Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Diversity - Research Paper Example Lost is an action, adventure, mystery, serial drama, science fiction and mystical drama film, While Greys Anatomy is an American medical drama series. In Lost, a plane, ‘oceanic 815’, flying to Los Angeles crashes on a mystifying island, leaving its survivors marooned in it without the resources to get help from the mainland. Greys Anatomy is all about the lives of the interns, inhabitants and their mentors in the illusory Seattle Grace hospital. It depicts their struggles to achieve their medical internships and have proper personal lives. In the two films, Asian American characters have been cast in quality roles. Lost has featured four Asian American characters; ‘Daniel Dae Kim’, ‘Yunjin Kim’ and ‘Naveen Andrews’ for main characters, and Ken Leung as a minor character. Greys Anatomy features Sandra Oh as the only character of Asian American descent. The Asian American characters in Lost have been given different roles; Daniel Dae Kim plays the husband of Yunjin Kim who is the offspring of an influential Korean entrepreneur and mobster. Naveen Andrews plays the role of a former Iraqi republican guard, while Ken Leung plays the role of a sarcastic supposed ghost whisperer. Greys Anatomy Sandra Oh plays the role of a surgical intern who progresses to a full surgeon. Asian Americans are underrepresented in primetime films, as white film writers do not write for this ethnic group. Asian American characters encompass only of 4% of the prime time television populace (Kendall, 186). Preponderance of the characters portrayed in key television population is cast in drama and science fiction making up 63%. 21% are cast in crime or law enforcement series, and 16% are cast in sitcoms or comedies (Kendall, 186). There are ranges of rationale why Asian Americans are underrepresented in prime time shows. Firstly, tribal issues frequently come up with writers writing for white characters only (Larson, 69). Secondly,

Homeland Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Homeland Security - Essay Example An evaluation of Department of Homeland Security demonstrates that in spite of its shortcomings, it is the best hope for protecting Americans from terrorists. Consequently, it is necessary to enhance its effectiveness and address the challenges that limit organizational efficiency. The Patriot Act was passed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center (The Department of Justice, 2015). The widespread support for this tool was demonstrated by the huge bipartisan support. The Senate passed it 98-1 while the House voted 357-66 to approve its passage (The Department of Justice, 2015). The Act gave the Department of Homeland Security new tools to detect and neutralize terrorism threats facing the country. The tool allowed the Department of Homeland security to enhance the effectiveness of its existing tools by giving it more surveillance powers and making it possible to access business records without tipping the suspects (The Department of Justice, 2015). In addition, it made it possible for different security agencies to coordinate effectively. The approach enabled them to connect the dots to result in improved security outcomes. It is noted that the Act updated the law for it to be consistent with new technologies and emerging threats. It is also evident that the Act increased the penalties for the individuals and organizations that engage in terrorist activities. The Act also exudes varied controversies because many people believe that since it was passed forty-five days after the terrorist attack, it was not subjected to intense scrutiny (Diamond, 2015). The security agencies have also abused the Act to create a surveillance state. Interestingly, the increased surveillance led to the collection of colossal amounts of data that made it difficult for the security agencies to find valuable patterns. The revelations by a NSA analyst, Edward Snowden raised concerns about its

Monday, October 28, 2019

Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Essay The Globe Theatre is a big circular theatre based on the South bank of the Thames in London. Shakespeare held his newest plays there before he publicly showed them anywhere else. The positions of where people sat varied from, the richer people sitting high up in the stands, and the poorer people who had to stand in the middle. The Globe Theatre was very basic, costumes and properties were kept backstage in the tiring house. The actors were well dressed and there were 3 roofed galleries. All performances took place in the afternoon. The stage itself had a trap door to get on and off, it was also a very high stage. In this essay I will be exploring how Shakespeare uses devices for dramatic affect. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare refers to where people and other objects are positioned on the stage. An example of this is; Romeo: but soft what light from yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun. This phrase implies that Shakespeare is asking the audience to imagine its dark and its night time and all they can see is a bright light appearing from above. This bright light suggests that she is life giving and beautiful, all eyes are drawn up to her in the theatre. Shakespeare uses positional language, such as, Romeo: Thou art as glorious to this night being over his head. This suggests that Juliet is on a balcony high above the stage and Romeo is below her. Also reinforces dark night-time reference with Juliet as shining sun. Shakespeare uses many metaphors in the play as it lets the characters show how they feel about each other. For example, Romeo: Juliet is the sun. He says this as the sun brings happiness and joy to everyone. He is also acknowledging that Juliet and her family are wealthier and have higher social standing than Romeos. He continues to use them later in Act 2 Scene 2. An example of this is, Romeo: O, speak again bright angel. This is because Romeo loves listening to the sound of her voice, he does not want her to stop speaking as he is totally focused on her. In Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare uses words with powerful connotations, as Romeo says, Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou will not, be but sworn my love, and Ill no longer be a Capulet. This suggests that their families may not agree that theyre in love and that even if their families may not get on with each other, they are truly in love. Romeo realises the consequences of his love for Juliet as he chooses forceful words such as deny and refuse. Shakespeare also uses visual imagery, such as, Romeo: two of the fairest stars in all of heaven do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return. This quotation shows that Romeo is comparing Juliets eyes to the stars and is saying how her eyes are beautiful. Having the Globe theatre as the stage would draw the attention of the audience towards the twinkling sky. He continues to use visual imagery, for example, Romeo: As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea. This creates the impression that their love is huge, further than the eye can see. Shakespeare uses personification to show the love that Romeo and Juliet have, an example of this is, By love that first led me to enquire lent him eyes. This shows that love is personified, as Cupid the Roman God of Love. Romeo admits his love to Juliet from the first moment their eyes met. Also, Romeo says With loves light wings did I oerpearch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do, that dares love attempt. He uses soft words and alliteration loves light. This phrase implies love gave him strength and that he is willing to do anything for her. In addition he says love enabled him to get to her not only by physical strength but with emotional strength. Finally, Shakespeare uses tragic irony, for instance, Romeo says, Hence forth I never will be Romeo. The audience know he is going to die but he doesnt. He is giving out clues to the audience that he will soon die. He is saying he will not be the ladies man anymore and feels Juliet is the only one for him. He continues to use this as Romeo says, Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon who is already sick and pale with grief. He is saying that the sun is Juliet and the envious moon is her family. This shows a positive with a negative, and shows love then shows what will happen later, death. To conclude, Shakespeare used many different ways to show how Romeo and Juliet felt about each other; he not only used the written word but also used the Globe Theatre as a dimension, especially with the balcony scene. I believe that it would have been very entertaining to have watched one of Shakespeares plays in The Globe Theatre as the actors would have performed right in front of you and around you, you would have felt totally included.

Research Paper Animal Experimentation Essay Example for Free

Research Paper Animal Experimentation Essay I Introduction Thesis Statement: Animal testing is a debatable issue in modern society. Some people argue that animal testing should be kept due to medical benefits and research study conveniences. However, I think animal experimentation should be banned by refuting supporters’ arguments. II Body A. Opposing argument 1 Animal experimentations are conducted for human health. Rebuttal to this argument: Animal testing can cause serious problems regarding to human health. a. The results of animal experimentation are often inconclusive and cannot be accurately applied to human. b. Animal drug testing causes a lot of dangerous side effects. B. Opposing argument 2 Animal experimentation is vital for research purposes. Rebuttal to this argument: Ethnics problems: Are humans too selfish? a. Animal testing can be extremely cruel and inhumane. b. Examples to illustrate the cruelly experiments conducted on animals. c. Animals deserve the equal rights as humans. C. Opposing argument 3 There are no effective alternatives to animal experimentation. Rebuttal to this argument: The facts of efficient non-animal methods and relevant benefits. a. Examples of successful alternative methods. b. Lists of possible technology as alternative methods. c. The benefits of non-animal methods. III Conclusion Animal Testing should be banned due to its cruelness, moral issues and the existence of effective alternative methods. Should Animal Experimentation Be Abandon? Animal Experimentation, also known as animal testing, is the use of animals to conduct experiments or do research in the laboratory. The number of animals used in experiments increased dramatically after World War II. Nowadays, animal experimentation is widely used in many areas such as medical research, behavior study, and drug tests. It is estimated that scientists in America utilize more than 15 million animals each year in their research. Also, animal research and testing is used in almost 10% of all biomedical research. (â€Å"Animal experimentation†, 2011, para.4 ) While some people insist animal experimentation is necessary for social progress due to its unique contributions to human health and scientific researches, opponents of animal research argue that it is cruel, immoral, and unnecessary. As a matter of fact, animal experimentation has been a controversy issue for a very long time. At the same time, there are an increasing number of regulations which restrict animal testing to some extent in order to protect animals’ rights. From my perspective, animal experimentation should be abandoned because of its inhuman cruelness, moral issues, and the existence of possible alternatives. The most common arguments supporting animal experimentation can be refuted and shown to be unnecessary harm to animals. There are many arguments to support animal experimentation. Supporters of animal testing assert animal experimentations are beneficial for human health and vital for research purposes. Also, supporters tend to believe that there are no effective  alternatives for animal experimentation. One of the most common opinions supporters of animal experimentation hold is that a lot of animal experimentations are conducted for human health. They assert animal testing is critical for drug development, the safety of cosmetic products, and treatment for diseases. For instance, Carl Cohen (2005), a professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, argues that vaccines for diseases such as polio and malaria could not have been developed without animal testing (para.1). There is no denying that humans did benefit a lot from animal experimentations. People practice on dogs first to learn how to perform surgery successfully, test the toxicity of ingredients of shampoo on mice to ensure the safety of cosmetic products, and study the infected chimpanzees to study the virus effects. These actions seem to be reasonable. However, there are also plenty of problems of animal experimentation associated with human health are ignored by supporters. The results of animal testing are often inconclusive and cannot be accurately applied to human. â€Å"Many of the drugs approved through animal experimentation have proven dangerous to humans† (Thomas, 2008, para.3). The inner structure of human body is quite different from animals’. In fact, animal experimentation results cannot predict many common life threatening side effects of new products like drugs and cosmetics. Animal testing could be the reason that many so called â€Å"safety products† drugs which work perfectly on animals would cause so many dangerous side effects on human body. More seriously, it is possible for humans to suffer from allergic reactions, some blood disorders, skin lesions and many central nervous system effects that cannot be demonstrated by animal models (Singer, 2006). Most medications are derived from one big contradiction: Our government demands that we test all medications on animals prior to continuing to human trials, and it admits that applying animal data to humans is a leap of faith. However, animal drug testing cannot guarantee all the medications would apply to humans. Still, many human diseases go uncured. Besides human health perspective, supporters argue it is necessary to conduct research through animal experimentation. The history of animal experimentation can be traced back a very early time. The earliest references to animal testing are found in the writings of the Greeks in the 2nd and 4th centuries BCE (History of nonhuman animal research, 1984). The achievements of animal testing research cannot be ignored. For example, the Roman physician Galen dissected pigs and apes to demonstrate that veins carry blood, not air as people previously thought. In the early 1600’s English doctor William Harvey dissected numerous types of animals, including frogs and fish, to show how blood circulates the body. During the 1800s, scientists used animals to examine the role of microorganisms in causing disease (Gilland, 2002).Scientists take advantage of the animals’ biological similarity to humans to gain advanced biology and behavior knowledge. Furthermore, scientists can create controlled environments for animals (regulating their diet, temperature, and other factors) in a way that would be difficult for human research subjects. Evidence shows   the research progress benefits from animal experimentation. It cannot be denied that the animal experimentation plays a crucial role in research. However, as the scale of animal experimentations increasing drastically over years, there are more animal-rights movements and more ethics questions have come to the top. Opponents of animal experimentation consider it is unethical due to reasons such as it is cruel and inhuman, and it violates animals’ rights. Firstly, animal testing is always merciless. The condition of where animals are kept within laboratory could be poor, and animals are often exposed to harmful chemicals to see the results. In 1997, people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filmed staff inside Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) in the UK. The staff was hitting puppies, shouting at them, and taking blood samples from the dogs. (â€Å"It’s A Dog’s Life,†2005). Another example is the primate experiments conducted at the University of Cambridge in 2002. The monkeys in laboratory had undergone surgery to induce a stroke, and were left alone after the procedure for 15 hours overnight. They were only given food and water for two hours a day so that researchers can better observe their reactions in different situations (Sandra, 2005). The extremely pain and suffering caused by animal testing has become a serious ethics issue. The second debatable ethics issue is regarding to animals’ rights. People have started to ask whether animals deserve the same rights as humans. According to human’s basic rights, a person may not be killed, cruelly treated, intimidated, or imprisoned for no good reason. Put another way, people should be able to live in their own needs and preferences. What about animals? Do they deserve the basic respects like humans? There is no doubt that animals experience life as humans do. Animals can feel pain and fear, and they would be desperate in difficult situations. It is true that animals do not have the same abilities as humans. They cannot speak, write or invent things, but neither can some humans. Can we deprive the rights of those humans who lack these abilities? Do we say disabled humans have no inherent value and rights? Certainly not, because their lives still has value to them. As philosopher Tom Regan (1985) has said in his argument for animal rights: we are each of us the experiencing subject of a life, a conscious creature having an individual welfare that has importance to us whatever our usefulness to others†¦ animals too must be viewed as the experiencing subjects of a life, with inherent value of their own(p.13). It is not justifiable to harm animals’ lives for the benefits of humans. Humans tend to regard themselves as the most important and valuable species on earth. However, this opinion is too self-centered and unmoral. Millions of species are all living on this planet, and they all deserve the dignity to live. Even though there is no doubt that better research progress would be gained from animal testing, we human cannot take the benefits from the misfortune of other species. We are part of this planet, and we have the obligation to protect ecological balance, not to harm it. Supporters of animal experimentation are also aware of the defects and ethical problems of animal experimentation, but they assert there are no effective alternatives to animal testing. As a matter of fact, with the development of technology, there are many more possibilities to conduct experimentations without animals. Thanks to modern technology, more and more non-animal research is being used now all over the world. For example, Pharmagene Laboratories is the first company to use only human tissues and sophisticated computer technology for the purpose of drug development and testing. People in Pharmagene use sophisticated scanning devices to analyze inner structure of human. With tools from biochemistry, analytical pharmacology, and molecular biology, Pharmagene is able to study human genes and drug effects on the proteins they make. They have made great achievements in the field of non-animal experimentation. Besides, the scientists in Pharmagene believe that the study process would be much more efficient with human tissues instead of animals’. They also state there would be lower risk associated with non-animal experimentation. (Coghlan,1996). As I pointed out before, animal testing can be inconclusive and inaccurate. Also, it is usually expensive to do experiments on animals. On the contrary, non-animal methods often take less time and cost less to conduct. Effective, affordable, and humane research methods include sophisticated in vitro, genomic, and computer-modeling techniques as well as studies of human populations, volunteers, and patients. Why do we have to conduct the cruel, immoral animal testing which cost us money and effort? People c an use these effective alternatives instead. Today, animal experimentations are still used widespread in areas of biology, behavior study, medical research, and drug testing. Although supporters of animal experimentations argue that animal testing is beneficial for human health, critical for research purposes, there are strong evidence showing that animal experimentation might not be necessary. Animal experimentation can cause a lot of dangerous side effects in drug testing. Moreover, People’s diseases cannot be accurately treated through animal experimentation. Also, there are serious moral issues associated with animal testing, and we should not take the benefits from the misfortune of other species. People need to be aware of the disadvantages of animal testing and seek for better alternatives. Non-animal methods often take less time and cost less to conduct. With the development of technology, there would be more and more effective alternatives to animal testing. Due to the various disadvantages of animal experimenta tion, we ought to abandon animal testing and focus on better solutions. I believe humans can benefit more from non-animal experimentations References Animal Experimentation.(2011). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Balls, M. Statement on the Application of the Epidermâ„ ¢ Human Skin Model for Skin Corrosivity Testing. New York, NY: Metropolitan. Cohen, C. (2001). The Animal Rights Debate. Lanham, MD: Rowman. Coghlan, A, (1996). Pioneers Cut Out Animal Testing. New Scientist, 9, 31-33. Deborah, L. (2009). Novel Multicellular Organotypic Models of Normal and Malignant Breast: Tools for Dissecting the Role of Microenvironmen in Breast Cancer Progression. Breast Cancer Research, 11, p.3. Festing, S. (2008). Animal Research—a Defense. Retrieved from http://www. Newstatesman.con/life-and-society/2008/03/animal-rights-debate. Gilland, T. (2002). Animal Experimentation: Good or Bad? London: Hodder. It’s a Dog’s Life. (2005). Small World Productions, pp. 54, 56. Laboratory Primate Advocacy Group. (1984). History of nonhuman animal Research. Boston, MA: Bedford. Regan, T. (1985). The Case for animal rights. New York: Basil Blackwell. Sandra, L.(2005). Lab monkeys in tests. The Grardian. p. R3. Singer, P. (2006). In Defense of Animals: The Second Wave. Malden, MA: Blackwell. Thomas, P.(2008). Animal Testing—Dangerous to Human Health. Retrieved From http://www.newstatesman/life-and-society/2008/animal-right

Saturday, October 26, 2019

20th century music :: essays research papers

By the turn of the century and for the next few decades, artists of all nationalities were searching for exciting and different modes of expression. Composers such as Arnold Schoenberg explored unusual and unorthodox harmonies and tonal schemes. French composer Claude Debussy was fascinated by Eastern music and the whole-tone scale, and created a style of music named after the movement in French painting called Impressionism. Hungarian composer Bà ©la Bartà ³k continued in the traditions of the still strong Nationalist movement and fused the music of Hungarian peasants with twentieth century forms. Avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varà ¨se explored the manipulation of rhythms rather than the usual melodic/harmonic schemes. The tried and true genre of the symphony, albeit somewhat modified by this time, attracted such masters as Gustav Mahler and Dmitri Shostakovich, while Igor Stravinsky gave full rein to his manipulation of kaleidoscopic rhythms and instrumental colors throughout his extremely long and varied career. While many composers throughout the twentieth-century experimented in new ways With traditional instruments such as the "prepared piano" used by American composer John Cage, many of the twentieth-century's greatest composers, such as Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini and the Russian pianist/composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, remained true to the traditional forms of music history. In addition to new and eclectic styles of musical trends, the twentieth century boasts numerous composers whose harmonic and melodic styles an average listener can still easily appreciate and enjoy. The advance of technology has also had an enormous impact on the evolution of music in this century, with some composers using, for instance, the cassette player as a compositional tool or electronically generated sounds alongside classical instruments, the use of computers to compose music, and so on.

Around the World in Eighty Days Essay -- literary Analysis, Jules Vern

In the nineteenth, it seemed impossible to circumnavigate the world in only 80 days. That is, however, exactly what Phileas Fogg did in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. This novel follows the journey of the eccentric Englishman Phileas Fogg as he races around the world on a bet. Accompanied by his faithful servant, Passepartout, and a scheming detective, Fix, he encounters many challenges he must overcome in order to return in time. In Around the World in Eighty Days, Jules Verne demonstrates the increased industrialization of the nineteenth century, while also exploring the growing movements of nationalism and imperialism. Phileas Fogg’s journey is made possible by the growing industrialization of the time. One example of industrialization is the extensive use of trains in the novel. During the nineteenth century, rail lines were expanding all over the world. For example, when Phileas Fogg reaches India, the change from old forms of transportation to new industrialized forms is described, â€Å"Formerly one was obliged to travel in India by the old cumbrous methods of going on foot or on horseback, in palanquins or unwieldy coaches; now, fast steamboats ply on the Indus and the Ganges, and a great railway, with branch lines joining the rail line at many points on this route, traverses the peninsula from Bombay to Calcutta in three days† (32). This demonstrates how the methods of transportation have become more advanced and industrialized throughout the century. Again, the industrialization of railways is shown when the party reaches America. â€Å"The journey from New York to San Francisco consumed, formerly, under the most favourable conditions, at least six months. It is now accomplished I seven days† (110). T... ...out the world in the nineteenth century. While nationalism and imperialism are similar, their overall ideas are different. Nationalism was all about being part of a country and identifying oneself as a member of that country. People were willing to give their life to defend their nation, as demonstrated in the novel by Fogg. Nationalism is having a unified identity that everyone in a certain country relates to. Imperialism, however, while still about the nation, was more about gaining land and expanding the empire. Countries were not concerned with treating the colonized people with respect. Imperialism was more focused on the government and wealthy business owners, whereas nationalism could appeal to everyone in the country. Overall, while nationalism and imperialism were both focused on creating a stronger country, the methods they used were different.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Freudian Theory and Consciousness: A Conceptual Analysis Essay

The portrayal of duality and the disturbing violence of the alters, in both works, can be approached with the psychoanalytic concept, and the structural theory of the mind promulgated by Freud. This is because both characters manifest the different sides of the structural theory of the mind. Based on Freud’s theory there are three subtypes of the self that go hand in hand to build our personality. â€Å"The  id  is the primitive, instinctive component of personality that operates according to the pleasure principle.† The superego is the self that operates according to moral principles. Ego, a required moderator, negotiates with the id and superego in order to satisfy the desires of both in a manner that is socially acceptable. If these three aspects of an individual from the whole self, the result is DID. This takes place in both storylines, as Tyler and Hyde embody the â€Å"aggressive tendencies† of the id. Both main characters, that superficially exist as single entities, bring the reader to question the notion that good cannot exist without evil. The Narrator in Fight club characterizes the ego in the psyche, which mediates the impulsive and sexual self of the id with the social norms of the world. He eventually fails to find a compromise between the two and chooses to identify with the superego. Consequently, unconscious impulses form a discrete entity that is Tyler Durden. The id is manifested in Tyler’s need for primal violence, and high sex drive. He claims that â€Å"self-improvement isn’t the answer, maybe self-destruction is the answer†. Eventually, The Narrator finds himself in the center of â€Å"organized chaos†, and has lost all power over his id. Similarly, Dr. Jekyll represents the ego, dominated by social norms. Jekyll says â€Å"It was on the moral side, †¦, that I learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man†. He has a strenuous time juggling between the requirements of his aggressive instinct and his rational self. Consequently, he gives in to his impulses and decides to separate the two, and bring Mr. Hyde into being. He claims that â€Å"man is not truly one, but truly two.† Mr. Hyde, like Tyler Durden, has no social or moral principles, and seeks â€Å"instant gratification†. By the end, Jekyll, â€Å"represented by the proclaimed and implicit morals of the Victorian society†, loses control of Hyde. The pleasure the alters take in brutality and aggression, ultimately leads to their own destruction by suicide. Aside from the similarities in the personalities and behaviors of the characters, Stevenson and Palahniuk choose many comparable themes and symbolism to help them portray dual personalities in their work, such as the prominent theme of isolation, devolution, as well as the motif of sleep, and the nocturnal city. Fight Club and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are further linked by the continually prevalent themes of isolation and devolution. The theme of devolution and atavism is reinforced by several factors in both works. Just as humans have the tendency to evolve, they also have the ability to evolve and become more primitive, especially as society forces us to repress such animalistic tendencies. Tyler and Mr. Hyde both return to their primitive and more animalistic state of being as the restrictions placed by society pushes them to their breaking point. This is evident as both characters have a more violent and destructive nature than The Narrator and Dr. Jekyll. Isolatio n is also significant in developing the theme of devolution. The Narrator and Jekyll both live isolated lives, with Jekyll insisting that he wants to lead â€Å"a life of extreme seclusion†. Both characters live their lives devoid of friends or family to communicate with. Jekyll isolates himself from his old friends and spends his days in his lab, while Hyde sneaks in and out of the house. Similarly, The Narrator moves to an abandoned house with no one to communicate with. The theme of isolation helps the alters â€Å"manipulate and absorb the bodies of the main characters for whatever purposes they so desire.† This helps them satisfy their needs for violence and destruction.

Erik Peterson Essay

Major problems are: Lack of clear date driven project plan for product launch Relationship management with senior stakeholders Recommendations: A project plan for product launch and setting up a Project management office Engagement of senior management in critical decisions PROBLEM STATEMENT: This case is about Erik Peterson and his career at Biometra. It discusses his journey over as General Manager in Biometra (a subsidiary of SciMat) his educational background and problems faced during the work course at Biometra. Case gives details of the: HR issues within the organization and depicts the characteristic behavior of individuals during the panic situation. Case tells about clashes amongst the co-workers and superiors . Inability of Erik towards persuading the seniors about some of the decision and his failure in getting guidance for further steps. It figures out the inability of Eric towards handling team and subordinates so to convince them his way of working. Lack of Erik’s specific industry knowledge and lack of guidance to Erik Complex relationship with some of the key opinion leaders Case clearly summarizes that Erik worked as GM but actually wasn’t able to perform so far. ANALYSIS: It seems that there are lot of clashes among individuals who are at senior leadership positions. Leaders are not able to coordinate with each other. There seems lack of target dates given to each department. Erik can either replace key managers by hiring new managers who can bring fresh perspectives and don’t clash with each other or setup an independent PMO office which can work with each department, develop a project plan with critical milestones for product rollout and seasoned project manager implement the project plan. It also appears that Erik has no experience in this specific product line. At the same time he is not getting enough guidance from his senior management. Erik can either take the decisions, wait to see the results or somehow involve some knowledgeable leaders in SciMat early in implementation phase to get guidance and concurrence.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Marketing to Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomers generation is generally classified by the children born after World War II; specifically anyone born between 1946 and 1964. The veterans, as we know them today came back from war, settled down, got married and had children. This was a great time in America as their economy was improving vastly as opposed to other nations of the world. It was a time of affluence, particularly in the Western side of the world. The â€Å"boom† describes the greatly increasing birth rate at these times. As seen in the following diagram, birth rates were higher than ever during 1946 and 1964, with a very close second in the late 1980’s and very early 1990’s. Currently, there are 78 million baby boomers in America, accounting for 40% of the adult population. This gives motivation to marketers to want to sell to this age segment. Persons 45 and older are responsible for 55% of the total consumer spending in the U. S. Marketers are striving to segment the market in such a way, that they will be able to target this age group and market directly to them. There is a vast difference in the ages of Baby Boomers. 1946 to 1964 accounts for a maximum age difference of 18 years. It is important to notice that those who are the older boomers, also called the ‘Golden Boomers’ would have different needs to be satisfied that those that are younger. This age segment can then be further segmented into the golden boomers who, today would be between the ages of 65 and 56, and the younger baby boomers being 55 and 47. Sub-Segmented Baby Boomers The maturing market segment as classified by Moschis, Lee, Mathur, & Strautman, in their book â€Å"The Maturing Marketplace; Buying Habits of Baby Boomers and Their Parents†, can be broken down into four main categories. Firstly, there are the Healthy Indulgers (18%) who are the more affluent and focus more on enjoying life than their careers. They tend to engage in purchasing activities that revolve around their own independence. Secondly are the Healthy Hermits (36%) who have experienced some attitude-changing occurrence in life such as the death of a spouse, and are in turn socially withdrawn. Marketing strategies that focus on conformity work well amongst this segment as they try not to stand out. The following two categories are less affluent than the previously mentioned segments. They are also the segments that look forward to their own house or appartment, as opposed to the previous that intend to move into a retirement home or a nursing home. The third group are the Ailing outgoers. These represent 29 % of the baby boomers. These are people who have accepted their â€Å"old age† but are still willing to get the most out of life and tend to be influenced by money-saying incentives. Lastly are Frail Recluses (17%) who are very similar to the ailing outgoers, however they have accepted spirituality into their lives and keep high spirits through their strengthened faiths. Information that is very interesting to the marketer is that not all individuals stay in one group in their life time. A healthy hermit might be influenced to join a church and increase their knwoledge of faith, thus leading to a switch to be more likfe frail recluses. Also, these segments don’t have set boundaries, and persons are more likely to be classifed by one of those four sub-sections by leading, defining characteristics, rather than completely defined through all the expected qualities. The experiences that each person goes through is what really puts them in any particular group. The Baby- Boomer Misconception A problem that many companies face is their set perception of older generations. There is a stigma that they don’t really have an opinion on what they buy and they will buy the products anyway. This is a sure way to failure when having goods produced for this age segment. Another mistake commonly made by firms is the misconception that â€Å"Baby Boomers have never grown up. † They believe that when targeting to younger generations, the marketing will reach the baby boomers as well. Though baby boomers have been recently showing tendencies of younger generations that do not fit the general description of their age group, such as openness to new experiences, and engaging in activities that are health and fitness revolved, this is not a reason to assume they will be influenced by the same marketing schemes targeted at younger generations. What Nyren suggests from his text is that infomercials is the upcoming media for marketing toward baby boomers. This age segment has a longer attention span, and they want to know more information on the products they buy. More times than not, the television ads that last 30 seconds are perceptively dismissed, and would not have had any impact on them. Perhaps then, the companies that market to this segment, should redirect their marketing efforts toward 30 minute commercials. There is a stigma attached to infomercials that they are long air-time wasting nonsense that no one watches, and for the most part, it’s true; these are not the infomercials that would grab the attention of the baby boomer. They want to gain more knowledge. They want to be informed before making purchasing decision, and infomercials tend to give the time needed for explanations. The trick is indeed to find a way to captivate the target market’s attention. According to the authors of â€Å"The Maturing Marketplace†, the baby boomers are heavily influenced by price specials and reductions. These are likely to be in the their top considerations when making several types of purchases such as hotels, airlines or cruises. On the topic of travel, they majority notion is that they enjoy travelling, but do not have the funds for it. Also, they are concerned that if they do have the funds for it now, after the recession, and they spend it on this leisurely experience, that they may not have funds for future necessities like their own health care, and funds to take of their families. In theory, an infomercial about a cruise that is targeted toward this age segment, that focuses on getting value for your money and having readily available medical attention is likely to be very effective. Purchasing Behaviour of Baby Boomers Marketers have to accept that marketing to any group with all the greatest efforts will still not always be as effective as one would like it to be. This is again because of one’s predisposition toward a product or message because of one’s experiences. A person who might have had a bad experience with a Russian individual may be inclined to stay away from products manufactured in Russia. However, marketers must still try to market these groups directly by attempting to find out their values and market their product in a way that would appeal to these values. Through much research, several values have been found that relate to baby boomers more than any other age segment. The first of many values is independence. This generation throughout time has redefined that age group at that time; they never stuck to their elder’s traditional values and beliefs. Whereas older generations tended to be more party-loyal with regards to politics, the baby boomer generation always had to know more about the parties, and the issues that affected them and that the parties stood for. Their independence also stemmed from the availability of options given to them that were not offered to their elders. They grew up in a time of affluence, and this ability for choice stuck with them throughout the years. This is an interesting value to be known by marketers as they would want to appeal to this. Positioning products in the minds of these consumers as giving them their independence, especially as they are now getting to a stage in their lives where they may require help, would be quite effective. A value that is held so dearly to the baby boomer is individualism. Again, stemming from their years being brought up, they were able to create their own paths, and basically be whoever they so chose. This is why life- insurance companies that offer customized plans do quite well. The individual wants to feel that their status is being considered, and that that they have choices with regards to costs and other aspects of a life- insurance plan. Another value is humanity. This is reflected in their desire for better customer service. A company with friendly, helpful staff is definitely much more appreciated than those without. Though this group highly upholds independence, they also want to know that when they go to purchase an item at a store, that they will be given the appropriate attention, and that the sales person would be competence in their field. The invention of the automated answering machine that are so popularly used by companies today are abhorred by this generation. They want to talk to a real person, who would assist them as necessary. These companies have implemented these answering machines to save on salaries. However, they are losing out on a lot more than that amount because people are straying away from that. They are taking their business elsewhere. Comfort is a value that is upheld by the baby boomers. They want products that will fit well into their lives. They want commodities that will be compatible with their routines. The marketer of a product such a diabetes testing machine, a product that would be necessary in their lives once diagnosed with diabetes, should position the product as easy to use, and quick. This is extended to other related values such as easily read literature on drugs. A marketer of a pharmacy should market his pharmacy as convenient for all their pharmaceutical needs. This then leads to the next value. Convenience is very important those in this age segment. Most of these values go hand in hand, though many marketers, as mentioned before, have the belief that this age segment is going to buy their products anyway. Baby boomers want the added convenience that they can be offered. When choosing a housing arrangement, they would to know that if needed, medical attention would be readily available and easy to attain. As mentioned previously, baby boomers take a lot of time when considering prices. Special deals and price reductions appeal to them a lot; money- saving incentives such as coupons, rebates and acceptance of various discount cards are considered by the baby boomers when deciding on what product to purchase. Youthfulness seems to be quite important today to the baby boomers. This however is sometimes misunderstood. The Baby boomers want to be healthy, and fit at their age. They are comfortable with the age that they are at, however, they want to be able to enjoy their lives to the fullest. This is why many belong to health and fitness clubs. The misconceptions lies in the thought that they want to dress like younger generations, and involve themselves in activities typical of generation xers and younger; this is certainly not true. They don’t want to engage in the activities, but they want the feeling of being younger. They want that their age not be a limitation to the sense of thrill and excitement that they would have felt when they were younger. The baby boomers want to feel secure. Security is a great need of baby boomers. However, they require different types of security; financial security, home security, security of mind with regards to their health. Financial services marketed to the baby boomers have to take into consideration the various segments of baby boomers. For example, brokerage firms specifically target healthy hermits. The home security marketers would target the more affluent of the baby boomers because they would have their homes and their valuable items to secure. Again, health security is one that is gained through comfort of mind. Firms targeting baby boomer health would be successful with tactics employing round- the- clock ambulance services. Life Alert is a company that does quite well because of its attention to the security that that age segment requires. Though older generations than baby boomers would be more appealed to such an item, the older baby boomers are retiring and want that peace of mind that comes that is satisfied by Life Alert. A value that is well- known through the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs if self-actualization. Baby boomers tend to be intrinsically motivated; they are interested in engaging in activities that will give them insight to themselves. They are still searching for what makes them them and they are impacted by advertising focused on this need. Future Expectations of The Baby Boomer Segment By 2029, the last of the baby boomers would turn 65 and are likely to represent 16% of the population. Currently, the oldest baby boomers are entering retirement, and as they represent 25% of the population, 18 years of pension payments are to be paid. The concern of many is that the payment of these pensions would be a burden on younger generations. Marketing toward their independence would bring great returns as they would feel like burdens to society. Health- insurance companies and financial service companies should target this segment now, in a way that would appeal to their secure futures. Beachbody and Baby Boomers The image above is one of the many that are found in the testimonials for Beach Body’s well-known fitness program, P90X. The woman seen above is Mary Crawford, who was a 61 year old out of shape, complacent woman. She used the beachbody products over the course of two years, starting with the Power 90 series, then on to the Power 90 Master series, and then started the P90X program. The infomercial for this program can be seen on a variety of cable stations that describe how high- impact it really is. Typically, one would not assume that a woman of 60+ would want to engage in such an activity. However, that is the view that is making marketers failures. Those were the opinions of baby boomer’s elders. Today’s 47- 65 year old cohorts are willing to do what it takes to be fit and healthy. Team Beach Body is appeals to the baby boomers in several ways. Firstly, it appeals to their desire for the feeling of youth. Being healthy and fit is a major need for these people and they are able to attain this through beachbody’s programs. Secondly, it appeals to their value of comfort. Beachbody offers an array of products for different levels of fitness. Like Ms. Crawford, someone would be able to go from very low fitness to an able- bodied, fit person. The infomercials are highly effective among this group because of its expansion on the product. It gives detailed descriptions of how the program works and how it is different from other programs. Also, Tony Horton, the creator of P90X has a sense of care to him. He seems to truly care about the people he is helping with his product, and this is important to the baby boomers. He too, being born in 1958 is a baby boomer as such is an inspiration to other baby boomers. He is a sought after trainer to many. His infomercial is one that was able to catch the attention of many because unlike other infomercial that promise quick results with little effort, Tony Horton explains how the P90X program is a high intensity one that requires time and effort. At first, to a marketer, this seems almost blasphemous. However, it has proven to be effective. The baby boomers, being information seekers, want to gain information on products before purchasing. Tony Horton was able to present his program with extensive information and be honest, and that is what caught the attention of many. References https://www.beachbody.com/text/success/2008/gamewinners/ss_maryc.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-18/beachbody-thinking-beyond-the-infomercial.html

Motifs and Characterization in Macbeth Essay

The Tragedy of Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, uses various literary elements; among the strongest are motifs and characterizations used to express and symbolize important changes and events throughout the play. Macbeth is a brave and ambitious man full of self-doubt who is driven by evil forces into bad situations. The motif of light and darkness symbolizes the conflict between good and evil. A motif is a significant word, phrase, image, description, idea, or other element repeated throughout a literary work and related to the theme. Manhood is a motif used throughout the play to symbolize the manly and weak sides of people and what qualities people expect a man to have. Blood comes to symbolize guilt and violence. The clothes as titles motif symbolizes the title a person holds in the Kingdom. Characterization is used to explain how each character changes throughout the play and the reasoning behind their actions. Shakespeare also uses characterization to develop his plot. Shakespeare shows that Lady Macbeth is a very ambitious, dominating, and controlling character throughout the play. She is the reason Macbeth decides to kill Duncan. King Duncan is loved by everyone in the Kingdom. He is characterized as praiseworthy, caring, naà ¯ve, and trusting. Banquo is characterized as brave, innocent, logical, and full of reason. He is the mastermind behind the murder of King Duncan. Shakespeare uses many motifs throughout the story but he uses a lot of imagery of darkness and light. This is one of the strongest motifs used in the play. The motif of light and darkness symbolizes the conflict between good and evil. This motif is used to foreshadow when something good or bad is going to happen. It also shows the readers which characters are good and which characters are bad. In this play, darkness stands for evil, bad deeds, and hell. It is always dark when something bad is going to happen like when Lady Macbeth decides to kill Duncan. When she makes her decision she says, â€Å"Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, / That my keen knife see not the wound it makes† (Act 1. Scene 5. Lines 49-51). The darkness she calls on shows the evil or darkness in the act she plans to commit. The witches are also associated with darkness. They always meet in dark, stormy scenes and talk about wandering in foggy and filthy air. They symbolize evil. Light is associated with Heaven, God, and goodness. When Lady Macbeth calls on the murderous spirits saying, â€Å"Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark† (Act 1. Scene 5. Line 52), she is implying that light is the only thing that could stop her from murdering Duncan. Also, when Macbeth is fighting his ambition to kill Duncan and become King, he says, â€Å"Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires† (Act 4. Scene 4. Lines 50-51). This statement is implying that he is thinking evil thoughts and he does not want God to know his evil desires. Light and darkness are very prominent in all the characters’ actions and thoughts. Macbeth is a man that at first seems content to defend his King and country against treason and rebellion, and yet, his desire for power plays a major role in the way he commits the most heinous acts. Macbeth is characterized as brave, valiant, and loyal. The witches also awaken Macbeth’s ambition in the first act. The act gives the initial impression of Macbeth as a brave hero and then shows us how he changes. It reveals his fixation on the witches’ prophecy. Macbeth is characterized as a brave and noble warrior when King Duncan says, â€Å"For Brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name† (Act 1. Scene 2. Line 16). But, Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ predictions emphasizes his great desire for power and prestige. Macbeth realizes that murder might be required to achieve this. He thinks about it but has no means of acting on it. He begins to be confused and he is conflicted. He is caught between his loyalty to the King and his desire for power. He yearns for a simple way out, free of guilt and consequence. He implies this when he says, â€Å"If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well/ It were done quickly† (Act 1. Scene 7. Lines 1-2). Lady Macbeth finally emerges and drives the hesitant Macbeth to act; she is the will propelling his achievements. Macbeth knows what he does is wrong, and recognizes there will be consequences. He is tempted but tries to resist it. He is not strong enough to stand up to his wife. Literary elements like motifs and characterization help develop the entire plot. By using characterization, Shakespeare is able to reveal the characters’ thoughts and feelings in order for readers to analyze the characters’ motives for their actions. Characterization gives the reader a better understanding of each character. The use of motifs in â€Å"Macbeth† help define the setting and mood of the Act, as well as the good or bad intentions of the characters. For example, darkness or night in Macbeth is associated with evil, murder, murderous intent, and mischief, and death. Light is feared by those who wish murder on the King, because they do not want their evil thoughts/deeds revealed. Characters who are innocent were always shown in bright, lighted scenes to stress their goodness. Darkness was the background for evil, as exhibited by the scenes where murder occurs, or where the mischievous, evil witches appear. Blood is a recurring symbol or motif that symbolizes death, and later, Macbeth’s guilt. These are just a few of the many motifs and symbols found in Macbeth. Motifs are used to add depth and richness to characters and settings, and bring out the major themes and ideas of the play.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Random Science Facts and Trivia

Random Science Facts and Trivia Everyone knows a few fun random facts they can pull out as a party trick or a conversation icebreaker. Here are a few more to add to your collection. Although some of these facts are strange and obscure, they are 100% verified, so rest assured that youll be sharing solid information at that party. Rotation of Earth Did you know that the Earth rotates a full 360 degrees in 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds, not 24 hours? Cataracts Sometimes the crystalline lenses of elderly people become milky and cloudy. This is called a cataract, and it causes partial or complete loss of vision. Berry Interesting Did you know that pineapples, oranges, and tomatoes are actually berries? Pure Gold Pure gold is so soft that it can be molded with your bare hands. Real Life Dragons The Komodo dragon is a renowned giant, with the average male measuring around 8 feet long; some exceptional individuals reach 10 feet long. It is the heaviest lizard of all, with an average weight of 130 pounds and some reaching nearly 180 pounds. Thats So Nuclear The word nuclear is related to the nucleus of an atom. It is often used to describe the energy produced when a nucleus is split (fission) or joined with another (fusion). Hes Lost It Did you know that a cockroach can live for nine days without its head  before it starves to death? He Said No Did you know that the physicist Albert Einstein refused the job of president of Israel? Einstein was asked to be the president when the Israeli president died in 1952. Old Guys The earliest cockroach fossil  is about 280 million years old, 80 million years older than the first dinosaurs. Newts Are Neat Newts are members of the salamander family. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. A Little Lithium in Your 7UP? The original formula for 7UP contained lithium citrate, a chemical used today as a treatment for bipolar disorders. The ingredient was removed by 1950. How Many Lightbulbs... The tungsten filament inside an incandescent light bulb reaches a temperature of 4,664 degrees when turned on. Blue as Turquoise Traces of copper  are what give turquoise its distinctive blue color. Brainless Starfish, like many radially symmetric animals, do not have brains.

10 Fiery Muhammad Ali Quotes

10 Fiery Muhammad Ali Quotes In 1964, when  Cassius Clay took on the indefatigable Sonny Liston, nobody realized that a star was born. Cassius Clay had just shaken up the world with his fighting spirit. Not that he was painfully shy about his talent. His announcement to the press just before his winning bout with Sonny Liston that he was the greatest failed to strike a chord with many  skeptics. In fact, his over-the-top arrogance tinged with narcissism made the world wary of this new wannabe. The Megalomania of Muhammad Ali: The Worlds Greatest Sports Star Just before the fight, Cassius  Clay aimed several taunts at the seasoned and dominating Liston, perhaps to intimidate his opponent. He shouted at Liston saying, Someone is going to die at ringside tonight. That evening would probably be the most unforgettable event for many boxing enthusiasts for two reasons. One, they saw a reigning heavyweight boxing champion go down. Two, a 22-year-old underdog with a motormouth and a fetish for trash-talking had just made history. Cassius Clay, who became known as Muhammad Ali after he changed his religion, took the world by storm. Each time Muhammad Ali won, he reminded the world that he was the greatest. He didnt say that he was the best, strongest, finest, or richest. He declared, I am the greatest! He pronounced it with  Ãƒ ©lan. He could work up a frenzy in the ring and announce his greatness to the world. Never before had anyone seen a sports figure so brazen, so in-your-face, and so brutally honest. When Muhammad Ali Went Against the US Government Most sports fan admire Muhammad Ali as the greatest boxer that ever lived. He took on many fights inside the ring and outside the ring. Those that he fought inside the ring were easy matches. He literally called the shots there. However, the ones he fought outside the ring were the toughest fights he ever had. Most of them were against the establishment. The man who could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee often got on the wrong side of the ruling class. His vitriolic statements sent the press into a tizzy. His witty comebacks and sarcasm pushed buttons of many a politician. When asked about whether he would serve in the army for the Vietnam War, he cockily replied,   Man, I aint got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Vietcong ever called me n****r. He had an uncanny sense of humor, a quick temper, a big mouth, and a soft heart. One of his wicked comments that often grab headlines is: I am America. I am the part you wont recognize, but get used to me. Black, confident, cocky. My name, not yours. My religion, not yours. My goals, my own. Get used to me.   Ali once said, Allah is the greatest. Im just the greatest boxer. And indeed, he was. As three times winner of the linear world heavyweight championship, a title held by no other boxer, Muhammad Ali was a nightmare for his opponents. He was awarded the Sportsman of the Century by the BBC and Sports Illustrated magazine in 1999. Muhammad Ali Never Minced His Words: 10 Quotes Prove His Indomitable Spirit Muhammad Ali was not just one of the greatest sporting icons that ever lived, he was also a great orator. Some of his quotes are legendary.  These 10 reveal what it takes to have a winning attitude. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands cant hit what his eyes cant see. Now you see me, now you dont. George thinks he will, but I know he wont. These words made one of the best quotes in sporting history. Ali spoke these words just  before his fight with George Foreman in 1974. These words catapulted Muhammad Ali to instant fame.   Its lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself. You think I was shocked when Nixon resigned? Wait till I whup George Foremans behind. I done something new for this fight, I done tassled with an alligator! Thats right. I have tassled with an alligator! I done tussled with a whale! I done handcuffed lightning, throwed thunder in jail! Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone. Hospitalized a brick. I’m so mean I make medicine sick. Champions arent made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: a desire, a dream, a vision. If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you. If you ever dream of beating me... you better wake up and apologize. Joes gonna be smokin an I aint even jokin but Ill be peckin and a pokin and Ill pour water on that smokin. Now this might astound and amaze ya but I will destroy Jo Frazier. There are two things that are hard to hit and see, thats a spooky ghost and Muhammed Ali. Like The Beatles, there will never be anything like them. Like my man, Elvis Presley. I was the Elvis of boxing. Im not the greatest, Im the double greatest. Not only do I knock em out, I pick the round. Im the boldest, the prettiest, the most superior, most scientific, most skilfullest fighter in the ring today.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Life of a Slave Girl Essay Example

Life of a Slave Girl Essay Example Life of a Slave Girl Essay Life of a Slave Girl Essay Once again we are transported to a time and place that seems so unreal, so utterly hard, that it takes someone who has been there to accurately portray the sights and sounds in a way that allows us to believe it is real. In her book Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs describes her life as a slave in South Carolina in the early to mid 1800s. Her account is similar in nature to other slave narratives at the time, but has a different tone to her descriptions of life and death during her time in bondage. Unlike others that tell of extreme punishment and hard labor, Jacobs narrative explores the emotional hardships laid upon her by her master, a man by the name of James Norcom. Norcom is attracted to Jacobs and is constantly battering her with lewd innuendos and moral degradation. He very much wants Jacobs to submit to him, and her struggle against his actions becomes one of Jacobs means of strength and defiance. Another means of strength for Jacobs is her grandmother Molly Horniblow. This woman, who is a freed slave, wants nothing more than to see whats left of her family free to live a life in which they deserve as human beings. Unfortunately she has no right to tell a white slave owner what to do, but throughout the book, she makes her feelings known to Mr. Norcom. When Jacobs becomes pregnant by a white lawyer, Mrs. Horniblow is very disappointed at her granddaughter, but is not privy to the amount of abuse she is receiving from Norcom. Jacobs eventually has two children, and due to the laws of slaves in place, they too become property of the young daughter of Dr. Norcom who is the legal master of Jacobs. Harriet does not want her children to live their life under the fist of another and concocts a plan in which to free her children of bondage as well as herself. To be brief, Jacobs escapes from her masters home one night and over the course of many years, hides out in various locations throughout the town until the time is right to escape for good to the north. By this time both of her children have been purchased by their father, the lawyer, and are currently living in the free states to the north. Jacobs chance to escape finally comes and she is taken by ship first to Philadelphia and then to New York by way of a train. Jacobs takes a job as a nanny of sorts with a family that is sympathetic to her plight as a runaway slave. Family members from her previous master regularly travel to New York in an attempt to track her down and Mrs. Bruce as she is called in the book takes steps in order for her to remain hidden from those looking to return Jacobs to her previous life in bondage. Finally, to put this searching to an end, Mrs. Bruce offers to purchase Jacobs from her master but Jacobs refuses to have someone pay money for her. It would only reinforce her feelings of being viewed as property. Without her knowing Mrs. Bruce, employed a gentleman in New York to enter into negotiations with Mr. Dodge. At first Mr. Dodge didnt take the offer, but finally he concluded that half a loaf was better than no bread and he agreed to the proffered terms (Jacobs, 199). So Jacobs was now officially free, but still felt uneasy about having to be purchased. I had objected to having my freedom bought, yet I must confess that when it was done I felt as if a heavy load had been lifted from my weary shoulders (Jacobs, 200). Through all of the narrative, Jacobs searched for freedom and at last she had obtained it. Unfortunately blacks were still not given many of the freedoms as others and in closing there is a sense that she is not completely over her ordeal of so many years of hardship. It is interesting to note that in her book, Jacobs refers to each individual by a different name than was fact. She refers to herself as Linda Brent, grandmother as Aunt Martha as well as her children Joseph and Louisa as Benny and Ellen respectively. This use of pseudonyms is an interesting facet of Jacobss narrative. Why would she not want to reveal the names of people that had made her life so miserable? She states in the preface that she had no motive for secrecy, but felt compelled to do so anyway. It is as if she had a greater purpose of writing her story than to merely point fingers. One might say that some of the characters in her book are blank spaces to be filled in by many other slaves who experienced a similar fate only by different individuals. In this way Jacobs is trying to tell a story not just of her life, but of the lives of so many that came before her and those who were still bound in shackles. Harriet Jacobs life in slavery can be described as trying. The descriptions she gives of the life she lived makes it hard to imagine how one group of people could sleep at night knowing of the distress and hardship they were placing upon another group of individuals. What is interesting about Jacobs account is the perspective in which she brings to the issue of treatment of slaves at the time. Even though she was not subject to the normal punishment we most often relate to slaves in the south; hard labor, whippings, etc, she tells of another more emotional torment that was placed upon her by the same inhuman system. Jacobs repeatedly describes the harassment she receives from Dr. Norcom. He is constantly trying to get her to submit to his sexual desires. At this time in the south, it was very common for slave owners to impregnate their property as they are commonly referred to. This practice not only fulfilled the masters sexual desires, but it also brought him more wealth from the increase in his slave population. Due to the harsh nature of the demands placed on slaves, replenishing the amount of slaves he had on hand was vitally important. Increasing the amount of slaves one owned was easier to due by just sleeping with female slaves than purchasing more. If the child lived long enough to reach a certain age, they could be sent into the fields to work, or could be sold to repay debts. And even though the father was a free man, the children took the legal status of the mother and so also became property of the father. In Jacobss case, the father of her children was inclined to see that the young ones not be subject to the slavery system. He ultimately sent them to the north and tried to purchase Jacobs as well. It was a rare situation in which the father had nothing financially to benefit from his actions, but was simply doing what others refused to do. And that was treating fellow human beings as human beings. Jacobs tale of toil and hardship makes one thankful for the freedom that we so often take for granted. Her story speaks of the good and bad of human nature and forces us to think about the times in our countys past that most would like to forget. It also tells of the spirit to live and to be free when it seems as if every step you take might be your last. The fight of good vs. evil is something that might never go away and Jacobs narrative is only one slice of a struggle that has been around since the dawn of man, yet it reminds us not to forget those that have struggled for ideals that seem so common place in todays world.

Livestock Disease and African Food Security essays

Livestock Disease and African Food Security essays Livestock Disease and African Food Security A serious problem in Africa today is the emergence of rampant, deadly strains of disease that are affecting livestock and ravaging populations of pigs and cattle in many African nations, putting food security at risk in many populations of various nations. With already major food scarcity issues among many emerging African nations, disease will only further pressure an already dire situation for food security in Africa. Livestock play important roles in farming systems, which provide primarily food and income, which is necessary for food security. Nearly 12 percent of the world populations rely solely on livestock for its livelihood. (4) The latest outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the West African island nation of Cape Verde threatens the country's entire pig population, according to a 1996 FAO report. The disease has been endemically present in at least part of Cape Verde archipelago since 1985 - with peaks of morbidity/mortality twice a year, in spring and winter. (1) ASF is caused by a particularly resistant virus and is a potentially devastating disease. Very few pigs survive infection and those that do are contagious. ASF is endemically present in wild pigs in southern and eastern Africa in a cycle including infected domestic pigs, soft ticks and wild pigs. (1) In various ecosystems of Central and Western Africa there are huge outbreaks of this disease among domestic pigs and the disease occurs elsewhere in Africa. In all areas, infection is most common as a result of contact with infected, recovered or carrier pigs and ingestion of contaminated or infected garbage, urine and feces. Various strains ha ve occurred in different regions due to the increasing use of non-indigenous pigs, which are particularly vulnerable to this. Animals are being shipped by road and air and are not being quarantined properly if at all. This threatens any country that relies on livestock fo...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Ed Sullivan, Variety Show Host Influenced American Culture

Ed Sullivan, Variety Show Host Influenced American Culture Ed Sullivan was a newspaperman who became an unlikely cultural force during the early decades of television. His Sunday night variety show was considered a weekly event in homes around the country. The Ed Sullivan Show is widely remembered for giving The Beatles their first exposure in America, an event in early 1964 which seemed to change the culture overnight. A decade earlier, Elvis Presley had also made a huge impression on Sullivans stage, generating a national controversy while turning many young Americans into instant fans of rock n roll. Fast Facts: Ed Sullivan Born: September 28, 1902 in New York CityDied: October 13, 1974 in New York CityKnown For: As host of a weekly variety show broadcast on Sunday nights, Sullivan had enormous influence on American show business.Parents: Peter Arthur Sullivan and Elizabeth F. SmithSpouse: Sylvia WeinsteinChildren: Betty Sullivan Besides showcasing musicians, Sullivans weekly show was marked by its eclectic, and often simply odd, array of performers. Broadway stars might perform a scene from a hit musical, nightclub comedians would tell jokes about their wives and mothers in law, magicians would perform elaborate tricks, and circus performers would tumble, juggle, or spin plates. What happened on Sullivans show became part of the national conversation. By the time his show ended in 1971, it was estimated that more than 10,000 performers had appeared. During the 1950s and 1960s a mark of success in show business meant appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. Early Life and Career Edward Vincent Sullivan was born on September 28, 1902, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. His father, a customs inspector, was the son of an Irish immigrant, and his mother was an amateur painter who loved the arts. Sullivan had a twin brother who died in infancy, and as a child his family moved out of New York City to Port Chester, New York. Growing up, Sullivan was influenced by his parents love of music. He attended Catholic schools, and at St. Mary’s High School he wrote for the school newspaper and played several sports. After high school an uncle offered to pay his college tuition, but Sullivan chose to go directly into the newspaper business. In 1918 he got a job at the local Port Chester newspaper. He briefly worked for a newspaper in Hartford, Connecticut, but then moved on to New York City. In the early 1930s he became a columnist for the New York Daily News. He covered Broadway and show business in general, and began appearing on radio broadcasts. To augment his income, Sullivan would moonlight as the emcee at Times Square theaters that featured live vaudeville acts and movies. After appearing on an early television broadcast, an advertising executive thought Sullivan should host a regular TV show. On June 20, 1948, he first appeared as the host of a CBS variety show, â€Å"The Toast of the Town.† Ed Sullivan. Getty Images   Television Pioneer Sullivans show was not immediately successful, but after obtaining a new steady sponsor, Lincoln-Mercury automobiles, and a new name, The Ed Sullivan Show, it caught on. His 1974 obituary in the New York Times noted that Sullivans appeal was often baffling to anyone seeking to explain it. Even his onstage awkwardness became part of his charm. His weekly promise to the audience was that he was presenting a really big show. For decades, impressionists, playing on Sullivans peculiar diction, mimicked his catchphrase as a rilly big shew. The core of Sullivans lasting appeal was his credibility as a judge of talent. The American public came to believe that if Ed Sullivan put someone on his show they were worthy of attention. The Elvis Controversy 10/28/1956-New York, NY: Elvis Presley, rock and roll sensation, as he rehearses with his band for The Ed Sullivan Show. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images In the summer of 1956, Elvis Presley appeared on television on â€Å"The Steve Allen Show.† But it wasn’t until his appearance on Ed Sullivan’s program on September 9, 1956, that mainstream America was shocked by what they saw. (Sullivan, recuperating from a serious auto accident, didn’t host that night; actor Charles Laughton was the guest host.) Some viewers, appalled by Presley’s â€Å"suggestive† dancing, criticized Sullivan harshly. The television critic of the New York Times, Jack Gould, published a denunciation of Presley the following Sunday. Gould wrote that Presley was a â€Å"gyrating figure† generally found on the fringes of show business, and that his â€Å"bumps and grinds† could â€Å"overstimulate† teenagers. The following month, Elvis returned for a performance on the night of October 28, 1956. Sullivan was back hosting, and again criticism followed. Sullivan hosted Elvis again on January 6, 1957, but CBS executives insisted that the singer only be shown from the waist up, keeping his swiveling hips safely out of sight. Cultural Milestones on Sunday Nights Ed Sullivan with The Beatles. Getty Images Eight years later, Sullivan made more cultural history by hosting The Beatles on their first visit to America. Their initial appearance, on February 9, 1964, set ratings records. It was estimated that 60 percent of American televisions were tuned into their performance. Coming less than three months after the assassination of President Kennedy, Sullivan showcasing The Beatles seemed like a very welcome bit of fun. In the following years, Sullivan would host a number of musicians who were changing the culture, including The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, James Brown, Janis Joplin, The Doors, The Jefferson Airplane, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles. When network affiliates and advertisers suggested he should avoid booking black performers so as not to offend viewers in the South, he refused. Sullivan’s show endured for 23 years, ending in 1971. He produced some TV specials after giving up the weekly show before becoming ill with cancer. He died in New York on October 13, 1974. Sources Ed Sullivan. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 19, Gale, 2004, pp. 374-376. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Coletta, Charles. Sullivan, Ed (1902–1974). St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, 2nd ed., vol. 5, St. James Press, 2013, pp. 6-8. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Goldfarb, Sheldon. The Ed Sullivan Show. Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America, edited by Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast, vol. 3: 1940s-1950s, UXL, 2002, pp. 739-741. Gale Virtual Reference Library.

Gulf of Mexico Habitat and Marine Life

Gulf of Mexico Habitat and Marine Life Gulf of Mexico Facts The Gulf of Mexico covers about 600,000 square miles, making it the 9th largest body of water in the world. It is bordered by the U.S. states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, the Mexican coast to Cancun, and Cuba. Human Uses of the Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico is an important area for commercial and recreational fishing and wildlife watching. It is also the location of offshore drilling, supporting about 4,000 oil and natural gas platforms. The Gulf of Mexico has been in the news recently because of the explosion of the oil rig Deepwater Horizon. This has affected commercial fishing, recreation and the overall economy of the area, as well as threatening marine life. Types of Habitat The Gulf of Mexico is thought to have formed by subsidence, a slow sinking of the seafloor, about 300 million years ago. The Gulf has a variety of habitats, from shallow coastal areas and coral reefs to deep underwater areas. The Gulfs deepest area is Sigsbee Deep, which is estimated to be about 13,000 feet deep. According to the EPA, about 40% of the Gulf of Mexico are shallow intertidal areas. About 20% are areas over 9,000 feet deep, allowing the Gulf to support deep-diving animals such as sperm and beaked whales. Waters on the continental shelf and continental slope, between 600-9,000 feet deep, comprise about 60% of the Gulf of Mexico. Offshore Platforms as Habitat Although their presence is controversial, offshore oil and natural gas platforms provide habitats in themselves, attracting species as an artificial reef would. Fish, invertebrates and even sea turtles sometimes congregate on and around the platforms, and they provide a stopping point for birds (see this poster from the U.S. Minerals Management Service for more). Marine Life in the Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico supports a wide variety of marine life, including wide-ranging whales and dolphins, coastal-dwelling manatees, fish including tarpon and snapper, and invertebrates such as shellfish, corals, and worms. Reptiles such as sea turtles (Kemps ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, green and hawksbill) and alligators also thrive here. The Gulf of Mexico also provides important habitat for both native and migrating birds. Threats to the Gulf of Mexico Although the number of large oil spills relative to the huge number of drilling rigs is small, spills can be disastrous when they occur, as evidenced by the impact of the BP/Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 on marine habitat, marine life, fishermen and the overall economy of the Gulf Coast states. Other threats include overfishing, coastal development, discharge of fertilizers and other chemicals into the Gulf (forming a Dead Zone, an area lacking oxygen). Sources: Gulf of Mexico Foundation. Gulf of Mexico: Facts and Threats (Online) Accessed May 21, 2010.Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. Hypoxia In the Gulf of Mexico (Online) Accessed May 21, 2010.Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico Region Environmental Information (Online) Accessed May 21, 2010.US EPA. General Facts About the Gulf of Mexico. (Online) Accessed May 21, 2010.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Book Review on Tipping Point by Malcomb Gladwell Essay

Book Review on Tipping Point by Malcomb Gladwell - Essay Example Prior to the book by Gladwell, the said process can be considered to occur on the basis uncontrolled factors. For that matter, the study of such events though can be considered of interest is merely accepted as inevitable and a common occurrence (Gladwell, 2000). The Tipping Point then can be considered as an important presentation of the idea explaining the phenomenon of having trends that cover a multidisciplinary area extending from public health to marketing. The term tipping point can be defined as the point wherein the different requirements to achieve exponential popularity can be achieved. The different factors that are related to the said process are the main concept captured in the book (Gladwell, 2000). Based on the book, there are different important concepts that are presented. Basically, the said factors are considered essential and fundamental in the achievement of the tipping point and success in terms for the introduction and popularity of a concept or a product. The said factors are referred to as the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context comprise the majority of the book. These factors are referred to as the Rules of Epidemics (Gladwell, 2000). The main points presented by the book revolve around the said concepts which can be considered to explain the trends and popularity achieved by certain products and concepts. In addition, important ways and methods to be able to achieve the said success are given. It is based on the presented slogan of the book that little things can make a big difference. This can means that the little actions undertaken by people can affect others exponentially (Gladwell, 2000). Based on the study undertaken on the book, it can be considered that the ideas that the author presented are simple yet considerably accurate. Specifically, the effects of the said paradigms can had been extensively explained by Gladwell

Enacting a Corporation in the State of Florida Research Paper

Enacting a Corporation in the State of Florida - Research Paper Example These laws are intended to cater for the needs of the people and constitution of Florida. After graduating from college, starting a business corporation would be a great idea to earn a clean living. This essay will discuss the procedures and requirements one is supposed to abide by when enacting a corporation in the state of Florida after graduating from college. As a new investor, it is essential to know the types of corporations allowed in Florida. One type includes a general profit corporation which is owned by stockholders. Another type is Close Florida Corporation which is limited to between 30 and 50 stockholders. The director of the close corporation is required to offer shares to existing stockholders before selling them to new ones. Another type of corporation is a Florida limited liability company, a form of business structure from Latin America and Europe. There are many business opportunities for fresh college graduates. Starting a lucrative business is one such opportuni ty that many college graduates can venture into. Many fresh college graduates have brilliant business ideas. However, these ideas only materialize for the few who are willing to endure the strain that come with initiating a new business (Strauss, 2003). Starting a new corporation requires some information to be created about the business venture. The first and most prominent is the name of the corporation. A name can either be inviting or repelling to potential clients (Strauss, 2003). The name of a corporation needs to be unique and not in use by any other registered body. The name of a corporation uniquely identifies and differentiates it from many other businesses that already exist. ‘Newline Corporation’ has been chosen as the most suitable name for the business that is being set up in Florida. This is because the name is not in use by any other business and it signifies a new development that is coming up in an already existing industry (Barnet & Ronald, 1974). The next step is to create a filing receipt system. This allows constant follow up of any purchases or payments that have been made. It also creates accountability in the use of capital and resources (Kamoroff, 2000). Knowing the amount of money that has been spent at each stage and on what enables an individual to plan for the remaining tasks. It can also be helpful in time management and in evaluating the progress made in starting up the business. A filing receipt system can be used to determine if it is in line with the specification on when the corporation should be up and running (Beerel, 1993). A filing system enables an individual to easily retrieve information whenever it is required. The filing system consists of both manual and automated systems that are labeled under the month and years of their receivership. The most current files should be put at the top. It is crucial to keep a record of the receipts due to tax purposes. Some kinds of receipts that will need to be kept sa fe include unpaid invoices, business receipts, vender statements and client product receipts (Beerel, 1993). At the end of each year, the receipts need to be purged and filed with taxes. An article of incorporation is sometimes referred to as a certificate of incorporation. It must fulfill information as permitted by set laws. A form is required to be filled and filed by the secretary of state (Corporations in General, 1964). This form includes information about the name of

Economic Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Economic Theory - Essay Example The Keynesian economic theory involves stimulation of the economy to encourage people to spend. This is achievable either through government investment in infrastructure or a decrease in interest rates. An increase in income results in more spending, which results in more production and spending. The cycle continues, as there is more income and the ability to spend more money. In consequence, the original government investment results in a ripple reaction that involves economic activity. Obama is largely a Keynesian economist because of his strategies in economy stimulation. The move by the government to increase money supply, or purchase products in the market by itself is beneficial because it increase spending. The concept of equilibrium in unregulated markets creates a capitalist economy that has several flaws. There is a need to leverage assets by real creation of wealth, which increases economic productivity, instead of through debt. It is evident, following the recent bubble, that reliance on equilibrium is detrimental to economic growth and productivity. The Keynesian economic theory is the best because the government is the only economic actor than can favorably supply credit and demand for economic

Chapter 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chapter 7 - Essay Example while being ensured no negative consequences are to occur. Climate for excellence can be real or a superficial facade to hide the lack of innovation. Support for innovation means backing innovative ideas with practical help. Innovation is fostered and/or hindered by the organizational management and the attitude thereof. However, it is good to remember that vision, consistency and articulate argument makes even minority groups (work groups in huge organizations are minority groups) effect change. Minorities need to be (or at least appear to be) autonomous and not working in opposition to the group’s interest. It is good to remember that resistance would be faced, and should be expected. Characteristics of innovative teams, which are actually in the minority include: clear vision, everyone should have the same vision and goal; communication, it needs to be adequate and consistent as assumptions need to be cleared out too; flexibility, willing to listen to others outside the tea m as well, especially when the team’s own ideas are being presented to them; persistence, adaptability does not mean abandoning ideas; participation, include as many people in the team as possible.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Assess the hierarchical structure of the court system in England and Assignment

Assess the hierarchical structure of the court system in England and Wales. To what extent does the common law doctrine of bindi - Assignment Example England and Wales share common structures in the legal structure and the structure is commonly called the English legal system. Besides the hierarchical structure that defines the court system, the supplication of the various statutes distinguishes the system from other global structures of court systems. The English court system stands unique in the manner of application of the various doctrines of law and observes a characteristic doctrine of precedent. This paper therefore has the main objective of critically assessing the hierarchical structure that is observed within the England as well as Wales court systems. Besides, the paper intends to evaluate the extent to which the doctrine of common law in binding precedent takes effect or is observed within this structure of court system. The report will prioritize the analysis of the main courts in the hierarchy and assess the individual status and functioning concerning the common system with the analysis taking special attention on t he civil courts as against the English criminal courts. Discussion Dating back from the ancient times of Alfred the Great, the English system of law has had great revolutions to stand as it is today. Constant improvements and reformations have been observed which have in one way or another contributed to the making of the English legal system as it is today. ... The English civil system of courts comprises of various courts which include the ‘county courts’, the ‘magistrate courts’, the ‘high courts’ the ‘court of appeal’, ‘House of lords’ as well as the ‘high court† (The English Legal System – Overview, nd, para 1-3). The courts follow a hierarchical order where varying powers and provisions are created and enforced by the different levels of the courts. The lowest ranked court in the civil system is the county court, which has primary jurisdiction on debt collection as well as in civil action. The courts often present the most efficient system to deal with such cases, which are often many and it, is preferred for the benefit of cost effectiveness, which the public exchequer as well as the parties to litigation enjoys. The magistrate’s courts in England and Wales have special jurisdictions on family matters where custody orders in relation to children and or matrimonial grievances are addressed. Moreover, this level of court system is mandated to address the issues of adoption cases and have the potential of excluding a person from a family or household. The high court, through the family division is charged with the responsibility of addressing appeal cases from this court. Being both an original as well as an appellate court, the high court provides an opportunity where individuals would start judicial proceedings direct from here and where appeals are made on particular issues as specified. The high court has different divisions which are distinct in regard to roles assigned. There exists no jurisdiction to limit the working of the court and thus it serves the entire England as well as Wales. Besides addressing the civil cases alone, Queens

OOS-Deviation assignment detecting the presence of diethylene glycol Essay

OOS-Deviation assignment detecting the presence of diethylene glycol in toothpaste by thin layer chromotography - Essay Example Additionally, for detection purposes, you will require 6.7 mg/mL of developing the solvent of Potassium Permanganate Staining Solution. Centrifuge tube of 50mL polypropylene to sample a preparation of toothpaste with a weight of around 1.0g. To disperse the toothpaste, add 5mL of water and vortex for around 1 minute. Next is the addition of 5mL of acetonitrile to the mixture followed by vortex about 1 minute. Prior to collecting around 1mL of the supernatant, centrifuge the mixture until you obtain a crystal-clear solution. Make use of the 1.5mL micro test tubes by transferring 500L of the supernatant to it then add 1.0mL of methanol. Dilute 0.2mL of DEG to 0.5mL using methanol in order to achieve the standard reference preparation (Ahuja & Scypinski, 2011). Spread the 5L diluted test solution and the reference standard solution on a sheet and leave it to dry. To get commendable results, use chromatographic procedure spot. The next step is to put the sheet in a developing tank that has been prepared by balancing 100mL of developing a solvent for about 30minutes. Remove the solvent and permit it to dry in the air immediately the developing solution reaches the stopping line. When you submerge the dried sheet in potassium permanganate solution and then remove the sheet after around 5 seconds, yellows spots will start to appear on the background as the sheet begins to dry. The last spot to appear is DEG. The reading of DEG varies from 0.40%, 0.41% and 0.44% for OOS results and between 0.005% and 0.015% for OOS deviation. According Ahuja and Scypinski (2011), after the examination of the OOS results, the procedures on the discovery and occurrences of the OOS are

Democracy, latin america Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Democracy, latin america - Essay Example Lagos notes that, â€Å"†¦low levels of trust in other people constitute a defining feature of Latin American political culture† (Lagos, pg. 142). Latin Americans are characterized by a chronic passivity, where they develop the naive expectation that their problems will be solved by someone else, turning to the state, and democracy, to do so. The statistics show that as individuals move away from institutions such as political parties and government, and toward more domestic issues like television or church, levels of trust increase. These low levels, although not new, are relatively low compared to other regions of the world, and make it almost impossible for the liberalization which democracy entails. Lagos concludes: â€Å"†¦declining levels of interpersonal trust thus constitute an important barrier to†¦ the development of a civil society†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lagos, pg. 144). Right now, the support for democracy in Latin America resides at about 62%, which masks wide differentials between countries like Brazil which have moved progressively farther to the Left. Lagos reports there has been a sharp decline in support for liberal democracy, which has been motivated almost exclusively by economic and political failures in certain countries. Although 62% of Latin Americans favor democracy, â€Å"only 37 percent of the public are satisfied with the way that democracy works† (Lagos, pg. 141). Thus, the situation in the region is that the public perception of democracy remains mixed, and the initial short-lived enthusiasm about democratic change has faded through the years. The lack of public trust in institutions and public perceptions about failures in democratic countries has fueled this ambivalence toward the form of government. In their paper â€Å"Democratization Backwards: The Problem of Third-Wave Democracies†, Richard Rose and Doh Chull Shin propose a distinction between â€Å"first-wave† and â€Å"third-wave† democracies, the

Superman and Batman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Superman and Batman - Essay Example The superhero’s socioeconomic status brings up another disparity. When Batman is living his civilian role as Bruce Wayne, he is a successful businessman (a billionaire) while Clark Kent, Superman’s alter ego, is just an ordinary writer for a newspaper making a modest salary. These differences make the ordinary citizen side of each character like night and day. But the differences do not end there, especially when it comes to their families and relationships. It should also be noted that Superman is raised by two parents (even though not his own), while Batman is raised by his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, who he continues to live with throughout adulthood. Furthermore, Batman has a partner, the Boy Wonder, also known as Robin, to assist him in his fight against crime, whereas Superman is always a one-man show with no sidekick. The people the superheroes surround themselves with are worlds apart. Another major difference between the two characters can be seen when looking at the settings in which they were raised. Superman grew up in the modest rural setting of a Kansas farm, while Batman grew up in a very luxurious lifestyle in a mansion, in the crowded metropolitan area known as Gotham City. These places of their upbringing are almost polar opposites. And finally, there are the physical and material differences between the two. Batman wears a mask, whereas the other caped crusader does not, as Superman’s disguise (or mask) is essentially the glasses he wears and his nerdy personality as Clark Kent. Furthermore, Superman’s sole means of transportation is his flying ability, whereas Batman primarily uses his popular Batmobile to speedily get from place to place, not to mention his other high-tech rides, including a plane, helicopter, motorcycle, and speedboat. Even though all of these differences may seem great in number, they pale in comparison to the striking similarities one can find between the two by digging a little deeper. There are many likenesses shared between the caped crusaders. The first key similarity to note between the superheroes is that both Superman and Batman were conceived (in the imagination) in the 1930s as comic book heroes. In Cleveland, Ohio, in June 1932, Jerry Siegel, an American writer created Superman and Canadian American artist Joe Shuster drew him before they sold the concept to Action Comics,