The value of HRM to business organization Literature review

The value of HRM to business organization - Literature review Example One of the systems through which businesses always survive when the economy is on the descent is training its workforce. This paper, seeks to evaluate the consequences brought about by training the workforce (Sams 2009, 497). It seeks to analyze if investing in training makes the various businesses make a large profit out of the prevailing economic situations. During economic turbulence, employee training comes at the back seat by several businesses. This is with the aim of reducing the expenses (King 2007, 38). However, some organizations normally continue employing training even under tougher times. Some of the ways through which businesses can go about training during tough times include, reducing the duration, which the training course was to take, and practicing internal training. Technology also comes in handy during such situations as some organizations encourage e learning (Watanabe 2010, 56). If the research carried out in the United Kingdom during the 2008-2009 economic slu mps is anything to go by, then training might just be the perfect antidote for such times. The research found out that those businesses that focused on training managed to get back on their feet soon after the downfall. This is because training prepared the employees and the organization at large to be well prepared for the slump and they found a way of maneuvering through it (Jacobs 2003, 59). Similarly, the general classification of training as a tactic for endurance helped the organizations get back to their feet. Supplementary to that, training had an overall impact of reducing costs. This is because training boosts the attitude of the employees and due to the assurance, they carried out their duties as required and in the process avoiding damages. Studies showed that adequate training enabled the organizations survive in case such downfalls took place in the future (Adegoke 2013, 25). By this, it means that the employees shall become much proficient in whatever they do. This ph enomenon is of great significance mainly because the employees will be able to venture into new methodologies and technologies (Lawson 2002, 96). The new methodologies by all standards shall enable the businesses to register extraordinary profits. Training of employees plays a major role towards increasing the morale of employees. The fact that the employer invests in the employees and the reason that the employer will be after their well-being, makes the staff-members give their best for the company (Wisconsin 2009, 119). Moreover, research has established that training of employees during tough times does make them not to worry about job security. Similarly, the employees become more satisfied and they feel much appreciated and valued by the employers. The overall effect of this will be to increase overall productivity of the business due to increase in the level of commitment (Hawthorne 2007, 92). Research has also established that training employees during economic turbulence he lps in broadening their career network in that, they shall meet other professionals who will inspire their success in their respective fields (Russell 2007, 46). One can achieve this through organization of seminars and attending of various conferences. In addition, the conferences act as information sources because they provide up to date information in the specific field that the employers are pursuing (Buckley 2009, 85). In a similar situation, frequent training enables the

Law reform regarding Animal Welfare Essay Example for Free

Law reform regarding Animal Welfare Essay As the world changes so do worldviews and therefore, so do the accepted morals and values of the time. With these changing morals and values come altering laws, amended or renewed to reflect these changing views. This is called law reform, in particular, the subject of Animal Welfare. Laws in relation to animal welfare have been made and amended to restore justice and equality to the voiceless members of society. Before recent times, the rights of animals had been severely overlooked. Attention has been brought to breeding and slaughtering practices around the world through wide scale media. In such countries these processes fly under the radar and are rarely monitored, until now. This is when worldwide regulations have to be put in place to ensure that appropriate and adequate treatments are adhered to around the world. Most animal cruelties on a small scale are kept quiet, and are performed either in secluded areas away from prying eyes or those who witness such things are unable or unsure of how to seek justice. Although most of the first laws regarding animal protection from human mistreatment were made in the early 19th Century, according to Peter Sankoff and Steven White’s book; ‘Animal Law in Australiasia’, these laws fall short of bringing adequate justice to the cruelties within Australia and New Zealand. Activists, academics, law professionals and many others share this view, giving even more reason to amend relevant legislation to cover any discrepancies and loopholes. Animal law has only recently emerged as a studied genre of law, which means it is slowly becoming more known. The constitution is the basis for all Australian law and in this case, particularly from section 51. Firstly, section 51 of the Constitution provides that the Parliament shall†¦ have power to make laws for peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to 39 subject matters, known as heads of power. Although the constitution itself doesn’t outline laws regarding animals other than fish, it does give the conditions in which other laws can be created. The Commonwealth can enact any law, provided that the law is characterized as being under at least one of the heads of power. Subject to some limitations, a law that is characterized as being one with respect to one of these heads of power will be valid although it may regulate some other matter that is not specifically allocated to the Commonwealth (such as animal welfare). Through external affairs powers and corporations power came these treaties: Examples of the treaties formed with other countries are as follows: * The Convention on Biological Diversity 1992, * The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 1973, * The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species and Wild Animals 1979 (‘the Bonn Convention’) and * The Convention on the Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific 1976 (‘the Apia Convention’). Mechanisms of Reform- Non-Government Organizations. Lawyers For Animals is an organization dedicated to advocating the need to improve animal welfare through education and law, as well as ‘Voiceless’. Voiceless is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering networks for law professionals, academics and politicians to influence law and the need for law reform regarding animal welfare. They conduct research regarding agricultural industry practices, exposing legalized cruelty and promoting need for debate. They also attempt to inform the public about consuming and which products have and have not come from low quality, quantity breeders. They recognize the need for a voice that projects the facts of cruelty among everyday people and corporations that give way to law reform and law making in relation to the protection and rights of animals. By building a forum, social justice movement, funding in education, participation in events and forming relationships with law schools and firms, Voiceless hopes to provoke change an d awareness about animal welfare. The key issues that have been addressed as contemporary issues regarding this subject are; * Animals as property * Animals in agriculture * Animal welfare legislation * Labeling * Live animal export * Intensive livestock production and climate change * Animals used for scientific purposes * Animals used for entertainment * Pets * Pests * Wild animals * Fish and crustaceans These are a vast range of issues, which call for a vast range of bills to be introduced from a large number of interested politicians. Having animals as property and pets, means that we as humans own them. We dictate what it is they eat, drink, do etc. We are responsible for taking care of them, and the blatant fact is that many people don’t. As Gary Francione, distinguished professor of law, states animals are ‘as a matter of law, solely means to human ends. As such, their value is measured in terms of their usefulness to humans, and not in terms of their own interests’. The Animal Legal Defence Fund (‘ALDF’), was established in 1979 and has more than 100,000 dedicated lawyer members who apply their skills in a number of ways in order to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. For example, the ‘Litigation Program’ files cutting-edge lawsuits to stop the abuse of companion animals, and animals abused in industries including factory farming and the entertainment business; while the ‘Criminal Justice Program’ works with law enforcement and prosecutors to seek maximum penalties for animal abusers. ALDF has also been at the forefront of law reform in respect to one that can actually make a difference. With changing times also comes the once described as ‘likely to be the next great social justice movement’, animal welfare is becoming more well known. Universities have been reflecting this growing issue, providing more and more opportunities for education on and relating to animal rights and animals and the environment. Examples of such debates for reform topics and their respectable supporters ( as found on http://www.alrc.gov.au/news-media/2008/will-‘animal-rights’-become-next-great-social-justice-movement) a re below: * Arguments in favour of basic legal rights for nonhumans (Steven Wise; President, Center for the Expansion of Fundamental Rights Inc., Coral Springs, Florida, USA ); * Suicide foods’: the anthropomorphising of animals (Prof Mark Kingwell, Uni of Toronto); * Animal rights activists’ case against the animal industries (Tom Regan, American philosopher and animal rights activist); * The philosophy behind animal welfare (Geoffrey Bloom, Geoffrey Bloom Associates); * The law and pig farming (Dr Malcolm Caulfield, legal counsel for Animals Australia); * Animals and the law in Australia: a livestock industry perspective ( Kathleen Plowman; General Manager Policy for Australian Pork Ltd, with Alan Person and John Topfer); * The treatment of feral animals (Graeme McEwen, Barristers Animal Welfare Panel); * The ethics of animal biotechnology (Professors Mickey Gjerris and Peter Sandoe, University of Copenhagen); * Animal derived food labelling (Katrina Sharman, Corporate Counsel , Voiceless, the fund for animals); * The common law and animal rights (Nichola Donovan, Lawyers for Animals); * Animals, guardianship and the local courts Another benefit human’s get from animals is profit. Breeding and meat production are industries where greed comes into play and animals needs and rights are forgotten. These NGO’s raise awareness and with the help of media, put pressure on the courts and parliament to introduce change. Certain ministers will be targeted and issues put forward to so that agencies have a representative in court. Animal Laws that already exsist: * Animal Welfare Act 1992 (ACT) * Animal Welfare Act 1999 (NT) * Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) * Animal Care Protection Act 2001 (QLD) * Animal Welfare Act 1985 (SA) * Animal Welfare Act 1993 (TAS) * Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (VIC) * Animal Welfare Act 2002 (WA The shortcomings of these laws are the lack of equal treatment among animals used for scientific research and those that are pets. Eg: Cats will receive better treatment than pigs, as they are pets and pigs are used simply to grow and once they are grown, to eat. Again, seen as property beneficial to humans, which goes against the rules of law. The majority of the difficulties with enforcement stem from the manner by which the power to enforce animal welfare legislation is granted. The power is granted to: * State government departments; * the RSPCA; * and the police. Much of the enforcement is carried out by the RSPCA. It is the state and territory governments that are responsible for enacting legislation appropriate to their areas, therefore this will be done through the New South Wales Law Reform Commission. The New South Wales Law Reform Commission takes care of localized matters in relation to the state and the Australian Law Reform Commission takes care of matters to do with international treaties of trade and animal treatment. The New South Wales Law Reform Commission may be the pinnacle of law making bodies for New South Wales, The Australian Law Reform Commission itself recognizes the altering times and calls for change throughout the country. Dated 19th May 2009, David Weisbrot, President of the ALRC spoke at the University of Sydney about their views upon the issue, with the NGO ‘Voiceless’. He stated that; â€Å"I think we need; national – or at least harmonised – legislation that protects animal welfare; and is not set at the lowest common denominator; or is so riddled with loopholes that you could drive a large factory farm truck though.† From the President of the ALRC itself, one would have to assume actions were being made in establishing new laws regarding animals, however it is not so. In the recent years, there has been much talk of changes yet no actions or amendments have been put in place as a follow through of this talk. David also stated that we evolve over time, resulting in the need for law reform and that it is this slow and painstakingly gradual task. Reasons for law reform regarding animal welfare: An example of the altering views are prime in the subject of Sweden banning importations of Australian wool in the fear that it would be supporting mulesing. This could go on to be a major issue for the wool trade industry. Another concept is that of the changing and growing world, as the population grows, so does the need for food. This pressures farmers into states of mass production; Eg: The mass breeding and steroid use in chickens so that they reach adulthood 10x faster than usual, leaving their legs to break and mutate under the abnormal weight that grows too fast for the rest of the body to keep up. These chickens have shorter and extremely painful life spans, are kept in battery cages where there is no room for them to walk or sit. This issue has been addressed in documentaries attempting to make the public aware of the cruel and selfish origin their produce is coming from and spur politicians into addressing the subject with observance of practices and laws to protect such a nimals. As is seen in the many above genre’s relating to animals as pets, food and many other things, a massive need for appropriate and widespread legislation has surfaced. Ways of mass production are under complete scrutiny for cruel practices, while more monitoring of animal owners has become paramount for the RSPCA. Universities have opened doors to educating the worlds youth about this topic, providing a new force of law trained individuals, able to influence people within their league into the advertisement and hopeful altering of current laws. These trained professionals have the ability to uncover the shortcomings of current laws that have been so far swept under the rug, and take them to members of the State and Federal Governments for consideration. The Non-Government Organizations such as the RSPCA or Voiceless project widely held views of the public, who may not be as educated or influential within the political spectrum, but allow the public a say all the same. With a new influx of technology from the late 20th into modern 21st century, brings both positive and negative possibilities when monitoring and even bringing about animal cruelty. That is, one can use cameras placed in chicken farms to monitor such breeding, but it is the development of scientific technology that has allowed such abnormal growth in the first place. Education towards use of technology in a morally aware way should be a priority for the government, as well as making the public more aware of those cruelties that happen every single day. By making the public largely aware of various aspects of animal cruelty, many more opinions can be altered to support the work of the RSPCA and Voiceless, so that both the N.S.W Law Reform Commission and Australian Law Re form Commission can alter their own priorities and make changes to relative legislation. Bibliography: * http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare * http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/reform * http://www.lawyersforanimals.org.au/documents/Animal-Law-Subject-Proposal.pdf * http://lawyersforanimals.org.au/ * http://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/book.asp?isbn=9781862877191 * http://www.animallaw.info/nonus/articles/ovaustrailia.htm * http://lsa.net.au/wcb-content/uploads/lsa/files/2011/Animal%20Law%20-%20a%20need%20for%20reform%20(LSA%20State%20Conference%20March%202011).pdf * http://www.alrc.gov.au/news-media/2008/will-‘animal-rights’-become-next-great-social-justice-movement * http://www.alrc.gov.au/news-media/2009/voiceless-animal-law-lecture-series

USS Eisenhower Collision Essay -- U.S. Military

On the morning of August 29, 1988, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was returning to her homeport in Norfolk after conducting a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea. She had performed extremely well in exercises and was set to receive the Battle â€Å"E.† The carrier had recently taken on approximately 500 Tigers in Bermuda, joining their parents for the final leg of the voyage. Also, the Secretary of the Navy was aboard that morning, and had been present on the bridge prior to his departure at 0807. 14 minutes later, at 0821 according to the deck log, the Eisenhower struck the Spanish bulk carrier Urduliz, which was anchored in a designated anchorage area, â€Å"A,† in berth â€Å"Z.† As stated above, the Eisenhower had not been in Hampton Roads in six months. While deployed in the Mediterranean, the Entrance Reach Channel was narrowed and moved slightly northward on March 30th, 1988.The crew of the Eisenhower was informed of the changes, but had yet to navigate the channel in its new configuration until the morning of August 29th. The track that the Eisenhower was to follow led along the northern edge of the previous configuration of the channel, which should have put her 400 yards off the anchored Urduliz. That morning, visibility was at least 5 miles, and the bridge watch was aware of the Urduliz for at least 30 minutes prior to the collision. However, the Eisenhower was off track the according to radar fixes between 0810 and 0817, during which time no visual fixes were taken. The reason for the lack of the more accurate visual fixes was that when the new buoys were placed to delineate the reconfigured channel, they were quite literally few and far between. Such placement made it extremely difficult to take visual fixes. The two key ... ...orks Cited Dennison, Patrick J.. "A Case Study of the USS Dwight D Eisenhower Collision and its Implications." Defense Technologies Information Center. 25 Jan 1994. http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA274926 (accessed Mar 23, 2012). Evans, Mark L.. "Dwight D. Eisenhower." Naval Historical Center. 27 Sep 2006. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/d6/cvn69.htmhttp://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/d6/cvn69.htm (accessed Mar 23, 2012). Kolstad, James L.. "NTSB Safety Recommendation M-90-1 through -7." National Transportation Safety Board. 22 Feb 1990. http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/recletters/1990/m90_1_7.pdf (accessed Mar 23, 2012). Kolstad, James L.. "NTSB Safety Recommendation M-90-8." National Transportation Safety Administration. 22 Feb 1990. http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/recletters/1990/m90_8.pdf (accessed Mar 23, 2012).

Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl Essay -- essays research papers

Using the pseudonym Linda Brent, Harriet Jacobs wrote Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, to alert Northern white women to the dangers faced by enslaved African American women in the South. The narrative details her experience of slavery, emphasizing the sexual harassment she experienced working in the home of Dr. Flint (Dr. James Norcom). Because Linda Brent's Aunt Martha (Molly Horniblow, Jacobs' grandmother) was well known and respected in the community—and lived nearby—Flint was afraid to force himself on Linda where it might be discovered and relayed to the rest of the community. When he tried to secretly sell Aunt Martha to eliminate her interference, she forced him to do it at public auction; he was humiliated and her freedom was purchased by one of her many admirers. Flint th...

Charles Dickens and the Victorian Era Essay

The writer Charles Dickens created some of the most memorable fictional stories and is generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period. He managed to represent features that were characteristic of this period. A clear example of this is ‘The Signalman† which was written by the author in 1865 and was based on a signalman who worked with the steam trains. There are two aspects of this work that portray the Victorian period. One distinctive aspect is the use of the supernatural device and the other is the use of the prejudices which were typical from this time. One important aspect in the story that gives a picture of the Victorianism is the use of the supernatural device. As the Victorian era progressed, the supernatural interest began to grow; consequently the Gothic genre began to gain in popularity. During this period literature reflected this interest through the prevalence of ghosts, mysterious apparitions, and unexplainable sounds in the literary w orks. (Craig, 2012) Dickens attempts to capture the superstitious beliefs that predominated during the Victorian period, using the supernatural theme in the story. It is shown through the signalman who is convinced that he is haunted or that there is a â€Å"ghost†. Meanwhile the narrator believes that these premonitions are merely coincidences, and that there is not any spectre but the wind. To sum up, Dickens tries to explore altered states of mind by which he was fascinated in the last part of his life and which will lead to the development of the imminent modern psychology afterward. Another important aspect is the use of the â€Å"prejudices† in order to depict an important quality of the Victorian world. The story illustrates how the Victorian society was judged by class. In this case, the narrator is surprised that the signalman is an educated man that has a low rank job which would be suitable for a lower classed person. It is shown when the narrator affirms ‘[†¦]he had been well educated, and (I hoped I might say without offence) perhaps educated above that station†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢.(Dickens,1907, p.14 ). By analyzing this extract it can be inferred that Victorian society had their social classes clearly defined and  that each class had its own standards. Thus, an educated person was expected to belong to middle or upper class consequently that person was supposed to have a job appropriate to that class. All in all, indirectly, it could be said that the author is concerned about the prejudices and standards assumed to each social class. Nothing can detract from the fact that Charles Dickens was an outstanding writer who drew the attention of the reading public exploring social themes that took place during those times. Indirectly, the author illustrated the era he lived in, describing aspects such as the beliefs as well as the attitudes society had during the Victorian Era. On balance, there is not a shadow of doubt that Dickens challenges and is concerned on the popular Victorian beliefs that some people were more prone to vice than others. REFERENCES Craig, S. (2012). Ghosts of the Mind: The Supernatural and Madness in Victorian Gothic Literature. Retrieved from: http://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1098&context=honors_theses Dickens, C. (1907). The Signalman. Pickwick Papers. London. Everyman’s Library.

The Insanity Defense Part I When is the insanity plea a reasonable and

The Insanity Defense Part I When is the insanity plea a reasonable and The Insanity Defense Part IOutlineWhen is the insanity plea a reasonable and ethical tool?Thesis: Although some criminals abuse the insanity plea by invoking it to escape being punished for their crimes, the insanity plea should nevertheless still be allowed for those with a documented record of mental illness.I. Background information on the insanity plea [the M'Naughten case]II. Abusing the insanity pleaIII. Importance of the insanity plea in the judicial systemIV. Example of cases in which the insanity plea had been usedV. Summary of main pointsThe common awareness that our legal system is based upon the belief that a person is responsible for his action, but this is not applicable to the mentally insane who commit crimes. The mentally ill use the insanity plea to keep them away from prison or the electric chair whenever they commit crimes, and these crimes are in most cases very severe.Vincent GiganteThis (Insanity Defense) is an endeavor to place in morality into our so called p erfect law because there is no perfect test to know if the acclaimed criminal is insane or not. Contrary to what a few people who have lost their loved ones through the act of an insane person, and most people who oppose the insanity plea say, a person who commits a crime and at the time the crime was committed he was not in his correct sate of mind and cannot differentiate between wrong and right, the person should not be held accountable for that crime according to the M'Naghten rule.Daniel M'Naghten, according to the book The Guilty Mind, by John Biggs, was a "Scotsman" who accidentally shot Edward Drummond who was "principal secretary" to Prime Minister Robert Peel in 1843. M'Naghten intended to shoot the prime minister,

Analytical Essay Sample on #8220;A Good Man is Hard to Find#8221; by Flannery O#8217;Connor

Analytical Essay Sample on #8220;A Good Man is Hard to Find#8221; by Flannery O#8217;Connor Flannery OConnors A Good Man is Hard to Find discusses human conduct in terms of moral codes. Morals are guidelines, which an individual or groups of people decide to abide with. The word moral does not mean right or good but rather what people choose to practice. For instance, the grandmother seems to have a different understanding of the word â€Å"good† and by knowing very well, that the fugitive is wrong, she refers to him as a good man. Additionally, she considers herself lady-like and good yet she withholds truth upon the realization that she has made a mistake. This costs the other characters their lives when they are shot by the fugitive and his accomplices. As much as the grandmother has a different perception about goodness, she believes in salvation and religion. When the family is attacked by thugs in the wood, she pleads to Jesus for safety, though at some point she becomes doubtful about her faith. On the other hand, the fugitive has a different perception concerning morals stemming from his belief that he should not be in prison following an unfair conviction. Due to his frustration, the fugitive decides not to align to any common religion. The fugitive’s religion is bent on a selfish and self-centered slogan suggesting an immoral character. The children in this article also reflect a different view of moral codes. This can be seen in the insolent responses they offer to their grandmother during the road trip. Since the children are not corrected or rebuked, it seems it is also acceptable to the parents. The story line also clearly exhibits how different people perceive morals. Universally, many people believe that morals are virtues or acceptable conducts within a society. This is however not necessarily true as it is just but one of the many beliefs that people follow. To others, it is right to practice what may be considered wrong. As evidenced in this article, the fugitive believes that true religion is revealed through meanness and inconsideration. The grandmother also supports this idea by her understanding of what good is. For example, she tells Red Sammy that he is good because he sold gas on credit to customers who were not considered credit worth. In a bid to save her life, she refers to the fugitive as a good man. This is very ironical with the misfit’s character and beliefs. The grandmother, being a major character, has a lot to teach people regarding the consideration of morality in terms of practice and adherence. The grandmother fluctuates depending on the circumstances. On the contrary, the fugitive is a good example of a stable person in terms of morals, although they are largely considered as wrong. This is because, despite his unlawful character, he adheres to what he believes. When the grandmother pleads with him not to kill them, he firmly sticks to what he believes and what he has decided. He is a good example of a person who is ready to do anything for his cause. It is important for the society to adopt moral codes that are favorable to all. This article largely relates with a personal experience of moral decadence witnessed. A certain employee seemed to contrast with other people’s good morals. She was never serious in her work and very disobedient. In addition, she was arrogant too and chose what to follow and what to leave out, in as much as the instructions were defined to her. When the employer was away, she just lazied around and did nothing productive. People with good morals work under minimal supervision, they do not challenge instructions/authority and they are highly courteous. Eventually, the employer had to dismiss her because she lacked good morals. In conclusion, the community should create moral codes that assist in guiding people in terms of acceptable living patterns. Some moral codes are so important such that they constitute to lawmaking. Such edicts deal with prohibitions from stealing and killing, trespassing and other examples that fit in both moral and criminal laws.

The eNotes Blog The Secret Literary Lives of the eNotes Staff What Were ReadingNow

The Secret Literary Lives of the Staff What Were ReadingNow They have dedicated their days to making Hamlet survivable. To making calculus doable and those funky little greek letter things decipherable. They maintain the complex virtual temple of learning that is the website. What is this pantheon, you ask? Who are these noble masters of learning, these repositories of wisdom and knowledge? This is the staff. And they are reading only great literature, all the time. Okay. Some of them are reading great literature all of the time. Some of the time. A couple of us. Once in a while. Meet the staff. Natalie,  Editor Mrs. Bridge and Mr. Bridge (Evan S. Connell) I just finished reading Mrs. Bridge and Mr. Bridge by Evan S. Connell. The two books are a study of a husband and wife living in Kansas City in the 1930s. The chapters could stand alone as short stories or serve as snapshots of the characters values and points of view. You realize that its the small moments that really define who we are. I both frowned upon these characters and sympathized with them. Their existence is limited and, at times, rather shallow. The writing, however, is marvelous and subtle. Its also fascinating to compare these two characters and see how they complement one another as a couple. Heather,  Customer Service/HR Supervisor East of Eden (John Steinbeck) I am currently working through Steinbecks East of Eden because I feel the need to keep that classic lit and cred in check. Aaaaaand the last book I read was Fifty Shades of Grey. I did, however, read it before seeing the movie. Wait no. I totally did not see the movie! Okay, yes maybe I did see the movie too. #keepingitreal Samantha,  Marketing Manager The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) So, Im in love with every modern iteration of Sherlock Holmes: Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr., BBCs Sherlock, and of course Disneys The Great Mouse Detective. I thought it tragic that I, being an employee of , hadnt given the original iteration a solid go. Nancy Drew and Hercule Poirot were pretty instrumental in my adolescent-reading years (and goldfish names), and Im pretty excited to properly add Holmes to my list of favorite literary detectives. Also, I can now visualize some sort of audaciously handsome and arrogant combination of Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr., which is more than okay. Scott,  Managing Editor Cinema Raw (Kurt Lancaster) I wish I could say this was a book about ‘70s-era creature-feature exploitation movies, but its really just a primer on how to get the best footage out of your raw shooting video camera. If you know what that means, then you already own the book, have suffered sufficiently, and deserve a treat. For everyone else: nothing to see here; move on down to Nicks suggestion. Nick T.,  Math Intern Frozen (the comic book) and Mass Effect: Revelation I refuse to let it go. Just when you thought last year’s craze was finally over, I present to you the Frozen comic book! While shopping at Midtown Comics in NYC I saw this comic while in line to check out. And for the first time in forever I made a spontaneous purchase. There is no new content in this story- it’s the movie adaptation. But whenever I want to build a snowman, all I have to do is open the pages and get lost in the story. Sometimes while working I get stressed, but my love for this comic is an open door that can thaw my frozen heart. I have also been reading Mass Effect: Revelation, a book based on the video game trilogy. Last fall I took a break from the other games I usually play (LoL, hearthstone) and I completely immersed myself in the Mass Effect games. Besides being fun and action packed, these games have an amazing story and really developed characters. I fell in love the entire Mass Effect universe, so I decided to go beyond the games and purchase the books. The book I am currently reading goes over the events prior to the first game, so I know pretty much how it will end, but I am still loving it anyway. It is a solid sci-fi novel, but I dont know if someone who has not played the games would enjoy the book as much as I am. Brad, Co-Founder Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania (Erik Larson) Im reading Erik Larsons latest book, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. Im a big fan of narrative history, and thought his two previous books, Devil in the White City, and In the Garden of Beasts, were outstanding. This newest one is no exception. Hes a meticulous researcher, and brings historical events to life through vivid descriptions of the people who shaped them. This is a tragic story of the many souls who lost their lives on the Lusitania, but also of human heroism. Alex,  Co-Founder Perfidia (James Ellroy) I am reading Perfidia by James Ellroy. I recently went on a crazy Ellroy tear and read five of his books in the last month or two. I loved watching his style develop from pretty straight-forward noir to something chopped up, stripped of anything superfluous, and pure plot after plot. So far Perfidia doesnt rate with his best, which is probably American Tabloid, but Im hoping it will pick up, dust off the cliches, and go for the jugular. Katie, Editorial Intern All the Light We Cannot See  (Anthony Doerr) As an English major, it’s my job to love reading. I’ve read medieval manuscripts, post-modern poetry, and pretty much everything in between, but this hasn’t stopped me from reading books that fall outside the realm of the â€Å"classics† I’m used to. This past week I dove into this  strikingly beautiful and detail driven novel based on the lives of two children growing up during World War II, Marie-Laure and Werner. Marie-Laure is blind, but her father sees to it that she learns their neighborhood in Paris, and instills in her a true curiosity that cannot be squelched by her disability and the difficulties it brings. Werner, an orphan raised in Germany, is enlisted into the Hitler Youth for his skills in science and engineering. Though these two seem to have nothing in common, their stories converge into something strangely weblike, and as a reader you get the sense you’ve fallen into the trap of a true mastermind with this story. There is a deep, haunting sadness that permeates the pages of this book and it truly sits on the cusp of what is ethereal and what is earthly. 10/10 would recommend. Stephanie, Editorial Intern Toll the Hounds (Steven Erikson) This is book eight of a ten book series called The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Its one of the best series Ive ever read, and that is saying a lot. My boyfriend introduced me to these books when he found out I love fantasy novels, and being able to discuss the series with him as I go along has been so much fun. They are not happy books, but the story is so amazing its totally worth crying like a little girl! Allie,  Editorial Intern Will in the World (Stephen Greenblatt) I am super lucky. Had this been posted at really any other moment in the last two months, I would have had to name some fairly embarrassing urban fantasy titles with even more embarrassing covers. Instead, I get to say I’m reading Will in the World, Stephen Greenblatt’s biography of Shakespeare, and discovering what everyone else discovered ten years ago: it’s really good. Nick C.,  Developer Last Argument of Kings (Joe Abercrombie) and The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism (David D. Friedman) Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie is the third book in the First Law series. Abercrombie propels the reader into a dark world torn apart by war, politics, petty jealousies and magic. Basically my average Tuesday night. Im a sucker for distinct characters with mixed motives and plots that make me utter just one more chapter in the dark hours of the morning. This more than satiates my appetite for swords and sorcery while I await George R. R. Martins next tome. The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism by David D. Friedman explores the nature of rights, property, and market capitalism as fundamental ideas in a voluntary society. Friedman is a proponent of market anarchism, or the idea that order can arise through voluntary actions and requires no special, fictitious, violent authoritarian entity to enforce. He is also a big nerd who publishes Medieval cookbooks and fantasy novels, so I feel that he and I have a special, spiritual kinship. Nose deep in your own novel? Let us know what youre reading in the comments below!

Leaman brother Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leaman brother - Research Paper Example ublish its financial statement so when the financial statements were released to the public, the financial statements may depict that the bank had money and was paying its debtors (Hallman 1). Once a period of seven or less days had passed and the account statements were published, the bank repurchased sold assets. Anton Valukas was assigned the duty of look into the matter of Lehman Brother and unearth the reasons for its fall down. Valukas states that the Repo 105 transaction was first reported by Mathew Lee who was an employee of Lehman. Lee started by reporting the transactions to the management of Lehman and later reported the findings to the organization’s auditing firm, Ernst & Young and no actions were taken (Hallman 1). Once the firm could no longer indulge in Repo 105, it had to start depicting that it was highly leveraged and did not have money to pay off its debt and ultimately the bank filed for bankruptcy. Due to this several stakeholders had to experience material as well as emotional losses. The main stakeholders who were negatively impacted included the companies that had lent money to the bank, the shareholders of the bank and its employees. When the company went bankrupt there were more than 25000 employees working for them and a major percentage of them had to experience unemployment and social and psychological associated with it (Corelli 326). Furthermore, the shareholders had to lose their money since the company was not performing well and it has been recorded that due to the fall down of the company around $10 trillion funds were injected out of the equity markets (Corelli 326). It is believed but not yet proven that the CPA firm called Ernst & Young (E&Y) was involved in the financial fraud conducted by Lehman Brother. They are said to have been involved in the cover-up of this fraud. Due to these allegations against the CPA firm several civil lawsuits were filed against the firm after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. These lawsuits

Capital Budgeting Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Capital Budgeting Analysis - Research Paper Example This shows that the company has improved on the efficiency of the usage of the assets of the company. This is also depicted by an improving asset turnover over the three year period. In 2003, the company generated $1.25 of revenue for every $1 invested in the assets of the company. Moreover, the company is also maintaining a strong control on its administrative and selling expenses; this is depicted by an improving net profit margin. This signifies that the company has strong growth prospects in future and could pave it way to become the market leader in its line of products. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Since the company has strong future prospects, the company can use the IPO to its advantage. It will provide Superior Living Inc with the much needed capital money for expansion of its product lines including the production facility. The ‘going public’ stance will also boost the awareness of the company products in the market and develop a whole new batch of potential cust omers. This can eventually lead to an increase in the market share of the company. However, once Superior Living Inc goes public, she will have to face a number of challenges as well. The company will require fulfilling all the necessary obligations of the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as Sarbanes-Oxley Act which will lead to additional costs. Similarly, the management will come under immense scrutiny and pressure from different stakeholders which can lead to somewhat questionable practices for boosting earnings. This is because investors look at short term growth instead of the long term stability in the company. Debt is another option to the company to fulfill the capital requirements for the necessary expansion. the debt option will provide the company with the total control of the business with no scrutiny and pressures from the investors and other stakeholders. Similarly, the interest on the debt will provide a beneficial shield to the company as it will lower the future tax liabilities. However, the debt financing option will increase the leverage of the company; thereby increasing the chance of bankruptcy. Superior Living Inc has a moderate debt to total assets and debt to equity ratio. As shown in figure 4, the company finances only 28.3 percent of its total assets through the short term and long term debt. If the company funds the new production facility through debt, the ratio will still stay below 30 percent. Figure 5 depicts the debt to equity position of the company. The company has maintained an excellent interest coverage ratio over the three year period. It does not face any chance of interest payment crisis in near future; therefore, can easily use this option as well. Figure 4 Figure 5 The company has huge growth potential and a chance to explore new markets and product ranges. The new production facility is the need of the time; and therefore must be carried be carefully analyzed and carried forward. The new production facilityà ¢â‚¬â„¢s cash flows were analyzed at different hurdle rates. Since the Net Present Value of the project is positive at all three possible hurdle rates, the project must be carried forward. Similarly, the Internal Rate of Return is greater as compared to each hurdle rate; therefore the project is acceptable. The project has a simple payback period of 3 years. However, the discounted payback period 4 years at a

The UAE Labour Law Court Cases Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The UAE Labour Law Court Cases - Assignment Example Various cases have been registered and are being registered against people signing dishonoured cheques. Manu have been imprisoned in the jail of Dubai due to the offense of issuing cheques more than their held funds that was later identified to be bounced, with little significance to the underlying causes of such actions, which further makes the law quite stringent and proves to be much effective in restricting any intended or unintended forgery to repaying debts. There are few landmark cases identified in the article, where 48 years old Emirati, named Ahmad Abdullah, was imprisoned as he failed to hold sufficient balance to clear the cheques owing to the failure of his business. As the chain of cheques being dishonoured continued, Mr. Abdullah’s imprisonment also extended in terms of duration, to an indefinite period until his debts are repaid completely. Another case of a 28 year old European named Yousuf was imprisoned for nine years of signing dishonoured cheques in favour of his employer organisation that was later categorised as a typical example in Dubai. He was a simple accountant of a real estate firm in Dubai and signed several cheques as a part of his daily duty. But with the collapse of the firm, many of the company lenders filed a case against him as he had issued those cheques.  As affirmed in the article, the motive behind enacting the law under Article 401 of the UAE Penal Code has been to restrict individuals from committing forgery in the form of borrowing. This makes it justified as to why the sentences given for imprisonment are strict and prolonged. As affirmed by Jafar Al Touq, a professional lawyer in the UAE, â€Å"Those who think that sitting in jail without paying a loan is a temporary, short-term way out of debt are absolutely wrong. Otherwise, I will also do the same thing - borrow, then stay in jail for a while and keep the money† (Hilotin, 2012). I agree to this term but would also like to suggest certain degree of remittance for the accused, as in often cases, taking the example of Yousuf, who was an accountant in a firm and had to serve the punishment sentence for singing dishonoured cheques as a part of his job, the debtors fall under a false

In relation to E -Business Maturity and E- Modles select three Assignment

In relation to E -Business Maturity and E- Modles select three organisation - Assignment Example Different online firms exhibit different levels of E-Business maturity depending on the standards of their applications and services (Fox, 2001, p.231). A clear comprehension of E-Business models can be employed appropriately to maximize future benefits. The objective of this paper is to discuss levels of E-business maturity in relation to three different organisations. E-Business Maturity As various enterprises go through different phases of e-business maturity, they encounter same challenges while incorporating this technology in their business operations. They need to validate with their competitors and equals to be able to match forward in the right direction (Bak & Stair, 2011, p. 186). Due to the fact that all businesses experience similar predicaments in this endeavor, their development steps can be portrayed as phases of maturity. The fundamental concept of study here is that all these businesses go through same phases of maturity with regards to the approaches they utilize a nd how they manage to sustain and drive business objective and processes (Garrett, 2006, p.10). The E-Business maturity model provides a platform under which one can establish where a business is positioned and pin-points high-priority advancement areas that ought to be addressed to enhance current maturity phase. The model elucidates the steps that ought to be taken to move a notch higher to an upper stage (Gosselin, 2009, p.86). The primary fact here is that improved E-Business maturity is directly connected to better outcomes with regards to a business’s capacity to inevitably implement E-Business programmes and processes. Improved maturity is likely to translate to maximised financial benefits from investments (Gangopadhyay, 2002, p.202). A noteworthy point is that this model describes the approaches and levels of E-Business strategy development. However, it is not designed to offer insights in the soundness of the chosen strategy. This kind of information can only be acq uired by examining external factors, such as the environment, and organisational ones such as goods and services, clients and relevant authorities (Weill & Vitale, 2001, p.11). The five levels of the E-Consciousness Rising Model developed by the Price Waterhouse provide an elaborate platform under which maturity levels of different E- Businesses can be assessed. Masala Wok is a multinational food chain store that has several branches in different parts of the world. The food chain store serves Indo-Chinese cuisine. Going by the E-Consciousness Rising Maturity Model designed by the Price Waterhouse, the company’s electronic business website falls at the first stage. This is the Online Presence phase that groups organisations that have implemented static information to their online systems. There is minimal interaction other than information about the company, delicacies and services offered, and picture gallery. The website is designed to market the services offered by Masala Wok and provide directions on how to access their restaurants. The company does not engage in online retail and home delivery services. For this reason, the website system is quite basic and has no complex components interconnecting clients to suppliers and brokers. Ablecan is a visa agency firm that is well situated at the heart of London. The company’s area of specialty is acquiring business and tourist visa on behalf of United Kingdom residents willing to

A Rhetorical Analysis of the Public Argument Essay

A Rhetorical Analysis of the Public Argument - Essay Example Public argument is a discussion which is for or against something. In most cases it is aimed at changing how the public views something. It therefore needs a speaker who passes a message and an audience which receives the message and acts on it appropriately. This essay will bring out a typical a rhetorical analysis of the public argument. The essay will base its discussion on the video â€Å"engl08† by Na Du, who tries to educate the general public on the effects of disposing plastic material in the oceans. The essay also illustrates how to deeply analyses how pathos is used in a persuasive public speaking. The pollution of oceans by plastic has remained an issue that has lacked a solution for centuries. Conservation of oceans just like any other environment has been ignored for long. They have left to pollutants and it seems like there are not environmentalists to protect them from pollution. The pathos concept is mostly used in this video. Pathos is the emotional factor that touches people in either good or bad way. The pathos appeal in this video is the most prevalent and to a greater extent, it stimulates emotions from the audience (Johnstone and Eisenhart 76). The video does a great when it comes to bringing out the emotions of the audience as it makes the audience feels really connected in one way or another. Na Du, in her video, she tries to catch the attention of the audience as well as convincing it to refrain from polluting oceans because the consequences are not good. The video starts off by grabbing the attention of the audience. Na Du’s video grabs the attention of the audience by using â€Å"Save creature! Reduce the production of plastic† as an opening line of her video. In this case, she typically uses pathos. The reason why the audience would get emotional on watching this part is self-explanatory in that she makes

In relation to E -Business Maturity and E- Modles select three Assignment

In relation to E -Business Maturity and E- Modles select three organisation - Assignment Example Different online firms exhibit different levels of E-Business maturity depending on the standards of their applications and services (Fox, 2001, p.231). A clear comprehension of E-Business models can be employed appropriately to maximize future benefits. The objective of this paper is to discuss levels of E-business maturity in relation to three different organisations. E-Business Maturity As various enterprises go through different phases of e-business maturity, they encounter same challenges while incorporating this technology in their business operations. They need to validate with their competitors and equals to be able to match forward in the right direction (Bak & Stair, 2011, p. 186). Due to the fact that all businesses experience similar predicaments in this endeavor, their development steps can be portrayed as phases of maturity. The fundamental concept of study here is that all these businesses go through same phases of maturity with regards to the approaches they utilize a nd how they manage to sustain and drive business objective and processes (Garrett, 2006, p.10). The E-Business maturity model provides a platform under which one can establish where a business is positioned and pin-points high-priority advancement areas that ought to be addressed to enhance current maturity phase. The model elucidates the steps that ought to be taken to move a notch higher to an upper stage (Gosselin, 2009, p.86). The primary fact here is that improved E-Business maturity is directly connected to better outcomes with regards to a business’s capacity to inevitably implement E-Business programmes and processes. Improved maturity is likely to translate to maximised financial benefits from investments (Gangopadhyay, 2002, p.202). A noteworthy point is that this model describes the approaches and levels of E-Business strategy development. However, it is not designed to offer insights in the soundness of the chosen strategy. This kind of information can only be acq uired by examining external factors, such as the environment, and organisational ones such as goods and services, clients and relevant authorities (Weill & Vitale, 2001, p.11). The five levels of the E-Consciousness Rising Model developed by the Price Waterhouse provide an elaborate platform under which maturity levels of different E- Businesses can be assessed. Masala Wok is a multinational food chain store that has several branches in different parts of the world. The food chain store serves Indo-Chinese cuisine. Going by the E-Consciousness Rising Maturity Model designed by the Price Waterhouse, the company’s electronic business website falls at the first stage. This is the Online Presence phase that groups organisations that have implemented static information to their online systems. There is minimal interaction other than information about the company, delicacies and services offered, and picture gallery. The website is designed to market the services offered by Masala Wok and provide directions on how to access their restaurants. The company does not engage in online retail and home delivery services. For this reason, the website system is quite basic and has no complex components interconnecting clients to suppliers and brokers. Ablecan is a visa agency firm that is well situated at the heart of London. The company’s area of specialty is acquiring business and tourist visa on behalf of United Kingdom residents willing to

Information Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Engineering - Essay Example cus, it was soon found out by the White brothers that they had a winning business formula and were able to expand their business through acquiring new premises at different locations in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2008, White & White Theatre Group became an established cinema group with five cinemas in London, two in Brighton, and one in Portsmouth. At present, White & White Theatre Group is one of the leading cinema groups in the United Kingdom. The time when the White brothers launched their first cinema at Great Portland Street, they did not feel any need of using information technology in their newly established business. As a result, all the management and operational tasks were carried out using manual systems. As the White brothers expanded their business by increasing the number of cinemas, they knew there was a need to improve reporting but considering the high profits in the eighties, they did not show enough enthusiasm to really address improvements. Each cinema was run as a separate small business, with the cinema site manager being responsible for all operations on their site. Tickets for each show were sold using ticket books. As a result of significant advancements in information technology and an increase in use of personal computers in the 1990’s, it became unavoidable for the White brothers to run their business using information technology. Electronic Cash Registers were launched in all cinemas in the nineties, and in the late nineties, personal computers were introduced for word processing and spreadsheets. The company also gained capability of internet presence but only for advertising purposes rather than tickets sales which were done through telephone or in person. With the rapid growth of competition from other cinema chains, especially from multiplex cinemas showing the similar types of films found in White & White Theater Group programmes, nowadays the profits are falling day by day. At present, the top management is deeply

Indian Ocean Region Essay Example for Free

Indian Ocean Region Essay Change and Continuity of Commerce in the Indian Ocean Region from 650 CE to 1750 CE. The Indian Ocean has always been a powerful trading region, between East Africa and China, that has caused religion, crops, languages, and people to spread. Through the rise and fall of powerful land and sea empires, trade routes shifted and control switched hands numerous times over history. The goods have remained fairly constant, compared to the traders and the powers behind them that changed from 650 C.E. to 1750 C.E. Spices, textiles, manufactured goods, and raw goods were staples on the many of the routes that led from the coast of Zimbabwe all the way to the ports of China. Early traders from Polynesia even traveled to Madagascar. With the rise of Islam and of the Mongol Empire, overseas trade slowed slightly because of the importance of the Silk Road as the main connection between China and Europe. However, as the Mongols declined, the Indian Ocean trade became more important to the empires o r kingdoms of China and the regional powers of India. The Chinese Ming Dynasty engaged heavily in foreign trade and they displayed their wealth with giant treasure ships and junks that sailed the day from China through the port of Malacca to the east coast of India. The ships carried silk and porcelain, goods that were in high demand in Europe and Arabia. The ships also picked up spices and hardwoods from Southeast Asian islands. In India, the majority of these goods were sent on dhows to the Arabian Peninsula, stopping at major important ports like Aden, and then continuing on to East Africa and the Swahili Coast states of Mogadishu, Kilwa, and Sofala. The ships sailed according to the monsoons, they then returned loaded with gold and ivory from Africa, to China where the cycle would restart. Eventually states like Gujurat and Calicut grew in importance in manufacturing and the textile production of cotton. The powers around the Indian Ocean remained in control, until the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century. While Silk Road trade with Europe was thriving, Europeans wanted to cut out the Arab middlemen and get direct access to Asian goods. As the tools of navigation developed and new nation-states sought after trade and exploration, Portugal led the continent in the race to Asia. When Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498 by sailing around the tip of Africa, he was greeted with a mocking laughter of people he needed to trade with and was turned down most of the goods he had to trade. The powerful merchants of Gujarat and neighboring states were used to the highest quality goods so they did not want to trade with Gama’s poor quality goods. However, before long, Portugal took over almost all trade in the Indian Ocean, establishing ports like Goa in India and controlling strategic areas with their imperialistic manner. Around the same time, Britain also began its expansion and joined with joint-stock companies like the Dutch East India Company. They proceeded to dominate the region as well, taking land they thought suited their purposes. The sea empires and the cut off of foreign trade by the Ming dynasty did not greatly change the products traded, but did affect the overall trade system. Goods were now produced for the success of mercantilist people in European countries, not for the enrichment of local powers. While the trade routes and the goods that passed through them may not have been greatly changed, the impact of the European trading empires and the decline of nations like India and China changed who benefited from Indian Ocean trade and who were mostly involved.

Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist Identity Crisis of Post- 9/11 Pakistani-American Immigrants: A Study of Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist â€Å"Home is where your feet are, and may your heart be there too!† Uma Parmeshwaran Geographical dislocations and cross-blending of cultures often necessitate traumatic experiences for the immigrants. The multiplicity of ‘homes’, within conflictual boundaries, does not necessarily bridge this gap between ‘home’ –the culture of origin; and ‘world’ –the culture of adoption. Moreover, an unsettled migrant, ‘dwelling in displacement’, may find these two cultures becoming increasingly hostile to each other with the flow of time and space. Quite often, opportunities for work, trade, research and exploration has collectively motivated, both voluntary and involuntary, migration from the East to the West- accompanied by memories of one’s original ‘homeland’ and its history. After the early 1970s, large scale of immigration has shown a great mobility and adjustability, especially, from South Asia to America- a country who has stood on providing thicket of choices to the immigrants throughout the history. However, the twist of the 21st century brought about many changes in the world when September-11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon endangered the lives of Asian immigrants in the U.S., most specifically Muslims, than it was ever before. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak in her seminal essay, Terror: A Speech After 9/111, explicates that â€Å"the traditional left in the U.S. and in Europe has by and large understood the events of September 11 as a battle between fundamentalism and the failure of democracy†, owing to which, the identity of Pakistanis living abroad had become even more precarious. Many who were unable to defend their own set of beliefs and tried to escape from the chaos, were termed â€Å"Pakis’ and increasingly profiled as ‘potential terrorists’. Since Septmeber-11, one has visibly witnessed a new wave of xenophobia in public, resulting into the closing of borders and an irrational suspicion of the ‘Otherâ⠂¬â„¢. In order to negotiate this disruption in the experience of the diasporic Muslim identity in the West, and to investigate the issues of identity, cross-culturality, post 9/11 ‘return-to-home’ and other disaporic tropes, my study focuses on the work of Pakistani expatriate writer Mohsin Hamid’s semi-autobiographical novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007)2 a tale of an immigrant’s angst and alienation in post 9/11 scenario as he attempts to acclimate to an adoptive homeland. The novel unfolds over a period of a day as the Pakistani narrator, Changez, unspools his life story to the overt addressee, an unnamed American tourist, in a Lahore tea shop of Od Anarkali district. In a one-sided dialogue, Changez reminiscences in detail his experience of living in the United States. Hailing from a well-to-do Pakistani family, Changez excels at Princeton University and becomes â€Å"immediately a New Yorker† after being recruited as an analyst under the prestigious valuation firm, Underwood Samson. Meanwhile, he tumbles into a romantic relationship with a fellow Princeton graduate named Erica, who is consumed by the mythology which she has constructed around her deceased boyfriend. His sentiment of belonging to New York high society, however, begins to stall after the events of September-11 2001 and the following U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Over the ensuing years, ethnic slurs are tossed in his direction which ultimately act as a catalyst to expose Changez ’s â€Å"fundamental† self. Through the literary trope of migration, Hamid’s novel, in the backdrop of 9/11, illustrates a tale of dissolution and ‘return to home’, which becomes a vehicle for new understandings as the homeland is revalorised. Since September-11, 2001, identity politics and clash of cultures have acquired a special resonance in the public sphere of the Western societies, with regard to their diasporic population, particularly Muslim diasporas. According to Robin Cohen, diasporas are formed when considerable number of people move to a foreign land, either because of some mortifying experience or in search of economic opportunities. Muslim immigrants from South Asia, particularly Pakistan, have been living through a double pledge; on one hand they have to respond to the international political crises’ such as September-11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq etc., and on the other, they are categorized with the South Asian diasporic identity. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a narrative of the conflict embodied in the personal dilemma of its protagonist to come to terms with the post 9/11 America and the ‘new identity’ imposed upon him. The basic postulate of ‘melting-pot’ theory that the American culture places on its newly arrived immigrants is amply dynamic; stressing homogeneity on religious as well as ethnic level. Despite of his foreign appearance, Changez ‘merges with the crowd and achieves a new individualized form of social mobility’ by assimilating into the host culture (Cohen: 24). Both Erica and Jim (Underwood’s managing director), notice a â€Å"foreignness† in Changez’s mannerism and demeanour that gives him advantage over others. â€Å"You’re a watchful guy. You know where that comes from? It comes from feeling out of place†, remarks Chris. But this initial excitement over a cosmopolitan way of life in New York is replaced by disillus ionment and scepticism offered by the events that followed 9/11. After watching the attacks on the Twin Towers in his hotel room in Manila, Changez realizes that suddenly a new identity that of a terrorist-look-alike is imposed on him, when he is first strip-searched and interrogated at the airport on his arrival in America. His sense of belonging changes overnight when his foreign appearance becomes a sign of ‘otherness’ for his social environment in New York City. Also, Erica’s neurosis and sudden estrangement from Changez are to be equated with the panic-ridden American society’s doubts towards the loyalties of the Middle Eastern immigrant. This unexpected â€Å"troubled relationship with the host society, suggesting a lack of acceptance at the least’’ is what Cohen also informs as one of the â€Å"common features† of a diaspora (Cohen: 26) that leads the protagonist to a wider examination of his relationship with the adopted home land. September-11 has already set new forces into motion which are redefining the immigrant’s relation to nation, diaspora and homeland. Changez has a decisive attribute in his search for identity that connects him across the post 9/11 continuum. The realization that his job is exploiting developing nations like his own native land, Pakistan, weighs on his conscience and causes him to anticipate what it means to be a member of the U.S. elite meritocracy. The post 9/11 scenario compels him to think about his ethnicity which he wants to retain. Stuart Hall indicates that â€Å"identity is a structured representation which achieves its positive through the narrow eye of the negative†. Disillusioned and disoriented, Changez does not find his identity through solidarity, but through resistance to the dominant culture. The novel seems to make a case for a crucial reality on which personal identity is based, constructed on the notion of ‘home’. According to Safran, â€Å"idealization of the ancestral home and the idea of return† incorporate experiences of several dispersed people who may feel alien ated from the â€Å"host society†. After being verbally abused on several occasions, Changez starts identifying himself with his original roots as he believes that his ethnic identity has become a victim of ethnocentrism in the hands of Americans. Built on the fault lines of East West relations, the novel offers essential cognizance to ‘diaspoic tropes’, such as the beard and the janissary, which highlight Changez’s marginal condition.

Closing the Achievement Gap Essay -- Education, Minorities

Closing the Academic Achievement Gap Crisis in America The Achievement Gap in America has separated and divided America's youth into more or less, two different cultures of socioeconomic placement. The first being the predominantly Caucasian students at American elementary schools, high schools, and colleges that excel greatly in their education. Most of the time earning them middle to upper class jobs in the economy, the aforementioned group contrasts significantly with its opposite culture of American youth. The second culture, the population that is mostly made up of the minority races, takes it's place in the American education system as the population of students who are less interested in getting a decent education and taking advantage of the resources that are offered, for various underlying reasons. This in turn manufactures less people of this type of culture to be readily available for higher paying jobs, and often times unemployable for a job at all. The Achievement G ap in America is influenced by many cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that separate lower and higher achieving students based on these factors, and leave a high amount of unemployed Americans as a result, if not incarcerated or deceased. The first issue that has been identified as a significant problem involved in the Achievement gap, is that it is partially the fault of America's educational system. Because of the suffering economy that has spurred the increasing lack of basic necessities in schools across America, there are an increasing number of children who are not being properly educated. Whether it is a deficiency in supplies, poor teacher selection, or administration and staff who are indifferent to the students at their sch... ...ell can work together to solidify the learning environment for the student in need and create a better learner as a result. In conclusion, the Academic Achievement has been fueled by society's presets, minority students' lack of effort, and the failures of the schooling system in America. There has been some challenging setbacks, but the Gap can be fixed to create a common ground for all prospective members of America's society to excel on equally. By realizing that change can be achieved, there are little to no limits for minority students to create a better mindset towards education. Students, parents, and teachers have to be willing to work together, as well as tackle obstacles upheld by society, and the economic deficiencies that effect schools across America. This will, in turn, take America one step closer to closing the Academic Achievement Gap in America.

The Accuracy of Weather Prediction Essay -- Meteorology

The purpose of this paper is to explain the advances being made in technology and algorithms in helping advance the accuracy of forecasting. It will contrast the forecasting methods of several decades ago with forecasting methods in use today. In discussing how errors can accumulate over time and providing simple mathematical formulas as examples, this paper intends to show how the repetition of minor errors can affect the accuracy of weather predictions. Introduction Back in the days of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, weather observations were recorded daily but not hourly or by the minute. Such repetition of data didn’t seem useful. After the telegraph was invented which enabled information about weather data to be transmitted across the country, they still reported only once a day. In contrast to today's virtual world of weather, making 24/7 use of climate data from satellites, buoys in the oceans, the ability to record worldwide temperatures, worldwide rainfall records, track wind speeds, pressure pulses of solar wind, carbon dioxide levels, tornadoes and hurricanes...etc (Harris, 2012). An early pioneer of meteorology was Vilhelm Bjerknes, and his son Jacob, who described the lifecycle of the extratropical cyclone and shared his ideas for scientific weather forecasting. Bjerknes was disappointed over the unscientific methods of meteorology at the time, which, in contrast was making precise predictions in astronomy and meteorology as he felt, was at a standstill. His goal was to introduce scientific concepts to meteorology. According to Bjerknes, the two main ingredients in weather forecasting was knowledge of the atmosphere and accurate knowledge of the physical laws that govern it. Bjerknes identified: pressu... ...Went Wrong?.ncep.noaa.gov/nwp50/Presentations. Retrieved February 19, 2012, from www.ncep.noaa.gov/nwp50/Presentation NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory. (n.d.). NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory. Retrieved February 18, 2012, from http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/ Vanorsow. (2010, July 17). The Teaching Company User Community: View topic - 23. Prediction and Predictability. The Teaching Company User Community: Index. Retrieved February 18, 2012, from http://teachingcompany.12.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=3034 Weather Modeling and Prediction. (2011, May 16). NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Retrieved February 17, 2012, from http://www.oar.noaa.gov/weather/t_modeling.html The Weather Research&Forecasting Model Website. (n.d.). The Weather Research&Forecasting Model Website. Retrieved February 18, 2012, from http://wrf-model.org/index.php

Theories on Criminal Behavior

There are many theories that provide an explanation of criminal behavior. According to some theories, delinquent behavior is innate in an individual. Other theories say that crime is influenced by environmental, economic, and psychological aspects (University of North Texas, nd). Biological Theories According to the biological theories, criminals have a different physiological makeup from non-criminals. Their biological inferiority is what pushes them to resort to criminal activities.There had been multiple studies that attempts to find out if criminality is hereditary through analysis of family trees, identical and fraternal twins, statistics, and adopted children. However, these approaches have proved futile because they cannot distinguish hereditary from environmental influences (University of North Texas, nd). Contemporary researches, on the other hand, has discovered a wide array of biological factors that have direct or indirect connection with criminal or delinquent activities .Among them are lack of chemicals, minerals, and vitamins in the food they eat, sugar and carbohydrates-rich food, and hypoglycemia. Exposure to radiation, dysfunctions in the brain, and swallowing of food dyes and lead also play an important role in criminal behaviors. Likewise, criminal acts have something to do with hormonal abnormalities, particularly those that are connected with testosterone (the male sex hormone) and progesterone and estrogen (the sex hormones related to female). By injecting estrogen to male sex offenders would minimize their sexual drives(University of North Texas, nd).In addition, biological theorists likewise believe that the interplay of biological, environmental and social conditions can have an effect on criminal behavior. The genetic makeup of the criminal gives them a predisposition to act in a certain manner. The environmental and social conditions determines the actual behavior as well as the definition of that act(University of North Texas, nd). P sychological Theories The belief that criminal behavior is caused by low intelligence gained ground in the United States.In order to prove this view, a study was conducted in 1931 and reached a zero correlation between the intelligence of an individual and criminal behavior(University of North Texas, nd). According to Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, criminal behaviors are associated with psychopaths or those who have internal problems that have been unresolved. Psychopaths are people who are rules by senseless guilt, subjective conscience, and no do not know how to distinguish right from wrong. In general, they find it hard to establish relationships with other people and do not know how to be emphatic(University of North Texas, nd).Sociological TheoriesAccording to sociologists, how people behave is determined by the social group as well as the social structure. The conditions of their society may cause them to commit crimes and delinquency(University of North Texas, nd).Sub-cultural Theory of DelinquencyIn the 1920s, the Chicago School, composed of sociologists, attempted to discover the connection between the crime rate of a community and its characteristics. According to this theory, social disorganization can take place in a neighborhood where the rate of delinquency is high.Social disorganization takes place when:1) there is absence of delinquency control;2) the criminal behavior is most of the time with the consent of parents as well as the community;3) the opportunity for delinquency presents itself; 4) there is minimal encouragement, training, or possibility for legal employment(University of North Texas, nd).Anomie TheoryThis theory was proposed by Robert Merton in 1938. Anomie explains the major difference between the cultural objectives and social structure of the United States. People experience strain as a result of their limited access to legal means of achieving wealth.In order to cope up with this inadequacy, people accumulate we alth through illegal methods as well as through conformity. Other forms of adaptation, according to the anomie theory, include ritualism, wherein the individual does not pursue the wealth actively, and rebellion, where the individual does not accept both the goal of the wealth as well as the legal means of obtaining it(University of North Texas, nd).Differential AssociationThis theory, introduced by Edwin Sutherland, is one of the major beliefs that explains the causes of criminal behavior.According to Sutherland, criminal behavior takes place because the delinquent individual has been exposed to criminal elements and isolated from anti-criminal patterns(University of North Texas, nd).Social Learning TheoryAccording to the principles of learning theory, the best way to approach criminality is to implement policies that would effectively punish criminals. Sadly, this is not being implemented in the United States. At present, the delinquent individual is usually not incarcerated and r eturned to the same community where they have been exposed to criminal behavior.Likewise, the method of punishment lacks consistency and is not immediately implemented. Alternative or prosocial behaviors is not rewarded with positive reinforcement(University of North Texas, nd).Social Control TheoryThe social control theory does not attempt to uncover the reasons why criminal behavior is committed but rather focuses on why people conform and accept these behaviors(University of North Texas, nd). Travis Hirschi, in his 1969 book Causes of Delinquency, provides a comprehensive presentation of contemporary social control theory.In his book, Hirschi concluded that delinquent behavior is likely unless the offender is exposed in a society that is characterized by attachment to other people, commitment to traditional means of action, involvement in usual activities, and concurrence to moral order and law(University of North Texas, nd). Moreover, Hirschi explained that the leading cause of delinquency is ineffective child rearing, which results to individuals with low self-control(University of North Texas, nd).Labeling TheoryThis theory places emphasis on the criminalization process itself as the reason for some crimes.The criminalization process refers to the definition of criminals and delinquent behavior. According to the labeling theory, the first time a person commits a delinquent act and gets punished by the criminal system, they are already viewed as a criminal and it eventually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy(University of North Texas, nd).Conflict TheoryThis theory delves on the struggle between rich and poor, management and employees, majority and minority group. According to the conflict theory, society involves conflicts between rival interest groups and that the law and justice system functions in order to control subordinate groups.Crime results from the lack of power(University of North Texas, nd).Radical/Marxist TheoryAccording to this theory, capi talism demands competition of people in order to gain material wealth. Because of the uneven distribution of wealth, people have taken advantage of people who are less powerful than them as they accumulate wealth(University of North Texas, nd). According to the radical theory, criminal behavior is caused by what Marx calls class struggle (University of North Texas, nd).Real Life Cases of Criminal Behavior For a period of two years, FBI Special Agent Robert Hazelwood and Janet Warren from the University of Virginia’s Institute of Psychiatry and Law conducted interviews of 41 men who were convicted for the rape of 837 victims. Based on the interviews, 55-61% of the criminals committed premeditated rape during the first, middle, and final act. 15 – 22% of the criminals said that their acts were results of their impulse while 22 – 24% said that the opportunity to rape presented itself(Hazelwood & Warren, 1990).According to Janet Warren from the University of Virgini a, there are methods of sexual attacks on women. The first one is called the ‘con’ approach. In this method, the rapist openly talks to their victims and asks if they can do anything to help them. As soon as the victim is within their control, that is the time they perpetrate their evil plans. This was the case used by one of the interviewed rapists named John, who was responsible for raping 20 victims(Hazelwood & Warren, 1990). The second method used by rapist is the ‘blitz.Here the rapist physically assaults their victims by using chemicals or gases. Most of the times, however, they use their strength to overpower the woman. This was the case of 28 year-old Phil, who raped one of his victims in a vehicle(Hazelwood & Warren, 1990). Finally, the third method is the ‘surprise. ’ In this approach, the rapist pre-selects their would-be victim. The physical assault is perpetrated by the offender waiting for the woman. Weapons, such as guns or knives, as w ell as threats are involved in the surprise approach. 24-year old Sam chooses his victims by observing her patterns.He was able to rape 20 victims before he was caught(Hazelwood & Warren, 1990).ConclusionThere are many theories that explain the reasons why people resort to criminal behaviors. The causes of criminality may be psychological, social, or biological.ReferencesExplaining Crime. University of North Texas. Retrieved July 21 2008 from http://www. unt. edu/cjus/Course_Pages/CJUS_2100/2100chapter3. pptHazelwood, R. , & Warren, J(February 1990). The Criminal Behavior of the Serial Rapist. Holysmoke. Org. Retrieved July 21 2008 from http://www. holysmoke. org/fem/fem0126. htm

Colorism: Black People and African American Culture Essay

Colorism is a type of discrimination in which humans of the same race are treated or treat each other differently because of the social connotations that have been attached to shade of their skin. It exists in almost every race, but it is most predominant in the African American culture within the borders of The United States. Colorism in the United States is rooted back to slavery and ever since then it has corrupted the minds of the black community. Colorism between African Americans was no mistake; it was done purposefully to divide the African slave population to make them easier to control. A man by the name of Willie Lynch gave a speech in Virginia 1712 about how to control slaves. In this speech he stated, â€Å"I use fear, distrust, and envy for control purposes. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies, and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple little test of differences and think about them. On the top of my list is ‘Age’, but it is there because it only starts with an ‘A’; the second is ‘Color’ or shade; there is intelligence, size, sex, size of plantations, attitude of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, East, West, North, South, have fine or coarse hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you an outline of action–but before that, I shall assure you that distrust is stronger than trust, and envy is stronger than adulation, respect, or admiration. † Willie Lynch was a smart man with a very insidious agenda that he flawlessly completed. He knew the power of distrust, he knew how to use it to his advantage, and he knew that all he had to do was plant the seed in to the minds of the slaves and it would grow and blossom all on its own and live for many years to come. From his speech stems the terms â€Å"light skinned†, â€Å"dark skinned† and â€Å"good hair†. African American culture even today, three hundred years after this speech was given, is still being led to believe that having lighter skin in some way makes you a better than someone who has slightly darker skin. From the land that holds the famous motto â€Å"All men are created equal† oddly is the same place where people of the same race discriminate against their own people. In â€Å"The Color Complex† by Midge Wilson, she tackles the issue by tracking down the birthplace of colorism, â€Å"To trace the origins of the color complex, we must return to the year 1607 when three ships sailed in Chesapeake Bay, stopping at Jamestown, Virginia, to establish the first English colony in the New World. . . . What might have been unthinkable in Europe and Africa was an everyday occurrence in the wilderness. Miscegenation, or race mixing, became widespread as Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans mixed their seed and substance to produce a kaleidoscope of skin tones and features. But these primary race groupings differed sharply in their civil liberties and political freedoms. Subtle variations in appearance took on enormous consequences in meaning, especially among Negros,† (Wilson, pg. 9). The black community has let this issue open the doors for so much ignorance for hundreds of years. The effects of this have seeped into some of the most important organizations that delineate the black community, such as the NAACP, Jack and Jill, and renowned black Sororities and Fraternities.

Company law Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 14250 words

Company law - Dissertation Example Such intrusion takes place, only when it is evident that there is mala fide intent in the decisions of the directors. This is in accordance with section 306 of the Companies Act 2006. Although, section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006 influences the general duties of the directors of a company; it has been seen to result in legal uncertainty, regarding their general duties. This is due to the absence of an exhaustive list of the duties to be discharged by the directors. Apparently, this bestows widespread discretionary powers upon directors. This wide discretion has been provided by the statute for the purpose of conducting the affairs of the company in a congenial manner. However, under certain circumstances, such discretionary power can be misused by the directors of a company, in order to further their personal interests. This had transpired in Hawkes v Cuddy & Others.1 A codification of some of the duties of the directors of a company was effected by the Companies Act 2006. Insta nces are the codification of the common law duty of care and skill, by section 174(1) of the Companies Act 2006. A very important feature of the codification of directors’ duties relates to the fact that not all of the directors’ duties have been codified.2Directors’ duties codified by the Companies Act 2006 are their principal fiduciary duties and the duty of care and skill. ... ector is required to comply with all of these duties.3 It is apparent from the various law reports that section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, merely effects a codification of the obligations of directors under the common law. In Re Southern Counties Fresh Foods Ltd,4 the court made a comparison between the previous wording and the new form after codification.5Prior to the 2006 Act, there was no material difference in this position. This was clarified in Re Smith and Fawcett Ltd.6 The shareholders of a company can sue a director of their company, for breach of duty towards the company.7 Prior to the enactment of the Companies Act 2006, shareholders had to obtain the permission of the board of directors of their company, if they were desirous of initiating legal action against a director of their company. This inequitable situation was rectified to some extent, subsequent to the enactment of the Act, which permits shareholders to bring in derivative action against a director of their company. It is no longer necessary to obtain the prior permission of the board of directors of the company, to bring such derivative action. The business judgement rule absolves directors of liability for the decision taken by them, if these decisions had been taken in good faith, with due care and within their powers.8 A director’s liability will be absolved, if he had taken the concerned decision with due care and diligence. However, there is every possibility that the director may exceed the limits of his authority, in taking such decisions. In Lonrho Ltd v Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd 9, the House of Lords stressed upon the importance of the duty of directors towards the company. In Re Horsley & Weight Ltd 10 it was held that the directors owed a duty towards creditors. This was a novel

Therapy Dog Visits Cancer Patients at Cone Health Assignment

Therapy Dog Visits Cancer Patients at Cone Health - Assignment Example The patients have the opportunity to hold the dog, which reminds her of her dog pet that she left at home. Animal-therapy is a topic that has gained a lot of attention within the contemporary topic about the human-animal relationship and how each party can benefit. This news item shows how close human beings and animals can be and how the two species can mutually benefit from one another. The reason I picked this article is its implication to the hope of reviving the bond between human beings and animals. As more people find consolation in their domestic animals, it becomes clear that it is possible to form even close bonds that will uphold the dignity of both animals and human beings. This brings a completely new image different from one created by the use of animals as test species that researchers use to develop a cure for the human ailment. Earlier on, medical experts have used animals to test for experimental drugs, leading to the death of many animals. This article is linked to the idea of bringing animals and human beings close, an important topic in the contemporary studies.

Geography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Geography - Essay Example now an ever-present danger of homogeneity and important cultural aspects of a nation are being gradually replaced such as the national language that is slowly being replaced by English. Europe today is considered an old continent in demographic terms. Most of European nations suffer from slower birth rates and longer lifespans due to advances in medicine. These two factors combined to make most European nations suffer from declining populations with profound implications for economic growth, its pension system and competitiveness. There is now a growing backlash against immigration to Europe from the outside as it undermines the respective national identities. This makes multi-culturalism a very tricky issue with most host countries. The recent killings in Oslo, Norway is symptomatic of the cultural clashes in which Europe is being gradually Islamized by the tide of immigrants who are attracted to Europes progressivism in its social, political and economic policies (Hegghammer 1). Asylum seekers abuse these policies and claim asylum status although not qualified; many immigrants simply want to avail the generous benefits provided by European countries. Some call fo r a counter-jihad. Recent internal migrations from those poorer countries do not solve overall population decline. Europe does not have a common culture except perhaps its social democracy today. Essay 2 – the breakup of the USSR and the collapse of the Soviet communist system has profound effects on its economy and culture. The shift towards the capitalist free-market economic system has left many former members of the Russian Domain struggling to adjust. Some countries that were lucky enough to have natural resources are benefiting from the new liberalization and privatization programs implemented to attract foreign direct investments to their countries. Examples are Ukraine (with a good agricultural economy and a manufacturing base that is quite robust) and some Central Asian countries like

Who are the decision makers in the European Union Essay

Who are the decision makers in the European Union - Essay Example The spirit behind formation of the trading block was that countries with high trade interdependence had higher chances of being peaceful. The goal was to establish peace, stability and prosperity among member countries for improved living standards (Europa, 2013). Since its formation, the trade block has undergone significant changes from an economic trade block to a political organization overseeing policy issues affecting economic, political and environmental issues in the region and beyond. Some of the noticeable transformations the EU has undergone include change from European Economic Community to European Union - EU in 1993. Currently, the membership has increased to 27 members drawn from the Euro zone. Most significant of all these changes is the level of development in decision making in matters pertinent to the region and global trade. Decision making has been strengthened by strict adherence to the rule of law, Constitution for Europe, treaties and establishment of strong d ecision making institutions. Some of the key decision making institutions within the EU are; The European Commission, The European Parliament, European Central Bank (ECB), European Council, The Council of European Union, Presidency of EU council among other bodies (Europa, 2013). Mungersdorff (2009) noted that the co-decision procedure is often a rule other than an exception where the European Commission, the European Parliament, The Council of EU and ECB are key decision making institutions of the EU. This paper primarily focus the main decision making organs of the EU and the politics behind that tend to strengthen the trade block in its quest to achieve its vision and mission. The analysis covers the country and regional levels of influence in the decision making process. Subsequent sections of this paper discuss the decision makers in economic, political, social, environmental and arbitration issues affecting the trade block. Decision making in EU is spread across several bodies mandated to oversee specialized functions and operations in harmionising and facilitating operations in the world’s most effective trading block. The paper operates each of the EU bodies mandated to oversee trade, legal, political, justice among other aspects in the trading block and how these bodies work alongside others to support EU in all its functions. Objectives of the European Union The main objectives of the European Union are â€Å"to promote peace, the Union’s values and well-being of its peoples (Europa, 2013).† They are explained in detailed in Article 1 – 3 of the Constitutional Treaty, which outlines both the internal and external objectives of the Union. Decision Making Institutions in EU The Constitutional Treaty of the EU provides a multi-level decision making process where different institutions are involved. Actors in these organizations are drawn from the region as well as from persons from member countries. The decision making struct ures exhibit a high level of interdependence where intra and cross-institutional alliances, as opposed to long-term coalitions is pronounced (Cini and Borragan, 2010; Mongersdorff, 2009; Thomson, Boerefijn and Stokman, 2004). Key decision making EU bodies include; The European Commission, The European Parliament, The European Council, European Central Bank (ECB), European Investment Bank, Council of European Union, EU Court of Justice and the EU presidency. The institutions work closely with other bodies and organizations of the EU including the European Ombudsman, European Court of Auditors, European External Action Service, European Economic and Social Committee,

The Effect of Media on Audience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Effect of Media on Audience - Essay Example I will use the subject to the subject model in comparing how the two articles answer to the effect of video gaming to the individuals playing them and to the whole society at large. In the first article, most research studies show that playing anti-social video games for instance; violent ones lead to violent behaviors and aggression by the individuals who play such games. This is because in playing these video games, one is actively involved in it and hence will tend to behave in the manner in which he plays. Another reason is that individuals who play violent video games normally identify with the violent character and so they will also behave aggressively. The violent games also reward violent behaviors as those who are violent in playing are rewarded by points, are allowed to move to the next stage or through spoken praise for instance ‘Great shot!’ after murdering the opponent. This reward ensures there are increases in the frequency of violence. This is proven thro ugh a study in which boys were seen to be more aggressive after playing an intense video game. For instance, â€Å"In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology this year, participants played either a violent or non-violent video game for 20 minutes per day over 3 days. After playing the game, they then played a competitive task in which, if they won, they could blast their opponent with an unpleasant noise. The researchers found that participants who played violent games blasted their opponents in the secondary task for longer, which was interpreted as an increase in aggressive behavior† (Silvia 54). According to Clay Routledge, a psychologist, if violent games can cause aggression and violent behavior then it goes without saying that prosocial video games such as tit for tat games can lead to prosocial behavior. Prosocial means behavior that will have positive effects on the society.