Shadow Kiss Chapter 3

Three â€Å"WHY SO GLUM, LITTLE DHAMPIR?† I was heading across the quad, toward the commons, when I detected the scent of clove cigarettes. I sighed. â€Å"Adrian, you are the last person I want to see right now.† Adrian Ivashkov hurried up beside me, blowing a cloud of smoke into the air that of course drifted right toward me. I waved it off and made a great show of exaggerated coughing. Adrian was a royal Moroi we'd â€Å"acquired† on our recent ski trip. He was a few years older than me and had come back to St. Vladimir's to work on learning spirit with Lissa. So far, he was the only other spirit user we knew of. He was arrogant and spoiled and spent a lot of his time indulging in cigarettes, alcohol, and women. He also had a crush on me – or at least wanted to get me into bed. â€Å"Apparently,† he said. â€Å"I've hardly seen you at all since we got back. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were avoiding me.† â€Å"I am avoiding you.† He exhaled loudly and raked a hand through the sable brown hair he always kept stylishly messy. â€Å"Look, Rose. You don't have to keep up with the hard-to-get thing. You've already got me.† Adrian knew perfectly well I wasn't playing hard-to-get, but he always took a particular delight in teasing me. â€Å"I'm really not in the mood for your so-called charm today.† â€Å"What happened, then? You're stomping through every puddle you can find and look like you're going to punch the first person you see.† â€Å"Why are you hanging around, then? Aren't you worried about getting hit?† â€Å"Aw, you'd never hurt me. My face is too pretty.† â€Å"Not pretty enough to make up for the gross, carcinogenic smoke blowing in my face. How can you do that? Smoking's not allowed on campus. Abby Badica got two weeks' detention when she got caught.† â€Å"I'm above the rules, Rose. I'm neither student nor staff, merely a free spirit wandering your fair school as I will.† â€Å"Maybe you should go do some wandering now.† â€Å"You want to get rid of me, you tell me what's going on.† There was no avoiding it. Besides, he'd know soon enough. Everyone would know. â€Å"I got assigned to Christian for my field experience.† There was a pause, and then Adrian burst out laughing. â€Å"Wow. Now I understand. In light of that, you actually seem remarkably calm.† â€Å"I was supposed to have Lissa,† I growled. â€Å"I can't believe they did this to me.† â€Å"Why did they do it? Is there some chance you might not be with her when you graduate?† â€Å"No. They just all seem to think this is going to help me train better now. Dimitri and I will still be her real guardians later.† Adrian gave me a sidelong glance. â€Å"Oh, I'm sure that'll be quite the hardship for you.† It had to be one of the weirdest things in the universe that Lissa had never come close to suspecting my feelings for Dimitri but that Adrian had figured it out. â€Å"Like I said, your commentary isn't appreciated today.† He apparently didn't agree. I had a suspicious feeling he'd been drinking already, and it was barely even lunchtime. â€Å"What's the problem? Christian'll be with Lissa all the time anyway.† Adrian had a point. Not that I'd have admitted it. Then, in that short-attention-span way of his, he switched subjects just as we neared the building. â€Å"Have I mentioned your aura to you?† he asked suddenly. There was a strange note to his voice. Hesitant. Curious. It was very uncharacteristic. Everything he usually said was mocking. â€Å"I don't know. Yeah, once. You said it was dark or something. Why?† Auras were fields of light that surrounded every person. Their colors and brightness were allegedly linked to a person's personality and energy. Only spirit users could see them. Adrian had been doing it for as long as he could remember, but Lissa was still learning. â€Å"Hard to explain. Maybe it's nothing.† He came to a stop near the door and inhaled deeply on his cigarette. He went out of his way to blow a cloud of smoke away from me, but the wind carried it back. â€Å"Auras are strange. They ebb and flow and change colors and brightness. Some are vivid, some are pale. Every once in a while, someone's will settle and burn with such a pure color that you can†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He tipped his head back, staring into the sky. I recognized the signs of that weird â€Å"unhinged† state he sometimes fell into. â€Å"You can instantly grasp what it means. It's like seeing into their soul.† I smiled. â€Å"But you haven't figured mine out, huh? Or what any of these colors mean?† He shrugged. â€Å"I'm figuring it out. You talk to enough people, get a feel for what they're like and then start to see the same kinds of people with the same kinds of colors†¦. After a while, the colors start to mean something.† â€Å"What's mine look like right now?† He glanced over at me. â€Å"Eh, I can't quite get a fix on it today.† â€Å"I knew it. You've been drinking.† Substances, like alcohol or certain medications, numbed spirit's effects. â€Å"Just enough to chase the chill away. I can guess what your aura's like, though. It's usually like the others, sort of those swirling colors – it's just kind of edged in darkness. Like you've always got a shadow following you.† Something in his voice made me shiver. Although I'd heard him and Lissa talk about auras a lot, I'd never really thought of them as anything I needed to worry about. They were more like some kind of stage trick – a cool thing with little substance. â€Å"That's so cheerful,† I said. â€Å"You ever think about motivational speaking?† His scattered look faded, and his normal mirth returned. â€Å"Don't worry, little dhampir. You might be surrounded by clouds, but you'll always be like sunshine to me.† I rolled my eyes. He dropped his cigarette onto the sidewalk and put it out with his foot. â€Å"Gotta go. See you later.† He swept me a gallant bow and started walking away toward guest housing. â€Å"You just littered!† I yelled. â€Å"Above the rules, Rose,† he called back. â€Å"Above the rules.† Shaking my head, I picked up the now-cold cigarette butt and took it to a garbage can that was outside the building. When I entered, the warmth inside was a welcome change as I shook off the slush on my boots. Down in the cafeteria, I found lunch wrapping up for the afternoon. Here, dhampirs sat side by side with Moroi, providing a study in contrasts. Dhampirs, with our half-human blood, were bigger – though not taller – and more solidly built. The girl novices were curvier than the ultra-slim Moroi girls, the boy novices far more muscular than their vampire counterparts. The Moroi complexions were pale and delicate, like porcelain, while ours were tanned from being outside in the sun so much. Lissa sat at a table by herself, looking serene and angelic in a white sweater. Her pale blond hair cascaded over her shoulders. She glanced up at my approach, and welcoming feelings flowed to me through our bond. She grinned. â€Å"Oh, look at your face. It's true, isn't it? You really are assigned to Christian.† I glared. â€Å"Would it kill you to be a little less miserable?† She gave me a censuring yet amused look as she licked the last of her strawberry yogurt off her spoon. â€Å"I mean, he's my boyfriend, after all. I hang out with him all the time. It's not that bad.† â€Å"You have the patience of a saint,† I grumbled, slouching into a chair. â€Å"And besides, you don't hang out with him 24/7.† â€Å"Neither will you. It's only 24/6.† â€Å"Same difference. It might as well be 24/10.† She frowned. â€Å"That doesn't make any sense.† I waved off my idiotic remark and stared blankly around the lunchroom. The room was buzzing with news of the impending field exercise, which would kick off as soon as lunch ended. Camille's best friend had gotten assigned to Ryan's best friend, and the four of them huddled gleefully together, looking as though they were about to embark on a six-week double date. At least someone would enjoy all this. I sighed. Christian, my soon-to-be charge, was off with the feeders – humans who willingly donated blood to Moroi. Through our bond, I sensed Lissa wanting to tell me something. She was holding off because she was worried about my bad mood and wanted to make sure I got enough support. I smiled. â€Å"Stop worrying about me. What's up?† She smiled back, her pink-glossed lips hiding her fangs. â€Å"I got permission.† â€Å"Permission for – ?† The answer flitted from her mind faster than she could have voiced it. â€Å"What?† I exclaimed. â€Å"You're going to stop your meds?† Spirit was an amazing power, one whose cool abilities we were just starting to figure out. It had a very nasty side effect, however: It could lead to depression and insanity. Part of the reason Adrian indulged in drinking so much (aside from his party nature) was to numb himself against these side effects. Lissa had a much healthier way of doing it. She took antidepressants, which completely cut her off from the magic altogether. She hated not being able to work with spirit anymore, but that was an acceptable trade-off for not going crazy. Well, I thought it was. She apparently disagreed if she was considering this insane experiment. I knew she'd been wanting to try the magic again, but I hadn't really thought she'd go through with it – or that anyone would let her. â€Å"I have to check in with Ms. Carmack every day and regularly talk to a counselor.† Lissa made a face at this last part, but her overall feelings were still quite upbeat. â€Å"I can't wait to see what I can do with Adrian.† â€Å"Adrian's a bad influence.† â€Å"He didn't make me do this, Rose. I chose it.† When I didn't answer, she lightly touched my arm. â€Å"Hey, listen. Don't worry. I've been so much better, and lots of people are going to have my back.† â€Å"Everyone except me,† I told her wistfully. Across the room, Christian entered through a set of double doors and approached us. The clock read five minutes until the end of lunch. â€Å"Oh man. The zero hour is almost here.† Christian pulled up a chair at our table and flipped it backwards, letting his chin rest on its slatted back. He brushed his black hair away from his blue eyes and gave us a smug smile. I felt Lissa's heart lighten at his presence. â€Å"I can't wait until this show gets on the road,† he said. â€Å"You and me are going to have so much fun, Rose. Picking out curtains, doing each other's hair, telling ghost stories â€Å" The reference to â€Å"ghost stories† hit a little closer to home than I was comfortable with. Not that choosing curtains or brushing Christian's hair was much more appealing. I shook my head in exasperation and stood up. â€Å"I'll leave you two alone for your last few private moments.† They laughed. I walked over to the lunch line, hoping to find some leftover doughnuts from breakfast. So far, I could see croissants, quiche, and poached pears. It must have been highbrow day at the cafeteria. Was deep-fried dough really too much to ask for? Eddie stood in front of me. His face turned apologetic as soon as he saw me. â€Å"Rose, I'm really sorry – â€Å" I put up a hand to stop him. â€Å"Don't worry. It's not your fault. Just promise me you'll do a good job protecting her.† It was a silly sentiment since she was in no real danger, but I could never really stop worrying about her – particularly in light of this new development with her medication. Eddie stayed serious, apparently not thinking my request was silly at all. He was one of the few who knew about Lissa's abilities – and their downsides, which was probably why he'd been selected to guard her. â€Å"I won't let anything happen to her. I mean it.† I couldn't help a smile, in spite of my glum mood. His experiences with the Strigoi made him take all of this more seriously than almost any other novice. Aside from me, he was probably the best choice to guard her. â€Å"Rose, is it true you punched Guardian Petrov?† I turned and looked into the faces of two Moroi, Jesse Zeklos and Ralf Sarcozy. They'd just stepped in line behind Eddie and me and looked more self-satisfied and annoying than usual. Jesse was all bronzed good looks and quick thinking. Ralf was his slightly less attractive and slightly less intelligent sidekick. They were quite possibly the two people I hated most at this school, mainly due to some nasty rumors they'd spread about me doing some very explicit things with them. It was Mason's strong-arming that had forced them to tell the truth to the school, and I don't think they'd ever forgiven me for that. â€Å"Punch Alberta? Hardly.† I started to turn around, but Ralf kept talking. â€Å"We heard you threw a big hissy fit in the gym when you found out who you were with.† â€Å"‘Hissy fit'? What are you, sixty? All I did was – † I paused and carefully chose my words. † – register my opinion.† â€Å"Well,† said Jesse. â€Å"I suppose if anyone's going to keep an eye on that Strigoi wannabe, it might as well be you. You're the biggest badass around here.† The grudging tone in his voice made it sound like he was complimenting me. I didn't see it that way at all. Before he could utter another word, I was standing right in front of him, with barely any space between us. In what I considered a true sign of discipline, I didn't put my hand around his throat. His eyes widened in surprise. â€Å"Christian has nothing to do with any Strigoi,† I said in a low voice. â€Å"His parents – â€Å" â€Å"Are his parents. And he's Christian. Don't confuse them.† Jesse had been on the wrong side of my anger before. He was clearly remembering that, and his fear warred with his desire to trash-talk Christian in front of me. Surprisingly, the latter won out. â€Å"Earlier you acted like being with him was the end of the world, and now you're defending him? You know how he is – he breaks rules all the time. Are you saying you seriously don't believe there's any chance at all he might turn Strigoi like his parents?† â€Å"None,† I said. â€Å"Absolutely none. Christian's more willing to take a stand against Strigoi than probably any other Moroi here.† Jesse's eyes flicked curiously toward Ralf before returning to me. â€Å"He even helped me fight against those ones in Spokane. There is no chance of him ever, ever turning Strigoi.† I racked my brain, trying to recall who had been assigned to Jesse for the field experience. â€Å"And if I hear you spreading that crap around, Dean isn't going to be able to save you from me.† â€Å"Or me,† added Eddie, who had come to stand right beside me. Jesse swallowed and took a step back. â€Å"You're such a liar. You can't lay a hand on me. If you get suspended now, you'll never graduate.† He was right, of course, but I smiled anyway. â€Å"Might be worth it. We'll have to see, huh?† It was at that point that Jesse and Ralf decided they didn't want anything from the lunch line after all. They stalked off, and I heard something that sounded suspiciously like â€Å"crazy bitch.† â€Å"Jerks,† I muttered. Then I brightened. â€Å"Oh, hey. Doughnuts.† I got a chocolate-glazed, and then Eddie and I hurried off to find our Moroi and get to class. He grinned at me. â€Å"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you just defended Christian's honor. Isn't he a pain in the ass?† â€Å"Yes,† I said, licking icing off my fingers. â€Å"He is. But for the next six weeks, he's my pain in the ass.†

Gender stereo type Essay

Gender stereo type is one of the problems facing gender issues in the world. Women performance in any science or mathematical subject has become wanting. This research paper undertakes to study gender stereotype in classrooms. The performance of mathematics will be looked at. This research paper undertakes to find out gender stereotypes as are in existence in regular classrooms and the conceptions of the same. This is a crucial research question for all students and teachers especially those involved in gender issues. Performance in classroom among women has been affect by the view of women themselves. Gender stereotype has been there for ages especially when the female and male find themselves in the same environment where their abilities are bound to be tested and a classroom is inevitably one of them. Gender stereotype Introduction Mostly ones performance in the classroom determines one’s area of specialization and this researcher set out to establish how gender issues are in relation to the classroom achievements. Women are said to have a preference for arts which are less challenging while men go for the mathematics which is tougher. The division does not end there because men are known to get involved in tough games too like wrestling for their leisure time while their female counterparts go for easy activities like picnics for their recreation time. Gender distinctions in the classroom come along way from the way the boys are brought up knowing that they are cut for the challenging careers – soldiers, pilots scientists while the girls are given the notion that they must always be neat and clean thus they opt for career prospects that can enable them to be’ ladish’ – secretarial jobs, nursing and utmost teaching arts. The war in the classroom is a conspicuous one as the boys openly live out the unnecessary arts and concentrates on the mathematics and science as a way of showing then macho as the tough gender. In a class the popular men are the one’s who have made great achievements like being the football captain or the best athlete while a lady wins by just being smart and showing the classic manners expected of a classic lady and the classroom feats come second or not at all. This research sets out to get an in look to this speculations which have always been there surrounding this subject to establish the truth behind it. The classroom stands out like a tornado that waits to explode and reveal its inner making when put in a stereotype context because the classes components are a people who are striving for a common goal but using different elements to get there – the choices made are done differently depending on the gender of the student in question. At least that is the mindset of most people regarding the classroom and this topic. Statement of the problem. I chose this topic for the research because it directly affects the performance of students and how they relate in regular classrooms. The student’s behavior, performance future ambitions and targets are determined by the perceptions of the gender they belong to. If a student creates a bad perception toward something because of her gender, then the future will be affected. However 3the removal of gender stereotype will set good goals that will create good future targets. There is a relationship between gender stereotypes in performance of some subjects on performance of subjects in class at large. When a student undertakes to create in her mind a mentality of gender stereotypes it becomes hard for him or her learn new things, new concepts, get new challenges, encounter obstacles, learn how to solve problems, learn to be independent and all these will enable to performance level a student to improve. Without gender stereotype a student will be confident and will learn more on his own. Objectives This research on gender stereotype in the classroom is a paper that is meant to clear the air on whether actually there gender related distinctions in the classroom. The extent at which the topic is popular in relation to the classroom will be delved in to and a solid finding brought forward by doing a research study in this institution. Determiners of the presence of the gender divisions shall be sought and the reasons behind these factors will be acknowledged at the end of this paper. The gender stereotype is a wide topic that brings with a list of implications; there is a need to establish whether it’s actually there in the classroom and its significances. This topic has affected the classroom and there is need to know whether positively or negatively. This topic is reference to women widely assumed stand about the arts and mathematics in the classroom, women are said to prefer arts while mathematics are left for men to it as an expression of their masculinity to show their strength. To establish the magnitude of its effect a thorough research would be necessary through interviewing women on their opinions regarding this topic and the end of the case study. This research does not have an objective to discuss feminism in the classroom but its out to establish the gender differences in picking subjects of study at school and go behind the issue to learn why the gender stereotype in the classroom is their and at what depth has it influenced the decisions made in the classroom by women. This research lays down the issues that are there about women and classrooms when it comes to making the choice of subjects they want to study – sciences and arts – with mathematics as the most conspicuous science in question. Research questions. Does gender stereo type really exist in the classroom or is it an assumption that has always been there? What are the causes of the gender distinctions in the classroom? What are the effects of the gender related divisions in the classroom? Is the gender stereotype here to stay in the classroom? Methodology There are two methods of research/ data collection in research papers: that is quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative method is applicable where the problem is known, the problem is based on theories and can be measured in numbers. The analysis can be done on tables, graphs, pie charts, gnat charts and other statistical theories and it relies on assumptions. There are a number of methods which are under quantitative methods. These include surveys, experiments and quasi experiment. Qualitative method is different from quantitative because it is used to measure human feelings, attitude and perception. The data for this research has been obtained from the ten articles forwarded. Key words. Social category, mathematics attitudes and women. A study was done on women, twenty in number with their ages ranging between 20 – 58 years with a mean age of 23 years. Literature review Introduction All the nine studies showed similar results that the personal, attitude of women in the classroom towards academic activities in the areas of arts and mathematics can be affected by gender categories with only one citing completion as the boost to a positive attitude towards mathematics. Gender stereotype Women who were associated with a clear conscious of being female express a greater liking for the arts while those who were associated with the male category did not connect with the arts and went for mathematics. The women’s attitude were based on their preferences and not influenced by other people’s choice. Murphy. M. C. , Steele C. M. and James J. Gross J. J. (2007) in their article they argue that the influence of the social category has not been established and is not is not easier to pin point the extent at which women attitude could change in a stereotype way using the stereotype category. They further argue that it clear that the changes in attitude among women are due to the stereotype reasoning about women’s ability in relation to men’s ability or a combination of both. Guimond S. and lydie Roussel L. (2001) have added that based on gender identity establishment it can equally affect women’s attitude towards mathematics: women who are made aware of their identity preferred arts while the other ones associated with male gender went for mathematics. Their choices were based on their own personal perceptions without an outward influence from other people who had similar perceptions to theirs. Another study was done by measuring the women’s hidden attitude towards arts and mathematics after reminding them of their gender identity or neutral identity. The results still showed that women’s attitude towards arts and mathematics was more stereotype- consistent when they were associated with the category female or the gender identity.

John Berger's Comparison of Fine Art to Commercial Art Essay

John Berger's Comparison of Fine Art to Commercial Art - Essay Example This is because fine art is often esoteric and ultimately meaningless. Art critics might be able to find meaning in certain works of art, but they would be the only ones. The common man would have great difficulty understanding the meaning of a man's urinal used as artwork. On the other hand, commercial art is supposed to be understandable and accessible or, at the very least, evoke powerful emotions. For this reason, commercial art is more successful in conveying messages to mass audiences then is fine art. Discussion John Berger states that abstract art has been adopted by corporate capitalism, which is causing these aesthetics to become emblems of economic power. He says that, through this process of reducing the aesthetics of fine art into something that is used to increase economic power for the entity that uses this art, the lived experience inherent in the art work is eliminated from the image of the art. This results, in his view, in a reduced area of experience, even though it claims to be universal (Berger, 2001, p. 296). This process of commercializing fine art, and the subsequent way that this transformation has robbed the art work of meaning is particularly anathema to Berger, as he feels that art comes from a primitive part of the artist, and that it comes from the lived experience of the artist (Berger, 2001, p. 296). For Berger, drawing and art is about discovery within the artist himself (Berger, 2001, p. 10). The power of the art comes from this lived experience, the faith that this experience can produce the art, and this is typically coupled with a skepticism of the society in which the artist finds oneself (Berger, 2001, p. 297). Thus, in transforming art in commercialism, it robs the art of this lived experience which is the essence, the very heart of the artwork. The meaning of the artwork is dead, at least the meaning that the artist intended, and the meaning is instead transformed into whatever the particular advertisement is attempting to sell. Berger was also highly critical of the fact that paintings have become so commodified. He states that no work of art may survive without becoming a valuable piece of property, and that this spells the death of the painting and sculpture, as â€Å"property, as once it was not, is now inevitably opposed to all other values. People believe in property, but in essence they only believe in the illusion of protection which property gives. All works of fine art, whatever their content, whatever the sensibility of an individual spectator, must now be reckoned as no more than props for the confidence of the world spirit of conservatism† (Berger, 2001, p. 215). Thus, the fact that paintings and sculptures must be commodified to survive in the long term spells the end of the art as we know it, in Berger's eyes. According to Papastergiadis (1993), Berger's issue with the commercialization of art would stem from the fact that Berger contends that art must give meaning to human e xperiences. In particular, art works to increase our understanding of the gap between freedom and alienation in everyday life. He also states that Berger is a combination of a Marxist, in which the art is integrated with the political, thus is an

Health Care and Education of Homeless People in the USA Research Paper

Health Care and Education of Homeless People in the USA - Research Paper Example As a function of performing the research that has informed this particular research paper, the student came to an overall understanding with regards to the level and extent to which homelessness effects individuals within the United States, the true level of the unspoken nature of the homeless problem, and some of the tell-tale health concerns that are endemic to these populations. It is, therefore, the hope of this author that by elaborating on these concerns and integrating with the reader the full extent of the situation. With regards to the full extent of the problem, a cursory review of the literature reveals the fact that one of the fastest growing segments of homeless within the United States is families with young children. This is especially troublesome on a number of different fronts. Firstly, due to the fact that these individuals have a difficult time providing for themselves; let alone their children. Secondly, it can and should be understood that homelessness among young children not only has a profound sociological and psychological impact upon development but can also adversely impact upon health as well as overall level of educational attainment. Due to the fact that no residence is available for the family to reside, the level and extent to which education can be continued at any particular school are immediately called into question. As the research stated, only 87% of homeless youth are enrolled in school and only 77% attend class regularly (National Coalition for the Homeless, n.d.). Further, the research has noted that a full range of medical conditions plagues the homeless population of the United States. Many of these conditions are as a direct result of the exposure and lack of shelter that these individuals must integrate with on a daily basis; however, some of them are born out of the psychological effects and temptations that the homeless condition necessarily brings.  

Marketing for financial services (Research project)-HSBC Bank Research Paper

Marketing for financial services ( project)-HSBC Bank - Research Paper Example The company has significant presence in the world of internet and this essay is mainly attempted to analyze this aspect of HSBC. The principle reason behind choosing HSBC for this essay is the fact that it is one of the most respected organizations among the global banking and financial companies. Furthermore, data regarding HSBC is likely to be obtained conveniently as compared to any other financial organization. This essay aims to provide a clear understanding regarding the online presence of HSBC, main reasons behind such presence and various online marketing activities that are undertaken by the company. HSBC has robust presence in the world of internet through its different websites. The company has separate portals that are developed for several of its important markets. For instance, the website that is developed for UK (www.hsbc.co.uk) is significantly different from the site that is made for Indian market (www.hsbc.co.in). Each of these websites are linked to the corporate website (www.hsbc.com) of the main holding company i.e. HSBC plc. In addition to these websites, HSBC is also present online through several of its advertisements. Such advertisements are placed in different websites of other organizations that are usually relevant to banking and financial sector. Major objectives of such internet presence of HSBC are to introduce its products and services to the target customers and promote the brand ‘HSBC’. The websites of HSBC contain all the important information regarding the company and its products. Most importantly these websites provide all the facilities of internet banking. Furthermore each of the websites includes the detail contact information so that the customers can interact with the bank and its stuffs conveniently. HSBC promotes its brand and products in the world of internet through different marketing strategies like creating special website for corporate banking and

Slavery and the Constitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Slavery and the Constitution - Essay Example Thomas Jefferson, a former president of the United States did not support slavery. He considered slavery as a breach of the laws of the nature (Beamount 4). Jefferson had taken actions that he thought would end servitude and slavery. One of his moves was the drafting of the law in Virginia in the 1700s. These laws forbid the transportation of African slaves. He started plan for slower redemption of slaves by indicated that after certain period they would go free. However, regardless of his labors Jefferson found himself retaining slaves. He was not successful and died before implementing his decisions. President Lincoln was another person who advocated for the elimination of slavery. During the civil war, Lincoln issued a liberation proclamation. This order advocated for the release of many slaves that were subjected to the acts of slavery and servitude. Other people such as the spiritual leaders were in opposition to slavery (Finkelman 18). They found that the act were against their sacred teachings. They thus made moves that helped to end slavery. Most people in the south, especially owners of plantations wanted the prolongation of slavery because they benefited from the labor that the slaves offered. Even the white southerners who did not own plantations felt that the abolition of slavery would have led to decline of their economy. The southerners had commenced to incorporate slavery and assumed that they had the right to own slaves. Most southerners thought that slavery plus servitude should proceed. The criticisms of slavery by people who were against it led to a need of constitution amendment. Various leaders including President Lincoln had pressed for the changes of the constitution. Religious leaders also contributed by preaching the negatives of slavery. They advocated for immediate changes of the constitution to end the sufferings that slaves went through

Globalisation and Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Globalisation and Business - Essay Example 2. Debates on Economic Globalisation Before going in-depth of the debatable issues of economic globalisation with respect to reduction of poverty, it is essential to recognise the entities that act as the prime contributors towards economic globalisation. The multinational corporations (MNCs) are perhaps the most significant transporter of economic globalisation. The MNCs operate with the organisation of production process and allocation of resources as per the various standards for maximising profits. The globalisation in financial sector also plays an important role towards influencing economic globalisation all around the world. One of the reasons for the formulation of debate over effectiveness of economic globalisation is the fact that the structures of the various industries undergo radical up-gradation and re-adjustment as a consequence of the economic globalisation (Shangquan, 2000). According to the proponents’ views towards the prospect of economic globalisation in t he sphere of reducing poverty, the relatively poor economies had undergone tremendous changes after the economic globalisation evolved. For example, in India, since the year 1975, the rate of poverty has declined sharply along with the decrement in inequality. In countries like India, the supporters of economic globalisation consider the process as an entirely benevolent one indicating the long desired delivery of the concept of humanity from economic underdevelopment, despair and backwardness. The proponents to the concept of economic globalisation are of the notion that the process would operate for the betterment of the human beings within a country wherever poverty exists. This would be achieved because the allowance to market forces would keep the trading away... The paper tells that the multinational corporations (MNCs) are perhaps the most significant transporter of economic globalisation. The MNCs operate with the organisation of production process and allocation of resources as per the various standards for maximising profits. The globalisation in financial sector also plays an important role towards influencing economic globalisation all around the world. One of the reasons for the formulation of debate over effectiveness of economic globalisation is the fact that the structures of the various industries undergo radical up-gradation and re-adjustment as a consequence of the economic globalisation. According to the proponents’ views towards the prospect of economic globalisation in the sphere of reducing poverty, the relatively poor economies had undergone tremendous changes after the economic globalisation evolved. For example, in India, since the year 1975, the rate of poverty has declined sharply along with the decrement in ineq uality. In countries like India, the supporters of economic globalisation consider the process as an entirely benevolent one indicating the long desired delivery of the concept of humanity from economic underdevelopment, despair and backwardness. The proponents to the concept of economic globalisation are of the notion that the process would operate for the betterment of the human beings within a country wherever poverty exists. This would be achieved because the allowance to market forces would keep the trading away from the political issues of the country and would bring about greater growth of the economy and thus for its native as well.

The little bee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The little bee - Essay Example Another way that language is a theme in Cleave’s book is that Sarah and Andrew are journalists who both use words in their occupations. When Andrew meets Little Bee and her sister, he realizes that his words do not really make a huge difference in the world. Little Bee eventually realizes that she has a renewed faith how powerful words can be because it can help a person to heal. Identity and language is crucial and the story is told from the narration of both Little Bee and Sarah. Sarah has everything she wants except happiness and Little Bee has nothing but a good sense of humor. They both have something in common. With their cross-cultural differences, they begin to understand a little more about each other and like each other. Little Bee is struggling to find out who she is. She left the British detention center not knowing how to live life other than the ways she had lived in Nigeria. Now in a new culture, she struggles to figure out who she is but with the help of Sarah, they are able to help each other. Little Bee does not think she has actually left her country but a part of it travelled with

Causes and effect of opiate drug use among teenagers between the age Research Paper

Causes and effect of opiate drug use among teenagers between the age of thirteen and seventeen in our communities - Research Paper Example hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and levorphanol. Artificial or synthetic opioids are also available and include fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, propoxyphene, and tramadol. While the former have chemical structures similar to natural opiates that of synthetic opiates is distinct. Irrespective of nature of origin, opiates have acute as well as chronic psychological effects and are known to be addictive (Kim-Katz & Anderson, 2011). Drug abuse is one of the major issues dealt by governments worldwide with approximately 185 million people being directly involved during the period spanning 1998-2002 according to UNODC estimates. Of this 0.4% of the population in the diverse age group of 15 to 64 years was found to be addicted to opioids with half using illicit opioids such as heroin and the remaining addicted to prescription opiates. In U.S., specific patterns are observed in nature of drug use. While illicit drug use is more prevalent among the black adolescents; prescription drug is used more frequently by whites (Schroeder & Ford, 2012). Global burden of illicit opioid use is indicated by the fact that it was reported to be responsible for 0.7% of global disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in the year 2000 (Hall et al., 2006). Teenagers in the age group of 13 to 17 years form a highly vulnerable set of population with respect to drug abuse. National Drug Intelligence Center data indicates that in the year 2 003 alone approximately 7.5 million individuals of this age group had fallen prey to illicit drug use at least once, of these 3.3% were reported to have used heroin (NDIC, 2004). A comparison of the data for the years 2008 and 2009 indicates a statistically significant rise in illicit drug use incidences in this age group (SAMHSA, 2009). Evidence based researches investigating the etiologic factors of opioid use are few. Personal factors that have been reported to be responsible for opiate use among teenagers can be listed in to three

Tragic Hero Of Shakespeares Great Tragedies Essay Example for Free

Tragic Hero Of Shakespeares Great Tragedies Essay A tragic hero was defined by Aristotle as one who makes an error of judgment that eventually leads to their own destruction. Aristotle once had said that â€Å"A man doesn’t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.† In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth is a true example of a tragic hero as he had countless noble qualities coupled with several tragic flaws. He holds an importance to his society; in the beginning, a fearless nationalist, fighting for his country and then eventually he became king. Macbeth did have some major character flaws such as his great ambition, him being haunted by superstition and he had made many grave errors in judgment, one of them being the murder of the King of Scotland. For the duration of events in the plot, Macbeth progressively becomes more and more miserable. There were outside forces which contributed to his corruption; the main force would be the three witches. A Shakespearean tragic hero contains all or most of the following qualities: providing a moral example to the audience, suffering public embarrassment, and meeting his doom with courage and dignity which Macbeth did all of. With it taken into consideration, Macbeth is most definitely a tragic hero. With Macbeth becoming more important in the plot is one of the crucial reasons to why he became a tragic hero in the end. Macbeth was a Scottish general, who was a fearless man and his performance in Scotland’s battle was celebrated greatly in the beginning of the play. Macbeth’s performance was described by the Captain as â€Å"Cannons overcharged with double cracks, so the doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe† (1.2.41-42) With Macbeth doing so well and receiving such positive feedback, King Duncan couldn’t help but be so overjoyed with Macbeth. With all of the valiant news, Duncan’s only response was to upgrade Macbeth’s title from Thane of Glamis to Thane of Cawdor. â€Å"No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth† (1.2.73-76); â€Å"What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.† (1.2.78). Many of Macbeth’s major character flaws were displayed along with his weaknesses and serious errors in judgment in the duration of the play. After he received all the recognition from his success in battle along with his title being upgraded, the ambition he had to become king couldn’t help but rise. His ambition to become King was too heavy and they overtook his morals in the end after meeting the witches’ and hearing his prophecies. When his ambition was combined with the witches’ prophecies it was as if he no longer had morals since he was easily persuaded into what he’d like to hear. When Macbeth is thinking of murdering Duncan to become King his ambition takes control for a moment, but then his morality takes back over. â€Å"Why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?† (1.3.147-150). When Macbeth recognizes that he is opening up to his tempt ation, he begins to question himself as to why. But, he begins to persuade himself into believing that the temptation of committing murder can’t be as daunting as he thinks it is, â€Å"Present fears are less than horrible imaginings† (1.3.150-151). In layman’s term, his only fear is fear itself. Macbeth is portrayed as this brave man, whose wife manipulates him by insulting and accusing him of being cowardice, which he believes he has to prove to be false. He won’t allow a single thing get in the way of his future as king. As soon as Macbeth made his final decision, after changing his mind five times, to kill Duncan; eventually it escalated into a sea of many problems both big and small; this is what brought Macbeth to his tragic end. The roles that played the biggest part in Macbeth’s deteriorating character would have to be the three witches. â€Å"FIRST WITCH: All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! SECOND WITCH: All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! THIRD WITCH: All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!\ (1.3.51-53) The witches had no effect on anyone except Macbeth. Macbeth was completely captivated by the witches. If Macbeth had never met the witches or was told his prophecies he would have gone on through a life of no excitement. Due to being told the prophecies his curiosity of how he would be able to become King of Scotland began to grow immensely and the importance he holds for Scotland increases. Macbeth fast-tracked from Thane of Glamis to Thane of Cawdor and eventually reaching what he wanted the most, the title of the almighty King of Scotland. In Act 4, scene 1, the three witches appear to Macbeth again and they conjure three apparitions for him. The first being (appears in 4.1.77) an armed head and told Macbeth to â€Å"Beware Macduff!† (4.1.81). Macbeth’s reaction to the witches after seeing the apparition was simply thank you. However, I already knew to do that. The second apparition (appears in 4.1.88) a bloody child that said to Macbeth that no man born of a woman could ever harm him. After seeing the second apparition Macbeth thought to himself why must I be aware of Macduff? Everyone is born of a woman. The third and final apparition that appeared to Macbeth (appears in 4.1.98) is a crowned child with a tree in his hand which told Macbeth that he must relax and forget about his troubles because â€Å"Macbeth shall never be vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.† (4.1.105-107). But Macbeth vetoed it off as a possibility because it seemed completely ri diculous and impossible for a forest to be able to move. However, unbeknownst to Macbeth was that Macduff actually had not been born of a woman. The doctors had to slice her open (cesarean birth) to remove the baby. Macbeth had been tricked by the three witches, due to Macbeth being so confident nothing would ever happen to him because of his prophecies he did not take the necessary precautions to protect his well-being and his title as King. Macbeth was a victim of superstition due to his avid imagination. His superstition is what made it so easy for him to not question the promises that the apparitions made. His superstition is what made him strongly cling to his belief in the promises made even when circumstances became strenuous. His imagination is so strong that when it was left to run uncontrolled his â€Å"function/ Is smother’d in surmise.† As seen in the â€Å"dagger† scene and in the panic Macbeth had suffered after Duncan had been murdered. It was also seen in the scene which Macbeth saw Banquo’s ghost at the banquet. Undoubtedly, Macbeth incarnates the attributes of Aristotle\s tragic hero in many ways. He had become very important to his society and dreamed of being the most powerful ruler. His ruin was led by his overcoming ambition, superstition, and moral cowardice. It led to an ocean of problems from which there was no possible solution to and from that came his inevitable doom. Macbeth started as a nobleman who was hailed as the savior of this country, a â€Å"valiant cousin,† a â€Å"worthy gentlemen,† but changed to a man of unending cruelty. There should be no skepticism about this, Macbeth is indeed a tragic hero.

Visual Cortex Involvement in Memory

Visual Cortex Involvement in Memory Is visual cortex involved in memory? Essay type Option 1 [REVIEW OPTION] Là ³pez-Aranda et al. 2009. Role of Layer 6 of V2 Visual Cortex in Object-Recognition Memory, Science 325, 87 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19574389 Cattaneo et al., 2009. Contrasting early visual cortical activation states casually involved in visual imagery and short term memory http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19788574 Though a lot of information enters the brain, retention does not occur for all of it, and it is considered to be a selective process. One of these retentions is short term memory, also known as working memory. In vision, working memory is interpreted as the maintenance of a whole object, instead of the components of the objects image: orientation, texture, etc. (Super, 2003). Memory retention and formation is typically associated with increased activity in mammalian prefrontal and parietal cortex, with little evidence for activity in sensory areas, beyond of the initial sensory stimulation (Pasternak and Greenlee, 2005). The Multiple Memory Systems is a widely accepted view that sustains that the brain is divided into sections in respect of their own specific function. In this interpretation, the Medial Temporal Lobe (MTL) has a role in memory, particularly in explicit memory function, and includes structures such as the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampal cortex, and perirhinal cortex, in addition to the prefrontal cortex (Bussey and Saksida, 2007). However, recent findings have suggested a role of sensory cortex in memory processing: increased brain activity in visual cortex has been found during the short-term retention of visual information after stimulus presentation (Kà ¡ldy and Sigala, 2004). It therefore has been more common to say that visual cortex role goes beyond encoding sensory information and also participates in memory consolidation. This essay reviews two papers in which evidence of the role of visual cortex in memory consolidation is presented by the use of different techniques: 1) Cellular techniques as protein overexpression and immunocytochemistry (Là ³pez-Aranda et al., 2009) and 2) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (Cattaneo et al., 2009) Role of Layer 6 of V2 Visual Cortex in Object-Recognition Memory Using rats as a model, Là ³pez-Aranda et al. (2009) tried to elucidate the specific role of layer 6 in V2, in regards to memory processing and retention. To do this, they utilised two methodologies in a paired-sample experiment (same group tested on two different occasions). One addressed the problem by analysing the overexpression of a certain G-protein regulator (RGS-14) in layer 6 of V2, that acted as a protease, and which permitted rats do better in Object recognition memory (ORM) tests. ORM tests consisted on evaluating the exploration time after an object was presented for 3 minutes, and presented again after a delay period of 30 minutes, 45 minutes or 60 minutes. Rats could recognise the object after 30 or 45 minutes had passed, but failed to do it after the 60 min delay. A group of these rats was then injected with a lentivirus coupled with the RGS-14 gene into layer 6 of V2, at 2/3 of V2 (dorsal to layer 6 of V2), at CA1 and at the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (both ven tral to layer 6 of V2). This permitted the overexpression of RGS-14 at those sites. Rats were ORM tested again 3 weeks after the injection was done. What was found was that rats improved in their ORM tests when they were injected exactly at layer 6 of V2, whereas the rest of the rat groups (injected at other sites), did not show any difference in performance, and their activity was similar to that of the initial non-injected rats. The layer 6 injected rats were ORM tested again, to see how much retention they could support, showing up to 6 object retention (in comparison to the 2 object retention non-injected rats showed), and increasing its retention time to about 24 weeks. They then proceeded to make immunocytochemistry analysis to localize protein expression, which showed that RGS-14 was primarily being expressed at layer 6 of V2. The other methodology used focused on presenting the result of layer 6 of V2 destruction, by the injection of Ox7-SAP into this layer in non-injected rats and RGS-14 injected rats, and later doing the ORM test to both groups. Non-injected rats showed an increased reduction in retention time, not being able to perform equally as they did when layer 6 of V2 was not ablated. RGS-14 lentivirus injected rats also showed a reduction in their ORM test performance. A group of rats, either injected or non-injected, were tested again, only that before having layer 6 of V2 ablated by Ox7-SAP an object was presented for three minutes. Rat performance was not reduced when ORM test was done with object that was previously presented, but did showed reduction when the ORM was done with a new object, presented after layer 6 removal. The results showed an involvement of layer 6 of V2 in memory trace, though not storage. It is not explicitly said if the RGS-14 G protein regulator is naturally expressed in layer 6 of V2. As far as the obtained results, it is possible to say that RGS-14 could act as treatment option for short memory disorders or impairments, though more trials are possibly needed. Contrasting early visual cortical activation states casually involved in visual imagery and short term memory With the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Cattaneo et al., (2009) evaluated the role of early visual areas in memory and visual imagery. They essentially established two similar experiments involving two tasks, the imagery task and the memory task, in subjects who were either undergoing occipital TMS (over V1/V2), Vertex TMS (as a control) or No TMS. In the imagery task of the first experiment, subjects had to create a mental image of something. It consisted on presenting a black dot in the middle of a white screen, followed by a series of digits (that represented an hour, e.g. 10.10, 6.50, etc.), for about 1000 ms. Then this digits disappeared and a black circle showed up. Subjects were then asked to imagine the clock hands in the position that would describe the digits they had just seen. After a 2 second period passed, a single pulse of TMS was applied, depending on the condition previously defined for them. Next, a black dot was shown (inside the black circle) and subjects were asked to tell if this dot had appeared inside or outside the area the clock hands were supposed to be, by either pressing 1 or 2 on a keyboard for either inside or outside the area. In the memory task in the same experiment, subjects also had to fix their eyes at a black dot in the white screen. Then, the clock hands (describing an hour) inside a circle appeared for about 1000 ms. When this period had passed, the hands disappeared but the circle remained, and subjects were asked to continue on thinking on the clock hands for about 2 s. TMS was applied at the end of this 2 s (retention) period, in the same mode as in the imagery task. A block then appeared inside the circle and subjects were asked to describe whether the dot was inside or outside the area the clock hands formed. By doing ANOVA, they found no relevant differences between the mean detection accuracies between TMS conditions: Occipital TMS, Vertex TMS and No TMS, in both imagery and memory tasks. However, the mean reaction times did show relevant differences between those conditions, in both tasks. A Post hoc comparison showed that performance was better in the Occipital TMS than when condition were Vertex TMS or no TMS. There was also no significant variation when the analysis was done between Vertex TMS and no TMS. Experiment two was fairly similar to the one described above. It also involved a memory and imagery task, with the only difference being when was TMS applied: at the beginning of the 2 s period after subjects had seen the digits and were asked to imagine the clock hands inside the circle, for the imagery task, and at the beginning of the 2 s period when they were asked to continue on thinking on the clock hands, for the memory task. By performing ANOVA they found no significant difference between conditions for the mean detection accuracies and reaction time, in the imagery task. Conversely, in the memory task, ANOVA showed a relevant effect in mean detection accuracy and mean time, as well as the Post hoc analysis showed occipital TMS had an effect in comparison to the other conditions, both of which was impairment in performance. Discussion MTL structures have been presented as the major components in perception and working memory, and it is seen as a domain where ORM is thought to be processed (Kà ¡ldy and Sigala, 2004). Là ³pez-Aranda et al, (2009) results of the role of layer 6 neurons in the formation of both normal (short-term) and long-term ORM highlight the importance of V2, an area placed outside of MTL. Not much is known about the protein overexpressed at V2, RGS-14. It is integrated by a Regulators of G protein Signaling domain, as well as by a motif that permit its binding to inactive GDP; and by a tandem Rap1/2–binding domain. Acting as a GTPase activating protein, the protein increases the rate of conversion of the GTP to GDP. This allows the G alpha subunits to bind subunit heterodimers, and eventually ending a signal (NCBI, 2013). It would be interesting to know what made the authors determine to test this protein in that specific layer of V2, as it is not fully stated in the article, and because RGS14 was found to be expressed naturally/primarily in CA2 hippocampal neurons and to show memory â€Å"obstruction† when expressed in mice (Lee et al., 2010). Perhaps difference s between species (as both studies were done with model animals: rats and mice) are more relevant than thought, and should be taken in account before making any definite conclusion or investigate of how the signaling process occurs and affects a cognitive behavior, such as memory. However, findings involving TMS analysis in humans by decrease of activity, as the one presented by Cattaneo et al. (2009), in which there was a noted decrease in subject performance in the memory task when TMS was applied in the beginning of the â€Å"retention period† at V1/V2, indicate that memory of visual information involves activity in early visual cortex that goes further than the periods of sensory perception. In early visual cortex, memory of visual content is topographically organized. These results are possibly due to less vulnerability to interference after the retention period, and a possible interaction with higher order areas activity with visual cortex activity (van de Ven and Sack, 2013). The previous results can be paired with Harrison and Tong (2009) results, were they used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in conjunction to Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) analysis, to monitor cortical activity while participants did a delayed orientation discrimination task, where 2 gratings were shown to the subjects, followed by a cue that indicated which grating to remember (first or second) and an 11 s period (delay period). Then the grating was showed again and subjects had to say if the image was rotated in a sense or antisense (clockwise) matter. They examined the role of visual areas in working memory through different experiments; fMRI decoding was specifically used to evaluate the patterns in brain activity, in areas corresponding to V1 to V4 (to the 120 most responsive voxels) to try to predict its representation in working memory. The accuracy of predicted orientation that was held in memory reached 83%, which is considered to be very high, one of the ex periments where subjects had to fix its eye to a letter, and not the grating, showed high prediction to those gratings in areas V1, V2 and V3. Ultimately, their findings suggest that memory related information may be encoded in these structures (showing increased activity in areas V1/V2) and that early visual areas can hold up information, not only displaying sensory processing functions. Different approaches can be taken to evaluate visual cortex relation with memory, as the ones reviewed in this essay: TMS, protein overexpression, fMRI among others. Evidence that sensory cortical areas are an active element of the circuitry that underlies short term retention of sensory signals is emerging and improving our understanding of memory. It can be concluded that not only the MTL is important for visual memory processing, but also early visual cortex and evidence of what is happening at the cellular level needs to be improved in order to eventually delimit its potential in cognitive treatments. References Bussey TJ, Saksida LM (2007) Memory, perception, and the ventral visual-perirhinal-hippocampal stream: thinking outside of the boxes. Hippocampus 17:898-908. Cattaneo Z, Vecchi T, Pascual-Leone A, Silvanto J (2009) Contrasting early visual cortical activation states causally involved in visual imagery and short-term memory. The European journal of neuroscience 30:1393-1400. Harrison SA, Tong F (2009) Decoding reveals the contents of visual working memory in early visual areas. Nature 458:632-635. Kaldy Z, Sigala N (2004) The neural mechanisms of object working memory: what is where in the infant brain? Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 28:113-121. Lee SE, Simons SB, Heldt SA, Zhao M, Schroeder JP, Vellano CP, Cowan DP, Ramineni S, Yates CK, Feng Y, Smith Y, Sweatt JD, Weinshenker D, Ressler KJ, Dudek SM, Hepler JR (2010) RGS14 is a natural suppressor of both synaptic plasticity in CA2 neurons and hippocampal-based learning and memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 107:16994-16998. Lopez-Aranda MF, Lopez-Tellez JF, Navarro-Lobato I, Masmudi-Martin M, Gutierrez A, Khan ZU (2009) Role of layer 6 of V2 visual cortex in object-recognition memory. Science 325:87-89. NCBI (2013) RGS14 regulator of G-protein signaling 14 [ Homo sapiens (human) ]. In. USA. Pasternak T, Greenlee MW (2005) Working memory in primate sensory systems. Nature reviews Neuroscience 6:97-107. Super H (2003) Working memory in the primary visual cortex. Archives of neurology 60:809-812. van de Ven V, Sack AT (2013) Transcranial magnetic stimulation of visual cortex in memory: cortical state, interference and reactivation of visual content in memory. Behavioural brain research 236:67-77.

Marketing Essay -- Business Management Studies

Marketing Marketing is about understanding the customer needs and making sure that the products fit the customer’s needs as well as finding ways to influence the customer’s behaviour. Aims and objectives An aim is a statement of purpose that outlines what the business wants to achieve, it is a general goal e.g. to gain profit. An objective is a statement of how the business will achieve their aims it contains specific numbers and dates, they are SMART. For example achieve 4% profit by the end of 2006 Businesses need to have aims and objectives in order to have a direction to follow and gain the best they can out of their business. Objectives of a business need to be SMART, this means: * Specific†¦They need to relate to the issues and the market in which the organisation is involved is involved. * Measurable†¦ They need to see if they have been successful in achieving the objectives * Achievable†¦They must be realistic for the business to be able to achieve, where they’re not too difficult so there’s a lot of pressure on the business and not too easy. * Realistic†¦ The objectives must relate to the business and its activities and must not be too far-fetched. * Timely†¦ they must plan how and when they need to be achieved. The marketing aims and objectives are a part of the marketing plan. The marketing objectives and are also SMART and like all the other departments within the business they need to build towards the aims and objectives of the business as a whole. Marketing objectives must involve understanding the needs of the customers; they also need to stay ahead of their competition. The market research the department carries out helps to determine what their objectives ar... ...blend of the marketing mix will persuade a customer to buy the product and stay loyal to the business. It is also important that the business has a specific blend just for them because of their aims and objectives as a business, for example a supermarket needs to keep a different blend to a fast food chain as their targeted customers have different needs. Overall the marketing in a business plays a very important role in how successful a product and therefore a business will be, as a good marketing strategy will attract more customers and gain more profit for the business. The marketing department mainly relies on help from other departments and the marketing mix (it is important to have the right blend). If the business uses the right strategies to fit the product/service they provide then they will be successful in achieving their aims and objectives.

Comparing Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby and Eliots The Love Song of J. Alf

The Great Gatsby and Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock So often, it seems, life can seem like a "patient etherized on the table" (Eliot, 3). Be it the apparent futility of existence as a whole, or the insecurity of those single moments of doubt; life is often fleeting. I believe life is best described as a fickle beast, always elusive; always turning down some new and unexpected road. This fleeting life is what both Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby and Alfred J. Prufrock of "Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock" experience. These two men experiences move down remarkably similar paths as they quest for love and life. Yet each has sealed their shared fate in a different manner. As they head toward the seeming abyss of death, both remiss on all they wish they had done during their lives. By the time each man meets his end they both feel they have failed themselves and life as a whole. While sporting similar fates, Prufrock and Gatsby, boast a seemingly opposed beginning. Prufrock is best describe in his love song as a passenger on the road of life. He speaks of his...

The Scarlet Ibis :: essays research papers

James Hurst's short story, "The Scarlet Ibis" reveals that the brotherly bond between the narrator and Doodle is an essential component in the story. If Doodle was a girl, the brotherly connection and bond would be lost, resulting in many variations throughout the story. If Doodle was a girl the narrator probably wouldn't spend as much time with Doodle. A brother-brother relationship is very different than a brother-sister relationship. Doodle would likely be closer to another female such as her mother. Young girls tend to spend more time indoors with their mothers learning to sew, playing with dolls and other girl things. Its not that a brother-sister relationship is non-existent, but its a lot different. With Doodle spending more time inside, "she" wouldn't ever experience summers down by the swamp learning to run, box and climb trees. All of those things are things that little boys do. Brothers spend more time outside running, wrestling and playing sports. They enjoy doing things that take physical skill. Even if Doodle went outside, she probably wouldn't be interested in running through the forest and climbing trees. Chances are that she would be more into picking wildflowers and feeding the squirrels. There are rare occasions where you will find a real special brother-sister relationship, especially at the age Doodle and his brother were at. Younger children often play with other kids of the same gender and thinks the opposite sex has "kuddies." The two children would be at a vulnerable age to risk a close relationship. Close brother and sister relationships don't usually evolve until the mid teenage years. For example I have two older sisters that I am very close with now, but when I was young I didn't want anything to with them. So I began to develop a close relationship with my dad at a young age. That is why I believe that if Doodle was a girl, she would have been connected closer with her mother because of the gender relation. Not as much is expected physically from a girl, therefore I believe Doodle would be handicapped the rest of "her" life.

Cyber Security

â€Å"Securing  a  computer  system  has  traditionally  been  a  battle  of  wits:  the  penetrator  tries  to  find the  holes,  and  the  designer  tries  to  close  them. †Ã‚  Ã‚  ~Gosser Warfare  has  always  been  a  game  of  cat  and  mouse. As  technology  increases  war  has  to  adapt with  it. Wars  have  evolved  from  a  contest  of  strength  to  a  show  of  potential. Previously  wars  were fought  with  large  armies  and  whomever  could  most  effectively  utilize  the  most  troops  with  better training  won;  now  however,  a  single  person  with  a  nuclear  bomb  can  destroy  a  city  within  seconds.In the  1980s,  a  new  technology  appeared:  the  internet. At  first  the  internet  was  just  a  way  for  people  to communicate  by  sending  t ext  files  to  each  other. Soon  however  the  internet  became  a  public  place  to store  and  access  information. As  more  and  more  personal  and  classified  information  gets  stored,  it  is only  natural  that  people  try  to  find  a  way  to  steal  information  for  their  own  benefits. Cyber  skirmishes are  right  now  being  fought  online  to  get  more  information.Bruce  Berkowitz  said:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The  ability  to collect,  communicate,  process,  and  protect  information  is  the  most  important  factor  defining  military power. †Ã‚  Berkowitz  argues  that  weaponry  and  manpower  that  used  to  be  the  main  determining  factor of  wars  will  lose  out  to  the  amount  of  information  that  a  country  has. Knowing  where  the  enemies have  groupedà ‚  their  troops/weapons  will  allow  a  guided  missiles  and  unmanned  drones  to  wreak havoc. Cheap  cyber  weapons  such  as  worms  and  trojans  (viruses)  can  neutralize  conventional 2 eapons  as  missiles  and  nukes1. According  to  the  Department  of  Homeland  Security:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Our  daily  life,  economic  vitality,  and national  security  depend  on  a  stable,  safe,  and  resilient  cyberspace. We  rely  on  this  vast  array  of networks  to  communicate  and  travel,  power  our  homes,  run  our  economy,  and  provide  government services. Yet  cyber  intrusions  and  attacks  have  increased  dramatically  over  the  last  decade,  exposing sensitive  personal  and  business  information,  disrupting  critical  operations,  and  imposing  high  costs  on the  economy. 2 Unlike  any  other  technological  advancement,  information  technology  has  changed  how  wars are  fought. Before  information  technology  wars  were  always  about  killing  enemy  combatants,  now skirmishes  are  about  the  speed  of  maneuvering  packets  of  information. There  is  no  longer  a  Ã¢â‚¬Å"front†Ã‚  in war;  rather  it  is  all  about  little  battles  between  counter ­invasion  and  invasion. While  previously  a command  center  would  be  untargetable  unless  you  bypass  the  enemy  armies,  now  each  Ã¢â‚¬Å"battle†Ã‚  online is  consisted  of  its  own  security  system. What  we  are  seeing  are  threats  against  critical  infrastructure,† said  Cyber  security  expert  Jessica  Herrera ­Flanigan  of  the  Monument  Policy  Group  . â€Å"So,  we  are talkingà ‚  about  threats  against  our  energy  sector,  the  banking  sector,  telecommunications,  smart  grids, oil  and  gas  Ã‚ ­Ã‚  basically,  all  the  critical  assets  that  we  have  that  operate  our  day ­to ­day  living  are  being impacted. † Like  traditional  war,  cyber ­war  has  two  basic  types  of  attacks:  disruption  and  espionage. 1 ttps://www. cia. gov/library/center ­for ­the ­study ­of ­intelligence/csi ­publications/csi ­studies/studies/vol48no4/ new_face_of_war. html 2 http://www. dhs. gov/cybersecurity ­overview 3 Disruption  attacks  can  be  compared  to  traditional  battles  between  two  armies. Attacks  of  this  type  is designed  to  halt  a  specific  site  or  server. Espionage  attacks  are  generally  attacks  for  classified information. Common  attacks  include  denial  of  service  attack,  viruses,  worms  and  trojans.Countries such  as  China  and  India  are  rapidly  outpacing  the  United  States  in  the  field  of  information  technology. Should  the  United  States  not  be  able  to  keep  up  with  China  and  India  in  information  technology,  these countries  will  be  able  to  steal  information  on  the  United  States  infrastructure  and  military  secrets. What  is  Computer  Security Cybersecurity  is  used  to  describe  a  set  of  hardware,  software  and  coding  designed  to  protect  a nation/company’s  networks,  computers,  programs  and  data  from  any  type  of  unauthorized  access.There  are  different  types  of  of  cyber  security:  Application  security  is  specific  to  different  applications (programs)  and   deals  with  the  measures  that  the  program  takes  while  it  is  running  to  prevent  errors and  handle  exceptions  when  there  is  a  flaw  (an  example  of  this  can  be  the  Windows  Blue  Screen  of Death). Information  security  is  when  a  company/nation  tries  to  defend  information  or  trade/military secrets  Ã‚  from  unauthorized  access  (an  example  of  this  is  when  Gmail  is  encrypting  its  passwords). Disaster  recovery  is  the  process  in  which  a  program  tries  to  recover  data  aft Cyber Security â€Å"Securing  a  computer  system  has  traditionally  been  a  battle  of  wits:  the  penetrator  tries  to  find the  holes,  and  the  designer  tries  to  close  them. †Ã‚  Ã‚  ~Gosser Warfare  has  always  been  a  game  of  cat  and  mouse. As  technology  increases  war  has  to  adapt with  it. Wars  have  evolved  from  a  contest  of  strength  to  a  show  of  potential. Previously  wars  were fought  with  large  armies  and  whomever  could  most  effectively  utilize  the  most  troops  with  better training  won;  now  however,  a  single  person  with  a  nuclear  bomb  can  destroy  a  city  within  seconds.In the  1980s,  a  new  technology  appeared:  the  internet. At  first  the  internet  was  just  a  way  for  people  to communicate  by  sending  t ext  files  to  each  other. Soon  however  the  internet  became  a  public  place  to store  and  access  information. As  more  and  more  personal  and  classified  information  gets  stored,  it  is only  natural  that  people  try  to  find  a  way  to  steal  information  for  their  own  benefits. Cyber  skirmishes are  right  now  being  fought  online  to  get  more  information.Bruce  Berkowitz  said:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The  ability  to collect,  communicate,  process,  and  protect  information  is  the  most  important  factor  defining  military power. †Ã‚  Berkowitz  argues  that  weaponry  and  manpower  that  used  to  be  the  main  determining  factor of  wars  will  lose  out  to  the  amount  of  information  that  a  country  has. Knowing  where  the  enemies have  groupedà ‚  their  troops/weapons  will  allow  a  guided  missiles  and  unmanned  drones  to  wreak havoc. Cheap  cyber  weapons  such  as  worms  and  trojans  (viruses)  can  neutralize  conventional 2 eapons  as  missiles  and  nukes1. According  to  the  Department  of  Homeland  Security:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Our  daily  life,  economic  vitality,  and national  security  depend  on  a  stable,  safe,  and  resilient  cyberspace. We  rely  on  this  vast  array  of networks  to  communicate  and  travel,  power  our  homes,  run  our  economy,  and  provide  government services. Yet  cyber  intrusions  and  attacks  have  increased  dramatically  over  the  last  decade,  exposing sensitive  personal  and  business  information,  disrupting  critical  operations,  and  imposing  high  costs  on the  economy. 2 Unlike  any  other  technological  advancement,  information  technology  has  changed  how  wars are  fought. Before  information  technology  wars  were  always  about  killing  enemy  combatants,  now skirmishes  are  about  the  speed  of  maneuvering  packets  of  information. There  is  no  longer  a  Ã¢â‚¬Å"front†Ã‚  in war;  rather  it  is  all  about  little  battles  between  counter ­invasion  and  invasion. While  previously  a command  center  would  be  untargetable  unless  you  bypass  the  enemy  armies,  now  each  Ã¢â‚¬Å"battle†Ã‚  online is  consisted  of  its  own  security  system. What  we  are  seeing  are  threats  against  critical  infrastructure,† said  Cyber  security  expert  Jessica  Herrera ­Flanigan  of  the  Monument  Policy  Group  . â€Å"So,  we  are talkingà ‚  about  threats  against  our  energy  sector,  the  banking  sector,  telecommunications,  smart  grids, oil  and  gas  Ã‚ ­Ã‚  basically,  all  the  critical  assets  that  we  have  that  operate  our  day ­to ­day  living  are  being impacted. † Like  traditional  war,  cyber ­war  has  two  basic  types  of  attacks:  disruption  and  espionage. 1 ttps://www. cia. gov/library/center ­for ­the ­study ­of ­intelligence/csi ­publications/csi ­studies/studies/vol48no4/ new_face_of_war. html 2 http://www. dhs. gov/cybersecurity ­overview 3 Disruption  attacks  can  be  compared  to  traditional  battles  between  two  armies. Attacks  of  this  type  is designed  to  halt  a  specific  site  or  server. Espionage  attacks  are  generally  attacks  for  classified information. Common  attacks  include  denial  of  service  attack,  viruses,  worms  and  trojans.Countries such  as  China  and  India  are  rapidly  outpacing  the  United  States  in  the  field  of  information  technology. Should  the  United  States  not  be  able  to  keep  up  with  China  and  India  in  information  technology,  these countries  will  be  able  to  steal  information  on  the  United  States  infrastructure  and  military  secrets. What  is  Computer  Security Cybersecurity  is  used  to  describe  a  set  of  hardware,  software  and  coding  designed  to  protect  a nation/company’s  networks,  computers,  programs  and  data  from  any  type  of  unauthorized  access.There  are  different  types  of  of  cyber  security:  Application  security  is  specific  to  different  applications (programs)  and   deals  with  the  measures  that  the  program  takes  while  it  is  running  to  prevent  errors and  handle  exceptions  when  there  is  a  flaw  (an  example  of  this  can  be  the  Windows  Blue  Screen  of Death). Information  security  is  when  a  company/nation  tries  to  defend  information  or  trade/military secrets  Ã‚  from  unauthorized  access  (an  example  of  this  is  when  Gmail  is  encrypting  its  passwords). Disaster  recovery  is  the  process  in  which  a  program  tries  to  recover  data  aft

Two Business A2 Level Critical Path Analysis Questions

Q1) Discuss the benefits to Balfour Beatty of using critical path analysis in order to plan its construction projects. (15 marks) Critical path analysis identifies the most efficient and cost effective way of completing a complex project. The various activities which together will make up the project are identified, and the order of these activities are identified. Then, the duration of each activity is estimated and these factors are then arranged as a network or graph, showing the whole project from start to finish, and showing which tasks can happen at the same time.The sequence of tasks which have to be done one after another with no gaps in between is called the Critical Path. One benefit of Critical Path analysis to Balfour Beatty is that it always finds the shortest time possible for completing a complex project. â€Å"The customer requested completion in 124 weeks but through careful planning using Critical Path Analysis, Balfour Beatty was able to plan the project for compl etion in 79 weeks. This can give a competitive edge and is an important element of time-based management. If a company is able to complete the task faster than others, it is more likely that they will get chosen, providing the company with more customers, more revenue and therefore more profit. A second benefit of Critical Path Analysis to Balfour Beatty is that it allows managers to operate Just-in-time production. Resources such as raw materials, labour and equipment can be employed right at the earliest start time.Construction companies rely on subcontractors to complete certain tasks and for certain equipment to be hired at specific times, so with Critical Path Analysis, a manager could predict the exact time a certain piece of equipment would be needed and book the particular equipment early on to ensure that the company will have it when needed. This saves on the storage costs and opportunity costs of stock holding, and improves liquidity.Overall, I believe that Critical Path Analysis is a very recommended way of managing time, and will ensure that a Balfour Beatty will use their time in the most productive way possible when using this network, improving efficiency and making customers want to use them again. Q2) Evaluate the main difficulties faced by Balfour Beatty and other construction companies in their use of CPA to plan their projects. (15 marks) Critical path analysis identifies the most efficient and cost effective way of completing a complex project.The various activities which together will make up the project are identified, and the order of these activities are identified. Then, the duration of each activity is estimated and these factors are then arranged as a network or graph, showing the whole project from start to finish, and showing which tasks can happen at the same time. The sequence of tasks which have to be done one after another with no gaps in between is called the Critical Path. One difficulty of using Critical Path Analysis is t hat unless critical activities are identified and supervised closely, there’ll be delays to the whole project.Critical path analysis puts pressure on mangers to manage effectively and meet deadlines. If, for example, Balfour Beatty was unable to get hold of a particular piece of equipment when needed, the whole project could be delayed by the amount of time that it takes to get the equipment. This means that there will be many employees being paid with no output and the whole project is delayed with doesn’t usually bode well with the customer. A second difficulty of using Critical Path Analysis is that Critical path analysis sets tight deadlines, especially for critical activities.It can be very tempting for the employees to cut corners in order to meet these deadlines, but that can mean quality can suffer. If Balfour Beatty’s employees cut corners with the Bull ring shopping centre, this could mean that the construction was not done properly, causing risks to p ersons entering the shopping centre, or the planning of the bull ring centre may have been rushed, meaning that the layout was not thought out properly, causing problems when it came to construction. Critical Path Analysis puts a lot of pressure on all employees, which could in turn affect the whole project.

Jun Assignment Mpa for 2012-13

IGNOU M. A in Public Administration Solved Assignment Dec 2012 Presented by http://www. IGNOU4Ublog. com TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA) Course Code: MPA-011 Assignment Code: Asst/TMA/2012-2013 Marks: 100 This assignment consists of Sections I & II. There are five questions in each section. You have to answer a total of five questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to attempt at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20 marks. Section-1 consists of questions from Units 1 to 10 and Section-II consists of questions from Units 11 to 21. Section – I . Examine the views of F. W Riggs on Society-Administration relationship. Solution: Coming soon†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ———————————————————————————————– 2. ‘State’s role needs to be examined in the context of its Liberal and Marxist perspectives’. Discuss. Solution: The liberal conception of the state is of a limited organization that represents popular will. The state plays a minimal role in the directing of society and economic affairs, but can play a significant supporting role in modern liberal (social liberal) theories.Classical Liberals favor a minimal state that only provides for basic services such as defense, enforcing contracts and protecting property rights. Social liberals accept more roles for the state, primarily in the economic sphere, such as regulation of capitalism in order to protect consumers and workers, welfare programs to help the poor and disadvantaged in society and public services that benefit everyone. To liberals, the state plays a supporting role in society, and is usually left to operate in the political and social spheres.Marxists conceive of the state as an institution of capitalism that can be transformed to benefit the working class, as the state is the only institution that is capable of organizing and managing the economy on a large scale. The state would be radicalized in that the workers and people would control it through direct democracy or council democracy. The state becomes an integral part of the economy in that it owns the means of production in the phase of socialism.Marxists see the state as becoming unnecessary when the productive forces develop and authority on the state level is no longer required, leading to the disappearance of the state and social class. This society is called communism, where the means of production is owned communally but operated and managed by cooperatives. Socialism is an economic system whereby either the state or worker cooperatives own and control the means of production, strategic resources and major industry.The principle of socialism is to organize the economy in a rational manner that avoids the pitfalls of capitalism and the free market through plan ned or state directed economic systems. Socialism can also utilize the market mechanism to distribute goods and services in the form of market socialism, while the state or public retains ownership of major economic institutions. The revenue generated by the state economy would be used to finance government programs, potentially eliminating the need for taxation.A private sector for non-heavy industry can exist in a socialist system, but the state, public or cooperative sector would play the dominant role in the economy. To socialists, the state is a part of the economy and the state plays a dominant role in structuring economic and political affairs. ———————————————————————————————– 3. Explain the Neo-liberal Perspective of State. Solution: Neoliberalism is a co ntemporary political movement advocating economic liberalizations, free trade and open markets. Neoliberalism supports the privatization of nationalized industries, eregulation, and enhancing the role of the private sector in modern society. It is commonly informed by neoclassical or Austrian economics. The term neoliberal today is often used as a general condemnation of economic liberalization policies and advocates. Neoliberalism shares many concepts with mainstream schools of economic thought. The term â€Å"neoliberalism† was coined in 1938 by the German scholar Alexander Rustow at the Colloque Walter Lippmann. The colloquium defined the concept of neoliberalism as â€Å"the priority of the price mechanism, the free enterprise, the system of competition and a strong and impartial state. To be â€Å"neoliberal† meant that â€Å"laissez-faire† liberalism is not enough and that – in the name of liberalism – a modern economic policy is required. A fter the colloquium â€Å"neoliberalism† became a label for several academical approaches such as the Freiburg school, the Austrian School or the Chicago school of economics. During the military rule under Augusto Pinochet in Chile opposition scholars took up the expression again without a specific reference to any theoretical revision of liberalism.Rather, it described a set of political and economic reforms being implemented in Chile and imbued the term with pejorative connotations. In the last two decades, according to the Boas and Gans-Morse study of 148 journal articles, neoliberalism is almost never defined but used in several senses to describe ideology, economic theory, development theory, or economic reform policy. It has largely become a term of condemnation employed by critics of liberalizing economic tendencies. And it now suggests a â€Å"market fundamentalism† closer to the â€Å"paleoliberals† as opposed to the primary meaning.This leaves some con troversy as to the precise meaning of the term and its usefulness as a descriptor in the social sciences, especially as the number of different kinds of market economies have proliferated in recent years ———————————————————————————————– 4. ‘The nature of social participation is ever changing’.Elucidate Solution: Whether we live in the crowded bustle of an inner city or in a quieter, less populated rural area, most of us are part of the community in which we live. Social participation refers to people's social involvement and interaction with others. Activities such as volunteering, making donations, participating in sports, and recreational activities are all forms of social participation. While Canadians may differ in why, how, and how much they ge t involved, most would agree that social participation improves their own and the community's well-being[1].Measures of social participation include participation in political activities and participation in social activities. Measures of factors that influence social participation include social networks, sense of belonging, and level of trust. Highlights 54. 6% of Canadians – 58. 3% of men and 51. 7% of women – reported being involved in at least one political activity in 2002. Involvement in at least one social activity group, such as professional associations, or cultural, educational, and hobby organizations, was reported by 61% of Canadians in 2003. In 2003, the great majority of Canadians (93. %) reported having some close friends or family members. However, 6. 3% of Canadians reported having no close friend or family member. In 2003, the vast majority of Canadians had a â€Å"somewhat or very strong† sense of belonging to Canada (88%), to their province (81%), and to their community (70%). A little more than half of Canadians (56%) in 2003 believed that others could be trusted. The level of trust was highest among individuals aged 45 to 64 years old (59%) compared with other age categories. Footnotes There is no agreement on how to best define ‘community. For example, and the 2003 General Social Survey on Social Engagement (Statistics Canada, cat. no. 89-598-XIE) leaves the definition open. Generally, the term ‘community' refers to the people and institutions that are in proximity to our place of residence. However, it can also include a more global sense of community, where charitable donations to an international charity can benefit people of other countries. ———————————————————————————————– 5. Ans wer the following questions in 200 words each: ) Concept of ‘Hind Swaraj’ Solution:The concept of swaraj, or self-rule, was developed during the Indian freedom struggle. In his book Hind Swaraj (1909), Gandhi sought to clarify that the meaning behind swaraj was much more than simply â€Å"wanting [systems of] English rule without the Englishman; the tiger's nature but not the tiger. † The crux of his argument centered on the belief that the socio-spiritual underpinnings of British political, economic, bureaucratic, legal, military, and educational institutions were inherently unjust, exploitative and alienating.As Pinto explicates, â€Å"The principal theme of Hind Swaraj is the moral inadequacy of western civilization, especially its industrialism, as the model for free India. † Gandhi was particularly critical of the deeply embedded principles of ‘might is right' and ‘survival of the fittest'. On another level, the call for swaraj represents a genuine attempt to regain control of the ‘self' – our self-respect, self-responsibility, and capacities for self-realization – from institutions of dehumanization.As Gandhi states, â€Å"It is swaraj when we learn to rule ourselves. † The real goal of the freedom struggle was not only to secure political azadi (independence) from Britain, but rather to gain true swaraj (liberation and self-rule). Gandhi wanted all those who believed in swaraj: (1) to reject and wholly uproot the British raj (rule) from within themselves and their communities; and, (2) to regenerate new reference points, systems, and structures that enable individual and collective self-development.This regeneration was to grow from the strengths, perspectives, wisdom and experiences of people living in village India, rather than from cities in Britain, America, and even in India for that matter. Understanding the real ‘Self', and its relation to communities and society, is critical to the project of attaining swaraj. How is this relevant for us today? We feel that South Asia (along with the rest of the world) is experiencing a tremendous crisis, one overwhelming in its scale and pace of growth.While it is easy to get caught up in the symptoms of this crisis (the brutal violence, the enormous inequities, the extinction of cultures and languages, the degradation of the environment), it is equally, if not more, important to understand its roots. We must creatively analyze the content and the consequences of our current economic, political, social, and educational systems, without reverting to a romanticized past of so-called untouched or pristine traditions.From these critical reflections, we must generate new spaces, systems, and processes – based on moral and holistic visions of human potential and human progress – which can lead us out of the global self-destruction which engulfs us. Throughout it all, we must consider and negotiate our own role s, while asking ourselves how we are either working for solutions or contributing to making the crisis worse. Thus, today, we recognize Gandhi's concept of swaraj integral to three parallel action-reflection agendas for the 21st century: ———————————————————————————————– ) Citizen’s Charter Solution: Citizen’s Charter is a document which represents a systematic effort to focus on the commitment of the Organization towards its Citizens in respects of Standard of Services, Information, Choice and Consultation, Non-discrimination and Accessibility, Grievance Redressal, courtesy and value for money. This also includes expectations of the Organization from the Citizen for fulfilling the commitment of the Organization.The Citizen's Charter was a British p olitical initiative launched by the then Prime Minister, John Major, on 22 July 1991, less than a year into his premiership. [1] It aimed to improve public services in the UK by: Making administration accountable and citizen friendly. Ensuring transparency and the right to information. Taking measures to cleanse and motivate civil service. Adopting a stakeholder approach. Saving time of both executant and the clientele One part of the initiative was the granting of â€Å"Charter Marks† to those public bodies meeting defined standards. ———————————————————————————————- Section – II 6. Examine the role of Bureaucracy in policy monitoring and analysis. Solution: Bureaucrats put government policy into practice, and therefore the federal bureaucracy has a large impact on policymaking. In order to get their policies passed, the president and Congress must work with the bureaucracy. Controlling the bureaucracy can be difficult for the following reasons:Size: The president cannot monitor everyone or even every group within the bureaucracy, so much of what bureaucrats do goes unmonitored. Expertise of bureaucrats: The people who administer policy often know much more about those issues than the president or members of Congress. This expertise gives the bureaucrats power. Civil service laws: Firing bureaucrats, even for incompetence, is very difficult. Clientele groups: Many federal agencies provide services to thousands of people, and those people sometimes rally to defend the agency.Policy implementation: When Congress creates a new program, it does not establish all the details on how the policy will be implemented. Instead, Congress passes enabling legislation, which grants power to an agency to work out the specifics. Although the agency must stay within some bounds, it has a great deal of latitude in determining how to carry out the wishes of Congress. Power of Persuasion Presidential scholar Richard Neustadt has argued that the president’s primary power is that of persuasion.The president must lobby or persuade bureaucrats. But trying to convince members of the bureaucracy that their goals fit with the president’s goals is a time-consuming and often frustrating process. For this reason, many presidents have seen the bureaucracy as an obstacle to getting their agendas approved. Rule-making The federal bureaucracy makes rules that affect how programs operate, and these rules must be obeyed, just as if they were laws. The rule-making process for government agencies occurs in stages.After Congress passes new regulatory laws, the agency charged with implementing the law proposes a series of rules, which are published in the Federal Register. Interested parties can comment on the rules, either at public he arings or by submitting documents to the agency. After the agency publishes the final regulations, it must wait sixty days before enforcing those rules. During that time, Congress can review and change the rules if it desires. If Congress makes no changes, the rules go into effect at the end of sixty days. Federal regulations affect many groups of people, who have often challenged those regulations in court.Because litigation is a slow and expensive way to change regulations, Congress passed the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 to limit the need for litigation by opening the rulemaking process to those affected by it. The act encouraged federal agencies to engage in negotiated rule-making. If an agency agrees to the proposed regulations, for example, it publishes the proposals in the Federal Register and then participates in a negotiating committee overseen by a third party. Agreements reached by the committee are then open to the normal public review process.Parties to negotiated rule-making agree not to sue over the rules. ———————————————————————————————– 7. Write a note on the nature and characteristics of good governance. Solution: Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making.It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Participation Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand.Rule of law Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force. Transparency Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement.It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media. Responsiveness Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe. Consensus oriented There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved.It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community. ——————————————————————————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 8. Explain the meaning of Ethics, underlying its ‘foci’ and ‘loci’. Solution: Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.Major areas of study in ethics may be divided into 3 operational areas: Meta-ethics came to the fore with G. E. Moore's Principia Ethica from 1903. In it he first wrote about what he called the naturalistic fallacy. Moore was seen to reject naturalism in ethics, in his Open Question Argument. This made thinkers look again at second order questions about ethics. Earlier, the Scottish philosopher David Hume had put forward a similar view on the difference between facts and values.Studies of how we know in ethics divide into cognitivism and non-cognitivism; this is similar to the contrast between descriptivists and non-descriptivists. Non-cognitivism is the claim that when we judge something as right or wrong, this is neither true nor false. We may for example be only expressing our emotional feelings about these things. [2] Cognitivism can then be seen as the claim that when we talk about right and wrong, we are talking about matters of fact. Normative ethics Traditionally, normative ethics (also known as moral theory) was the study of what makes actions right and wrong.These theories offered an overarching moral principle one could appeal to in resolving difficult moral decisions. At the turn of the 20th century, moral theories became more complex and are no longer concerned solely with rightness and wrongness, but are interested in many different kinds of moral status. During the middle of the century, the study of normative ethics declined as meta-ethics grew in prominence. This focus on meta-ethics was in part caused by an intense linguistic focus in analytic philosophy and by the popularity of logical positivism.Virtue ethics Virtue ethics describes the character of a moral agent as a dr iving force for ethical behavior, and is used to describe the ethics of Socrates, Aristotle, and other early Greek philosophers. Socrates (469 BC – 399 BC) was one of the first Greek philosophers to encourage both scholars and the common citizen to turn their attention from the outside world to the condition of humankind. In this view, knowledge having a bearing on human life was placed highest, all other knowledge being secondary.Self-knowledge was considered necessary for success and inherently an essential good. A self-aware person will act completely within his capabilities to his pinnacle, while an ignorant person will flounder and encounter difficulty. ———————————————————————————————– 9. ‘The solution to governance challenges lies in civil soci ety movements’. Discuss. Solution: Until recently, the study of development process until recently has centered largely on the triangle of states-markets-international institutions.For the last decade, mainstream development discourse has adopted the notion of ‘civil society' as simultaneously the site of ‘citizens' collective action' as well as a set of actors to be incorporated in the planning, implementation and evaluation of development projects. This notion of ‘civil society' has tended to focus exclusively on NGOs. This course provides a more political understanding of ‘civil society' by examining social movements in relation to civil society and to the development project itself. It begins by current theories of ‘civil society' and ‘new social movements'.It then assesses the impact of nationalist and socialist movements on shaping the development agenda of nineteenth-century European and late-colonial states, and how social movements from the 1950s-1980s interacted with national governments in blocking, changing or advancing the development agendas of states (e. g. , Gandhian movements in India, the housing rights movements in urban Latin America, and the movements against minority rule in Southern Africa). The course focuses on contexts (e. g. democratisation, globalisation, etc. ), sectors (e. g. environment, agriculture), spaces (e. g. ural, urban) and agents (e. g. women). Subsequently, the course addresses the issue of ‘global civil society': issues of ‘globalisation' and transnational networks of solidarity created in response to it, for example, the movements against ‘sweatshop labour', the Zapatista movement in Mexico, and movements against transnational companies and institutions of global governance (WTO, World Bank, IMF etc. ). ———————————————————†”———————————– 10. Answer the following questions in 200 words each: a) Concept of New Public ManagementSolution: New public management (NPM) denotes broadly the government policies, since the 1980s, that aimed to modernise and render more effective the public sector. The basic hypothesis holds that market oriented management of the public sector will lead to greater cost-efficiency for governments, without having negative side-effects on other objectives and considerationsSome modern authors define NPM as a combination of splitting large bureaucracies into smaller, more fragmented ones, competition between different public agencies, and between public agencies and private firms and incentivization on more economic lines. 2] Defined in this way, NPM has been a significant driver in public management policy around the world, from the early 1980s to at least the early 2000s. NPM, compared to other pub lic management theories, is oriented towards outcomes and efficiency, through better management of public budget. [3] It is considered to be achieved by applying competition, as it is known in the private sector, to organizations in the public sector, emphasizing economic and leadership principles.New public management addresses beneficiaries of public services much like customers, and conversely citizens as shareholders. In 2007, the European Commission produced a white book on governance issues whose objective was to propose a new kind of â€Å"relationship between the state and the citizens,† reform governance, improve public management and render decision-making â€Å"more flexibleSome authors say NPM has peaked and is now in decline ——————————————————————————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ ) Business Process Engineering Solution: Business process re-engineering is a business management strategy, originally pioneered in the early 1990s, focusing on the analysis and design of workflows and processes within an organization. BPR aimed to help organizations fundamentally rethink how they do their work in order to dramatically improve customer service, cut operational costs, and become world-class competitors. 1] In the mid-1990s, as many as 60% of the Fortune 500 companies claimed to either have initiated reengineering efforts, or to have plans to do so. BPR seeks to help companies radically restructure their organizations by focusing on the ground-up design of their business processes. According to Davenport (1990) a business process is a set of logically related tasks performed to achieve a defined business outcome. Re-engineering emphasized a holistic focus on business objectives and how processes related to them, encouraging full-scale recreation of pr ocesses rather than iterative optimization of subprocesses.