Things That Are Important to Me free essay sample

Reading this, it seemed simple enough-?than I tried to write something down. I got as far as listing the numbers 1) to 5) allowing a few lines of space between each numbers to Jot down those five-defining-me-things Oh my, this was tough! Do I Include: things I own, my Job, my children and grandchildren, where I live, and/or perhaps where I aspire to live? I dont think this will work If I keep looking at It from this point-of-view.I really dont own much, and the few things I do possess: laptop, (kick-butt) camera-? hat I only know how to use a few of the multitude of settings on, my two down-filled pillows encased In a Mona Lisa and Vincent Van Gogh portrait pillowcase-?on the reverse side-?the backs of their heads, and my most prized possessions-?replica leg lamps from the movie A Christmas Story. I have one full size lamp and two nightlights, yah, how lucky am l! My lob? Ham, I dont have one right now-?tears a story all Its own, well leave that be for now. We will write a custom essay sample on Things That Are Important to Me or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Oh I do love my children and grandchildren, but do they define me?I dont think sol If I recall correctly-?I got them started and defined them, well, at least for the first while -?not the other way around. Where I live wasnt much use either since at the time I was pondering my answers to this profound question-?I didnt (officially) live anywhere. And since I didnt aspire to live in any particular location-?my fifth choice of items to include in the five-defining- me-things was pretty useless too! So I started looking at it from a different vantage point and heres what I came up with: 1) To always be unique.Typical and conventional: I never want those to be words that best describe me! 2) To always smile at the silliest little things, and continue to appreciate them more than anything else. 3) To write stories that give readers a sense that even the bad stuff that happens in life contributes positive and necessary elements of being alive. Family by Choice available at Amazon 4) The Rattan Vortex Breakfast Program 5) To get the hang of Just accepting whatever happens Is exactly what Is supposed to happen-?I cant force anything-?even though Im real good at convincing myself (and there) that I can. I really liked my list, uh-huh, this Is me! I sent It off to my friend, expecting an for my Unsightliness. That wasnt going to happen, turns out: this was only phase one of the exercise. Up next was one-by-one and an influx of characteristic defined disadvantaged persons needing some of mine. I didnt like my friend anymore. I mean-?really-?come on! It took me forever to figure out these five, now theyre mine, how could I let even one go? But let go I must.First on the chopping block, To get the hang of Just accepting whatever happens is exactly what is supposed to happen-?I cant force anything-? even though Im real good at convincing myself (and others) that I can. . .. Ill never get the hang of this, might as well give it back while the savings good! Next to go, The Rattan Vortex Breakfast Program, not in the literal sense, but rather in the defining me sense. And once I clued in to his dastardly plan I let two more go at once and only kept Drum roll please. ..

A Common Chain Among Literary Works †Literature Essay

A Common Chain Among Literary Works – Literature Essay Free Online Research Papers A Common Chain Among Literary Works Literature Essay How do six novels create a common chain that relates to each other? The following novels: The Stranger, The metamorphosis, One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, Cry the beloved country, Heart of Darkness, and Things fall apart all have one simple relation: Loneliness. In the novel The Stranger, we find a character, whose name was Meursault, who lives alone in an apartment. He goes through his normal routine everyday: eats in the morning, goes to work, comes back home, eats again and sleeps. When he is eating dinner, he usually sits on his balcony and observes pedestrians walking about. If he talks to someone, its usually a vague conversation that he is never interested in. But most of the time, he finds himself alone and trapped in his apartment, which is a huge sign of loneliness. In the same way, trapped in four walls is Gregor, from The Metamorphosis. This man, has a similar routine to Meursaults, he wakes up at the same time every morning to not miss his train, works to sustain his family and comes back home. One day Gregor realizes he has turned in a giant cockroach. He tries to accustom himself to his new lifestyle which he finds hard because not only is he stranded in a room, but he struggles very deeply with the loneliness he’s feeling after he understands no one accepts him. Gregor also fails to adjust to his identity. Ivan from One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich also has the same identity struggle, but in a different way. In a way that he is trying to be different and show uniqueness unlike the rest of the replicas in the work camp he is being held at. Facing this and many other problems, he also faces loneliness because not only is he being imprisoned for 10 years (which is a lie), he is away from his family and friends, and really finds no one in comfort to be with in the camp. Therefore, looking at loneliness in the eye and while trying to find uniqueness, what else makes it harder is the separation between the prisoners (which are also labels) which are the men who lick out bowls, the men who put their faith in the infirmary and the squealers and screws. Having a separation problem, or more specific, segregation problem, is the country in which Reverend Kumalo (from Cry the beloved country ) which is South Africa. They struggle with apartheid which is a culture of oppression and also the segregation between races, in this book being the White Anglo race and the Black Indian race. The white men seem to own all the land and experience better luxuries than the poverty the black men have to endure with. Kumalo experiences loneliness in a way that he seems to be the only one having hopes for his mislead family members living a city called Johannesburg. While this, certain white men and women have the wrong idea that they are much better, that they have personal power and also great wealth (this can be interpreted in many ways). A much severe condition of this would be called, megalomania, and in the novel. The heart of darkness a specific character experiences this. His name is Kurtz, he is obsessed with collecting ivory, leading the plants stated in Africa and is also full of himself. He has all these workers in such control that even when they are talking about him without his presence, they choke up words that they don’t even agree with themselves. At the end Kurtz is found on his death bed, without anyone that cares about him by his side. This is only a reflection of loneliness, and knowing that he was dying alone with his secrets laying unrevealed. In this novel, the white men always misinterpret the actions of the natives, or the savages as they are referred by the ivory collectors. They are considered ignorant, naà ¯ve, and dangerous. In the same way, characters from the novel Things fall apart consider the actions of the missionaries that have arrived at their homeland very ignorant too. They only see it as this because its not part of their culture. The white Christian missionaries and also the native missionaries have very different beliefs that only sound crazy to the ears of the natives from this African country. Also, the missionaries’ customs and ways of being traits, character, morals and rules) are extremely different from the beliefs of the natives (the missionaries would think these are foolish too). One person we find lonely in this novel is, Okonkwo. After the missionaries had settled in and after he returned to his fatherland after his exile, he’s experiencing this because he seems to be the only man that actually cares about what’s going on, because even one of the high ranking men in that tribe has given in to the missionaries (no one seems to be on his side about violence ). This man is also very emotionless, with anger being all that defines him. Instead of actually believing in a god, he only walks about tradition so he doesn’t make himself look bad. A really good example of this is when Agbala’s Priestess takes Enzima to Agbala’s Cave (you’re not suppose to follow her) and Okonkow along with Ekwefi did. In this same way of being emotionless and doesn’t necessarily believe in any higher power is Meursault, from The stranger. As told earlier, he follows a routine and if actually communicates with anyone, it’s a very vague communication, he doesn’t express emotions (specially that of love which is very exposed to him), and the light (representing God), bothers him and he denies it. To sum it all up, one common trait that each of the novels had was the factor of loneliness. Each novel had a specific connection to the other, but they all involved a sense of loneliness in the book in general or just one of the characters. This created a chain, and the examples of loneliness vary from being lonely yourself and having no one to having people not believe in what you believe in, thus causing a loneliness. Research Papers on A Common Chain Among Literary Works - Literature EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meanings19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoWhere Wild and West MeetNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceThe Hockey GameHip-Hop is ArtThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionQuebec and Canada

McDonald's company in the world. History and business Research Paper

McDonald's company in the world. History and business - Research Paper Example The intention of this study is McDonald as one among many international companies looking for great opportunities to establish and find business partners in rapidly growing countries for instance China, Asia, Central Europe and not forgetting India. McDonalds was established in 1940 in California by two brothers Dick and Mac McDonald. The restaurant became trendy hangout for teens in the post war affluence. In order to feed the teens the brothers made a menu in form of perennial much-loved hamburgers then expanded to four restaurants by 1953 using the assembly line system of food production. In 1955 entrepreneur Ray Kroc bought the right to franchise McDonald after noting the great success of the brothers. Ray Kroc opens his first McDonald's 0n April 15 1955 in Des Plaines, lIIinois. In 1960, Kroc renamed Mcdonald’s Corporation then he focused on marketing of McDonald products especially the family meals and children, advertisements particularly though the television that prom otes a child friendly smiling clown brand mascot, Ronald McDonald. To date the franchise has more than 30,000 restaurants worldwide in more than 119 countries serving more than 50million daily (Nayar). According to Stanton et al., the introduction of the Speedee service System in the 1948, Speedee became the company logo hence introduction of the principle of the fast food modern restaurant. In 1963 Speedee was replaced with Ronald McDonald. Due to the much trust in the success of the company Kroc suggested for the franchising of the restaurant around the country. The brothers where not ready to risk it all in the franchise of the company throughout the country so Kroc took it as his responsibility and volunteer to return to his hometown outside Chicago. With the license to open up other McDonald in the country, apart from other territories in Arizona and California licensed already by the McDonald’s brothers. As already mentioned the first restaurant was opened in Des Plaine s, Illinois by Kroc then he incorporated his company as McDonald’s corporation in April 1955. Kroc encountered a number of challenges in the new ventures. The first challenge particularly was adapting the McDonald’s building that was design for the climate in the northern. Installation of a basement was required to house a furnace, also it was difficult for the adequate ventilation, as warm air in the winter were sucked out by the exhaust fans and cool air in the summer. However, the most frustrating hurdle was the failure by Kroc to reproduce the delicious french fries initially. Kroc sought for franchisees for the McDonald’s chain once the Des Plaines was operational. The other snag came closely in 1956 he discovered that the brothers had given the license of franchisees to the Cook County, Illinois to the Frejlack Ice cream Company. Kroc was angry because the McDonald’s brothers had not informed him of the arrangement. Consequently he purchased the rig ht back five times higher than Frejlack originally paid for. He made a decision that it is best for the restaurant to be established first before they are franchised out, this will enable him to have control over the uniformity of the McDonald’s stores. In the early years the McDonald’s restaurants were mainly situated in the suburbs. In order to accommodate his U- shape

Human Factors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Factors - Essay Example External environment plays a very significant role in the success of the business. The analysis method that will be most appropriate in evaluating the operations of the external environment is the Porter’s Five Force Model, while the PEST analysis would be used in investigating and evaluating the macro environment. Porter’s Five Force Model examines very sensitive and significant areas of the business organization (Porter, 2004). The next aspect of consideration is the internal analysis of the business in distributing the target tape to hospitals that would be very important in understanding and evaluating the operations of the business. This kind of analysis will be very important in determining whether the company will be successful or will collapse along the way. The internal analysis under consideration would include the primary activities like human resource management, finance, customer service, and marketing (Chaffey, 2009). It is however, of great importance for the business to possess unique capabilities and characteristics in order to enable the management develop a strategy that would assist in distributing quality target tapes to hospitals and health care institutions. Another important aspect to note in the implementation is the generic competitive strategies that would enable the firm fit in the competitive nature of the market. Some of the challenges experienced in a competitive environment ar e the increased demand for high quality target tapes and the growing need to adopt new technology in order to serve the diverse needs of the patients. These are the business organizations that would have the ability and the will to join the existing business environment and hence make the competition be tenser. The planners need to understand that profit levels of the business will tend to depreciate because as other organizations strive to join the product market, there will be increased rivalry (Porter, 2004). Therefore, it is

Knox Case Study Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Knox Case Study - Research Paper Example As his manager, I would be positive about his success in winning a new client to the company but would not communicate his strategy to other employees and external stakeholders. I would also urge him to be more sensitive to possible ethical concerns. No action should be taken against Knox for his initiatives but he should instead be advised to be more careful not to breach ethical values in his sales initiatives. My reaction would be based on an understanding of dilemma that employees face in defining moments and the possible consequences of victimizing employees for choosing a right thing over another. Knox did not take advantage of the client but used his skills to draw the client’s attention to what he could offer and subsequently what his organization could offer. He was also not deceitful but generated mutual benefit for both the company and the client and should therefore not be reprimanded (Humphreys, Amed, Pryor, Hanson, Peppers, Rogers and Borg, 2009; Badaracco, 1998) . Being another manager in the company, I would consult with Armadillo to determine their opinion about their interaction with Knox. My interest would be to determine their derived utility from the interaction for ethical consideration. If they consider the approach dishonest and they believe that Knox initiatives coerced them, then I would explain to them our ethical policies and consider a remedy and a possible action against Knox. Their satisfaction with the initiative would, however, communicate utilitarian ethics because ethics is circumstantial (Badaracco, 1998). I would advise other salespeople to be careful in their sales initiatives because while some clients might consider such acts as ethical, others may be offended because of cultural diversity.

Impact of Private Military Companies on Security

Impact of Private Military Companies on Security What impact do Private Military Companies have on International Security? 1. Introduction 1.1. Scenes from Fallujah Towards the end of March 2004, the world bore witness to by now familiar scenes of blood-letting from Iraq. Pictures captured on this occasion by an Associate Press journalist (Mascolo, 2006) showed Iraqis celebrating the killing of two foreigners. Emaciated and hardly recognisable, their bodies hung over the bridge they had just a moment ago attempted to cross. Some 30 miles west of Baghdad, the notoriously restless town of Fallujah formed the backdrop to the ambush where, it emerged from later reports, two of those killed as well as the surviving men were all American nationals who had been tasked with escorting the transportation of foodstuff. When they fell into the trap, all four had been sitting in their car. Following gunfire they incurred the wrath of insurgents keen to seek revenge on whom they saw as unwelcome occupiers by torching their vehicle (Scahill, 2006). Two of them managed to escape in time but the other two, it seems, could not retreat, either because they were al ready heavily injured or were already dead. Even to this day the precise circumstances of what really had happened remain unclear, and it will probably remain so. What is clear, however, is that none of them – either the dead or the survivors – were bona fide soldiers operating in uniform. Belonging neither to the United States Army nor to any other army of the â€Å"coalition of the willing† stationed in Iraq, all four were, to all legal intents and purposes, â€Å"civilians†, who had, at least as it appeared initially, the gross misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. But on closer inspection one could discern that all four of them were employees of Blackwater, a private security company headquartered in Moyock, North Carolina (www.blackwaterusa.com). Founded only eleven years earlier to the incident, Blackwater symbolizes the growth of a new and booming sector of the military economy, which entrusts private companies with tasks that had previously been preserved for the state. Referring to the process of deregulation, which had made this possible, the founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, explaine d by way of comparison that, â€Å"we are trying to do for national security what Fed Ex did for the postal service. Fed Ex†, he went on to say in an interview with the Weekly Standard, â€Å"did many of the same services the postal service did, better, cheaper, smarter, and faster by innovating [which] the private sector can do much more effectively† (quoted in Hemingway, 2006). What his company was doing, he claimed, was nothing dissimilar and, in fact, in the national interest too, since his employees would save the American ratepayers a substantial amount of tax. 1.2. The challenge of Private Military Companies For those who lived through the twentieth-century, where it was a given that state-instituted regular standing armies which recruited from its own people were entrusted with the nation’s security, this arrangement would strike an inconceivable note. Not even in the heyday of unbridled Victorian laissez-faire liberalism did the state feel the need to call upon publically-traded companies to look after its own geopolitical interests. Yet the self-confidence, expressed by Prince, in the capability of his private firm to provide a better service than the state cannot be pushed aside as mere marketing rhetoric. In 2003, for example, Blackwater, DynCorp and other private military companies (hereafter PMCs) turned over a more than impressive collective profit of 100 million dollars (Mlinarcik, 2006). If the prognosis of forecasters is any guide, this sum is set to double by 2010, making the military market a lucrative one and pointing to further deregulation. Limited to Iraq alone, w here the incident in Fallujah took place, there were at the last count some 60 private security firms operating in the country, with a total number of 20,000 personnel, or â€Å"contractors†, on their books. So ubiquitous have PMCs become that their size now even dwarf that of the British army, the second largest state-sanctioned contingent in the area. More importantly, PMCs have not limited their remit to support or mere logistics, situated far away from the field of combat, but ominously they now increasingly provide armed escorts, security in and around buildings and, if need be, take on roles which would normally be associated with soldiers in a regular army on fields of combat. Such a reliance on contractors moreover is set to escalate as states realise that outsourcing military responsibilities to these private firms, who typically hire experienced veterans of conflict, can be more effective as well as economical. Not least because of these attractions the United States government has taken out over 600 contracts in Iraq alone (Singer, 2003, 17). Such acts of outsourcing, it should be remembered, are not in themselves particularly unusual. Many states have had little qualms about taking on new spheres of responsibility while relinquishing others. Examples such as the postal service, transport and energy are recent industries that spring immediately to mind, and in which there have been notable, if at times controversial, successes. But the sanctioned use of force – the maintenance of security – has been an area that the state has traditionally monopolised. No modern political ideology, either left or right, has questioned the centrality of the state as unrivalled arbiters of peace, and herein lies the reason why the emergence of PMCs strikes the alarming cord it does. 1.3. State, security and PMCs Traditionally, it has only been the state which could, according to the classic definition provided by Max Weber, legitimise the use of power. Through its organs – in the shape of the police and army – the state enjoyed the exclusive right to control, suppress, exert and maintain security within and without (Elias 1997). Only if the state can show off it supreme and legitimate control within its territorial borders, Weber went as far as to say, could the state be worthy of its name (Weber, 120). External interference in the monopoly of the use of force, such as civil wars and organised criminal activity, would cast doubt on the viability of the state as enforcers of security. Crucially, Weber presupposed that â€Å"the exercise of violence can be ascribed to other groups and individuals only to the extent that the state itself permits it† (Weber, 131), a statement which further underscores the tight relationship between the state and its own security. By taking o ver this monopoly on security, then, the concern is that PMCs are mounting a challenge to the centrality of the state as sole and supreme arbiters of power. The very modus operandi, in other words,of the state appears to be threatened. For all of Weber’s brilliance as a thinker, such a classic definition could only have emerged during nineteenth century Europe, for it was the nation-state which reigned supreme at the time; but ever since then advances in modern technology and the movement of both people and information have conspired to limit how much authority states are allowed to wield. Responding to situations when individual states cannot act separately to solve security issues that are international or transnational, Krasner has pointed to moves by the United Nations to intervene in cases of humanitarianism, which incidentally not only emboldens the power of collective states to exercise force in the sphere of international relations, but also serves to limit the powers of states which fall foul of certain international laws. As President Roosevelt put it as far back as 1904: ‘Chronic wrongdoing or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may †¦ ult imately requite intervention by some civilized nations’ (Krasner 1999, 181). While alarming, PMCs should therefore not be considered as complete replacements of the state. Compared to standing armies, which PMCs could not realistically or wholly replace, PMCs would only be entrusted on occasions where there is a demand for its services. They would be delegated select tasks which the state apparatus feels would be better performed when outsourced. Importantly, these firms merely temporarily receive a limited mandate to use violence which would otherwise revert back to the state once contract ends. Such an arrangement, however, can be a potential danger to security, and this is where the fault lines of debate lie. As the last sentences imply, private firms come to the business of war not to serve the national interest but the financial interest. Despite the example of certain companies working only for the US Army, and thus for the national interest, there is nothing that would stop them from serving other states if they thought they could maximize their own pr ofit. To that extent, it is almost exclusively the market that drives them. Such a difference worries some observers because, if PMCs were to choose to work for a rival country, for instance China, they would take knowledge and expertise that had previously resided with the United States for example. Since it is the market that guides them, it is far from out of the question that this will not happen. If not now then it could occur in the future. The question for some is not if – but when. More ominously, by contrast to standing armies, which receive regular supplies of weapons and training by the state, PMCs have as a rule their own cache of weapons that the state would not provide. Such a state of affairs have lead to legitimate concerns that they might fall into the wrong hands when companies are made bankrupt or when the PMCs themselves, having firmly established themselves as multi-national corporations with a global reach and ample resources, should chose to eat the hand that fed them. From a more operational point of view, the security dangers would be manifest on the ground. Employees of PMCs are not strictly-speaking soldiers who are organised hierarchically but are civilians who are only accountable for their actions through the contracts they have made with their clients. Communication problems between two culturally different entities on the field of combat could, it is feared, end up compromising security. Such worrying tendencies, described memorably by K ofi Annan as the â€Å"privatization of security†, if true, go to the heart of what the state is all about: its control over security (Holmqvist, 2005, 8). 2. Literature review 2.1. Popular representations of PMCs Private military companies today are keen to highlight the supportive and positive impact they have on international security. That they should do so is no surprise as corporations want to impress potential clients. To state that they help undermine security would be tantamount to business suicide. Such a reason explains why they are often vigorous in their denial of any criticism that they are in any way â€Å"mercenaries†. Even though firms such as the London-based Armor Group, have names to suggest otherwise, they do stress nonetheless they are in the business of delivering aid rather than unleashing threats to international security. Like most PMCs, the Armor Group is a listed company, headquartered in London, and trade shares in the city’s Stock Exchange as a bona fide business venture. More concretely, as one correspondent reported, it distributed between 2003 and 2007 a staggering â€Å"31,100 vehicles, 451,000 weapons and 410 million rounds of ammunition to the new Iraqi security forces, and items as varied as computers, baby incubators, school desks and mattresses for every Iraqi government ministry† (The Washington Post, 2007). As a publicly traded company, fully licensed by the Iraqi Interior Ministry, Armor Group even took casualties, partly because it decided to refrain from using particularly powerful weaponry for fear of collateral damage. Why? â€Å"[It] did not want to be perceived as a mercenary force† (The Washington Post, 2007). Such pains to present themselves as supporters of states in their bid to maintain security are often dismissed by commentators, fascinated in the phenomenon of PMCs, in favour of a narrative that spins secret plots and conspiracy theories that do little to contribute to the understanding of these companies as new and influential agents of international peace and security. In a recently published book, Blackwater: The Rise of the Worlds Most Powerful Mercenary Army, journalist Jeremy Scahill, for example, entirely commits his analysis to doing just this. Pointing to PMCs as mere mercenaries, he goes as far as to state they would be the tool of choice for an adventurous American President’s covert power schemes. Drawing from otherwise correct premises about the end of the Cold War and the increased need for military know-how, Scahill however slowly strays from this promising start by underestimating the historical developments and the complicated changes which have occurred in t he field of military services contracting. Ultimately, he ends up even ignoring the basic normative definition of â€Å"mercenary person† provided by Article 47 of the 1997 First Additional Protocol (FAP) to the Geneva Conventions. He also washes over numerous lawsuits initiated against Blackwater and other PMCs with reference to alleged safety violations leading to the death of several contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Enlisting the agenda-ridden and highly selective accounts of unnamed US soldiers who were â€Å"envious†, he pours scorn on the attitude of overpaid â€Å"private soldiers [who] whiz by in better vehicles, with better armor, better weapons, wearing the corporate logo instead of the American flag†(The Nation, 28 May 2007). In a similar vein, Publishers Weekly chose to portray private military contractors as â€Å"heir[s] to a long and honourable tradition of contract soldier[s],† providing â€Å"relatively low-cost alternatives in high- budget environments† (Publishers Weekly Editorial Reviews, 10 April 2007). Such portrayals of PMCs suggest contractors for these companies have an easy job. But this is far from the case. First, PMCs employees normally work in small teams which can neither count on close air support nor rely on artillery or mortar fire if backup were needed. The US government does not provide their ammunition, weapons systems or daily meals. Whatever they have or need to have (from their subsistence to the accomplishment of their mission) is privately shipped from the parent-country. Should anything happen, as it did in Fallujah, these personnel are on their own, and the odds during either a conventional fire fight or an ambush are far less in their favour. Second, one is not born a military contractor. Most of them have extensive military experience and/or law enforcement backgrounds, with years of training in special tactics and difficult environments. They worked hard to become the very marketable, final commodity that they represent today. It is not a â€Å"betrayal,â €  on their part, to honour their contract with the Armed Forces and then seek a more lucrative source of income. In addition, once these professionals have left their position (be it within the Armed Forces, a police department or other Federal or local government agency) all previous entitlements as far as life insurance (today in excess of $400,000), health benefits, family members coverage and combat zone tax exemption cease to exist. Although a one year-tour in the Middle East with Blackwater would earn a person with an experienced background between $80,000 and $110,000, this would not necessarily be an overriding incentive to go. Third, PMCs are a competitive work environment: good pay calls for knowledgeable, reliable individuals. The levels of professionalism are in general high, while open calls for concerted monitoring and a better regulatory system have further contributed to an effective screening of those applying for a position with all major military services prov iders (Burns, 2007). 2.2. Scholarly opinions of PMCs Such an excursion must undermine the promiscuous notion that PMCs are die-hards whose sole intention is to con their way into subverting international security. More serious students of international security by contrast have been more cautious and keen to acknowledge the complexity that is involved in assessing the nature of PMCs. From a strictly realist point of view, which assumes the principle of states as rational unitary actors, with their own security at their forefront of their hierarchy of needs, the delegation of power to contractors smacks of surrendering sovereignty per se, and in this sense political scientists of this school of thought would conclude that PMCs have a negative impact on international security. Most obviously this standpoint manifests itself in examples where weak states, â€Å"convulsed by internal violence†, have failed to â€Å"deliver positive political goods to their population† (Rotberg, 2003, 1), which is the reason why they may have to resort to the services of PMCs. Conventionally-speaking this would mean PMCs would compromise security. Yet the privatisation of defence and security, it has been argued, can actually play a positive role in countries which lack structures and technical expertise to achieve stability (Arnold, 1990, 170). By contrast to weak states’ traditional reliance on unpredictable warlords, it is pointed out, foreign military firms can, in fact, provide affordable and effective services to states on a low budget. Without the risk of further disrupting political and social equilibrium, PMCs would act as level-headed participants in conflict swayed less by emotional arguments than by the exclusive need to restore stability. Such an optimistic appraisal of PMCs is adopted by the foremost specialist on them, Peter Singer, who believes that weak states would benefit from their relationship with military companies. Responding to criticism that PMCs would be a drain on the host state’s resources, Singer claims that PMCs in this day and age do not need to secure a diamond mine or an oil fiel d to underwrite their operations – as mercenaries of old had perhaps done. In most instances, a more lucrative market is provided anyway by international emergencies where coalitions of states, large NGOs or international institutions would be willing to pay handsome rewards for their services (Singer, 2002, 190). Such a sentiment is echoed by Jonas Hagmann and Moncef Kartas who remark that â€Å"the shift from government to governance, the trend away from state-centric provision for public services such as security and towards network- and private sector-centric provision, allows international organisations to play a role in the regulation of security governance (Hagmann Kartas, 2007, 285-6). In this framework the calculated risk stemming from entrusting law enforcement activities to private contractors can have a positive outcome. International security is thus upheld. On the opposite front, scholars such as William Reno (2002) have argued that the increasing resort to military contractors would bring about two different but equally negative consequences. First, private firms run the risk of being seen as enforcers of a new order represented by a resurgence of neo-colonialism. That the attackers in Fallujah, described at the beginning of this investigation, did not discriminate between contractors and regular soldiers is perhaps a case in point. Second, the presence and operation of private security firms, which are given the monopoly to exercise violence, would only add to the corruption of local ruling elites. Such a danger would of course apply more to lowly developed countries than highly developed ones, but, it is pointed out, regimes would be keen to utilise foreign professionals in the furtherance of their own agendas, where PMCs would contribute to the worsening of domestic political stability and territorial integrity (Reno, 2002, 70). Such a gloomy assessment is also advanced by Paul Verkuil who warns that â€Å"reliance on the private military industry and the privatisation of public functions has left governments less able to govern effectively. When decisions that should have been taken by government officials are delegated (wholly or in part) to private contractors without appropriate oversight, the public interest is jeopardised† (Verkuil, 2007, 23). More and more government, Verkuil further observes, seem to favour recourse to outsiders, cashing in their own sovereignty as pawns in order to secure a solution to their more personal welfare. Similarly, Thomas Jà ¤ger and Gerhard Kà ¼mmel support the pessimistic view that sees the weakening of the state, especially in lowly developed countries. â€Å"The price for providing security for a beleaguered and cash-strapped government is exorbitant†, they announce, as those services cost â€Å"the contractual sum but also considerable parts of the st ate’s sovereignty† (Jà ¤ger and Kà ¼mmel, 2007, 120). Such pessimism has also been reflected in the work of Ronen Palan who bewails the commercialization of sovereignty. Pointing his finger at the expanding phenomenon of the offshore economy, which provides tax havens and financial facilities to large corporations and affluent individuals, Palan believes that a whole array of illegitimate activities are being staged today in those countries willing to give up on their security (Palan, 2003, 59). 2.3. Future development of PMCs More ominously, scholars such as Thomson see dangerous portents for the future. Even though it would be possible to see the state delegating power, he accepts, in practice â€Å"increasing numbers of African rulers are opting today for alternatives to bureaucratic, territorially bounded institutional arrangements† (Thomson, 1995, 217-218), and are finding in private contractors a critical tool in the furtherance of such design. In support of this thesis, William Reno highlights the â€Å"fragmented sovereignty of Liberian and Sierra Leonean ‘warlord’ political units, and the associated enclave cities of Freetown and Monrovia.† To support their authority these new units have hired foreign contractors—foreign firms and mercenaries—to perform services formerly allotted to state bureaucracies. Closely recalling Rotberg’s definition, Reno points out how these new political units assume the ambiguous status of â€Å"non-state organizations,à ¢â‚¬  profoundly divergent from the traditional norms of the bureaucratic state (Reno 1997, 493). Evidently, these non-states cannot produce societal advancement. They undermine economic development, lead to overlapping jurisdictions, promote conflicts among elites, and intentionally destroy bureaucracies† (Reno, 1997, 494), so as to allow the rulers to profit from the pervasive absence of government. Historically, mercenary groups have thrived in similar environments, but political ambiguity and ethnic-based conflicts are making the line between right and wrong almost impossible to draw between mercenaries and private contractors. More sophisticated, visible and publicly traded companies could, it is feared, one day be found working within these non-states, providing services that are legitimate per se, to far less legal entities. So far, no major private military or security contractor has lent its services to rogue states or actors not recognized by the international commu nity – but it remains a distinct possibility. From all this the implication is clear: does the emergence of PMCs present a real challenge to state security, even to the existence of the state itself? And what impact, if any, have PMCs had on international security? Do they help to undermine or bolster it? Such questions will be posed and answered in the course of this investigation. To do so it will be necessary to assess the extent to which PMCs present a challenge. First, the study will consider the theoretical arguments about sovereignty and security, placing discussion within the context of how the monopoly of violence came to be attached to the state. By doing so it should be possible to lay the foundations on which one can consider the extent of the threat posed by PMCs. Secondly, the study analyses the nature of PMCs themselves as a post-Cold War phenomenon. Taking care to differentiate between different types of organisations as well as discussing similarities ad divergences with armies, the investigation focuses on wher e PMCs should be situated, and considers the problem of where privatization begins and ends. Thirdly, the study looks more specifically at examples of PMCs in action from different parts of the world. All too often, theoretical discussion can be misleading. Dealing empirically with specific cases in the world’s hot spots in which PMCs have been deployed, it would be possible to ascertain the real effects of PMCs on the ground as well as on security in general. By incorporating all three elements – the theoretical/historical, analytical and empirical – it should be possible to reach in conclusion a more accurate understanding of PMCs and their real impact on international security. 3. History and theory of state sovereignty 3.1. State and security in historico-theoretical perspective Before discussion can turn to the extent to which PMCs pose a threat to international security, it would be useful to consider the actor they are supposedly challenging: the state. More specifically, one should reflect on the foundations on which the state monopolises power, question how it developed to do so, and discuss the recent changes to the relationship between the state and security. From a historical point of view, it would of course be possible to trace the existence of the state back as far as the ancient Greeks. Even so, it would be more common and appropriate to pinpoint the direct antecedents of the modern state to the Renaissance when Italy emerged having highly-organised city states. Most important characteristics of these fledging cities were their ability to possess standing armies, organise complicated bureaucracies and institute a rule of law to which the population would adhere. (Heller, 1934, 8). Such a process saw its completion during the eighteenth and nineteenth century, when control, helped by improvements in communications, extended over vast regions, at times spanning the globe. What was the key to this development was the amount of power the state could control. But for a long time power had been divided among different agents who would not necessarily obey the wishes of those in power. Even when Charlemagne, for instance, managed to conquer Europe during the medieval period, he could still not claim he was the most powerful man on the continent, since his Empire was ultimately subjected to recognition from Rome which could, in the figure of the Pope, refuse spiritual recognition. Power could also be left in the hands of the nobility, who for a long time kept peasants in perpetual servitude without the state being able to have a say in the kind of relationship that was forged between master and servant. Many city states, too, which boasted rich cultural and commercial pasts, could also resist the advances of larger states within their territory. Examples such as Florence, Venice, Hamburg and Bremen spring to mind as resistors of this trend, and it is hardly a coincidence that these proud cities for a long time evaded the dictates of administrative centres of Rome and Berlin, delaying the emergence of Italy and Germany respectively as modern nation states. What was crucially important in the eventual emergence of the state was the ability to control the income of the people it subjugated – or more simply: taxes. At the outset taxes were levied as a temporary measure to fight wars but they were eventually made permanent following the One Hundred Year War, which raged between 1337 and 1453. Such a protracted war made it evident that a constant supply of finance to survive and triumph. Such a need in turn meant the creation of a more sophisticated bureaucracy that could effectively collect tax and use it for war. During the early modern period, the contributions of trade and commerce added further to a bulging budget, and the process of urbanisation which made this possible meant that central administrative organs as well as ruling monarchs would reside in towns and cities as a result. More important for the purposes of this investigation was the treaty of Westphalia in 1648 which established the principle of sovereignty. From this time onwards the state gradually established itself as the exclusive form of rule. Most memorably under King Louis XIV, the â€Å"Sun King†, self-appointed monarchs consolidate the supremacy of the state over the Church, towns, people and economy to the extent that it could hardly be challenged. Even if the veracity of Louis’ famous quip – â€Å"L’etat, c’est moi!†- has been questioned, the statement succinctly conveys not only the self-righteousness of the King, but also the importance that was attached to the state itself. For without it the King could hardly cling onto power. Such moves naturally affected the nature of armies too. No longer would hired mercenaries do the job in prosecuting war – they had to be replaced by professional standing armies who would not, unlike mercenaries be fore them, switch sides depending on the way the wind was blowing. Much of the reason why PMCs are striking is because they seem to represent a throwback to a time when foreign nationals could join armies of other countries without this ever causing a stir or leading to doubt about their allegiance. Such a problem never really arose when absolute monarchs held sway. The crucial point was that soldiers should express their allegiance to the king or queen – to the individual head of the state – and that would be sufficient. But with the development of the nation-state, in which it was no longer necessarily to have monarchs for politics to function – circumstances changed so that citizens had to pledge allegiance to the state masquerading as the fatherland, to an abstract concept of the state no less. Such disinterest in the kind of ruler the state embraces has been the hallmark to why the state has successfully remained the central force that it is still today. Concretely it was the philosopher Thomas Hobbes who first realised the full extent of the powers of the state as well as the willingness of people to be subjugated to it. In his classic book Leviathan, written in 1651, he described the natural condition in which there is neither state nor law. Only natural law – or ius naturalis – is present where everybody is free to do what they want. Such a state of affairs leads to all pursuing their own narrow interests, so that it quickly descends into a â€Å"war against all† in which everybody would need to live in constant fear of attacks on their own property, family and life. It is to avoid this situation that people come together to give up some of their freedom in return for guarantees of stability under a contract with Leviathan. Strikingly the Leviathan that Hobbes envisaged had almost unlimited power. Even though Hobbes conceded that citizens had the right of protest, he believed the state had the absolute right to control without which the existence of the state would be compromised. 3.2. Delegation of state competencies Much of the reason why Hobbes invested in Leviathan such radicalism can be explained by the circumstances in which he found himself at the time he came to write his treatise. For it represented a time of the English Civil War, which raged between 1642 and 1649, during which time conflict took place between the King, Charles I and the Parliamentarians who challenged the right of the King to absolute power. Even though the Parliamentarians eventually triumphed, this did little to change the nature of the state, and the basic idea that under contract the state is given exclusive control over the use of violence, and thus the maintenance of security, is something that still lives on. For if the security of the people over whom the state rules is to be at

The Role of Unfulfilled Expectations in E. A. Robinsons Richard Cory E

The Role of Unfulfilled Expectations in E. A. Robinson's Richard Cory In E. A. Robinson's "Richard Cory", Cory commits suicide because he could not live up to everyone's expectations of him. In the very first stanza of the poem Cory is described by the author: "He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim" (Robinson l. 3 & 4), suggesting and comparing him to royalty. Surely, living up to such a hierarchy is the most taxing task one can be appointed. The poem makes reference to his material possessions, suggesting this is one of the key qualities people admire him for. Cory possibly facing bankruptcy feels he will be nothing and thought of as nothing once these gifts are gone. Such high expectations and admiration of Cory have backed him into a corner where he feels the only escape is a suicidal death. It has been believed by many that royalty is directly appointed by God, such a position carries an immense amount of expectations. At times, these expectations are not even ascertainable due to the fact that royalty is looked at as flawless and all-knowing individuals. For a single human to cope with this is assuming a great amount of strength is possessed by the man. As stated by Robinson: "In fine we thought he was everything" (l. 11), expresses how immeasurably high the expectations were for Cory. To be held to such a high standard is difficult for any average human to manage and cope with. Fear of making the slightest mistake as the man is being watched under a microscope causes a permanent stress within one's soul. Living life knowing others are admirable of your status and position makes every day decisions just as crucial as a King's decisiveness. As an average member of societ... ...ost literal and logical sense, a self-inflicted death is a more supported idea, especially when Robinson writes: "Went home and put a bullet through his head" (l. 16). I talked of the death being made to look like an accident, but that is purely an outside spin that a reader has to put on the verse. Taking the literal meaning of what the author states is more convincing. The stresses that Cory endures due to the high pedestal he is held on is a stronger cause for an individual to snap than that of the envious and jealous nature humans are use to dealing with. Cory committing suicide is a much more believable approach than that of a murder. Work Cited Robinson, Edwin Arlington. "Richard Cory." Literature-Reading, Reacting, Writing, 4th ed. Laurie Kirszner & Stephen Mandell, eds. Fort Worth: Harcourt College Publishers, 2001. 986.

American Pragmatism final

People screaming at the top of their lungs for the rock band that they idolize; an individual buying all the books and imitating the writing style of his favorite author; a young girl imitating the clothes of her fashion idol; the aforementioned instances are familiar examples of people who are practicing the idea of fandom wherein they are becoming huge fans of famous personalities or things. The idea of becoming a fan is perceived by people in different ways.There are individuals who look at the idea of being a fan as simply liking something or someone in a degree that is not common to other people. On the other hand, there are also those people who negatively look at fans, as individuals who are going crazy or psychotic for something or someone to the point that they are becoming obsessed. There are even allegations that fans eventually become stalkers, who do untoward decisions and actions. The opposing perspective of the term â€Å"fan† entails a more in-depth study about the topic.To be able to fully understand the meaning of being a fan, it is necessary that it is given due attention and importance. In doing so, I conducted an interview with three individuals, who have different backgrounds but is idolizing the same pop star. The pop star that I focus on is Miley Cyrus. My main motivation for looking for individuals who idolizes Miley Cyrus is due to the popularity and influence of this personality. In 2008, Miley Cyrus is included in Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.Due to this, I want to find out the reasons why people idolize her and its corresponding effects to their life. Moreover, by conducting the interview with three individuals who idolize Miley Cyrus, I learn more about the idea of being a fan. Summary of Cavicchi’s Book and Argument Based on the book of Cavicchi (1998) the term â€Å"fan† is used as both descriptive and prescriptive when it comes to describing individuals that are regarded as fans. Cavicchi even states that,On the whole, it [the term â€Å"fan†] is used both descriptively and prescriptively to refer to diverse individuals and groups, including fanatics, spectators, groupies, enthusiasts, celebrity stalkers, collectors, consumers, members of subcultures, and entire audiences, and, depending on the context, to refer to complex relationships involving affinity, enthusiasm, identification, desire, obsession, possession, neurosis, hysteria, consumerism, political resistance, or a combination (39). The interest of Cavicchi with the concept of â€Å"fan† is rooted from the fact that Cavicchi himself is also a self-proclaimed fan.The book that he wrote entitled Tramps like us gives an in-depth research and analysis of being a fan, especially when it comes to its corresponding effects to the individual who is a fan of something or someone. Cavicchi uses Bruce Springsteen as an example for his central argument that fandom is actually a useful and me aningful behavior, which allows individuals to form their identities, establish communities, and make sense out of their lives and the society as a whole. Cavicchi (1998) points out that the contribution of Bruce Springsteen in the world exemplifies the advantageous effects of fandom.In the past, many critics have noted that the songs of Bruce Springsteen is unique from other singers in a sense that it actually exist in world of its own with its respective characters, settings, words, and images. The world that Springsteen creates is actually very relevant to other people wherein individuals who only have little knowledge or none at all about Springsteen can still relate with his music. Springsteen emphasizes the world of highways and factories, loners and underdogs, and many others. As such, the themes of the songs of Springsteen actually embody the ideals and struggles of most ordinary Americans.Being the case, Springsteen was able to substantially influence the American pop cultu re and also different societal debates. Springsteen has the ability to not only speak for his fans but actually to them with directness and sincerity, which actually touches the lives of his followers. Cavicchi uses three years of ethnographic research and his own experiences and impressions as a fan in writing his book. He provides an interdisciplinary study of the ways by which ordinary individuals who have special and sustained attachments to their idols actually were able to change and affect their lives because of fandom.Furthermore, it challenges the negative perception about the term â€Å"fan†, specifically the stereotypes of fans as being obsessive, delusional, and to the point of having mental problems. Cavicchi strongly emphasizes that fandom is a normal socio-cultural activity that aids in shaping the identity of individuals. Object of Fandom Destiny Hope Cyrus also popularly known as Miley Cyrus is an American pop singer, songwriter, and actress. Her rose to fame started when she stars in the Disney Channel as Hannah Montana.After the success of her television series, she released a soundtrack CD of the songs that she sang in the Hannah Montana Show. The popularity of the soundtrack CD in the American market, especially for teenagers enables her to create a solo music career with her debut album, Meet Miley Cyrus. In her first album, Miley Cyrus was able to create her first top single entitled â€Å"See You Again†. The increasing popularity of Miley Cyrus paved the way for her to launch her second album called Breakout. Both the albums of Miley Cyrus top number 1 on the Billboard 200.In addition, the single of Miley Cyrus entitled â€Å"Party in the U. S. A. † was recognized as the highest charting and fastest selling single that reach number 2 in the Billboard Hot 100. The influence of Miley Cyrus reaches different nations, which is proven by the record-breaking sales of her albums that reach more than 15 million records. Mil ey Cyrus also shines in the field of acting. Miley Cyrus first extended play was The Time of Our Lives. Miley Cyrus also performed in the concert/film Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert.In relation to this, Miley Cyrus also starred in Bolt wherein she recorded the soundtrack for the movie, which enables her to be nominated in the Golden Globe Awards. The hit show Hannah Montana was later produced in the film with Miley Cyrus as the lead star of the movie. Moreover, the prominence of Miley Cyrus in the society is recognized by Time magazine when she is included in the â€Å"100 Most Influential People in the World and she also ranked 35 on the â€Å"Celebrity 100† list of Forbes magazine for earning $25 million in 2008. Interviewee # 1The first interviewee is Zoe, a 16 years old girl that describes herself as an avid fan of Miley Cyrus. Zoe is a Caucasian American, who is currently studying in a public school. The interview was conducted through phone wherein the queries in the questionnaires were asked and were substantially answered by the respondent. The main interest of Zoe mostly deals with normal young adult hobbies like shopping and hanging out friends. In addition, Zoe also stated that she is very much interested in music, especially from modern pop artist. As previously mentioned, Zoe is a self-proclaimed Miley Cyrus fan.She said that she first get acquainted with the pop star through her series in the Disney Channel, Hannah Montana. Zoe immediately likes the character of Miley in the series and she also took notice of her exceptional singing abilities. Zoe said â€Å"Miley has an exceptional and unique singing voice that can really attract its listeners, once I heard her voice she already mesmerized me. † Zoe opted to have the complete albums of Miley Cyrus instead of just downloading it from the Internet, which she said is a way for her to actually give worth to the singing ability of her idol buy adding to her CD sales.In addition to this, Zoe is also a fan of Miley Cyrus in Facebook and she also follows her in Tweeter. The influence of Miley Cyrus on Zoe affects her fashion sense because Zoe admitted she is actually imitating the fashion sense of Miley. â€Å"I always look carefully at the outfits that she wear, as I really admire her unique fashion sense†, stated Zoe. Zoe explains in the interview that she has not really done anything outrageous as a fan of Miley, the only thing that she did is make a scrapbook of her idol, which other people finds weird.Moreover, Zoe strongly believes that Miley Cyrus exemplifies the normal life of a teenager that has to go through the awkward stage of adolescence, which Zoe can relate to. Zoe expressed in the interview that Miley Cyrus affected her life by making her believe in her dreams and do more things in her life, as Zoe said, â€Å"I can have the best of both worlds just like Miley†. Interviewee # 2 The second interviewee is Sama ntha, a 13-years old teenage girl who is a die-hard fan of Miley Cyrus. She is an African-American that is studying in a public school.Samantha’s interests usually involve watching television, playing computer games, and the occasional going out with her friends. Samantha exclaimed â€Å"I love Miley Cyrus so much! † when asked in the interview on who is her idol. She explains in the interview that she was introduced to the pop star sensation while watching Hannah Montana because her parents only allow her to watch limited channels and this include the Disney Channel. At first, she likes the comic banter between Miley Cyrus and her dad because Samantha can actually relate to it because she said that she has the same relationship with her father.Later on, Samantha is really entertained by the singing capabilities of Miley Cyrus. In relation to this, Samantha can actually relate to the lyrics of Miley Cyrus’ songs that talks about related issues about being a teen ager. Samantha keeps a collection of different Miley Cyrus memorabilia like bags, school supplies, and others. She even said that â€Å"almost all my things are Miley Cyrus inspired†. In addition, Samantha also applauds the acting capability of Miley Cyrus, especially when it comes to comedy that is why she even created her own fan page for Miley.Samantha informed me in the interview that she has not done any outrageous thing as a fan of Miley Cyrus because she believes that becoming a fan does not necessarily mean doing something â€Å"stupid†. Moreover, Samantha points out that Miley Cyrus is an inspiration to her and also to her friends because she represents teenager everywhere who are following their dreams despite the set-backs of the teenage life. Interviewee # 3 The last interviewee is an 18 years old Asia who is actually on her way of going to college.She requested that I do not state her name in the paper, as she is afraid that someone might know that she is a fan of Miley Cyrus. The hesitation of this girl in admitting that she is a fan of Miley Cyrus comes from the fact that most of her peers perceived Miley Cyrus as a loser. As a result, this girl does not have any Miley Cyrus memorabilia and she does not join any networking site about Miley Cyrus. The main reason of this girl for idolizing Miley Cyrus is because she can relate with the life of the pop star.She states that â€Å"Miley Cyrus is just a typical teenager who commits mistakes like her photo scandal and other boyfriend troubles . . . she is being real to herself and to her public. † The girl idolizes Miley Cyrus because of her courage to be true to herself and to others even if she is already popular. In relation to this, she also thinks that Miley Cyrus is a strong individual that can properly handle all the criticisms that come her way. Being the case, Miley Cyrus influences this girl to also be true to herself and never give up. AnalysisBased on the answers of th e three interviewees it is quite observable that most of Miley Cyrus fans are teenage girls who are undergoing the difficult and confusing stage of adolescence. Their main reasons for idolizing Miley Cyrus are due to her singing and acting talents as well as the way she handles herself. The interviewed fans of Miley Cyrus have not done any outrageous or stupid things for their idol because of the reason that they have other outlets in order to express their enthusiasm and support for Miley Cyrus such as buying her albums, patronizing her products, and joining/creating networking sites.However, in the situation of one girl, she cannot freely express that Miley Cyrus is her idol because of the negative perception of her friends when it comes to the pop star. From the answers of the interviewee it is clearly proven that Miley Cyrus becomes an influential and powerful personality in the society because she represents the life of most teenagers.Miley Cyrus’ songs, television serie s, and even her life exemplify the issues and problems of an average American teenager. Miley Cyrus has substantially contributed to the American pop culture because most of her fans can actually relate with her life. Moreover, Miley Cyrus has her way of actually inspiring the lives of teenagers through her songs and the characters that she portrays, which embody a strong woman that will not give up amidst the challenges of life.

The Taming of the Shrew essays

The Taming of the Shrew essays Shakespeares play, The Taming Of The Shrew, was originally about Petruchio taming the cursed Katherine and also about which suitor marries Kates younger sister, Bianca. Although this movie is similar to the original, it has a very different ending. I thought this movie was pretty good but I think that there are some parts that could change. It begins with Cameron James moving into a new community and when Micheal Eckman gives him around the school, Cameron sees Bianca and instantly falls in love with her. He decides to ask her out on a date when Micheal tells him that the Stratfords arent allowed to date until Biancas older sister Katherine finds a date first. Joey Donner, who also likes Bianca, goes to Patrick Verona to bribe him with his money to date Katherine. Patrick agrees but when he tries to get kats attention, he finds out why everybody hates her. Shes an independent, outgoing person with a mind of her own and a really big temper. After Patrick wins Kates heart, he realizes that he too loves her. Cameron also eventually gets Biancas attention and everything ends happily. There were many ways in which the characters in this movie were similar to the ones in the original play. Kat always had a big temper and was also hated by the townspeople because of this. You can tell this is true because no one wanted to date her and she smashed Joey Donners new car when he wouldnt move it. Kate from the original play also had a big temper because when Hortensio was giving her the music lesson, she hit him over the head with the lute when he tried to correct her fingering. Patrick is similar to Petruchio because theyre both greedy for money, (Patrick wouldnt go out with Kat if he wasnt paid and Petruchio wouldnt marry Kate if the dowry was too small), and theyre also both strong and determined men. This is shown when Micheal tells C...

Julius Caesar Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Julius Caesar Julius Caesar In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus and Mark Antony, both Roman Senators, eulogize Julius Caesar, each using a different technique and approach. Brutus, in a somewhat arrogant, to the point, eulogy, attempts to sway the people. He justifies conspiring against Caesar by stating that Caesar's ambition would have hurt Rome. However, in Antony's eulogy, he focuses on Caesar's positive traits, and cunningly disproves Brutus' justification for killing Caesar. The fickle Romans waver between leaders, responding emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the orators. Brutus seeks to explain why he conspired against Caesar. He begins his speech with "Romans, countrymen ...", appealing to their consciousness as citizens of Rome, who, he later says, will benefit as freeman with Caesar's death. This shows that Brutus knows how to lure the crowd, appealing to their better judgement as Romans. He declares that he is an honorable man, and tells them that he will let them judge the validity of his claims. That is, he will allow the truth to speak for itself. This encourages the crowd to believe him, as an honorable man. He says that he wants them to know the facts; "Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses that you may the better judge." Sharing information with the people is flattering and it almost guarantees acceptance. He gets their sympathy by saying that he loved Caesar, daring the people to find anyone who loved Caesar more. Brutus declares that he never wronged Caesar, that he cried for Caesar's love, was happy for his greatness, honore d him for his courage, but had to kill him because of Caesar's ambition. He says that the reason for killing Caesar was his great love for Rome. He justifies his actions by saying that he loved Caesar but, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." He then asks rhetorically if the people would want to live their lives as slaves under Caesar's rule or would they prefer to live as freemen with Caesar dead. To anyone insulted by his speech he wonders if, as Romans who love their freedom, they could be offended or reject what he, Brutus, says. He poses the question, "Who is here so base that would be a bondman?" He stresses the point, repeating the line, "If any, speak, for him have I offended." "I pause for a reply.", allows them to respond to his rhetorical questions, giving them an even greater sense that he cares about them and their opinions. They can only respond, " None, Brutus, none." That is, none are offended, they do not disagree or argue with his words or his actions. Mark Antony's eulogy utilizes a different approach. He starts out by addressing the crowd as "Friends" because he wants to come to them as a friend rather than a ruler trying to gain power. He then says, "I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.", thus he can ease in praises of Caesar without the crowd stopping him. He sounds very sincere when he says, "The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious.... For Brutus is an honorable man." He repeats that statement three more times becoming increasingly sarcastic, saying finally, "Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure he was an honorable man." Since the people responded positively to Brutus' speech, Antony could not insult Brutus' honesty in a direct manner. Yet, Antony disproves Caesar's ambition with three examples. One is when he gave the ransom of captives to the public treasury and not his own, another when he cried with the poor people, and finally when he refused the kingship that Antony offered him, three times. Anyon e who was ambitious would never have done any such things. Antony says, "I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke." , but that is exactly what he does. Antony is using a dramatic effect on the people, first by entering on the stage with the body of Caesar, and at the end stating that his heart is still with the body of Caesar, ending his speech weeping. In justifying Caesar and disproving Brutus, the people see Antony as a potential successor to Caesar. They are swayed to him by his dramatics,

Voter Participation in Elections Research Paper

Voter Participation in Elections - Research Paper Example Age and Citizenship are usually among the criteria used in most of the countries where a bar is set as a limitation for ones right to vote. In the past few decades, voter’s turnout had been increasing but recently, the turnouts have gone down in most of the world’s conventional democracies (Franklin, 2004). Decline in the poll turnout is sometimes considered posing a problem in many countries. The problems range from economic to cultural, demographical to technological. Institutional factors are also part and parcel of a failed voter’s turnout (Milner, 2007). The political class has in most cases carried the blame on the topic of low turnout. This is because whenever they are elected to public office, they don’t do enough to ensure that they fulfill the will of the people. This is much time is as a result of matters of corruption due to the lack of transparency in their leadership. Repeated lack of transparency and accountability, and massive corruptions in the government elective office even after the change of leadership from time to time demoralizes the voters and them, therefore, don’t see the need of participating any more in the subsequent elections. Therefore, the voter’s turnout decreases with time. If some reforms concerning the holders of political institution are not taken to consideration, the voter’s turnout will continue to diminish year after year, from one election to another. Declining participation in elections results to some of the more common problems affecting the majority of the citizens of modern democratic federal Government. The shortage experienced can also be associated to a bigger problem on health of its democratic system which results from a deteriorating turnout in major decision making polls of a country. If the social and political forces that are driving turnout down are of a long term, the problem of low voter participation

Services Management - EFQM Excellence Model and Radar Logic Essay

Services Management - EFQM Excellence Model and Radar Logic - Essay Example The fundamental objective for the study is highlighting the effectiveness of the model in the actual business scenario. Further, the paper will discuss the significance of the model which is the practical and objective approach to make operations of a company better. The challenges and critique on the model which include the fact that mathematical details are not inclusive will be highlighted. Since this is a secondary report, the main methods used to compile the report were library study and internet research. A case study of Mr. Smith, a customer with Executive Bank PLC who lost valuables will be the basis of focus on how EFQM can be a turnaround tool. The findings on the case exposed the lack of proper communication by the operations and customer care department. The report recommends that the company should carry out systematic checks on its operations and adopt a continuous improvement of systems. Secondly, proper staff and communication channels are recommended to avoid any fut ure problem. Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction EFQM: Background Information Principles Value addition to the customer Creating sustainability Developing an organizational capability Harnessing creativity and innovation. Vision, integrity and inspiration Possessing agility Managing talent Continuous results Purpose of EFQM Significance Challenges and criticism of EFQM Case study: Executive Bank PLC. Gold Card Protection Service Possible Causes of the Problem EFQM Solutions for the Gold Card Protection Service Developing an operational network Redesigning of the operations of the card service Prioritize issues Use of the EFQM Concept as an exemplification of the above Solutions Use of The Radar System Conclusion Recommendations References Further sources Introduction It is the objective of each organization or firm to offer quality services and satisfy all interested stakeholders. Many models have been created to measure and control the performances of these firms at sp ecified periods according to Afuah and Tucci (2003, p9). As effective as they may be, each of the models has been found to have a considerable degree of limitations. The most effective of these models ought to have three qualities that can be of use by the management and employees namely innovation, collaboration and cooperation. It is obvious that service delivery executed at the highest level does not only satisfy a customer, it also motivates the employee to work better and give better results. The EFQM or European Framework for Quality management incorporates the three qualities that can harness these desired results in the service sectors such as banking and insurance. The model was launched in 1991 on the platform of eight fundamental concepts of quality management. With over 30,000 small and large organizations applying its principles, EFQM has proved to be not only reliable but also an effective framework of management. This exercise focuses on EFQM principles and their sign ificance, its critique and its application relates to a bank namely, Executive Bank PLC. EFQM: Background Information After the great depression of the 1930’s and the emergence of new markets, organizations in America began to look for new ways of doing business. This was mostly motivated by the drive to do business in an effective and efficient manner. Research activities in various institutions were ongoing on the aspect of