. I will discuss a couple of her works from the Pinky Pinky collection, an interesting body of work aimed towards a both critical and tantalizing breakdown of the sign (Smith, 1999). This body of work is often thought of as Siopis’s best work as of yet, drawing the viewer into a visceral encounter with history as myth and part-object, a history gargantuan in its obscurity (Smith, 1999). Figure 3. Penny Siopis Pinky Pinky (date). Mixed Media. Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg In African culture Pinky Pinky is a sort of mythical creature, like the Tokolosh, living between male and female bathrooms, menacing (sometimes even accused of raping) young pubescent girls. It is in Pinky Pinky that Siopis’ interest is most condensed and turned to an end that leaves the observer deeply moved. Pinky Pinky is a figure seen in parts which do not relate to each other logically. The fear installed by Pinky Pinky is one of partial recognition. In this absence of totality the viewer might allegorically read the figuration of a country in which recognition of one another is constantly only fragmentary (Smith, 1999). Figure 4. Penny Siopis Pinky Pinky (date). Mixed Media. Goodman Galleries, Johannesburg. Siopis does not conceal the uncanny. In Figure 3 we see a â€Å"decomposed† pink patch that resembles a person’s head with a denture where the eyes normally would have been. It is in my opinion this perversion from the normal that leaves the viewer with an uncanny feeling. We as viewers want the image to represent a head (for it has teeth! ), yet it is not a human head, and we as the viewers are stuck at the uncanny crossroad again: familiar, yet not familiar. The eyes play a major role in human intimacy and communication. The figure is eyeless (which we all know refers back to our childhood fear of being castrated, according to Freud), which might also be a cause of the uncanny feeling it evokes. Figure 4 has an even closer resemblance to a human face, complete with fake eyelashes and all! I do not know how to describe it, but this artwork unnerves me. There is something about the mouth; the mouth looks like a deep wound stitched back together. Its uncanniness might refer back to a child’s vulnerable state when not being able to speak.? Conclusion As Freud demonstrated in his essay, the uncanny is, like many other concepts, a word taken from common language, which is metaphorically charged with a certain meaning. Therefore, it is impossible to reduce the origin of these kinds of concepts to just one text or to just one usage. On the other hand, there must always be a â€Å"first† one to lift such a word from its ordinary context, and to put it forward as a topic for reflection, in this case Freud (Masschelein, 2003). The uncanny is something we all experience some time in our lives. It is not experienced in the same way or intensity by all and relies wholly on the experiencing subject. It is the subtle remembrance of things long forgotten; or things we thought were long forgotten. And when united with them again, it leaves us at a point of uncertainty. And it is this uncertainty, in my opinion, that evokes the terror, also known as the uncanny. Amtower, L. (1925). The Uncanny, Sigmund Freud. Retrieved May 14, 2008, from Rohan: http://www-rohan. sdsu. edu Bergler, E. (1934). The Psycho-Analysis of the Uncanny. Retrieved May 15, 2008, from PEP Web: pep-web. org/document. php? id=SPR. 022. 0239A Borghart, P. , Madelein, C. (2003, January). The Return of the Key: The Uncanny in the Fantastic. Retrie ved May 14, 2008, from Image and Narrative: imageandnarrative. be/uncanny/borghartmadelein. htm Brewster, S. (2002, November 1). Das Unheimliche. Retrieved May 17, 2008, from The Literary Encyclopedia: itencyc. com/php/? rec=trueUID=5735 Masschelein, A. (2003, January). A Homeless Concept: Shapes of the Uncanny in Twentieth-Century Theory and Culture. Retrieved May 14, 2008, from Image and Narrative: imageandnarrative. be/uncanny/anneleenmasschelein. htm Smith, K. (1999, September). Art South Africa. Retrieved May 17, 2008, from Art South Africa Reviews Penny Siopis: artsouthafrica. com/? article=455 Stainer, E. (2007, October). Bound Emily Stainer. Retrieved May 16, 2008, from Bound: boundexhibition. om/artists/emily-stainer/ Strachey, A. (1925). Sigmund Freud, The Uncanny. Retrieved May 17, 2008, from Harvard: http://64. 233. 104/search? q=cache:RA4OmC44KgMJ:isites. harvard. edu/fs/docs/icb. to. Illustrations Figure 1. Emily Stainer, Cage I (2006). Mixed Media. Walker Art G allery, Liverpool. Figure 2. Emily Stainer, Menagerie (2003). Installation Detail. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Figure 3. Penny Siopis Pinky Pinky (2002). Mixed Media. Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg Figure 4. Penny Siopis Pinky Pinky (2002). Mixed Media. Goodman Galleries, Johannesburg.

The People of the State of California v. Scott Peterson

The People of the State of California v. Scott Peterson Free Online Research Papers Scott Peterson now sits in San Quentin State Prison in California. He is there serving a sentence which will ultimately end in death by lethal injection once his appeals run out. He is serving this sentence for murder of his wife, Laci Peterson, and his unborn son, Conner, who he reported missing on Christmas eve, 2002. At first, this case seemed like it was more of a missing person case, not necessarily a murder case, and Scott was initially definitely not a suspect as Laci’s family and friends stood behind him and maintained their belief that he was innocent. It was not until other matters came to light that they began to question Scott’s involvement in the disappearance of Laci, which eventually led to Scott being where he is today. The first issue was Scott’s inconsistencies in the stories that he was telling the police. The things he was telling them from one day to the other were different. That he had a business meeting initially, then he retracted that story and said that he was in the marina fishing and came home to find Laci gone, but when asked what he was fishing for, he could not provide a good answer. Then of course it came out that Scott had a mistress, as well as other extramarital affairs. The mistress, Amber Frey, sought the police’s assistance when she realized that the man she was â€Å"in love† with was actually married and that his wife had disappeared, therefore she also feared for her safety. Around the time that it came out about Scott’s affairs, the family and friends that once supported him began to withdraw, believing that Scott in fact did murder Laci and Conner, not because of his affairs per se, but because he told Ms. Frey, 15 days before Laci disappe ared, that he â€Å"lost† his wife and that this would be his first Christmas alone. On April 14, 2003, a male fetus washed ashore north of the marina where Scott had been boating the day Laci disappeared, which was positively identified as Conner. The next day, a female torso, missing her head, hands and feet washed ashore in the same area. These remains were positively identified as Laci’s. Autopsies could not be performed on the bodies due to the significant decomposition, so a specific cause of death could not be determined. On April 18, 2003, Scott Peterson was arrested in the parking lot of a golf course. At the time of his arrest, Peterson was carrying $15,000, four cell phones, credit cards belonging to multiple family members, camping equipment, shoes, clothing, and his brother’s driver’s license. His hair and beard color had also been changed from brown to blonde. Peterson went on trial in June of 2004, not in the city of Modesto, due to the fact that there may not be a fair trial, but instead to nearby Redwood City. The prosecution said the motive behind Peterson’s actions were due to his affair with Amber Frey as well as money. They believed he killed his wife due to insurmountable debt as well as his desire to be single. The defense argued that there was no direct evidence to connect Scott Peterson to the murders of Laci and Conner, but that all the evidence uncovered was circumstantial. In fact, the only DNA evidence that was found was one of Laci’s hairs in a pair of pliers on Scott’s boat. The defense went on to say that a satanic cult had murdered Laci in some sort of sacrificial ritual. There was no cause of death, no time of death, no murder weapon, no evidence as to how she was killed, no identifiable crime scene, no eyewitnesses, no confessions. Everyone in America knew Scott Petersons alibi was that he w as fishing in the bay within a few days of her disappearance. It would be a logical place for the killer to dump the body, thereby framing Scott (because an exact time of death could not be determined). In fact, that was the defense’s argument, but the jury didnt buy it. The state did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Scott Peterson killed Laci and Conner. On March 16, 2005, Scott Peterson was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the double murder of his wife and unborn son as well as ordered to pay $10,000 towards Laci’s funeral. At some point later on after sentencing, the judge who sent Peterson to jail (Alfred Delucchi) expressed some doubts about the imposition of the death penalty on Scott. The death penalty was an option because Peterson was convicted of murdering two people. Under California law, a fetus is considered a person in this context, which is why he was convicted of a double murder. California has determinant sentencing laws, meaning the judge may impose one of three terms – low term, mid term or high term of a person convicted of a felony. These are exact terms and not on the same line as a person convicted in another state of â€Å"two to five years†. Crimes of heat or passion versus premeditated, cold-blooded murders are what differentiate life sentences from the death penalty. Of the states that allow the death penalty, California is the slowest in moving toward executions. It could easily be 10 to 20 years before Scott Peterson is injected. There are more than 600 inmates on death row and since 1978, when the death penalty was reinstated in California, only 11 people have been executed. Peterson’s case is on appeal as of his sentencing date (due to automatic appeal), though at this time, according to the California Appellate Court website there is no other data available regarding this case. The appeals process is sometimes a lengthy one, but it can be guaranteed that once the arguments against his conviction are heard, it will once again become news. References California Appellate Courts Website http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov Merritt, J. (2005). Scott Peterson Sentencing. Retrieved from washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40569-2005Mar16.html Montaldo, C. (2008). The Scott Peterson Trial. Retrieved from http://crime.about.com/od/current/a/scott.htm Research Papers on The People of the State of California v. Scott PetersonThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Fifth HorsemanBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XCapital PunishmentArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraLifes What IfsThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite Religion

Beware of These 26 Worst College Majors

Beware of These 26 Worst College Majors SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make while you’re in college (or even before you begin) is what you’ll want to major in.When you choose a major, you might primarily think about your academic interests or long-term career goals. But perhaps you’re concerned about more practical matters, like employment and earnings opportunities. If you want to scope out majors that will make it more difficult for you to be professionally successful in the long run, you’ve come to the right place. Here, I’ll lay out what makes a major â€Å"bad† before listing the worst college majors in a variety of categories (like worst paying majors, majors with the highest unemployment rates, and lowest value majors). Keep in mind, however, that these can still be great subjects to study. Already majoring in one of the subjects on this list or planning to in the future? Don’t worry - that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to professional failure. At the end, I’ll list tips and strategies for success if you’ve decided to pursue one of the majors on these lists. Let’s get started! What Makes a Major â€Å"Bad?† There's no such thing as an objectively bad major - you should study whatever topic you choose. But in the context of this article, I’m defining the "worst" college majors as onesthat may make it more difficult for you to: Find employment post-graduation (based onaverage unemployment rates) Make a good living (based on average salary) Both find a job AND find a job that pays well There are a lot of reasons why a particular major might make it more difficult for a graduate to find a relatively well-paying job quickly. You’ll want to do your own research on majors that you’re interested in, but here are some possible explanations for why a major may end up on one of our â€Å"worst† lists: Competition in an industry is particularly high, making it harder for recent grads to break into the field. There isn’t a lot of demand for a particular professional with that major, which drives down salaries. A bachelor’s degree may not be enough to gain success in the field. Students may need to pursue a graduate degree in order to find gainful employment. Jobs in a particular field may be found mostly in the public sector. Public sector jobs tend to pay less than private sector jobs. These majors can still be great areas of study and lead to fulfilling careers; they are just, on average, less lucrative ones. Majors With the Worst Employment Rates The following majors are the ones that may make it most difficult for you to find a job after graduation, especially in your field. These majors are correlated with higher-than-average unemployment rates based on a recent report out of Georgetown University. Here are some recent, important figures for reference: Unemployment rates for high school graduates, aged 18-24: 18.9% Unemployment rate for graduates with bachelor’s degrees, aged 18-24: 6.7% *Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2014 You’ll notice that the unemployment rates listed below are much lower than 18.9%, which is the unemployment rate for people without a college degree. They are, however, higher than the average unemployment rate for young people with bachelor’s degrees (6.7%). I’ve also included unemployment for â€Å"experienced graduates† of these majors - you’ll notice that unemployment rates drop as people age and gain more professional experience. We can’t tell, however, whether these people are working in the particular field they majored in at school. On this list, recent college grads are defined as individuals with bachelor’s degrees aged 22-26. Experienced college grads are defined as individuals with bachelor’s degrees aged 35-54. The most recent data is from 20-2012, which is a few years ago now, but given how long this sort of research can take it’s the best information we currently have. These majors may lead to increased job search timelines, which means more stress and less money in your pocket. International Business Unemployment for recent college grads: 12.3% Unemployment for experienced college grads: Not enough information available Computer and Information Systems Unemployment for recent college grads: 12.1% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 4.3% Anthropology and Archaeology Unemployment for recent college grads: 10.9% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 7.1% Political Science Government Unemployment for recent college grads: 10.9% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 5.8% Architecture Unemployment for recent college grads: 10.3% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 7.3% Philosophy and Religious Studies Unemployment for recent college grads: 10.3% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 6.4% Fine Arts Unemployment for recent college grads: 10.2% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 6.5% Commercial Art and Graphic Design Unemployment for recent college grads: 9.9% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 6.8% Economics Unemployment for recent college grads: 9.8% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 4.4% Psychology Unemployment for recent college grads: 9.3% Unemployment for experienced college grads: 6.3% Worst Paying Majors If your primary concern when choosing a major is earning potential, you might want to stay away from the ones on the following list. They’re correlated with particularly low earnings for â€Å"experienced† grads (aged 25-59) according to that same Georgetown report. Median earnings are more helpful than average earnings because averages are easily skewed by very high or very low outliers. Keep in mind that the most recent information from this report is from 20-2012, so salaries are probably slightly higher now. For reference, the average graduate with a bachelor’s degree makes $45,478 right out of college. The average adult with a bachelor’s degree regardless of age makes about $59,124. You may want to avoid the following majors if this empty wallet makes you sadder than it would the average person. Fine Arts Median earnings for recent grads: $28,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $52,000 Drama and Theater Arts Median earnings for recent grads: $28,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $52,000 Anthropology and Archaeology Median earnings for recent grads: $29,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $57,000 Physical Fitness, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Median earnings for recent grads: $30,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $53,000 Social Work Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $44,000 Family and Consumer Sciences Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $47,000 Music Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $52,000 Psychology Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $53,000 Philosophy and Religious Studies Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $56,000 Film, Video, and Photographic Arts Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $56,000 Chemistry Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Median earnings for experienced grads: $73,000 Lowest Value Majors In this category, I used information from that Georgetown Report to consider the lowest value majors. These are majors that are associated with both high rates of unemployment AND low salaries - that is, they’re the majors that showed up on both of the lists above. Here, you can check out unemployment and median earnings for both recent and more experienced grads for the lowest value majors. Anthropology and Archaeology Unemployment for recent grads (22-26 years old): 10.9% Median earnings for recent grads: $29,000 Unemployment for experienced grads (30-54 years old): 7.1% Median earnings for experienced grads: $57,000 Philosophy and Religious Studies Unemployment for recent grads (22-26 years old): 10.3% Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Unemployment for experienced grads (30-54 years old): 6.4% Median earnings for experienced grads: $56,000 Fine Arts Unemployment for recent grads (22-26 years old): 10.2% Median earnings for recent grads: $28,000 Unemployment for experienced grads (30-54 years old): 6.5% Median earnings for experienced grads: $52,000 Philosophy and Religious Studies Unemployment for recent grads (22-26 years old): 10.3% Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Unemployment for experienced grads (30-54 years old): 6.4% Median earnings for experienced grads: $56,000 Psychology Unemployment for recent grads (22-26 years old): 9.3% Median earnings for recent grads: $31,000 Unemployment for experienced grads (30-54 years old): 6.3% Median earnings for experienced grads: $53,000 Are You Doomed If You’ve Chosen One of the WorstMajors? The short answer: no. There are a lot of reasons you can be successful even if you’ve chosen a major that’s associated with low salary, high unemployment, or both. Many students prioritize personal and academic interests over high future salaries, and that’s 100% OK (as long as you’re well-informed and realistic about your employment prospects). Still concerned? Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t be too worried about choosing a â€Å"bad† major. Don’t abandon ship until you’ve read the rest of this post. You Don’t Have to Pursue a Career That’s Directly Related to Your Major Some of the majors listed above are fairly flexible or broad in scope (like psychology or philosophy). If you’re concerned about getting a job or making enough money after you graduate, you should know it’s possible to switch gears and look for entry-level employment that isn’t directly related to your major. Many employers will view your past employment history as more important that your college major, especially as you get older. You may have to spend more time working your way up the ranks from an entry-level position, but that’s super common with recent college grads anyways. You Can Pursue Graduate Degrees in Your Field A graduate degree may lead to an increase in salary and a decrease in the chance you’ll stay unemployed. Some BA degrees won’t get you anywhere in a particular field without a graduate degree (e.g. you can do next to nothing in psychology without at least a master’s). This won’t apply to every major, but you may want to look into whether a graduate degree (either an MA or a PhD) is all but required for a job in a particular field. Graduate degrees can be expensive and costly, but they can really pay off in the long run with better employment prospects and higher salaries (again, though, it’s important to do your own research on this). Alternatively, you may be able to pursue a graduate degree in a new field, especially if your undergraduate major is one of the more flexible options. 4 Tips If You’re Studying One of the Worst College Majors If you’ve chosen one of these majors (and will be sticking with it), there are a few important things you can do to make sure you don’t end up unemployed or underpaid. Know What You Can Expect to Make If you have a specific career in mind, you can look at websites like payscale.com or salary.com for more info on average earnings. If you’re happy (or unhappy) with these prospects, this will give you an idea of whether you should stay the course or pivot to another career path. Speak With Other Graduates in Your Major Are they working in the same field, or are they doing something different? Are they happy with what they’re earning? Was it difficult to find a job? Keep in mind that any information you get is is anecdotal evidence, so take it with a grain of salt. Meet With a Career Counselor You can often schedule a meeting with a counselor through your school’s career center. They can speak with you more about possible career options based on your major, interests, and strengths. They may also have more info about job growth and earning potential. Finally, career counselors may have contacts in your field in case you wanted to connect with grads in your major - this could turn out to be a great resource. Have a Career Plan Coming up with a solid plan means asking yourself a ton of questions about what you want, including: Do you want to stay in your field and look for jobs directly related to your major, or do you want to branch out? Can you start getting entry-level experience now so that you’ll be better prepared to enter the workforce after you graduate? Would it pay off to look into graduate degree programs? Would a graduate degree make you significantly more valuable as an employee? As your answers to these questions shift (or not) over time, you can amend your plans and goals so that your professional career ends up where you want it to. Coming up with a plan - even if you have to scrap it a few times - is never a bad idea. Wrapping Up The way I defined â€Å"worst† at the beginning of this article was pretty narrow. If your primary concerns are job availability and/or salary, the majors listed here may not be the best fit for you. However, that doesn’t mean that these majors should be avoided at all costs and under all circumstances, and it doesn’t mean you can’t be successful if you’ve chosen one of these majors. It does mean that you should think carefully and critically about your career prospects, especially if you’re interested in choosing one of these majors. To be frank, however, everyone should be doing this if they want to be optimally successful with their degree, no matter how â€Å"good† of a major they’ve chosen. What’s Next? Still stressed about selecting a college major? Only you can figure out which major is best for you, but we may have some information to make the decision a bit easier. Learn about how to choose a major for your college application, and then check out our post on the average college GPA by major. If you’re thinking longer-term about your career prospects, you might be interested in learning about job shadowing - it’s a great way to test out a particular profession to see if it may be a good fit. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The closing of the Muslim mind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

The closing of the Muslim mind - Essay Example (b) What are the political, economic and cultural consequences of the closing of the Muslim mind? (c) Is the emergence and strength of the Al Qaeda associated with the closing of the Muslim mind? (d) Is there a way out of this dysfunctional culture for the ordinary Muslim? The closing of the Muslim mind as put forward by Reilly represents the rejection of reason by Muslims, in favour of an irrational and strict adherence to the tenets of Islam and the Quran, irrespective of whether they conform tot he demands of human reason or not. Reilly traces the roots of the present dysfunctional Islamic culture back to a great intellectual battle that took place between two groups of Muslims – the Mu’tazlites and the Ash’arites, which raged during the 9th century and was settled around the middle of the century. The Mu’tzalites attempted to balance faith and reason in the same manner as Christianity was also seeking to do. They fully accepted the teachings of the Qur an and its authority, but argued that these teachings could be subjected to logic and reason; logical analysis of the works of Allah could prove amenable to the demands of human reason. ... They were so adamant on their viewpoint that they would not allow even the slightest questioning of the Quran, they would accept no less than complete and utter obedience. The Mu’tzalites pointed out that some contradictions existed in the Quran and argued that reason had to be the guiding factor leading believers to the truth. But the Ash’arites shot back that if Allah chose to be contradictory, who were mere mortals to question him? In this great intellectual battle, the Ash’arites were the victors. The presence of the Mu’tzalites and their reasoning held the door open for some dialogue to occur between different faiths, but with the triumph of the Ash’arite view banged the door shut on the Muslim mind, because reason itself was held in contempt by the dominant view, therefore any interfaith dialogue became impossible. It also made the Muslims resistant to a scientific outlook and an analytic approach. Once reason was closed off, all battles becam e subject to winning through power and dominance; any questioning of the Quran was held to be blasphemous and worthy of condemnation. The most disastrous consequence of the closing of the Muslim mind is the death of scientific advances and achievements in the Muslim world. All of the major scientific accomplishments in the Islamic world were achieved prior to the 12th century; after the conclusive victory of the Ash’arites, there has been a notable lack of scientific development and thought among Islamic countries, because the Muslim mind has been closed off to reason, logic and questioning, in favour of blind, unquestioning obedience to the tenets of the Quran. Unlike Western civilization, which embraces reason and progresses through the propagation of reason, Islam embraces irrationality. Any belief or

The Vietnam War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

The Vietnam War - Essay Example The Vietnam People’s Army, on the other hand, practiced conventional warfare (Henriksen 16). The US and South Vietnamese forces typically relied on air superiority, as well as superior firepower for searching and destroying communistic operations through airstrikes, artillery and ground forces. It is undeniable that the upheaval in Vietnam during the 1960s had serious repercussions as both sides suffered immense losses of both lives and funds. This paper will examine the conditions in Vietnam that precipitated such upheaval, focusing on the social, economic and political conditions in Vietnam during the 1950s. The 1950s in Vietnam were critical years to the war. Political Conditions The most notable causes of the Vietnamese upheaval of the 1960s were largely political-based. One of the most critical situations that precipitated the upheaval in the 1960s was the involvement of the US government in the affairs of South Vietnam. The US had initially backed France in its pursuit t o take over Vietnam. However, upon the defeat of France, the nation (Vietnam) split into two; North and South (Henriksen 38). The US government sought involvement in the war with a view to deter a communist takeover of South Vietnam. The US was quite weary of the insurgency of communism in South Vietnam, and thus engaged a containment strategy or counterinsurgency to deter South Vietnam’s takeover. All this occurred from 1950 when the US sent its military advisors to the then French Indochina. The US government was adamant that the North intended to convert the South into a communistic state, thus warned the Southern political elite of the same. This precipitated animosity between the North and Southern leaders and in turn increased tension between the two states resulting in massive upheaval.   After France acceded defeat by the Vietnamese, the US government, under the administration of President  Dwight Eisenhower, embarked on building a state from the South Vietnamese political entity by fabricating government there. The US overtook the governance of South Vietnam through controlling the local government. This allowed the US to attain its mission, i.e. war against the communists to deter South Vietnam’s takeover. Furthermore, in addition to the US sending its military advisers to South Vietnam, it also dispatched the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to engage in psychological warfare with the North. The involvement of the US only angered the North who reciprocated through guerilla tactics against the South. In addition to helping South Vietnam to deter communist takeover, another key political reason for the Vietnamese upheaval in the 1960s was the US’ guarantee to support capitalistic South Vietnam to deter the reoccurrence of the Chinese takeover by communists. The US government throughout the administrations of Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy all guaranteed South Vietnam of their undying support. The US had rather selfish reason s for backing South Vietnam. According to the US government, under the administration of the aforementioned presidents, if the US deserted South Vietnam, its word would thus be considered as unreliable by other governments, both friendly and unfriendly. Therefore, because its credibility was at stake, the US advocated the war against South Vietnam. Social

Project management - TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES Essay

Project management - TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES - Essay Example  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Budget of the project covers financial aspect of the project.  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stakeholder analysis covers the interest of individuals and associations who may get affected by the project.  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Internal control & contingency plan covers the alternative plan to address risk factors associated with the project.  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Equipments needed in different phases of the project are being also covered in project scope statement.  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Internal or external people requirements covers total human capital will be needed in the project. Explanation In context to marketing project, first phase of project scope statement starts with understanding client requirements. In client requirement statements, clients specify their expectations such as expanding distribution channel, asset integrity, establishing new infrastructure etc. In the project scope statement, next comes Contract penalties where is being mentioned. In regulatory controls, legal obligations, government policies and environmental policies regarding the project is being analyzed. In marketing projects, regulatory control section covers legal issues regarding advertising policies, product quality standards, environment standards regarding supply chain activities etc. In budget control section, issues regarding financial capital is being required in required in the advertising promotion, variable cost associated with the operation, cost of supply of resources for different marketing activities are being discussed. In project scope statement of marketing projects, stakeholder analysis covers the probable individuals and associations who will take interest or may get affected by the execution of the project. In Internal control & contingency plan for marketing projects, operational control over advertising activities, human resource movement, assessing risk of project failure and plan to mitigate risks are being discussed. In case o f Equipments needed, marketing project manager design the plan for how many print material, TV commercial broadcasting, sales promotion materials, billboards, signage etc are being needed in the project. In case of project scope statement of marketing project, Internal or external people requirements cover total marketing employees are needed to execute the project and total numbers of external workers should be recruited to execute the marketing project. Mendelow’s Matrix can be used to understand stakeholder requirements regarding event management and marketing campaign of the client.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Table 2: Stakeholder Analysis (Mendelow’s Matrix) Stakeholder Power Index Low UK based customers who will buy retail merchandises of the German discount retailer. Project workers and marketing department of the client and in case of lack of understanding regarding among project members regarding project deliverables, they might create resistance in proposed marketing activities. High Top level management of the retail giant and regional heads of UK division. Financial organization that will provide capital support to client to fulfil its strategic objectives. Supply chain and investment partners might exercise their power in future circumstances. Low High Probability of power exercising Product scope description: in UK, the client offers huge range of product portfolio such as bakery items, beverages,

How do interest groups lobby the president and how successful are they Research Paper

How do interest groups lobby the president and how successful are they - Research Paper Example These could either be through individual membership or membership through organizations. The main aim is usually perceived to be the protection of a specific or a particular interest. This has generally made interest groups seem as self-interested and narrow; without any regard for public good. Also, it is commonly believed that an interest group as an organization has goals or policies that are similar and that their objective as an organization is to use their influence on the political process to give them the edge they need to achieve these goals. All these debates over lobbying and interest groups have brought confusion over the importance of interest groups and whether they are really important in a democracy or they simply exist to serve self -centered interest. To understand the truth about interest groups and their influence on the presidents an in depth study of the same is required. To explain the importance of interest groups in politics as well as the public policy making process, a number of theories has been developed and adopted by scholars. Theories such as elite, pluralism, disturbance among others have all been developed. In the early days of Republican form of governance, the unity, as well as the power balance of the nation was very much threatened by this interest groups, but federalist edict allowed the flourishing of these so called interest groups with the argument that a counterbalance would come from other groups that were equally self-centered therefore containing the effect of outside influence.1 The outcome of this was the spread of Republican form of government as opposed to a pure democracy a scenario that the anti-federalists totally disagreed with because in their view, diversity of interests in country that is very large in size was only recipe for precluding of the unity of the country. According to the

Life Histories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Life Histories - Essay Example Hospice workers are actually regarded as the doorway to an end-of-life healthcare system in that includes all practitioner including the nurses, doctors, counselors and chaplains. This idea is mainly observed by the society because most of the patients in hospice organization include patients that are elderly, in comatose or in crucial near-death health condition. Thus, people usually believe that hospice cares are actually health system for people who do not have any more hope for betterment. However, on the contrary to the common belief, hospice care still gives patients hope and strength to struggle for survival and alleviate their adverse health conditions. For patients who are struggling old age and only enduring their last moments in life, other principles are being applied by hospice workers towards their health care system. Thus, hospice health care becomes an important aspect in general care-giving system because of its significance and value for patients who are in serious and critical health conditions. A counselor is mainly a part of the health care system that handles psychological evaluation and gives out support at the same time while aiding the health system of the patient. For a hospice counselor, supporting the patient in psychological and emotional aspects are very much important since it is expected that the patient is already going through tumultuous depression due to his or her health condition. To better understand the concepts of the principles used and applied by the hospice counselor, the writer interviewed Sandi Sunter, a hospice counselor in the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast for already twenty years. When asked the question "How would you describe the nature of your work" he kindly replied that, "dealing with patients in hospice homes is very much emotional and requires lots of patients and understanding." Regarding the principles in hospice healthcare, the writer asked "What are the common human change principles you are using in dealing with your patients in your hospice institutions" To answer this inquiry, Sunter replied that: "Most of the patient already started to give up on their health system thus further aggravating their medical condition. Counselor must be able to give these kinds of patient further psychological and emotional assistance by comforting them through psychosocial component. Some of them provide spiritual comforting others emotional support a nd most of them must always be available for their patients. These patients commonly face fears of losing and dying thus counselor must be present for their patient to rekindle their flame of hope to continue struggling through their health care medication and treatment." In addition, for other kinds of patients who are struggling through their old age with their remaining time of their life, other approaches must be used in dealing with them. According to Sunter, most of the patients in this class have already accepted the fact that their deaths are already impending thus they only wish to enjoy their remaining moments. This will be the point where counselor should come in. They must always assure that they wish of their patients must be met and be able to give their patients supports for them to enjoy their remaining time. Hospice health care is actually a major turning point in the life of their

Beloved by Toni Morrison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Beloved by Toni Morrison - Essay Example It is then left up to them to put the pieces together. The use of the juxtaposition approach of the present and past fulfill that purpose of reinforcing the idea that the past continues to exist in the present. The fact that Morrison is putting the story in fragments, puts the story into one piece that is inseparable . He forces his reader to put the pieces back together. He puts them in a position where they are forced to think of the pieces. The readers are also further forced to think and consider the worth of each piece. When it comes to the style that has been used in the novel, Morrison’s artistry is considered to be nothing but breathe taking. Beloved is a novel that is very complex, and the plot is mainly told by use of flashbacks, which incorporates stories that retold in different perspectives. The novel has a loose structure that was intentionally assigned to it. The plot does not flow in a straight line. The plot meanders, with several flashbacks though forty year since the time when Sethe was born in the year 1835, till when the novel comes to an end in 1875. The plot of the novel revolves around 1873. With the arrival of Paul D in 124 Bluestone , a number of flashbacks come into play. The reason for this is the fact that Paul D and Sethe constantly tend to dwell on a number of issues about their lives. Although the setting of the novel is in 124 Bluestone, the flash backs take the reader to a number of locations, with the inclusion of Kentucky, where Hale, Sethe and Paul D were slaves on a plantation that was known as sweet home plantation. The story goes as far as to the Ohio river, which serves as a line of demarcation between states of slaves, the free states in addition to the place that Denver was born. The flash backs go as far as Delaware, where a weaver woman lived with Paul D for a number of years. Back to the clearing, where the preaching of Baby Suggs was done to the black people, to encourage them to develop a love for themselve s, and finally to the lands that were outside sweet home, which is where Paul D and Sixo were captured, and sadly where Sixo met his end and was burnt. The flashbacks are mainly a means of storytelling, which is also a means for the slaves to be able to cope with some of their repressed memories of the past. As the characters remember their stories, it gives the novel a different twist. At the end of the novel, all the pieces fit together. The structure of the novel is a compound of ever-changing perspectives. All the characters, with the inclusion of the dead ones and those that are half alive, have a section of the story in which they tell. At one instance, Paul D and Sethe share flashbacks that are eventually combined into one, (chapter two). There is also an instance in which the point of view transitions gently between four of the characters who are white. Their conversation is a revelation of how some people may view slaves as nothing other than tamed animals. The variance in the various perspectives creates a tapestry of interesting individuals, who are linked with the present and the past, into forming a community. Another perfect example is the instance in which Paul D and Sethe give their narration of the experience of the corn field. Another instance is made the four men on horses when to Sethe. The use of this mechanism dares to challenge the idea of the singularity, which presents history in an objective manner. Perhaps

Life Histories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Life Histories - Essay Example Hospice workers are actually regarded as the doorway to an end-of-life healthcare system in that includes all practitioner including the nurses, doctors, counselors and chaplains. This idea is mainly observed by the society because most of the patients in hospice organization include patients that are elderly, in comatose or in crucial near-death health condition. Thus, people usually believe that hospice cares are actually health system for people who do not have any more hope for betterment. However, on the contrary to the common belief, hospice care still gives patients hope and strength to struggle for survival and alleviate their adverse health conditions. For patients who are struggling old age and only enduring their last moments in life, other principles are being applied by hospice workers towards their health care system. Thus, hospice health care becomes an important aspect in general care-giving system because of its significance and value for patients who are in serious and critical health conditions. A counselor is mainly a part of the health care system that handles psychological evaluation and gives out support at the same time while aiding the health system of the patient. For a hospice counselor, supporting the patient in psychological and emotional aspects are very much important since it is expected that the patient is already going through tumultuous depression due to his or her health condition. To better understand the concepts of the principles used and applied by the hospice counselor, the writer interviewed Sandi Sunter, a hospice counselor in the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast for already twenty years. When asked the question "How would you describe the nature of your work" he kindly replied that, "dealing with patients in hospice homes is very much emotional and requires lots of patients and understanding." Regarding the principles in hospice healthcare, the writer asked "What are the common human change principles you are using in dealing with your patients in your hospice institutions" To answer this inquiry, Sunter replied that: "Most of the patient already started to give up on their health system thus further aggravating their medical condition. Counselor must be able to give these kinds of patient further psychological and emotional assistance by comforting them through psychosocial component. Some of them provide spiritual comforting others emotional support a nd most of them must always be available for their patients. These patients commonly face fears of losing and dying thus counselor must be present for their patient to rekindle their flame of hope to continue struggling through their health care medication and treatment." In addition, for other kinds of patients who are struggling through their old age with their remaining time of their life, other approaches must be used in dealing with them. According to Sunter, most of the patients in this class have already accepted the fact that their deaths are already impending thus they only wish to enjoy their remaining moments. This will be the point where counselor should come in. They must always assure that they wish of their patients must be met and be able to give their patients supports for them to enjoy their remaining time. Hospice health care is actually a major turning point in the life of their

Despite the best efforts of academics, little is known about the way Essay

Despite the best efforts of academics, little is known about the way policy is formulated. Discuss - Essay Example It (the policy) identifies and describes the approved and established courses for the adoption by the government and the organizations. Policy usually embraces all general goals, the acceptable procedures and the main actions that lead to the achievement of the goals. It’s (the policies) work is to provide a center for the formulation of policies/strategies, major plans, legislation and any other framework documents. They (policies) generally reflect on long term objectives and they are more subjected to revisions and modifications that are mainly based on the changed vision and goals (Chowdhury, 2003). The national document is a very large mandate which is normally enunciated by the major authority that governs the state with an intention of formulating certain acts and rules that are mostly applied towards the end of attaining the desired objectives. In order to achieve a good policy formulation there has to be a number of desirable steps that have to be followed generally for the purpose of achieving a good policy. Some of these steps include; agreements on how to set priorities, having a form of participatory process, national determination of having a clear goal, implementation arrangements that has clear cut task distribution and better monitoring of activities for major improvements of services and strategic information. When all these steps are followed a good policy gets to be formulated, these steps act as guidance (or even direction) in the policy formulation (Chowdhury, 2003). For the to be able to address a certain public predicament some polices have to be formulated; before the formulation of the policies some steps have to taken and they include; the proper identification of the problem, formulation of a policy adjustment, implementation of the adjusted policy and evaluation of how the adjusted policy is working so as

Politics And History Of Japan Essay Example for Free

Politics And History Of Japan Essay Nazi rule in Germany was unleashed after the Reichstag Fire in Berlin and almost 3 years after this, the February 26 incident helped to introduce militaristic rule in Japan. The February 26 incident awakened the sleeping giant that was Japan and triggered off major world conflicts. The February 26 Incident On February 26, 1936 a breakaway faction of the Imperial Japanese Army composed of young junior officers and swearing allegiance to the Kodo ha faction within the Army, slipped into the middle of Tokyo and captured key government buildings including the one which housed the Diet or Japanese parliament and Army headquarters. Groups raided the residences of the Prime Minister and senior officials in an attempt to assassinate them.   Prime Minister Okada Keisuke had a narrow escape when the rebels killed his brother in law instead. Others, among them the Finance Minister, were murdered. Subsequently that day, the rebel faction went to the Army Minister to make their demands. They declared the government unfit to lead the affairs of Japan not able to do enough for it as a military power, instead more involved with politics and their self- interest. The action, the group declared was taken in the name of the Emperor. They demanded an immediate dissolution of the Government and the installation of a military General sympathetic to their cause. However, this infuriated Emperor Hirohito who was appalled at the killing of senior colleagues. He summoned Aide de Camp General Shigeru Honjo and declared the faction members as rebels who were acting without the authority of the Imperial Army. The Emperor wanted the rebellion to be squashed. But Army retaliation was not forthcoming as senior officers were still in agreement with the agenda of the rebels. However   the ‘Toseiha’ faction in the Army which was against the doctrines of the Kodo Ha, volunteered full support to the Emperor and even the Imperial Japanese Navy sprung into action, moving its ships into the Tokyo Bay to cut off the rebels. When Emperor Hirohito was informed about the reluctance of the Army to take decisive action, he vowed to personally lead his ‘Imperial Guard ‘into the fray. The following day, martial law was declared and the rebels were boxed in and pamphlets of the Emperor’s declaration were circulated indicating that there was no support from any of the forces for their attack. General Honjo, once a believer of Kodo Ha doctrines was on the Emperor’s side. The offensive lasted till February 29 when the army moved in to capture the rebels and senior members of the faction were ordered to commit ‘seppuku’ or ritual suicide rather than lose their honor in a public trial. Other junior officers were spared. Altogether, 70 coup members were arrested and prosecuted for the crime.[1] Subsequent Events   Ã‚   The four day siege resulted in martial law being stretched to July. The army, sensing an opportunity, used the power provided by martial law to expand its powers and budget. Prime Minister Okada was replaced by Koki Hirota. This effectively ushered in totalitarian rule in Japan which was to set the stage for the Second Sino – Japanese War.[2] Historical Background of Militarism In Japanese history, the role of the military, or to be more precise, militarism has had an overwhelming role in shaping Japan’s world view. Militarism stands for a nation’s strength and should play a dominating role in political as well as social life. The influence of militarism goes back to the days of the Meiji Restoration, known in Japan as the Meiji Ishin or Revolution. This period stretched back to the days of the Tokugawa Shogunate and caused far reaching social changes in Japan of the late 19th century. This was a direct reaction to the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry’s fleet of American ships on Japanese shores. Commodore Perry forced a treaty – ending 200 years of Japanese insulation in matters of business – enabling trade between Japan and the United States. The Restoration came into being with the Satsuma Choshu Treaty which ultimately led to swearing of complete allegiance of the ruling Shoguns of that time to the Emperor. This was a creed forbidding all defiance to the Emperor (as Japanese history of that period depicts). Most Japanese leaders of that period were of Samurai descent and swore by the codes of the ancient Samurais – loyalty and allegiance to the ruler, dignity and honesty. The Japanese perception of events of that time was that the country’s sovereignty was threatened by outside forces. This justified building up a strong economic and military base to counter such a threat. This tradition continued till the 1800’s when mass conscription to the army and navy was considered an indication of unquestioning loyalty to the Emperor. Part of the reason for the widespread intrusion of militarism through to 1878 was the complete detachment of the forces from civilian society. The Staff commands established by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were responsible for formulating all defense strategy and were directly under the command of the Emperor. The Staff Chiefs were therefore under no obligation to the Prime Minister or any form of civilian law, During the Taisho period there was a return to democratic governance when the Washington Naval Treaty was signed and Japan participated in the League of Nations only to crumple with the onset of the Great Economic depression in 1929 when the world economy collapsed and caused trade barriers to be imposed by western nations. This was also coupled with domestic problems at home where several radical groups surfaced and there was even an attempt on the Emperor’s life, in 1932. These distressing events gave rise to patriotic feelings (maybe misplaced) in Japan. Such jingoism saw the military as the only solution to Japan‘s seemingly unending series of crises. The romantic notion that it was time for an Asian resurrection under Japanese rule took root. With the signing of the London Naval Treaty in 1930 by Prime Minister Osachi Hamaguchi and his party, the Navy was severely curbed in influence. This was seen by both the opposition and the military as endangering the country’s security. This whipped up jingoistic sentiment to the extent that Hamaguchi was killed in 1930 and the brief interlude with democratic rule came to an abrupt end. Subsequently, patriotic fervor in Japan gave the military free rein in Asia.[3] This was responsible for Japan’s involvement in several Asian conflicts: the Boxer Rebellion, World War 1, the Russo – Japanese War. The infamous Manchurian Incident of 1931 led to Japanese forces’ take-.over of all Manchuria – to protect Japan’s interests, chiefly Manchurian oil fields. The idea of military expansionism drove Japan into successive conflicts with China. In fact, there even was an attempted coup in Tokyo labeled the ‘Imperial Colors Incident’ which failed but was not made public knowledge. Ultimately, however, the swaggering domination of Japanese militarism failed to establish a dictatorship. The first nails into its coffin were driven by the government of Konoe Fumimaro, when, following wartime priorities his government, through the National Mobilization Law, brought all of Japan’s assets under its purview.   Also, in 1940, the formation of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association led to a single party political rule much discrediting the military.   On February 26, 1936, the rebel officers would hardly have been to foresee all this when they tried to take over Tokyo’s streets and were unleashing a murderous campaign. Until recent times, much romantic lore still surrounded military campaigns which allude to the glory of Japan’s military and Samurai like allegiance to the Emperor. The Emperor still remains a symbol of sovereignty in Japan and is much revered, being treated like a Head of State but is no longer the supreme authority over all Japan’s matters specially armed conflicts. Yukio Mishima spoke about the glory of Japan and the Emperor just before committing suicide inside a military barracks in 1970 and he was a well known literary figure in Japan   who wrote a novella on the February 1936 Incident–   proving that modern Japanese society still retains vestiges of its old fascination for matters martial. The members of the group that was behind the failed coup in 1936 are even being seen by some academics as. These were misguided bunch of young radicals who were only acting for Japan and God. They were not as ruthless as members of Hitler’s army were during the days of the Putsch.[4] February 26, 1936 – It’s Implications Under Koki Hirota’s rule m Japan and China engaged in the biggest war Asia right through 1945 from 1937 onward. The trend of militarism and military aspirations made stronger by the February Incident increased Japanese military aggression in Asian territory mainly to buttress its economic interests. The Second Sino – Japanese War was directly the result of Japanese policy toward China aimed at exploiting its natural reserves like oil.   Equally aggressive was the Chinese stance founded upon a new found realization of the unity of the Chinese people and their right to their own territory. A series of comparatively smaller sized conflicts led to a full scale conflagration. In 1937   The invasion of Manchuria – described above and particularly, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of 1937 led to the war. Lugou Bridge in China is also known as the Marco Polo Bridge because Marco polo is supposed to have referred to this bridge while on his travels. It was controlled on its west end by the Japanese army and on the East by the Chinese Kuomintang Army. The bridge was a lifeline to Beijing to all areas under the Chinese army’s command – if this bridge fell – Beijing would too.[5] On June 1937, Japanese forces sent a message to the Kuomintang on the western end of the bridge about a missing soldier who might have gone over. They asked to be allowed to carry out a search on the opposite end. The Chinese refused the request acting under orders from their command chain. The Japanese countered this with a threat to open artillery fire if they were not allowed through. The prolonged aftermath saw led to the Japanese finally crushing the Kuomintang resistance and driving on toward Beijing and taking it over following which Japan had assumed control over the North China Plain, a strategically important region. The North China Plain has Beijing to its North East edge and Tianjin , an important industrial center on its North coast, What the Japanese actually did was to set up a ‘puppet’ state called Manchuoko , in Manchuria, installing the last Chinese Emperor   as a figurative head. This region actually prospered and its steel production exceeded Japan’s. Japan even gave up its membership of the League of Nations in 1933 after international protests over the incident but continued with its aggression in Chinese territory. Following the Marco Polo bridge incident, China and Japan engaged in full scale conflict from 1937 till 1945. On December, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a full scale attack on the American Fleet docked at Pearl Harbor.   The compulsion of Japanese militarism post the February 1936 Incident and its acquisitive instincts in Asia made Japan very sensitive to the presence of others in the region. Its attack on Pearl Harbor was part of a preventive strategy aimed at halting what its military leaders saw as a build up of American interests in the region. Preventive conflicts have always risen because one or the other side believes that an offensive will result in preventing some projected or future incident. In Japan’s case it was its apprehension that American presence in the region was building up and would result in counter aggression for control over its territories in Asia and the Pacific. Pearl Harbor was the base for the American Naval Fleet and was attacked by almost 6 carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.   Waves of air attacks were also launched from the Navy vessels and over 300 aircraft flew over Pearl Harbor and destroyed the standing American fleet of ships. By this attack, America was forced to abandon its position of neutrality and enter into World War 2. For long America   was also building up its armed presence in Indo – China as we; as the East Indies as part of a series of counterbalancing moves aimed at keeping a check on Japanese movement in the region which was aggressively aimed at securing Asia and therefore its supreme position as its leader. Japan. Specifically, the objective of the Pearl Harbor attack was to secure Japanese advances into the East Indies islands and Malaya, both rich sources of oil and rubber. President Roosevelt was conscious of this when he ordered his fleet be strategically stationed in the Philippines region. According to Japanese assumption – a complete halt to American activity in the Pacific region – turned out to be completely wrong and it eventually had to surrender to American troops in 1945 bringing an end to World War II.[6] The Axis Pact In September 1940, Japan entered into a pact also known as the Tripartite Pact, with Fascist Italy and Adolph Hitler’s Nazi Germany which was the official declaration of the Axis Powers against the Allied powers. At the height of their power all 3 members commanded huge territories in Europe and Indo-China. Japan was under Emperor Hirohito and its main objective of signing the Pact was to protect its protect its military and economic bases in the pacific region. When Europe was engaged in its conflict with Germany, Japan insidiously moved into European colonies around the Pacific. America was the only nation to alert to Japanese intentions in this part of the world and countered Japan. Japanese believed that a war with the West was inevitable given its cultural differences but, given its unbridled militarism, Japan’s intentions were also materialistic. However, a certain section of the military leadership believed the conflict was to be aimed at hemming in Soviet Russia. But relations with the USA were also strained with American sponsored embargos on Japan m partly in response to its offensives against China. Japan saw US action against it as an act of western Imperialism and proceeded to band with Germany and Italy through the Tripartite Pact. Japan rushed headlong into its military inspired acquisitions also honed by the oil embargo imposed by the USA, which made it dependent on the resources of other countries. Many in Japan believed the conflict with the Americans could be resolved through negotiations but military leaders insisted on stepping up military offensive in Asia. When Germany was carrying out its Blitzkrieg in Europe m Japan was doing the same in Asia having control over large parts of Asia including Taiwan and Manchuria. But uncontrolled military offensives inevitably end and so did Japan’s end in the Battle of Midway when its fleet was destroyed by American ships.[7] The atom bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki preceded by the declaration of war by the Soviet Union broke Japan’s military might forcing it to surrender to America in 1945.   The international War Crimes Tribunal sentenced Japanese military leaders to death. Japan’s militarism blinded it to the might of America’s military might and made it underestimate Chinese resistance. Its territories were taken under American control.   The Japanese also miscalculated the output of the war machinery in America which h outrivaled that of Japan’s. Truly Japan’s military leaders had become complacent and could not realize that they were going through a death wish which was to almost obliterate Japan (the atom bombings) from the face of the Earth.[8] In conclusion it should be stated that one good outcome was Japan’s access to American industrial technology and Japan’s subsequent rise to the world’s major industrial leader. Today, largely because of this Japan is also a technology leader and makes business conquests in place of military ones through its electronics goods ad cars. Japan wages its own internal battles with rising economics problems and unemployment and job cutbacks but the collective Japanese psyche has grown wise to blind nationalism and tries to blend with the world. It now enjoys a stable democracy and single party rule with its armed forces under the command of the prime Minister, Japan has no need for war and a Pacifist constitution has m in fact been built into the Constitution which forces it to renounce aggression and armed conflict .this was bequeathed to it by America after the .defeat of 1945. Japan is well on its way to new millennium bidding goodbye to its aggression and the February Incident will always remain a blot on its history and its pacifist character. Bibliography: Goddard, J; Nation Management: Making the Most Out of It (Christchurch: Howard Price. 2006) pp 433-5 Gervers, V; Japan at War (Melbourne: HBT Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2000) pp 167 Knott, P; Analysis of US Wars (Dhaka: Dasgupta Chatterjee 2005) pp 188-9 Kumar, H; Justice of Winners: Win Some, Lose None (Auckland: HBT Brooks Ltd. 2005) pp 334 Manning, C S; Principals and Practices of War Industry: Trade of Death (Christchurch: National Book Trust. 2004) pp 279 Powell, M; Anatomy of Modern Crusades: Independence to WWII (Wellington: ABP Ltd 2001) pp 49-53 Prawer, H A; Kingdom of Japan (Dunedin: Allied Publishers 2004) pp 221-5 Tyerman, J; Invention of the Japanese Great War (Dunedin: Allied Publications 2001) pp 233-37 [1] Tyerman, J; Invention of the Japanese Great War (Dunedin: Allied Publications 2001) pp 233-37 [2] Prawer, H A; Kingdom of Japan (Dunedin: Allied Publishers 2004) pp 221-5 [3] Goddard, J; Nation Management: Making the Most Out of It (Christchurch: Howard Price. 2006) pp 433-5 [4] Gervers, V; Japan at War (Melbourne: HBT Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2000) pp 167 [5] Manning, C S; Principals and Practices of War Industry: Trade of Death (Christchurch: National Book Trust. 2004) pp 279 [6] Powell, M; Anatomy of Modern Crusades: Independence to WWII (Wellington: ABP Ltd 2001) pp 49-53 [7] Knott, P; Analysis of US Wars (Dhaka: Dasgupta Chatterjee 2005) pp 188-9 [8] Kumar, H; Justice of Winners: Win Some, Lose None (Auckland: HBT Brooks Ltd. 2005) pp 334

How Batman Got smoked :: essays research papers

A Tale of Life, Death and Hot Cheetos Chapter 1 The Beginning I belive that Smokey didn’t really kill Batman, I through my undisclosed sources have learned that it was the crab mob. You see, batman was a crab of deep and long-lasting dept to the crab godfather. Batman went through hard times, just as any other crab does. But unlike many other crabs, he borrowed 1,000 and decided he wasn’t going to pay him back. That’s when the trouble started, the mob took â€Å"aim† and Batman got hit. Chapter 2 First Impressions From the moment Batman arrived at room 318, Smokey could tell that they wouldn’t get along well. Batman had that hoity-toity stuck-up kind of attitude that Smokey just couldn’t stand. Plus he hogged the sponge, how rude! Wait, Wait, Wait, this story wouldn’t be any good without explaining Batman’s view of Smokey, so here we go†¦ Batman didn’t think it would cause any problems if he took an extra sip from that soft yellow sponge every once in a while, because it shouldn’t. It’s not like it had Smokey’s name on it or anything and he just couldn’t help it if he liked that high quality king of life style, that’s the way he was raised! It wasn’t like Smokey was any kind of Saint either. He hogged the cave that batman had come to love. The meanest thing about this piggish behavior is Smokey secretly hated the cave, he just slept there to make Batman mad! Chapter 3 The Clash It was a half day for the students at Jackson Park. At about 3:45 Mrs.Bakeman left the room for a staff meeting. She wasn’t due back until 4:50 but the door reopened at 4:10 and two small crabs walked in dressed all in black. They spoke in heavy stereotypical Italian voices, â€Å"Mr. Batman, we are here to collect our dues!† â€Å"Wha†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Batman’s stammer was cut short by gun fire. BAM! BAM! BAM! The two crabs had shot up Mrs.Bakeman’s glasses resembling Shi Tzu chew marks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The crabs waltzed over to the 50 gallon aquarium just as Smokey retreated into the cave, typical. Anyway after the black suited crustations took the ten minute trek up the side of the tank they made there way over to Batman. â€Å"Nice place you got here,† one of the crabs commented flatly, â€Å"Pity you wont be enjoying it much longer.† â€Å"Huh?† It took several seconds for it to click in Batman’s head. The god father sent his goons to get me, he thought out loud.

The Feminist Perspective of Taming of the Shrew Essay -- Taming of the

The Taming of the Shrew  by William Shakespeare is a play that is ahead of its time in its views toward gender roles within society. Katherine is a woman who is intelligent, and is not afraid to assert her views on any given situation. She is paired with another obstinate character in Pertuchio. The Marriage formed between the two is a match made in heaven for two reasons. First Because Katherine is strong enough to assert her views, and more importantly, she realizes when she should assert them. The second reason the bond survives is that Petruchio is strong enough to accept the fact that Katherine has a mind and, more importantly he loves her for that reason. Petruchio cleverly weaves the relationship into the framework of society without compromising the integrity of the relationship. Petruchio does this by comparing Katherine’s at attitude to repulsive clothing. Carefully and calculatingly, Petruchio forges a relationship that is envied by all who witness it. Called "cursed Kate" throughout the play, Katherine is openly jealous of the attention he sister is receiving, whereas she, because she speaks her mind, is being bypassed and even avoided in the wooing process. Katherine reveals this attitude in act 2 scene1, lines 31-35, "nay, now i see she is your treasure, she must have a husband; i must dance barefoot on my wedding day, and for your love to her, lead the apes to hell. Talk not to me i will sit and weep!...." This anger is not concealed, it serves to provide motivation as to why a rational person would rebuke petrucchio so rudely upon first encountering him. Katherine surely realizes that petruchio is interested in her for ulterior motives other than love. Be it purse that the dowry will bring or the actions of an... ... between Petruchio and Kate is contrasted with the superficial properness of the relationship of bianca and lucentio. In this play as any other, Shakespeare proves to be a visionary. Petruchio achieves his goal through witty persuasion rather than resorting to beating his wife like many a man before him has done. Though Shakespeare does not go as far as some feminists would like him to, Shakespeare does much for the fight of equality of the sexes. Katherine’s as strong, or stronger than any woman in Shakespeare’s plays. The amazing thing is that she achieves this without ulterior motives such as lady Macbeth. She is an honest, bright independent woman. She is not underscored by her subservience to petruchio in public, for "the sun breaks through the darkest cloud" and so do Katherine’s assets break though the public visage of subordination to her husband.