Thursday, August 27, 2020

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature in his Films, Shadow of a Doubt and Vertigo :: Movie Film Essays

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature in his Films, Shadow of a Doubt and Vertigo All chiefs of significant movies have explicit styles or marks that they include their work. Alfred Hitchcock, perhaps the best executive ever, has an especially one of a kind style in the manner he makes his movies. Film analyzers group his unmistakable style as the â€Å"Alfred Hitchcock signature†. Hitchcock’s marks fluctuate from his appearance appearances to his depiction of a particular character. Two ideal instances of how Hitchcock actualizes his notorious â€Å"signatures† are in the films, A Shadow of a Doubt and Vertigo. In these motion pictures, various models show how Hitchcock only builds up his creative mind in his movies. One significant property in Hitchcock films is the means by which imaginatively Hitchcock deceives the crowd about the destiny of the characters and the grouping of occasions. Numerous individuals contend that it is a strategy by Hitchcock to shock his crowd so as to expand the anticipation of the film. For instance, in Shadow of a Doubt, the crowd accept that youthful Charlie is a blameless little youngster who adores her uncle truly. Anyway as the film advances, Young Charlie isn't as honest as the crowd suspects. Youthful Charlie, when a guiltless kid, winds up executing her detestable uncle. In Vertigo, a similar Hitchcock guile happens. First and foremost, the crowd has the feeling that the Blond ladies is controlled by another lady who is attempting to slaughter her. The crowd additionally has the thought that the criminologist is a cheerful man who will fathom the homicide case accurately. Not long before the film closes, the crowd understands that the analyst was explicitly r ecruited by a man to slaughter his significant other. The analyst, at long last, is by all accounts the miserable, tragic casualty. In these films, there are likewise marks of Hitchcock that show multiplying.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

How Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Works

How Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Works In the mission for ever-improving eco-friendliness and outflows decrease, an old and promising thought has discovered new life. HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) innovation has been around for quite a while yet has as of late got restored consideration and energy. While the early years saw numerous inconceivable (at that point) impediments whose answers would just come as refined PC controlled gadgets were formed and developed into solid advancements, progress slowed down. Time has, as it generally does, did something amazing and about each issue has been unraveled. HCCI is a thought whose opportunity has arrived with about the entirety of the parts and bits of innovation and expertise set up to cause a genuine to go of it. What is HCCI? A HCCI motor is a blend of both traditional sparkle start and diesel pressure start innovation. The mixing of these two structures offers diesel-like high productivity without the troublesome and costly to manage NOx and particulate issue emanations. In its most fundamental structure, it just implies that fuel (gas or E85) is homogeneously (altogether and totally) blended in with air in the burning chamber (very much like an ordinary flash touched off gas motor), however with a high extent of air to fuel (lean blend). As the motors cylinder arrives at its most noteworthy point (top right on target) on the pressure stroke, the air/fuel blend auto-touches off (suddenly and totally combusts with no sparkle plug help) from pressure heat, much like a diesel motor. The outcome is the best of the two universes: low fuel use and low outflows. How Does HCCI Work? In a HCCI motor (which depends on the four-stroke Otto cycle), fuel conveyance control is of foremost significance in controlling the ignition procedure. On the admission stroke, fuel is infused into every chamber ignition chamber by means of fuel injectors mounted legitimately in the chamber head. This is accomplished autonomously from air enlistment which happens through the admission plenum. Before the finish of the admission stroke, fuel and air have been completely presented and blended in the chambers burning chamber. As the cylinder moves back up during the pressure stroke, heat starts to work in the ignition chamber. At the point when the cylinder arrives at the finish of this stroke, adequate warmth has amassed to cause the fuel/air blend to unexpectedly combust (no sparkle is fundamental) and power the cylinder down for the force stroke. In contrast to traditional sparkle motors (and even diesels), the ignition procedure is a lean, low temperature and flameless arrival of vitality over the whole burning chamber. The whole fuel blend is scorched at the same time creating comparable force, yet utilizing considerably less fuel and discharging far less emanations all the while. Toward the finish of the force stroke, the cylinder switches heading again and starts the fumes stroke, yet before the entirety of the fumes gases can be emptied, the fumes valves close early, catching a portion of the dormant burning warmth. This warmth is safeguarded, and a little amount of fuel is infused into the burning chamber for a pre-charge (to help control ignition temperatures and discharges) before the following admission stroke starts. Difficulties for HCCI A continuous formative issue with HCCI motors is controlling the ignition procedure. In customary sparkle motors, burning planning is effortlessly balanced by the motor administration control module changing the flash occasion and maybe fuel conveyance. Its not about so natural with HCCIs flameless burning. Ignition chamber temperature and blend arrangement must be firmly controlled inside rapidly changing and thin edges that incorporate parameters, for example, chamber pressure, motor burden and RPMs and choke position, surrounding air temperature limits and environmental weight changes. A large portion of these conditions are made up for with sensors and programmed acclimations to in any case ordinarily fixed activities. Included are singular chamber pressure sensors, variable water driven valve lift and electromechanical phasers for camshaft timing. The stunt isnt to such an extent as getting these frameworks to fill in as it is getting them to cooperate, rapidly, and over a huge number of miles and long stretches of mileage. Maybe similarly as trying however will be the issue of keeping these propelled control frameworks reasonable. Focal points of HCCI Slender burning returns 15 percent expansion in eco-friendliness over a regular flash start engine.Cleaner burning and lower discharges (particularly NOx) than an ordinary sparkle start engine.Compatible with gas just as E85 (ethanol) fuel.Fuel is copied speedier and at lower temperatures, decreasing warmth vitality misfortune contrasted with a customary sparkle engine.Throttleless enlistment framework takes out frictional siphoning misfortunes brought about in conventional (choke body) sparkle motors. Inconveniences of HCCI High chamber pressures require more grounded (and progressively costly) motor construction.More constrained force run than a traditional flash engine.The numerous periods of ignition attributes are troublesome (and increasingly costly) to control. Unmistakably HCCI innovation offers prevalent eco-friendliness and discharges control contrasted with the customary reliable sparkle start fuel motor. Whats not really certain yet is the capacity of these motors to convey these qualities reasonably, and, likely more significantly, dependably over the life of the vehicle. Proceeded with headways in electronic controls have brought HCCI to the incline of functional reality, and further refinements will be important to drive it to the brink into regular creation vehicles.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Blog Archive MBA Admissions Myths Destroyed My High GMAT Score Will Get Me In!!

Blog Archive MBA Admissions Myths Destroyed My High GMAT Score Will Get Me In!! So you have taken the GMAT and exceeded even your highest expectations, scoring at the very top of the scale. Congratulations! But please do not assume that earning such a high score means you can relax with respect to the other components of your application. Every year, applicants who have scored 750 or even higher are rejected from their target business schoolsâ€"even when their GMAT score falls within the top 10% of the schools’ range. And many of these candidates were rejected because of a fatal, but ultimately avoidable, mistake: they got overconfident and assumed their GMAT score alone would get them in. “You are more than your GMAT score or the sum of your years of work experience. We may admit students who have lower GMAT scores because they are amazing in all other aspects of their candidacy. We may also deny candidates with very high GMAT scores because they are one-dimensional and are not as competitive on those other important dimensions.” So said Liz Riley Hargrove, the associate dean for admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, in an exclusive interview with mbaMission. The business schools are interested in hearing about your ambitions, accomplishments, leadership skills, teamwork experience, perseverance, motivation, integrity, compassion … and the list goes on. Fundamentally, admissions committees need to be able to determine whether you will be a vital and contributing member of their community, and your GMAT score tells them only that you can do the work. Heed our adviceâ€"even (or especially!) those of you with a 780â€"and commit yourself to the rest of your application with the same enthusiasm with which you approached the GMAT! Share ThisTweet Admissions Myths Destroyed Blog Archive MBA Admissions Myths Destroyed My High GMAT Score Will Get Me In!! So you have taken the GMAT and exceeded even your highest expectations, scoring at the very top of the scale. Congratulations! But please, do not assume that earning a score that high means you can relax with respect to the other components of your application. Every year, applicants who have scored 750 or even higher are rejected from their target business schoolsâ€"even when their GMAT score falls within the top 10% of the schools’ range. And many of these candidates were rejected because of a fatal, but ultimately avoidable, mistake: they got overconfident and assumed their GMAT score alone would get them in. “I joke sometimes that I relish nothing more than rejecting people that have a 780 on the GMAT, because they come with the 780 GMAT and think they’re golden, and they don’t have to worry about anything else on the application. Well, you do. There are all these other pieces of information that we ask for, and you have to make sure that you are strong across the board.” So said Jonathan Fuller, senior associate director of admissions at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, in a recent online chat. Rossâ€"as well as every other business schoolâ€"wants to learn a lot more about you than your GMAT score alone can convey. The MBA programs are interested in hearing about your ambitions, accomplishments, leadership skills, teamwork experience, perseverance, motivation, integrity, compassion … and the list goes on. Fundamentally, admissions committees need to be able to determine whether you will be a vital and contributing member of their community, and your G MAT score tells them only that you can do the work. Heed our adviceâ€"even (or especially!) those of you with a 780â€"and commit yourself to the rest of your application with the same enthusiasm with which you approached the GMAT! Share ThisTweet Admissions Myths Destroyed

Monday, May 25, 2020

Hamlet to Be or Not to Be Soliloquy Analysis Essay

The To Be or Not To Be speech in the play, Hamlet, portrays Hamlet as a very confused man. He is very unsure of himself and his thoughts often waver between two extremes due to his relatively strange personality. In the monologue, he contemplates whether or not he should continue or end his own life. He also considers seeking revenge for his father’s death. Evidence of his uncertainty and over thinking is not only shown in this speech, but it also can be referenced in other important parts of the play. The topic of Hamlet’s soliloquy is his consideration of committing suicide. Throughout the speech, it is obvious that Hamlet is over thinking and wavering between two different extremes: life and death. Whether tis nobler in the†¦show more content†¦The dread of something after death, The undiscovered country from whose bourn No traveler returns, puzzles the will (3, 1, 78-80) and keeps people from choosing death due to the fear of the unknown. His entire monologue compares the two extremes: life and death. He analyzes both situations and thinks very much about the consequences of either action. This occurs not only in this speech, but also later in the play, and demonstrates that Hamlet’s indecisive personality is his fatal flaw. Hamlet does not only have a hard time choosing between life and death. He also can not choose between murdering Claudius or not. Even though Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle, he was terrified of the possible consequences and could n ot make a concrete decision. Consequently, he ended up procrastinating greatly with the murder. Hamlet knows that he over thinks everything. He plans to kill Claudius because of his desperate desire to avenge his father’s death and right the wrong that was committed, but cannot go through with his plan due to his confusion and uncertainty. He says, Whether it be Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple of thinking too precisely on thevent -A thought which quartered hath but one part wisdom And ever three parts coward -I do not know Why yet I live to say this things to do (4, 4, 39-44). He sees himself as either being a coward and as over thinking his actions to delay the murder, instead of killing Claudius when he had the chance.Show MoreRelatedHamlet Soliloquies and Their Analysis1527 Words   |  7 PagesHAMLET’S SOLILOQUIES THEIR ANALYSIS In the course of the play, Hamlet has seven long soliloquies. The first of these occurs before he has seen the Ghost. In this soliloquy, Hamlet reveals the grief that has been gnawing at his mind. He wishes that religion did not forbid suicide so that he could kill himself and be rid of this grief. He feels disillusioned with the world. â€Å"How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world†. He deplores (condemns) theRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis1404 Words   |  6 PagesSoliloquies in Hamlet Soliloquies are used by writers because they offer the reader or audience the opportunity to know more about the character, his true self and inner thoughts, as well as pieces of information that cannot be revealed through a normal conversation between characters. Shakespeare uses this method with his characters very often to provide a deeper understanding of his characters, and Hamlet speak seven of this, being each one necessary and important for the plot development. EachRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis968 Words   |  4 Pagesfamous work undoubtedly goes to Hamlet’s â€Å"To be or not to be.† The soliloquy is a speech of despair, anger, and suffering. Hamlet deals with profound concepts and philosophical ideas. Questioning the righteousness of life over death, making death desirable and powerful. The speech covers an idea we all refuse to acknowledge, humans bear the burden and labor of life only to avoid the unknown mysteries of death. For such a powerful sol iloquy, converting it to films needs a brilliant directing; with outstandingRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis Essay524 Words   |  3 PagesHamlet Soliloquy Analysis As Act I of Shakespeares Hamlet concludes, a conversation between the protagonist Hamlet and the ghost of his deceased father, King Hamlet occurs. In response to the ghosts request for Hamlet to take revenge, Hamlet shares his thoughts with the audience in a soliloquy. Through vows and promises, Hamlets oral reaction to the Kings request exposes his full will for revenge. In addition, Hamlets word-choice begins to exhibit the blind passionRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis1089 Words   |  5 Pages In Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, Shakespeare portraits the transition from a young mindset to a more mature one in Hamlets My thoughts be bloody soliloquy. (iv.iv 34-69) Shakespeare uses Hamlet to show us the role maturity plays in the human decision making process. The soliloquy can be seen as a call to action, Hamlet shifts from inaction to action and stops making excuses. He was always intelligent but didn’t have the ability to make decisions in proper time. He over thought and frustratedRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis899 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet’s Soliloquy There are various ways in which an author can target their audience, though in the Elizabethan Era one might do so differently than in present day. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet delivers a speech in which all those who watched could relate to. Before Hamlet was exiled to England he encountered the captain of Norway’s army and learned of their plan to attack a small patch of Poland’s land. The land was worth nothing to neither Norway or Poland yet both took up arms toRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis769 Words   |  4 PagesIn Act 1 Scene 2 of Hamlet, Prince Hamlet delivers his first soliloquy after formally obeying his mother and uncle’s request to stay in Elsinore. The purpose of this soliloquy is to express Hamlet’s frustration and antipathy towards his mother’s marriage with his uncle, as well as other aspects of torment, ultimately admitting to the distress and upset this marriage has inflicted upon him. The author utilises to ne by word choice to emphasise Hamlet’s anguish, frustration, and anger. In addition,Read MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis Essay2074 Words   |  9 PagesThis soliloquy by Hamlet is where he first devises the plan of the â€Å"Mouse Trap† (Act III, scene 2). It begins with Hamlet describing how he has heard that people can be overcome with guilt and remorse of their â€Å"malefactions† that they openly proclaim them, when viewing a scene of a play similar to that of their crime. As a result of this Hamlet resolves to set a trap for Claudius, in which he will watch a play that has a scene closely resembling the murder of Old King Hamlet. Hamlet reasons thatRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis Essay626 Words   |  3 PagesHamlet, the main character of William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, is one of the most complex characters ever created. His intricacy can be seen in the amount of soliloquies he speaks throughout the play. Each one of Hamlet’s soliloqui es reveals his innermost thoughts and gives the reader or audience insight as to what he is feeling at that time. Hamlet’s quartet of soliloquies illustrates how Hamlet is initially indecisive, but eventually makes a decision to take revenge against his uncle. In Hamlet’sRead MoreEssay on The Use of Soliloquy in Shakespeares Hamlet1175 Words   |  5 Pages A Soliloquy is a dramatic convention, in which the character stands alone on stage, speaking. Originally it was a plot device, to enable a character to tell the audience what he planned to do next, for example, in the course of revenge. But the device is heightened in Shakespeare as it enables a character to reveal the amp;#8216;inner soulamp;#8217; to the audience without telling the other characters. It is usual that one discovers more of a character from a soliloquy than from the action of

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Sample Common Application Essayâ€Topic of Your Choice

Alexis chose option #7 for her Common Application essay. This is the popular topic of your choice option on the 2018-19 application. The question asks, Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one youve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. The other six essay options on the Common Application give applicants so much flexibility that it is rare for a topic not fit elsewhere, but in some cases the topic of your choice is indeed the best choice. This is true for Alexiss essay below. Sample Essay on the "Topic of Your Choice" Option My Hero Harpo In middle school, I took part in an essay competition where we had to write about one of our strongest role models—who they were, what they did, and how they had influenced us. Other students wrote about Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, George Washington, etc. I, the youngest of five sisters and one of the quietest people in the school, chose Harpo Marx. I did not win the competition—to be honest, my essay wasn’t very good, and I knew that, even at the time. I had bigger, better things to worry about, though. I was taking swimming lessons, and was terrified of discovering a shark in the deep end. I was making little hats for my dog Alexa, which she did not appreciate. I was busy working on a clay chess set in art class, and learning how to garden with my grandmother. I’m getting off-topic, but my point is: I didn’t need to win a competition or write an essay to feel validated. I was learning who I was, and what was important in my life. Which brings me back to the Marx Brothers. My great-uncle was a big old-movie buff. We’d go over to his house most mornings during summer vacation, and watch Philadelphia Story, The Thin Man, or  His Girl Friday. My favorites, though, were the Marx Brothers’ films. Duck Soup. A Night at the Opera (my personal favorite). Animal Crackers. I can’t logically explain why I found these particular movies so hilarious and entertaining—there was something about them that not only made me laugh, but made me happy. Now, of course, watching those movies again, I’m reminded of those summer mornings, and of being surrounded by the people I loved, unconcerned with the world outside, that adds another layer of appreciation and joy. The brothers each brought their own unique humor to the pictures, but Harpo—he was perfect. The hair. The wide ties and crazy trench coats. The way he doesn’t have to say anything to be funny. His facial expressions. How he offers people his leg when they try to shake his hand. The way you can see the change in him when he sits down at the piano or the harp. The subtle shift from comedian to musician—not a complete shift, of course, but in that moment, you know just how talented and hard-working he must have been. I love that rather than being a full-time, professional musician, which he certainly could have done, Harpo (known as Adolph off-screen) instead devoted his time and energy to entertain, to make people laugh, to be a big goof with a bicycle horn and a killer whistle. I identified with him—and still do. Harpo was quiet, funny-looking, not the most outgoing or famous performers, silly, and still insanely dedicated and a serious artist. I don’t plan on going into show business. I mean, never say never and all that, but I don’t see myself as ever really getting bitten by that particular acting or performing bug. But the lessons I’ve learned from Harpo (and Groucho, Chico, Zeppo, etc.) are the kind that can transcend careers. It’s ok to fall down (a lot.) Learn to laugh at yourself. Learn to laugh at your family. Making faces is a perfectly good way to express yourself. Wear the weird clothes. Don’t be afraid to show off your talents when given the chance. Be kind to children. Have a cigar, if you want. Make up a silly song, or a goofy dance. Work hard at what you love. Work hard at what you don’t love, but what is still necessary. Don’t shy away from being the strangest, brightest, wildest, wackiest, passionate you you can be. And also carry a bicycle horn with you, just in case. A Critique of Alexis's "Topic of Your Choice" Essay With the topic of your choice essay option, one of the first issues to consider is whether or not the essay should have been presented under one of the more focused Common Application prompts. Its easy to be lazy and simply choose topic of your choice to avoid thinking too hard about the most appropriate fit for an essay. For Alexiss essay My Hero Harpo, the topic of your choice option does, in fact, work well. The essay could potentially fall under Common Application essay option #5 on a realization that sparked a period of personal growth. Alexiss experiences watching Marx Brother movies did lead to an understanding of personal identity and life balances. That said, an essay on comedic actors doesnt quite fit the general seriousness of the option #5 prompt. Now lets breakdown some of the important elements of Alexiss essay: The topic. Harpo Marx is a rather unusual focus for an admissions essay. This can be a good thing, for Alexiss essay wont be a clone of other essays the admissions office receives. At the same time, one could argue that Harpos slapstick comedy is a rather superficial focus for an application essay. This certainly could be true if the subject matter were handled poorly, but Alexis manages to turn an essay focused on Harpo Marx into an essay that is really about much more than Marx. Alexis identifies with Harpo, and she explains why she identifies with him. In the end, the essay is as much about Alexis as it is Harpo. It is an essay that reveals Alexiss self-awareness, analytical skills, and sense of humor.The tone. Many applicants wrongly assume that an application essay needs to shine a bright light on a writers accomplishments while hiding any warts. The reality, however, is that were all quirky, flawed, complex people. Revealing an awareness of this fact is a sign of maturity, and it will often play well in an admissions essay. Alexis succeeds admirably on this front. The overall tone here is conversational and slightly self-deprecating. Alexis identifies with Harpos goofiness and his decision to focus on bringing happiness to others rather than personal prestige. We finish Alexiss essay with a sense that she is reserved, silly, able to laugh at herself, yet quietly confident. The overall impression is certainly a positive one.  The writing. Alexiss language is clear and engaging, and she avoids common stylistic errors. The essay has a strong voice and personality. The essay does, in fact, have several sentence fragments, but these are clearly used deliberately for rhetorical punch, not because Alexis is a grammatically inept writer.  The impact. Its always important to step back from an application essay and consider the big picture: what will a reader take away from the essay? Alexiss essay doesnt present any remarkable accomplishment or impressive tale nt. It does, however, present a student who is thoughtful, self-aware, generous, talented, and quietly ambitious. Does Alexis come across as someone who the admissions folks would want to join their campus community? Yes. Make Your Essay as Strong as Possible If a college requires you to submit an essay with the Common Application, it is because the school has holistic admissions—the admissions folks want to get to know you as a whole person, not as a simple compilation of numerical data such as grades and standardized test scores. Along with extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and in some cases an interview, the essay can plan an important role in the admissions process. Make sure yours is as strong as possible. As you write your own essay, be sure to avoid the bad essay topics,  and follow these tips for a winning essay. Most of all, make sure that your essay makes a good impression. Does it present a dimension of your personality and interests that isnt obvious from other parts of your application? Does it present you as someone who will contribute to the campus community in a meaningful way? If yes, your essay is performing its purpose well.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Anti Divorce - 3362 Words

The Anti-Divorce Revolution: The Debate on Marriage Takes a Surprising Turn Pia Nordlinger The Weekly Standard, March 2, 1998 Town amp; Country, a glossy magazine for the well-heeled, touted a special feature in its January issue: Tamp;Cs Guide to Civilized Divorce. Placed just before photos of society newlyweds in the monthly Weddings section, the guide highlights how to choose the right attorney, minimize costs, and spare the children mental anguish. The 16-page insert even includes a compilation of Americas top divorce lawyers, complete with their professional nicknames: Your Worst Nightmare, The Hired Gun and The Stealth Bomber. Readers of slick magazines may be interested in the mode of divorce, but the rest of the†¦show more content†¦During the 1970s, when more and more states were adopting no-fault laws, the annual number of divorces shot from 708,000 in 1970 to 1,181,000 in 1979, an increase of 66 percent. Even as divorce was becoming commonplace, public opinion remained ambivalent. Between 1970 and 1995, the minority who oppose divorce as a solution to marital difficulty rose slowly from 22 percent to 34 percent, according to CBS News polls. More striking, through the 80s and 90s roughly half the respondents to National Opinion Research Center surveys agreed with the statement, Divorce should be more difficult to obtain than it is now, while the share who thought it should be even easier hovered around 25 percent. Still, the public may not be ready to repeal no-fault. Most attempts to toughen state laws have failed. The notable exception came last July, when Louisiana enacted covenant marriage. Couples in that state now have the opportunity to choose between a standard marriage and a covenant marriage, which includes premarital counseling and, if the marriage should break down, counseling before a divorce can take place. Covenant couples can be granted a no-fault divorce only after a two-year waiting period, four times the standard period. Yet covenant couples may seek a fault-based divorce if there is evidence of adultery, abandonment, physical or sexual abuse, or felony imprisonment. Since Louisianas law took effect, only a tiny fraction of couples have taken the covenant plunge.Show MoreRelatedThe Anti-Divorce Movement: a Persuasion Paper1268 Words   |  6 PagesFor the last two decades, divorce has become ever more prelivant in society. Studies conclude that less than one-third of all marriages end in divorce. The effects of divorce can be very devastating, especially when children are involved. Everyone who has ever listened to the news has heard the dismal statistics of adolescents coming from broken homes. The statistics showing the effects of a fatherless household includes: †¢ 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (U.S.D.H.H.S., BureauRead MoreDivorce Is A Huge Issue Of Concern1622 Words   |  7 PagesDivorce is a huge issue of concern in the UK as in the rate in which couples divorce is rapidly increasing . More than half of the couples in the UK had at least one child aged under 16 in 2007.The number of divorces in England and wales have increased to a total of 118,140 divorces in 2012, which is an increase of 0.5 percent since 2011.Statistics showed that women were allowed 65 percent of all divorces , 9,703 men and 6,026 women aged over 60 got divorced. It has also shown that 42 percent ofRead MoreThe Way We Never Were By Stephanie Coontz Essay953 Words   |  4 Pagesmodern view that divorce rates have never been higher than right now in contemporary society. She explains that throughout history today’s rates are actually pretty similar to those found in ancient Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, as well as among Native Americans. This idea that Christian tradition has always been anti-divorce, mainly enforced due to Jesus’ denouncement of both women and men’s right to divorce, is exposed through descriptions of early Christians being granted divorce by the Church throughRead MoreThe Decline Of Marriage Rates859 Words   |  4 Pagesthe person in a steady relationship. Another portion that resonated with me was the overall divorce section. In this response paper, I will discuss the declining marriage rates, the impact of the past 50% divorce rates, and why these two go hand-in-hand with the millennial generation s behavior that is causing the change in these rates. It may seem strange, but I come from a family where there are no divorces between any of my family members, and I have a very big family. If someone in my family marriesRead MoreHow Parents Handle The Divorce934 Words   |  4 PagesIt is also interesting to note, that the symptoms and feelings described above tend to be present regardless of how the parents handle the divorce. Research has shown that even when a divorce is friendly, children still experience the same things and respond in the same ways (Rappaport, 2013). These initial symptoms and reactions however, do tend to fade over time, as children adjust to their new lives (Rappaport, 2013). It is understandable to see the many reactions described above, due to theRead MorePositive Changes in the Quality of Life for Woman in Morocco1709 Words   |  7 Pagesis recommended to never look a man in the eye and to never take directions from a man- only ask a family or another woman. (Skalli 2011) Even with traditional gender roles remaining popular, divorce came to Morocco with modernity. From the 1960s to the 1980s the divorce rate remained at fifty percent. Divorce rates remained high, until the new Family Code. Before this reform, custody of children stayed systematically given to the mother, who rarely could afford family and basic living expenses onRead MoreFathers Rights622 Words   |  3 PagesSpeech 101 Speech 4 April 6, 2011 Why Fathers should have Equal Rights? Due to problems arising out of bitter divorces, custody, and support battles fathers are ostracize out of their children’s life. Fathers are often looked at as the bad person when things go wrong and being the blame. Fathers are just as responsible for the child being born as the mother. Over the years fathers continue to fight for equal rights, mothers are looked at as the victims and often make false statements aboutRead MoreEssay about Effects of divorce on elementary-school aged children1279 Words   |  6 PagesIn America, divorce rates are at an all time high. A divorce between the parents of elementary students can be devastating in a young child’s life. Divorce causes stress for children not only at home, but also at school. Children of divorced or separated parents often have to commute between houses. Not only do they have to deal with the pain of parents separating, they also may feel as if they caused their parent’s problems. Parental divorce has ne gative effects on children’s academic achievementRead MoreChanging Family Patterns And Family Life Essay1502 Words   |  7 Pagesbarely graduating high school fighting in both World Wars, never to return, women taking over the factories in order to keep up with America’s wartime economy while the men fought for democracy. These changes led to changes in a family a well. The anti-suffragette movement claimed that if women were to have the vote, they would abandon their families and their children to leave their husbands to raise their children. Even now many still believe that women are not meant to hold such positions andRead MorePrevention Plan for Divorce Before Marriage Essay2254 Words   |  10 Pagesessential factors of human life. It creates the basis for everyone to pursue a better, healthier, and happier life. However, it is the fact that there are more and more couples marrying and then ending up with divorce, and this rate is increasing faster year by year . Actually, all the divorce cases are originated from some of the forms of emotional illness that gradually appear in each partner during the time of their relationship. It is good to cure these forms of emotional illness to solve the martial

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Loewen Group free essay sample

This report provides a qualitative analysis of the Loewen case study, starting from the excessive debt policy used in its expansion and ending with huge debt ratios and bankruptcy. The analysis includes the effect of the company’s policy and the financial distress it caused and results of such a financial condition. Method of Analysis: For the analysis we have used the historical financial data of the company, the history of the company and its financing policy, and the financial data of its competitors. The important finding that were gathered are listed below * Debt financing is considered the fastest and cheapest method in financing the growth of a company * Excessive debt financing for explosive growth is not well recommended * Financial distress factors are direct and indirect, and they vary in importance and effect on the overall future of the company * Filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy protects the company from its debtors by allowing it to reorganize their debt structure, which might seem the best option in this case. Options/Recommendations: We found out 2 options that Loewen could undertake. Option 1: selling assets to increase cash position and decrease debts Option 2: file chapter 11 bankruptcy to give the company another chance in Legal time to reorganize its debt structure. Recommendation: filing bankruptcy seems to be the best option that Loewen has at this time, as it will allow it to startup its operations again and try to fix debt problems it faced by restructuring. How was Loewen group able to grow explosively for the first half of the 1990s? What were the advantages of debt financing enjoyed by the company in this phase? The Loewen group started as a family business in the 1950s, and had grown explosively in the late 1980s and early 90s mainly by acquiring small independent funeral homes and cemeteries in densely populated urban markets, and acquired several large established funeral chains. What they did that differentiated them from other big players in the market is that they acquired the bigger share of small cemeteries and funeral homes but retained some of their managers if possible because they thought they would know better about the community they lived in, and they are already known in their areas, which would provide a smoother transition of the business from a family one to a corporate level one. They also financed those businesses for capital improvement and merchandise. Besides acquiring small businesses, a lot of factors helped Loewen grow in such a manner. Anchoring on the factor that death rates are almost constant throughout the years, trying to get a bigger market share was a priority target through these acquisitions. What helped more is the higher entry barriers to this business, due to high fixed costs and high capital requirements during the startup, and lack of social attachment to the society they live in due to lack of history in the local community surrounding them, which is considered a big factor driving the choice of families to do business with one funeral services company rather than another. Moreover, considered as one of the biggest funeral services firms in the United States, Loewen had the power to exert pressure on its suppliers for better reduced prices, in addition to taking advantage of being the first to be called when death happens; they are the first to be contacted, and they can supply everything regarding funerals from â€Å"A† to â€Å"Z† which gives them the power to bargain for higher prices, and at the same time, families will not be in a condition to negotiate due to the condition they are passing through, Loewen would give funeral services to low income or high income families accordingly. Another factor that helped is weak substitutes. Small family owned businesses could not compete with what Loewen offered regarding services, quality and price. Another thing that helped Loewen was its ability to create the â€Å"at need† and the â€Å"pre need† services. The â€Å"pre need† services acted as an advantage, for people who would pay money today for their funeral services in the future. And since the funeral services have almost fixed expenses between today and the future, whatever money Loewen got from this option would be invested in securities and in insurance contracts, thus creating more value, or used as additional cash for day to day operations and investment in the company. Debt financing is considered the fastest and cheapest method of financing growth of a company, however using debt to finance accelerated and explosive growth can have his drawbacks. This shows us that Loewen was too aggressive in its acquistion strategy and in its zeal to compete, it ended up paying far too high a price for these two acquisitions. This is also evident from the fact that after these two acquisitions, Loewen’s debt/equity ratio reached 1. 4:1. At this point SCI realized that Loewen was overvalued and dropped its bid for acquisition. Mississippi lawsuit: Loewen’s downfall can be attributed, in part, to the unfavourable jury verdict in Mississippi in 1995. By reneging on an agreement to purchase properties worth around $10 M, the company was held liable to damages amounting to $500 M at the time of the verdict. The stock price dropped by 15%, and the company posted an interest expense of $165 M for that year. Continued Acquisitions in 1998: Despite clear indications of a crisis, the management at Loewen continued their acquisitions, albeit at a slower pace. They paid $278 M in 1998 to acquire 89 funeral homes and 65 cemeteries. The disadvantage of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that it would trigger a domino effect and force them to file in Canada as well. This would be detrimental since Canadian laws were more strict than US laws and this would lead to potential conflicts. Recommendation: File for Chapter 11 bankruptcy This is the only feasible option available to Loewen group in its present condition. Chapter 11 would protect the company from its debtors by allowing them to reorganize their debt structure. Shareholders would lose everything, as creditors have first right over the company, post chapter 11. The company is worth more under operation, than by individually selling off its assets. This also allows more jobs to saved, than by selling off individual assets. This option allows for a new corporate structure which could be successful in turning around the company, and making it profitable once again. Debtors would have the possibility of recovering more in this manner than they would through a chapter 7 liquidation of Loewen’s assets.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Backlash has been described as a complicated struggle over normativity The WritePass Journal

Backlash has been described as a complicated struggle over normativity Abstract Backlash has been described as a complicated struggle over normativity Abstract1. Introduction2. The Concept of Backlash3. Backlash and the Contemporary Positions of Men and Women in Organisations4. ConclusionReferencesRelated Title: Backlash has been described as a complicated struggle over normativity (Robinson, 2000). What does this mean? How can the concept of backlash help us understand the relative positioning of men and women in organizations? Abstract Men have historically occupied an invisible, gendered space within the work environment. Their privileges compared to women, and their power compared with women, have gone unnoticed through this invisibility.  Ã‚   Through feminism, there has gradually arisen an awareness of these hidden inequalities, and the ways in which men have been prioritised as the ‘neutral’, over-riding voice in the workplace. This awareness has led to some redistribution of power, as women take on greater responsibility, more powerful roles, and obtain better pay. However, the consequences of this have been that men have, in some instances, started to see themselves as victims of women’s growth in the workplace through the phenomenon of backlash. Although seemingly a simple concept, backlash is complex and tricky to measure, and has a number of consequences for both men and women.  Ã‚   The notion of normativity helps us understand the ways in which victimhood has been appropriated by some men to reclaim the power they feel they have lost.  Ã‚   Ideas around backlash and normativity have had a number of repercussions for the workplace and organisational politics, some detrimental to women’s position, although there are suggestions that the right approach to equality can overcome these issues. 1. Introduction The following essay will look at the concept of ‘backlash’, the notion that people are resisting structured organisational attempts to ensure that marginalised workers are employed and given opportunities for promotion. While the concept embraces a number of marginalised workers, for example people of colour and people with disabilities (Burke and Black 1997), this essay will consider only the case of ‘backlash’ for men against women employees.  Ã‚   Male ‘backlash’, it has been claimed, has existed for some considerable time, and is stronger now than in the past (Faludi 1991).   Backlash can be unconscious: men may be unaware that they hold the attitudes they do towards women (Burke and Black 1997). First, the notion of ‘backlash’ will be discussed, and the ideas that it presents â€Å"a complicated struggle over normativity† (Robinson, 2000) analysed. Next, the essay will consider how the notion of backlash is useful for understanding the hierarchical relationships between men and women in organisations. 2. The Concept of Backlash In order to understand the concept of backlash, it is first necessary to look more closely at men’s position within organisations.  Ã‚   It has been argued that men’s status as gendered goes unnoticed by themselves and by others within the organisation.  Ã‚   Men are assumed to be the norm, and to speak for the whole of human kind (Nelson 2006).   Typically, men in organisations are unaware of themselves as men, with â€Å"self-knowledge as gendered subjects †¦ noticeably absent† (Whitehead 2001, p. 309).  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, the state of being a man means occupying one of (at least) two possible gendered positions.   While gender is a visible ‘fact’, with most (but not all) men and women being visually distinguished as such, behind this ‘fact’ â€Å"gender is enacted, and society has a pattern of practices and expectations that make this enactment visible† (Bilimoria and Kristin, 2007, p. 38).   Ã‚  Ã‚  While often seen as a genderless, cerebral environment, the workplace, no less than other cultural and social contexts, is one in which organisational decisions are made in an embodied, gendered context (Whitehead and Moodley 1999).   Within the workplace, gender differences exist both visibly and invisibly, and at a number of different levels.   One of the most important of these levels is the symbolic: the ways in which language, clothing, physical symbols, printed media and similar function to express positions about gender. Ideas, attitudes and perceptions also contribute to the complex mix of engenderment in the organisation. The social and political structures of an organisation might appear neutral, however it is likely to be based upon invisible engenderment at deeper levels (Blanpain et al 2008). It should be noted, however, that recognition of the gendered nature of the workplace should not be taken as a simple binary between male and female: â€Å"transgender identities further complicate notions of the gendered subject†. Additionally, invisibilities of sexuality further complicate the matter: the relationship of lesbian to womanhood, and the gay man to masculine identities, needs also to be considered   (Melzer 2006). There is an unfair balance of power between men and women in the workplace, with men generally getting better pay, conditions and holding higher positions within organisations. Women’s abilities as leaders often go unnoticed or are ignored, and the phenomenon of the ‘glass ceiling’ is well-documented (Haslett et al 1992).   This unfair balance seems to be a function of men’s invisibility as gendered subjects: if men are perceived unconsciously to be the norm, then women are by definition outside the norm, and are consequently subject to poorer work conditions including pay and promotion. One reaction to this is for the oppressed groups to act to make people aware of men’s privileges and bring to light their hidden engenderment.   This opens the possibility of making the inequalities between men and women visible to all.   Mutua (2006) describes â€Å"unearned benefits† which men possess, just by being born men, and suggests that rather than seeing the inequalities between men and women in the workplace in terms of how poorly women are treated, we reverse this and look at, for example, how much more men earn on average than do women (Mutua 2006). In general, there has been a concerted effort in many countries to make gender inequalities in the workplace more visible (Kabeer et al 2008). This can, however, make the privileged group – men – defensive and angry.   By making people more aware of male engenderedness, and by   bringing   the inequalities that this hides to light, ‘backlash’ can result, as men start to see themselves as victims.  Ã‚   As such, they begin to occupy an ambivalent position, both invisible and visible. There are reasons for men to claim both these states. Robinson suggests that men have good reason to want to be invisible, as invisibility allows them to continue to enjoy benefits that women cannot access.   However, they can also gain from being visible, and visible as an oppressed group, a victim of female power (Robinson 2000).   Faludi (1991) made the concept of ‘backlash’ popular.   While, she suggested, anti-feminist feeling has always played a part in modern America, there have been particular incidences of backlash in recent history, particularly when â€Å"women are poised to make real gains in social and political life† (Boyd 2007, p. 5).   For Faludi (1991) backlash works by presenting an opposite position as the truth, and by blaming women for wider social difficulties, that is, blaming feminism for creating problems for women, rather than offering a solution to such problems (Walby 1997) The notion of ‘backlash’ is often presented as a simple reaction by men against a growth in women’s rights. However, the idea is more complex than this suggests. For example, it can cover different types of male resistance to attempts to redress inequalities between the sexes: men who may once have approved of this in principle, but now no longer do so, and those who have never approved of equality for women (Goode 1982). Backlash has also changed over time, with Faludi (1991) arguing that it is more common now than in the past. This increase may be down to a number of reasons including increased competition in organisations for pay and position, the growth of political correctness in the workplace, and increased media coverage of gender inequalities. Men are also increasingly aware of how the workplace is changing, with women gradually gaining more power and taking on roles that used to be the sole preserve of men (Burke and Black 1997).   Backlash can also be seen as a function of male insecurity over a changing world, as men blame women’s increased power for ills which befall them.  Ã‚   These feelings are fuelled by a predominantly right-wing media and corporate culture (Kimmel 2004). Estimates vary regarding the prevalence of backlash. Early studies (Astrachan 1986; AMOI 1988) suggested that up to 90% of men were in favour of women maintaining a traditional role.   While backlash in organisations seems to have been clearly identified, there are relatively few empirical studies assessing its prevalence, and a lack of clarity about the best ways of measuring it. Many researchers use the Implicit Association Test, a wider social psychology test designed to measure automatic associations between mental concepts in memory as a way of quantifying implicit stereotypes about gender (Rudman and Glick 2001) There are also different understandings of the impact of backlash on the wider workplace: backlash can increase tension between men and women, makes bonds between men stronger, and can fracture relationships between women to the extent that women have carved a role within the male environment or not (Burke and Black 1997). Backlash is sometimes known as ‘competing victim syndrome’, a term used by Cox (1995) to describe the ways in which, in education, boys interest groups tried to define a position of victims of feminism (Mills 2001). There are several factors which can exacerbate backlash.     If an organisation lacks effective communication both about the phenomenon of backlash and measures that can be taken to combat it, men are likely to be suspicious of any changes. If a clear case is made for proactive measures for women, backlash is less likely (Gandossy et al 2006).   If men are excluded from equality planning, or if they are not seen as part of the solution to inequalities, then this can also make backlash feel worse.   Organisations can take practical steps to including men in such planning, for example identifying a core group of men who are committed to women’s rights and ensuring support from senior management (Ruxton 2004).  Ã‚   Certain organisational structures can also make backlash more intense. For example, where a culture of blame is fostered, with men seen as the causes of women’s disadvantage, men are more likely to react negatively against any perception that womenâ⠂¬â„¢s situation in the workplace is improving.   Equally, if the organisational culture has prioritised men and masculinity, perhaps unconsciously, men may react more strongly against women’s improving situation (Angus 1993). It is also possible that backlash is stronger in organisations where a higher number of minority employees have been taken onto the workforce. As we have seen, the concept of backlash is not as simple as it has sometimes been portrayed in the media (for example, a recent daily mail article appeared to blame feminism for crises in the National Health Service (Phillips 2011)), but rather, as Robinson suggested, it may rather be a complicated struggle over normativity. That is, it concerns a wider debate about the concept of the ‘norm’ and what is considered the ‘normal’ in society today.  Ã‚   The notion of the norm can be seen as rooted in concepts of the natural, and what is inherent or given in human nature, rather than a social, political or cultural construct.   By recognising that the ‘norm’ is, in fact, a construct, we open ourselves to the possibility that the given can be changed.   Feminism in general can be seen as a struggle against the notion that femininity and masculinity as they are experienced in today’s society are fixed. This notion that the female (or mal e) is a given is supported by much of contemporary science (Cameron 1995).  Ã‚   Robinson suggests, in this context, that seeing men as victims of feminism is not as straightforward as a reversal of positive discrimination, but is part of a larger debate about the ways in which normality is defined, and hence as part of a debate about normativity (Robinson 2000).   As Robinson (2000) points out, the notion of masculinity, and the understanding of what it means to be male, is open to debate, can be challenged, and may change.   He also emphasises that the debate over normativity is one about power; who holds power in society, and whether they rightfully do so. Seen in this context, the move by which men have presented themselves as victims is not simply one which happened by chance. Instead, men have been able to take on board the power that is currently vested in the ‘victim’: portraying themselves as oppressed (Bekerman and Zembylas 2011).   Backlash, under these terms, becomes a complex struggle for control over scarce resources and power over the symbolic languages in which notions of masculinity and femininity are normalised.   Men use backlash as a means of making themselves visible as men   and as victims, to accrue the benefits which come with being seen as the disadvantaged partner (Robinson 2000).   Consequently, by claiming the status of victims, men are able to maintain their position as those in power and control, with the added respect and material gains that goes along with this. Privileges are masked by the guise of victimhood which men have decided to wear.  Ã‚   It should be noted, however, this iss ue is made more complex by debates about the notion of power. Some suggest that power relationships are a myth, while there is an illusion that power is vested in the hands of a minority, in fact all groups in society are oppressed: â€Å"power is actually a form of a myth which subjugates all people† (Bad Subjects 1998, p. 55). 3. Backlash and the Contemporary Positions of Men and Women in Organisations The above suggests that backlash is a complex concept which underpins recent developments in contemporary awareness of feminism and women’s rights. But what repercussions does this have for understanding the positions of both men and women within organisations? There are signs that backlash is thriving in business and business organisations. Writing of the USA in the early years of the 21st Century, Bilimora and Piderit suggest that women were increasingly ‘opting out’ of the business world, for example moving on to start their own businesses, partly as a result of a backlash against the notion that women can ‘have it all’ and successfully juggle home and work (Bilimora and Piderit 2007).   This move to self-employment and starting one’s own business as a way of stepping outside the hostility of the male-dominated business environment has been reported elsewhere, for example The United States Small Business Association reported a 58% growth i n women running businesses (SBA 1993), while Carey and Bryant (1995) suggested that women-run businesses were expanding into previously male-dominated areas (Carey and Bryant 1995).   It has also been reported that women can experience hostility as result of special initiatives designed to promote equality, can become over insular as they bond together in women-only networks, thus ruling out the possibility of a further assault on male power structures, and open to charges of elitism (McCarthy 2004). However, some organisations have found that promoting equality measures in the right way can avoid backlash. Wittenberg-Cox and Maitland (2009) describe the case study of Nestle, who sought to prioritise gender equality within the workplace. They rejected the diversity approach popular in the USA in favour of promoting gender balance. Their approach was to involve men, and particularly male leaders, from the outset, with gender awareness workshops for leaders and executives. They found that this approach saw men committed to and leading organisational change, and the company thus â€Å"avoided the backlash that is common in companies that launch â€Å"women’s† initiatives† (Wittenberg-Cox and Maitland 2009). 4. Conclusion To summarise, men have historically occupied an invisible, gendered space within the work environment. Their privileges compared to women, and their power compared with women, have gone unnoticed through this invisibility.  Ã‚   Through feminism, there has gradually arisen an awareness of these hidden inequalities, and the ways in which men have been prioritised as the ‘neutral’, over-riding voice in the workplace. This awareness has led to some redistribution of power, as women take on greater responsibility, more powerful roles, and obtain better pay. However, the consequences of this have been that men have, in some instances, started to see themselves as victims of women’s growth in the workplace through the phenomenon of backlash. Although seemingly a simple concept, backlash is complex and tricky to measure, and has a number of consequences for both men and women.   Ã‚  The notion of normativity helps us understand the ways in which victimhood has been a ppropriated by some men to reclaim the power they feel they have lost.  Ã‚   Ideas around backlash and normativity have had a number of repercussions for the workplace and organisational politics, some detrimental to women’s position, although there are suggestions that the right approach to equality can overcome these issues.    References AMOI (1988) ‘American Male Opinion Index’, Conde Nast, New York Angus, L B (1993) Education, inequality, and social identity, Routledge, USA/ UK Astrachan, A (1986) How Men Feel: Their responses to Women’s Demands for Equality and Power,   Anchor, New York. Bad Subjects Production Team (1998) Bad subjects: political education for everyday life, NYU Press, USA. Bekerman, Z and Zembylas, M (2011) Teaching Contested Narratives: Identity, Memory and Reconciliation in Peace Education and BeyondAuthorsZvi Bekerman, Michalinos ZembylasPublisherCambridge University Press, 2011 Bilimora, D and Piderit, S K (2007) Handbook on women in business and management,   Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007 Cheltenham Glos. Blanpain, R, Dickens, L and Kaj, S (2008) Challenges of European employment relations: employment regulation, trade union organization, equality, flexicurity, training and new approaches to pay, Kluwer Law International, The Netherlands. Boyd, S B (2007) Reaction and resistance: feminism, law, and social change, UBC Press, USA Burke, R J and Black, S (1997), ‘Save the Males: Backlash in Organisations’, Journal of Business Ethics, 16, 933-942. Cameron, D (1995) Verbal hygiene: The politics of language, Routledge, UK Carey, A, and Bryant, B (1995)   Women-owned business growth, USA Today, USA Faludi, S (1991) Backlash: The Undeclared War Against Women, Random House, London Gandossy, R P, Tucker, E and Verma, N (2006) Workforce wake-up call: your workforce is changing, are you?, John Wiley and Sons, USA Goode, W J (1982) ‘Why Men Resist’, in B Thorn and M Yalom (eds.) Rethinking the Family: Some Feminist Questions, Longman Inc. New York Greenwald, A. G., McGhee, D. E., Schwartz, J. K. L. (1998) ‘Measuring individual differences in implicit cognition: The Implicit Association Test’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1464-1480. Haslett, B, Geis, FL and Carter, M R (1992) The Organizational Woman: Power and Paradox, Greenwood Publishing Group, USA Kabeer, N, Stark, A and Magnus E (2008) Global perspectives on gender equality: reversing the gaze, Routledge, New York /   Oxford Kimmel, M (2004) Men and masculinities, ABC-CLIO, USA Melzer, P (2006) Alien constructions: science fiction and feminist thought, University of Texas Press, USA Mills, M (2001) Challenging violence in schools: an issue of masculinities, Open University Press, UK Mutua, A D (2006) Progressive Black masculinities, CRC Press, USA Nelson, S M (2006) Handbook of gender in archaeology, Rowman Altamira, Lanham Phillips, M (2011) ‘The real reason our hospitals are a disgrace’, Daily Mail, 17th October 2011, London. Robinson, S. 2000 ‘Introduction: Visibility, Crisis and the Wounded White Male Body’, in Marked Men: White Masculinity in Crisis, Columbia University Press, New York Rudman, L A and Glick, P (2001) ‘Prescriptive Gender Stereotypes and Backlash Towards Agentic Women’,   Journal of Social Issues, 57:4, 743-762 Ruxton, S (2004) Gender equality and men: learning from practice, Oxfam, UK United States Small Business Administration (1993) Women Business Owners, SBA, Washington DC Walby, S (1997) Gender transformations, Routledge, UK. Whitehead, S M (2001) The masculinities reader, Wiley-Blackwell, Cambridge. Whitehead, S M and Moodley, R (1999) Transforming managers: gendering change in the public sector, Routledge, London. Wittenberg-Cox, A and   Maitland, A (2009)   Why Women Mean Business, John Wiley Sons, USA

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The Importance of Napoleon to essays

The Importance of Napoleon to essays THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE NAPOLEONIC WARS TO MODERNITY The French Revolution and Napoleonic years are very important to European history because they mark a time of great change and transformation, a time when Europe was in the thralls of its rise to modernity. Two of the aspects of modernity brought to light during the French Revolution were the increasing importance of the middle class and the idea, though not necessarily the practice, of political liberty. However, some of strides made in France toward modern liberty were almost completely erased only a few years after the Revolution by Napoleon Bonaparte, who brought his own thoughts on modernity to Europe with the advent of nationalism and total warfare. One of the other ways in which the Revolution affected the rise of modernity was by asserting the importance of the middle class and masses. Before the revolution, France was made up of three estates: The First Estate was the Church, which made up 1-2% of the population, the Second Estate was the nobility which made up less than 2% of the population and the Third Estate was the commoners, which made up approximately 96% of the population. Whereas the First and Second estates enjoyed luxury, extensive privileges and great wealth, the Third Estate were the heavily taxed and poorly treated bourgeoisie, peasants and city workers. One of the reasons the revolution originated was the discontent among the lower and middle classes in France. Those in the Third Estate grew tired of the unjust laws and taxes they were forced to live by and decided to take a stand, eventually making their mark in French society. One of the first times the masses asserted themselves was when the newly formed National Assembly was drawing up a Constitution. Angry crowds in Paris rioted, forcing the National Assembly to recognize their demands. The people were protesting heavy taxes, and outrageous food prices. Ne...

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Contemporary Leadership Theory Literature review

Contemporary Leadership Theory - Literature review Example According to the paper findings there is a wide range of leadership theories which have been developed through the years. The theories are classified into seven. The first is the known as the Great Man theories, which are founded on the idea that leaders are extraordinary individuals whose leadership qualities are inborn. The use of the term â€Å"Man† was intentional since it was generally held throughout the early half of the twentieth century that leadership is a male attribute; in fact, William James wrote that the course of history is determined by great men, without whom the masses could not progress. The next group is the trait theories, referring to the focus on traits or qualities that a good leader is thought to possess (though which are not necessarily inborn). The study of â€Å"great men† that preceded this yielded very few commonalities among them, giving rise to the idea that what defines a leader would be the set of admirable characteristics he possessed , such as intelligence, self-confidence, determination and integrity . Behaviourist theories are anchored on the actions of leaders rather than their attributes. Behaviour patterns are studied and categorised to comprise â€Å"leadership styles†. The next school of leadership theories is known as situational leadership. This set of theories views effective leadership not in terms of traits or actions, but the match between these and the situation being addressed. The situational leadership model holds that â€Å"the style of leadership should be mathed ot the level of readiness of the followers†. ... 66). Behaviourist theories, which came next, are anchored on the actions of leaders rather than their attributes. Behaviour patterns are studied and categorised to comprise â€Å"leadership styles†. Behaviourist theorists conceive of leadership in terms of the roles they fulfil, and the manner in which they are expected to fulfil them (Crainer & Dearlove, 2003, p.1). The next school of leadership theories is known as situational leadership. This set of theories views effective leadership not in terms of traits or actions, but the match between these and the situation being addressed. The situational leadership model holds that â€Å"the style of leadership should be mathed ot the level of readiness of the followers† (Hellreigel & Slocum, 2007, p. 221). The model (also known as contingency model) is comprised of three basic components – a set of possible leadership styles, a taxonomy of alternative situations which leaders are likely to encounter, and a stipulatio n of which style constitutes appropriate response to which situation. More recently, the transactional theory of leadership has emerged, focusing on task orientedness and ability to direct groups in a particular way so as to accomplish specific goals. Compliance is ensured through different approaches, such as offering incentives, threatening sanctions, appealing to the group’s sense of duty or selflessness, or prevailing upon their followers’ rational judgment, with the leader having little personal involvement with the group other than driving them to achieve an objective (Martin, et al., 2006, p. 47). Finally, the transformational leadership theory is based on the belief that leadership is not just the sole prerogative of people at the

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Essay on Police and the Community Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On Police and the Community - Essay Example A lesser barricade could be people’s self-esteem and self-perception (Morris, 2008). This is because they do not view themselves as activists or leaders. This perceptual concern is a barrier for over 36% of the adults in America. Not being an activist or leader is a barrier for 42% of adults who are not involved but wish to be. Disengaged participants in several focus groups stated that they wish for a fearless director with organizational skills, knowledge, plans, enthusiasm, a selfless attitude, and honesty. This group also puts more weight in disliking politics than adults on not knowing anyone else taking part in the activity. In order to overcome these obstacles, authorities that are involved in public participations should ensure that those who are involved in the activity are protected. Authorities need to educate people on these barriers and assure them that they will be safe after they take part in the activity (Thurlow, 2008). Question 2 Policy makers have a tough ta sk of carrying out what is best for their constituents plus their countries. This makes them the voice of the citizens. It is extremely vital that a police chief should be a policy maker for his constituent or country due to several reasons. These reasons are: police chiefs have interests of constituents and interests in the country. They also defend the constitution. Since policy makers are elected by the public, this will also give a chance to police chiefs to be elected by the public. Each policy maker has an obligation of defending the constitution. Police chiefs are also obliged to defend the American constitution, and this makes the liable policy makers (Chief of Police, 2007). A policy maker is a person who is responsible for making the policies of an organization. This includes the government or any other institution that requires regulations. A statesman refers to a diplomat or politician who has had a long, as well as respected duty at the national or international level. It has been said that police chiefs should be politicians. This is not a brilliant idea. Politicians have an obligation of representing and responding to the constituents, voting on legislation, participating in budget discussions and taking part in committees. Even though, police chiefs need to realize these factors, their central duty is to implement the law. This is a vital duty. They need to be separated from political matters so that they could execute their tasks to the fullest. If police chiefs are allowed to be statesmen, then this would interfere with the neutrality of the police force from politics. It will interrupt with the activities of the police force (Samuels, 2000). Question 3 Similarities Community oriented policing as a philosophy that encourages organizational strategies, which hold up the organized use of problem-solving techniques and partnerships, to tackle the immediate factors that give rise to public security issues. The security issues are social disorders , crime as well as fear of crime. Community oriented policing also comprises of three key components in America as well as other nations. These components are: community partnership, organizational transformation as well as problem solving. Most countries, including the United States, think that

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Communication Style Case Study Essay Example for Free

Communication Style Case Study Essay Communication style is definitely very important in a work environment especial in the health care setting. Finding the right way to communicate with other staff members will keep an open communication channel with everyone. Which in return make other staff members feel respected and provide a much better work environment and the best quality of care for the patient. Now I will go over the scenarios from Checkpoint 8-4 and my own personal experience at work. Scenario number one, is about Robin, a psychiatric nurse that expressed aggressive communication. That led to Rashed to respond passive, by planning to be passive-aggressive with robin in the future when he would have an opportunity. Robin way of speaking to rashed in a firmed and raised voice, only made rashed feel hurt, angry and revengeful toward robin. The fact that rashed needed his job kept him quite but did not stop him from thinking of revenge towards the future with robin. This type of passive communication does not solve and problems are not solved. It might even become less cooperative during work. Rashed even stated that maybe he would not do anything unless he told to do so. Which in return can only mean that the nurse will end of doing more work unless he asked for help that he needs. Scenario number two, Pamela a school nurse was using nonassertive communication. When in doubt about anything communication is the best way to clear up anything. By taking matters into her own hands know she created double the work and in return increased her stress by retesting everyone. A nonassertive person when try to delegate end up doing more work. By not approaching Bridget regarding her concerns, she became a passive person and did not say anything due to the concern of displeasing others. Nonassertive behavior can also cause, anger, confusion and irritation to others. Nurses can sometime feel overworked because they are passive and accommodates others and in return have a poor functioning team. Scenario Number three, Rosa was a manager of the ambulatory care surgical center that was using assertive communication. Mabel one of the surgical technicians used aggressive communication with Rosa. Rosa was very forward about wanted to work together as a team to solve problems for the best quality care for the patient. Rosa used aggressive communication when she told Mabel that she was the granddaughter of the chairmen of the board  and would get her head served in a platter. Mabel expressive words only showed that she had anger, annoyed, stressed, angry and impatient. Knowing how to express your needs in a positive manner can help relate and resolve any problem that arises. Using assertive communication is a good way to be confident, addresses problem without belittling oneself and other staff members. Improving the way we express ourselves can have a positive effect and outcome at work with better harmony. My Scenario, took place around 8 years ago when I started working a unit called â€Å"1202†, surgical and nonsurgical unit. Six trauma beds and six nontrauma beds. We all worked pretty much in a team. Took report on all patients in order to know what was going on with every patient in case anyone needed help or anyone of us took a break or lunch break. We also rotated being charge nurse. And like always had to divide that patients according to severity and try to balance out the possible admits. Being in charge meant that we were in indirect way responsible for the patients and would be the last one to get the admit in case we had to jum p in and lend a helping hand. It was finally my turn to be in charge and of course that typical older nurse with more years always companied about having to many hard patients and need to trade off one of his patients and when it came to his admit asked if I could take it and he would take the next one. I found myself being nonassertive and took the admit in order to keep peace and not hear him nagging all night. To make the story short the following patient he took but was taken to the operating room, two patients got discharged and only left him with two stable patients. While I was still in charge, ended up with six patients and no discharges. And still responsible for overseeing everyone else’s job. At the end of the day I was tired, mad and overwhelmed. All this gave great experiences to be more assertive in a positive way, explain my rational for how I divided the assignment and offered as much help as needed in order to work as a team for the best patient care. Effective communication is very important not only for the staff members but also with the patient and family member in order to achieve a positive outcome for the patient and for a positive work environment with stress free workplace. Always keep in mind that no matter how much effective communication we might have we are bond to run into conflicts, it just the way we decide to delegate and resolve problems for a positive environment. Aggressive communication can only  bring more problems instead of solving them. Assertive communication is always the best way to go because we show confident, respect and ability to work in a stress free workplace. Reference Hansten, R., Jackson, M. (2009). Clinical delegation skills: A handbook for professional practice. Jones and Bartlett Learning, 4(4th), 279-292.

Monday, January 20, 2020

aristotle :: essays research papers

In my opinion the consequences of our actions should play as a reminder in our effort to assess what is ethical behavior and what is not. It can be said as a reminder because, individuals may learn from their actions. The consequences of their actions are either ethical or not. Therefore, every time the individuals look back to their actions, they will remember whether the actions have left them a good result or not. Thus, they will create a habit that may help them to make choices on whether their actions are ethical or not. According to Aristotle’s theorizing of agency, there is a link between ethics and the idea of responsibility to actions performed voluntarily. Based on this explanation, individuals can actually choose their actions assessing which behavior is ethical and which one is not. Individuals live according to moral virtue, which means that they are involved in choosing actions properly. However, there is a moral question that keeps coming up, which is how the individuals choose the right course of action in any given situation. Human beings are both rational and passionate creatures. With their intelligence and emotion or desire, human beings make their decision. They realize that they have a natural function to choose what they think is right and wrong to obtain the â€Å"supreme Good.† More over if a human being follows his or her rational principle, he or she will reach the idea of a good life. The definition of a good life may be different for everyone. However, based on the Aristotle’s ethical theory, it is said that a good life is reached when individuals have fulfilled their proper natural function. There are two modes of thoughts whereby the practical mind apprehends variable, contingent truths. They are: art or technical skill and prudence or practical wisdom. The art of technical skill is the state where an individual make something with the involvement of true course of reasoning. With this skill, individuals can choose and make their decision with reasoning. Therefore, the effort of assessing what is ethical and what is not is made with this skill. Prudence or practical wisdom is where the individuals choose practical actions that are conducive to the sorts of goods. This is also where the individuals decide to take actions that are either good or bad for them. aristotle :: essays research papers In my opinion the consequences of our actions should play as a reminder in our effort to assess what is ethical behavior and what is not. It can be said as a reminder because, individuals may learn from their actions. The consequences of their actions are either ethical or not. Therefore, every time the individuals look back to their actions, they will remember whether the actions have left them a good result or not. Thus, they will create a habit that may help them to make choices on whether their actions are ethical or not. According to Aristotle’s theorizing of agency, there is a link between ethics and the idea of responsibility to actions performed voluntarily. Based on this explanation, individuals can actually choose their actions assessing which behavior is ethical and which one is not. Individuals live according to moral virtue, which means that they are involved in choosing actions properly. However, there is a moral question that keeps coming up, which is how the individuals choose the right course of action in any given situation. Human beings are both rational and passionate creatures. With their intelligence and emotion or desire, human beings make their decision. They realize that they have a natural function to choose what they think is right and wrong to obtain the â€Å"supreme Good.† More over if a human being follows his or her rational principle, he or she will reach the idea of a good life. The definition of a good life may be different for everyone. However, based on the Aristotle’s ethical theory, it is said that a good life is reached when individuals have fulfilled their proper natural function. There are two modes of thoughts whereby the practical mind apprehends variable, contingent truths. They are: art or technical skill and prudence or practical wisdom. The art of technical skill is the state where an individual make something with the involvement of true course of reasoning. With this skill, individuals can choose and make their decision with reasoning. Therefore, the effort of assessing what is ethical and what is not is made with this skill. Prudence or practical wisdom is where the individuals choose practical actions that are conducive to the sorts of goods. This is also where the individuals decide to take actions that are either good or bad for them.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Roll of thunder hear my cry

Tailor's novel shows how racism and injustice continues even after when black slavery was ended as it is an unfortunate part of America's history. Cassia experiences racism and injustice in the store at Strawberry since she was treated unfairly since she had to give priority to white people in the queue Just because of the color of her skin. In this essay, it will contain how racism and injustice Is shown when Cassia was at the store, how It affects the reader and the Intentions of the author In this passage.Racial discrimination Is when you are showing abusive behavior towards members of another race, In this case It Is Mr.. Barnett discriminating Cassia. Injustice Is shown throughout the passage as white people were superior to black people as they were segregated by the Jim Crow Laws which gave white people more power over black people. In the passage, Mildred D Taylor shows that racial discrimination still existed during the Great Depression as Cassia was racially abused. For exa mple, â€Å"Whose little Ruggeri Is this! This reveals that Mr.. Barnett Is a racist person as he Is purposely calling classes a â€Å"Ruggeri† which Is offensive to black people. The writers intention to use the word â€Å"Niger† was to show that it was an alternative word to call a black person and how it was used frequently during the Great Depression and the slavery times towards black people. This makes the reader understand the word â€Å"nighÐ’Â « was a word used every day and offensively towards black people during the Great Depression.It was also so common that white people felt it was alright to say â€Å"inning towards a black person since there was no consequences for saying a racist word as black people were inferior. However, even Hough the word â€Å"Niger made Cassia angry since she doesn't understand that white people were superior during the Great Depression but Stacey seems to understand and had to accept this as he is older than Cassia so th erefore, he has experienced more things such as this event but inside him, he retains his anger as he knows the consequences.This creates an effect on the reader as he/she would think this is vile and disgusting so therefore, since Cassia loves making revenge plans, the reader would be eager meaning that he/she will continue reading to find out more. This elapse the reader to understand that even after when black slavery was ended, black people were still continuously discriminated with the word â€Å"Niger† as the Jim Crow Laws kept white people superior to black people. Mildred D Taylor also shows that Injustice still existed during the Great Depression as black people were not allowed to question/speak up for themselves.For example â€Å"This gal your, Hazel? ‘ ‘No sun,' answered the women meekly, stepping hastily away to show she had nothing to do with me†. This shows that black people wasn't allowed to speak up for themselves because of the UK Klux Kla n as they threatened black people. The Jim Crow Laws allowed white people to gain superiority over black people so therefore; If a white person killing a black person, the white person will not be charged meaning that Injustice existed even when slavery was finished so black people lived In fear as Hazel was â€Å"stepping hastily away to show she had nothing to do with† Classes.The writer's Intention was to show that black people wasn't allowed to speak up for themselves so therefore, they still didn't have freedom even after slavery was ended people. This helps the reader to understand that during the Great Depression, black people were muzzled by white people because there was a lot of injustice and racism towards black people which made black people inferior. In the passage, black people were not allowed to touch white people which made black people inferior. For example, â€Å"and tugged on his shirt sleeve to get his attention.He recoiled as if I struck him†. Thi s shows that some white people like Mr.. Barnett didn't like to be touched by black people because he thinks that they are dirty and disgusting as he â€Å"recoiled† when Cassia tried to get his attention. From this, the writer's intention is to show that white people didn't like being in contact with black people as they think they are too superior to them during the Great Depression. The writer also showed that black people was viewed as dirty people so therefore, white people didn't allow black people to touch them.This helps the reader to understand that not only black people was discriminated but they wasn't allowed to touch white people which means they didn't have freedom as they couldn't touch white people and they were treated like filth. The writer also intended too â€Å"recoiled as if I struck him†. This creates an effect n the reader as it gives a better imagery of how Mr.. Barnett reacted when Cassia tried to get his attention. If a black person touched a white person then the black person would be punished and would probably be lynched Just because he touched a white person.This is similar to Emmett Till's case but instead he said â€Å"Bye, baby' to a white female as he was leaving a store but then he was tortured and murdered because of what he said. This shows that black people had no freedom as they could only do certain things towards a white person but instead white people would be able to do anything to them. In the passage, Mildred D Taylor shows that racial discrimination and injustice continued during the Great Depression as black people were treated unfairly. In this case, Mr.. Barnett treated Cassia as an inferior person so he told Cassia to get her â€Å"little black self back over there and wait some more†.This reveals that black people had to be served last in a queue which shows that black people were treated unfairly during the Great Depression as Cassia was forced to wait longer even though she waited for a while. Mr.. Barnett also shows no respect towards black people as he said â€Å"little black self†. The writer's intention is to show that black people was racially discriminated in a shop as they were treated unfairly and had to wait until all the white people was served during the Great Depression.This helps the reader to understand that even black children was racially discriminated during the Great Depression as Cassia had to wait longer until all white people was served but Cassia understands that adults â€Å"ruled things and there was nothing that could be don't about them. † This reveals that Cassia understands things about adults but doesn't understand why white people are superior to white people and also made Cassia upset as she was being so kind to Mr.. Barnett but Mr.. Barnett responded rudely.In conclusion, this passage helps the reader in many ways to understand the theme of racism and injustice such as understanding how life was like being a black per son during the Great Depression, how unfair it was and how they lived in fear such as when Cassia was racially abused by Mr.. Barnett. Injustice and racism is shown throughout the passage as Mr.. Barnett racially discriminates Cassia. The passage also helps the reader to understand the theme of racism and as when Hazel was scared and had to be silenced by Mr.. Barnett.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Inventor of the Mechanical Television System John Baird

John Logie Baird was born on August 13th, 1888, in Helensburgh, Dunbarton, Scotland and died on June 14th, 1946, in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England. John Baird received a diploma course in electrical engineering at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (now called Strathclyde University) and studied towards his Bachelor of Science Degree in electrical engineering from the University of Glasgow, interrupted by the outbreak of W.W.1. Early Patents Baird is best remembered for inventing a mechanical television system. During the 1920s, John Baird and American Clarence W. Hansell patented the idea of using arrays of transparent rods to transmit images for television and facsimiles respectively. Bairds 30 line images were the first demonstrations of television by reflected light rather than back-lit silhouettes. John Baird based his technology on Paul Nipkows scanning disk idea and later developments in electronics. John Baird Milestones The television pioneer created the first televised pictures of objects in motion (1924), the first televised human face (1925) and a year later he televised the first moving object image at the Royal Institution in London. His 1928 trans-Atlantic transmission of the image of a human face was a broadcasting milestone. Color television (1928), stereoscopic television and television by infra-red light were all demonstrated by Baird before 1930. He successfully lobbied for broadcast time with the British Broadcasting Company, the BBC started broadcasting television on the Baird 30-line system in 1929. The first simultaneous sound and vision telecast was broadcast in 1930. In July 1930, the first British Television Play was transmitted, The Man with the Flower in his Mouth. In 1936, the British Broadcasting Corporation adopted television service using the electronic television technology of Marconi-EMI (the worlds first regular high-resolution service - 405 lines per picture), it was that technology that won out over Bairds system.