Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 12

Terrorism - Essay Example Fifth, the group may also be in pursuit of boosting itself. For ensuing struggle, the group may stage attacks to motivate itself. Sixth, they may be attempting to counter a government’s military power. This exposes the weaknesses of the government. Lastly, they may be attempting to take advantage of a unique historical opportunity. Such opportunities determine the existence of the group in future. According to O’Ballance, there are six characteristics of a successful terrorist. Firstly, they are dedicated to a belief of cause and follow the uncompromising demands of terrorism unconditionally. Secondly, they are always willing to sacrifice themselves since terrorism is dangerous and the individual can be killed at any instance (O’Ballance, 1979). Thirdly, they have an ability to repress emotions because they are usually required to commit heinous crimes such as killing innocent people. Fourthly, they have high intelligence because planning of attacks requires intelligence and cannot be conducted by anyone. Fifthly, education is critical because their missions demand unsuspicious travelling to foreign countries. Lastly, they have access to required resources that include money to use in travelling. Groupthink is a form of collective thinking that provides the terrorists with an opportunity to acquire the mindset of the organization. The main symptoms involved include invulnerability feeling, certainty of organization’s morality, intolerance with regard to internal dissent, and viewing the enemy as simply evil (Holmes & McConville,

Hybrid Cars Essay Example for Free

Hybrid Cars Essay Americans today do not realize that hybrid cars are not cost efficient to buy. This is caused by many factors, many having to do with price of production and gas prices. The cost of production for many hybrid cars is too high causing the car to be to expensive for consumers to buy. They end up paying so much more for a car that promises to save them money. These cars turn end up not fulfilling that promise and leaving people short on cash. It is true that a hybrid car will save money at the pump, but not enough to cover the cost of buying and maintaining the car itself. Gas prices are another reason why these cars arent worth it. The prices of gas today are around 3 dollars which is nearing a record high. Even with prices this high, people will not save enough money with less gas consumption to cover the extra costs of owning such a high maintenance and highly complex car. The math works out that spending more on a hybrid car over a similar small car will end up costing the owner more money. The only way to make the car cost efficient would be to own it for an abnormally long period of time, which most people do not do. Many people are not willing to pay this extra money on a car that is supposed to be good for the environment, but some people do. Hybrid cars are better for the environment because they produce less greenhouse gasses. These are the emissions that specifically hurt the layers of the atmosphere and are among other emissions that are bad for our earth. Hybrid cars burn less fuel and they burn it cleaner, so they produce less exhaust that can potentially cause smog in cities like Chicago, or that can hurt the atmospheric layers such as the ozone layer that so many people talk about being in danger. To some people, the extra cost of owning one of these vehicles is worth helping the environment, but to most it is not. People want fast cars that are fun to drive and that get decent gas mileage. Or a mom might want a van that can haul a lot of people and weight and still get decent gas mileage. A dad would want a truck that can pull a heavy load and do the heavy duty work and wouldnt care about gas mileage. All of these are reasons why people dont want a small, meek, gas sipping hybrid. The first thing that makes most people shy away from buying a hybrid car is the price tag. They see that extra five or six thousand dollars and they say, NO! People want a durable car that gets good gas mileage and has room for a family and that is safe. All of these features can be purchased on a regular car that costs much less than a hybrid. The perfect example for this is the Honda Civic. This car comes in many trim levels, one for each type of consumer, minus the person looking for the truck. The Civic Sedan, a four door car with room for five people, starts at 15k and is the perfect car for a small family. This car gets 30mpg city and 40mpg highway which is very good by todays standards. The Civic Hybrid, the same size as the Civic Sedan, costs 22k, thats 7 thousand more, and gets an increase of only 19mpg city and 11mpg highway. This means that they would not save enough money on gas to cover the 7k increase in price in under 10 years. Since the car gets better gas mileage, one would go to the pump less, but not enough to save that much money. The third is the Civic Si, this is the sporty version of the Civic that only comes with a manual transmission and is very quick. This car costs 21k, one thousand less than the hybrid. It is much faster is only has two doors. This car gets 23mpg city and 32mpg highway, not much worse than the Civic Sedan or hybrid, and is much faster and more fun. Why would a student pay one thousand dollars more for a car that is slower and more boring when the mileage increase isnt that much, they wouldnt. People want fun cars that get the job done and the Civic does that with great gas mileage and a low price, without having to be a hybrid car. Another example of this concept is the Toyota Camry. This is the best selling family sized sedan in the United States. This car comes in many trim levels but the ones we will look at are the base Camry and the base Camry Hybrid. For 2007 this car got a gorgeous remodel as well as a new engine in the base Camry and they added the Hybrid model. The base Toyota Camry costs 18k and has many features needed for a small family to fit in the car along with a lot of luggage. Do not be confused though, this car can be seen driving down the road pimped out with 20 (thats really big) rims and banging sound systems by college guys. It can also be seen with pick stickers and fuzzy dice in the window being driven by a couple college girls on the way to the beach. This is a very pretty, versatile car. The base Camry gets 24mpg city and 34 mpg highway. This is very good for a full sized car and will get the owner a long distance before having to refill the tank. The Camry Hybrid costs a pretty penny, but some say its worth it. This car gets 16mpg more city and 4mpg more highway than the base Camry. The huge gain in city mileage is due to the way Toyota makes their hybrid cars. They have the ability to switch fully from electric to gas power whereas the Honda Hybrid drive train can only go from minimal usage of each, but never fully switches. Toyotas is called Hybrid Synergy Drive and uses the electric engine most when accelerating and charges the batter when braking. The braking actually charges the battery more than the gas engine, so the car is able to shine when driving around the city because of the constant starting and stopping, the car uses almost fully the electric engine. This is why the Toyota Camry Hybrid gets such good gas mileage in the city. Lets face it though, a car that big wont be found driving around the city, most people will be office executives taking long drives from offices to home or to customers and they will not benefit as much. The Camry Hybrid only gains 4mpg over the base Camry on the highway so many people do not agree with spending eight thousand dollars more for the hybrid. This is definitely not cost efficient for the owner. People will like the 18k price of the base Camry because it comes with so many standard options and is ready to fulfill any soccer moms fantasy. When talking about Hybrid cars, there is one that stands above the rest in durability, functionality, style, price, and ability to save gas. That car is the Toyota Prius. This car could be the only argument one could make against this paper. It costs 22k and it does not come with a non hybrid counterpart. This car does cost more than say, a Corolla, but it has more room than a Corolla, and slightly less room than a Camry. It is in a class of its own and its only close competitor is the Honda Insight. The Prius is able to get 60mpg city and 51mpg highway. This is the best mpg rating of any production car and it actually is selling. You can see a Toyota Prius on just about any trip that you take and it does have unique styling that always turns heads. Although it costs more, the mpg rating of this car are almost double that of the nearest non hybrid competitor making it almost worth the extra price tag. However, the cost of maintaining such a highly complex car is greater than that of the base Civic or Corolla and will end up costing more. The Honda Insight, the other close competitor, costs 21k and gets 60mpg city and 66mpg highway. Those numbers were only the estimated numbers and consumers found them to be too high and actually got less mileage than that. Also, Honda doesnt make this car anymore so a customer would only be able to buy it used. These cars all shown, people will not save money on buying a hybrid car. The gas prices right now are not high enough to allow people to save money at the pump if they own a hybrid car. They will get better gas mileage and they will go to the pump less but they are only saving a small amount of money each year. If somebody spends 30 dollars every two weeks on gas in a regular car, that would cost them about 780 dollars a year. A hybrid car could probably go an extra week without needing gas so that would cost them 520 dollars a year on gas. They would be saving a mere 260 dollars a year on gas. If the hybrid car costs 7k more, then they would need to have the car for about 26 years to cover the extra cost of the car. No way would somebody own a car for that long this day and age. That is only covering the cost of the actually sticker price and not the extra costs of owning the vehicle, like fixing it and stuff, which would have to be done since the car would need to get fixed in the 26 year period. Many websites do a calculation of the cars which would be the lowest true cost to own. One website listed the Prius and the Camry Hybrid under their list of cars costing around 25k that would be the lowest true cost to own. This is excluding how long one would own the car for and how high the gas prices are. Also they did not list any hybrid under the coupes which are lowest cost to own and they dont say customer reviews on how fun these cars are to drive. The fact is that most people do no see it necessary to buy a car that costs so much more when they could get a car for less money that will cost them less money in the long run. People also want fun cars that will cost the same, but be much more fun to drive, even though they arent amazing at gas mileage, they still succeed in getting decent gas mileage, so people buy them. Also the hybrid drive train is not good for hauling heavy loads that is why there arent many pickup truck hybrids out there if any. Hybrid cars may cost more causing people to shy away from buying them, but they are better for the environment. People dont realize that driving a car can be the largest form of pollution. We drive by a paper mill and see all the smoke coming out of the stacks and say to ourselves how bad that must be for the air. Meanwhile we are sitting in a car, that when grouped up with many cars, is much worse than the thing we are complaining about. Pollution from cars causes smog, which deteriorates the ozone layers closest to us. This can cause for major extremes of hot and cold in the seasons. The atmosphere helps moderate the temperatures on earth by holding in heat during the winter and shielding out heat during the summer. Big cities have problems with smog which is a constant haze in the air caused by so many cars in one place emitting gasses bad for the environment. Cars also have toxins in their exhaust that can cause acid rain or global warming, and even cause cancer in some people. The water supply on earth is never growing or shrinking, the water we have is all that we get. When there is acid rain, that water has to go somewhere and may sometimes end up in drinking water or people who have wells might take showers in it. This is how it can cause cancer in as many as 1,500 people a year. There are many bad gasses that come from motor vehicles, but the three main ones are hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. Hydrocarbons react with nitrogen. The best times for this to happen are in the summer when there is lots of sunlight and really high temperatures. This reaction causes something called ground level ozone. This is a type of gas that is supposed to be in the atmosphere but is in our breathing air. This can cause many things such as eye irritation, wheezing, and even permanent lung damage. Nitrogen Oxides also cause the formation of ground level ozone and are major factors in causing acid rain and water pollution. Finally, carbon monoxide, which is an odorless and invisible gas, causes a slowing of oxygen in the bloodstream which can impair ones senses and cause permanent mental damage. Cars are responsible for around 90 percent of the carbon monoxide in the air in most urban areas. All of these gasses can be reduced by driving a hybrid car, but the best way to reduce them is public transportation. Studies show that a person who uses mass transit, such as buses or subways, for a year, instead of driving to work, can keep about 9.1 lbs of hydrocarbons, 62.5 lbs or carbon monoxides, and 4.9 lbs of nitrogen oxides from being put into the air (Emissions). Other ways of reducing pollution from cars in the air are things such as driving at steady speeds, buying newer cars that have fewer bad emissions, keeping your car in good running condition, or even not topping off at the pump. People can help the environment by buying a hybrid car, but that isnt the best way. Using public transportation or even riding a bike if possible, would do a lot more good, and save somebody a lot of money. By using public transportation and by carpooling, people can save an estimated three thousand dollars a year (Emissions). Other numbers show that idling and stop and go traffic alone use 753 millions of gallons of gasoline per year (Emissions). People dont realize how much better it would be to just use public transportation. Instead, we want to go on our own schedules and have the freedom to go where we want when we want, and that costs money and causes pollution. The cost of a hybrid car over a regular car is too much. People will not buy a hybrid car when they can get a vehicle with very good gas mileage for much less money. They can get all the bells and whistles of a hybrid but spend around seven thousand less. Teenagers dont want a slow gas sipping car, they want a fast car with a loud exhaust. They cant get this from a hybrid car so they wouldnt spend the money to buy a slow hybrid when they could have a fast sports car. A dad needs his truck to haul stuff around and hybrid cars dont offer that. The mom needs the van to have a safe car for her family that can fit them and their luggage. The cost of gas prices right now is not nearly high enough to benefit the consumer who owns a hybrid car. There is some small benefit, about 300 dollars a year, but that would take 20 years to equal just the increased price of owning a hybrid, not to mention the added costs of the upkeep of such a complex car. People want the lowest price with the best package, and hybrid cars dont offer that. While they do offer benefits to the environment, people dont realize how important the environment is and they wont spend the extra money for benefits they wont see in their lifetime. Overall the hybrid car is not worth buying because the cost is just too great. Not only is it not worth it, but people are not buying them enough to make a difference to the environment anyways, further diminishing their value. Hybrid cars are not worth buying right now and will not be for many years to come.

Car Safety :: essays research papers fc

CAR SAFETY Active and Passive: Car safety features are grouped into two categories: Active and Passive. Active feature are designed to reduce the likelihood of a crash. Things such as tires, brakes, lights and steering are active features. The most important of all of them however is the driver.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Passive safety features aim to reduce the damage done to a car’s occupants in the event of a crash. These include things like seatbelts, airbags, and crumple zones.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For all these features any car can still crash so this report aims to make you more aware of the safety aspects of modern cars and what role they play in driving. Active Safety Features Brakes:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The brakes play one of the most important roles in overall safety and so it important that they are reliable and durable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A good braking system always stops the car in the minimum distance possible while remaining stable, have a constant response which is consistent with brake pedal pressure and let you easily control the car while braking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disk and drum brakes are the two types used in cars. Drum brakes are very good to have on your rear axel but not as effective on the front where better balance and heat dissipation is a must.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heat dissipation is the brakes ability to get rid of the immense amount of heat created by the friction between the brake surface and frictional pads. This is very important since it reduces the amount of friction that can be applied (brake fade) and it can boil the brake fluid rendering the brakes completely useless.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disk brakes can dissipate heat much more effectively and therefore are much better when you brake often or at high speeds. The best disk brakes are ventilated. ABS:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is a system which stops the wheels locking up into a skid when braking on slippery surfaces. It works by using a computer which monitors wheel speeds and drives pistons which alternatively increases and decrease brake pressure several time a second on individual wheels when it senses they are about to lock up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Preventing skidding during braking increases the drivers control of the car and greatly reduces the chance of a crash. Stability and Handling:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A car with good handling and stability is much safer to drive than a poorly designed one. This is because it grips better and is more responsive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Good stability and handling is achieved with a combination of suspension, steering, acceleration, brakes and weight distribution.

Leading

Identify how the management works on the contemporary Issues In leadership Developing trust Build up a good trust is very important in Catchy Pacific and its departments. It can make every leader like a model or standard to their employees, so leader must be honesty, ability, good Judgment or willingness to share ideas with every employee; it can keep a good relationship between employers and employees.So, a good leader can show the positive Image and able to Inspire other employees. Catchy Pacific Is able to take responsibility to the social (charitable and donation or sustainable development) and able to build up a good trust to its passenger (provide well services, no delete) and employees (benefits and profits). Empowering employees Employee empowerment Is a strategy and philosophy that employees can make decisions about their Jobs.It helps employees own their work and take responsibility for their results. Top Manager in Catchy Pacific are giving their authority or empowerment t o the front-line managers such as customer service manager and subordinates employees such as flight attendant to make decisions of some unimportant things, such as Andre customers' complain with solve the problem or give some discount to the loyalty customer etc.The benefits of empowering employees can quicker responses to problems and solving the problems; and faster decision as subordinates employees do not need to report to their upper manager, it can be save more time and effectiveness and increased spans of control to address other problems, such as how to enhance the company profits.Cross-cultural leadership Cross-cultural leadership is deferent nationalities leader has different leadership performance to managing their employees. Catchy Pacific Airlines Is an International alertness company. It was 22, 200 different nationalities employees In the world (until August 2014) that would be a multiple cultural background in the company. The top manager level since the chairman of John Solar is an American; the CEO of Ivan Chug is a Chinese.For example, southerner American leading a group of from the northern American would be exercising cross-cultural leadership because of regional differences In However, a Korean leader managing a group of Korean employees in Seoul and a group of Korean employees in Bangkok may not be engaging in cross-cultural leadership because the leader and the led are separated by physical space and not y cognitive space. Gender differences and leadership There are male/female differences in managing positions in leadership.

Kathak and Social Communication Essay

Social Science and Communication ‘Kathak’ is one of the most popular forms of Indian classical dance. We have grown up watching it in movies from UmraoJaanuptoDevdas. Most young girls in India even start learning kathak right from the tender age of 5 years. However is kathak just a simple cultural product of the country that can be counted among the artistic treasures of this land or is there a larger understanding to the same? Through this article we shall travel through the journey of time and see how a thing as simple and pure as an ancient dance form can tell us the stories of the cultural, religious, political transformations of the country. The Fifth Veda Traditionally the Hindu society was divided in five varnas – Brahmins (intellectuals), Kshatriya (warriors), vaishya (merchants), shudra (manual labourers), achoot (untouchables). The purpose of this form of division was to have a more organized society by distributing it on basis of the type of work performed. However with time this became a hierarchical division of the society which led to oppression of the lower caste (shudra& untouchables) by the upper caste members. In this entire struggle for power the holy hindu scriptures (the Vedas) remained as the sole possession of the Brahmins or the educated class. Any attempt to even touch these holy texts by members of the lower caste was considered a crime. Even our holy text of Ramayana narrates an incident where lord Ram (mariyadapurushottam) chops of the head of a person from the lower caste when he attempts to read the Vedas. The shudra’s were forbidden to listen to these puranas (holy texts). (Massey, 1999) It’s believed that looking at this state of the society gods asked Lord Brahma to devise something which would be accessible to all and bind this society together. This is how the fifth veda or Natya Veda was born. The Hindu epics have stories of brahma teaching Bharata (the then king of Bharat what we know as India) the Natya Veda and later his 100 sons became the authorities of music, dance and drama. The Bharat NatyaShashtra has been variously dated from 2nd century BC to 3rd century AD. This Veda was common for all sections of society and all genders. Stories and teaching were told through dance. This is where we saw the birth of Kathak as a dance form. Kathak Kathak is derived from the root word Katha which means story. Kathak as a dance form was used to narrate stories mainly mythological stories primarily for the function of educating people. This was the only form in which people of all castes and genders could share their learning. This dance form was spread far and wide through abhinayawhich meaning ‘a carrying to the spectators’. This form of dance contained various components:(Massey, 1999) Kathak Abhinaya Sentiment and Mood Pure Dance Dramatic Element Vachik: poetry, song, recitation, music and rhythm Aharya: costume, make-up, jewellery Satvik: physical manifestation of mental and emotional states Angik: gestures of the body Nritya Nritta Natya Caste Politics The Hindu caste divide that Kathak tried to dissolve eventually took another form of dominations. The Brahmins saw this movement as a loss of their supremacy and power; hence they brought in another angle to the same. According to the Brahmins since dance was nothing but another form of worshiping god they had the supreme say in these matters. The social anthropology of Kathak dancers in history is thus highly fascinating as it got equated to the priestly caste and even the kathak gurus in the northern belt of india represented the Brahmin status.(Booth, 2005) The Brahmins not only separated this form of dance from its core purpose of binding people across various castes but also hit the gender angle by bringing in the concept of devdasi . These were women who were dedicated to dance and sing only for god. These women were neither allowed to marry, nor have have any form of physical relationships. Thus the power game was won by the Brahmins by playing their cards of caste and gender politics. Gender Politics Traditionally Kathak was meant to be a platform accessible to all. It defamiliarises the ordinary sexual and social experience of women and men as people. Indian mythology also reveals various stories exemplifying gender ambiguity, androgyny, sex transformations, male pregnancy, and erotica through some of the metaphorical discourses related to gods, goddesses, heavenly nymphs, and demons, as well as sages, ascetics and yogis. There have been innumerable examples of transcending gender in kathak. Men dressed like women and performed. The concept of gender in the Natya Veda is highly complex. It believes that gender is past our physical being, it is connected with our soul and souls aspire for the realisation moksha which can only be achieved when one can get free from the shackles of bodily existence. As per the Tantric school of thought the Supreme Being is conceptualised as one complex sex, comprises of both male and female (on the right and left side respectively). In order to attain salvation one must be able to transcend these shackles of one’s sex.(Shah, 1998) Even in the Pre-Vedic literature Shiva is known as ardhanarishwara, which means containing the polarities of both male and female force in the form of Shiva-Shakti. Dance is an important means by which cultural ideologies of gender difference are reproduced. Through movement vocabulary, costuming, body image, training, and technique, discourses of dance are often rooted in ideas of natural gender difference However as time passed Kathak also came under the purview of the political game of gender and it’s got labelled with the tag of being a dance form only for the females. Even the stories narrated through kathak like the stories of lord Krishna have got adapted. Earlier it was believed that Radha was Krihna’shladini Shakti and not different from him, hence the dance was performed in a semi-circular manner where the same dancer took the roles of both Krishna and Radha. However, now these roles are performed by different actors.(Chatterjee, 1996) CHANGING DIMENSIONS OF WOMEN The birth of Kathak took place with the Benarasgharana of kathak which was then ruled by the Rajputs. This dance form then travelled to Jaipur establishing the Jaipur gharana of kathak. Though both these forms were highly dominated by females they still had a great respect in terms of an art of telling stories of god and educating others on the powers of truth , righteousness etc. However when the Mughal’s invading our country and the marriage of JodhaBai and Akbar took place two cultured merged together. The Mughals got dancers from Persia and captured women form india and got them trained in kathak. It’s from this time onwards that Kathak got labelled as the courtesans dance what we today call as tawa’if or prostitutes.(Massey, 1999) The costumes changed and the new gharana of Kathak was born which is today the most famous one – Luckhnowgharana. The dressed changed from the ghaghra (like a long skirt) to chudidar. The dresses were tighter at the bust and presented the women as a sexually desirable object. A lot of change took place in the basic hand movements and presentation if the dance and a dance that used to tell the love story of Krishna and Radha at one time became a dance form with movements meant to entice men. In the whole power struggle and caste politics it was the women who suffered the most and were heavily exploited. DURING THE COLONIAL INDIA During the British colonial rule dance became a tool of rebellion and political resistance. It demonstrated unity and power. The dancing women’s position changed from ‘pure and pious’ to ‘fallen and sinful’ and hence either victims or perpetuators of the evil of dance. Women were encouraged to display their beauty, energy, skill, sensuality and seductiveness in dance. Thus for the fear of saving there girls from the being looked on as an object of desire dance became a tabooed activity for members of society especially the upper caste. This mindset exists even today, as we don’t see many girls from the upper class of society taking up dancing. However these mind sets are changing gradually.(Reed, 1998) GURU and SHISHYA As per Natyashashtra an acharya or teacher should have an intrinsic knowledge of vocal and instrumental music, dance, rhythm and movement. He should further have imagination, intelligence, creative faculty, memory, sharpness and capacity to shape the taught. The shishyas, or the taught, on the other hand should be intelligent, retentive, appreciative, devoted, enthusiastic and must have an innate desire to excel. This form of teaching has been continued over time however the essence of the relation has got lost with the loss of the pure and pious status of dance. CULTURAL SYMBOL Today Kathak has been attributed with various new meanings on the global platform like * Traditional heritage of India * Carrier of Indian culture * Indianness * Recounting the significant past Today kathak has become a cultural commodity that gets sold in form of a few dance shows and performances however it has lost its original purpose and ethos(Royo, 2004) KATHAK AND MOVIES Kathak has always been used as an important tool in cinema. In 1955 classic, JhanakJhanakpayalBaje by V. Shantaram the film’s hero, Ghirdar competes for artistic supremacy in Kathak dance against another dancer Ram Prasad. Ghirdar’s triumph is ensured during the last series of rhythmic systematic turns or chakkras which he performs elegantly, however his opponent is left all dizzy. Ghirdhar here is from Varanasi, the birthplace of kathak and the ultimate hindu city and his opponent is from Agra the Mughal capital which is associated with the more popular kathakgharana of lucknow. Thus kathak was used to demonstrate a state of communal tension in the country. This art form was also reduced to mockery when UstadHalimJaffar Khan, who worked on Kohinoor, and other films, with Naushad Ali (Kohinoor’s music director), explains that the singing in this scene was undertaken by Niyaz Ahmad: â€Å"Naushad spoke to him about this scene. He said, ‘Please forgive me Khan-saheb, but for this scene please sing some tans and things, but in a comic way, in a foolish way.’ And Nyaz Ahmad agreed to do that† Even in later films kathak remained as a dance of the prostitutes through movies like umraojaan. And even today when we have become more liberal in our thinking and claim to have crossed these old regressive practices the choreographers still use kathak in a ovie like devdas only for the character of chandramukhi, who plays a prostitute. Also today’s concert stage kathak is more focused of fast, complex, rhythmic footwork and tracing handwork rather than the old ethos of the dance which had its core around freedom, liberalization, unity, storytelling, love and expression of oneself.(Chakravorty, 2006) CONCLUSION A cultural dance form created to unify everybody and give everyone a freedom to expression eventually got used as a tool for playing out caste and gender politics. Whether it was the sufferings of the women or the link of the dance to the Bhakti movement, Kathak has transformed with all these interactions. The various stakeholders of the society have also used this to their convenience as and when required. Initially the Brahmin established their supremacy over this pure and pious form of expression an today they are the ones who have started the movement to label this as a fallen and sinful act. Thus we have seen the journey of nation through one form of dance and the story of Kathak through the nation. Bibliography Booth, G. (2005). Pandits in the Movies: Contesting the Identity of Hindustani Classical Music and Musicians in. Asian Music, Vol. 36, 60-86. Chakravorty, P. (2006). Dancing into Modernity: Multiple Narratives of India’s Kathak Dance. Dance Research Journal, Vol. 38, 115-136. Chatterjee, A. (1996). Training in Indian Classical Dance: A Case Study. Asian Theatre Journal, Vol. 13, 68-91. Coorlawala, U. A. (1992). Illustrating Kathak. Dance Chronicle, Vol. 15, 88-93. Lidke, J. S. (2006). DevÄ «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Dance: The Interweaving of Politics, Mysticism, and Culture in Kathmandu Valley. International Journal of Hindu Studies, Vol. 10, 35-57. Massey, R. (1999). India’s kathak dance, past present, future. Delhi: Abhinav Publications. Pillai, S. (2002). Rethinking Global Indian Dance through Local Eyes. Dance Research Journal, Vol. 34, 14-29. Reed, S. A. (1998). The Politics and Poetics of Dance. Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol 27, 503-532. Royo, A. L. ( 2004). New Directions in Indian Dance. Dance Research Journal, Vol. 36, 135-138. Shah, P. (1998). Transcending Gender in the Performance of Kathak. Dance Research Journal, Vol. 30, 2-17. WALKER, M. (2010). Courtesans and Choreographers: The (Re)Placement of Women in the History of Kathak Dance. New Delhi: Routledge.

Free Essays on Women On Welfare

The percentage of women on welfare is staggering, whereas there are far fewer men relying on the system. Although the level of discrimination against women on welfare has decreased somewhat, it is still a major concern in comparison to men. For many centuries women have had to rely on men for survival. In the early 1900’s,for example, women were married at a young age and were taught only how to clean house and take care of their husbands. Education was not part of a woman’s lifestyle. Today, however, little girls are now being taught to be independent educated women. This means that, we, as women do not have to rely on men to survive- or so that is what I believed until I found myself separated from my first husband. I was living a comfortable lifestyle with three children. It was not until I saw my ex-husband’s money go out the door with him that I realized how dependant on him I was. With no education (I dropped out at 15) and no job, I found myself relying on social assistance and then onto mother’s allowance. My ex-husband did not pay his child support and even if he had of paid it; welfare would take it away from me because it is considered extra income. Once comfortable and living easy without having to worry about where my next meal was coming from, I was now living in poverty. I will discuss this more in detail later. The differences between women and men on welfare are quite significant. My findings are alarming because of all the data that I have found shows that although women are more likely to be the single parent, they are more apt to rely on social assistance than the male single parent. As well, women, with or without children, are living in poverty far more often than males are. The poverty rate among women who are receiving social assistance is high at 55 percent, whereas women who are not receiving social assistance, the poverty rate for non-elderly women are 17 percent. For unattached wo... Free Essays on Women On Welfare Free Essays on Women On Welfare The percentage of women on welfare is staggering, whereas there are far fewer men relying on the system. Although the level of discrimination against women on welfare has decreased somewhat, it is still a major concern in comparison to men. For many centuries women have had to rely on men for survival. In the early 1900’s,for example, women were married at a young age and were taught only how to clean house and take care of their husbands. Education was not part of a woman’s lifestyle. Today, however, little girls are now being taught to be independent educated women. This means that, we, as women do not have to rely on men to survive- or so that is what I believed until I found myself separated from my first husband. I was living a comfortable lifestyle with three children. It was not until I saw my ex-husband’s money go out the door with him that I realized how dependant on him I was. With no education (I dropped out at 15) and no job, I found myself relying on social assistance and then onto mother’s allowance. My ex-husband did not pay his child support and even if he had of paid it; welfare would take it away from me because it is considered extra income. Once comfortable and living easy without having to worry about where my next meal was coming from, I was now living in poverty. I will discuss this more in detail later. The differences between women and men on welfare are quite significant. My findings are alarming because of all the data that I have found shows that although women are more likely to be the single parent, they are more apt to rely on social assistance than the male single parent. As well, women, with or without children, are living in poverty far more often than males are. The poverty rate among women who are receiving social assistance is high at 55 percent, whereas women who are not receiving social assistance, the poverty rate for non-elderly women are 17 percent. For unattached wo...

How The Notebook Author Found Writing Success

How The Notebook Author Found Writing Success Nicholas Sparks is a bestselling author, screenwriter and producer. His fans have come to love his clean and sentimental romance novels and films such as, The Notebook. The stories often have Christian themes and sad twists, and he has had five New York Times bestsellers. Early Life Nicholas Sparks was born December 31, 1965, in Omaha, Nebraska. His family moved around a lot while his father pursued graduate degrees. Sparks had lived in Minnesota, Nebraska and California. He has a sister, who died in 2000, and a brother. He was raised Roman Catholic and continues to practice that faith. Sparks excelled at running  and went to the University of Notre Dame on a track and field scholarship. He was a business major, and after an Achilles tendon injury, he spent the summer writing an unpublished novel. Family and Personal Life Sparks met his wife, Cathy Cote, on spring break in 1988, the year he graduated from Notre Dame with honors. They married in 1989 and moved to New Bern, North Carolina. They have five children: three boys and twin girls. The couple divorced in 2015. Writing Sparks wrote two novels that were never published. He worked in the orthopedic goods industry to make a living. His first published work was, Wokini: A Lakota Journey to Happiness and Self-Understanding, written with Olympic medalist Billy Mills. Sparks third novel, The Notebook, was picked up by a literary agent and published in 1996. It enjoyed tremendous success and garnered a million dollar movie rights contract. But Sparks did not quit his day job just yet, he continued to sell pharmaceuticals and was transferred to Greenville, South Carolina. There, he wrote, Message in a Bottle, for which he sold the movie rights before it was published. Sparks continued to publish book after book, and he remains active as a writer. His novels often debut as bestsellers. They are noted for being stories with traditional values and lack of profanity, even as they are romances, and the characters face personal crises, often without a happy ending. See a list of Nicholas Sparks books. Nicholas Sparks Movies Most of  Nicholas Sparks books have been made into movies  or have been optioned to be made into movies. The first one released was, Message in a Bottle, in 1999, which earned the number one box office slot. The Notebook, in 2004 is well-remembered by Ryan Gosling fans. He has served as producer on several, including, Safe Haven, Deliverance Creek, The Best of Me, The Longest Ride and The Choice. Nicholas Sparks Trivia Nicholas Sparks donated a track to New Bern High School, where he was a volunteer coach.He supports the Notre Dame Creative Writing Program with an annual scholarship, internships and a fellowship.He has donated millions of dollars to build Christian International School.Sparks is a black belt in Tae Kwon DoSparks was named, Sexiest Author, by People Magazine.His family has endured several tragedies. His mother died following a horseback riding accident, and his father died in an automobile accident. His sister died young of cancer.

Living and Non-Living Cells and Tissues in Trees

Living and Non-Living Cells and Tissues in Trees Only 1 percent of a dormant mature tree is biologically living while the rest is composed of non-living, structural wood cells. In other words, very little of a trees  woody volume is composed of living, metabolizing tissue; rather, the major living and growing portions of a tree are leaves, buds, roots, and a thin film or skin of cells just under the bark called the cambium. There are other living cells that are important for tree growth within the different parts of trees, especially in root tips, the apical meristem, and leaf and flower buds; however, these living cells make up a very small percentage of the total volume of a trees cells. Instead, non-living or dead cells comprise most of the volume of a tree, providing vital structural support for the living cells. Interestingly enough, trees start out in life as a germinating seed with every living cell in hyperdrive, but  as a tree seed becomes a seedling, then a sapling, then a mature tree, its living contents become less and less as a percentage of the total volume. Trees increasingly lose their living cytoplasmic cells as metabolism ceases in each cell, and although they are no longer alive, these non-living cells now provide protection, transportation, and physical support for the living ones. The Vital Role of Non-Living Cells Without the support and structure provided by non-living cells,  trees would likely die  and certainly wouldnt grow quite as large as they do. This is because non-living cells provide a vital role in the process of  how a tree grows  - from the heavy lifting of holding up the tall branches to the trees bark, which protects the thin layer of living cells underneath. This supporting and protective wood is created by cambial-hardened cells produced on the inner and outer cambial layer and sandwiched between the outer cambial layer. As a result, the bark of a tree is a product of the ongoing process of creating  sieve tubes to transport water and nutrients from the leaves to the roots and back. The sound, non-living cells of a tree are very important to helping a tree stay protected, and the bark and structural cells serve as a line of defense against insects and disease that could affect the vulnerable living tissue of the cambium that maintains life throughout the tree. New cells are formed and living cells cease metabolization as they transform into transport vessels and protective skin, creating a cycle of creation, rapid growth, slowing metabolism, and death as the tree climbs ever-higher into a healthy, full plant. When Wood Is Considered Alive and Dead For most intents and purposes, wood is considered to be the product of living cells in trees harnessing the environment around them to make proteins and form protective vessels and shells for the trees sustained growth. Wood is only technically considered dead when its separated from the tree itself, as it still serves a vital role in the plants life when attached to living cells in the tree. In other words, although wood is largely made of non-living cells - cells that no longer reproduce but instead transport nutrients to living cells - it is still considered alive if it is attached to the tree itself. However, if a branch falls off or a person cuts down a tree, the wood is considered dead because it no longer transports living matter through itself. As a result, wood that has been separated from a tree will dry up as the protoplasm hardens and the protein turns into the wood one might use in a fireplace or for building a shelf. This wood is considered dead, though the piece it was once attached to - if still attached to the tree itself - is still considered alive.

Writing with your senses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writing with your senses - Essay Example The leaves of the plant are not as glossy as a rose has. Aroma of a flower is not strong, but unobtrusive and fresh. After trying â€Å"to find† it, you find out your nose, painted with yellow pollen. Sunflower always is "happy" to see the sun. In the morning it deploys his yellow â€Å"head† behind the sun, eagerly catching its rays with its all petals. The whole field can â€Å"look† in one direction. In the evening, after seeing the sun goes over the horizon, sunflower becomes â€Å"sad†, lowering his big hat and looking at the ground. Now we just have to taste the seeds. By this time the flower can already lose its petals and becomes â€Å"clumsy†, hard hat makes it to look at the ground. The best way to reach the sunflower seeds is from the edge – to break off solid petals and clear the way. It may happen that they are a little sticky, and you can be â€Å"lucky† and seeds will tint you fingers in blue-black color. As you can see, sunflower is truly beautiful and wonderful

Public Policy and the rise of Business Enterprise Essay

Public Policy and the rise of Business Enterprise - Essay Example Due to the severe economic recession and other factors, the automobile industry was working below par. A general perception was created amongst the public so as to hate the automobile industry in such a manner that the general public was made to envy the automobile worker because of the increased wage rate within the automobile industry. This envious public policy led to a severe slump within the automobile industry and many of the automobile manufacturers were forced to almost close out their operations within the area but this attitude later changed and the change was brought upon by the Obama administration. Government Support to Home industry The other main emotional issue that has led to such an uproar in this article is because all these Big three American automobile manufacturers, who at one time, were about to go bankrupt and it was only the Obama administration that helped the automobile industry by offering them the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to survive the scare and reach such a position as described in this article. Stakeholders Stakeholders of the American automobile industry were also a part of this entire scenario and all the different groups of the stakeholders had their own personal interest in this. The major stakeholders concerned with the American automobile industry would be the owners of the automobile manufacturer, the employees within these automobile manufacturing companies, the government, the customers and the suppliers of these automobile manufacturers with each and every stakeholder having a personal interest. The owners would be worried about their personal investments within the company and with this increase in sales; the owners would get delighted as their returns would increase. The government would be worried about the increased level of unemployment had these automobile manufacturers ceased to operated due to bankruptcy. The improved figures in revenue would have saved the jobs. The employees would have been affecte d had they been redundant, the increased revenue have given them a hope of surviving. The customers would have to buy cars at high prices if the automobile manufacturer would have closed due to bankruptcy. The suppliers would have to find alternate customers if these companies would have closed (Drives, 2011). Policy options and implementation Public policy is usually a government action taken in order to answer any particular issue within a country; these actions are taken with respect to the legal and the administrative traditions prevailing in the country. The main issue within the article is the success story of the American automobile manufacturer namely Chrysler, General Motors and Ford. The success story starts with the initial failure that of these 3 big automaker manufacturers and how the government and the labor staff worked together to help companies like Chrysler and General Motors. The United Auto Workers worked together with General Motors to keep the Work force intact at a time when General Motor was about to go bankrupt. More recently, both General Motors and the United Auto Workers union are making to reach an agreement so that fixed costs can be reduced within General Motors. This shows how the company is working in order

Marketing Analysis for Acer Hi-Fi System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing Analysis for Acer Hi-Fi System - Essay Example Acer has been known for a long time as electronic producing company especially computer products. Recently, the company has entered the music product industry where its asserting is presence in the market by introducing unique and superior products in the market, hi-fi clear system being one of such products. To assert its presence in the music industry, Acer has embarked on market analysis mission for its hi-fi music system for business growth and increase in its market share. 2.0 Situational Analysis/ Opportunity Identification Situational analysis and opportunity analysis involves a clear definition of opportunities available to an organization’s operating environment both internally and externally and the challenges thereof (Stevens, Sherwood and Dunn, 1993, 7). This helps the managers to make appropriate strategic decisions to tap into the opportunities and overcome the challenges present. 2.1 Market Analysis Given that Acer group of companies has a global presence, it ha s a market potential to market its Acer hi-fi system to over 300 million middle and upper income class who forms its target market. This market segment has a higher purchasing power and superior tastes for high quality products. In addition, this market segment comprises technology literate individuals who are quick to adopt and use the product. Buyer behaviour shows a strong peer influence and appeal for quality features. Acer’s market intelligence shows that majority of the target customers have had experience with other Acer products in the past a factor the company seeks to utilize to capture a sizeable market share. Initial sales figures show that the company has the potential to grow its market share in this market segment given the unique and superior quality of its product. 2.2 SWOT Analysis The analysis process involves a critical review of the strengths and weaknesses focusing on internal factors on one hand and opportunities and threats addressing the external fact ors (Cheverton, 2004, 84). Detailed SWOT analysis is presented in the table below; Internal Factors Strengths Weaknesses Product offerings Capable of connecting to all of the devices on your home network and devices Unique sound quality and affordable Largely unknown compared to competitor brands Somehow sophisticated to some customers Acer brand Known for its quality Producer of affordable goods Not ranked among the top electronic companies Positioning problem Management Experienced in new product development and marketing strategies Understands the target market’s purchase behaviour patterns Slow to react to changes in customer demand Organizational structural challenges Market Huge global market of over 300 mn customers Better product adoption among target customers Strong tastes and preferences Rapid changes in demand Low adoption rates in some markets Human Resources Skilled manpower with strong product development, financial and marketing skills High turnover Financial considerations Revenue estimates are good given the margin/product Low cost of production ROI very promising Rising cost of raw materials and energy R&D Competent R&D teams Rapid dynamism in the music industry Capital and time intensive External Factors Opportunities Threats Consumer market High purchasing power Technologically savvy Rapid changes in tastes and

PORTFOLIO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PORTFOLIO - Essay Example unds that I have made in my journey through this class this semester and explain the methods I used to come up with thought inducing topics but also to be able to express papers through methods in which the assignment was clear but still had a point. When I would first try to determine the topics for which I would write about, I would consider my own personal experiences and the things around me that influence my thinking. The best way to determine a topic for me was to take a subject of interest and conduct research in order to elaborate more on it. When I did some thinking, writing and research my ideas would change and I thought of ways to narrow down a topic and the way in which to portray what I was trying to say. There were several times when I had to determine whether or not the topic that I was most interested in was one that I really wanted to write about or if I could find enough research about it. To decide, I would use library services and also the Internet to find topics that had supporting research. I still wanted to maintain my own voice in these papers because they were of interest to me. When looking at some of the most difficult problems I faced while writing, the fact that I am a non-native speaker and student made it difficult. There were some issues or concepts discussed in writings that I was unfamiliar with. I found that some of my information should focus more on the United States and some of the situations found in the culture and society here. The cultural differences and importances in society made a difference in some of the things that I would write about. My grammar and basic way of thinking is a struggle when compared to American English and it was a bit of a challenge to overcome. I did my best to seek out help in order to write to the best of my ability and still organize papers so that they made sense. When researching, I took the advice of my professor, my tutor and my peers. I was often provided with information

Critically discuss the extent to which 'globalisation' is an Essay

Critically discuss the extent to which 'globalisation' is an opportunity or threat to international business - Essay Example A fundamental dynamic of our epoch driving the change processes of the 21st century, globalization is promoted and resisted in equal measure, with its management touted as the most satisfying and morally upright compromise (McGrew, 2000, p. ix). From the perspective of the radical right reaching other continents with mutually beneficial effects to the more adaptive strategies that has found favor in the mainstream politics of the Third World, the writing, which may seem obscure, is on the wall; the weight of the concept is felt in both the extremes. Indeed, as the confused ideals of globalization become more pronounced with opportunities that more than break into the hitherto insulated environments for certain ventures, the multifold risks in the enlarged business environment are increasingly taking ventures even closer to complete elimination. Put into perspective, it is most revealing that even in the face of fierce criticisms, notwithstanding how both sides of the divide conceives or rationalizes the concept, it is firmly accepted that globalization is but a reality on course (Held, et  al, 1999). ... Held, et  al, (2000) define globalization as â€Å"a set of transformative processes reorienting the spatial organization of social relations and transactions- in terms of intensity, velocity and impact- to generate transcontinental flows [networks of activity] that by and large result in the creation and the subsequent exercise of power in conformance with the new transactional model [emphasis added].† Petras and Veltmeyer (2001, p.11), echoes the same in their definition that more than captures the widening scope of the international flows that combines not only the exchange of capital, but also of technology and information within a single integrated market; a representational shift that Teeple (2000, p. 9) notes has diffused capital accumulation from single production units to integrated venues situated in different parts of the world. Observably, global flows, as Ohmae (1995, p.15) points out, are without a doubt, the basic elements of globalization found in the differe nt definitions that distinguishes our moment in history. It is clear that the new globalizing logic of the market and capital is at the epicenter of the different angles taken by the scholars already sampled. To be sure, globalization is viewed as a process that not only reconstitutes national economies, but one that restructures international engagements through building and/or the destruction of the existing relations in order to integrate the global economy into a single system. That is to say, its integrative aspect in effect involves homogenous interconnections across and within boundaries, with cooperation driving the interdependence among independent states/regions (Hurrell and Wood, 1995, pp.447-448). Noteworthy, the singularization of the global

PORTFOLIO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PORTFOLIO - Essay Example unds that I have made in my journey through this class this semester and explain the methods I used to come up with thought inducing topics but also to be able to express papers through methods in which the assignment was clear but still had a point. When I would first try to determine the topics for which I would write about, I would consider my own personal experiences and the things around me that influence my thinking. The best way to determine a topic for me was to take a subject of interest and conduct research in order to elaborate more on it. When I did some thinking, writing and research my ideas would change and I thought of ways to narrow down a topic and the way in which to portray what I was trying to say. There were several times when I had to determine whether or not the topic that I was most interested in was one that I really wanted to write about or if I could find enough research about it. To decide, I would use library services and also the Internet to find topics that had supporting research. I still wanted to maintain my own voice in these papers because they were of interest to me. When looking at some of the most difficult problems I faced while writing, the fact that I am a non-native speaker and student made it difficult. There were some issues or concepts discussed in writings that I was unfamiliar with. I found that some of my information should focus more on the United States and some of the situations found in the culture and society here. The cultural differences and importances in society made a difference in some of the things that I would write about. My grammar and basic way of thinking is a struggle when compared to American English and it was a bit of a challenge to overcome. I did my best to seek out help in order to write to the best of my ability and still organize papers so that they made sense. When researching, I took the advice of my professor, my tutor and my peers. I was often provided with information

Short Critical Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Short Critical Reflection Paper - Essay Example Those factors, which make information age different from other ages, include ease of communication, easy and fast transfer of knowledge from one person to another, ease of information storage, quick processing of data, instant access to information, business expansion, increase in awareness about different issues, easy banking processes, e-commerce, and increase in entertainment in the form of computer games. All these factors make information age much more reliable, efficient, and progressive as compared to other ages. Ease of communication is one of the major advantages of information age. People can now easily communicate with each other through internet and other telecommunication facilities. Internet is one of the major developments of information age. People can upload, download, and view desired information on the internet, which is one of the key advantages of information age. Globalization is another major achievement of information age, which refers to the economic and soci al integration of different countries. Therefore, we can say that information age is truly one of the most influential movements of the last century due to its widespread advantages over all other ages. The founder of Wikipedia had the noble mission of sharing all available information with everyone. Wikipedia provides information regarding every subject to the people. It provides the users with the historical background of every subject that they want to explore. The content is full of such links that help the people get a deeper understanding of related issues and topics (Heron, 2006). Wikipedia has been a great source of information since its development. It includes information on films, education, technology, history, aviation, politics, sports, automobiles, cultures and traditions, and on many other subjects. Wikipedia provides in-depth information on all subjects. For example, if a person opens a webpage containing information on any specific movie, Wikipedia will

Belonging is a fluid notion Essay Example for Free

Belonging is a fluid notion Essay Ones understanding of social identity is instrumental in constructing a sense of individual identity. It is dependent on our circumstances in particular our interaction with others and our own perceptions between connection and disconnection. This idea can be explored through a selection of famous poems written by Emily Dickinson in the 1800’s namely, â€Å"The saddest noise, the sweetest noise†, â€Å"This is my letter to the world and â€Å" I was hungry all the years†. The 2010 film Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofksy displays masterful use of film techniques to emphasize and illustrate the themes of good versus Evil, Seeking Perfection and Nature versus Nurture throughout the film. Belonging to oneself is often the hardest challenge a person has to face, through its ability to both destroy and fulfill. Emily Dickinson’s poems portray this struggle as she tries to understand the world around her while struggling to find herself. In Dickinson’s poem â€Å"The saddest noise, the sweetest noise† we get a glimpse of the paradox derived from the poem about the fine line between what is sweet and what is painful. The poem uses nature as a link to belonging through the description of ‘the saddest noise, the sweetest noise’ of birds. The sound is used to consume the reader in the mindset that brings on a sense of both sadness and loss. The persona finds herself separated from those she loves and this is contrasted with the happy, sweet song of the birds, echoed with the lines ‘it makes us think’. The saddest and sweetest noise is an explanation of the world around her but also the juxtaposition of sweet and sad within herse lf. In a more contemporary society Nina draws her sense of self from the stereotypes of civilisation. Black Swan directed by Darren Aronofsky is a psychological thriller portraying a production where the renowned Swan Lake is performed. The main character Nina is depicted as grappling with her sanity, ultimately compelling the audience to consider the many prevalent key themes explored in the film such as Good Vs Evil and the pursuit of perfection. Black Swan attempts to move responders into the mind of Nina, bringing them to feel and understand her struggle and pain. Aronofsky’s use of handheld tracking shots is effectively utilized to enhance and portray his key themes. The handheld tracking appears to control Nina in many scenes throughout the movie making her vulnerable and entices the audience to feel that she is being sought after. This technique makes it clear to the audience that Nina is trying to escape from the evil force that is gradually consuming her and taking control of her life. This particular film technique assists in highlighting to the audience Aronofsky’s themes of mental instability and the transformation from Good (symbolized by the White Swan) and Evil (symbolized by the Black Swan). The erratic movement from the hand held camera highlights to the viewer that Nina is delusional, physically and mentally unstable, as the dark presence she is escaping from is fictitious. Dolly shots were also another film technique that Aronofsky utilized in the film to highlight his themes. The opening scene in the movie is Nina dreaming of herself dancing as the Swan Queen. This initial scene highlights her desire for perfection. Use of dolly shots is evident in this scene as the camera tracks and focuses on the detailed movements of her feet, highlighting the movements required for success. There are no faults in each small, agile step and this illustrates Nina’s desire of perfection. The smooth nature of the dolly shot illustrates her fluidity as she dances. The theme of seeking perfection permeates Black Swan as the main drive for Nina’s success and ultimate demise. There is a parallel to Dickinson, who looked for perfection and solace in nature but her inability to connect with society became an insurmountable obstacle that she never overcome. Throughout Black Swan we see Nina’s struggle to belong through her own perceptions. Her circumstance is dependent on her own achievements and dreams, not the interaction with others and the sense of belonging. This much like Emily Dickinson is a key idea highlighted in Dickinson’s poem ‘This is my letter to the world† This poem depicts Dickinson’s seclusion from the word at large. The poem delves into the perception made in Dickinson’s clouded mind about the world around her. She depicts a distance from other, ‘they never wrote to me’. Immediately suggesting her perception of disconnection from world that never tried to understand her. She appears to be an isolated figure in the face of the world and her lack of connection with others is finally suggested in the last plea, ‘judge tenderly of me’. The addition of this plea to the final lines of the poem prescribes an immediate negative connotation from readers. Dickinson does not indicate a change in herself, however she is asking for the ‘world’ to think with care about her and her place. This fragile and vulnerable poem is merely a concealment of the strength Dickinson withholds, much like that of Nina in Black Swan. Both these texts depict a clear perception of their disconnection with society but are however an understanding of their unique qualities. Black Swan is a film that challenges the audience, constantly blurring the lines between reality and imagination, much like Dickinson’s dense metaphoric poems. Duality is shown throughout the film with strong contrast between black and white. With purity in the color white is contrasted with the devil color black, depicting good and evil. As belonging to oneself is a struggle, Aronofksy clearly depicts this through Nina’s battle to achieve the Black Swan, which essentially becomes her alter ego. This struggle comes from her inability to seduce and trick which, as an effect is exactly how the film makes the audience feel. The cinematography in the film is much like ballet – tight and perfect however this sense begins to unwind as the movie moves to a close. A montage is used to capture fast shots that vary in angles and length so that the viewer loses any sense of what is occurring and becomes overwhelmed by the loud, fast music that mirrors the speed of the shots . This highlight to the viewer that Nina has lost control and no longer has the restraint and discipline that comes with ballet. Throughout the montage several snippets of the black swan contrasting with the white swan show clearly to the viewer the transformation and her change in behavior which reflects the expectations of her mother and deprived upbringing. The comparison between deprivation and hunger can be used as a clear link between Black Swan and Dickinson’s poem ‘I have been hungry all the years’. Dickinson uses an extended gastronomic metaphor to depict a fulfilling life chasing the pursuit and attainment of love. Her elegantly elaborated process of dining portrays this however the metaphor is merely a basic literary technique emphasizing the speaker’s estrangement from such fulfillment. Dickinson contrasts herself to the descriptive love feast with â€Å"wine† and â€Å"ample bread† to ‘I had been hungry all the years’. The extremity of hunger is coupled with the extended time period of years, to suggest her deprivation from the fulfillment of life from birth. Belonging to oneself stems from our own perceptions between connection and disconnection and both Dickinson’s and Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 film Black Swan, portray this theory to a crystal clear extent. Ones understanding of social identity are instrumental in constructing a sense of individual identity. In conclusion both texts demonstrate the key idea that belonging to oneself comes from first – an understanding of the world. Dickinson’s isolation was a calculated choice, much like that of Nina. This decision sprung from their dedication to their arts and an understanding of the world outside their mind. It defines the idea that our perceptions of connection and disconnection are crucial in the discovery of oneself.

Threat Of New Market Entrants Management Essay

Threat Of New Market Entrants Management Essay For this assignment, we have chosen Rehm Grinaker Construction Company Ltd and have identified its strategic marketing strategies. The Construction industry plays a major role in transforming the wants and needs of people into reality; they are realised through construction projects which includes infrastructure such as roads, schools, houses, hospitals, airports, factories and dams. At present, the Construction industry in Mauritius is booming; many construction projects are being developed. Rehm Grinaker is considered as one of the leading construction company in Mauritius. Companys Profile REHM-Grinaker Co. Ltd is a renowned construction company in Mauritius and it was founded in 1991. Over the years, REHM-Grinaker has grown from modest beginnings into being a well-recognized, leading multi-disciplinary construction company reputed throughout Mauritius for delivering quality work on time.  REHM-Grinaker has a permanent workforce of over one thousand five hundred well qualified Mauritian staff.  In its 20 years of operation REHM-Grinaker has played a role in all sectors of the thriving Mauritian economy through the construction of commercial and office buildings, hotels and leisure facilities, stadia, luxury villas, industrial buildings, roads and bridges, healthcare facilities, the renovation of historical buildings, the construction of golf courses, marine works, water and sewage treatment plants, power plants, pipelines, and all types of major infrastructure and building works. REHM-Grinaker is a majority Mauritian shareholder company, with the added advantage of being able to access the expertise and resources of shareholder Aveng Grinaker-LTA, one of the largest Construction companies in Africa. Research Methodology The Construction industry has been facing a lot of issues, particularly when it comes to the marketing of their products because of the little significance given to the Marketing philosophy. Hence, the research methodology has helped to gather the required data for the research in order to better understand how REHM-Grinaker designed its marketing strategies to better sell its products. In an attempt to analyse the Strategic Marketing Management of REHM-Grinaker, an appointment was made with Mr P. Moothien Pillay, HR Manager at REHM-Grinaker in Arsenal on Monday 27th September 2012 at 10.00 a.m at the headquarters itself. All members of the group attended the in-depth interview. The latter covered various areas of the Strategic Marketing Management process, namely: Business Definition, Mission, Vision and Goals of REHM-Grinaker Marketing Audit: Internal and External Audits Marketing Objectives Marketing Strategies Marketing tactics/mix decisions Marketing Ethics and Social Responsibility Strategic Planning Evaluation and Control processes A short questionnaire (see Appendix 1) was designed as a guide in order to establish a flow in the way the questions were asked to the interviewee. The interview lasted for one hour and thirty-seven minutes and was recorded. From this interview, a proper analysis of REHM Grinakers marketing strategies was possible. Analysis of Findings The analysis and findings part will enable describe the information gleaned at REHM-Grinaker during the interview. All relevant data pertaining to the marketing strategies of this company will be studied thoroughly and commented on. Business Definition, Mission, Vision and Goals of REHM-Grinaker Business Definition Rehm Grinaker is a well known company in Mauritius providing construction services to firms and the government. It is among the leading companies in Mauritius since it has gained the reputation for delivering quality work on time.   Therefore, Rehm Grinaker particularly deals with big companies who can have the means to pay for the premium services it offers and hence the projects on which the company has worked are important ones and it uses the latest technology available to facilitate construction. For example, building the biggest shopping mall in Mauritius, that is, Bagatelle, on the Ring Road Phase 1 and the overlaying of the runway at the SSR International Airport. Mission Rehm Grinaker has five core values and for the company abiding by these is fundamental. The five core values are listed below: Safety Accountability Integrity Client satisfaction Employee fulfilment Hence, by implementing these values the company has been able to have a clear insight to develop its mission efficiently. Rehm Grinaker focuses immensely on providing quality service on time to its clientele to gain client satisfaction. However, achieving client satisfaction for Rehm Grinaker also means that this is done in accountability and integrity whereby its employees are safe and they are satisfied with their work. Thus, employees of Rehm Grinaker know these values and its importance and abide by them. Vision Build a better future. Rehm Grinaker has the above as its vision and this means the company wants the countrys advancement and by providing premium construction services it is contributing towards achieving its vision. Converting Environmental Opportunities into Organizational Opportunities This refers to fulfilling the unmet or changing customer needs; satisfy the unsatisfied buyer groups or using new means or technology for delivering value to prospective buyers. At Rehm Grinaker, the service that they provide to their customers is always up to date since they focus on delivering quality service. For instance, the company tries to minimum damage as much as it can pertaining to the environment and also tries to use eco friendly materials. Hence, its clientele are satisfied and the case whereby there are unsatisfied customers is quite rare. Nevertheless, if it happens then the company tries to find out the reasons which has caused dissatisfaction and takes the necessary actions to remedy the situation. As well, Rehm Grinaker uses the latest technology regarding its machines and equipments to facilitate the tasks of its employees and also to deliver premium construction services. Hence, the company invests in technology so that it is able to use the most efficient means in construction. Additionally, Rehm Grinaker is known to deliver quality service on time; this means the company respects the deadline given to complete its work and the latest technologies as well as the qualified labour force helps to achieve this goal. Marketing Audit Swot analysis of Rehm Grinaker Strengths The Rehm Grinaker has trained and motivated staff to serve its customers. This can benefit the organization in terms of greater productivity and serving customers better. It helps to improve the organisations image when dealing with customers. Rehm Grinaker offers specialized construction schemes to its customers. Therefore customers are now faced with greater choice and may customize what they want to build. in this context Rehm Grinaker is more customer focused. The organization operated in an environmental friendly way. The quality of service is provided at its highest. Since the organisations main motto is Quality on time, the organization makes sure that any project is being delivered on time with the highest quality. Weaknesses The cost of production is increasing every day. The cost of materials such as cement and iron bars are examples amongst others. It is difficult for the company to keep in touch with technological advances due to high cost of investment. Opportunities Rehm Grinaker can take advantage of government projects such as the building of new road networks and other projects. Expatriated labour is available at cheaper rates from countries like China and India. This can bring a decrease in the labour cost resulting in lower costs of production. Financial support is provided by banks. This can be used to improve the companys financial position. Threats There is existence of other competing firms in the construction industry such as Gamma Civic, Padco, and General Construction amongst others. Internal Audit of Rehm Grinaker This includes the objectives of Rehm Grinaker that is, it has evolved to become one of the leaders in the multidisciplinary building and civil engineering construction services. Structure of Rehm Grinaker: The management team comprises of the following: Managing Director Executive Director Financial Director Construction Manager Commercial Manager Rehm Grinaker has achieved many successes for instance it is known to have built Bagatelle Mall, and Caudan Phase II. It is presently involved in the construction of Ring Road Phase I, overlaying of the runway at SSR International Airport among other projects.  Moreover, it also provides a quality service to its clients on time and it is also considered to be a profitable and well known construction company since it originates from one of the largest construction companies in South Africa. External Audit of Rehm Grinaker The external audit comprises of the following: Micro environment-Consists of employees, customers, suppliers, competitors, intermediaries who are involved with production and sales. Employees-Rehm Grinaker Construction Ltd provides its employees the necessary tools and equipment for them to carry out their tasks effectively and efficiently. For instance, the workers wear reflective vest, hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and security shoes. Safety and security facilities are provided to the workers and in order to motivate them to work in difficult conditions incentives are also given to them. Customers-Rehm Grinaker delivers its projects on times to satisfy its customers and to maintain a good Customer Relationship Management. It also makes follow ups with its clients due to the rising customer expectations and increased competiveness has become a key feature of the construction industry. Suppliers-Rehm Grinaker buys construction components from Gamma Civic Ltd and Betonix Ltd. The company focuses on quality and prompt delivery in order to meet customer expectations that is raw materials need to be provided on time and it also believes in maintaining good Supplier Relationship Management. Competitors-The competitors in the construction industry are differentiated in terms of brand name, quality, and price and among others. They influence the factors when making tenders and bids to obtain a construction contract. Intermediaries- Rehm Grinaker engages only in offering construction services to clients. Hence, when Rehm Grinaker needs to buy construction materials for its construction projects it negotiates directly with Gamma Civic Ltd. External audit Porters Five Forces Model The importance of designing competitive strategy is to relate REHM-Grinaker to its environment in which it is operating. The strategic marketing manager seeking to develop an edge over rival firms can use the Porters model to better understand the industry context in which the construction firms operate in Mauritius. Michael Porter provided a framework that models an industry as being influenced by five forces: Threat of new market entrants The barriers to entry into the current Mauritian construction markets is not high, because there are common technology used, access to distribution channels and low scale investment. The only possible barrier is the goodwill that the current companies have established. Hence, the corporate image in the construction market is one competitive advantage. With the development of the current economic globalisation, more and more foreign companies are entering the Mauritian construction market. Furthermore, Mauritius forms part in the World Trade Organisations, SADC, and COMESA. These multinational organisations, either developed countries (e.g LAXCON Construction from Kenya) or from industrialized countries such as Colas Ltd is from France; these companies have an upper hand in terms of technology, management skills or capital as well as costs. This will bring a serious threat to the current companies, including REHM Grinaker. Threat of substitute products In the construction industry, the threat of the substitute can be assumed not existent, because of the non-substitutional nature of products or services provided by the industry, for instance there will be the absolute use of cement, rock sand, hollow concrete blocks, aggregates, iron bars and other such materials during the construction of any building, and so the question of having close-substitutes does not arise as such. Bargaining Power of Buyers In the construction industry, customers choose the contractor through a tender system. For instance, they will prefer the contractor offering the lowest price for its service and as REHM Grinaker wants to position its service as a quality service rather than relying on a penetration pricing strategy to win a bid. It somehow wants to differentiate itself from competitors like IREKO which offers a poor service at a much lower cost. Therefore, to REHM Grinaker, customers satisfaction is very important to build its repute across Mauritius and will hence comply with each and every of their exigencies (for instance, changing the whole architecture while construction is already underway, short notice deadlines) to avoid switching to competitors. Bargaining power of suppliers REHM Grinakers main suppliers are Gamma Materials Ltd, UBP. The latter are well known for providing quality products and have a considerable impact on the final delivery of REHM Grinaker to its clients. So, REHM Grinaker has no other choice but rely on these specific suppliers. Unlike Gamma Civic, it does not have the possibility of cutting on the buyer by going forward vertical integration that is produce its own raw materials itself. Hence, it is compelled to keep a good relationship with its suppliers. Existing competitive rivalry between competitors As in any industry in Mauritius and abroad, there is rivalry among competitors and the construction industry is not left out. For instance, the main rivals of REHM Grinaker are: General Construction Co Ltd, Gamma Civic, PAD Co., and BCE. So according to the strategies used by its main competitors, REHM Grinaker has to tailor-make and thus differentiate its strategies in order to outmatch them and be a leader of this market. PESTLE Analysis of REHM GRINAKER Political and Legal factors According to the manager of REHM Grinaker, the government focuses heavily on foreign contractors which impacts negatively on REHM Grinaker in the form of competition. Moreover, certain companies in the construction sector are more privileged when compared to Rehm Grinaker since they got high political background. On the other hand, for the legal factors, REHM Grinaker needs to agree upon several binding laws such as the labour laws and safety laws impose by the government. For example according to the safety law, it is recommended to have one full time registered safety officer and for REHM Grinaker it employs one senior safety manager, two safety managers and six trainee safety officers. Economic factors For the economic factors, the manager of REHM Grinaker believes that the construction sector in Mauritius is fluctuating. The demand is falling and according to him investors also are not investing their money as they are looking for the stability of the Mauritian economy. He also mentioned that due to the recent downturn, the economic situation is unstable for the construction industry as a whole. Social and Environmental factors As for the social factors, 2% of REHM Grinaker profits go for the CSR fund where the bulk of the money goes mainly for the unprivileged and disable children. For example they donate funds to APEIM and to several schools for disabled children. On the other hand, for environmental factors, the manager believes in building what is designed. He pointed out they do care for the environment when they are undertaking construction work and for each project they undertake, an environment management plan is prepared whereby according to him it consists of how to promote a safe environment that is not to harm the environment. A plan for management of waste also is prepared and strategies on how to avoid less pollution such as noise and air pollution while working. Technological factors Nowadays REHM Grinaker is engaged into the construction of huge buildings such as Bagatelle and SIT business and knowledge centre with the help of new and modern equipments. According to the manager, REHM Grinaker makes use of big cranes to facilitate and makes it easier to work. They also make use of reusable equipment, such as metal which is more flexible instead of wood which were used long ago. Moreover, one example of new equipment that was used in the construction of Bagatelle is the post tension cables. THE BCG MATRIX In the light of the information obtained from the interview with Mr Moothien Pillay, it could be deduced that REHM Grinaker is found in the Star segment of the BCG Matrix. The organization is one of the market leaders in the construction sector with so many outstanding projects in the pipeline. THE ANSOFF MATRIX As from the Ansoff Matrix, and according to the interview, it could be deduced that REHM Grinaker is actually in the Market development section. Since its 21 years of existence, it has not quite diverted from its main activity which is the construction of infrastructures. However, this company has been trying to capture new markets at all times. It is going for more prominent projects. From the extension and renovation of small buildings, it has of late been involved in the construction of Bagatelle and Cascavelle Malls, which are, if not, the biggest projects REHM Grinaker has ever embarked on. Marketing Ethics and Social Responsibility One of the most important marketing assets of REHM Grinaker, according to the Manager, is its corporate image. As far as ethical considerations are concerned, integrity is one of the main core values of REHM Grinaker. Personal relationships with suppliers, clients and project managers are always managed in an ethical manner and the organization does not run on bribes. There is no preference for family members of employees in the organization and a decent salary is given to all employees. No one worker on sites is exploited. Therefore, REHM Grinaker makes it an adage to work in the cleanest environment. And if anyone is aware of any unethical behaviour, it is the onus of that person to report it. Therefore, REHM Grinaker wants live up to its good reputation and this is the best marketing strategy it can possibly flaunt. Furthermore, as any organization, REHM Grinaker does not fail to contribute 2% of its profits to the CSR Fund. Nonetheless, it has also engaged itself in many social work activities. Since its headquarters is found in a poverty-stricken area, REHM Grinaker has chosen to help the underprivileged children living in the vicinities. The company namely invested in education training as well as in organizing events for them during the festive season. Again, through this endeavour, REHM Grinaker wants to differentiate itself and improve its corporate image. STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS In todays highly competitive business environment, organisations must engage themselves in strategic planning that clearly defines the mission, objectives and assesses both the internal and external situation to formulate strategy, implement the strategy, evaluate the progress and make adjustments as necessary to stay on track. THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS Mission Objectives Situation /Strategic Analysis Strategy Formulation/ Strategic Choice Strategy Implementation/Control Strategic Analysis/Situation analysis The environment Pestle analysis of Rehm Grinaker Strategic Capabilities Swot analysis of Rehm Grinaker Stakeholders expectations The stakeholders of Rehm Grinaker expects that the management and the employees perform their duties conscientiously, honestly and in accordance with the best interests of them and the company. Moreover, Rehm-Grinaker is a preferred contractor for most of the major stakeholders in the industry because the company has built its success on achieving quality on time not only to the final construction product but when dealing with partners in the construction process as well. Organisational Culture The organisation culture of Rehm Grinaker is to deliver quality work on time. Strategy Formulation/Strategic Choice Given the information from the environmental scan, the firm should match its strength to the opportunities that it has identified, while addressing its weaknesses and external threats. In addition to that to have superior profitability, firms seek to develop a competitive advantage. In the case of Rehm Grinaker, it can be seen that the company has competitive edge in providing sustainable construction works and the most important competitive advantage that the firm has over its competitors is the accessibility to the expertise and resources of shareholder Aveng Grinaker-LTA, one of the largest Construction companies in Africa. Strategy Implementation/Control The selected strategy is implemented by means of programs, budgets and procedures as well as the implementation of the strategy must be monitored and adjustments made as needed. In the case of Rehm Grinaker, the company must assess their actual performances and have detailed specifications on contracts completed such as Bagatelle Infrastructure, La Croisette Bulk Earthworks, Terre Rouge Verdun, and among others.

Mbo In Russia :: essays research papers fc

Introduction  «The emphasis (of MBO) is on trying to predict and influence the future rather than on responding and reacting by the seat of the pants. It is also a ‘results-oriented’ philosophy of management, one of which emphasizes accomplishments and results. The focus is generally on change and on improving both individual and organizational effectiveness. » A successful implementation of MBO in any country requires a narrow examination of such elements as customs and traditions of that country, which give support to the application of MBO. History These elemets are higly influenced by the history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starting from the early centuries, Russian people got accustomed to live under the central rule when the tsar was the only decision-making body in the country. The communication between the rulers and ruled was flowing only one-way. The landlords, owning the farmers, set quotes to farmers without thinking whether they would be able to achieve them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Afterwards, when the bolshewiks came to rule instead of the monarchy, the same thing happened. Working for a state enterprise, the employees didn’t have a chance to set objectives for their work they performed. The central planning department set quotes, by which all the organizations had to obey even if those planks were set too high to reach. Workers were responsible for reaching organizational goals no matter for at what costs, but on the other side the means by which they had to reach the organizational goals were predetermined by the central planning department. So, we can see that the word  «central », which  «disables » MBO, was quite common and used heavily thrughout the whole history of Russia. Nevertheless, I would say, there were some elements of MBO such as rewarding the employees when they exceeded the quotes set by the central department. Reward was very seldom material. Usually, you would have received a red flag for an excellent work, and your photo would have been printed in the organization’s newspaper. In addition to the rewards, people were working for a common purpose: to reach the communism. And each piece they had produced contributed to this goal. Anyway, this system of rewards worked; it was a good source of motivation although it was resting solely in the willigness of the employees to contribute to the process. Factors that influence management in Russia After we had examined the historical factors that influence the application of MBO, let’s come down to determine factors that influence overall management in Russia now.

Partnership with Parents Essay

Parents are experts on their own child and are their child’s first and main educators. To meet the needs of children in our care effectively, childcare centers have to build strong relationships with parents and make sure that the sharing of information is a two-way, on going process. Aim for practitioners should be to achieve an open, supportive relationship with parents, who will be made to feel welcome, involved and fully informed about what happens in the childcare center. The preschool experience is often a young child’s first significant experience away from home. The first separation from home frequently places stress on the family until the transition is made. I have vivid memories of the first day I dropped off my son at preschool. I must have had a thousand questions and a million concerns: Would he behave? Would he cry? Would the teachers be able to keep up with him? The questions and concerns went on and on until I and my son finally felt comfortable with the preschool staff and environment. Positive parent-teacher partnerships assist young children with the transition from home and promote healthy growth and development. Even though actively reaching out to parents requires time, patience, and energy, teachers benefit by understanding children’s home environments. If the partnership between parents, staff and child is going well, each need to be able to trust and respect the other. The self-esteem and well-being of the people in the partnership are important when they are working together. Very important is a good start. Childcare staff should to help parents and children to feel welcome when they first arrive at the setting for e. g. parents and visitors are given a friendly welcome by staff; an attractive display in the entrance area showing some of the recent activities that children have been involved in; information showing the names of staff, with their photographs. Important is positive image and messages about diversity- for e. g. different languages, ethnicities and genders. The key to success in the partnership is good communication. Practitioners can sharing information with parent for one-way or two – way communication. One-way communication occurs when teachers seek to inform parents about events, activities, or children progress through a variety of sources, such as an introductory letter at the beginning of the preschool year, newsletters, report cards, communication books, childcare center Web sites, and so on. Two-way communication involves interactive dialogue between preschool’s teachers and parents. Conversations may occur during telephone calls, home visits, parent-teacher conferences, open houses, and various preschool-based community activities. Teachers should actively incorporate both strategies to maximize sharing information with parents. Parents and teachers share in the responsibility of a child’s education. The two should work cooperatively to foster a positive educational experience for a child. Often times, however conflicts do arise. Conflicts between teachers and parents can arise in a number of ways. A parents sometimes have a hard time dealing with the fact that someone else is â€Å"parenting† their child. Another common parental gripe is that the teacher is not giving the child enough attention or otherwise treating her inappropriately. Additional problem may be language barrier. An increasing number of parents do not speak English as a first language so they are unable to understand communications from the preschool. This can be a real issue and preschool teacher should assess whether hi or she is in a position to address this. When it comes to things like parents meeting teacher can invite some of parents family or friends who know English and can translate Even those parents who are fluent in English can have trouble understanding some communications from the preschool. Preschool teachers may be always think carefully when communicating with parents and ensure that they don’t use the jargon they might use with they colleagues. The key to a good relationship between teachers and parents is open communication. Parents should always talk directly with the teacher about the problem. Good communication prevents conflict from arising and makes resolutions a lot easier.