Monday, December 23, 2019

Two Weeks in the Life of John F. Kennedy - 685 Words

During the 1960s, the world was changing in significant ways. Big shifts were taking place, impacting the lives of citizens and altering the American way of life. However, it is easy to study that time period and only focus on those large changes, when, in the background, small, everyday things are taking place that play just as big a role. More specifically, when people look into the lives of presidents during the 1960s, they typically start at their big decisions, life–shattering speeches, and, if interesting enough, their deaths. Although this can be an effective way of seeing the big picture, it’s also important to zoom in and study the smaller things that took place. In the pages to follow, material will be given that carefully details two weeks in the life of President John F. Kennedy: November 8-22, 1963. Many big events do surround that time however, and it’s important to understand those before diving into the everyday business of Kennedy, because those circumstances sway his decisions, speeches, and meetings. The first thing that was going on in the world during that time, and one of the most significant, was the African-American civil rights movement. This was a movement, led primarily by African-American leaders, in an effort to establish the civil rights of black citizens. This movement began in the mid-1950s and, in 1963, was at its zenith. But along with the hope it brought for wrongly treated black citizens of America, came violence. One of theShow MoreRelatedThe Cuban Missile Crisis : A Detrimental Event1300 Words   |  6 Pages John F. Kennedy said at the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963 that, â€Å"It is insane that two men, sitting on opposite sides of the world, should be able to decide to bring an end to civilization.† (Kennedy, 1963). The Cuban missile crisis was a detrimental event in the course of history. On October 22nd, 1962, John F. Kennedy gave his Cuban missile crisis oval office address. Ken nedy gave this speech to inform Americans about the nuclear missile sites that the Soviet Union established in theRead MoreThe Life of John F. Kennedy800 Words   |  4 Pages John F. Kennedy was the 35 president and was shot driving through Dallas, TX by Lee Harvey Oswald. John married Jackie Bouvier on September 12, 1953.They got married at Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island. They were married for 10 years. They had four children named Caroline, John , Patrick, and Arabella.Caroline was born on November 27,1957. John was born on November 25,1960, and died July 16, 1999 in a plane crash involving his wife and kids. Patrick was born on , and died 2 days after birthRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy: The King of Camelot1039 Words   |  5 Pagesand strives for change? The man of the hour is John Fitzgerald Kennedy. On May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts one of America’s most beloved presidents is birthed into The Kennedy Family, a socially and politically prominent family residing in Massachusetts. Named after his mother’s father, John Fitzgerald Kennedy would go on to become one of the most influential president’s to grace the oval office. His parents Rose and Joseph Kennedy, were members of Boston’s most prominent IrishRead MoreThe Kennedy Years and Camelot Essay1099 Words   |  5 PagesThere were two essay questions which I found equally interesting. Question one about President Roosevelt’s â€Å"New Deal†. As a business student, the change in the economy after the depression led by President Roosevelt’s â€Å"New Deal† shaped the economic growth in the country. The tenth question regarding President John F. Kennedy’s â€Å"Camelot† was also fascinating. His inaugural address is one of the most memorable, â€Å"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country†.Read MoreJohn F. Kennedy: An Influential Person Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy led the start of a new era in human history. He was born on May 29, 1917 in the small Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts. He majored in government and international relations at Harvard University. In 1961 Kennedy served as President until his assassination in 1963. John F. Kennedy influenced and touched the lives of people everywhere through his efforts with the Apollo 11 space mission, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the founding of the Peace Corps. Kennedy wasRead MoreThe Dark Side of the Moon Landing1479 Words   |  6 Pagessend a man to the moon. The USSR’s Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space, as he orbited around the earth for just over an hour. Three weeks later, The US sent Alan Shepard into space, though he never achieved orbit. The current president at this time was John F. Kennedy, who famously stated that he would send an American to the moon. On May 25 of 1961 Kennedy changed the final goal of the Space Race, â€Å"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is outRead MoreEssay on John F Kennedy JFK1661 Words   |  7 PagesThis is a short biography on John F. Kennedy. In this biography you will learn biographical data about J.F.K., interesting or little known facts, why I chose J.F.K. for my biography and information about what I heroes. Well start off with why I chose J.F.K. for my biography report. I chose John F. Kennedy for my biography report because I find that almost all of his life is very interesting. I first discovered my interest in J.F.K. when I was watching a show about his assassination which took placeRead MoreNineteen Days : A Memoir Of The Cuban Missile Crisis968 Words   |  4 PagesThirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis by Robert Kennedy is a book that details those almost fateful 13 days in October of 1962 that could have resulted in the destruction of mankind. Robert Kennedy was the brother of President John F. Kennedy; he served as the United States Attorney General and â€Å"closest cabinet advisor and confidant† during JFK’s presidential administration. The book sets out to provide you detail of just how difficult of a decision the president was tasked with regardRead MoreJohn Grisham s The Pelican Brief884 Words   |  4 Pages In John Grisham’s The Pelican Brief, two supreme court justices are assassinated, which the reader can compare to other assassinations in history. With former president John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the reader can connect the political aspects of the book to a real life situation, and with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the reader can see how sometimes your very own opinions can get you killed (Grisham). The reader can also compare John Grisham himself to both Kennedy and King becauseRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy s Assassination1739 Words   |  7 Pages John F Kennedy grew up in a wealthy and very political family. His assassination was a shock to many. It was a time of Cold War and the peak of US involvement in Vietnam. It is important to understand the John F. Kennedy regime including both its national and foreign policy. You also need to look into his personal life. This would help to create motives, and find the primary aspect to consider when looking into any homicide, assassinat ion or murder. He was the first president who was a Boy Scout

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Top 5 Social Networking Site †Taiwan Free Essays

string(68) " mobile With reference to question 3 for Facebook, we estimate \(4\." Top 5 Social Networking Site – Taiwan Mobile phone and social networking site – market research Researcher Name: Sam Ng Date: 5 August 2011 1|Page Social Networking Site No. 1 – (Facebook) 1. How many users are there on the site? In Taiwan, there are approximately 10,192,740 audiences (http://www. We will write a custom essay sample on Top 5 Social Networking Site – Taiwan or any similar topic only for you Order Now checkfacebook. com/) 2. How many active users are there? Facebook said it hit 9 million monthly active users in Taiwan in January 2011. (http://www. clickz. asia/2334/facebook-gains-popularity-in-taiwan) 3. How many users access the site via their pc? According to the static of the Taiwan Network Information Center, 91. % users use non-mobile access the network. (http://www. twnic. net. tw/) 10,192,740 times 91. 1% = 928. 6 millions 4. How many users access the site via their mobile According to the static of the Taiwan Network Information Center, 8. 9% users use mobile access the network. (http://www. twnic. net. tw/). 10,192,740 times 8. 9% = 907,153 5. Is there an ‘app’ or a modified website view for mobile phone access? ’ Yes. It has both mobile app and mobile site. (http://zh-hk. facebook. com/mobile/? v=texts) 6. Who are the main audience? Demographics (age, gender, country) Sex: female 49. 2% and male 50. % Age: 25 – 34 is 37. 0% 18 – 24 is 2 8. 5% 35 – 44 is 14. 6% 14 – 17 is 11. 5% To view country information, please check at http://www. checkfacebook. com/ 7. What are the main features of the social networking site? (daily status updates, games, avatars? ) The main features include Daily status updates, news feed, like page, Easter eggs, message and inbox. (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Facebook_features) 2|Page 8. Are there any features of the site that you have to pay for (e. g you can get a better profile page if you pay a small amount? ) We can pay for virtual gift and virtual goods. http://www. facebook. com/payments_terms/) 9. Are there any games in the site where you can pay a little amount to progress further within the game? Provide some examples. Empires Allies by Zynga, Happy Farm, City ville (http://apps. facebook. com/silvergames/). 10. What payment methods are available on the site? Are these different for mobile phones vs. pc? paypal, credit card, MyCard, mobile phone, Bank transfer, Wes tern Union QuickPay, Easecard, Gamania GASH GASH/BeanFun Member Account, Gamania GASH – Card Redemption, DaoPay. (http://www. facebook. com/payments_terms/) Please provide any other interesting information regarding the social networking site. Not applicable 3|Page Social Networking Site No. 2 – (Wretch. cc) 1. How many users are there on the site? The official site said they have 10,282,840 visitors per month. (http://tw. emarketing. yahoo. com/wretch/superior/wretch/wretch_01. php? menu_tree=Amenu_sub_tree=a) 2. How many active users are there? According to the online statistic, it has 4. 4 million daily visitors. (http://www. wolframalpha. com/input/? i=Wretch. cc) 3. How many users access the site via their pc? With reference to question 3 for Facebook, we estimate (4. 4 million times 91. 1% = 4 million daily visitors) access the site via PCs. 4. How many users access the site via their mobile With reference to question 3 for Facebook, we estimate (4. You read "Top 5 Social Networking Site – Taiwan" in category "Papers" 4 million times 8. 9% = 0. 39 million daily visitors) access the site via mobiles. 5. Is there an ‘app’ or a modified website view for mobile phone access? ’ It has a mobile site (tw. m. wretch. yahoo. com) and some mobile apps. (http://itunes. apple. com/hk/app/wretchcam/id407676372? mt=8) 6. Who are the main audience? Demographics (age, gender, country) Based on internet averages, wretch. cc is visited more frequently by females who are in the age range 35-44, have no children, have no college education and browse this site from school. (http://www. alexa. com/siteinfo/wretch. cc) According to the online statistics, 90. 7% of the visitors are located at Taiwan and 2. 5% are located at Hong Kong. (http://www. alexa. com/siteinfo/wretch. cc) 7. What are the main features of the social networking site? (daily status updates, games, avatars? ) The main features are blog, album and message board. The users can also exchange name cards and add friends in the site. 8. Are there any features of the site that you have to pay for (e. g you can get a better profile page if you pay a small amount? ) Album: increase album storage, no ad, album background music, online photo rotation, customize album list title, recover deleted album, maximize album title length Blog: increase folder number, increase catalog number, increase links number, increase maximum reply number, blog background music, friend protection Friend: increase maximum friend number, customize friend page title, ncrease friend catalog number 4|Page Media: increase catalog number, increase reply number, increase favorite video number, customize video page title Profile: customize background music, visit counter Message board: increase message number, no ad, visit counter, customize title, use album music, comment alert http://bill. wretch. cc/function. php 9. Are there any games in the site where you can pay a little amo unt to progress further within the game? Provide some examples. Not applicable 10. What payment methods are available on the site? Are these different for mobile phones vs. c? It supports ATM transfer, credit card and paying at 7-11 http://help. cc. tw. yahoo. com/cp_info. html? id=1213. Please provide any other interesting information regarding the social networking site. Wretch is the largest multimedia database in Taiwan – as of the beginning of 2010, there are 3. 5 billion photos, 500 million blog postings, and 15 million video clips. (internal statistics) Each and every day, the users would submit more than 5 million photos to the Wretch. (internal statistics) (http://www. wretch. cc/blog/ycorpblog/11345185). 5|Page Social Networking Site No. 3 – Gamer. com. tw) 1. How many users are there on the site? The official site said they have 2,500,000 users. (http://prj. gamer. com. tw/bahaAD/) 2. How many active users are there? The official site said they have 1,500,00 0 active users. (http://prj. gamer. com. tw/bahaAD/) According to the online statistic, they have 1. 4 million daily visitors. (http://www. wolframalpha. com/entities/web_domains/gamer. com. tw/5s/ci/ql/) 3. How many users access the site via their pc? With reference to question 3 for Facebook, we estimate (2,500,000 times 91. 1% = 2277500) access the site via PCs. . How many users access the site via their mobile With reference to question 3 for Facebook, we estimate (2,500,000 times 8. 9% = 222500) access the site via mobiles.. 5. Is there an ‘app’ or a modified website view for mobile phone access? ’ Not applicable 6. Who are the main audience? Demographics (age, gender, country) Gender: Male 78% and Female 22% Age: 16 – 20 is 38% 21 – 25 is 29% 26 – 30 is 16% Country: 96% Taiwan people. The official site also provides the job and education statistic of the users. (http://prj. gamer. com. tw/bahaAD/userall. html) 7. What are the main features of the social networking site? (daily status updates, games, avatars? ) This site provide game information, blog and forum, E-card and computer graphic gallery. (http://acg. gamer. com. tw/wikimenu. php? s=13710) 8. Are there any features of the site that you have to pay for (e. g you can get a better profile page if you pay a small amount? ) They do not charge any money from the users. However, the users can earn virtual money by posting in the forum and reply others’ questions. The virtual money can be used to buy gifts and play games. (http://wiki2. gamer. com. w/wiki. php? n=13710%3A%E7%B6%93%E9%A9%97%E5%80%BC%E5%92%8C %E5%B7%B4%E5%B9%A3ss=13710) 6|Page 9. Are there any games in the site where you can pay a little amount to progress further within the game? Provide some examples. They provide different kind of games such as â€Å"Magic School† (online RPC), â€Å"Troubled Times in China† (online RPC) and Monopoly. (http://acg. gamer . com. tw/apiList. php? s=12) 10 What payment methods are available on the site? Are these different for mobile phones vs. pc? Not applicable xt. Please provide any other interesting information regarding the social networking site. Not applicable 7|Page Social Networking Site No. 4 – (Eyny. com) 1. How many users are there on the site? There are approximately 4,000,000 users on the site. (http://evchk. wikia. com/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E8%8E%89%E8%A8%8E%E8%AB%96%E5%8D%80) 2. How many active users are there? Based on the online statistics, the number of daily pageviews is 4,910,809 and the number of daily visitors is 316,695. (http://webinformation. co/www. eyny. com) 3. How many users access the site via their pc? With reference to question 3 for Facebook, we estimate (4,000,000 times 91. 1% = 3644000) access the site via PCs.. . How many users access the site via their mobile With reference to question 3 for Facebook, we estimate (4,000,000 times 8. 9% = 356000) access the site via mobiles.. 5. Is there an ‘app’ or a modified website view for mobile phone access? ’ Not applicable. 6. Who are the main audience? Demographics (age, gender, country) Age: 18 – 24 is the most represented at eyny. com Gender: the ratio of male and female is fifty-fifty. (http://www. alexa. com/siteinfo/eyny. com) Country: Taiwan 85. 8% and Hong Kong 7. 0% (http://www. websitelooker. com/www/eyny. com) 7. What are the main features of the social networking site? (daily status updates, games, avatars? ) Forum, blog, Wikipedia and share video 8. Are there any features of the site that you have to pay for (e. g you can get a better profile page if you pay a small amount? ) Unlimited picture view, unlimited downloading attachments, unlimited search function and unlimited in-site message. (http://www07. eyny. com/thread-224266-1-1. html) 9. Are there any games in the site where you can pay a little amount to progress further within the game? Provide some examples. Not applicable. |Page 10. What payment methods are available on the site? Are these different for mobile phones vs. pc? Bank Transfer (ATM, online banking, pay in banks) and cheque (mail to the office). (http://www07. eyny. com/thread-224266-1-1. html) Please provide any other interesting information regarding the social networking site. Maximum online user is 24287. (http://evchk. wikia. com/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E8%8E%89%E8%A8%8E%E8%A B%96%E5%8D%80) Alexa Traffic Rank 7 in Taiwan, Rank 31 in Macao, Rank 65 in Hong Kong (http://www. alexa. com/siteinfo/eyny. com) Social Networking Site No. 5 (PIXNET) . How many users are there on the site? Not applicable. 2. How many active users are there? According to the online statistics, the number of daily page views is around 8. 5 million and the number of daily visitors is around 2. 4 million. (http://www. wolframalpha. com/input/? i=www. pixnet. net) . 3. How many users access the site via their pc? With reference to question 3 for Facebook, around 91. 1% users access the site via PCs. 4. How many users access the site via their mobile With reference to question 3 for Facebook, around 8. 9% users access the site via Mobiles. 5. Is there an ‘app’ or a modified website view for mobile phone access? ’ It has a mobile app (http://cn. androidzoom. com/android_applications/social/pixnet-mobile-controlpanel_lfrv. html) and a mobile site. (http://m. pixnet. net/) 6. Who are the main audience? Demographics (age, gender, country) Age: 25 – 34 and 45 to 54 year olds are the most similar to the general internet population Gender: male is slightly more than female. Country: 80. 9% Taiwan, 6. 6% Hong Kong, 2. 6% China and 2. 3% United States (http://www. alexa. com/siteinfo/pixnet. net) 7. What are the main features of the social networking site? daily status updates, games, avatars? ) Album, blog, message board, exchange name card. 9|Page 8. Are there any features of the site that you have to pay for (e. g you can get a better profile page if you pay a small amount? ) The site provides the following features that we have to pay for: – increase monthly upload size (not included video) an d unlimited video upload – choose blog domain name – unlimited album back up – unlimited visitor tracking – album folder management (add, move and delete) – more RSS subscriptions – the latest month blog statistic (https://bill. pixnet. tw/vip/vipnew) . Are there any games in the site where you can pay a little amount to progress further within the game? Provide some examples. Chinese Dragon (flash game), Happy Farm (social game), Pocket Monster (webpage game) (http://pixnet. gamebase. com. tw/) 10. What payment methods are available on the site? Are these different for mobile phones vs. pc? ATM transfer, 7-11 ibon payment, credit card online payment and mobile phone Micro Payment (http://help. pixnet. tw/index/qa? faq_id=95). Please provide any other interesting information regarding the social networking site. Not applicable. 10 | P a g e How to cite Top 5 Social Networking Site – Taiwan, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Alice in Wonderland free essay sample

The following paper examines why Louis Carrols Alice in Wonderland has exercised such fascination for both adults and children. This paper suggests that rather than subsuming the entire text to a specific kind of ideological reading, either psychoanalytic or literary, it is more interesting to view the text as a series of subversions of perceptual order. Alice in Wonderland has been read, in different contexts, as a surrealist Freudian tale of a childs growing awareness of her sexuality, a mathematical analysis of the concrete world, and simply a Disney-like fantasia of sight and sound. The authors own obsessions with taking pictures of young girls in the context of his private life, coupled with his mathematical donship at Oxford University may have something to do with all of these theories. (Shulevitz The New York Times Book Review 31) Throughout the text, Alice believes she perceives one thing in a rational fashion than realizes she perceives another. Two master plots that come to my mind is the adventure and the transformation, maturation to be exact. As the title suggested, the adventure scenes are obviously seen throughout the film. While Alice has just entered Wonderland, the white rabbit, talking flowers, Dormouse and the Tweedledum and Tweedledee are all not sure about whether she is the correct Alice or not, even including Alice herself. Compared to Carroll’s book, the Caterpillar shows several times in Tim Burton’s movie. Absolem, the Caterpillar, is the only character in Wonderland that has the power to determine whether she is the one. At first, he declares Alice to not be the one they need. However, later in the film, the Caterpillar claims the opposite. There must have been changes within Alice’s adventure, between the Caterpillar’s two statements. Followed by the advice of the Caterpillar is the sudden attack of Bandersnatch the monster sent by the Red Queen. It is not until Bandersnatch inflicts a wound on Alice’s arm that she realises that Wonderland is real. The sudden attack causes Alice lost in the woods. Following the Cheshire Cat’s guidance, Alice then go find the Mad Hatter for she believes that he can help her to shape her identity because he has met Alice before. At the tea-party, there are the Dormouse, the March Hare, and the Hatter. The first thing, which he says to Alice is â€Å"it’s you!† However, the Dormouse corrects him, and says she is the wrong Alice. The Hatter disregards this claim, and tells everyone that she is â€Å"absolutely Alice! I’d know you anywhere†. The dispute between the Hatter and the Dormouse, if Alice is the right one or not, resembles Alices progress in adapting into the one that Wonderland needs. The climax of the movie is that when Alice gets ready for the battle against the Jabberwocky, she recites six impossible things, which now she finds possible. By reciting these impossible things, she establishes the reality of Wonderland and her role within it, as its saviour. In Tim Burton’s movie, when Alice leaves Wonderland, she brings with her the experiences. Alice decides not to get married, and proposes to her father’s old colleague that they should trade with China. Alice is then last seen on a trading boat looking into the horizon, getting ready to travel across other borders. Alice has learned that crossing borders helps to develop personal identity, which for Alice, is a happy ending. (600 words, excluding title)

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Zeus - a Reflection of Ancient Greek Society free essay sample

Olympian gods were deliberate reflections of the notions embodied in early Greek life. However, amongst all, Zeus had the most prepotent ground. Stories featuring him usually involved fruitful sexual unions with mortals or immortals at all times, under any circumstances- as if accentuating the fact that his forcefulness and promiscuity as a god, king and a husband were superior to any possible obstacle. His positions enclosing the entire hierarchical order as well as supporting his promiscuity were justifications for pederasty, male power to procreate and ascendant male wit in particular. These concepts were central in early Greek society and examples revolving around them prove that the aristocratic males used the myths and actions of gods to advocate their own behavior. In early Greek society, young men gathered at symposiums to court teenage cupbearer boys and admire them. The courtship could lead to copulation, and the aim of this was said to be the refinement of moral qualities. We will write a custom essay sample on Zeus a Reflection of Ancient Greek Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Pederasty could continue even after a man’s marriage. Zeus too was engaged in pederasty, and he kidnapped the Trojan prince Ganymede from Mount Ida to make him his cupbearer. So as a god, he had pederastic relations after marriage- as if legitimizing the concept for the society. The idea of procreation implicated begetting as much offspring as possible, and Zeus had more than three hundred children from hundreds of consorts. Being the â€Å"king† of gods, he could have relations with any goddess he wanted to- like his sexual union with his sister Demeter. The right of a man to reproduce with whoever, then, was seen to be coming from the ultimate authority Zeus. The ascendancy of male wit was the principal idea in Greek society and Zeus’s position as a husband reflected it. Throughout his marriage with Hera, his unfaithfulness was well known and his sexual union with mortal Leda in the form of a swan was an example of his creative tricks. He used his wit and changed forms to deceive Hera, supporting a husband’s infidelity under any conditions. Consequently, the myths of Zeus with Ganymede, Demeter and Leda tell us about the ideas and activities adopted in early Greek society. While they act as examples for pederasty, male right to procreate with whoever and the excellence of male intelligence, they also develop strong grounds for justification of these central concepts and promiscuity in general through Zeus- the absolute ruler.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Gatsby essays

Gatsby essays Why did Daisy choose Tom in the end In the novel "The Great Gatsby", Daisy Buchanan was faced with an enormous decision. She had to choose between Tom; her husband and Jay Gatsby; her lover. Gatsby seemed to be the ideal man of his time. Fabulously wealthy, handsome, charismatic and intriguing, he seemed to be able to offer everything a woman could want. All he wanted in return was Daisys complete unconditional love. Tom, on the other hand could offer Daisy money, security and freedom. Ultimately Daisy chose the latter. The roaring 20s was an era of total decadence. The first World War had ended and industry was booming. People were becoming millionaires overnight. There seemed to be no end in sight to the prosperity. Although people were becoming rich quickly, old money provided more privilege than new money. Tom Buchanan came from old money. He was a Westerner who was renowned in college for both his football skills and his supremely decadent lifestyle. The narrator states "His fa mily were enormously wealthy, even in college his freedom with money was a matter for reproach-but now hed left Chicago and come East in a fashion that rather took your breath away: for instance, he brought down a string of polo ponies from Lake Forest." Daisy chose to marry Tom because of his wealth and power. Fitzgerald writes "There was a wholesome bulkiness about his person and his position and Daisy was flattered." He could offer Daisy prestige in addition to all the old money one could dream of. Gatsby had made his money by illegal means. He was a nobody from nowhere and although he was rich beyond belief, he was one of the hundreds of nouveau riche who lacked the cache of the old money set. Although Gatsby could offer Daisy romance, love, excitement and intrigue, her need for security freedom and money made her eventually choose Tom. In terms of security, Tom could offer much more than Gatsby. Toms old money could offer Dai...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Areva Est Un Groupe French Essay

Areva Est Un Groupe French Essay Areva est un groupe franà §ais qui figure parmi les leaders mondiaux de l’à ©nergie nuclà ©aire. Il rà ©sulte de la fusion, en septembre 2001, de CEA Industrie, Framatome et Cogema. Cotà © sur le marchà © de l’Euronext Paris, Areva est composà © de quatre principaux domaines d’actività ©s qui sont: le pà ´le amont (extraction et enrichissement d’uranium), le pà ´le aval (recyclage des combustibles nuclà ©aires), le pà ´le rà ©acteur et services (construction de rà ©acteur nuclà ©aire et services au combustible) et jusqu’à   rà ©cemment, le pà ´le T&D (transmission et distribution d’à ©lectricità ©) sur lequel porte notre à ©tude. En analysant les relations entre la stratà ©gie globale du groupe et la dà ©cision de cà ©der le pà ´le T&D, puis en à ©tudiant le contexte (performance de l’entreprise†¦) nous aurons alors une meilleure comprà ©hension de la dà ©cision prise. Areva dispose de compà ©tences e t d’un savoir faire de trà ¨s haut niveau dans son secteur, rà ©sultat de plus de 60 ans d’histoire de l’à ©lectronuclà ©aire franà §ais. Le groupe a pour ambition d’à ªtre à   la fois le fournisseur mondial d’infrastructures nuclà ©aires mais à ©galement du combustible nà ©cessaire à   l’exploitation de ces infrastructures, ainsi que des services attachà ©s à   ce combustible. Anne Lauvergeon, Prà ©sidente du groupe, compare d’ailleurs volontiers parfois sa stratà ©gie avec celle de Nespresso, sous-entendant que les bà ©nà ©fices viennent en grande partie de l’actività © combustible. La structure intà ©grà ©e des actività ©s d’Areva, de la mine au retraitement en passant par la construction de rà ©acteurs est un avantage indà ©niable par rapport à   ses concurrents. Implantà © dans plus de cent pays, les actività ©s à   l’international d’Areva ont une place importante dans la str atà ©gie de croissance du groupe, en s’appuyant principalement sur la renaissance du nuclà ©aire qui a lieu actuellement, et, jusqu’à   la cession, sur les actività ©s de T&D. L’analyse du capital d’Areva permet de mieux mesurer les enjeux: L’Etat franà §ais dà ©tient environ 86% des fonds propres. Cette structure de capital peut apparaà ®tre comme contraignante pour le dà ©veloppement du groupe, l’Etat n’à ©tant pas autorisà ©, par exemple, et ce en raison de la là ©gislation europà ©enne, à   financer les investissements et l’accroissement en capital. La sortie â€Å"inattendue† de Siemens du capital, les retards sur le chantier de construction du rà ©acteur Finlandais, la nà ©cessità © de dà ©velopper le groupe et de conquà ©rir de nouveaux marchà ©s, amà ¨nent, d’aprà ¨s les experts, à   des besoins estimà ©s à   environ 12 milliards d’Euros d’ici 2015. Ces besoins sont un e des raisons qui ont incità © l’à ©tat à   cà ©der le pà ´le T&D à   Alstom pour 4 milliards d’Euros et à   rà ©flà ©chir à   une ouverture et augmentation du capital. Certains analystes ont affichà © un doute quant à   la pertinence de cette cession, l’actività © T&D reprà ©sentant environ 45% du rà ©sultat d’Areva et s’appuyant sur un rà ©seau international dense. La Prà ©sidente, elle-mà ªme, ne souhaitait pas cette session. L’Etat, quant à   lui, actionnaire principal, a avancà © la nà ©cessità © de fonds propres et de recentrage des actività ©s autour du nuclà ©aire.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Do Consumers Really Make Rational Decisions Essay

Do Consumers Really Make Rational Decisions - Essay Example To be able to answer the question regarding the rationality of the choices made by the consumers, it is important to explore the issues related to the decision-making process of the consumers. There are different internal and external factors that can affect the choices of the consumers. The internal factors of a consumer include factors in his or her psychological core such as motivation, ability, and opportunity; exposure, attention, and perception; knowledge and understanding; attitude formation and change, memory and retrieval. These factors comprise the core values of a consumer which can affect the decisions that he or she makes. In addition to these factors, the external aspects or the consumer’s culture also contributes to the choices made. The external parameters are composed of the consumer diversity, the social class and household influences, the psychographics or the values, personality, and lifestyles, and the social influences. Through the interaction of the internal and external factors, the decision-making process can be completed.... The problem can be equated to the need of a consumer which can only be answered by a particular product or service. This need also dictates the possible outcome of the decision-making process. The needs of a consumer can be defined by the necessities of the daily existence (Mullen and Johnson, 1990, p. 91). One paradigm that presents the basis of a consumer’s needs is the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which defines the consumer behavior as an effect of the human needs. The said needs then are considered as â€Å"underlying factor of consumption† which are classified into physiological and psychological needs. Physiological needs are for survival thus considered basic and found at the lowest level of hierarchy. This is followed by another physiological need which is the safety needs such as shelter and insurance. The next levels consecutively comprise the psychological needs such as belongingness and love needs; need for esteem; and self-actualization needs (Jansson -Boyd, 2009, p. 119). By tapping any of the said needs different companies and business can generate profits. Although this is one of the basic factors, the consumers’ needs are only considered as one of the many factors that contribute to the complicated web of interaction to come up with the client’s choice. Actual Process of Decision-Making It is important to consider that the said needs are the stimuli that can lead to the decision of the client to buy a particular product or avail a particular service offered. Once the need of the client had been recognized, it leads to the second level of the decision-making process which is deciding whether to buy a product or not. It is important to consider that the act

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Buisness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Buisness - Essay Example as a template for a business proposal for a new Blackberry accessory company in the UAE, as a benchmark for how best to gain consumer interest and which specific aspects of design should be left out. This new business is described in this report, along with a discussion of the current business environment in the UAE in order to determine whether the new online company, Mobile by Design, can actually be competitive and turn a profit in a growing business climate. There is evidence that there is a high consumer demand not only for Blackberry and other mobile technology products, but a strong e-procurement system is also being developed which will assist in the supply chain needs of the new start-up internet commerce company. With various partnerships, trade show promotions, and print advertisements (amongst other opportunities for promotion), Mobile by Design intends to corner the UAE market in the sale of these devices. The promotional and consumer segmenting plans for this new busine ss are described in this paper. Two online companies selling different consumer merchandise were compared and contrasted in order to determine whether they were designed and launched according to web site design principles. These two e-commerce websites are Musicroom.com and Amazon.co.uk. Musicroom is an online company selling to specific niche markets in the music industry, with their products ranging from music sheets to musical instruments, as well as various CDs and DVDs associated with the music industry. Amazon.co.uk is a conglomerate online organisation selling everything from bedding sheets to bulk food products and services not only the UK, but the whole of the Amazon.com company services a multi-national consumer audience. Musicroom.com utilises very eye-catching graphics on the company’s home page, using a blend of different, vibrant yellows, reds and blues in order to enhance the users’ visual perception of the company and its website design. Seigel (2005) offers that

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Walmart Case Essay Example for Free

Walmart Case Essay Walmart has thrived in a very competitive industry by building on its founding principles and developing arguably the industries best supply chain. It has integrated its sales to its suppliers, streamlined order fulfillment and driven down its costs, which is one of its key founding principles, â€Å"Our purpose is helping our customers save money so they can live better† (Grant text, 5 walmart core 5 values). Walmart has had great success in North America, but its cultural values have not translated well in other parts of the world. Great sales growth has not translated into significant margins. Walmart has incurred losses on its international operations. Carrefour (founded in France) and Walmart both retreated from Germany. Some of the key issues facing Walmart include adapting their founding 5 core principles to vastly different cultures; the drive to cut costs clashes with treating the employees as part of family (which part of the family has more value? Is treated with integrity? ); the drive to cut costs has been driven far down the supply chain to a myriad of suppliers, sub-suppliers and sub-sub-sub suppliers†¦. how can Walmart audit or control these suppliers†¦standards imposed by Walmart? Current Situation Brief History Walmart has grown over the past 50 years from a local ‘general merchandiser’ with 15 stores in Arkansas to become the largest in the world with over 10,000 stores world-wide. Wal-Mart’s six market segments are: groceries; fashion clothes; pharmacy; health clinics; financial services; and music downloads. Its main North American competitors are Target, Dollar General and Costco. Walmart has four formats plus on-line that it has adapted to its international expansion. These formats have not always been successful, especially in their foreign expansion with retreats in Germany, South Korea and losses in Japan. The formats are: The smallest are neighbourhood formats averaging 42,000 square feet Traditional Discount store averaging 102,000 square feet Sam’s Clubs averaging 127,000 square feet Super Centers averaging 187,000 square feet No matter who we are or where we come from, our values pull us together and keep us together. They constantly push us forward to become a better and stronger company. Mike Duke, Walmart President CEO Sam Walton drove this growth founded on five(5) core principles with its roots in small town US family values: Integrity: Be Trustworthy and honest in all your business activities (Sam valued Honor) Opportunity: If, you work hard and do a good job, you will be promoted (approx.. 75% of store managers started as associates) Family and Community: Your customers, suppliers and associates are your neighbours. Work with a purpose: Deliver them the lowest costs (EDLP) and their lives will be improved. Responsibility: Make the world a better place These became Wal-Mart Stores 3 core values: The Value Statement: Service to the customer, Respect for the individual and Striving for excellence. From the website: Delivering a seamless shopping experience; Talent is key to success; Benefiting our communities. The Mission Statement: Save Money/Live Better (from the website). There is consistency in Sam’s values and Walmart’s stated values today. Walmart built its US operations using a hub and spoke system. The hub (distribution center) supports the spokes (stores). Each wheel was the launch board to the next hub and spoke as a hub could support growth of sufficient stores to build a new hub. Today Walmart has expanded overseas primarily through joint ventures or acquisitions and then built wheels to support the new regions. Additional distribution models such as Remix and the integration of IT systems have been built to streamline ordering, deliveries and drive costs further down the supply chain. Expansion overseas and growth have impacted margins, at least in the international operations, and affected the ability to centrally control the operations and keep the personal relationships between head office and the individual store managers. Porters 5 forces the resource based approach (C. K. Prahad Core Competencies) to firm analysis The External Environment Porters 5 forces can be termed the outside-in approach to industry and firm analysis. The general merchandising industry is very competitive with few to no barriers to entry, buyers can easily switch among many substitute products with cost becoming the primary factor of choice for buyers. The only strength for a merchandiser is the choice among many suppliers. Barriers to new entrants (Low) Few to none Location and min financing Power of Suppliers (HIGH) Little power; many substitutes Power of Buyers (HIGH) Many alternatives; can price compare; customer service is of minimal concern Substitutes (Low) Most products have many substitutes Industry Competitors Intense rivalry; no obvious barriers to entry; suppliers have little power; the only avenue for uniqueness is internal competencies Based on the porters 5 forces analysis, we found the general merchandise industry is not attractive. We need to use a different model to assess Wal-Marts’s competitive advantage The real competitive advantage for any firm is how it uses its resources, but more importantly its capabilities to create competitive advantages over its rivals. The resource based view as â€Å"popularized by C. K. Prahad†¦. ’The Core Competence of the Corporation† will be used to evaluate Wal-Marts core competencies and its ability to leverage these competencies to create a sustained competitive advantage. Walmart’s Resources and capabilities (The internal environment) Tangible resources: 22-24% debt to total assets has remained stable; ability to borrow Their working capital has remained steady at 0. 9 to 1; pay bills as they come due Major investment in fixed assets at 56-58%; stores and fixtures to support sales growth US Super centres: 3022; 629 US discount stores (declining numbers); 611 US Sam’sclubs; 196 US Neibourhood Markets; 5651 International units†¦lots of stores 23% ROE will allow Wal-Mart to easily raise funds in the equity markets Walmart’s financial strength allows it to finance growth without increasing its leverage. Its debt to equity and working capital has remained stable over the past 10 years with little impact from the financial crisis. This, in combination with the industry’s highest return on equity, means Wal-Mart can borrow at a very low weighted (WACC) average cost of capital (interest costs have averaged less than 5% of long-term debt) or raise capital in the stock market at favorable prices. Its major investments are in inventory and fixed assets. The fixed assets are supported by 93% long-term debt and equity financing meaning part of working capital is supported by long-term financing. This is a conservative approach and explains why Wal-Mart was not greatly impacted by the credit crunch brought about by the financial crisis. Intangible resources Founding 5 core principles: small town values; EDLP; community; responsibility; opportunity Proprietary distribution sw systems- satellite RDFI for logistics mgmtand inventory control Links all stores, to system all the way to suppliers; tracks items Own their own satellite; use EDI with suppliers; POS to suppliers for inventory reorders Store layout Growth through Hub and spoke (distribution) system Cross-docking system: minimal warehousing; goods go immediately from dist pts to stores; minimizes costs Customer satisfaction guarantee program; use of greeters EDLP Decentralized store management: layout,pricing, sales strat by dept mgrs. , product mix within store Use of IT to integrate entire value chain Communication and supervision structure keeps stores close to HO Reg VP? 10-15 Dist Mgrs ? 8-12 stores; VP visit stores/no offices; data accum M-th; data anal Fri-sat; decision made Sat; Dist mgrs. Contacted sat for following week Wal-Mart’s founding principles as enshrined in its mission and vision give’s every associate right up to the management team a focus and an understanding of where each component of the value chain. fits in this picture and where each of their jobs and duties lie. There is no doubt, nor is there any drift. Each job has a purpose within Sam’s greater vision. Greeting the customer or stocking what is in demand is all part of the â€Å"Customer Satisfaction Guarantee†. The distribution (RDFI), purchasing (EDI) and sales (POS) systems have been integrated in order to control costs at all parts of the value chain. In effect driving costs back to the suppliers. This singular focus on cost has allowed Wal-Mart to pass this savings to its customers. This has been facilitated by minimizing bottle-necks using cross-docking and REMIX and growth with the hub and spoke strategy including regional mega distribution centers such as Shanghai China to support global growth. Decision making at the customer level has been decentralized to the store level allowing store managers and department managers control over layout, input on pricing and products on the shelf. This allows for EDLP (everyday low pricing) to be competitive at the local level in all regions. The weekly meeting is a hallmark of Wal-Mart. It has been changed to monthly, but the weekly gathering of information to facilitate decisions from the corporate to store level remains. The VPs meet with their district managers who visit all their assigned store managers (stores) gathering the intelligence needed to drive the strategy and the tactics. This information is culled to develop ongoing strategies from supplier acquisition or termination to individual store strategies all to facilitate â€Å"Save more, Live better†. Human Resources Empowered sales associates 94% of employees have health benefits With one year or more of service employees are covered by a pension Pay scale is higher than competitors All store managers from around the world participate in a monthly meeting via satellite (formerly the famous Wal-Mart weekly meetings) Wal-Mart’s employees (or associates) are family. They are your neighbours. Associates are empowered and when deserved, promoted . They are given better than average health benefits and wages. All associates are covered by a pension plan. Associates will someday become the VP’s, district managers and managers. They are Sam’s community to be treated with honour and respect, just the same as the clients. Capabilities Corporate Functions Multi-district mgr/VP coordination worldwide to Benton HO Centralized purchasing from Benton HO Management Info Complete integration of sales, inventory and supplier information through sophisticated IT systems to facilitate managerial decision making Eg. The VP/Dist mgr/Store mgr meetings and data gathering Operations Operational efficiency Centralized and proprietary supply chain system allows Walmart to drive down costs at all stages of the supply chain more efficiently than their competitors Walmart is able to use the capabilities of its EDI, POS and other data systems and combine this with the VP’s weekly info gathering exercise to make weekly managerial decisions. This is more sophisticated and faster than the competitions Store design; layout of aisles; and stocking of shelves benefits from the information capabilities REMIX Program: uses 3rd distribution

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Comparing Creons Metamorphosis in Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedi

Creon's Metamorphosis in Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus      Ã‚  Ã‚   Temptation is ever present in our society and always has been throughout human history. When a person gives into temptation, this is seen as a sign of weakness. Usually, after a person has given into temptation once, that person will find each successive temptation easier and easier to give in to. Before realizing it, this person has changed into a completely false, morally lacking being. Over the course of Sophocles' three plays Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus, Creon gradually changes from a moral, just king into a morally corrupt and deceptive character.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the opening of the first Theban play, Oedipus the King, Creon is a neutral character. He informs Oedipus that the city of Thebes is suffering from a great sickness, and he even goes to Apollo to acquire information as to how this plague may be stopped. Oedipus proclaims Creon's trustworthy nature when he states "I sent Creon,/ my wife's own brother, to Delphi- / Apollo the Prophet's oracle-to learn / what I might do or say to save our city" (Lines 81-84). Oedipus later relies on Creon to arrange a meeting with Teirisias, the blind prophet who sees all things and is usually found within the city limits of Thebes.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Later on in the play Oedipus accuses Creon of conspiring with Tiresias against Oedipus' kingship. It is at this point in the play where Creon serves as the voice of reason and logic. Dodging Oedipus' insane accusations, Creon derives at many logical, unarguable explanations in his defense. Creon argues,    Who in his right mind would rather rule And live in anxiety than sleep in peace? Particularly ... ... Ode on Man in Sophocles' Antigone." In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.    Herodotus.   The Histories. Translated by Aubrey de Selincourt. England: Penguin Books, 1972.    Jaeger, Werner. "Sophocles' Mastery of Character Development." In Readings on Sophocles, edited by Don Nardo. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997.    Segal, Charles. Oedipus at Colonus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1993.    "Sophocles" In Literature of the Western World, edited by Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1984.    Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Transl. by F. Storr. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/browse-mixed new?tag=public&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&part=0&id=SopOedi

Monday, November 11, 2019

Plant Growth Hormone Lab Report Essay

Introduction: Plant hormones and growth regulators are chemicals that affect flowering, aging, root growth, killing of leaves, promotion of stem elongation, color enhancement of fruit, prevention of leafing, and many other conditions. Very small concentrations of these substances produce major growth changes. All plants produce hormones naturally, and growth regulators can be applied by people to are applied to plants by people. Plant growth regulators may be synthetic compounds that mimic naturally occurring plant hormones, or they may be natural hormones that were extracted from plant tissue. In our plant growth experiment growth stimulants and growth inhibitors were used. Ideally the plants that received the growth stimulants should have grown larger than the others. Methods & Materials: The 3 plants used in the experiment were corn, peas, and beans. B-Nine, IAA, Gibberlic Acid, and a control substance were the growth regulators used. Gibberellic acid stimulates cell division and elongation, breaks seed dormancy, and speeds germination. Indoleacetic acid (IAA) stimulates internodal elongation, rooting, and leaf abscission. B-nine reduces internodal elongation. The control substance is the independent variable in the experiment. Four planting pots, which were divided into three parts, were used for planting the seeds. Two seeds from each type of plant were put in the soil of one compartment of the four planting pots. Each of the containers was labeled with the corresponding hormone, and each division of each container was labeled for the corresponding plant. The plants were then watered and stored. Next week the lengths of the plants were recorded, the hormones were put on the plants. One of the four types of hormones was added to each plant in its corresponding labeled container. The next week the plants were measured and lengths were recorded. The process of adding the hormones was repeated for four weeks in the same way as the week before, and also I measured my plant lengths in millimeters. The whole experiment took five  weeks to complete. Discussion: The experiment was not flawless due to many errors that occurred. As you can see from my results the beans did not grow at all therefore no data was recorded. The corn and peas that received the Gibberlic acid both grew more than the corn and peas that received the control substance. It looks as though the B-nine, which is supposed to reduce internodal elongation, may have actually stimulated internodal elongation. The IAA results in the corn were accurate, but the lengths of the peas that received IAA were less than that of the control. One error that may have occurred could have been the amount of water each plant received. Some plants may have been over watered, or not watered enough. This could have possibly affected the growths of each. Another factor may have been the light each plant was exposed to. I conclude that errors in the experiment may have affected the desired outcome of each plant.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Nuremberg Trial Essay

The Struggle for Justice: Nuremberg Trial. After Germany was defeated in World War II. Millions innocent people had lost their lives. The trials were held at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany. There were many Nazi leaders who were under suspicion and the from all of those the top Nazi leaders were called to go on trial and justify there reasons to committing war crimes and war against humanity for the execution of the Jews, and simply for killing many people innocent people. Hermann Goering, Albert Spear, Wilhelm Keitel and Hans Frank are just a few of the Nazi defendants in the trial. They defended themselves even though there was a lot of proof proving that they were guilty. In this essay we are going to see all the defenses used by these four Nazi defendants. Hermann Goering was the reichmarschell and air force chief, he was the president of Reichstag, and director of the â€Å"four year plan† In the Nuremberg Trial he believed strongly that he was not guilty and did not regret what he did, but this was not what everyone else seemed to think. When Goering was asked about the concentration camps in the trial and who decided upon them, he said † The idea was mine, It was a question of removing danger only one cause was available protective custody. How can the party rule unless it established order and how could it maintain order with it’s deadly enemies particularly the communist running free† I think that the concentration camps were used for torturing people that were innocent and I strongly believe that there were more options then just putting people in concentration camps, this was probably the easiest way to torture hundreds of people at once rather than doing anything else. Many people who were innocent and also many Jews who had not committed anything were taken in just for the reason that they might commit crime in the future, and simply for the hatred the had for the Jewish people, to me that is not a valid reason at all. During the trial there was also a movie shown that was created by motion pictures by allied military photographers and it showed the areas where the concentration camps were located and how people were treated, and the outcome of the camps, it clearly showed people suffering and being tortured only because they were â€Å"supposedly† a threat and might commit a crime. If someone is said to be suspicious it still does not mean that they are thrown to concentration camps, or they are tortured, proof must be shown and then a decision should be made towards that individual. Sadlyno one was heard and no one had the rights to explain themselves innocent. Many people were sent to concentration camps, it did not only happen to people who were suspicious but it mainly happened to millions of innocent people and Jewish people who were simply hated because they were Jews, and to me that is racism and disrespect, and it is disgusting to see that people can take such measures, and torture human beings like they have no rights and like they are just a pieces of toys. Most of all it is also sickening to see that many of these Nazi leaders especially Goering did not regret what they did. Keitel Wilhelm was the chief of staff of German high command, and Hans Frank was the governor-general of Nazi-occupied Poland, called the † Jew Butcher of Cracow† When Hans was asked how he felt about what he had done, and was asked to explain how he did those things, which was shoot and kill people who were innocent, and genocides in the camps. He said that † I don’t know, It’s as though I’m two people. The Hans Frank you see here and the Hans Frank the Nazi leaderI wonder how the other Frank could do these things,This frank looks at the other Frank and says your a terrible man, The other Frank said that I just wanted to keep my job† I respect that Frank realized that what he did was wrong and that he was still not brainwashed by the views that they were forced upon By Hitler and that were influenced by him. Many of the Nazi leaders still believe that what they did was right, and regret nothing and show ignorance through out the trial. I do believe that a person can feel bad for the actions or crimes they have committed, which Frank showed, but unfortunately it was too late. I think that that he is brave to admit his sorrow, and that he feels terrible. On the other hand it is sad to realize that this trial was what made him realize what he did was wrong and even though he did it to keep his job which is understandable because he probably had a family to provide for and to survive on his own. Showing sorrow cannot bring back and change anything, and what was done has happened. I wish that Hans Frank would have stopped his job which was being a Nazi leader, personally I would not want the money I have earned knowing it was because I had killed innocent lives. The next defendant was Kietel Wilhelm, when Kietel and many other war criminals were lined up, that was the moment whenKietel says that† Only following orders, nothing more, you must understand† I think that since many of these Nazi leaders were used to following orders, and that is what they had been doing for a very long time, for that reason I do not blame them for having this type of mind set. I think that what Keitel said was somewhat justifiable and the reason for that is that Hitler was the higher power and he ordered many of the Nazi leaders and if they did not accept his order and do as they were told, they were most likely killed. The fear of being killed is what kept these Nazi’s to do as they were told. With that being said, I believe that what Kietel said was something that any Nazi soldier would say or perhaps any soldier in general. Albert Spear was the Reichminister of armaments and munitions, From all of the the other Nazi leaders he was different. He felt guilty for what he had done just like Hans Frank but when he was in trial he told the truth, and showed that he was truly sorry for his actions. One of the things that he said was † This war has caused catastrophe† I do agree with what Spear said, and it is nice to know that he agrees with this, rather than all the other Nazi leaders who were still brainwashed and though that the war and the crimes done in them were completely fine. He also said that † No one is blameless for the responsibility of the crimes except the victims† After hearing what all the other ignorant Nazi leaders had to say, It was very pleasing to here this from Spear as it shows a sign of shame and that he feels ashamed of his actions. When Spear was asked if he came up with a plan to assassinate Hitler he said † Yes I did try to assassinate Hitler† When he said this it brought lots of hatred towards hims from the Nazi leaders as they gave him dirty looks and were shocked that one of their own man could think of taking such actions. I for one believe that even though Spear was a Nazi, later on he realized that Hitler was evil , he also said † Hitler was a nightmare for our own making† I think that Spear genuinely hated Hitler, and it was not only during the trial he realized but as he was a Nazi leader his hate for him was the reason he wanted to kill Hitler, but unfortunately that did not happen. In my opinion Spear was the only Nazi leader who knew what he was talking about and he seemed to understand that what was done, was absolutely not right, and the only one to realize that was Spear and you can also that regarding say Hans Frank. I think that the courts took what he did too seriously, which is good but at the same time, he told the truth and showed that he really did feel bad for the actions of not only him but of all the others. He was imprisoned for 20 years on charges three and four. I understand that he was also a part of the Nazi group, and he killed many innocent victims, his views from back then have definitely changed, and I believe he is a better person from before. But you must face the consequences for what you have done, and it would only be fair. In conclusion, some of the defenses were justifiable, but what Goering used to justify himself was completely ridiculous and was not justifiable what so ever. Many people had lost family and relatives, and all these people wanted justice and if it were up to me, I would have given some of these Nazi leaders the same torture they did to many of the innocent people, but it was not up to me. In the end justice was given and many of these Nazi’s were hanged to death or imprisoned.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The One Answer You Should Never Give in a Job Interview

The One Answer You Should Never Give in a Job Interview Think of your job interview in the same way you think about your resume and cover letter: every word counts. And there are some words, in particular, which should never be said in a job interview situation. Learn to avoid these words. And if you catch yourself using one, be sure to know exactly what you can do to dial it back. Here are the seven most important words to never say:â€Å"I don’t have any questions right now.†This is just plain absurd. Never walk into an interview setting without at least one thoughtfully prepared question at the ready.Plus, there are a few things a hiring manager might assume from not having questions- most of which, hopefully, you did not intend. They might think you are ill-prepared, which, let’s face it, if you don’t have any questions prepared, is both true and unacceptable; do your research! They might think you’re too cocky. They might think you have a lack of enthusiasm about the job. Or- worse- they might assum e you don’t have sufficient respect for them and the value of their time. All to be avoided, right? Right.Instead, try questions like: â€Å"What does an average day look like for you?† which will give you good insight into company culture, as well as giving your interviewer a chance to talk about herself a bit. Or: â€Å"What would be your definition of success in this role?† which does double duty helping you understand their expectations. Remember- you are also interviewing them.You can also ask the bold: â€Å"Do you have any concerns about hiring me?† which might net very honest answers, so prepare to not be defensive.Remember: this is your one chance to impress. Don’t blow it by being less prepared than you can be.

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Bermuda Triangle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The Bermuda Triangle - Essay Example The essay "The Bermuda Triangle" talks about the Bermuda Triangle, an area of the Atlantic Ocean, which has a mythical value as it is associated with the inexplicable disappearance of numerous vessels such as ships and airplanes passing through or over the area. The name emanates from the fact that the area is marked by a triangularly shaped border which connects Bermuda to Miami and then to San Juan back to Bermuda. It is believed that this section of the ocean is always busy with traffic, with commercial ships sailing through to places such as Europe, Caribbean and other ports in America while tourists fly over from Florida to Bermuda and other Islands in the vicinity and back using light airplanes. This section of the ocean is said to have numerous cases of strong currents, storms, and hurricanes during certain times of the year and this has been termed as the real reason as to why notable disappearances of vessels have occurred especially before the advancement in communication t echnologies, which are important in acquiring real-time information on the whereabouts of vessels cruising through the ocean or flying through the air. However, this has not helped much in changing the mythical identity of Bermuda triangle. The earliest allegation in this area was in 1950 by one Edward Winkle, who reported that there were mysterious disappearances, which could not be explained inhumanly possible terms. The disappearance of a Navy aircraft, Flight 19, in 1945 is cited as one of the most important historical events.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Hume on Suicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hume on Suicide - Essay Example This paper will begin with the statement that life is the most mysterious thing that humans can face. It is given to us and we have no opportunity to choose to be born or not to be born. The question is if humans have a right to get rid of their life or if a woman, who gifted this life, can take it away? If a person kills him/herself, it is called a suicide, if someone takes the life of another person, it is called a murder. From day to day you can hear in the news about many cases of suicide among people of different age and the question is if these acts can be considered as a human’s right to be a master of his/her life, or as a crime. Nobody can state for sure, if a person have right to commit a suicide and to get rid of the dearest that was given to him. There is an philosophy that suicide is a method to demonstrate to the God the power of humans in a short and strict form. The issue is very controversial and was discussed by many famous philosophers. David Hume is among t hem. He devoted the whole essay â€Å"Of Suicide† to this issue. The reception of Hume's views The unique and controversial idea presented by Hume is that there is no person in this world who will commit suicide if he considers his life to be valuable. Thus, according to Hume, a person has a right to commit a suicide: â€Å"to restore men to their native liberty, by examining all the common arguments against suicide, and showing that, that action may be free from every imputation of guilt or blame; according to the sentiments of all the ancient philosophers† (Essays on suicide and the immortality of the soul. p.3). If to consider this statement from the point of view of social issues and values, the supporters of it can be accused in the misrepresentation of God and religion as well as in immorality. Children are taught in school that only morally weak individuals can commit suicide as suicide is the easiest way to solve the problem. â€Å"Hume’s recent critics read him differently, however, as if his observations concerning the fragility of human life are intended to show (positively) that we have a low value in God’s eyes† (Holden 2005, p.203). Hume states that there are several stages before committing a suicide. A person usually feels disorder and weakness, apathy and stupidity (Muller, 1997). These are signals for the mind that it is time to finish the life. Not all the people in the modern society would agree with Hume on the aspect. According to him, each person who has such problems is a potential suicide committer. Nobody will deny that we always can find a reason for stress and problems are waiting for us every second, thus it is a usual thing to feel such symptoms. Hume also underlined that changes that could occur in life, would bring the unexpected results for sure. Thus, the question is if the changes only push to suicide or vice versa. Let’s imagine person who is about to commit a suicide. He or she is i n the last stage and suddenly the fortune proposes him or her a present, winning the lottery. It is interesting whether this can serve as a reverse point for a person and if it can make him change his mind. Philosophy, religion and everyday life Holden states: †Hume presents arguments for the moral permissibility of suicide that could readily be generalized to license any action, murder not excepted. But no one thinks that murder is permissible, so we have a clear reduction of Hume’s reasoning† (Holden 2005, p.190). However, Hume does not consider a suicide to be a murder. According to Hume, it is unfair to consider the suicide to be a crime. He considered material and animal world and comes to the conclusion that all the things inevitably return to their basic state. This argument is also very controversial. Politicians and the law as well as religion dictate what the citizens should do and how they should behave in the society. In reality each country has its la w and unwritten rules of behavior, the picture of the world, which form the mentality (Flew, 1986).

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Economics of Multinational Enterprise Assignment

Economics of Multinational Enterprise - Assignment Example One of the ways of addressing the risks is by use of operational hedging. This entails introducing a significant degree of flexible in the main operations of a firm. These include the supply chain, channels of distribution, financial positions, and marketing activities (Aghion et al 35). The objective of this strategy is to create adaptable operations that can rapidly respond to any change in the currency movement. This ensures that the fluctuations that may affect the revenues and the costs are offset. Firms can increase their profits by hedging by adopting various strategies. First, they can source materials thus lowering the costs of transportation resulting in increased profits. Another imperative way that the MNEs can adopt is the use of currency invoicing. This implies that the firm can choose a particular denomination that ensures the firm's prices, as well as those of the competitors, are affected by the exchange rate in the same way. This implies that for any firm to retain a competitive position in the market and attain sustainable profits, it can price its products using a volatile currency as long as the competitors use the same price. According to Grassman’s Law, MNEs should use a vehicle currency by considering their stability, low transaction cost, and liquidity. Based on the three aspects, the US dollar has been used as a vehicle currency for a long time by most of Multinational Enterprises. In their efforts to enter the emerging economies, the majority of MNEs undergo challenges that are associated with the legal process, legislative issues as well as technological factors. As a result, the investment flows from the rich countries to the poor countries are adversely affected. However, by initiating strategic economic policies, the investment flows can have similar effects to those of the free trade. One of the strategies that the host countries should emulate is to ensure that the home currency does not depreciate.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The education in the field of nursing in the commendable program Essay

The education in the field of nursing in the commendable program - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that according to an anonymous quote, â€Å"save one life, you are a hero. Save 100 lives, you are a nurse†. It would not be wrong to consider the profession of nursing as one of the strong pillars in the field of medicine. This profession not only involves the acquisition of effective medical knowledge and skills, it also requires a tender heart that can sympathize with the pain of the patients. The relevance of nursing is often undermined by being overshadowed with more attractive jobs of surgeons and consultants. The researcher believes that the doctors’ treatments need to be coupled with effective and tender care by nurses to ensure long term health for the patients. It is due to this belief that the author has been inclined towards this noble profession since many years and wants to pursue his education in your esteemed institution. The author’s childhood memories have some instances when the author’s parent s would take me to a shelter and spend time with the less fortunate ones in the society. It was often witnessed that effective medical treatment was being given to them, however, the tender care of their loved ones was missing which would lead to boosting their morale and head them towards the road of better health. The absence of family members in the lives of such people was seen to be filled with the care of nurses. The commitment of those professionals was worth admiration which made me work as a volunteer nurse for a few times.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Being Christian: Living For God

Being Christian: Living For God Introduction Christianity is the religion that follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Bible. The duration of the last seven weeks have taught me a lot more about Christianity and what it means to be a Christian. I do proclaim to be a Christian, and I was saved in November of 2008. I have always been in church my entire life, and my father and grandfather are both preachers. During this course I have learned a lot, but I would like to highlight three of my favorite topics in writing. The topic I will discuss first is if Jesus claimed to be God. Secondly I will talk about the reasons it does matter how a Christian lives their life. Lastly I will discuss whether or not Jesus needed to be born of a virgin. Section One- Did Jesus claim to be God? Jesus was never actually quoted in the Bible saying the words I am God. But, that does not mean he did not claim to be God. Jesus said in John 10:30. I and the Father are one. Jesus receives worship many times in the scripture. If Jesus were not God he would have told people to not worship him, or stop worshipping him. Also, if Jesus were not God his death would not be abundant enough to pay for the sins of you and me. A human being could not pay the penalty required for sin against a boundless God. Only God could take on the sins of the world, die and be resurrected on the third day, proving His victory over sin and death. Jesus was referred to as many different names throughout the Bible. He was called Master, Savior, Messiah, Alpha, Omega, The Good Shepard, and The Lamb of God just to name a few. I chose to write about this topic simply because, some people do not know or understand that Jesus and God are one in the same. Some people believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but not n ecessarily the same being. This was indeed one of my favorite subjects to learn about during this course because I have never really thought about and researched the many reasons why Jesus is God. Section Two- If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life? Being a Christian means you are living for God. It most definitely matters how a Christian lives his or her life. To be a good Christian there are several things you should practice. The Bible is Gods word inspired through Him. Reading the Bible daily to help better understand the word and may answer many questions you may have as you try to live a life pleasing to God. A Christian should pray daily and praise God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, and let it teach, guide, and strengthen you in times of need. Attend church regularly to worship him and grow as a Christian. When you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you begin a relationship not only with him, but with other Christians as well. All Christians need to learn how to deal with temptation. Temptation is a part of life. The Bible says, Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Mathew 26:41). Christians sh ould be prepared for temptation, through prayer and your knowledge of Gods word. All Christians sin, but you must ask for Gods forgiveness for your sins. To me the most important aspect of living a Christian life is to tell others about Jesus. Letting others know about Christ through your words and actions is the only way some people may hear about Christ. The more people we witness to and tell about Jesus, the more souls we will be winning for Christ. I know I am a fairly new Christian and have only been saved for about two and a half years now, but through this course I have now learned more about how to serve God in the best way possible that is most pleasing to him. Section Three- Did Jesus need to be born of a virgin? I do think that yes, it was very imperative that Jesus be born of a virgin. Jesus birth was a miracle. It is not normally possible for a woman to conceive a child being a virgin. Jesus was conceived by the Holt Spirit, not by man. Jesus had to be born of the most humble beings to carry out His great task. He was conceived out of wedlock, born in a stable, and placed in a feeding trough for a bed. The astounding birth is definite proof that Jesus is the Messiah and that He is the Son of God. I think the virgin birth of Jesus is if not the most important, but one of the most important parts of the Bible. If Jesus had not been born of a virgin, He could not have died on the cross to save us from our sins. I think it is absolutely amazing how someone could be born a virgin birth, and that is exactly why this is one of my favorite topics of the course, simply because it is just so miraculous. Conclusion To say this course has taught me a lot about Christianity is an understatement. I have learned so much more than I ever thought I would, and actually enjoyed doing so. It is not often someone says they enjoy the readings and doing the assignments for a course, defiantly not me at least. I would say the one aspect that I enjoyed most about this course was the study guides. I would go through all of the readings every week almost like a scavenger hunt, and get excited every time I reached one of the answers. It was also very beneficial in preparing for the various quizzes and exams. I do not think I have ever said I actually enjoyed a college course, but I truthfully enjoyed this course. Being a Christian I think it is fun to learn more about the history and different stories about Jesus. It makes not seem so much like school work, when you can actually relate to it so much. THEO 104 Course Paper Grading Scale (include as the last page of your paper) Possible Points Points Received Content: Does the paper cover the subject as thoroughly as possible? Are three topics covered? Does it demonstrate a personal understanding of the subject? 80 Introduction: Paper has an introductory paragraph 20 Structure: Did student provide headings for each section? 10 Conclusion: Paper is given a concluding paragraph 20 Spelling/Grammar 40 Grading Rubric: Is this page provided as the last page of the paper? 10 Format: Is the paper 12 point, Times New Roman font and one-inch margins, double-spaced 20 Comments from Instructor: Total Score 200

Friday, October 25, 2019

Optimal Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Detection Essay -- Technology

Introduction The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a microwave active imagery system that has been largely used due to its possibility of day-and-night operation in all weather conditions. The SAR system generates images by the coherent processing of the scattering signals; this results in a scene texture that has an undesired multiplicative speckled noise, drastically reduces the ability to distinguish the features of the classes [1]. The rejection of the speckle noise motivated many works where ANN algorithms have been applied to SAR imagery classification [2][3][4][5]. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms have been increasingly applied to remote sensing for image classification in the last years [6][7][8][9]. SAR images have found many applications in the field of Automatic Target Recognition (ATR). Target detection is a signal processing problem whereby one attempts to detect a stationary target embedded in background clutter while minimizing the false alarm probability. The rapid increase of ANN applications in remote sensing imagery classification is mainly due to their ability to perform equally or more accurately than other classification techniques [10]. In a general way, the major advantages of the neural network method over traditional classifiers are: †¢ Easy adaptation to different types of data and input configuration, †¢ Simple incorporation of ancillary data sources, as textural information, which can be difficult or impossible with conventional techniques, †¢ Does not use or need a priori knowledge about parameters of distributions. ANN algorithms find the best nonlinear function, in the optimal case, between the input and the output data without any constraint of linearity or pre-specified nonl... ...e Galinhas, November 2002. 7. J.A. Benediktsson, P.H. Swain, O.K. Ersoy, â€Å"Neural Network approaches versus statistical methods in classification of multisource remote sensing data†, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and. Remote Sensing, v.28, n.4, p.540-552, 1990. 8. H. Bischof, W. Schneider, A.J. Pinz, â€Å"Multispectral classification of landsat-images using neural networks†, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, v.30, n.3, p.482-490, 1992. 9. Y. Hara, R.G. Atkins, S.H. Yueh, R.T. Shin, J.A. Kong, â€Å"Application of neural networks to radar image classification†, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, v.32, n.1, p.100-109, 1994. 10. K.S. Chen, W.P. Huang, T.H. Tsay, F. Amar, â€Å"Classification of multifrequency polarimetric SAR imagery using a dynamic learning neural network†, IEEE Trans. Geoscience and Remote Sensing, v.34, n.3, p.814-820, 1996.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Me, Myself, and Why Problem Set Essay

1. What is the difference between self-interest and selfishness? Why is this distinction important when considering the competitive market economy as appropriate for society? Self-interest is looking out for your best interest and finding the best possible alternatives that will benefit yourself in the business world. Selfishness is putting your own interests above the interests of others and making decisions solely based on how they will benefit you. This distinction is imperative in considering the competitive market that is appropriate for society because you need to make sure that you are looking out for yourself but at the same time you should not make market decisions based solely off your own selfish interests. A selfish business man or woman will never be successful in the long run. 2. Does your textbook present only positive economics and avoid any normative economics? If not, give some examples of normative economics covered in your textbook. The textbook presents both positive economics and normative economics. An example of normative economics that is used in the textbook states â€Å"a value-free interpretation [of economics] leads to all sorts of abuses† (42). Normative economics incorporate subjectivity in to their analysis. Normative economics are heavily influenced by value judgment as well as theoretical situations. Normative economics are the opposite of positive economics. 3. What did Adam Smith believe serves to curb self-interest in an economy? â€Å"People care what others think of them and it is this desire for the good opinion of others that constrains people in their pursuit of self-interest† (41). Adam goes on to say, â€Å"this constraint is reinforced by competition and by the jurisprudence system† (41). Smith believes that others opinions shape what they pursue. Smith opposed the exclusive privileges of corporations and even went as far to oppose  regulations such as taxes which he claims gave individuals the ability to gain an unfair advantage. 4. What does it mean to seek the Kingdom of God in a democratic capitalist economy? How can it be done? Capitalism and Christianity can be combined. It may be difficult to combine the two because many Christians believe that it is better to always put the interests of others before yourself. However, Christ calls us to be good stewards of what He has given us and it is important to be good business men and woman that strive to be warriors for the Lord. Christ has not called us to be mediocre but to rise to the top and to shine for Him. The book states, â€Å"we’re not perfect, but we can strive to act righteously with in a system that accommodates both vice and virtue† (50).

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Pearson Custom Business Resources Essay

Carrefour is global brand whose market edge is ideal. The supermarket chain is revered across the world. It is keeping this in mind that such a brand should always seek to have and maintain this success; key aspect would be to ensure that all their potential customers are reached wherever they are in the globe. One of the ways to ensure this is achieved would be the indulgence of information systems or information technology. Carrefour prides itself in provision of quality products at convenient prices. (Caneja, n.p.)Company overview Carrefour is known to be among the leading supermarket chains in the globe. The supermarket chain is believed to have emanated from France. They have about eleven thousand outlets across the globe; these outlets serve about two billion customers worldwide. This business operates under a number of banners; there are supermarkets, hypermarkets as well as some stores that operate as cash and carry outlets. (Caneja, n.p.) Products offered by Carrefour Company and its target market Carrefour is a business that thrives mostly on the sale of consumer products. The items are the common ones used from day to day within households. Products by this outlet are set at prices that are within the range of the common citizen. At times they also offer their goods at good discounted rates which is a welcome relief to many. Carrefour targets the emerging markets that are found within Asia as well as the Latin American region. (Caneja, n.p.)The two regions offer a prudent growth and untapped area where the large populations favor the retail business set up. Asia offers an exposure to about almost one and a half billion people cumulatively while Latin America offers almost half a billion. Such untapped areas are worth the consideration for expansion; but for now they seem to be working on consolidating their existing market share before venturing out to these areas. (Caneja, n.p.) Marketing plan Carrefour is working on improving their information systems and the corresponding infrastructure. Employees especially those who are coming into contact with the customers directly seem to be the probable individuals to kick off the exercise. Improving and polishing up customer relations is another aspect that has to be worked on. Systems would have to be set out that favor the real-time and constant communication between employees and management when it comes to service delivery to customers. (Salmons, p.125)Technology is also employed when it comes to the monitoring of operations that go around the firm. For effective service delivery; their systems around the globe would have to be re-evaluated with the sole purpose of phasing out redundant ones to be replaced by functional technology. Example of Bluetooth beacons which may be set up on shopping carts is one way; this would help them in making out shopping tendencies of customers. (Swedberg, p.17)The data collected would be of use when creating future business strategies. Milestones achieved by Carrefour In 2014 Carrefour did manage post revenue collections of about one and two billion dollars; with net profit of about two billion dollars. The total asset base rose to about sixty one billion dollars. However revenues decreased by about five percent but profitability rose by close to six percent. Around the same period the retail chain had about ten thousand two hundred stores globally. This number cuts across various types of stores; about four types. (Fortune, n.p.)The financial plan Carrefour would have to post about fifteen billion dollars in sales monthly; in order to post about one hundred and eighty billion dollars as overall collection. Such revenue collection would translate into about a net profit margin of about two and half billion dollars; this would eventually be a step past the grey area they were in 2014. (Salmons, 127)For this to be achieved ICT usage and diversification within the firm would have to be enhanced. Customer relations management and well calculated expansion regime is crucial. Personnel would have to be trained and drilled in line with the future aspiration of the company. (Salmons, p.137) References BIBLIOGRAPHY Caneja, Ana-Diaz. Pearson Custom Business Resources. London: Pearson Plc , 2011. Salmons, Janet. â€Å"Global e-business and collaboration.† Salmons, Janet. Handbook of Research on Electronic Collaboration and Organizational Synergy. Hershey, Pennsylvania : IGI Global , 2012. 122-142. Swedberg, Claire. â€Å"Carrefour To Use Bluetooth Beacons to Track Carts, Baskets .† RFID Journal (2014): 17-18. Fortune,. ‘Global 500’. N.p., 2015. Web. 27 Jan. 2015. Source document

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The eNotes Blog eNotes Book Club February(Folklore)

Book Club February(Folklore) In this month’s installment of our book club series, we gave ourselves the theme of â€Å"folklore.† If you’re looking for fantastical stories, creation myths, and tales of magic, read on! â€Å"The Man in the Woods† by Shirley Jackson To kick off our folklore book club, I chose The Man in the Woods by legendary prose-stylist Shirley Jackson. Published in 2014 as part of a new release of her unpublished works, this short story draws on European folklore and a little Greek mythology to craft a haunting, ambiguous tale of a young mans date with destiny: Christopher delves deep into the forest, past looming branches and overpowering pines, and arrives at a mysterious cottage at the end of the road. There he meets Phyllis, Aunt Cissy, and Mr. Oakes, who invite Christopher to dinner. Little does he know that many travelers have come this way before, and that the true nature of the man in the woods has yet to reveal itself. I guess I was a little frightened, Christopher said with a small embarrassed laugh. All those trees. Indeed, yes, Mr. Oakes said placidly. All those trees. Beautifully written, full of tension, and ripe for discussion, The Man in the Woods is an excellent example of Jacksons craft. Who is he dares enter these my woods? Read and see. - Wes â€Å"Advent† and â€Å"The Tooth† by Heather Christle After a discouragingly long hunt for the perfect piece of folklore, I stumbled upon these poems by Heather Christle. â€Å"Advent† reads as a personal meditation on the ending of a year or season, but I felt the language used created a lot of folklore-inspired imagery. A few of the lines felt like call-outs to typical folklore tropes and themes: for instance, a line about stars and books about stars felt like an allusion to creation myths while another line about animals reminded me of traditional fables. It’s hopeless, the stars, the books / about stars I want this world / to remain with me, this holy tumult Where â€Å"Advent† falls short in actually telling a folklore-inspired tale, â€Å"The Tooth† prevails. The stilted, choppy language tells the tale of an abstracted creation myth wherein one tooth has the power to create- or erase- all of existence. The simplistic style of â€Å"The Tooth† acts as a call-out to oral tellings of folklore and fairy tales. The group had a lot of fun dissecting the puzzle of this particular poem- I definitely recommend Christle’s work to anyone who wants to grapple with a good literary puzzle. Two men share / one tooth. From / one tooth the men / predict the world. - Kate â€Å"The Mirror, the Bucket, and the Old Thigh Bone† by Kristen Roupenian Youve probably heard of Kristen Roupenian from her viral short story sensation, â€Å"Cat Person,† when it was published in the New Yorker in 2017. I happened to be reading Roupenians brand new collection of short stories, You Know You Want This (which includes â€Å"Cat Person†) when we picked this theme. I went with the story â€Å"The Mirror, the Bucket, and the Old Thigh Bone† because it has magic, a princess, and a little bit of trickery, and because I figured itd be fun to add to the mix something that had just been released. Also, what a great title! This piece received varied reviews from our readers- meaning it’s probably a solid book club selection! Many of the female-identifying members resonated with the sense of female-role restriction, of feeling trapped by circumstance, which you can gather from the opening lines: Once there was a princess who needed to get married. No one expected this would present a problem. Another one of our members had a touching take of the story through the lens of a queer-adolescent experience. This is what I really enjoyed about this pick, and what made the discussion lasting and impressionable: that each reader had such a personal experience with this tale. And while it wasnt the strongest story, literarily-speaking, that we read this round (and Savannah really nailed her overall review on this entire collection in our February Reads blog), I think there are plenty of interesting- and personal- discussion threads to pull on with this (super) contemporary work. - Samantha Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino For our round of folklore readings, I chose Italo Calvino’s 1972 book, Invisible Cities, which reimagines the legendary tà ªtetà ªte between Venetian explorer Marco Polo and Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan. The book consists of fifty-five prose poems in which Polo describes the far-flung cities of the Khan’s vast empire. As a storyteller, Polo is equal parts wise and mischievous, and the cities he evokes are fantastical dreamscapes, insoluble puzzles, and meditations on desire and memory. Although Polo’s cities are fictitious, you may find, as I did, that you have visited them before. Calvino’s writing offers a feast for the imagination and- thanks to William Weaver’s gorgeous translation- music for the ear. - Zack â€Å"The Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi† translated by Sioned Davies In contrast to more recent or interpretive works, the medieval Welsh â€Å"The Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi† (elsewhere translated from â€Å"Math fab Mathonwy† as â€Å"Math the Son of Mathonwy†) branches out from itself, seeming more like an aggregate of shorter tales than a narrative in its own right. It follows the exploits of Gwydion, nephew to the lord Math, as he orchestrates a war with the southern lord Pryderi as a distraction so that his brother Gilfaethwy can rape Math’s virgin footrest. The brothers are punished (in one of the weirdest revenges any of us had ever read), and the resulting search for a new footrest leads to the birth of a hero, a quest for a name, and a couple of transformations into birds. The story’s origin in an oral tradition was engaging in some ways and alienating in others. Drastic understatement and a blunt tone- a favorite sentence for many involved the reduction of a giant battle to, â€Å"And then there was immeasurable slaughter†- brought out strangeness in specific moments, and an unhinged dream-logic was either compelling or confusing, depending on the reader. The overall â€Å"grandpa-rambly† style of the narrative and a lack of interiority to characters made this selection difficult to emotionally access, but it stands as a great example of folklore’s ability to record a culture’s values and is well worth discussing. - Caitlin â€Å"The Boy Who Wanted More Cheese† by William Elliot Griffis While my selection strayed a bit from folklore, I found it still worthy of sharing due to Klass van Bommel’s unmatched affinity for cheese. The title of this Dutch fairytale pretty much sums up the entire narrative- boy loves cheese, boy wants more cheese, boy almost dies from cheese. One night, after a scolding from his mother for taking his sister’s cheese, Klass is lured by fairies with the promise of more cheese: â€Å"Plenty of cheese here. Plenty of cheese here. Come, come!† As fairies force feed Klass an uncanny amount of cheese, he realizes the negative consequences of his gluttony and greed. No more than a ten-minute read, I suggest pairing this tale with an aged Gouda and a toast to Klass van Bommel for his unwavering commitment to yellow gold. - Savannah

Monday, October 21, 2019

WOMEN LIFE IN ANCIENT TIMES essays

WOMEN LIFE IN ANCIENT TIMES essays From the earliest years of ancient times, womens status were defined by their relationship to men. A woman was in second place to the man never the first. Since early historical times, women have been considered not only intellectually inferior to men but also a major source of temptation and evil. Early Roman law described women as children, forever inferior to men. The double standard certainly involves more than biology; it is also a product of the historical domination of women by men. In ancient western civilizations, cultures like Romans; the status of women were clearly defined as inferior to men either through script law, or custom that is understood and obeyed by everyone in these cultures. Rome was founded as a patriarchal society, women were the property of their fathers later their husbands. However, in early Christian culture women are held in higher regard than the previous two cultures mainly because of Jesus and Paul. Jesus teaches equality, but Paul spread his messa ge and popularised Christianity. In ancient Greece, women were not equally treated, and men were more important and the female less essential; the male is the ruler and female is the subject. The Greek word for woman, gyne was also their word for wife. No differentiation was made between the two, which leads one to be live that, the Greeks assumed a womans main role was to be a wife. The law of the Greeks makes it intelligible that, the function of a woman was the obligation to bear children, especially male children who would preserved the family line(Spielvogel 79). This shows proof that the Greek world was male dominated and women had little say in their daily life and activities. A woman of these times could not be entrusted to handle her own private affairs, or support her self. Women were under the guidance and instruction of a man at all times, if it were their husbands, father or another male ...