ABC Orange Juice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

ABC Orange Juice - Essay Example They ought to understand their aim of advertising, the target, media and competitors. ABC must actively involve the public, customers or not, in any activity which presents a forum for the customers to make comments about their Juice. This helps develop referrals and positive word of mouth from satisfied customers. Stake holders are very vital for the overall performance and success of the business hence they must be involved too. The public relations team must make available this forum by participating in community activities and sponsorships, producing annual reports, brochures and newsletters. In addition, they may also initiate educational programs to enlighten the public on the need to use their juice instead of others. ABC Orange juice in a move to market their product will employ sales promotion techniques such as sales force promotion, trade promotions, business promotions and consumer promotions. They will give appropriate commissions to their sales agents to motivate them. They may also involve them in sales competition with prizes or awards. In business promotion, they need to organise seminars and workshops and trade show displays. They can as well appease their customers by offering on-pack offers, bonuses and loyalty

The significance of endings in The Great Gatsby The Kite Runner and Audens poetry Essay Example for Free

The significance of endings in The Great Gatsby The Kite Runner and Audens poetry Essay Write about the significance of the ways writers end their narratives in the work of the three writers you have studied. In ‘The Great Gatsby’ Fitzgerald creates a sense of finality in the last chapter through the repetition of the word ‘last’, which suggests to the reader ‘the party was over.’ Also the repetition relates to the end of Nick’s experiences and relationship with Gatsby, creating a subdued tone in the ending of the narrative. Fitzgerald references the colour ‘green’ once more, which is symbolic of Gatsby’s dream, the use of it in this final chapter signifies the sombre end of the dream and pursuit of Daisy. Fitzgerald’s construction of a tone of finality within this final chapter in relation to Gatsby’s dream reflects the loss of hope, considering the dream has been a symbol for hope for the entirety of the novel. Fitzgerald’s further utilisation of colour similarly reflects the loss of hope. The ‘motor-hearse’ was described as ‘horribly black’ which heavily contrasts the vulgar displays of colour in Gatsby’s life ‘pink rag of a suit’, this compounds the fact that Gatsby is indeed gone, thus ending the narrative in a pessimistic tone since neither Gatsby, nor his dream succeeded. Coupled with this is the pathetic fallacy, used to parallel the sombre feeling of death and loss, there was a ‘thick drizzle’ which has ominous connotations. Also, the fact the rain has only been described in one other instance over the whole narrative builds tension since it’s not an ordinary description ‘he spoke of the rain in a worried, uncertain way.’ However, despite this pessimism throughout the final chapter, Fitzgerald uses the final line to reference Gatsby one last time and reflect his passionate struggle to realise his dream. ‘So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.’ This metaphor shows that despite Gatsby’s life being full of obstacles ‘current’, nothing stopped him relentlessly trying to achieve what he wanted ‘so we beat on.’ Through this Fitzgerald references the reader and demonstrates the human need to dream and to be challenged and suggests to the reader that despite obstacles and hardship in our own lives ‘tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further’ and ultimately we should never give up until we have secured what we dream of. This ends the novel with a moral message directed specifically towards the reader through the character description of Gatsby, creating a sense of closure in the reader. In ‘The Kite Runner’ Hosseini uses descriptions of how Amir’s ‘mind flashed back’ to his childhood with Hassan and the profound detail of Sohrab in the final chapter, in order to epitomise Amir’s guilt which spawned from ‘a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975’, and which has been the central aspect in the novel. Amir says his ‘hands are stained with Hassan’s blood’ and he prays ‘God doesn’t let them get stained with the blood of his boy too.’ The ‘blood’ is suggestive of Hassan’s rape which is the source of Amir’s guilt and the fact that Amir ‘pray(ed)’ shows how he feels utterly powerless suggesting he is overwhelmed with guilt. Hosseini creates a detailed explanation of ‘Sohrab’s face’, his ‘slanting bamboo-leaf eyes so much like his father’s’, this comparison exemplifies Amir’s guilt over his cowardice and disloyalty towards Hassan which is compelling him to devote himself to his son in repentance. Alternatively this concern over ‘Hassan’s boy’ could reflect Amir’s genuine care and love of his friend and half-brother Hassan, especially since ‘blood’ is mentioned which has been symbolic for the brotherhood between the two characters Amir and Hassan. Hosseini’s description of Amir’s deeply rooted guilt in this final chapter ends the narrative positively since the reader ultimately sympathises with Amir, as his heavy conscience reveals his benevolence towards Hassan and presents him once more as an appealing character. Hosseini also significantly parallels Amir and Hassan in the closing lines of the narrative to suggest that Amir did finally receive redemption for his betrayal of Hassan, this ends the narrative in a light hearted manner composing a positive ending. Hosseini says that Sohrab ‘took hold of the string’ of the kite which symbolises the bond now formed between Amir and Sohrab, since the kites always were an omnipresent symbol for friendship within the novel. Therefore Hosseini suggests that Amir and Hassan have reconciled through Amir’s bondage with Sohrab. The final line of the narrative ‘I ran’ shows how Amir running the kite for Sohrab, mirrors the actions of Hassan, suggesting Amir has at last been redeemed of his disloyalty, because he has changed. He is running for Hassan’s son, the personal pronoun ‘I ran’ shows he is no longer selfish and his superiority demonstrated before has vanished. Similarly, Hosseini suggests Amir finally receives redemption since Soraya ‘had a glimpse of the mother she might have been’ in her eye, ‘had her own womb not betrayed her’ which shows she has finally become a mother and subsequently, Amir a father. This symbolises redemption because Amir’s infertility had been a symbolic punishment for his cowardice towards Assef during Hassan’s rape ‘someone†¦had decided to deny me fatherhood for the things I had done.’ However the fact that now he is able to be a father to Sohrab suggests he no longer needs to be punished. In ‘As I Walked Out One Evening’ Auden uses the ending of the piece to consolidate the overall theme of the power of time, which permeates the poem. Auden describes the setting ‘late in the evening’ in the final stanza of the poem, which contrasts the beginning where the time frame was simply identified as ‘one evening.’ This suggests time has elapsed between the first and last stanza. Then Auden says ‘the lovers they were gone’ which suggests that because of the passage of time their love has ended, ‘gone’ showing love to be fragile against the vast power of time. Furthermore the comparison between ‘the lovers they were gone’ and ‘the deep river ran on’ shows how despite the lovers perishing in time the ‘deep river’ has remained unchanged from the beginning of the poem where it was revealed to be a ‘brimming river’, a synonym for full or ‘deep.’ This rhyme between ‘gone’ and ‘on’ and the parallel description of the river from the beginning shows the ‘lovers’ haven’t impacted upon anything, which presents love as an inexorably insignificant force in life, a key theme within the poem. In ‘O What is That Sound’ Auden uses meaningful absence in order to reflect the uncertainty in the voice of the poem and to create an exciting ending. In the poem Auden describes ‘scarlet soldiers’ en route to the ‘broken lock and splintered door’ where the voice of the poem is residing. Auden uses the final stanza as a climactic moment in which to suggest the soldiers have reached their destination and are about to harm the voice in the poem. The final line the soldiers’ ‘eyes are burning’ has ominous connotations and implies the impending doom of the voice. Similarly the propounding ‘b’ sounds in ‘broken’ and ‘boots’ symbolises the loud movements of the soldiers which reflects their close proximity and subsequently emphasises their threat, creating a tense exciting ending as the reader fears for the fate of the voice. However the ‘b’ sounds could also reflect the aggressiveness of the soldiers and equally show their threatening presence. Auden also rises the threat of the soldiers and tense tone of the poem at the end through the lack of questions presented in the final stanza. In the previous stanzas, two voices were present explicated through repetitive questions and answers, however in the final stanza there is only description of the soldiers ‘turning, turning’ which increases the pace of the poem and reflects the imminent danger since the voice is now all alone, which allows the reader to vicariously experience the situation of the voice in the poem, spawning an exciting ending.

The substitution reactions

The substitution reactions Acknowledgement The preparation of this project on the topic- substitution reactions.: a profile would not have been possible without the valuable contribution of my TEACHERS. I would like to give most specially thanks to my CHE sir Dr. Ashish kumar who is my chemistry teacher to giving me the important guidelines during making this project. So, I hope this project will provide large and sufficient information about the different coordination numbers present in the coordination chemistry. Introduction In substitution reaction, afunctional groupin a particularchemical compoundis replaced by another group[1]. Inorganic chemistry, theelectrophilicandnucleophilicsubstitution reactions are of prime importance. Organic substitution reactions classified in several mainorganic reactiontypes depending on whether thereagentthat brings about the substitution is considered anelectrophileor anucleophile, whether areactive intermediateinvolved in the reaction is acarbocation, acarbanionor afree radicalor whether thesubstrateisaliphaticor aromatic. It also is helpful for optimizing a reaction with regard to variables such as temperature and choice of solvent Substitution reaction : chlorination of methane Nuclophilic reactions: These kind of substitution reactions happen when the reagent is a nucleophile, which means, an atom or molecule with free electrons. Anucleophilereacts with analiphaticsubstrate in anucleophilic aliphatic substitutionreaction. When the substrate is anaromaticcompound the reaction type isnucleophilic aromatic substitution. Carboxylic acidderivatives react with nucleophiles innucleophilic acyl substitution. This kind of reaction can be useful in preparing compounds The Nucleophilic substitutions can be produced by two different mechanisms: Monomolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN1): In this case the reaction proceeds in stages, the compounds first dissociate in their ions and then this ions react between them. Its produced by carbocations. Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2): In this case the reaction proceeds in only one stage. The attack of the reagent and the expulsion of the leaving group happen simultaneously. Electrophilic reaction Electrophilesare involved inelectrophilic substitutionreactions and particularly inelectrophilic aromatic substitutions: Electrophilic reactions to other unsaturated compounds thanarenesgenerally lead toelectrophilic additionrather than substitution. Radical substitutions Aradical substitutionreaction involvesradicals The term nucleophile comes from the Greek meaning nucleus loving, in other words nucleophiles seek positive charged centres. Nucleophiles have lone pairs of electrons and may carry a negative charge. There are many examples of nucleophiles, such asNH3,H2O,CN-,HC?C-, andOH-. Alkyl halides contain a halogen (X =F,Cl,BrorI) covalently bonded to a carbon atom. Due to the electronegativity differences between carbon and the halide, theC-Xbond is polar with a partial positive charge (?+) on the carbon atom and a partial negative charge (?-) on the halogen. Halogens are good leaving groups and can be replaced by an incoming nucleophile. Nucleophilic substitution is the reaction of an electron pair donor (the nucleophile, Nu) with an electron pair acceptor (the electrophile). An sp3-hybridized electrophile must have a leaving group (X) in order for the reaction to take place. Mechanism of Nucleophilic Substitution The term SN2 means that two molecules are involved in the actual transition state: The departure of the leaving group occurs simultaneously with the backside attack by the nucleophile. The SN2 reaction thus leads to a predictable configuration of the stereocenter it proceeds with inversion (reversal of the configuration). In the SN1 reaction, a planar carbenium ion is formed first, which then reacts further with the nucleophile. Since the nucleophile is free to attack from either side, this reaction is associated with racemization. In both reactions, the nucleophile competes with the leaving group. Because of this, one must realize what properties a leaving group should have, and what constitutes a good nucleophile. For this reason, it is worthwhile to know which factors will determine whether a reaction follows an SN1 or SN2 pathway. Common examples include Organic reductionswithhydrides, for example R-X?R-HusingLiAlH4 (SN2) hydrolysisreactions such as R-Br + OH-?R-OH+Br-(SN2) or R-Br + H2O ? R-OH +HBr (SN1) Williamson ether synthesis R-Br +OR-?R-OR+ Br- (SN2) Electrophilic substitution Electrophilic aromatic substitutionorEASis anorganic reactionin which an atom, usuallyhydrogen, appended to anaromatic systemis replaced by anelectrophile. The most important reactions of this type that take place arearomatic nitration,aromatic halogenation,aromatic sulfonation, and acylation and alkylatingFriedel-Crafts reactions. Basic reaction Aromatic nitrationsto formnitro compoundstake place by generating a nitronium ion fromnitric acidandsulfuric acid. Aromatic sulfonationofbenzenewith fumingsulfuric acidgives benzenesulfonic acid. Aromatic halogenationof benzene withbromine,chlorineoriodinegives the corresponding aryl halogen compounds catalyzed by the corresponding iron trihalide. TheFriedel-Crafts reactionexists as anacylationand analkylationwith acyl halides oralkyl halidesas reactants. The catalyst is most typicallyaluminium trichloride, but almost any strongLewis acidcan be used. In Fridel-Crafts acylation, a full measure of aluminium trichloride must be used, as opposed to a catalytic amount. Basic reaction mechanism In the first step of thereaction mechanismfor this reaction, the electron-rich aromatic ring which in the simplest case isbenzeneattacks the electrophileA. This leads to the formation of a positively-charged cyclohexadienylcation, also known as anarenium ion. Thiscarbocationis unstable, owing both to the positive charge on the molecule and to the temporary loss ofaromaticity. However, the cyclohexadienyl cation is partially stabilized byresonance, which allows the positive charge to be distributed over three carbon atoms. In the second stage of the reaction, aLewis baseBdonates electrons to the hydrogen atom at the point of electrophilic attack, and the electrons shared by the hydrogen return to thepisystem, restoring aromaticity. An electrophilic substitution reaction on benzene does not always result in monosubstitution. While electrophilic substituents usually withdraw electrons from the aromatic ring and thus deactivate it against further reaction, a sufficiently strong electrophile can perform a second or even a third substitution. This is especially the case with the use ofcatalysts. Radical Substitution Radicals A radical is a species that contains unpaired electrons. Typically formed by a homolytic bond cleavage as represented by the fishhook curved arrows: RADICAL CHAIN MECHANISM FOR REACTION OF METHANE WITH Br2 Step 1 (Initiation) Heat or uv light cause the weak halogen bond to undergo homolytic cleavage to generate two bromine radicals and starting the chain process. Step 2 (Propagation) A bromine radical abstracts a hydrogen to form HBr and a methyl radical, then The methyl radical abstracts a bromine atom from another molecule of Br2to form the methyl bromide product andanotherbromine radical, which can then itself undergo reaction 2(a) creating a cycle that can repeat. Step 3 (Termination) Various reactions between the possible pairs of radicals allow for the formation of ethane, Br2or the product, methyl bromide. These reactions remove radicals and do not perpetuate the cycle. There are two components to understanding the selectivity of radical halogenations of alkanes: reactivity of R-H system reactivity of X. R-H The strength of the R-H varies slightly depending on whether the H is 1o, 2oor 3o. The following table shows the bond dissociation energy, that is the energy required to break the bond in a homolytic fashion, generating R.and H. Halogen radical, X. Bromine radicals are less reactive than chlorine radicals Br.tends to be more selective in its reactions, and prefers to react with the weaker R-H bonds. The more reactive chlorine radical is less discriminating in what it reacts with. The selectivity of the radical reactions can be predicted mathematically based on a combination of an experimentally determined reactivity factor, Ri, and a statistical factor, nHi. In order to use the equation shown below we need to look at our original alkane and look at each H in turn to see what product it would give if it were to be susbtituted. This is an exercise in recognizing different types of hydrogen, something that will be important later. REFERENCES:- Chang Raymond www.wikepedia.org www.google.com

The US, the ICC and the future: A suggestion on how to convince the US

The US, the ICC and the future: A suggestion on how to convince the US that signing and ratifying the ICC would be to its benefit Introduction Throughout the 20th century, the world has experienced some of the greatest wars and catastrophes for human life. Simultaneously the world has achieved some of the greatest advances in codifying human rights and enhancing the understanding that we are all citizens of this world and invariably connected. Whatever human crisis occurs in one part of the world will in the short or long term influence the other parts of the world and nobody is immune to this fact. Especially the United States seems to have understood in the 20th century that interaction between states and individuals is vital, and that the rule of law has to be established on a national and international level. Arguable after the civil rights struggle and eventually the end of the Cold War the US was able to take action in order to criticize human rights violations across the globe. The civil rights movement indicated the US slowly growing willingness to accept the equality of all its citizens, while the fall of the Berlin Wall gave the US (and arguably other countries too), the freedom to care and openly criticize human rights violations wherever they happened to occur. However, despite the US strong involvement in codifying human rights and international criminal law through treaties, conventions and institutions, the US has already recently been accused of maintain an isolationist and even hegemonic stance across the globe. The US, through its omnipresent stance in the international media, international political arena, military capacity etc. is able to be unilateralist and not care about hum... ... of the United Nations. The International Criminal Court: The Making of the Rome Statute: Issues, Negotiations, Results [10] 81. Herman von Hebel and Darryl Robinson. The International Criminal Court: The Making of the Rome Statute: Issues, Negotiations, Results [11] Statement by US President Bill Clinton, authorizing the US signing of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 31 December 2000, Camp David, Maryland, United States [12] UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY WASHINGTON, John R. Bolton. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/5/6/114156.shtml [13] P. 38. John Bolton. Toward an International Criminal Court? A Council Policy Initiative. [14] 39. John R. Bolton. Toward an International Criminal court? A Council Policy Initiative [15] 43. Ibid. The US, the ICC and the future: A suggestion on how to convince the US The US, the ICC and the future: A suggestion on how to convince the US that signing and ratifying the ICC would be to its benefit Introduction Throughout the 20th century, the world has experienced some of the greatest wars and catastrophes for human life. Simultaneously the world has achieved some of the greatest advances in codifying human rights and enhancing the understanding that we are all citizens of this world and invariably connected. Whatever human crisis occurs in one part of the world will in the short or long term influence the other parts of the world and nobody is immune to this fact. Especially the United States seems to have understood in the 20th century that interaction between states and individuals is vital, and that the rule of law has to be established on a national and international level. Arguable after the civil rights struggle and eventually the end of the Cold War the US was able to take action in order to criticize human rights violations across the globe. The civil rights movement indicated the US slowly growing willingness to accept the equality of all its citizens, while the fall of the Berlin Wall gave the US (and arguably other countries too), the freedom to care and openly criticize human rights violations wherever they happened to occur. However, despite the US strong involvement in codifying human rights and international criminal law through treaties, conventions and institutions, the US has already recently been accused of maintain an isolationist and even hegemonic stance across the globe. The US, through its omnipresent stance in the international media, international political arena, military capacity etc. is able to be unilateralist and not care about hum... ... of the United Nations. The International Criminal Court: The Making of the Rome Statute: Issues, Negotiations, Results [10] 81. Herman von Hebel and Darryl Robinson. The International Criminal Court: The Making of the Rome Statute: Issues, Negotiations, Results [11] Statement by US President Bill Clinton, authorizing the US signing of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 31 December 2000, Camp David, Maryland, United States [12] UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY WASHINGTON, John R. Bolton. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/5/6/114156.shtml [13] P. 38. John Bolton. Toward an International Criminal Court? A Council Policy Initiative. [14] 39. John R. Bolton. Toward an International Criminal court? A Council Policy Initiative [15] 43. Ibid.

Art Of Racing Essay

Denny Swift is a very intellectual human being, especially when it is go time on the asphalt racing strip. He puts his mind into race mode and lets the auto pilot take over and slide through all the corners, especially in the rainy weather that dissipates others. This complex character is a rare human being, not for the reason of being a good racer in the rain. But he takes responsibility, when something happens from a decision whether he’s wrong or right he owns up to it. Either taking the success with triumph or openly accepting the fact of being wrong. When he is wrong he try’s his very hardest to resolve the situation, and fix things rather than putting it off to others or blaming it on someone else. But no matter what in any situation he implies the thoughts of others and taking them into consideration as well for what other characters in the book have to say and how they feel. When Eve was sick she didn’t want him to see, her like that and when Eve demanded Denny to leave he listened, also leaving Enzo by her side and Zoe in the care of Eve’s Parents. The real other half of Denny is his automobile racing career. He is a very experienced and intellectual racer, Denny’s skill on the track are unbelievable especially in the rain. He is able to predict what to do in situations on the track before they happen, turning before sliding, sliding before turning. A quote he says which is â€Å" What we manifest is before us†, meaning by decisions we make affects our future turn out and relates to his racing because he makes a move before its made for him. The part about Denny’s career would be the time he has off the track because it is limited. He has to practise in order to get better, which is more and more time away from his family and his best friend Enzo. His racing can relate to his life, every choice he makes can affect his way of life. Just like every move on the track can affect your outcome at the finish line. To be a very good racer, not only do you need the skills but the will power to push the limits and be better than everyone. Denny executes dangerous maneuvers to be first to cross the finish line first. Denny try’s his very hardest to be the best guy he can be whether it hurts him or not, and couldn’t be or do what he does without the support of his loved ones, Eve, Zoe and Enzo, the most  important people in Denny’s life that he cares most about.

Compare and contrast leadership and management essayEssay Writing Service

Compare and contrast leadership and management essayEssay Writing Service Compare and contrast leadership and management essay Compare and contrast leadership and management essayLeadership and management are two ways of organizing people that are effectively used in business relationships. Today it is impossible to imagine a business organization without an effective leader, as well as without an effective manager. In fact, leadership and management have very much in common. Both leadership and management practices are very important in organizational hierarchy. According to researchers, leadership and management are â€Å"vital elements† in running any business (Hughes et al., 2009). At the same time, there are certain differences between these styles. For example, it has been found that leaders inspire others and initiate organizational change, while managers are able to cope with challenges that may occur in the result of change. The differences are concluded in different personalities, focus, outcome, approach to tasks/objective, risk association, role in decision making and style and type of org anization.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To start with, both leadership and management can be used to define group behavior in a professional business setting. Both leaders and managers should be well-trained to achieve the established goals (Hughes et al., 2009). Leadership and management are interdependent because the principles of leadership and management should be adapted to changing environment.Nevertheless, there are certain differences between leadership and management.Leadership is focused on long-term goals because the decisions of leaders affect the future of business relationships and the whole organization. Leaders are aimed at bringing vision in order to motivate employees toward the set goals (Raducan Raducan, 2014).   In addition, leadership can be explained as a synthesis, which is based on the outcomes of the previous analysis. Leaders have followers as the major goal of leaders is to lead others. Leadership means setting up new goals in order to improve organizational pe rformance. Leadership principles are based on finding the proper strategies to inspire others (Hughes et al., 2009; Rost, 2011). Additionally, leaders prefer to build teams in order to apply their skills and experience encouraging collaboration (Moyles, 2006). Leaders can be characterized as heroes because they have the traits of personality that make them leaders, including adaptability, creativity, self-confidence, integrity and emotional control.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Management is based on short-term goals because managers are involved in making decisions regarding everyday activities, supervising subordinates and measuring performance. Moreover, management can be interpreted as an analysis which involves the procedures aimed at breaking something into parts. Managers have subordinates as their major goal is to manage work. Management means providing effective control over the group in order to organize the group’s performance toward the set based on the established values and principles (Raducan Raducan, 2014).   Management principles are based on certain behavioral aspects that may be changed due to the changes in business environment and organizational culture (Rost, 2011).   Besides, the above mentioned facts, managers are aimed at inspiring staff member to perform their duties in a proper way, based on the established organizational goals (Moyles, 2006). The personality traits of a manager include openness, extraversion, conscientiousness and agreeableness.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, it is necessary to say that leadership and management are two important terms that have been widely discussed in the world of business. Leadership and management are interchangeable because their characteristics are interdependent. At the same time, they are not the same. Leadership differs from management in the following characteristics: personalities, focus, outcome, approach to tasks/objective, risk ass ociation, role in decision making and style and type of organization. In general, there are four major differences between the activities of leaders and managers. Leaders are focused on giving direction, offering inspiration, building teamwork, setting an example and gaining acceptance. Managers are focused on planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling practices. Leaders have followers and managers have subordinates.

Theory Of Planned Behavior Example

Theory Of Planned Behavior Example Theory Of Planned Behavior – Coursework Example Theory of Planned Behavior Part A After a series of struggle and determination, I was able to take a stand to make my own decisions. Making my own decisions has been a behavior that I have longed for a long time to attain. Being a married woman, I was under the control of my husband for 18 years. Ajzen’s theory of behavior’s components of behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and controls beliefs have been my steering factors (Value Based Management.net, 2009). Behavioral beliefs dictate the possible consequences of the behavior while normative beliefs focus on expectations of others especially with respect to some norms or code of conduct. Control belief construct of Theory of Planned Behavior on the other hand helps an individual to understand and identify factors that facilitate or impede performance of the behavior (Value Based Management.net, 2009). I came to realize that once I understood the likely consequences of being independent from the behavioral belief, th e societal (normative) expectations of my environment, and the various factors that may facilitate or impede taking an independent stand; it was easier to change my behavior. However, despite the fact that I managed to change from being controlled to being independent, I have tried in vain to quit smoking. I have applied numerous ways like the gum, doctor prescribed pills and lollipops that have a less nicotine in them, and E cigarettes but can’t seem to quit totally. The controls belief factor of addiction has prevented me from quitting the behavior (Bledsoe, 2005). I have looked at the impediments to quitting smoking against the facilitators only to realize that the former overweigh the latter (Han, Hsu, 1271-1276Han, H., Hsu, L., & Sheu, C. (2010). Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to green hotel choice: Testing the effect of environmental friendly activities. Tourism Management, 31(3), 325–334.Value Based Management.net. (2009). Theory of planned behav ior. Retrieved on April 5, 2012 from valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_ajzen_theory_planned_behaviour.html

Koala Facts

Koala Facts Koalas are marsupials that are native to the Australian continent. Their scientific name, Phascolarctos cinereus, is derived from several Greek words meaning pouch bear (phaskolos arktos) and having an ashen appearance (cinereus). They are often called koala bears, but that is scientifically incorrect, since they are not bears. Their most distinctive characteristics are their fluffy ears and their spoon shaped noses. Koalas are most often found in the southern and eastern areas of the continent. Fast Facts: Koala Scientific Name: Phascolarctos cinereusCommon Names: Koala bearOrder: DiprotodontiaBasic Animal Group: MammalsDistinguishing Characteristics: Spoon shaped noses and fluffy earsAverage Size: 2 - 3 feet in heightAverage Weight: 20 - 25 poundsLife Span: 12 - 18 yearsDiet: HerbivoreHabitat: Forests and woodlands in AustraliaPopulation: Approximately 100,000 - 500,000Conservation Status: VulnerableFun Fact: Koala babies, called joeys, are blind at birth. Description Koalas are best known for their round body appearance and their distinctive ears and nose. Like other marsupials, females have a permanent pouch for raising young. Koala pouches are positioned in the lower portion of a koalas body. The pouches open outward so a joey (baby) can climb into it from the birth canal. When a joey is present, its mother uses her sphincter muscles to make sure that the pouch is closed so that her baby wont fall out. Koalas are uniquely suited for living their life in trees. Their paws help them to expertly grip and climb trees. The pads on their paws are very rough and help with their gripping ability. Each paw has five digits. The front paws have two digits that are opposed to the remaining three digits. This helps with their grip strength while climbing. Their fur, which is typically light gray or brown, is very thick and helps to protect them from both low and high temperature conditions. konmesa / Getty Images Koalas are usually between 2 to 3 feet in height and can weigh up to approximately 25 pounds. Other physical characteristics of koalas are their lack of a tail and their long limbs for their body size. Their tail is considered a vestigial structure and is thought to have been lost due to evolutionary adaptation. They also have one of the smallest brain-to-body-weight ratio of any mammal and are not considered to be very intelligent creatures. Habitat and Distribution Koalas live in Australia in a variety of habitats from forests to woodlands. Their preferred habitats are forests composed of eucalyptus trees, where they are able to survive very high up in the trees. They are found in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Diet and Behavior This is an image of a koala eating eucalyptus in Queensland, Australia.   georgeclerk/E/Getty Images The koalas diet consists mainly of eucalyptus leaves. They can eat a pound to two pounds of leaves a day and have developed specialized structures to aid in the digestion of so much foliage. Their intestines (caecum) can be 7 to 8 feet in length. Although eucalyptus can be poisonous to most animals, symbiotic bacteria are present in their intestinal pouch which break down the toxic substances like tannins found in eucalyptus leaves. Generally speaking, koalas are solitary animals. Each koala has a home range of a number of eucalyptus trees in a given area. The size of this range can vary depending on the koalas status, sex, and habitat quality. A dominant male for example, may have a comparatively larger area. Ranges for different koalas overlap, which allows koalas to have social interaction with others in their vicinity. Koalas are mostly nocturnal. They are not very active animals and spend a large portion of their time sitting or sleeping to conserve energy. Eucalyptus leaves are difficult to digest and require a considerable amount of energy expenditure. Koalas can sleep for up to 17 to 20 hours a day. Reproduction and Offspring A koala joey remains in its mothers pouch for the first months of its life.   Bruce Lichtenberger/Photolibrary/Getty Images Plus Koalas typically breed from August to February. Male koalas attract the females through their loud vocal bellows. Females usually have one baby koala per year, producing some six or so offspring over the course of their lifetime, since females dont always breed each year. After becoming impregnated, a koala will give birth after a gestation period of a little longer than a month (about 35 days). The baby is called a joey and is usually very small. The baby may weigh under .0025 pounds and be under an inch long, about the size of an almond. The joey is blind at birth and doesnt have any hair. It travels from the birth canal to its mothers pouch, where it will remain for approximately the first six to seven months of its life. Even after developing to the point that it is no longer in its mothers pouch, the joey will often remain with its mother until its next brother or sister appears outside the mothers pouch the following year. Threats Koalas are mainly threatened by habitat loss. Human encroachment on their habitat from land clearing has a large impact on their survival. They can also be impacted by bush-fires and disease. Koalas are susceptible to the bacteria that cause chlamydia. This disease can lead to the development of conjunctivitis, an eye infection that may result in blindness. Chlamydia may also result in pneumonia and infections of the urinary tract and reproductive systems. Incidences of complications from chlamydia increase in koala populations that experience high environmental stress. Conservation Status Koalas are designated as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to the IUCN, approximately 100,000 to 500,000 animals are left in the wild. While koalas themselves have some protection under the law, their population continues to decrease mainly due to loss of habitat. The Koala Protection Act is proposed legislation in Australia to help protect the koalas habitat. The Australian Koala Foundation believes that there are less than 100,000 left in the wild, and even as few as 43,000. Species There is one species of koala, but scientists disagree whether or not there are sub-species. The most common three sub-species of koalas are considered to be: Phascolarctos cinereus adustus (Northern/Queensland), Phascolarctos cinereus cinereus (New South Wales) and Phascolarctos cinereus victor (Victorian). These sub-species are classified based on slightly different physical characteristics like physical size and fur properties. Based on these characteristics, some scientists believe that there are three sub-species, others two, and others none. Koalas and Humans This girl is feeding a koala.   Peter Phipp/Photographers Choice/Getty Images Plus Humans and koalas have a long and varied history. Beginning in the early 1900s over a million were killed for their fur. The population of koalas was in danger of being wiped out before the practice stopped. Koalas can be very aggressive when disturbed or surprised by humans in their natural habitats. They defend themselves with their sharp teeth and pointed claws which are similar to talons. These structures are capable of shredding skin and can inflict considerable damage. Sources Koala. National Geographic, 21 Sept. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/k/koala/.  Koala. San Diego Zoo Global Animals and Plants, animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/koala.Physical Characteristics of the Koala. Australian Koala Foundation, www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/physical-characteristics-koala.  The Life of a Koala . Australian Koala Foundation, www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/life-koala.

Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 14

Environment - Essay Example There are some few trucks available from the neighboring towns for hire that can be used to transport project materials. Besides, there are two major rail lines that pass near the village and can be of help (â€Å"Ewbchallenge,† 2014) It is very difficult to find land to build a project in the area. The land in Sandikhola is not even enough for the population to build good houses and shelter for their animals. The whole village is interconnected by narrow roads and paths between houses. There is hardly enough land for them to grow crops (â€Å"Ewb,† 2014). The weather in Sandikhola, Nepal is diverse. They range from cold summers to humid and hot summers. The residents are, for example, continuously looking for new building materials and techniques to withstand the rough weather conditions. The village is situated and surrounded by highlands. There are several valleys running through the village that drain to the two rivers in Nepal. The highlands are densely populated with trees of various species (Reynolds,

The Supply Chain Management of Dell, Toyotas Operations Management Research Paper

The Supply Chain Management of Dell, Toyotas Operations Management - Research Paper Example According to the paper operations management refers to the activity of managing the resources and the coordination of the entire process through which organizations produce goods and services; effective operations management, like SCM, is an integral part of the organization especially because it is a source of competitive advantages. In this regard, every organization has an operations function which is held by an operations manager because each one of them is involved either in the production of goods or services. This paper will examine the supply chain management of Dell, Toyota’s Operations Management, as well as, the competitive advantages gained through strategic SCM and OM by the two companies respectively; it will also highlight the differences between lean and agile SCM. Supply Chain Management (SCM) Supply Chain, the structured network of organizations involved in the conversion of raw materials into finished products and delivery of the same to end users or custome rs, and Supply Chain Management, the optimization of activities across the whole system, are inevitably the most fundamental aspects of doing business in today’s corporate world. As the study outlines the success and survival of every organization in the complex, highly competitive, and fast changing global market environment is dependent, not on the effectiveness of the individual organization’s supply chain strategies, but on the effectiveness of the entire network of players or the supply chain. Superficially, overall supply chains start with the raw materials or factors of production and combine several value-adding activities, then end with the delivery of finished products or goods to the end users; however, the extended view of Supply Chains integrate additional activities in the function, to the satisfaction of customers. Customer satisfaction, for that matter, becomes a crucial yardstick for measuring the effectiveness of the supply chains, and the management of the linking processes; market uncertainties call for supply chains that are flexible and adaptable to changes, thus the need for effective supply chain management to achieve such flexi bility. Overall effectiveness of the Supply Chain Management results to cost savings and enhanced customer service, while improving an organization’s competitiveness even in the wake of increasing competition and increasing consumer demands in the global corporate markets.

Mindfulness practice in my life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mindfulness practice in my life - Essay Example We must have patience in order to achieve our aspirations. We must have the mentality that everything is possible but this can only be done by someone who has patience. Some people cannot wait for tomorrow and this is very dangerous since it often leads to failure to achieve the desired goals in life. I have chosen this focus because it is not stressful. If you do your things at your own pace, you are rest assured that you will achieve the desired goals one of the days. This gives you peace of mind such that you carefully plan your things in advance. You are also in a position to decide on the exact path to take in pursuit of your goals. You will be under no pressure to such an extent that you may attempt to fast track certain events that simply require taking their due course in order to accomplish them. If you are patient in what you are doing, you are likely to review progress of the course of action you are taking. This can help you review the action being taken and make necessary changes that can help you to achieve your goals. One good thing about having patience in life is that you will have peace of mind. You do not have any stress that can negatively impact on your normal life. People who are stressed often experience numerous health problems and some can cause severe illness. People who have stress often experience problems such as loss of concentration in what they are doing. Some of them often suffer from depression and anxiety after realising that their wishes are aspirations are taking ages to be fruitful. I have learned that the subject of mindfulness is quite complex but it is very enlightening since it is comprised of real life events. What I liked most about this subject is that we tend to take some things in our lives for granted but upon a closer look, they are not that simple. This we often view as simple and walk over can be complex and challenging such that you may end up failing to get a solution for such

RR13 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

RR13 - Article Example In my personal opinion, various books that address these concerns made for ESL learners have made intonation rules that are applicable to situations that are used in common or frequently encountered scenarios. â€Å"†¦..In this chapter we will treat both types of falling tones and both types of rising tones as interchangeable† (p. 2). Through this reading I can confirm that in a way, despite the differences in geographical area or location, teaching of intonation patterns to learners seems similar around the world. For instance, the manner in which a Swedish would raise and lower their voice is comparable to a Chinese or an individual from the Caribbean. In my teaching career I normally talk about arrows without really knowing how they work.   For instance, tones that are rising and then abruptly falling tones, how would they be distinguished using arrows from those that are leveled in intonation. The confusion originates from other chapters and I find it difficult to relate it to the current reading specifically with regard to the use of arrows for pitch movements. In addition, towards the end of the page in chapter four the examples given have arrows at the start of the tone unit as opposed to my understanding that they should be at the right just before the tonic syllable like was the case in previous chapters.   This forms the basis for my second question. 2) What makes these transcriptions

Police Racial Profiling Has Become a Growing Problem in the Fairfield Essay

Police Racial Profiling Has Become a Growing Problem in the Fairfield County of Connecticut - Essay Example Connecticut is a state in the US in which police racial profiling has drastically increased. In towns like Milford, Stratford, Fairfield, Westport and Greenwich racial profiling has increased to a dangerous extent. Despite the increasing issue of racial profiling, the nation is showing little concern over this issue. According to latest researches, it was found out that blacks and Latinos are 30 times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police without any serious reason and suspicion than the whites. And this figure has increased within the past year. The minorities in any area are usually the ones who suffer from racial profiling. It is generally believed that the minorities of a nation are the ones who are involved in causing riots, thefts, robbery and car snatching. In Fairfield county racial discrimination is extremely alarming. Most of the towns in Connecticut have a population consisting mostly of blacks and Latinos and, therefore, police racial profiling is very comm on in these areas. The whites and blacks still live apart from each other in these areas and do not prefer to make friends with each other (Holbert 2004). The government has made promises that they will eliminate police racial profiling in the US and make sure that all citizens of the country are secure and safe. But the government has failed to do so. Not white people are still now and then stopped and inquired without any reason. This has increased the feeling of hostility among the blacks and Latinos for the white people and, as a result, they try to make troubles for the white people in order to take revenge. Many riots that have occurred in the previous years were mostly because of racial profiling. The black people demand to have some self-respect and when the police stop and search them without a search warrant and any solid reason just because they are black, they feel exceedingly insulted and this increases the feeling of hatred for the white (Holbert 2004). As a safety pre caution, the black people teach their children that they must take extra care while stopped by a police because if a black misbehaves with the latter, they can easily make it a serious issue and can even get you jailed on this petty offense. It is found that for the same offense a white will be exempted whereas a black can be severely punished for the same issue. So a black must be extra careful while confronting the police. Although statistics clearly show that these are not the blacks who are majorly involved in keeping illegal weapons and having drugs, but about 70% of drug users were found to be white as compared to only 15% black and 8% Latino. It is the duty of law enforcement agencies to protect people without any discrimination, but when the former practise racial profiling, people will not feel secure and safe. Following such practice, it is assumed that the whites are the people who abide by the law whereas blacks and Latinos are criminals, although this is not true. The w hite people know that they are free to do whatever they like because the police will never catch them for little issues. So it is now observed that the white people are greatly getting involved in street crimes day by day and carrying drugs and illegal weapons with them. To improve the relationships among people, the police and law enforcement agencies it is necessary for people to be satisfied with the performance of the police and only then people

Import and Export Markets in the United Kingdom Essay - 1

Import and Export Markets in the United Kingdom - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the United Kingdom produces a vast amount of products for exports and imports a wide range of electronics, food, oil, and other consumer goods. The use of higher technology manufactured goods has caused a dramatic increase in both exports and imports. However, the recent financial crisis experienced around the world has led to a decline in imports and exports. In 2009, UK imports and exports totaled to $1,256 billion, which was equivalent to 4.3 of the world trade. The financial crisis has caused a rise in exchange rates of a sterling pound, which has caused an 8.6% decrease in exports and 9.1% decrease in imports (Great Britain, 2009). Over the past ten years, the UK has been a net oil exporter, but production has been decreasing consistently over the past years. The oil industry has recorded an average decrease of 5.3% per year in exports. This has converted the UK from an oil export to an oil import land. Oil production in the regio n is less than demand, which calls for supplements through increased imports. Imports of other energy sources such as coal, electricity, and gas have increased over the past five years. In 2010, the importation of liquefied natural gas increased to account for 35% of total gas imports, while gas exports have decreased slightly over the same period. Gas has also been increasingly used for electricity supply with the amount required increasing by 47%. Changes in the financial sector affect business sentiments and investment decisions, which are linked to global trade. Data service exports at the start of 2007 were about 30 billion pounds while imports were about 33 billion pounds. Mid 2008 recorded the peak imports and exports at 40 billion and 34 billion pounds respectively. The rate of imports and exports of data services decreased consistently since 2008 reaching a low of 32 billion in imports and 29 billion in exports in mid-2009. However, an increase was recorded towards the end of 2010 with imports and exports reaching 41 and 35 billion respectively.

RR13 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

RR13 - Article Example In my personal opinion, various books that address these concerns made for ESL learners have made intonation rules that are applicable to situations that are used in common or frequently encountered scenarios. â€Å"†¦..In this chapter we will treat both types of falling tones and both types of rising tones as interchangeable† (p. 2). Through this reading I can confirm that in a way, despite the differences in geographical area or location, teaching of intonation patterns to learners seems similar around the world. For instance, the manner in which a Swedish would raise and lower their voice is comparable to a Chinese or an individual from the Caribbean. In my teaching career I normally talk about arrows without really knowing how they work.   For instance, tones that are rising and then abruptly falling tones, how would they be distinguished using arrows from those that are leveled in intonation. The confusion originates from other chapters and I find it difficult to relate it to the current reading specifically with regard to the use of arrows for pitch movements. In addition, towards the end of the page in chapter four the examples given have arrows at the start of the tone unit as opposed to my understanding that they should be at the right just before the tonic syllable like was the case in previous chapters.   This forms the basis for my second question. 2) What makes these transcriptions

Import and Export Markets in the United Kingdom Essay - 1

Import and Export Markets in the United Kingdom - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the United Kingdom produces a vast amount of products for exports and imports a wide range of electronics, food, oil, and other consumer goods. The use of higher technology manufactured goods has caused a dramatic increase in both exports and imports. However, the recent financial crisis experienced around the world has led to a decline in imports and exports. In 2009, UK imports and exports totaled to $1,256 billion, which was equivalent to 4.3 of the world trade. The financial crisis has caused a rise in exchange rates of a sterling pound, which has caused an 8.6% decrease in exports and 9.1% decrease in imports (Great Britain, 2009). Over the past ten years, the UK has been a net oil exporter, but production has been decreasing consistently over the past years. The oil industry has recorded an average decrease of 5.3% per year in exports. This has converted the UK from an oil export to an oil import land. Oil production in the regio n is less than demand, which calls for supplements through increased imports. Imports of other energy sources such as coal, electricity, and gas have increased over the past five years. In 2010, the importation of liquefied natural gas increased to account for 35% of total gas imports, while gas exports have decreased slightly over the same period. Gas has also been increasingly used for electricity supply with the amount required increasing by 47%. Changes in the financial sector affect business sentiments and investment decisions, which are linked to global trade. Data service exports at the start of 2007 were about 30 billion pounds while imports were about 33 billion pounds. Mid 2008 recorded the peak imports and exports at 40 billion and 34 billion pounds respectively. The rate of imports and exports of data services decreased consistently since 2008 reaching a low of 32 billion in imports and 29 billion in exports in mid-2009. However, an increase was recorded towards the end of 2010 with imports and exports reaching 41 and 35 billion respectively.

What are your perceptions on the universal declaration Essay Example for Free

What are your perceptions on the universal declaration Essay One Amazing Thing by: Chitra Divakaruni. It was first published in the US in voice by Hyperion in 2009 and later published by Penguin books India February 2010. The book also has 240 pages. Chitra B. Divakaiumi is an award winning author poet. Her work is widely known, as she has been published in over 500 magazines. Including Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. She was born in India and lived there until 1976. At which point she left Calcutta and came to the United States. A young woman Uma, sits in the waiting room of the India passport office. She starts to get very impatient, and she entertains herself by observing the other people in the waiting room with her. Everyone has a reason of why they want to enter into India. In the waiting area their waits an Africa American war veteran Cameron who takes charge, but some are unhappy about it. A Muslim names Tariq. An upper class Caucasian couple that really don’t get alone. A Chinese grandmother with a secret past, and her granddaughter, two visa office workers on the verge of and affair Malathi and Mr. Mangalam, and Uma. As they all set in the waiting area Uma starts to feel a little rumbling and that when the earthquake strikes. When everything settles down, there were some major injuries as well as some minor injuries. People started to go into survival mode, as there is little food to eat. The office starts to flood. So emotional stress seems to much for everyone to handle as they wait to be rescued or die. So that’s when Uma comes up with everyone telling â€Å"One Amazing Thing† , about themselves because she believes that no one can go through life without encountering at least one amazing thing. So everyone begin to tell one amazing thing that they have never told anyone before. With One Amazing Thing everyone discover so much from each other as well as their selves. Elderly Caucasian couple Mr. and Mrs. Pritchet going through a difficult time in their marriage, an Indian-Muslim man Tariq who is disillusioned and angry with the new US, as Chinese lady Jiang who loved and lost a man in her younger days, her granddaughter Lily, a middle age army officer haunted by his guilt Cameron, Malathi a visa officer who is engaging in a affair with her boss, Mr. Mangalam on the verge of an extra-martial affair, an Indian-American student Uma, who is confused by her parents decision to return to Kolkata after living in the US for over 20 years. The plot focuses on a group of strangers who are trapped in a visa office. Most customers even some staff have come and gone, but nine people remain in the office. When an earthquake rips through the afternoon, trapping these nine characters together, their focus first is to survive through the struggle. There is a little food from which came from what people had. The office begins to flood, and everyone starts to panic and get really scared and frustrated. So when the emotional stress seems to be to much for them to bear, the young lady Uma tells them to tell a personal tale about them that no one knows about â€Å"One Amazing Thing†, from what they have been through in life. So all of their stories from the romance, self-discovery, family, etc. This novel really proves the power of a lot of stories and the meaning of us as human’s expressions itself. In my opinion the book â€Å"One Amazing Thing†, is an engaging book because it reinforces the idea that all of us are different and unique in our own ways, and that we all have stories of our lives that may be interesting or not to tell. We all can connect to this book or see one another if we are willing to take the time out to listen to people. Because everyone has a something to tell, and amazing is not always positive words. But describes something that might have changed a life, or the course of someone life. Some of the stories are very heart breaking, but all of them paint a picture in some way of the characters and why they may be who they have become.

Communication Barriers Between Singapore And Italy Cultural Studies Essay

Communication Barriers Between Singapore And Italy Cultural Studies Essay Singapore is an amalgamation of 63 islands, and is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. The approximate distance between Singapore and Italy is about 9365.5km apart (Distance from Singapore to Italy), yet a lot of firms set up their flagships and also other  business functions locally. Published on Straits Times-22 April 2009 titled: Spore, Italian region ink deal, Both countries are looking at RD to boost their economic prosperity. We are trying to work together so hopefully we can find new patents, products that can be commercialized. Thats the value for Singapore, he added. Lombardys President Roberto Formigoni said Singapore is strategic for Italy, especially in leveraging on Singapores knowledge of, and relations with, China and Vietnam. This shows the strong bilateral relationship between both countries. (Spore, Italian region ink deal) However, being said that, there are still problems occurring during day-to-day operations in terms of communication between Singaporean and Italians. This paper will focus on the inter-relationship communication barriers faced by both Singaporeans and Italians in a particular organization.   Overview of Singapore Singapore and Europe had great history links since 1869 when Singapore was a major trading and shipping port. (Who We Are).   After nearly 150 years under the British Colony, Singapore emerged as a Nation in 1965. (Rogger, Year not stated) Thus, this may portray a deceptive imagine of Singaporeans as appearing more westernized. However, on the other hand, younger generations of business people in Singapore are usually more experience in interacting with people and are more flexible and open-minded to perform business with foreigners. (Katz, 2007) Singapore is a cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously and interactions among different races are commonly seen. Singapore holds a diverse population due to immigrants of the past has given the place a mixture of 3 major racial groups consisting of Chinese, Malay and Indians who does not process a single dominant national identity (Warnstam, 2007). In order to do business successfully in a multicultural country like Singapore, it is important for all to understand the different cultural traditions, customs, as well as background of each race groups. This will prevent unnecessary conflicts. Languages Used in Singapore English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil are the four official languages that are commonly used in Singapore. Singapore also has its own brand of spoken English, which is known as Singlish. It is quite different from English in its speaking accents and grammar.   Religion in Singapore Singapore generally allows religious freedom, although religious groups are subject to government scrutiny, and some religious sects are restricted or banned. (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2798.htm). The religion diversity in Singapore consists of Chinese temples (Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and ancestor worship), Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and others which comprises of Jews and Sikhs, etc (Lepoer, 1989). Culture and Society of Singapore The Family The common traits of Singaporeans are that the concepts of harmony, mutual security and working in groups are more important than that of acting as an individual. The family represents the center of the social structures which strongly emphasizes in unity, loyalty and respect for the elderly (Kwintessential, Year not stated). Kiasu Kiasu is a term often used by Singaporean to describe the social attitude of Singaporeans who are often afraid of losing in anything or in any situation (Warnstam, 2007). According to Warnstam (2007), the term Kaisu refers to both positive and negative connotation; some suggest the attitude of being Kiasu reflects the strong work ethics and competitiveness within each Singaporean. Whereas, others might feel that being Kiasu leads to a graceless society.   Concept of Face Maintaining face plays an important part of the Singapore culture. As per Craig (2004), the concept of face is being measured as of ones internal quality, status, good name, and good character. To prevent from losing face, Singaporeans tends to control their temper and behavior in public and will not criticize people directly on the face (Warnstam, 2009). Thus, communication is conducted indirectly. In Singapore, face does not involve purely on personal pride but involves the country and its whole population as it promotes group harmony and solidarity.   Diversity Singapore values the diversity of its people and often stresses the importance of accepting difference amongst its diverse population of people from different races such as Chinese, Malay and Indians. Despite the evitable separation of some groups, Singapore serves as an umbrella culture creates a sense of belonging among all Singaporeans (Warnstam, 2007). Singapore Education System Singapore used to implement traditional British based education system. Presently, the system has evolved to a broad based education with more flexibility and diversity. The distinct feature of the Singapore education system is the bilingual policy. It was implemented in 1966. It was compulsory for students to take up the main median language-English to be able to communicate with other races and also with foreigners. This will help Singaporeans to communicate effectively with fellow Singaporeans that will prevent any unnecessary conflicts due to miscommunication. It also helps Singaporeans to be able to communicate efficiently wherever they are in the world as English is a widely used language internationally. Another language is the students traditional language, be it Chinese, Malay, Tamil, this is to maintain the values of the respective racial groups locally. Students will attend basic education for 6 years after pre-school. And follow on into secondary school and so on. However, education does not just end after graduating. Singaporeans have many opportunities for further trainings as the Singapore government is focusing to develop its workforce so as to increase productivity. The government is also targeting in creating a skilled workforce to increase global competitiveness. Singapore Politics Singapore had her first elections in 1959 after being granted full internal self-governance. The dominating party in the country is the Peoples Actions Party (PAP) that is lead by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. He is also the present minister mentor, a position created when his son, Lee Hsien Long became Singapores third prime minister. Opposition parties are namely the workers party (WP), Singapore Democratic Alliance Party (SDA), Singapore Democratic Party (SDA), Democratic Party (SDP) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Singapore was recognized internationally through joining the United Nations, followed by the Commonwealth in 1965. (Singapore, Overview: Politics of Singapore) The unicameral Parliament currently consists of 84 members elected on the basis of universal adult suffrage, and up to nine nominated members of Parliament. A constitutional provision assures at least three opposition members, even if fewer than three actually are elected. A non-constituency seat held by the opposition under this provision since 1997 was again filled after the last election held on May 6, 2006. In May 2006, general election, the governing Peoples Action Party (PAP) won 82 of the 84 seats. The president appoints nominated members of Parliament from among nominations by a special select committee. Nominated members of Parliament (NMPs) enjoy the same privileges as members of Parliament but cannot vote on constitutional matters or expenditures of funds. The maximum term of Parliament is 5 years. NMPs serve for two-and-a-half-year terms. Voting has been compulsory since 1959. (Background note: Singapore) Singapore is a democratic society. However, Economist Intelligent Unit has classified Singapore as a hybrid country that comprises of both authoritarianism and democracy. The present Singapore enjoys political stability that attracts investors and foreign talents. Overview of Singapore Economy   Despite the small geographic size of the nation and small domestic market, Singapore not only has strong international trade links with many countries. Singapore Economy is also one of the most prosperous globally. Singapore was ranked third in 2009 as being the most competitive economy in the world by the world economic forum. (Singapore keeps 3rd spot in competitiveness ranking). According to the World Bank Doing Business 2010 Report, Singapore economy is considered to be the easiest to do business in. Some favorable findings about Singapore stated in the report: Ranked No.1 for having the most open and liberal economy for international trade Ranked No.2 as the economy with the best  investment  potential Ranked #1 in Asia and #4 in the world for having low levels of corruption in the economy (Economy Rankings; Singapore Economy) Singapore does not have natural resources. However, due to its strategic location and government policies, it became a hub of foreign investment. The local government practices a pro-foreign investment and export-orientated economic policy. This helps to attract large scale of foreign investment despite its high operating cost. For example: United States have invested about $106.5billion worth assets in the service and manufacturing sectors. Other factor that attracts the foreign investors is skilled workers, advanced infrastructure, political stability and corruption free government. (Background Note: Singapore) Hierarchy and Structure of Singapore Companies In Singapore, companies operate in a top-down structure whereby the senior management in the company does all major decision-makings. Respect is given prior to the senior members of the group and is always being introduced first. It is always polite to stand when a higher-ranking official arrives at a venue, and to be seated after the important personnel is seated.   Unlike other countries, women also play an important role in the work field and are given chances to hold managerial positions in the organizations. There is no prejudice against gender, age and race due to the fair employment law.   Singapore Business Practices In Singapore business culture, building of personal relationships is considered more important that the company that you represents (ASAG-biotech network, Year unknown). During business situations, a light handshake is used (Warnstam, 2007). Singaporeans love to bargain and haggle during negotiations. (Katz, 2007) Whilst in business discussion, Singaporeans appears to be calm and hardly reveals their emotions. It is also considered very rude to speak loudly or interrupt during a conversation.   It is important that business cards are being inspected carefully before putting them away as it represents a form of respect and recognition of the person. Name cards should be held with both hands and present to the recipient with the correct print facing to him / her. Name cards should be placed on the table instead of shoving into pockets or bags as a form of respect. It is also important to wait and be introduced by the host. Intensive eye contact with a senior management or an elderly is considered a sign of disrespect. In order to show a form of respect, it is important to know how to greet a person name based on his / her race. For example, greeting via surnames is necessary during the first meeting with Singaporean Chinese. Gifts are acceptable in most organizations. However, gifts to government employees may be considered as bribery and is prohibited in Singapore (Warnstam, 2007). Singapore Working Practices In Singapore Business society, punctuality is extremely important and efforts should be made to arrive early or on time. Appointments should be made in advance. Should there be any late arrivals, it is of basic courtesy to inform the other party and also to advise the latest arrival time. The typical office hours are normally between 9:00a.m. to 5:00 pm from Mondays to Fridays that consists of an hour lunch break in between. Some offices will also operate on Saturdays especially in the morning.   Overview of Italy Italy used to be diverse culturally, economically and politically. However, today the Italians are largely homogeneous linguistically and religiously. Italy has the fifth-highest population density in Europe, with a approximate population of 60 million people (Italy Travel Guide). Minority groups are small, the largest being the German-speaking people of Bolzano Province and the Slovenes around Trieste. There are also small communities of Albanian, Greek, Ladino, and French origin. Although immigration has been increasing in recent years, the Italian population is still declining due to low birth rates. (Affairs, 2010) Brief history of Italy Through the ensuing years, numerous rulers from beyond the Alps, with or without the consent of the papacy, failed to impose their authority. Throughout the fourteen and fifteenth centuries of campanilismo (local patriotism), only a minority of people would have heard the word Italia. Loyalties were predominantly provincial. However, there were elements that made a strong contrast to the world beyond the Alps that is a common legal culture, high levels of lay education and urban literacy, a close relationship between town and country, and nobility who frequently engaged in trade. There are three features, in particular, from this period that solidified the notion of a unified culture. First, it was the maturing of the economic development that was originated in the early centuries. With increasing urbanization, the northern and central Italian trade, manufacture, and financial capitalism continued with extraordinary vigor and have remarkable influence throughout majority of the Mediterranean areas and Europe as a whole. It was a development that served as the necessary preliminary for the expansion of Europe beyond its ancient bounds at the end of the fifteenth century. Second, the extension of de facto independent city-states, which, whether as republics or as powers ruled by one person or family, created a powerful impression upon contemporaries and posterity. Finally, allied to the movements stated above, it was in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries that civilization of the Italian Renaissance was born from this society, which was to be exported to the rest of Europe. Ethnic Relations Many countries and peoples have conquered and occupied Italy over the centuries, and thus, causing the Italians to resent each of these conquerors. Even so, they intermarried with them and accepted a number of their customs. (Salamone) Culture of Italians Ethnic Italians make up about 95% of the population, and the largest ethnics minority of the Romanians (officially 1%, however maybe double that). There is an increaseing wave of immigration from the EU countries of Eastern Europe and illegal immigration from the south-eastern Europe and northern Africa are increasing. Appearances matters in Italy and having a good image bella figure is very important. And you will likely be judged not only by the smartness of your clothes and accessories, but also by the general style and demeanour. Social etiquette is generally energetic but also somewhat formal. (Italy) Economy of Italy Italy started to industrialize rapidly after 1945, moving away from the traditional agriculture, until a point where less than 5% of the population is engaged in agriculture. The majority of these populations live in the south of Italy, which is substantially poorer than the rest of the country. Their main crops are sugar beet, wheat, tomatoes and fruit (especially grapes. Majority of the grapes are used for wine, which Italy is a leading producer). Italy continues to rely heavily on the export of manufactured goods, although the tourism industry is enjoying a major position alongside other service industries such as financial services, along with most western European economies. Their strengths are particularly in advanced manufacturing techniques and systems, high-quality design and precision engineering. Most of the industrial raw materials and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported. The Italians economy has been sluggish since 2000 with growth in 2009 of 5% and is expected to drop further. The inflation in 2009 was just under 1% and the unemployment rate is 7.5%. Despite doubts about the size of its growing budget deficit (public debt is 105% of GDP) in Europe, Italy was among the founding members of the Euro-zone in 1999. The current government has enacted some reforms to improve competitiveness and growth. (Italy Travel Guide) Language The official language in Italy is Italian, and majority of the population (about 93%) are native Italian speakers and about 50% of population speaks a regional dialect as mother tongue. As many of the dialects are mutually unintelligible and are considered by linguists as a separate language, thus it is not officially recognised. Religion 90% of the populations are Roman Catholic, and the remaining of the populations comprises mainly of Jews, the growing population of Muslims, Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholics. Politics The type of government in Italy is parliamentary democratic republic. The major political parties: People of Freedom (Popolo della Libertà  ), Democratic Party (Partito Democratico), Northern League (Lega Nord), Italy of Values (Italia dei Valori), Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro), Communist Refoundation Party (Partito della Rifondazione Comunista). (_) Political Philosophy There is different types of political philosophy that existed in Italy are mainly egalitarian socialism / communism and nationalistic fascism. One of the examples is Benito Mussolini. He ruled as a dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943 and his political philosophy, which he called fascism, was based on the total domination of the government in all spheres of political, social, economic, and cultural life. The Italians regards him as a hero in the initial stage until he was driven by the government before the end of World War II. (Benito Mussolini) Education At present the Italian school system is divided into four levels:   Kindergarten / Preschool (Scuola Materna) For children aged three to five, the scuola materna provides optional education for children and every child is entitled to a place. It is not compulsory for a child to attend preschool but most parents enrol their children in a scuola materna. Preschool in Italy is free except in private schools. Primary school (scuole elementare) School in Italy is compulsory from the age of six onwards. Recent legislation changes means that children may start scuola primaria from the age of five and a half onwards (this is to bring Italian schools in line with European schools regarding school leaving ages). Primary school lasts for five years. Student had to pass an exam at the end of fifth year before they could progress to secondary school. Lower secondary (scuola media) Attendance at lower secondary school (scuola media) is compulosry for all children between the ages of 11 to 14. Students are required to attend 30 hours of classes per week, though some schools may offer additional classes if there is demand (up to 40 hours). Every term, each student receives a teachers report outlining their aptitude, behavior and achievement. At the end of the third year, pupils sit a standard examination consisting of written papers in Italian, as well as exams in mathematics, science and a foreign language. An oral exam is also administered in all subjects except religion. Successful students are awarded their lower secondary school diploma (diploma di licenza media) and move on to upper secondary school. Upper secondary school (scuola superiore) Upper Secondary School (scuola superiore) involves between three and five years of attendance. Students do an obligatory two years (biennio) of general studies follow by an optional three years (triennio) of specialised education. Students have to choose at this time which type of course they want to study, depending on whether they are thinking of going on to university afterwards, or if they are looking at obtaining a vocational qualification. State school in Italy is free until the end of primary education. School in Italy is compulsory until the age of 16.   (Italian Education Schooling in Italy) Next, we will be making cultural differences comparison on Italy and Singapore using Geert Hofstede model. Geert Hofsted Cultural Dimensions Power Distance Index (PDI) that is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. It suggests that a societys level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality are fundamental facts of any society and anyone with certain working experience or interaction will be aware that all societies are unequal.   Individualism (IDV) is the opposite of collectivism. Ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him or herself and his or her immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are usually cohesive in groups and often extended families members continue in protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The word collectivism may has no political meaning but it is referring to the group, but not the state. Again, the issue addressed is fundamental, regarding all societies in the world. Masculinity (MAS) is the opposite of femininity and it refers to the distribution of roles between the genders which is also a fundamental issue for any society to which a range of solutions are found. Studies revealed that womens values differ from mens values which mens values from one country to another contain assertiveness, competitiveness whereas womens values on the one other side tend to be modest and caring. The assertiveness and competitiveness pole has commonly been referred as masculine while modest and caring is commonly referred as feminine.   Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) deals with a societys tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity; it ultimately refers to mans search for Truth. Uncertain situations are novel, unknown, surprising, and different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and rules, safety and security measures. People in countries which face uncertainty are also more emotional while people whom are receptive of uncertainty are more tolerant of opinions different from what they are used to. There are few rules to adhere to and people within these cultures are more phlegmatic and contemplative. Long-Term Orientation (LTO) versus short-term orientation: this fifth dimension was found in a study among students in 23 countries around the world, using a questionnaire designed by Chinese scholars it can be said to deal with Virtue regardless of Truth. Values usually associated with Long Term Orientation are thrift and perseverance while values associated with Short Term Orientation are respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and saving one from embarrassment. Both the positively and the negatively rated values of this dimension are found in the teachings of Confucius, the most influential Chinese philosopher; however, the dimension also applies to countries without a Confucian heritage. [http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_italy.shtml] Geert Hofstedeà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ Cultural Dimensions The World Factbook 2002    The Buddhist-Shinto societies also have an additional Dimension, that of Long Term Orientation (LTO). Geert Hofstede added this Dimension after the original study, and it was applied to twenty-three of the fifty original countries in his study. The Buddhist/Shinto Countries of Taiwan and Japan have LTO as the most closely correlating Dimension. Comparisons between Singapore and Italy: Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions: Country: PDI IDV MAS UAI LTO Singapore 74 20 48 8 48 Italy 50 76 70 75 N.A Based on the statistics above, there are several differences between Singapore and Italy which will be discussed in as of the following. Power Distance Index (PDI) Power Distance (PD) refers to the degree of inequality that exists, which is being accepted, among the people with and without power. A high PD score indicates that the society accepts an unequal distribution of power and people would not go beyond their place in the system. A low PD means that power is shared and equally dispersed. This means that society members view everyone as equals. Application: According to the Hofstedes model, in a high PD such as Malaysia (PD of 104), employees from the lower management position would probably send reports to top management, who will have a closed door meeting where only a few leaders attends. In a low PD country such as Austria (PD of 11), the power are equally distributed among the lower and top management. Characteristics Tips High PD Centralized companies. Strong hierarchies. Large gaps in compensation, authority, and respect. Acknowledge a leaders power. Be aware that you may need to go to the top for answers Low PD Flatter organizations. Supervisors and employees are considered almost as equals. Use teamwork Involve as many people as possible in decision making. [http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm] Based on the PDI, Singapore has a higher PDI than that of Italy. Even though, Singapore and Italy shares the same aspects of hierarchy and a common trait of downward communication, Singaporeans tends to be more respectful to the senior management and elders. On the other hand, Italians are more outspoken in their speech and they love to ridicule authority and with people who are in positions of power (http://students.depaul.edu/~jborger/#Individualism). To Italians, breaking petty rules are a form of entertainment. However, breakings of rules are uncommon in Singapore. Individualism (IDV) Individualism (IDV) refers to the strength of ties people have to others within the community. A high IDV score indicates a loose connection in the society. Countries with a high IDV score there is a lack of interpersonal connection and little sharing of responsibility, beyond family and perhaps a few close friends. A low IDV scores means the society have strong group cohesion, and there will be a large amount of loyalty and respect for members of the group. The group itself is also larger and people take more responsibility for each others well being. Accordingly to the Hofstedes model, countries such as America have high individualism/collectivism dimensions and they are more individualistic. (http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/2005/905/essentials/p62.htm) There are collectivistic dimensions countries in Central America such as Panama and Guatemala where the IDV scores are very low. Marketing campaign that emphasized benefits to the community would most likely be understood and well-received. Characteristics Tips High IDV High valuation on peoples time and their need for freedom. An enjoyment of challenges, and an expectation of rewards for hard work. Respect for privacy. Acknowledge accomplishments. Dont ask for too much personal information. Encourage debate and expression of own ideas. Low IDV Emphasis on building skills and becoming masters of something. Work for intrinsic rewards. Harmony more important than honesty. Show respect for age and wisdom. Suppress feelings and emotions to work in harmony. Respect traditions and introduce change slowly. [http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm] As individualism is being defined as societies connecting people are considered loose, individuals in Italy are only responsible for themselves and their immediate family members (http://students.depaul.edu/~jborger/#Individualism). However, Italians have also minimum views on collectivism in such whereby under people collective cultures are born into a group and they will remain the same members of that cohesive group for their entire lives. (http://students.depaul.edu/~jborger/#Individualism). On the other hand, despite the similarities of Singaporeans on their views on individualism, being a multi-racial society, Singaporeans are more on the side of being collective; in such whereby man is to be judged not by his own character, actions or race. (http://freedomkeys.com/collectivism.htm)   Masculinity (MAS) Masculinity (MAS) This refers to how much a society sticks with, and values, traditional male and female roles. High MAS scores are found in countries where men are expected to be tough, to be the provider, to be assertive and to be strong. If women work outside the home, they have separate professions from men. Low MAS scores do not reverse the gender roles. In a low MAS society, the roles are simply blurred. You see women and men working together equally across many professions. Men are allowed to be sensitive and women can work hard for professional success. Application: Japan is highly masculine with a score of 95 whereas Sweden has the lowest measured value. According to Hofstedes analysis, if you were to open an office in Japan, you might have greater success if you appointed a male employee to lead the team and had a strong male contingent on the team. In Sweden, on the other hand, you would aim for a team that was balanced in terms of skill rather than gender. Characteristics Tips High MAS Men are masculine and women are feminine. There is a well defined distinction between mens work and womens work. Be aware that people may expect male and female roles to be distinct. Advise men to avoid discussing emotions or making emotionally-based decisions or arguments. Low MAS A woman can do anything a man can do. Powerful and successful women are admired and respected. Avoid an old boys club mentality. Ensure job design and practices are not discriminatory to either gender. Treat men and women equally. [http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm] Based on the model of Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions, Italy has a higher level of Masculinity than Singapore. Many Italian men are still treating women with gallantry and value machismo. (http://students.depaul.edu/~jborger/#Individualism). Despite women entering the workforce, the numbers are kept minimal and only a few are in a higher management. Responsibilities of Italian women are mainly to cook, clean and care for the children

justifying war Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When a person sees all the grisly images of war on the television set they cannot help but think, â€Å"This has got to stop†. But what reasons can this person justify their decision on? There are many people in the world who can only argue their opinion through what they see on TV, which of course is not what war is. In William Earle’s essay â€Å"In Defense of War† and Trudy Govier’s â€Å"Nuclear Illusion and Individual Obligations† we respectively see a pro-war and an anti-war opinion. We must differentiate between the two because Earle’s essay talks about war in generalities but Govier focuses on the nuclear aspect of war. As with most essays discussing similar topics they have their similarities and differences and that will be a big part of discussion here. Subjects referring to the morality and justification as war and exactly what we can use to justify it are some of the few things that will be mentioned. These wi ll also be discussed in ethical terms and what part of ethics they fall into. Along with this will be an analysis of why each essay falls into its given category. The strengths of each essay will be mentioned as well as the weaknesses and a comparison as to which is the stronger essay and which is the weaker essay will be provided. The most important part, however, is the basic understanding of the message that the author is trying to get across. These main points will be highlighted throughout the paper when discussing the essay in question along with the provided evidence that accompanies the argument. Finally, a personal take on the subject from me will be provided just to clarify any discrepancies about what is written. I am writing this (aside from the fact it is a major assignment) in hopes that the reader will take these questions seriously and be able to look at both sides of the debate rationally and without fallacy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It only seems appropriate to start this out with Williams Earle’s essay, â€Å"In Defense of War†. I stand beside him when he provides his opinion because I share the same attitude on this subject. In a nutshell, Earle provides a provocative look at the opposition’s view towards war which is the anti-war opinion. It appears that Earle is not like most writers trying to defend his own argument with his own ideas but what he does is position his argument that war is necessary by ... ...essary and does not try to force the idea. He simply wanted to avoid the confusion that often assembles with the media and let the reader make their own free choice. Govier on the other hand did not put up as strong of an argument nor did she explore the opposition. She offered her own ideas to support her own ideas, not being able to provide enough evidence to disregard the opposition as Earle was able to. In this sense we can see how much stronger his essay was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the end we have to make a choice. We can either be for or against but all in all it is not up to the general public to make the decision. It was much easier to write on Earle’s essay because it was more distinct than and not quite as ambiguous as Govier’s. It makes perfect sense to me that honor and pride do outweigh the problems with warfare. It seems quite efficient that all three ethical concerns can be drawn into each essay with one being the superior. I also may have been biased in writing this essay because of my standpoint so it is important to take that into account. In conclusion, I do not change my view on the topic but do hope we can solve our conflicts with minimal bloodshed.

Li and Change :: Confucianism Essays

Li and Change ABSTRACT: In this paper I ask the question of how change is effected in the li practices of a fundamentally conservative society. I begin with a description of how li functions in society ideally and actually, arguing that they play a crucial role in society as the medium through which the Confucian objectives (the perfection of the self, the establishment of order within one’s family, and the restoration and preservation of social order) are realized. The character of li suggests that li practices be evaluated in terms of their efficacy in realizing the Confucian objectives, for which participation in li is both necessary and sufficient. Yet, these objectives transcend li practices, allowing individuals to evaluate li practices in terms of their efficacy in realizing Confucian objectives in the face of changing concerns and circumstances, and thereby affect the relevant changes in li practices. It is an adequate understanding of what the Confucian objectives entail and the st ructure of the situations one finds oneself in that inform evaluation of existing li practices. However, changes in li practices take place vis-a-vis a conservative attitude towards inherited social conventions, and it is this conservative attitude that provides stability and continuity despite flux. Changes in li practices are therefore gradual, and do not disrupt social order. 1. Introduction This essay is an attempt to understand the concept of li (commonly translated by commentators as "rituals", "rites", "customs", or "conventions") — as elucidated in the Analects — within the context of social change. Particular attention will be paid to how the Confucian understands li practices to function in a society, and how changes in li practices are effected. Thus, in what follows, I shall take seriously the notion of Confucianism as a practicable way of life. I take the concept of li (as it occurs in the Analects) to refer to the social conventions governing various aspects of human conduct (Analects, 1.12, 2.3, 2.5, 3.19, 4.13, 11.26, 12.1). As I understand it, li functions primarily as a social regulator in the realisation of the Confucian objectives — namely, the perfection of the self, the establishment of order within one’s family (which the Confucian understood as the basic unit of a society), and the restoration and preservation of social order. Each li practice consists of a set of actions, with detailed descriptions regarding one’s attire, stance, and expressions (Book 10). Participation in li involves the skilful execution of the set of actions demanded by each li practice, accompanied by the appropriate dispositions and attitudes.

Fiction Analysis of a&P and the Lesson

The theme of desire has been portrayed in many novels and stories. Perhaps the most well-known depiction of desire can be found in the Bible. In the Book of Genesis, a snake tempts Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge after he convinces them that they will gain God’s knowledge of good and evil and be protected from death. Despite God’s word to not eat of the fruit, Adam and Eve did so anyway. Surely, this story portrays temptation; however, beyond the theme of temptation lays the theme of desire.Knowing it was wrong, Adam and Eve ate the fruit because they had the desire for what the snake promised them. Similarly, Toni Cade Bambara and John Updike also display the theme of desire in their short stories. In â€Å"The Lesson† by Bambara and â€Å"A&P† by Updike, character, setting, and point of view are utilized to project the theme of desire. Though â€Å"The Lesson† and â€Å"A&P† take place in vastly different en vironments, a ghetto in New York and a quaint New England sea-side town, respectively, little separates the symbolic meaning of the setting.The protagonists of both short stories really have no yearn to be in their current surroundings. Sylvia in â€Å"The Lesson† describes her neighborhood as foul smelling. It was so bad â€Å"you couldn't halfway play hide-and-seek without a goddamn gas mask† (Bambara 1). Likewise, Sammy in â€Å"A;P† compares the costumer at his checkout lane to a witch. Within the first few paragraphs of both stories, one can tell that both Sylvia’s and Sammy’s atmospheres are not what they wish. Both the ghetto in which Sylvia lives and the grocery store in which Sammy works symbolize misery.Through the tone of the characters, one can gather that neither is happy and they wish for something greater. Without these particular settings that Bambara and Updike chose, the stories would have no meaning. For instance, if Bambara set Sylvia in a prestigious and wealthy neighborhood, there would be no narrative. â€Å"The Lesson† then would be a useless tale of a girl’s trip to a toy store. No underlying themes or symbols would be present. The setting is very important in both stories in that it defines not only the plot, but the characters themselves.Sylvia and Sammy are products of their environments. Being in an unpleasant environment would definitely put any individual on edge. Because both characters are unhappy with their surroundings, both are quite cynical. Aside from comparing one customer to a witch, Sammy also refers to others as â€Å"sheep† and points out â€Å"house-slaves in pin curlers† (Updike 3). Sylvia is also cynical in the way she talks of Miss Moore. At a point, Sylvia states that she is a â€Å"nappy-head[ed] bitch†, which in no means is a proper way for anyone, let alone a child, to speak (Bambara 1).Despite being so cynical, the reader finds that both ch aracters have another side as well. When faced with desire, Sylvia’s and Sammy’s mannerism changes. The reader sees Sylvia in a whole new way when she sets eyes on the fiberglass sailboat. In fact, Sylvia’s entire persona changes. Not only is she dumbfounded by the price of the sailboat, but she is awestruck by its greatness. She grows quite mad about the price; nonetheless, this is the beginning of the change of her character and train of thought. This is where she realizes the economic imbalance of the world.Similarly to how Sylvia was taken by the sailboat, Sammy is captivated by the girls’ physical appearance, especially Queenie. This is made evident by the imagery of the text from his physical description of them. Bambara and Updike especially, quite effectively use the characters’ point of view to further engage the reader to explore for theme. In â€Å"A;P† and â€Å"The Lesson†, both protagonists narrate the story in first per son. This is especially important because the reader better connects with the character. One can better relate when they feel as if they are part of the plot.With Updike’s combination of first person point of view and powerful imagery, one not only feels like they are there, but they can picture it as well. The reader can visualize the girls walking through the maze of isles in the store. Every detail Updike sketches is important, even the â€Å"two smoothest scoops of vanilla† Sammy sees in Queenie’s top-piece (Updike 6). This tells the reader that Sammy is not an experienced lover. He is running wild with his thoughts and can barely control himself. Sammy is enthralled by Queenie and the other girls.So much, in fact, that he quits his job after Lengel, the manager, ridicules the girls about wearing proper attire when entering a grocery store. This particular event shows the true desire Sammy has for these girls and their attention. Likewise, Sylvia has a true desire to change her ascribed status. The reader sees this when Sylvia states â€Å"ain't nobody gonna beat me at nuthin† at the end of the story (Bambara 6). Sylvia becomes a dynamic character with this statement. Influenced by her desire for the Fifth Avenue world, like purchasing the sailboat, Sylvia makes a vow that she is going to change.She has the desire to leave the ghetto, to be something greater than the ghetto. She is going to strive for the rewards of Fifth Avenue she so much desires. Although the central theme of â€Å"The Lesson† and â€Å"A&P† may be something more than desire, Updike and Bambara definitely portray it through setting, character, and point of view. Perhaps even more interesting are the characters themselves. They seem almost life-like because of their relatability. It is conceivable that the protagonists in these stories by Updike and Bambara are the authors themselves.Toni Cade Bambara grew up in Harlem, a setting very close to th at found in â€Å"The Lesson† (Schirack) and John Updike lived in a seaside-town in Massachusetts, eerily similar to the setting of â€Å"A&P† (Moyer). It is very possible that these short stories contain characters based off the authors. It is also quite possible that these stories are actual life events that occurred while the two were still living. It is certainly very interesting to think about the fact that the characters could be linked to the authors in some way and what other influences life events may have had on other pieces by the authors.Works Cited Bambara, Toni Cade. â€Å"The Lesson. † Blackboard. ed. ENG 102-329. Ed. Gina Yanuzzi. Mount Laurel: BCC, Spring 2013. 1-6. Electronic. Moyer, Steve. â€Å"John Updike Biography. †Ã‚  Neh. gov. N. p. , n. d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. Schirack, Maureen. â€Å"Toni Cade Bambara. †Ã‚  Voices From the Gaps, University of Minnesota. Ed. Lauren Curtright. N. p. , 11 Aug. 2004. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. Updike, John. â€Å"A&P. † Blackboard. ed. ENG 102-329. Ed. Gina Yanuzzi. Mount Laurel: BCC, Spring 2013. 1-8. Electronic.