Women Suffrage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Women Suffrage - Research Paper Example This change was triggered by the alarming changes subsequent to the Great Depression. The Great Depression led to a fundamental change in how economies worked and challenged classical economic theories and their real life application. The increasing role of women was further enhanced by the implementation of the 19th amendment which led to greater importance of women in all fronts, leading, in turn, to increased involvement in education, military, public offices, technology and electoral processes. Women and Great Depression: The role of women during the Great Depression was in contrast to traditional modes of economic contribution. The traditional modes of contribution and work anticipate monetary rewards and compensation to justify effort, but for a significant period of time, women continued to work without expecting monetary rewards. Traditional societies viewed working outside home and serving the home at two distinct, non-overlapping activities, wherein, traditionally, men are associated with earning money by working outside the house, whereas women are expected to stay at home. During the Great Depression, economics, idealists and esteemed philosophers thought that women had to come out of their shell and take up responsibility to help the country out of an economic calamity of such magnitude. Women in the 1930s, time of the depression, had employed husbands who provided enough to help the family live on. There were times, however, where they would struggle to survive given the lack of resources at their disposal. The decade saw a study decrease in median income across all fronts leading to increased stress and survivability issues. Women and men experienced the Great Depression in different ways. Men considered themselves as breadwinners, hence when they lost their jobs; they considered themselves failures because they couldn’t provide their families with sufficient resources. Women, on the other hand, saw their significance at home increase as t hey juggled home and work responsibilities and started to play a role as breadwinners. It is interesting to note that no women lost her ‘job’ of working at home whereas their husbands struggled to earn money and find new sources of work. Challenging economic conditions challenged traditional gender roles and women slowly but surely started to move out of their role of staying at home. Women who were widowed or divorced, or single women, struggled to keep themselves afloat. They were truly living on the margins. The Great Depression is often associated with the struggling, unemployed man, however, women who were in a similar state of economic disaster, found themselves working it out on the sidelines on their own and trying to survive. Women who sought employment were often scorned as transgressors guilty of taking jobs away from deserving men. Many theorists and opinion leaders shared this view and when Norman Cousins noted that the gainfully employed number of women eq ualed the national unemployment total in 1939, he suggested that women should be fired, as they are not supposed to be working anyway, and men should be hired instead. Women were made a convenient scapegoat for the Great Depression. This was despite the fact that women had little options as they had to do something to ensure survival. Furthermore, the social segregation entrenched during those days made it difficult for men to take up jobs performed by women in any case. While men were concentrated in jobs involving heavy machinery, mining, etc. women were working in domains such as nursing, cleaning and clerical jobs. It is also essential to note that men dominated fields such as heavy industry and manufacturing were the hardest hit by the depression whereas women

Discussion on the Underground Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Discussion on the Underground Economy - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to discuss the ramifications of the underground economy in the United States and the effects that this has had on the social and economic development of the country. The most logical place to start a discussion about the underground economy is with the job market. There are a growing number of people in the United States that have found themselves out of work in recent years. Still needing money to survive, however, these people turn to jobs for individuals or companies that will pay them cash for the services that they may provide. This negates the official hiring process and enables people to keep the money that they earn. Naturally, there are advantages and disadvantages to this phenomenon. There are those that make the claim that anytime a person has cash in their pockets, it is good overall for the economy. Bills can be paid, goods and services purchased and an overall feeling of economic well being and achieved realized by those who would otherwise rema in unemployed. In some ways, those working on a purely cash basis provide an infusion of money into the economy on a daily basis. Such individuals are more likely to be daily purchasers of food and other sundry items, while being less likely to save. In addition, proponents of the underground economy point out that taxes are still being paid every time that cash is paid for an item or service in the marketplace. Many others claim that this part of the underground economy is harmful to society in numerous ways. First of all, employment and income taxes go unpaid and unrealized. Subsequently, those working in the underground economy go without benefits of any sort. If they are injured on the job for example, they will likely have no insurance with which to take care of their medical bills and their ‘employer’ will likely not claim responsibility. In addition, there are no guarantees of work, no implied sick or holiday time, and little recourse if there is an employment di spute. In essence, workers in the underground economy are left on their own and largely unregulated. Even though the jobs may pay them a daily wage, they are not legal and such workers would have a difficult time making a complaint should one arise. While so called day laborers depend on their daily jobs to survive, they are often paid a wage that is lower than industry standard. In addition, those that employ the day laborers end up saving money that should be going to pay employment, income, unemployment, and service taxes. This is billions of dollars annually that does not make its way back into society. In addition, if the cash that is made by working in the United States (or in other underground economies around the world) goes unspent, or is sent abroad, then there is no direct benefit to the country as a whole in terms of tax revenue. This would negate the argument that even day laborers benefit the overall economy because of the money they spend on goods and services. For th at argument to carry weight, there would need to be proof that the amount of cash spent outpaces the money would have been collected in taxes. Needless to say, this would be a tough argument to win. Another aspect of the underground economy in any given country can be seen in the black market. This is a marketplace where goods or services are traded in a completely illegal manner. What makes the black market a part of the under

Competition in Indias Textile Industry

Competition in Indias Textile Industry Factors behind increasing competition in Indian textile industry and strategically approach to gain competitive advantage globally. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The textile industry plays a pivotal role in the Indian economy. The country has produced legends such as Dhaka muslin, which was woven so fine and light that it could pass through a finger ring. But what is significant today is that this sector contributes substantially in providing employment and earning foreign exchange. The country is rich in natural resources such as cotton, jute and silk. The textile industry is the second largest employer, after agriculture, with a total workforce of around 35 million. India is next only to China among the worlds largest producers of textiles and garments. The industry is the largest foreign exchange earner, as the import content is insignificant compared with those of other major export products. Its contribution in exports is nearly 20 per cent. How many of us know that 85 per cent of the handlooms in the world are produced in India? The number of handlooms in the country is four million. The activities in textiles range from the production of natural raw materials such as cotton, jute, silk and wool to the manufacture of quality products such as cellulose fibre, synthetic filament and spun yarn. This is, perhaps, the only industry that is self-reliant and complete in value addition — from raw materials to the highest value-added products (Warrier, 2007). The textile industry occupies a unique place in our country. One of the earliest to come into existence in India, it accounts for 14% of the total Industrial production, contributes to nearly 30% of the total exports and is the second largest employment generator after agriculture. Textile Industry is providing one of the most basic needs of people and the holds importance; maintaining sustained growth for improving quality of life. It has a unique position as a self-reliant industry, from the production of raw materials to the delivery of finished products, with substantial value-addition at each stage of processing; it is a major contribution to the countrys economy. Its vast potential for creation of employment opportunities in the agricultural, industrial, organised and decentralised sectors rural and urban areas, particularly for women and the disadvantaged is noteworthy (www.economywatch.com). Against all these merits, an expert’s lament goes: It is difficult to find such a large-scale industry in the country that is so disorganised as the Indian textile industry. The industry is often plagued by obsolescence, unhealthy regulations and problems of labour. This emphasises the need for strengthening the management mechanism in the industry, to face the emerging international challenges. Common sense administration has its in-built constraints in a world where scientific management decides the destiny of industries in the modern global scenario (Warrier, 2007). The textile industry in India will face intensified competition in both their export and domestic markets. However, the migration of textile capacity will be influenced by objective competitive factors and will be hampered by the presence of distorting domestic measures and weak domestic infrastructure in several developing and least developed countries (www.economywatch.com). The challenges from global competition demand a scientific approach from properly trained management professionals who have specialised in this sector. Sickness and inter-sector contradictions that are a bane of the industry have to be solved through a wise approach and well-calibrated steps, to ensure healthy growth. Managers who are trained in traditional management disciplines will take a long time to get themselves familiarised with the special problems of the textile scene. A strong and competent cadre of trained mangers will help the continuous upgrading of knowledge and skills, fulfilling the need for maintaining a cutting edge in the world of intense competition (Warrier, 2007). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The proposed research intends to examine the increasing competition in Indian textile industry by focusing on the factors that have led to intense competition in the industry and formulate strategies that would help firms in the industry to gain competitive advantage at the global level. The key objectives of the research are identified as following: to identify the factors that have increased competition in Indian textile industry; to examine the nature of competition in Indian textile industry; to develop competitive strategy and provide recommendations to firms in Indian textile industry, so as to sustain the competitive edge in the global market. LITERATURE REVIEW Competitiveness: Definition Competitiveness is a widely used term and there are many definitions of it. The approach taken to competitiveness in this report is a pragmatic one, with the general idea that competitiveness means success in markets that translates into general increases in welfare(National Competitiveness Council Secretariat, 2006, p.1). The main concerns with respect to competitiveness arise from the developments of world markets. The main tendencies in international trade include rapid growth, globalisation, the growth of regional blocks, and the growth of foreign direct investment (National Competitiveness Council Secretariat, 2006). For the company, competitiveness is the ability to provide products and services as or more effectively and efficiently than the relevant competitors. In the traded sector, this means sustained success in international markets without protection or subsidies (Porter, 1990). Indias competitiveness Over a decade has passed since India embarked on liberalisation. There has been no dearth of fervent declarations affirming Indias determination to acquire the capabilities that will add to its competitiveness and enable it to be counted among other recognised global players (Gupta, 1998). However, has India been able to cash on inherent and acquired advantages in terms of competitiveness? Three different bodies assign three different grades to India: The 1999 World Competitiveness Year Book, compiled by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IIMD), shows that Indias ranking in international competitiveness, evaluated by applying 287 criteria, has gone up by two points from being 41st out of 46 countries in 1998 to 39th out of 47 countries in 1999 (Nancy, 1999). The survey conducted by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) for 1999 puts India in 53rd position of 59 countries in its Global Competitiveness Report, down from 50 in 1998, and 45 in 1997 and 1996. It uses 179 indicators under eight heads (openness, government, finance, infrastructure, technology, management, labour and civil institutions). The World Bank, which appraised the competitiveness 46 countries in 1999, places India in the 40th rank. In all these three evaluations, the rankings on certain specific parameters are more worrisome than the overall figures. Indias weakest areas in all the surveys include: uncertainty in government policies; infrastructural deficiencies; unsatisfactory corporate and financial management of both private and public sector enterprises; inept corporate boards; insufficient attention to human development; low productivity; undependable quality; inadequate customer orientation; and negligible investment on RD, with special reference to information technology. India is the fifth largest country in terms of gross national product (GNP) and purchasing power parity (PPP). It constitutes one of the fastest growing markets in the world and is counted among the richest with regard to cheap skilled labour, scientific and technological resources, and entrepreneurial talents. Therefore, the above image of India is quite enviable. To improve the competitiveness of Indian organisations on product design, quality and on-time delivery it has become necessary for them to look for innovations that produce maximum efficiency both within and beyond their operations (Sahay, 2000). Supply chain management is an integrating philosophy to manage the total flow of a distribution channel from supplier to ultimate customer. It is the management of upstream and downstream relationships – both within and beyond their operations – with suppliers and customers to deliver superior customer value at less cost to the supply chain as a whole. Effective supply chain strategies for creating competitiveness revolve around the on-time delivery of competitive quality goods and services, at a reasonable cost, involving the right business partners (Easton, 2002). Business challenges in the twenty-first century The information age competition has ushered in a new set of challenges for business competitiveness (Luftman, 1996). These include: Understanding customers. There is no escaping the fact that the customer in todays marketplace is more demanding, not just of product quality, but also of service. As more and more markets become in effect commodity markets, where the customer perceives little technical difference between competing offers, the need is for the creation of differential advantage through added value. Hence, it is increasingly becoming important to understand customers needs and wants and to translate these into a unique value-added business mission. Managing time compression. Time is the primary competitive motive of business in the 1990s. This does not mean, however, that other motives such as cost, quality, and service can be ignored. In fact, these are pre-requisites to sustain competitiveness. But the winning factor is provided by time-based competition, which becomes the highest priority to gain responsiveness and flexibility. Product life cycles are shorter than ever before, industrial customers and distributors require just-in-time deliveries, and end-users are ever more willing to accept a substitute product if their first choice is not instantly available. Mastering mass customisation. The driving force behind the importance of responsiveness and flexibility is the need and the wish to respond to virtually any customer request just in time. Mass customisation offers a viable solution. It involves the delivery of a wide variety of customised goods or services quickly and efficiently at low cost. The key to making mass customisation work is highly-skilled and autonomous workers, processes, and modular units, so that managers can co-ordinate and reconfigure these modules to meet customer specific customer request and demands. Mastering mass customisation is the step towards gaining a competitive edge and is driving new business models. Undertaking globalisation. There is an increasing trend towards globalisation. Almost every sector of business is influenced by global forces due to globalisation. In the global business, materials and components are sourced worldwide, manufactured offshore and sold in many different countries, often with local customisation. The challenge for the global company, then, is to achieve the cost advantage of standardisation while still catering for the local demand for variety. This has given rise to intense competition blurring the boundaries between domestic and global markets. Business, therefore, can no longer act as an isolated and independent entity in competitive world, the real test of competitiveness takes place in international markets (Salcedo and Grackin, 2000). There is a need to create value delivery systems that are more responsive to fast changing global markets and much more consistent, focused and reliable. Competitiveness and Textile Industry Clothing manufacturing in many developed countries has almost disappeared, probably more quickly than the ATC signatories imagined. The Japan Textile Importers Association now estimates that 87 percent of clothes on sale in Japan are imported: the American Apparel and Footwear Association estimates 89 percent of US clothes. Nonetheless, the apparel industry in rich countries is fundamentally different in 2002 from what it was in 1994, and this change affects the way in which the political debate around further liberalization is likely to occur (Flanagan, 2003). The countries India and Vietnam are viewed as strong competitors in future market share of textiles and apparel. Trade relations with Vietnam were non-existent in 1993. Since that time, a desire for closure to the war sees initial trade relations established. Thus, the data may be misleading due to this fact. India has been among the largest producers of cotton fiber since the days of yore. In the past India would export low-value items such as fiber or yarn to developed nations, which produced and manufactured fabric for clothing. However, because the profit margins are highest in the fabric and assembling for the apparel supply chain, the realization dawned to integrate vertically. India has emerged as a major sourcing base of cotton clothing worldwide and most of the leading US retailers such as Gap, J.C. Penney, and Nordstrom have set up sourcing offices in India (Tyagi, 2003). As government policy has become more strongly oriented towards trade liberalization, the industries have become progressively exposed, through multi-lateral and bilateral deals, to the full force of international competition from a growing array of international suppliers. At the same time, the emergence of large, sophisticated retail groups together with intense retail competition has found retailers exercising their bargaining leverage by squeezing suppliers for lower prices, and higher levels of service and product innovation. There has also been an increasing trend among large retailers to source direct or use foreign intermediaries (Flanagan, 2004). Market needs have become more changeable and fragmented, and consumers have become more discriminating with regard to product novelty, quality and value. Technological change has resulted in a broadening and a deepening of the financial and intellectual resources textile and apparel companies need to compete. Companies have been faced with making heavy investments in new technologies against the background of poor profitability, uncertain competitive outcomes and difficulties in gaining access to capital at non-discriminatory rates (Kilduff and Priestland, 2001). METHODOLOGY Research Design The statement regarding the nature of the problem identifies concepts that have to be explored and that would influence the data collection methods, the subsequent data analysis and reporting that would influence the data collection methods, the subsequent data analysis and reporting that are required (Hakim, 1997). In the light of this assumption the researcher meets with the task of constructing a research design, and analysing and interpreting data. The design of research study is based on the purposes of the research, if explanatory information is needed then a quantitative research is likely to be undertaken and if exploratory information is needed, then a qualitative research may be taken (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000). So far as the proposed study is concerned both exploratory and explanatory information is needed for getting the clear picture of the study problem, therefore both qualitative and quantitative research methods will be applied in the proposed study. Data Collection Methods In academic study the two most common methods of data collection are primary and secondary (Saunders et al, 2004). Therefore in the proposed study also both secondary and primary data collection methods will be applied. The sources of secondary data in the proposed study will be academic journals, trade magazines, Government of India Textile Ministry Reports, Indian Textile and Clothing Exports Association Reports, Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Reports, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Reports and various other related private and public reports. The primary data collection follows the procedure of data collection through interviews, questionnaires, observation, case studies, diaries, portfolios etc. In fact, such data is called primary, because it is the initial step, which the researcher has to take in order to begin research. The researcher can use one or more than techniques specified above to collect the data in the present study questionnaire based survey technique would be applied for collect primary data (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000). This technique is found instrumental in generating and quantitative data. For questionnaire based survey 25 managers (as sample) will be selected from Mumbai (India) based textile firms. TIME PLAN BIBLIOGRAPHY Easton, R. (2002), Seizing the supply chain opportunity in Asia, Ascet, Vol. 4. Flanagan, M. (2003), Let there be no doubt: quotas will go – almost everywhere, Apparel Sourcing in the 21st Century, pp.3. Flanagan, M. (2004), The ground rules for sourcing after 2005, Management Briefing, available at: www.just-style.com, No.February. Gupta, R. (1998), From liberalisation to liberation, paper presented at the 25th National Management Convention, All India Management Association, New Delhi, . Hakim, C. (1997), Research Design: Strategies and Choices in the design of Social Research, 5,Routledge, London. Kilduff, P.D.F. and Priestland, C. (2001), Strategic Transformation in the US Textile Apparel Industries, A Study of Business Dynamics with Forecasts up to 2010, College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, . Luftman, J.N. (1996), Competing in the Information Age: Strategic Alignment in Practice, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Nancy, L. (1999), World Competitiveness Year Book: methodology and principles of analysis, World Competitiveness Year Book 1999, IMD, Lausanne, . Porter, M. E. (1990), The Competitive Advantage of Nations. (New York: The Free Press). Sahay, B.S. (2000), Supply Chain Management in the Twenty First Century, Macmillan India, New Delhi, . Salcedo, S., Grackin, A. (2000), The e-value chain, Supply Chain Management Review, Vol. 3 No.4, pp.63-70. Saunders, M. Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2004) Research Methods for Business Students, 3rd Edition, Financial Times Prentice Hall Inc., London. Schiffman, L.G. and Kanuk, L.L. (2000), Consumer Behavior, Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. Tyagi, R. (2003), Apparel globalization: the big picture. [Online] Available on 5th October, 2007 from URL: www.allbusiness.com/manufacturing/apparel-other-finished-products-made/4400793-1.html Textile Industry. [Online] Available on 5th October, 2007 from URL:http://www.economywatch.com/business-and-economy/textile-industry.html National Competitiveness Council Secretariat, 2006, What is Competitiveness?. [Online] Available on 5th October, 2007 from URL:http://www.wtoconsultation.ie/ncc/reports/ncc/what.htm Warrier, B.S. (2007), Weaving out managers. [Online] Available on 5th October 2007 from URL: http://www.hindu.com/edu/2007/04/24/stories/2007042400050200.htm

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet - Friar Laurence Essay -- Romeo Juliet

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet - Friar Laurence Friar Laurence plays a most intriguing role in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. He is a priest, and a friend to Romeo. With the absence of Montague parental scenes, Friar Laurence also becomes like a surrogate father to Romeo. Romeo seeks him out to marry him and Juliet, obviously assuming that the friar would without parental permission. The friar greets him and addresses Romeo's past love. He even tells Romeo that he mistook what he felt for Rosaline as love when it was not, and therefore not be too haste, " They stumble that run fast" (2.2.94). Therefore, not only has Romeo discussed matters of the heart with the friar, but also the friar himself feels in the position to be able to speak with Romeo on a more personal level. Friar Laurence doubts Romeo's professed love to Juliet and compares it to what Romeo himself swore he felt for Rosaline, "Young men's love then lies/ Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes" (2.2.67-8). Bluntly, yet fatherly, he corrects Romeo's claim of love by saying (in reference to Rosaline), "For doting, not for loving, pupil mine" (2.2.82). Still, he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet without thinking twice. In fact, his greater preoccupation is not whether or not they truly do love each other, but how their love could end the feud between their families, as he states, "For this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households' rancour to pure love" (2.2.91-2). Friar Laurence also doubts Juliet's love for Romeo. Before she even enters the scene the Friar notes that moderate love is best because it does not overwhelm or become consumed by itself as a rash love would (2.5.10-15). Ironically enough Juliet enters the scene "somewhat fast" (... ...ave to face responsibility for his death. Thus, he leaves Juliet alone in a vault filled with dead ancestors, as well as recently dead Romeo and Paris, and she kills herself. This is not say that Friar Laurence does not feel responsible for Romeo and Juliet's deaths, he recounts his tale to the Prince and offer his life as a sacrifice if their deaths are his fault (5.3.228-68). In every step of deceiving Romeo and Juliet's parents, the government, and everyone who thought Juliet to be dead, Friar Laurence was attempting to: end a great feud between two families, help Juliet keep her marriage vows (by helping her out of marrying Paris), keeping Juliet alive, keeping Romeo safe from imprisonment or death, and ultimately, protecting the lovers' love from outside influences. He sees his acts as acts that are working for the greater good, and therefore they are just.

Nike’s CRM Essay

Nike manufactures shoes also athletic clothing such as shorts, shirts, jackets and under armors; wristbands, bag packs, jerseys and socks are also sold by Nike (Rao, 2012). The Nike slogan, Just Do It, have placed it’s brand in the mind of consumers, through the recognition of it’s products and promotional tools used worldwide (Rao, 2012). Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is focusing on meaningful, long term relationships and not immediate profit with the customers (2010, p.202). According to the research, in 2012, Nike launched a new business division called Nike Digital sport (NDS). The objective of NDS was designing to develop technologies that allow the users to track their personal performance while Nike collected and stored data relating to customer needs. Because of NDS, Nike has been able to communicate more effectively with customers about their needs. Nike also has it’s own social networking service called Nike+ (Rao, 2012). This social networking service focuses on building social networks and relationships among people and communities. Nike has built relationships between the company and customer by understanding the customer’s needs and preferences. CRM programs implemented by Nike are mainly operational and strategic. For example, Nike Fuel enables customers to record their progress through the use of Nike Plus devices. These devices are designed to update customers on the latest Nike sports trends and insights, and allow them to communicate with Nike. Another CRM program implement by Nike is Nike + Connect apps. It is a free app developed by Nike that uploads customer’s Nike+ data from plus devices to their accounts. Nike also created a Nike+ running app that enables customers to share their experience on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. According to the research, Nike reaches over millions of fans every day in an interactive dialogue, rather than having to rely on big sponsored events to reach this number (Stokes, 2012). The massive volumes of freely shared user data produce meaningful brand insights, lead to product innovations, and allow the brand to get closer to consumers. Effective CRM has enabled Nike to collaborate with customers, drive business processes, maximize Return on Investment (ROI) and support brand development (Stokes, 2012). Nike promises to stand behind all of the company’s products for both consumer and retail accounts (Nike, 2014). Nike’s web site enables its customers to use the search function to search for information related to Nike’s customer service policies. The answers are provided by the use of intelligent automates response technology. The website also provides customers with answers of Frequently Asked Question (FAQ). Through the implementation of this program, Nike is able to have an open communication line with and a better understanding of customers. Customer facing process results in a product or service that is received by an organization’s external customer (Stokes, 2012). In 2010, Nike created a division called Nike Digital Sport (DS). DS provides skilled resources, budget, and coordination across the enterprise (Cendrowski, 2012). Nike’s goal was to create a combined consumer experience that shapes responds to the evolving preferences of consumers (Cendrowski, 2012). Nike DS leads most customer-facing digital projects, releasing products under the Nike Plus brand. Personnel, designers and a team of marketers work together to develop new digital innovations. Together, they work to find new ways to mine large amounts of highly accurate customer data, which is a key strategic asset for marketing and product development in the highly competitive digital space. Nike plans, in the future, to become ever-closer to each of its customers around the world. I think in the future, Nike should considering incorporating a link similar to zapdata.com to the Nike web site. Customers can click on the link and contact Nike in real time via text-chat software hosted by a second party such as a live person. Customers can click on a text-chat button and the  site launches a new window and have questions answered by a live representative. Customers can continue to browse Nike while a support representative answers their question(s). If after asking the question a customer is still having difficulty finding the information, the representative from Nike online can simply send the page to the customer with the information that he or she was seeking for. This might impose a high cost to Nike starting out, but the increase in sales will quickly cover the expenses and further enhance the company’s customer support and satisfaction. Reference 1. Cendrowski, S. (2012). Nike’s new marketing mojo. Fortune Magazine. Retrieved on June 17, 2014 from: http://fortune.com/2012/02/13/nikes-new-marketing-mojo/ 2. Naveed, H. (2012). Nike, Inc. Website Analysis. Website Analysis. Retrieved on June 16, 2014 from:https://sites.google.com/a/email.vccs.edu/bus100hnaveed/home/website-analysis. 3. Nesbitt, S. (2011). Measuring the ROI of Social CRM. Social Technology Review.Retrieved on June 17, 2014 from:http://www.socialtechnologyreview.com/articles/measuring-roi-social-crm 4. NIKE, INC. (2014). Business Overview. Nike Global Growth Strategy. Retrieved on June 17, 2014 from: http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-inc-introduces-2015-global-growth-strategywww.nikeresponsibility.com/report/content/chapter/business-overview 5. Rao, A.S. (2012). Digital Marketing at Nike: From Communication to Dialogue. IBS Center for Management Research. PDF Document.

America in Black and White

Langston Hughes was an important and defining figure of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s up to the 1930’s, a decade of great activity in the African-American arts scene. Hughes was known for the rhythm, jazz and blues, of his poetry. The theme of his poetry is mostly on the life experiences of the African-American. In his Theme for English B, Hughes expresses the reality in the disparity – of being Black among Whites. In the first stanza, the professor’s assignment was specific and defined which was to write a page about oneself. It was a deviation from the usual rigid English lessons, like classical poems.Writing about oneself was more loose and relaxed. Hughes used iambic quatrain to taunt the rigidity of the instruction. Hughes made it known from the beginning that student and professor were different. The student thought the assignment over, and wondered if it was easy writing about oneself. Hughes used the free-verse style on rest of the poem to c ontrast the earlier quatrain. Alliteration and Assonance in Line 7, â€Å"I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem† had the jazz sounds of Harlem. Here, Hughes bared that the student was Black and therefore the professor was White.When he combined two vowel sounds in Line 10, â€Å"I am the only colored student in my class† Hughes indicated how strongly the student felt about being Black. Hughes used metaphors to denote Black with Harlem, 8th Avenue, 7th Street and Harlem Branch Y, places where there was heavy African-American population. There was a noticeable change in the order of the [I] from Lines 6, 7, 8 and 10, such as, â€Å"I wonder†¦ / I am twenty-two †¦ / I went to school there †¦ / I am the only †¦Ã¢â‚¬  to Lines 12-14 â€Å"†¦ then I cross †¦/ †¦ and I come †¦ / †¦ where I come †¦ /. † The [I] used to start off the lines, they now end off the lines.Such reversal was a symbolical of the place the Black took in society. The symbolism of coming from African-American places going upwards to the school on the hill and taking the elevator to his room at the Y told of the student’s efforts to reach the level of the Whites. It must be recalled in Line 6 that the student had doubts â€Å"I wonder if it’s that simple? † referring to the assignment. Now at Line 16, he was sure that â€Å"It is not easy to know what is true for you or me. † Hughes at this point now came with the â€Å"you† together with the â€Å"me.† With â€Å"I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:† â€Å"hear you, hear me – we two – you me, talk on this page† (Lines18-19) the student was not just writing about himself but of the whole African-American people. The sound of the assonance was strong like the clamor for equality. In Lines 21-26, the student cried out that he, in many ways, was like a white man with the same wants and aspira tions in life. Hughes’ metaphors for gifts like â€Å"pipe† to mean growing old, â€Å"Bessie† for Blues, â€Å"Bop† for Jazz, and â€Å"Bach† for the classical and Baroque music.The student wrote that the African-American also wanted the things the White man enjoyed. Hughes subtly presented the issue of racism by completely leaving out the assonance, instead, the student was introspective when he asked â€Å"So will my page be colored that I write? † (Line 27). Despite the absence of the assonance, Hughes was still able to convey what the student wanted – to experience life, like the Whites do, until he is old when he smokes his pipe and listen to good music. The professor and the student were a contrast from the start, with conflicts in between.Hughes found a common ground in Lines 31-33 â€Å"You are white — / yet part of me, as I am part of you. / That’s American. † He followed it up with Lines 37-38 â€Å"As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me –† Hughes tried to make his readers see that the equalizer comes in both their being Americans. Theme for English B gives a very light treatment, being a free verse, of a compelling issue such as racism. The readers are able to internalize the poem through its rhythm. The tone of the poem is reflective as it is assertive with the use of the poetic voice of â€Å"I† coming as it is from someone who has a personal stake on the issue.Hughes was excellent in the use of a page for a composition in an English B class, where the student would use black ink to write on a white sheet of writing paper. The symbolisms accurately portrayed the issue in the poem – that Blacks and Whites despite their difference should not be opposing colors of America. They will both write history and define their future as Americans. References Hughes, L. (1951). Theme for English B. Retrieved April 25, 2009 from http://www. eecs. harvard. edu/~keith/poems/English_B. html

Build your Author Street Team in 4 Simple Steps

Build your Author Street Team in 4 Simple Steps Authors: Build Your Street Team in 4 Simple Steps Last updated: 2017/12/07â€Å"No man is an island,† as the old poem goes. In much the same way, you don’t get to become a successful writer without some help along the way.  When you're marketing your book, companies like  Reedsy can certainly give you access to experienced freelance marketers – but in time you must also learn to rely on your Street Team.2. Finding your ‘first gangers’ Even if you end up with a fabulous book deal down the line, your street team will remain amongst your most important allies during the process of marketing your book. By staying on their radar and not wasting their time with spam, you can keep your street team happy and ready to help you the next time you release a book. Have you put together a street team before? Where did you find them and how did they help you promote your book? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Definition and Examples of Meronyms and Holonyms

Definition and Examples of Meronyms and Holonyms In semantics, a  meronym is a word that denotes a constituent part or a member of something. For example, apple is a meronym of apple tree (sometimes written as appleapple tree). This part-to-whole relationship is called meronymy. Adjective: meronymous. Meronymy is not just a single relation but a bundle of different part-to-whole relationships. The opposite of a meronym is a holonym- the name of the whole of which the meronym is a part. Appletree is a holonym of apple (apple treeapple). The whole-to-part relationship is called holonymy. Adjective: holonymous. EtymologyFrom the Greek, part name Examples and Observations [I]n one context finger is an appropriate meronym of hand, and in other cases flesh is an appropriate meronym of hand. Finger and flesh, however, are not co-meronyms of hand, since different relational criteria (functional part versus material) are applied in each case.(M. Lynne Murphy, Semantic Relations and the Lexicon: Antonymy, Synonymy and Other Paradigms. Cambridge University  Press, 2003)​ Types of Meronym Relationships At one level meronyms can be divided into two types:  necessary and optional (Lyons 1977), otherwise called canonical and facilitative (Cruse, 1986). An example of a necessary meronymy is eyeface. Having an eye is a necessary condition of a well-formed face, and even if it is removed, an eye is still a face part. Optional meronymy includes examples like cushionchair- there are chairs without cushions and cushions that exist independently of chairs. (Concise Encyclopedia of Semantics, ed. by  Keith Allan. Elsevier, 2009)Meronymy is a term used to describe a part-whole relationship between lexical items. Thus cover and page are meronyms of book. . . .Meronyms vary . . . in how necessary the part is to the whole. Some are necessary for normal examples, for example, nose as a meronym of face; others are usual but not obligatory, like collar as a meronym of shirt; still, others are optional like cellar for house.(John I. Saeed, Semantics, 2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2003)In many ways, meronymy is significantly more complicated than hyponymy. The Wordnet databases specify three types of meronym relationships:(Jon Orwant, Games, Diversions, and Perl Culture. OReilly Associates, 2003) Part meronym: a tire is part of a carMember meronym: a car is a member of a traffic jamSubstance (stuff) meronym: a wheel is made from rubber​ Synecdoche and Meronym/Holonymy The two commonly  acknowledged variants of synecdoche, part for the whole (and vice versa) and genus for species (and vice versa), find their correspondence in the linguistic concepts of meronymy/holonymy and hyponymy/hypernymy. A meronym denotes a word or other element that together with other elements constitutes a whole. Thus, bark, leaf, and branch are meronyms of the holonym tree. A hyponym, on the other hand, denotes a word that belongs to a subset whose elements are collectively summarized by a hypernym. Thus, tree, flower, bush are hyponyms of the hypernym plant.  A first observation to be made here  is that these two concepts describe relationships on different levels: meronymy/holonymy describes a relationship between  elements of material objects.  It is the referential object leaf  which in extralingual reality  forms a part of the whole tree. Hyponymy/hypernymy, by contrast,  refers to a relationship between concepts. Flowers and trees are jointly classif ied as plants. but in extralingual reality, there is no plant that consists of flowers and trees.  In other words, the first relationship is extralingual, the second relationship is conceptual. (Sebastian Matzner,  Rethinking Metonymy: Literary Theory and Poetic Practice From Pindar to Jakobson. Oxford University Press,  2016)

An analsysis of the theme of love and deceit in Twelfth Night

An analsysis of the theme of love and deceit in Twelfth Night According to Patrick Swinden in An Introduction to Shakespeares Comedies, a comedy does not demand the the degree of concentration and belief required by tragedy. As a result, an audience of a play is amusedly aware that its all a play, a game that they are sharing with the actors. FN1 In Twelfth Night, it is the characters, almost without exception, who, in varying degrees, are involved in deception. Swinden says, Whether we look in the plot that Shakespeare took (indirectly) from the Italian, or the plot he made up to put beside it, we shall discover deceit piled on deceit. FN2 Cesario/Viola deceives Olivia, Orsino, Sir Andrew, and Sir Toby, while Maria, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste deceive Malvolio. In an intricate pattern of concealment and reveal-ment the play spins dizzily toward its happy resolution with all the deceptions that had, and had been, concealed revealed. Is the end of the play really a happy ending? What dynamic in the process of deception could cause Sir Andrew to disappear or force Malvolio to declare, Ill be revenged on the whole pack of you! (5.1.380)? Are the characters bettered or changed by their experiences when they arrive at the end of Act Five than when they started at the beginning of Act One? Whether it be a practical joke or a clever disguise, the games being played in Illyria simultaneously result from and protect each characters deception not only of others but also, more importantly of themselves. The clearest examples are Duke Orsino and Olivia. The games begin with Orsinos opening lines to the play: If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken and die (1.1.1-4). As Orsino continues to wax rhetorical and hysterical about being in love, it rapidly becomes apparent that he is playing a game with himself, which he will continue throughout the play. He is not in love, but rather in love with love. Olivia is unattainable and she has told him so repeatedly. Yet Orsino persists in making himself suffer, listening to sad love songs, writing to her, staying awake at night and crying into his pillow because he believes that this is the way someone in love acts. It is part of the game that while it may appear that Orsino is rhapsodising about Olivia, he is actually concentrating on himself. The words I, me, and mine occur ten times in the opening passage, culminating with: How will she love When live, brain, and heart, Those sovereign thrones, are all supplied and filled Her sweet perfections with one selfsame king! (35-39). Shakespeares use of selfsame intensifies not only Orsinos description of Olivia, but also his focus on himself. Throughout these lines there is a sense that Orsinos sexual identity, encased in a male body, has not yet been clearly defined, hence his necessity for adopting what he thinks are the affectations of a successful lover. Orsino begins Act Two, scene 4 in the same way he begins Act One: Give me some music (2.4.1). Here, however, Orsino requests a specific song, one overheard just the night before, as Feste, Olivias fool, sang it. How Orsino managed to overhear Festes performance is one of the mysteries of the play, but its effect on Orsino is unquestionable it did relieve my passion much (2.4.4). The songs lyrics are most depressing: Come away, come away, Death, And in sad cypress let me be laid. Fie away, fie away, breath, I am slain by a fair cruel maid; My shroud of white, all stuck with yew, O prepare it. My part of death no one so true Did share it. Not a flower, not a flower sweet On my black coffin let there be strown; Not a friend, not a friend greet My poor corpse, where my bones shall be thrown. A thousand thousand sighs to save Lay me, O where Sad lover never find my grave To weep there. (2.4.49-64) Although Orsino says that he heard only a piece of song (2.4.2), he also notes that it is an old and antique song (2.4.3), indicating that he knows it in its entirety. Its tune and sentiment are so powerful that it remains with him the next morning. It is possible that the song reminds Orsino that he is no longer young enough to pursue an amorous campaign, and that there will be neither lover nor child to mourn him as Olivia mourns her brother. In modern pop-psychology terminology, Orsino appears to be having a mid-life crisis. Orsinos game reaches a breaking point when Cesario interrupts his rhetoric with, Ay, but I know- (2.4.99). Orsino is shocked that this young man may have love experiences to which he has not been privy. He questions what Cesario knows about love and women, and is eager to hear the boys blank (2.4.106) story. Yet, Orsino remains oblivious to Cesarios confession: I am all the daughters of my fathers house, And all the brothers, too (2.4.116-117). Orsino seems to be uncomfortable with this very personal, very intense revelation from another man since his Ay, thats the theme (2.4.119) appears to restore his concentration to the safety and comfort of the pursuit of Olivia. Orsino decides to discard his affectations and goes to speak directly with Olivia. Whatever has transpired between him and Cesario in their three months (5.1.88) silence of Acts Three and Four has given him the strength to declare that he will be so much a sinner to be a double-dealer (5.1.27). Many productions have offered Orsino actually falling in love with Cesario, such as the 1994 RSC version which had the events of 2.4 take place in Orsinos bed. Orsino and Cesario share a passionate kiss that surprises them both, but the kiss also seems to flow from the action and its location. Trevor Nunns 1996 film moves the moment of passion to the scene during which Feste sings a love madrigal in a stable. Feste who coughs at the critical moment of their lips almost touching breaks the momentum. The interpretation is a valid one based on Orsinos customarily rhetorical proclamations of love for Cesario: Why should I not Kill what I love. (5.1.106, 108) This your minion whom, by heaven I swear I tender dearly (5.1.114-115) The lamb that I do love (5.1.119). Has Orsino fallen out of love with love and in love with Cesario? His proclamations arise from his anger at Olivias very public rejection of them as fat and fulsome to mine ear/As howling music (5.1.98-99), the same music that he has found so soothing. This anger is not generated by some newfound awareness. Swinden comments: He is talking about Cesario, not Olivia The presence on stage of both partners during the tirade brings out very delicately the ambiguity of Orsinos shift in feeling. He fails to distinguish the object of his anger from the object of his love. FN3 Even when Cesario is revealed to be Viola, his acceptance of a share in this most happy wrack (5.1.250) seems to be dependent on his seeing her in womans weeds (5.1.257). Yet it is to Viola still dressed as Cesario to whom Orsino offers his hand, not once but twice. That Orsino will not accept Viola unless she looks like a proper woman and yet offers his hand to the male vision suggests that Orsino has not surrendered completely his comfortable sexual cocoon into which he has only admitted Cesario and then only with restraint. This reticence is confirmed at the plays end when Orsino admits: Cesario come For so you shall be while you are a man, But when in other habits you are seen Orsinos mistress, and his fancys queen (5.1.362-365). In The two Antonios and Same-Sex Love in Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice, critic Joseph Pequigney explains that [Orsinos] attraction to Olivia, where he is heterosexually straight, like the other would-be wooers Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Malvolio, is a disaster. The love Cesario could not have changed instantaneously with the revelation of his femaleness; if it is erotic, then it would have been erotic before; what does change is that marriage suddenly becomes possible, hence the immediate proposal. FN4 This proposal is followed by a mournful song from Feste on the stages of a love life, which brings the play back to the beginning. Clearly, Orsino has not changed from the man he was: he will still have his fancy. He is as he was at the beginning of the play: he cannot totally abandon his own sexual game. In all likelihood, Viola will now become an Olivia substitute, his fancys queen. As Orsino hides behind the game of love, Olivia hides behind the game of grief cut off from love, adopting an Orsino version of mourning behaviour. Her entire household is in mourning and she daily goes to her brothers grave. As long as she grieves for her dead bother, her sexual desires can be put on hold. Grieving gives her the perfect excuse for rejecting Orsinos suit and relieves her of making a sexual investment in any man until she chooses the sight/And company of men (1.2.40-41). Unlike Orsino, Olivia has put a seven-year limit on her mourning for her father and brother of which twelvemonth has already elapsed when Viola lands in Illyria. In addition, Olivia differs from Orsino significantly since she can Sway her house, command her followers, Take and give back affairs and them dispatch With such a smooth, discreet and stable bearing (4.3.17-19). She is generous and tolerant, boarding Sir Toby and his guest, Sir Andrew, and positive in her view of the repressed Malvolio. With Festes logical and systematic stripping away of her facade, with Olivias consent, Olivia is free in a way that eludes Orsino. She demonstrates keen judgment about the affectations of love: Tis not that time of the moon with me to make one in so skipping a dialogue (1.5.164-165). She has an agile mind and is able to counter Cesarios metaphors as quickly as he issues them. She is inquisitive and only asks Cesario the necessary questions. She seems to be a realist, offering divers schedules of my beauty (1.5.200-201) in response to Cesarios lyricism. These qualities refuse to submerged even as she finds herself falling in love with Cesario: Not too fast! Soft, soft! Even so quickly may one catch the plague. Methinks I feel this youths perfections With an invisible and subtle stealth To creep in at mine eyes. Well, let it be. (1.5.248, 250-253) Olivia thus chooses to abandon the safety of her game and pursue Cesario with complete abandon and confidence in her womanhood. In her pursuit, free from her facade, Olivia is naively honest with herself and Cesario. She confesses in 3.1 that she sent a ring in chase of him (3.1.98). She asks him honestly, I prithee tell me what thou thinkst of me (3.1.123). Cesario attempts to repay this honesty, That you do think you are not what you are (3.1.124). Because of her naà ¯vetà ©, Olivia takes the phrase literally and assures Cesario that she is not mad. However, the line also points out that Olivia, the noblewoman, has fallen in love with a manservant, though a gentleman, and that that gentleman is actually a gentlewoman. Even so, Olivia is rational enough to realise that wit nor reason can my passion hide (3.1.137). Unlike Orsino, Olivia embraces the opportunity for sexual fulfilment with such enthusiasm that she will attempt to overcome every obstacle with actions, not moaning and words. She is quite lucid on love, Love sought is good, but givn unsought is better (3.1.141). In this sense, she is the sexual positive to Orsinos negative. Olivias views will be challenged, however, when confronted by Sebastian. Since fraternal identical twins are a biological impossibility, it would seem that Olivia would note some difference between Cesario and Sebastian. But in the throes of sacrificing love, she would rather soothe her beloveds ire with tales of how many fruitless pranks have been instigated by Sir Toby than launch an investigation into any differences that may exist between the sister and brother. For his part, Sebastian seems to think that nature caused Olivias consistency in being sexually attracted to a woman who looks just like him. But like Orsino, Olivia is eager for the sexual experience promised by marriage. Olivia is actually very much steeped in Orsinos selfsame deception. She was in love with the image of a man, not a man, admitting she was suffering from a most extracting frenzy of mine own (5.1.265). With this admission, Olivia too returns to being as she was at the beginning, involved in a self-deceiving sexual game, as Cesario had lamented: Poor lady, she were better love a dream (2.2.23). Although Sebastian notes that he sees the reality and thinks it a dream, Olivias relationship with Sebastian will ostensibly have to be re-defined, as will Orsinos with Viola. Pequigney observes: Like Orsino, Olivia goes through a homoerotic phase that lasts through and beyond betrothal; both have experiences that evince their bisexuality. Nor do they ever pass beyond it, for the sine qua non of their psychological development his away from fruitless doting on her, hers away from fixation on a dead brother and it has a crucial, integral, and unerasable part in both their love stories, that of Orsino with Cesario/Viola and that of Olivia with Cesario/Sebastian. FN5 Twelfth Night not only asks the comic question of how an individual gets out of tune with society, but also the tragic question of why the individual behaves this way, and why society insists upon its standards. FN6 This play is unique in that it asks these questions simultaneously, and within the context of the sexual games of the play, the answers can be found in the most basic and defining activity of human kind: sex.

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International Trade & Institutions - Essay Example Whether or not free trade is fair is a concept that demands a great deal of attention and concentration, and especially by the people who are directly involved under such aegis. The question that arises here is that whether or not free trade assists in the developing countries or it just brings about success touch points for the world’s biggest superpowers (Johnson, 2009). Free trade theory was devised by several economists for the sake of economic growth. Proponents of free trade regularly cite the theories of eighteenth century Scottish economist Adam Smith and David Ricardo, a nineteenth century British economist. They argued that if government stays out of trade, then wealth created by private businesses and trade will benefit the public at large. The gentlemen also asserted that countries need to specialize in the goods that they can produce most efficiently and cheaply. Also when countries trade their specialties, nearly all the stakeholders receive the benefits undoubte dly (Condon, 2002). Free trade theory claims that economic competition with minimal government intervention will lead to greater efficiency, productivity, and innovation; will reduce costs for consumers; and will free up more capital for further investment. First of all, the role of free trade is removal of trade barriers such as tariffs which should promote economic growth, foster a cooperative spirit among nations, help developing nations into becoming independent economies, and end poverty around the world. Free trade benefits developing countries because it provides economic opportunities, improves working conditions, and advances their technology, becoming more globally conscious. As far as the undertakings of the developing countries are concerned, free trade provides them different opportunities for economic growth. If free trade becomes a universally acceptable economic system, provisionally wealthy countries and developing countries both gain a number of benefits to grow th e worldwide economy. Quite rightly so, trade is the greatest factor that leads to economic growth across all segments within the society that one can speak of. When trade occurs as a result of true demand and supply, the economic growth that occurs also truly reflects the increase in economic welfare. Thus, free trade brings about increased economic growth, which means better and more jobs; advanced standards of living and so on. Free trade is not only beneficial for wealthy countries, but also developing ones. The growth is the solution to world poverty. Additionally, free trade improves working conditions for workers in the developing nations. Free trade can help global workers who are working under torrid conditions. In a hypothetical situation, if a person came up with an explanation that free trade was bad as the workers are laboring under life-threatening conditions to produce the goods that normal people buy, then there could be a number of reasons to suggest in the wake of s uch a discussion. Perhaps the consumer habits need to be changed or something that is totally new and comprehensive in its own right. Even though people realize a large number of workers are laboring under bad conditions, everybody wants to buy cheaper priced goods. I think it is essentially one unchangeable habit on the part of the global consumers. And there are a number of reas

Book Banning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Book Banning - Essay Example One could always come out with the excuses that a specific work of literature or a book could destabilize the society or may have a drastic affect on the impressionable minds (Nocera, 1982).. However, the very act of banning books violates the freedom of speech guaranteed in the constitution and amounts to the deplorable act of suppressing an idea. No free society can allow for the suppression of original and innovative ideas. Freedom and creativity is primarily about allowing for a free play of ideas in a nation and a society, and the act of censorship or the suppression of ideas amounts to intellectual and academic elitism or for that matter orthodoxy. Books should never be banned, especially in the multicultural societies, which are always open to relative and multiple interpretations of ideas. In a free society, every idea and ideology has the right to find its place in the print. Just because a vast section of the society or a majority group does not particularly agree with an idea, this in no way allows for constraining or hampering the dissemination of an idea cherished and liked by a minority part of the society. Certainly, it does not mean that there exists nothing like bad or evil ideas. However, even if an idea is bad or evil in its ramifications, the censorship or banning of such an idea not only bolsters its hold over the society, but hits hard at the very fundamental ethos of the democratic societies like free speech, tolerance and the acceptance of off beat or innovative ideas and views. Ideas should be counteracted, and opposed by ideas and not by autocratic and coercive means like statutory provisions and government al or state regulation (Nocera, 1982). Such ethos not only allow a society to be ever fresh, innovative and vibrant, but usher in a quintessentially tolerant and catholic intellectual atmosphere, where a free flow and interaction of multiple ideas leads to growth, development and a continual revival of the society. A controversial work of literature always has the potential to give way to debates and discussions in the social arena, which is the hallmark of all the free and democratic societies.To some extent, the banning of the books is justified, especially in the contemporary scenarios marred by a widespread proliferation of hate ideologies and international terrorism. However, the kind of books that need to be banned are the ones that promote hate and intolerance against a particular section of the society, that teach people to operate lethal weapons and how to make bombs, that intend to perpetrate violence and abuse, that threaten or intimidate the masses or that discernibly an d unambiguously intend to jeopardize social, religious and political harmony and tolerance. Yet, the very act of censorship and book banning cold be carried beyond the limits of reason and understanding by framing or dubbing the diverse or varied interpretations of ideas as being blasphemous, anti-social, pervert or unpatriotic. So its better that the national conscience and the state focus their power on obstructing and suppressing the obviously violent and intolerant groups and texts,

Literature Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Literature Review - Essay Example No time lag will be there in between the data transfer. PDM tools collaborate with other parts of the system to increase the efficiency and speed of the system. Improved productivity of the engineers is the second advantage of PDM system. It is widely accepted that engineers are wasting a substantial period of time for searching , retrieving, filing, handling and storing of document and information. PDM system can help the engineers in avoiding all the above time wasting areas of their profession. The third advantage is the improved control. PDM system ensures the availability of up to date data to all to ensure better control (Crow, n. d). Grundey (2009) has mentioned that Product Data Management (PDM) software helps to provide revision control and file access permission capability for CAD data. Moreover, PDM system improves housekeeping. At the same time PDM system has the disadvantages of more browsing needed to locate files and lot of searching to be done for related draft files (Grundey 2009). Product life management, sometimes "product life cycle management", represents management of all data relating to the design, production, support and ultimate disposal of manufactured goods. Every product has a life period like the living things. It starts from the design stage and ends at the disposal stage. Even though PLM is widely used in the engineering CAD field, it is used in other areas like word processors; spreadsheet and graphics programs; requirements analysis and market assessment tools; field trouble reports; and even emails or other correspondence (Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), 2009). PLM provides the users a vision; a blue print; a road map; a backbone,( a platform where other components could be based on), a bird-eye view,( an overall picture on what you are doing or going to do with your products) (The Secret of Lean PLM implementation, n. d, p. 3). PLM help engineers or others to

Book Banning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Book Banning - Essay Example One could always come out with the excuses that a specific work of literature or a book could destabilize the society or may have a drastic affect on the impressionable minds (Nocera, 1982).. However, the very act of banning books violates the freedom of speech guaranteed in the constitution and amounts to the deplorable act of suppressing an idea. No free society can allow for the suppression of original and innovative ideas. Freedom and creativity is primarily about allowing for a free play of ideas in a nation and a society, and the act of censorship or the suppression of ideas amounts to intellectual and academic elitism or for that matter orthodoxy. Books should never be banned, especially in the multicultural societies, which are always open to relative and multiple interpretations of ideas. In a free society, every idea and ideology has the right to find its place in the print. Just because a vast section of the society or a majority group does not particularly agree with an idea, this in no way allows for constraining or hampering the dissemination of an idea cherished and liked by a minority part of the society. Certainly, it does not mean that there exists nothing like bad or evil ideas. However, even if an idea is bad or evil in its ramifications, the censorship or banning of such an idea not only bolsters its hold over the society, but hits hard at the very fundamental ethos of the democratic societies like free speech, tolerance and the acceptance of off beat or innovative ideas and views. Ideas should be counteracted, and opposed by ideas and not by autocratic and coercive means like statutory provisions and government al or state regulation (Nocera, 1982). Such ethos not only allow a society to be ever fresh, innovative and vibrant, but usher in a quintessentially tolerant and catholic intellectual atmosphere, where a free flow and interaction of multiple ideas leads to growth, development and a continual revival of the society. A controversial work of literature always has the potential to give way to debates and discussions in the social arena, which is the hallmark of all the free and democratic societies.To some extent, the banning of the books is justified, especially in the contemporary scenarios marred by a widespread proliferation of hate ideologies and international terrorism. However, the kind of books that need to be banned are the ones that promote hate and intolerance against a particular section of the society, that teach people to operate lethal weapons and how to make bombs, that intend to perpetrate violence and abuse, that threaten or intimidate the masses or that discernibly an d unambiguously intend to jeopardize social, religious and political harmony and tolerance. Yet, the very act of censorship and book banning cold be carried beyond the limits of reason and understanding by framing or dubbing the diverse or varied interpretations of ideas as being blasphemous, anti-social, pervert or unpatriotic. So its better that the national conscience and the state focus their power on obstructing and suppressing the obviously violent and intolerant groups and texts,

Your Guilty, Romeo! Essay Example for Free

Your Guilty, Romeo! Essay If it werent for Romeo’s actions, both he and Juliet would have never fallen in love, and never ended up taking their own lives. Romeo is most at fault for his death and the death of Juliet because Romeo should have listened to Friar Lawrence. He should not have fallen in love with Juliet so easily, and he should have respected the feud between the two families and stayed away from the Capulets. Throughout the whole story, Friar Lawrence holds some responsibility for the tragedy of the couple like when he marries the two of them knowing that they have only known each other for a short time. However, his intentions of marrying Romeo and Juliet were to bring the families together and he even warns Romeo that his decision may be too rash when he says, â€Å"These violent delights have violent ends.† (2.6, 9) The Friar warns Romeo that his rapidly growing emotional love for Juliet may have a sudden end meaning that maybe he should take the marriage slow; however, Romeo pushes on for the marriage to happen. This proves Romeo is at fault because he ignored the advice of Friar Lawrence, who is much wiser than him, and knew what was best for both Romeo and Juliet. Romeo falls in love too easily and if he took things slower, he and Juliet would have never married. A few days after Romeo and Juliet meet, Lord and Lady Capulet tell Juliet that she has to marry Paris. If Romeo would not have fallen in love so quickly he and Juliet could have taken things slower, that way when Juliet got the news she had to marry Paris, she would not have went to see Friar Lawrence to get the potion to make her fall asleep, so that her and Romeo could be together. This proves Romeo is responsible because Juliet said she didnt want to get married unless Romeo truly loved her, and if Romeo said he wanted to slow down, he and Juliet would have never married, and ultimately never commited suicide. Romeo did not respect his family or the feud that his family had with the Capulets. He should not have gone anywhere near any members of the Capulet family. The Capulets and the Montagues have hated each other for many years prior to Romeo and Juliet meeting. If Romeo would have respected this feud and never attended the Capulet party he would have never met Juliet and they would both have lived out their lives, never having killed themselves. We know this because it is at the Capulet party when Romeo and Juliet meet. We know of the feud between the families because of the fights that occur throughout the book. In  conclusion, if Romeo would have listened to Friar Lawrence, did not fall in love so quickly and easily, and had respected his family and their feud with the Capulets, he and Juliet would never have met, never would have fallen in love, and in the end, never would have committed suicide. For these reasons, Romeo is the most responsible for the deaths of both he and Juliet.

Violence in Mass Media

Violence in Mass Media The debates about the violence in mass media are being held for few decades, but there is still no definite answer. The main question is the influence of violence on people through the mass media: television, cinema, video games and even literature is just full of violent elements. The problem of media violence is not going away, focusing on the culture of violence, whether this is a normal part of our life, or its what causes more aggression in our society. During the day people spend a lot of time in the internet, near the TV screens, playing video games, so the result of this on people is evident mass media really has a great influence on us. Every day on TV we see images of violence: death, injury, pain, sufferings, misery, wars and conflicts it is just impossible to name everything. Daily news shows us wars and conflicts from all over the world. Films, both for adults and children, also are full of violence : fighting, murders, abuse and so on. Even books and magazines doesnt stay apart, the same situation is with the internet. That is why so many people, like scientists and just ordinary people who are not indifferent, raise the question: if media violence affect people behavior and can cause the increase of violence in real-life? There are 2 points of view: some people blame media for too much violence and want to censor violent content to protect people, and especially children from its influence. Another people think that mass media just reflects the real life as it is, and that doesnt cause violence in society. Another important aspect of this problem is the influence of violence in media on children, as children are very sensitive and very susceptible to this violence. Now, when children have an unlimited access to various forms of media, there is a great concern for how they perceive and think about the violence they see, read or hear. Some experts, like professor L. Rowell Huesmann from the University of Michigan, argue that exposure to media violence causes children to behave more aggressively and affects them as adults years later. Others, like Jonathan Freedman from the University of Toronto says that the scientific evidence simply does not show that watching violence either produces violence in people, or desensitizes them to it. (L. R. Huesmann, Laramie D Taylor) During the last 50 years there were a lot of special researches concerning the influence of media on children. They show that American children between 6 and 18 years of age spend from 2 to 6 hours each day using different kinds of media: television, video, movies, video games, radio, music, computer and the Internet. (James Steyer) This is more time than they spend on any other activity, so most of the information they perceive during the day is from mass media. A large proportion of this media acts of violence in different forms. It has been estimated that by age 18, the average young person will have viewed 200 000 acts of violence on television alone. (L. R. Huesmann, Laramie D Taylor) Prolonged access to such media shows results in increased acceptance of violence as an appropriate means of solving problems and achieving ones goals, and that television, movies, and music videos normalize using weapons and show them as a source of personal power. (J. L.Freedman). Research has associated violence in media with a variety of physical and mental health problems with children and adults: aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence, fear, depression, nightmares and sleep disturbances. More than 3500 research studies have examined the connection between media violence and violent behavior, and practically 80% of them showed a real connection. (L. R. Huesmann, Laramie D Taylor) So should children be exposed to the media because of violence? And how can we protect children from violence showed in the media? Should the violence in media be censored or left free? THE PROS A lot of journalists speak about the protection of the right to free speech. Joanne Cantor argues: Censorship is not the answer, but the right to free speech is aggressively used to protect commercial interests at the same time that the free speech rights of child advocates are stifled. (Joanne Cantor, 2002) The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression lists a number of reasons to protect media violence as a form of free expression: censorship isnt likely to solve the problems of violence in society decision about what is acceptable or not is always a subjective opinion each person can choose what to see or to hear, can choose the appropriate for him variant of media information a lot of books and films with elements of violence existed in the past and now are considered to be a good classics. A lot of free expression defenders say that that mass media is only one of a number of variables that effect people behavior. Psychologist Melanie Moore says: Fear, greed, power-hunger, rage: these are aspects that we try not to experience in our lives but often want, even need, to experience vicariously through stories of others. Children need violent entertainment in order to explore the inescapable feelings that theyve been taught to deny, and to reintegrate those feelings into a more whole, more complex, more resilient selfhood. (J. Steyer) Another people say that violence in media is only a method of artistic expression and a mean of showing the life as it is. Researchers R. Hodge and D. Tripp, for example, argue that: Media violence is qualitatively different from real violence: it is a natural signifier of conflict and difference, and without representations of conflict, art of the past and present would be seriously impoverished. (D. Grossman, G. Degaetano) THE CONTRAS But still most people agree that today we have too much violence in the mass media. It cant help influencing us anyway, because at list it makes us understand that the life is not so good as we want and that the world around us is just so cruel. Violence in media makes people feel disappointed and not optimistic. Television, movies, and video games are full of acts of violence , deaths, crimes. When a child sees a violent act, he thinks it a game and may try to react it in real life. According to recent research at the University of Wake Forest, which results are presented at the conference Academy of Pediatrics, the frequency of viewing violence on television is directly related to the number of fights and other forms of destructive behavior. The results of this study are consistent with previous numerous studies of Dr. Durante, who found a significant correlation between the violence depicted and the real violence among children and adolescents. Even if some people dont believe in the results of research, in my opinion even the risk of that violence in media and real life aggression are connected is enough to convince public and government to take necessary actions, as this question is a public issue. And so the state and public organizations intervention is of great importance as concerns the censorship. Anyway media constructs reality, and influences our views on race, gender, politics, and body image, in not good way of course. Conclusion In my view, today, it seems appropriate to conduct new studies that demonstrate the influence of violence on human psyche, especially on children and adolescents, taking into account the impacts of all the kinds of media. These findings should be communicated to the public in order to protect the younger generation of excessive and unjustified demonstrations of cruelty. In this regard, so relevant is the question raised by Plato in the IV century BC: How can we so easily assume that children are listened to and perceived the soul of what horrible myths invented by just anyone and for the most part contrary to the truths that are we believe should be with them when they grow up? .

Brazil :: essays research papers fc

In 1822, Brazil became a nation independent from Portugal. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military government to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development. With an abundance of natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil became Latin America's leading economic power by the 1970’s. Brazil is located in Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It is slightly smaller than the U.S., with bordering countries Argentina, Bolivia, Columbia, French Guyana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It has many natural resources, including bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, and timber. The climate is tropical in the north, but temperate in the south. The terrain consists of mostly flat to rolling lowlands, with some plains, hills, mountains, and a narrow coastal belt. In recent years, environmentalists have become increasingly concerned over the future of the Amazon region, where human life has threatened the world's largest intact rain forest. Brasilia is the capital and main source of modern industry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The total population in Brazil is 167,988,000. The population grows at a rate of 0.91%, with a life expectancy of 64 years for the total population; the female life expectancy is 67.73 years and the male is 58.96 years. The Brazilian people are very diverse. Three main ethnic groups exist in the country: Portuguese, Native American, and African. The Portuguese, Spanish and English languages are spoken throughout Brazil. However, Portuguese cultural influences remain strong, with Portuguese as the primary language and Roman Catholicism as the principal religion. The definition of literacy being those who are aged fifteen and older who can read and write, the literacy rate in Brazil is 83% for the entire population. Before 1930, the Brazilian economy was dominated by a number of agricultural and mineral products for export. The world economic depression of the 1930s encouraged the government to diversify the economy, particularly through industrialization. Consequently, the importance of agriculture and mining has fallen significantly. A major objective of Brazil's industrialization policy was to replace imported manufactures with Brazilian-made ones. It is now able to export goods such as iron ore, soybeans, footwear, and coffee. Its imports include machinery and equipment, chemical products, oil, and electricity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Brazil traditionally has been an exporter of primary agricultural and mineral products, these now make up only 40 percent of overseas trade, with manufactured goods becoming the primary export.

Establishment of the Silk Route Essays -- Chinese History

Currently living in the twenty first century we can take modern travel methods from airplanes, vehicles, trains, and ships for granted, altering our perception of the distance we travel significantly. These advanced distribution systems we now employ allow us to exchange culture, products, technology, and ideas by breaking down barriers, truly globalizing the world. Similar to the modern travel marvels we make the most of today, years ago before human’s relationship to machine, the silk route provided that ability to connect multiple countries. This important trade route developed over time transferring numerous products like silk from China to several countries in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Europe and Ancient India. In addition, the silk route was more than just a trade route that brought products to and from because it developed into a transcontinental network carrying goods, information, religion, language, and technology. The Silk Route is indisputably one of the oldest international trade routes consisting of a series of roadways laid over land primarily, until the introduction of sea travel. What initiated the overwhelming interest in trade was one of the oldest fibers known to man, silk, that originated in China. Silk is a luxury fabric that can be woven into textiles, producing a rich texture and luster like no other material. Dating back to 2500BC this exotic material was used exclusively for Chinese royalty, but gradually expanded to become a bigger part of the Chinese culture. Since this unique material was considered more valuable than gold at the time, as soon as word got out to neighboring countries the overwhelming interest was inevitable. The demand for this appealing material brought silk westwar... ...esearch. Web. 14 May 2012. . "Silk History: History of Silk Fabric; History of Chinese Silk; Silk Road History Silks History." Silk History: History of Silk Fabric; History of Chinese Silk; Silk Road History Silks History. TexereSilk, 2011. Web. 14 May 2012. . "Silk Road - Its History, Development, Operation and Significance to the East and West." Silk Road - Its History, Development, Operation and Significance to the East and West. Web. 14 May 2012. . "Silk Road Culture Exchange, Religion and Technology Introduced into China via Silk Road." TravelChinaGuide. Web. 14 May 2012. .

A Critical Examination of Cultural Influences in the Film Bend It Like Beckham Essay

The film ‘Bend it like Beckham’ resonates with me strongly, as the conflict between Western and Indian culture is all too familiar. The main character ‘Jess Bhamra’ personifies this conflict in the most perfect and relatable way. Being a first generation Australian-born girl with Indian heritage, I can personally attest to having to simultaneously maintain two very different cultures that so often clash. ‘Bend it like Beckham’, is a film telling the story of an Indian girl whose only real goal in life, much to her parents’ dismay, is to play professional football. As Jess embarks on her trying journey of self-development in a cross-cultural space, she befriends fellow football enthusiast and player Jules who convinces Jess to join the local women’s football team. This friendship provides an interesting perspective on the Western culture, by offering the responder an insight into the struggles of Jules’ life, some of which are very same struggles present for Jess. The diasporic identities that are Jess’ parents are not ill intentioned, however slightly overbearing in their persistence of Jess’ obligations to her traditionally Sikh family. Thematic aspects of etic-emic distinction are raised in this film and include the role of women, homosexuality, stereotypes, cross-generational behaviours and integration by relational theory. All such themes are highlighted by the culture clash at play, as Jess attempts to grasp some sense of identity in an over-protected Indian space. Women’s roles in both Western and Indian cultures are thoroughly scrutinized in the film. Jess expresses some discomfort in assuming the traditional role of a Sikh woman as stipulated by her parents. This is the main source of discontent throughout the film, as her ethnocentric parents truly, and somewhat naively, hold the belief that becoming a lawyer and marrying a man within their community is the key to happiness. As was noted in Article one of Part A, the Asian culture holds loyalty to family-kin relationships and obedience to elders in very high esteem. In this regard, Jess’ Western values of freedom of choice and personal fulfilment take a backseat. This is highlighted in a conversation that occurs with her Western teammates, where hey ask her how she is able to ‘stand’ getting an ‘arranged marriage’ to which she replies, â€Å"It’s just culture† with a certain nonchalance. In doing so Jess is demonstrating that she is culture-bound, conditioned to the Indian cultural practiced of ‘arranged marriages’. The ultimate attribution error committed by Jess’ parents is not a result of ill-intentions, rather a prot ection mechanism against unknown western influences. The role of women in the Western culture is not spared of social commentary in this film. It is interesting that Chadha, the Indian-born writer, director and producer of the film, chooses to examine the social constructs surrounding the implications of a women’s football team in England. As there is no professional English women’s football league, one can safely assume that football is not an appropriate past time for women. This idea is reaffirmed by Jules’ mother who, throughout the film, holds a very traditional English view on the role of women in society. She often expresses her disapproval with sentiments such as, â€Å"Nobody’s going to go out with a girl who’s bigger muscles than him! † Jess’ mother subscribes to the Indian tradition of a woman as a homemaker by saying, â€Å"What sort of family would want a daughter-in-law who could play football but not cook? † expressing much the same outlook as Jules’ mother, varied only by the respective women’s contexts. Such generalisations about women’s social placement is also seen in Article four of Part A. Adams et al. (2010) acknowledges the place of women in Spanish society as home-maker figures by hypothesising women to be more able in polychronic environments. It is also seen that the Western culture as a whole participates in the alienation of the team as a result of unfeminine associations. This is seen when Jess makes the point that ‘Indian’ girls do not play football. Jules pointedly remarks, â€Å"It’s not just an ‘Indian’ thing. How many people come out to support us? The girls clearly seek an equality matching relationship with the men’s team. The concept of homosexuality is broached in this film. While the notion is still taboo in Indian culture, Chadha makes a statement by depicting the West to be more informed but equally disapproving. This is illustrated by the undue paranoia felt by Jules’ mother when she mistakes the friendship between Jules and Jess as something more. When confronted, Jules exclaims, â€Å"Mum, just because I wear trackies and play sport does not make me a lesbian! The matter-of-fact feel of this conversation and level of homosexual awareness in the Western culture is contrasted by Jess’ grandmother’s remark, â€Å"Why did she call Jess a lesbian? I thought she was a Pisces† Her obvious lack of knowledge in confusing homosexuality and astrological star signs indicate her culture blind nature. As if to reiterate the secretive taboo that is homosexuality in the Indian culture, Chadha scripts Tony, Jess’ childhood male friend, as a homosexual. Jess’ reaction to the news is indicative of a typical first-generation non-resident-Indian, a result of cultural conditioning. Her shock is portrayed through her exclamation, â€Å"But you’re Indian! † as if to say homosexuality is simply non-existent in the Indian culture. Jess soon recovers and displays an acceptance far greater than that of her own grandmother or Jules’ mother and tells Tony that she is â€Å"okay† with him â€Å"liking David Beckham†. While Chadha aims to resist and counter some stereotyping, the stereotyping of Indian communities as ‘backward’ and ‘conservative’ is still very prevalent throughout the film. Jules’ mother innocently typifies the Indian culture in her first encounter with Jess by making statements such as, â€Å"I bet your parents are fixing you up with a handsome young doctor soon† and â€Å"Jess, I hope you can teach my daughter a bit about your culture, including respect for elders and the like. † She soon learns of Jess’ involvement in Jules’ football club and meekly states, â€Å"I’ve never seen an Indian girl play football before†. Jules’ mother exhibits culture-blind behaviour and has very fixed notions about Indian culture; she exudes disbelief as Jess dispels these essentialising notions. Chadha further breaks free from the stereotyping of arranged marriages by scripting Jess’ sister, Pinky, as having a ‘love’ marriage. When Jess tells her teammates that her sisters’ marriage was a ‘love match’, the display of acculturation allows for her teammates to learn that the Indian culture is not as backward and conservative as is perceived. It seems that for an Indian family living abroad, the generational gap between parent and child is magnified by the overlay of cross-cultural aspects. Jess and her father share the same penchant for sport and both qualified to participate in quasi-professional teams in England. When both characters are on the receiving end of racial slurs on the field, they both react true to their cultural upbringing. Jess’ father demonstrates an ‘Eastern’ submission and interdependent self-concept by walking away from the sport and quashing any hopes of returning to the field. Jess, however, displayed a more ‘Western’ dominance and independent self-concept by physically retaliating, costing her a ‘red card’ and a temporary suspension from playing. The Eastern mentality of obedience is also noted by Chang et al (2007) in stating â€Å"anti-hierarchical behaviour is not allowed in Taiwanese workplaces†. The movie culminates in Pinky’s extravagant wedding, very true to Indian culture. As an unfortunate coincidence, the football Grand Finals are held on the same day, rendering Jess unable to attend her football match and compelling her to her sister-of-the-bride duties. Throughout the movie, Chadha depicts Jess’ parents in a harsh, dictatorial light however, her fathers’ wish for her happiness compassionately exceeds his own expectations, â€Å"If it’s the only thing that will put a smile on your face one the day of your sister’s wedding, go and play. Jess reluctance to leave suggests that she strongly identifies with family ties and cultural commitments. Urged by Tony, she ultimately leaves the wedding to play the last half of the football match, winning the game and landing an opportunity to play professional football in America. Through Relational Theory her parents understand that to have a meaningful social relationship with their daughter they must actively seek to understand her cultural viewpoint and schema. This feel-good film is a perfect illustration of Contact Hypothesis whereby Chadha has brought to life some contentious issues of Eastern and Western culture and allowed for a gradual process of cultural integration throughout the film. Concepts such as the gender roles, homosexuality, stereotyping and generation gaps are highlighted so as to demonstrate that multicultural societies should not invoke permanent differences, rather form fluid identities which enable people to accept and internalize all components of culture beneficial to their lives.