Stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Stress - Essay Example Victims of terrorism are the most affected. They experience trauma for periods of time depending on the levels of shock. There are different types of victims, there are those who lose loved ones, those who witness the terror attack, those who survive the terror attack and those who hear about it first hand from close people. For example, in the September 2001 attack on the USA. Al Qaeda and Bin Laden attacks in the past have rendered so many afraid. The security system of the United States celebrates the death of Osama Bin Laden but however cannot forget the almost ten different attacks on their citizens and the many deaths caused by terrorists mostly of the Jihad culture. According to the USA security system, over seventy terror related reports were identified in a year in 2001. Many studies in the colleges and universities on terrorism and communication have in the recent past began. Post-traumatic stress has been common for the ones who lost loved ones. They experience a dis-attachment to the real world. According to Fields, the victims of terror experience a great feeling of loss. Some may feel guilty as to why they survived the 2001 terror attack. The incidents that happened recur in their minds and they are afraid that such an ordeal could happen again. The most common effect is isolation. It is easier for victims to isolate themselves from others; remain in the house or in familiar surroundings only. On the other hand, traumatic stress is characterized with the reluctance to express oneself. More so for the ones who witnessed a terror ordeal, they are withdrawn and they require guidance and therapy to overcome stress and trauma. The cost of living has in the past drastically changed. Each year, the cost of living keeps fluctuating. However, one thing is certain, life has become more expensive now than in the pats. There are more bills to pay and more that takes away

The Key Elements Of Gucci S Marketing Strategy Marketing Essay

The Key Elements Of Gucci S Marketing Strategy Marketing Essay With over 7,000 direct employees across the world, I believe we should all see ourselves as custodians of the Gucci brand-a brand that was here before all of us and one that will survive all of us. The long lasting values of the brand ultimately inform and guide every decision we make and they also inspire all of us along the way. -Patrizio di Marco: President and CEO, Gucci Renowned for its Italian craftsmanship, Gucci was founded in 1921 in Florence. Over 90 years Gucci has built a heritage of exclusivity, attention over quality and style, the Made in Italy label, innovation and craftsmanship (PPR, 2010b, pp 46) and is one of the worlds most desired luxury fashion brands (Nielsen Company, 2007). The Brand was highly successful in the 1950s as it became the status brand for Hollywood film stars and European royalty. However, by 1980s Gucci lost its appeal and significant losses were made in the business (Jackson and Haird, 2003). Domenico de Soles financial acumen and Tom Fords creativity transformed Gucci as a successful brand in the 1990s. In 1999 Pinault-Printemps-Redoute purchased the controlling stake and owned Gucci. With the departure of Tom Ford and De Sole, Frida Gianini took the control in 2005. Globalisation helps the evolving luxury market to expand. Factors like growing consumer expectations, clear brand positioning, pursuit for authenticity, exclusivity, differentiation contribute to intensify the competition between luxury brands with high aspirational values (Baker and Sterenberg, 2003). Gucci is among the top 10 luxury brands considering brand value in the latest survey by Interbrand. In the array of luxury market Gucci competes with brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Burberry, Ferragamo, Dior, Dolce Gabbana, Versace, etc. http://www.interbrand.com/images/studies/luxury_table.jpg Interbrand Leading Luxury Brands 2009 Rankings: The top 15 Luxury Brands. (Interbrand, 2009d) 2009 Rank 2008 Rank 2007 Rank Brand Country of Origin Sector 2008 Brand Value ($m) 2009 Brand Value ($m) Change in Brand Value in 2008 Change in Brand Valuein 2009 16 16 17 France Luxury 21,602 21,120 6% -2% 41 45 46 Italy Luxury 8,254 8,182 7% -1% 59 60 58 France Luxury 6,355 6,040 9% -5% 70 76 73 France Luxury 4,575 4,598 8% 1% 87 91 94 Italy Luxury 3,585 3,530 9% -2% 98 New United Kingdom Luxury 3,095 New* 99 New United States Luxury 3,094 New* Interbrand Best Global Brands rankings. (Interbrand, 2009d). In order to sustain in the competitive luxury market and define a clear brand positioning and maintain it, brands adopt innovative marketing strategies. The Marketing mix tools like the traditional 4 Ps: product, price, promotion and place along with recently added people, process and physical evidence propel the decisions in direction of the market success. Brands need to provide right product, at right price, in right place and at right promotion in order to match the consumer needs and demands. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, Prada are in close competition. In order to create an emotional attachment between brands and consumers, brands try to convey an image and personality that customer aspires to. Louis Vuitton has been a byword for stylish elegance and sophistication (Louis vuitton, 2009). Gucci is perceived as smart, sexy, modern whereas Prada has an image of modern, trendy yet sophisticated. Chanel is very classic and elegant. Also, Chanel and Louis Vuitton were founded in France and Gucci and Prada in Italy. According to the Interbrand survey for Italys most valuable brands Gucci Ranked first (6,388 million euro) followed by Prada (2,775 million euro). Guccis pricing strategy in 1993 positioned itself below Hermes and Chanel and at par with Prada and Louis Vuitton (Kwak, 2001). Gucci and Pradas product lines include leather goods, ready-to-wear, jewellery, footwear, silks, timepieces, eyewear, skincare, home decor and fragrances. Louis Vuitton has the categories which Gucci has, although Louis Vuitton indulges even in writing instruments and textiles besides Chanel extends into sport accessories .Gucci products are sold in 283 directly operated stores at end of 2009 and in selected departmental stores as well as specialist stores (PPR, 2010b). Intending to accelerate the growth of brand, Prada stated to double the number of directly operating stores in 2007. Considering Guccis 2009 revenue breakdown by geographical area, maximum revenue was from Asia- Pacific region while Europe which includes fashion forward London, Paris and Milan contribute almost equal to Japan. Breakdown of 2009 revenue by product category Breakdown of 2009 revenue by geographical area C:UsersAdminDesktopgucci 1PPR Gucci_filesGucciCAcat-EN.jpg C:UsersAdminDesktopgucci 1PPR Gucci_filesGucciCAzone-EN.jpg (PPR- Gucci: Gucci Group ,2010a) Gucci Chanel Prada Louis Vuitton Year of establishment 1921 1909 1913 1854 Country of origin Italy France Italy France Known for Leather goods Fashion and perfumes Leather goods Leather goods and Luggage bags Current Designer Frida Giannini Karl Lagerfeld Miuccia Prada Marc Jacob Product categories Ready-to-wear, canvas and leather goods, bags, footwear, fine jewellery, fragrances, eyewear, watches, travel and business bags, home dà ©cor , etc. Ready-to-wear, fragrances, make-up skincare, eyewear, hats, leather goods, sports accessories, fine jewellery, etc. Ready-to-wear, Nylon bags, leather goods, footwear, Fine jewellery, eyewear, fragrances, travel and luggage bags, Prada phones, etc Ready-to-wear, leather goods, travel bags, footwear, bags, eyewear, watches, writing instruments, home goods, textiles, city guides ,etc. Ad campaign theme Forever now , Spring Summer 2010 Spring Summer 2010= First Spring and lookbook Spring Summer 2010 Store locations Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America. Has 283 Directly operated stores. Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America, Oceania. Asia, Middle East, Far east, Europe, North America, South America. Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America. Comparison of brands on basic criteria. Louis Vuitton and Chanels brand image differentiates them from Italian brands like Gucci and Prada which target towards a similar target market which is modern and fashion conscious. Gucci and Prada indulge into similar product lines and pricing levels getting them into closer competition. In 1990s during revamping the brand image of Gucci an important decision made was to develop a strategy expressing Gucci has changed. Brand communication plays a vital role in redrawing the image (Jackson and Shaw, 2006). During the recession competitor brands are trying to be more distinctive. Chairman and CEO Gucci, Patrizio di Marco and his team adopted the strategy to strengthen and fine tune its positioning in the luxury goods market by focusing on its heritage and craftsmanship stressing on balanced brand equity in marketing and communication (PPR, 2010b). It also included cost cutting, adjustments to pricing, global store designs concept and structure simplification. As per Interbrands report 2009b, among global luxury brands, Prada spends highest in marketing and advertising and continued to invest more in social and cultural initiatives, brand extensions and communication. Important factors that help in building brand image. (Moore and Britwistle, 2005) http://www.luxuo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/lara-stone-louis-vuitton-ss2010.jpg http://www.themagentalinks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/prada-lookbook4.jpg Image no.1 : Louis vuitton spring summer 2010 Image no.2: Prada Lookbook 2010. (The Fashion time Magazine, 2010) (AMO, 2010) http://frillr.com/files/images/Chanel%20Spring-Summer%202010%20Womens%20Ad%20Campaign.preview.jpghttp://images.gucci.com/images/campaigns/spring-summer-10/full/ss10_campaign_4.jpg Image no.3 : Chanel Spring Summer 2010 Image no.4 : Gucci Spring Summer 2010 ad Ad campaign. campaign. (Bang Jaslyn, 2010) (Gucci, 2010a) Advertising which is guided by current market scenario and competitive environment, helps in communicating and building brand image as it creates powerful image and message to gain customers attention (Jackson and Shaw, 2009, pp.161). Luxury brands communicate their values and aura to the consumers to prove experience through images that operate on aesthetic and expressionist level (Salzer-Mà ¶rling and Strannegard, 2004). Visually stimulating Guccis Spring summer 2010 campaign focuses on sensuality with modernity and Pradas Lookbook 2010 displays uniqueness and creativity. Guccis Ad campaign Forever now launched in 2010 depicts the importance of connecting past and present. The campaign uses images from 1950s focuses on heritage and craftsmanship. Gucci focusing on tradition introduced an Artisan Corner an event where houses skilled artists will travel to Guccis VIP stores where the craftsmanship will be brought to customers sight. Similarly, Pradas film ad campaign 2010 titled First Spring shot by Chinese artist in Shanghai depicts the tension between the straight and gay tensions of silent intimacy (James, 2010). However, the black and white effect of the video takes us into flashback and it depicts that anything is possible in timeless and dreamlike realm. Louis Vuittons ad campaign is inspired from new age traveller, while Chanels countryside rural chic look ad campaign displays beauty and elegance. http://images.gucci.com/images/campaigns/forever-now/full/forever_now_camp_1.jpg Image no. 5 : Guccis Forever now ad campaign 2010(Gucci ,2010b) Prada menswear First Spring by Yang Fudongà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ½ Spring/Summer 2010http://blog.la76.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/prada-2.jpghttp://blog.la76.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/prada-5.jpghttp://blog.la76.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/prada-8.jpg Image no. 6: Pradas 2010 ad campaign First Spring. (Fashioning.com, 2010) Prada attempts to spread a social message to reduce tensions between straight and gay people. Also, Prada signed PETAs campaign in 2007 to ban cruelty against animals and eliminate fur usage from fashion. Gucci and UNICEF partnership began in 2005, since then Gucci consistently support education and healthcare programmes for orphans and HIV/AIDS affected children. Gucci embraces philanthropy taking new initiatives and ad campaigns to support the partnership like specially designed accessories collection, White Tattoo Heart collection (2008) featuring Rihanna in its campaign, Book Snowman in Africa, fundraising event with Madonna, Gucci for UNICEF Baboushka bag etc. Professor John Fernie said Alliance between charity n business is the perfect way to build brand awareness and establish brand credibility and ultimately boost profits, (McDougall, 2006). As metioned on philanthrpohy section of Guccis official website, Gucci in collaboration with the Film Foundation has made travelling sc reening movie of the restored movies to save the treasures in cinemas called Cinema Visionaries. Proceeding in 2010, to increase online presence and reach online customers, brands are delving into digital communication. Brand affiliation is aided by the application of appropriate functionality tools (Okonkwo, 2007). Focusing on innovation Gucci launched lifestyle application for iPhone and iPod touch. Guccis application offers access to products, fashion shows, playlists, city guides, news, ability to compose own music etc. Prada launched Prada phones in collaboration with LG in 2007. The LG designed Prada phone incorporates features like video player, high pixel camera and MP3 player. Chanel also has application on iPhone which shows Chanels runway collections. http://images.gucci.com/images/stills/gucci_app_3.jpghttp://www.gsmflorida.com/cart/images/lg-ke850.jpg Image No. 7: Gucci application for iPhone. Image No. 8: LG designed Prada Phone. (Gucci news, 2010) (Mossesgeld, 2007) Luxury atmosphere, aesthetics and appealing luxury stores reflect the brand personality and spread the brand message into the subconscious and psychological levels on a consumer mind (Okonkwo, 2007). Following the strategic concept of global store design by Creative Director Frida Giannini ,Gucci is renovating its stores to embrace the luxurious experience of shopping which complements the brands heritage and exclusivity. In October, 2009 Gucci launched a travelling sneaker store in New York which will later move to London and Tokyo in spring 2010. Similarly proving its exclusiveness, Prada took a radical approach towards the store architecture through Prada Epicenter which communicates a distinct identity into customers mind which is in quest for something new. http://images.gucci.com/images/stills/sloane_st_5.jpg Image no. 9: Gucci Sloane street, London Store renovated under the Global store design concept. (WallPaper, 2010) http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/11/new_retail/image/prada_tokyo_p27.jpg Image no.10: Prada Epicenter (Herzog de Muron,2003). [Accessed on 14 November 2009] With Economic downturn, it is highly important for brands to provide distinctive experience to consumers. Brands are striving to create a brand image congruent to the customers image (Aaker and Biehl, 1993) and meet customer needs and demands. Gucci has adopted the strategy to be true to its long lasting values and expand its presence, tune its brand image and positioning by emphasising on the rich 90 years history, heritage and core essence of the brand into its marketing and brand communication coinciding with modernity and aspirational values (Gucci, 2010a). Brands like Prada are using tactful strategies focusing on parameters like timeless, authenticity, social values and culture. Louis Vuitton differentiates its customers through its brand image, brand values in terms of turnover and advertising. Chanel though is close to Gucci considering turnover it targets a more elegant, sophisticated target. Hence, Prada is the closest competitor to Gucci by comparing them on brand communic ation like advertising, philanthropy and an attempt to standout in the terms of store designs. REFERANCES : Aaker, D. (1991), Managing Brand Equity, The Free Press, New York, NY. Aaker, D. and Biehl A. (1993), Brand Equity and Advertising, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ. Baker, M., Foy,A,( 2003) Business and Management Research. United Kingdom : Westburn Publishers Ltd. Baker, M., Sterenberg, G. ( 2003) Managing global brands to meet consumer expectations. ESOMAR ,Global Cross-Industry Forum, Research International Qualitatif, December 2003. Barnes James G. (2003) Establishing meaningful customer relationships: why some companies and brands mean more to their customers. Managing Service quality, Vol. 13(3) pp. 178-186. Campbell, C. , Falk, P. (1997) : The Shopping Experience . London: Sage Publications, pp : 67-73, 166-72. Chadha, R. , Husband, P. (2006) The cult of the Luxury Brand- Inside Asias Love Affair with Luxury. London Nicolas Brealey International , pp.25-63, 149, 178, 267-77,280. Crask, M.R., Laskey, H.A. ( 1990), A positioning-based decision model for selecting advertising messages,  Journal of Advertising Research  , Vol. 30 No.4, pp.32-8. Davidson, B., Webb, Bill (2006) :Fashion Retailing, Chapter 6.In Jackson, T., Shaw, D. The Fashion Handbook. London: Routledge , pp: 105-126 Diamond, J., Lift, S. (2003) : Retailing in the new millennium. New York: Fairchild Publications. Easey, M. ( 1995) Fashion Marketing, India, Blackwell Publishing , pp.174-177. Gucci (2010a) Gucci news [Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 6th March 2010] Gucci (2010b) Gucci philanthrophy [Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 11th March 2010] Hines, T., Bruce, M. (2008) Fashion Marketing- Contemporary Issues. Hungary, Elsevier, pp. 132-133,198-99, 234-36. Husic, M., Cicic, M. (2009) Luxury consumption factors. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol.13 (2) pp231-245. Interbrand ( 2009a) Patrizio di Marco , President and Chief Executie Officer Gucci : More interviews with Global Brand Leaders [Internet]. Available From [Accessed on 8 March 2010]. Interbrand (2009b) Interbrand unveils Italys most valuable global brands [Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 11th March 2010] Interbrand (2009c) Italys 10 most valuable global brands [Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 11th March 2010] Interbrand (2009d) Best Global Brands 2009 rankings, Interbrand-Creating and Managing Brand Value, [Internet].Available from http://www.interbrand.com/best_global_brands.aspx?year=2009langid=1000 [Accessed on 18th February 2010]. Jackson, T. and Haird, C. (2003), Gucci Group: the new family of luxury brands, International Journal of New Product Development and Innovation Management, Vol. 4 No. 2,pp. 161-72. Jackson, T., Shaw, D. (2006) The Fashion Handbook. London: Routledge, pp. 61-3. 72-81, 105-08, 127. Jackson ,T., Shaw ,D. (2009) : Mastering Fashion Marketing. Palgrave Macmillan, pp: 112-117,161. James ( 2010) Pradas First Spring by Yang Fudong [Internet]. Available from [Accesssed on 12th March 2010]. Keynote ( 2009) Clothing Retailing 2009 [Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 12th March 2010] Kapferer, J.-N. (1992), Strategic Brand Management, The Free Press, New York, NY. Kwak, Mary (2001) Gucci Group N.V. (A). Boston, MA, Harvard Business School, 10th May 2001. Louis Vuitton (2009) The World of Louis Vuitton- The art of travel [Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 11th March 2010] McDougall, d. (2006) World: Now charity staff hit at cult of celebrity: Workers for childrens charity Unicef say celebrity campaigns and fashion company deals are hurting its image, reports Dan McDougall in Islamabad. The Oserver ( London, England) , 26th November 2006, pp.38 . Moore, C. and Birtwistle, G. (2004), The Burberry business model: creating an international luxury brand, International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, Vol. 32 No. 8, pp. 412-22, ISSN 0959-0552. Moore, C., Fernie, J. (2004), Retailing within an international context, in Bruce, M., Moore, C., Birtwistle, G. (Eds),International Retail Marketing; A Case Study Approach, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, pp.3-37. Moore, C., Britwistle, G. (2005) The nature of parenting advantage in luxury fashion retailing- the case of Gucci group NV. International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, Vol. 33(4) ,pp 256-270. Moore, C.M. and Doherty, A.M. (2007), The international flagship stores of luxury fashion retailers, in Hines, T. and Bruce, M. (Eds), Fashion Marketing: Contemporary Issues, Butterworth Heinemann, London. Nielson Company (2007) Gucci reigns as the most coveted luxury brand in the world, Market Research World [Internet]. Available from [accessed on 16 February 2010] Nunes, P., Johnson, B. (2004) Mass Affluence- 7 New rules of marketing to todays consumer. Boston ( Massachusetts), Harvard Business School Press. Palmer, A. (2009) Introduction to fashion marketing, 2nd Edition- Theory and Practice. Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp. 420-23. Okonkwo, U. (2007) Luxury Fashion Branding. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.15-25, 30-37, 132-67, 173-78, 220-23, 260, 278-83, 310. PPR ( 2010a) Gucci: Gucci Group [Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 10 March 2010] PPR (2010b) PPR 2009 Financial Document [ Internet]. Available from [Accessed on 8th March 2010] Preiholt, H.,Hagg, C. (2006) Growth opportunities in Luxury goods and real estate. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 10 (1),pp114-119. Salzer- Mà ¶rling, M., Strannegard, L. (2004) Silence of the brands. European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 38 (1/2) pp. 224-238. Schmitt, B. (1999) Experiential Marketing- How to get customers to Sense, Feel, think, act, relate. New York, The Free Press, pp.72-6. Triplett, T. (1994), Brand personality must be managed or it will assume a life of its own, Marketing News, Vol. 28 No. 10, p. 9. Unknown ( 2009) From Prada to Zara: is the global recession out of fashion. Strategic Direction, Vol. 25(3), pp 9-11. IMAGE REFERANCES : Image no.1 : The Fashion Time magazine (2010)Louis vuitton spring summer 2010- Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2010 ad campaigb :Lara Stone by Steven [Online Image]. Available from [Accessed on 12th March 2010] Image no.2: AMO (2010) Prada Lookbook 2010- PRADA- The Spring/ Summer 2010 Lookbook [Online Image]. Available from [Accessed on 10th March 2010] Image no.3 : Jaslyn Bang (2010) Chanel Spring Summer 2010-Chanel Spring/Summer 2010 Ad campaign [Online Image].4th Jan 2010.Available from [Accessed on 16th March 2010] Image no.4 : Gucci (2010a) Gucci Spring Summer 2010 ad campaign- Ad campaign Spring Summer 10 [Online Image]. Available from [Accessed on 8th march 2010]. Image no. 5 : Gucci (2010b) Guccis Forever now ad campaign 2010- ad campaign Forever now [Online Image]. Available from [Accessedmon 10th March 2010]. Image no. 6: Fashioning.com (2010) Pradas 2010 ad campaign First Spring- Prada menswear first spring by Yang Fudong Spring/Summer 2010 [Online Image]. Available from [Accessed on 12th March 2010] Image No. 7: Gucci news (2010) Gucci application for iPhone- Guccinews,gucci app [Online Image]. Available from [Accessed on 12th March 2010] Image No. 8: Mossesgeld (2007) LG designed Prada Phone- The LG Prada phone set tp launch on March 22 [Online Image]. Available from [Accessed on 12th March 2010]. Image no. 9: WallPaper (2010) Gucci Sloane street, London Store renovated under the Global store design concept -Retail Directory 2009[Online Image ]. Available from [Accessed on 13th March 2010] Image no.10: Herzog De Muron(2003),Prada Epicentre [online image].Available from [Accessed on 12th March 2010]

Ernest Hemingways The Sun Also Rises - Lost Generation :: Hemingway Sun Also Rises Essays

THE SUN ALSO RISES - Lost Generation Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises (1926) has been considered the essential prose of the Lost Generation. Its theme of alienation and detachment reflected the attitudes of its time. In fact, the term "Lost Generation" was originally coined in a conversation by Gertrude Stein, a member of the expatriate circle in 1920's Paris. While spontaneous and meaningless when first spoken, the expression would unwittingly go on to become the label for the expatriates from the United States and England who had rejected traditional American and British conventions for the more appealing lifestyle of Left Bank, Paris. Congregating in cafés located along the Boulevard Montparnasse to drink, talk and watch the crowds pass by, the Lost Generation was comprised of exiles who had spurned the pre-war values of love, romanticism, optimism, prosperity and hope that they had grown up believing in, all shattered by the war. As well as the glitter and potential of the Great Boom of the 1920's, which they now saw as American and money-based, and therefore corrupt and insincere. Unable to reconcile themselves with their past beliefs, and unwilling to accept those of their present mainstream society, the Lost Generation was left morally bankrupt and spiritually sterile, with only the fleeting pleasures of alcohol and sexual promiscuity as comfort. Many Americans in Paris became bohemian writers and artists as a reactionary protest to the business- and consumer-based culture in the United States, their days spent lounging in cafés and their nights hopping from one meaningless relationship to the next. For the Lost Generation, love, hope and religion were foreign concepts after WWI, replaced by a world of sexual liberty and moral indifference. The lounging in the cafes and the promiscuity of the generation is very much connected with their traumas from the War. They are suffering from post-traumatic stress and are trying to deal with it. In 1926, Ernest Hemingway wrote The Sun Also Rises, a semi-autobiography based on his adventures in France and Spain in 1924-25. Despite having already received moderate critical acclaim for his prior works, it would be this novel that would gain him international success and make him the leader of the so-called Lost Generation.

Bad Boys and Why They Are Not Naughty by Nature but by Culture

Samantha Latting Charise Albritton Sociology 3255 4 April 2013 Bad Boys And Why They Are Not Naughty By Nature But By Culture â€Å"Don’t Believe the Hype. † I believe the title of the very first chapter perfectly introduces and summarizes Bad Boys: Public Schools in the Making of Black Masculinity. These young boys are adultified and are tied to these two controlling images of the criminal and the endangered species. The way these young boys are treated in school is a parallel to how they will be treated in juvenile detentions centers and in a lot of cases the penal system when they reach adulthood.Due to the adultification and controlling images black male youth develop different coping mechanisms to deal with these negative assumptions they know are made about them. This includes they way they act out in their classrooms. The way in which these young boys are behaving is not because they are â€Å"naughty by nature,† it is an act, or a defense mechanism that i s brought upon by how they are treated by educators and other authority figures. [Black boys] are not seen as childlike but adultified; as black males, they are denied the masculine dispensation constituting white males as being ‘naturally naughty’ and are discerned as willfully bad (80). † School is supposed to be a place where children learn, develop and grow. However, when a child is adultified this cannot really occur. This means that adults they interact with believe that their future is pre-determined. A common phrase used without the book is â€Å"that kid has a jail cell with his name on it. When educators have this kind of mentality where they believe they are not going to be able to change this student they do not attempt to—in their head they are as developed, as they will ever be, just as an adult would be. The two controlling images that are tied to adultification are the criminal and the endangered species (83). Criminalization was touched on a bit when the bit about teachers believing the child would end up in jail was mentioned. Young black males and their actions and transgressions â€Å"are made to take on a sinister, intentional, fully conscious tone that is stripped of any element of childish naivete (83). The second controlling image, the endangered species, is a mirror image of the criminal. By calling the young black male an endangered species we’re saying they are in an obsolete stage of social evolution. When looking at the boys in either light, as a criminal or as an endangered species â€Å"contemporary imagery proclaims black males to be responsible for their own fate. The discourse of individual choice and responsibility elides the social and economic context and locates predation as coming from within (82). This means that although it may be said that the black male is in control of his own actions the discourses in which we view them actually says the opposite; that people believe that they are , once again, naughty by nature. Black male youth have too frequent relationships with the penal system, which could be, in part, because of this naughty by nature belief. Due to profiling and stereotyping their chances of entering the juvenile detention system is high and there is an even higher chance of being jailed as an adult (233).We see the criminality and demonization of black male youth that was present in their school experiences in the penal system as well. This process is repeated through â€Å"surveillance, policing, charges, and penalties (233). † Black male youth perform masculinity using three strategies. These strategies are gendered acts, classroom performance, and fighting. Gendered acts means the boys act as aggressors and treat the females as victims. These strategies often get the boys in trouble, however it is a way for him to make a place for himself as a ‘real boy. These gendered acts are not just imitation; they are a â€Å"highly strategic at tachment to a social category that has political effects (171). † Performance in the classroom is also a tactic used to perform masculinity. It is â€Å"fundamental to the masculine performance is engagement with power. † In the book there are several instances of black male youth causing classroom disruptions. This could include laughing, constantly talking, interrupting, being loud, being sassy, demanding other’s attention, etc. The kids see most of these acts as humorous and times of self-expression (175).Some kids are stars at these performances. The performances are rituals that involve their own script, roles, and timing. â€Å"These dramatic moments are sites for the presentations of a potent masculine presence in the classroom (176). † The ‘good bad boy’ engages power, makes the class laugh, takes risks and makes the teacher smile (176). The final tactic used to perform masculinity is fighting. In the book, fighting is the most common offense in which students are sent to the Punishing Room and the vast majority of the offenders are African American males (180).Students are told that fighting is not the answer; if someone tries to start a fight with you then you should tell a teacher and allow them to intervene. However, this goes against the code of masculinity. Letting an adult intervene is a sign of weakness. Another reason children don’t want teachers to intervene is because they don’t believe an adult can really change the relationship between kids. The only thing she can really do is instruct them to stop (180). Black male youth develop coping mechanisms in response to the reception they receive in public.Included in these mechanisms are â€Å"processes of identification, the formation of self at the conjecture of how one is seen an how one sees oneself. (125). † On one level the boys brush off the fear and surveillance as flattering and a sign of their ability to attract attention and be noticed (125). This can be a temporarily rewarding reaction. However, on another level â€Å"identities are constituted in relationship to the perceptions and expectations of other people (125). † The act the boys are putting on becomes a reality—they reinforce the idea of this stereotype of behavior.We can look at Horace to personify these examples. Horace is prepared to fight both physically and verbally. He has learned that in public he needs to challenge authority. His fighting has earned him respect and authority among his peers. This is easily tied in to how classroom performance plays a role in masculinity, which was briefly touched upon before. For African American boys this performance in the classroom of being a ‘class clown’ or causing other disruptions â€Å"invokes cultural conventions of speech performance that draws on a black repertoire (178). This performance in the classroom is a way for African American boys to establish their desire d reputation and to make a name for themselves, as well as achieve status at school. Don’t simply believe the hype and stereotypes surrounding black male youth. They are not â€Å"naughty by nature,† but by the culture in which they live and learn in. These boys are adultified and seen as a criminals and/or an endangered species. Many times this ‘bad’ behavior is simply an act to achieve masculinity and status among peers and over time becomes reality.This is one of the coping mechanisms that these boys develop to deal with the way they are treated and perceived by the adults in their lives. They way these authority figures at school treat them is very similar to how they will be treated in juvenile detentions centers (which they are likely to encounter) and by people in the penal system in which they very well may be subjected to as adults. The behavior of these young boys is due to a cause and effect relationship between how they are treated by their edu cators and other adults in positions of authority.

Childhood and Adulthood

Men face various phases of life. From being just a little fetus inside the mother’s womb, to being a toddler, a child, a teenager and then an adult, these phases are all being faced by any man and woman. And each phase is equally challenging as the others†¦ challenging for both the person him/herself and the people around him/her who have been watching and guiding him/her all the way.The most compared among these phases are childhood and adulthood. This is not only because these two phases are entirely opposite in terms physical attributes of the person himself, but also because of the number of other aspects which all seem to be on opposite sides. But, it is also worth considering that however opposite these two may look like, there are still worth noting similarities that are evident in the people going through these phases.Childhood and Adulthood DifferencesChildhood covers the age between 2-17 years old for women and 2-20 years old for men. Adulthood, on the other han d, starts when the person reaches maturity and that’s 18 years old for women and 2 years old for the men. But the difference is not merely on the numbers as there is more to it than that.During childhood years, the person seems to cling and acting like totally dependent to the people around him. The parents, older brothers or sisters, aunts, uncles and even the older neighbors will serve will be looked up to by the child.They will be the people whom the child will depend in terms of the most basic needs he has such as food, clothing, shelter, education and much more. Whereas the adults, they are more dependent onto themselves alone. The already learned how to feed themselves and even look for the means where he can get his own food. Even his clothing is not provided by anyone else but himself alone.Much more, at this phase of his life, he may already have a shelter of his own or he is already saving for one. At the same time, the basic educational level – primary and s econdary – is already finished and its either he is finished or almost finished with the tertiary level. This would mean that he can be a university student, a university graduate or already part of the country’s workforce.In terms of responsibilities, there is also a big difference between childhood and adulthood. During childhood, the person himself is not accountable to anything. It will be his parents or his guardians who will be responsible for whatever actions he may commit o whatever decisions he will made.In fact, the child is normally no allowed to do any decision by himself. He is always guided and looked upon to. Wherever he may go, he needs to ask his parents’ or guardians’ permission. Whatever he wants to do, may it be for his life or for his things, he will need to consult his parents and/or guardians first.If in times he commits mistakes, it will be his guardians or his parents who will take the blame. And they are the very people who will teach the child on how to learn from such mistakes. In the same manner, if in moments of challenging times wherein the child commit some deviant behaviors making him to sway away from the righteous parts, it will be the parents or the guardians who will be accountable for such deviant acts because it would seem that they have not given the right moral education for the child.To sum up, during the phase of childhood, it will be the guardians’ and/or the parents’ responsibility to hone the child according to the society’s moral standards and they will be the very people ho will hold sole responsibility for the child – his actions, ways of thinking etc.Meanwhile, as for the adulthood, the exact opposite happens. The person who just reached maturity and adult phase of his life will then have to be accountable for all his actions and decisions. He will now be the one to decide for himself and even for the little ones who are now looking up to him. He will have to decide what he wants to do with his life.He will be deciding whether to continue working or not. He will be deciding whether to move and build a house of his own or stay where e is right now. Every big and little decision will be entirely on his shoulders during this stage.Not only that, he may need to take responsibility for making decisions for other people who are now depending on him. Because he just reach the age where he may have his own family and kids, he needs to ensure that not only himself is safe from troubles and problems, he must take into consideration his own kids and other family members. In short, as one reaches adulthood, it would mean that the person himself is accountable for himself and other people.It would seem that he will be returning the favor that his parents or guardians did when he was just o the childhood phase. Now it will be his time to serve as the role model for the youngsters. Now it will be his time to take the blame when he did something sha meful and deviant. Now it will be his time to be responsible for the wrongdoings that his kids may have done.In terms of financials, there is also very big difference. Because during the childhood phase, the child is not responsible to anything, it just a common tendency that he will no be worrying about the money. Thus, he would just want to buy things (with his guardians’ or parents’ permission of course) without thinking of where to get the money or what will happen for the future.Whereas when he reaches adulthood, he will tend to be very practical in terms of financial consumption. This is brought by the fact that he is the one earning and will have to be responsible whether he will have enough saved money. He will need to learn to prioritize things which item is necessary, which item is just for luxury, etc.SimilaritiesAs for the similarities, most will be on the psychological part. The likes and dislikes of the person facing the different phase of his life may st ay the same. Like for example, if the child dislikes some things or have some phobias over some things, this dislike and/or fear will remain until he reaches adulthood.Also it is very typical for the child to act like an adult during role-playing while it is also typical for adults to act childlike some times during the adulthood. Thus, this sows that whether childhood or adulthood phase, the person himself is accepting what may lie ahead in the future or what he was when he was just a child.ConclusionIndeed, there is a big difference between childhood and adulthood. The physical appearance definitely changes. The level of responsibility grows from nothing to everything.The awareness of financial accountabilities changes from being guided upon to being the driver or the person-in-charge. It is really a big change that every person faces as he moves on with his life. Bu however challenging and different each phase may be, each phase is always worth looking forward to.

War World I essays

War World I essays During the summer of 1914 World War I had begun when Austria-Hungary declared on Serbia. Nobody knew that twenty-one years later another world war would spark. Both wars very different because of the age gap but very alike on the subject of war. World War I began in the Balkans, where Archduke Francis Ferdinand heir to the Austria-Hungary throne was assassinated. Austria-Hungary accused Serbia of the assassination of their Archduke which would spark the beginning of a war. Austria-Hungary gained a promise of support for any action it took against Serbia. A list of demands was then sent to Serbia from Austria-Hungary. Serbia accepted most of the demands. Serbia then offered to have the rest settled by an international conference. When Austria-Hungary did not accept the offer they declared war on Serbia and expected a quick victory. World War II began on September 1st, 1989 when Germany declared war on Poland, Poland being the largest country for the Jewish population. Adolf Hitler had turned Germany into a war machine. Germany now powerful as ever crushed Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and France. World War I and World War II both had Germany on the enemy side against the US. Both of the wars were actually because of Germany, Germany backed Austria-Hungary which declared war on Serbia in WWI. Germany invaded Poland in WWII which caused the war to begin. WWI was a bit shorter than WWII which lasted for six years, where WWI lasted only about 4 years. In WWI Germany invaded only a few countries with the battles whereas in WWII Germany took over many countries with Hitler in power. Both of the wars were hoped as to be quick victories but that never happened. Also with both of the wars the US always started out as staying neutral until they were bought into the wars. In WWII the rise of dictatorships had come into play in Italy, Japan, the Soviet Union, and Germany. With WWI there were no set dictatorships...

Aron Copland essays

Aron Copland essays Aaron Copland wrote a ballet about one of the most famous western gangsters in history: Billy the Kid. The work was written in 1938 and remained popular for over a decade. Unfortunately, his works are no longer heard or performed often enough today. In my opinion, Copland is one of the greatest American performers in music history, but he is not given the recognition he deserves by todays society. By looking at Coplands works and analyzing his Billy the Kid, the necessary proof of his greatness will, without question, show the fact that he is one of the greatest American composers of all time. Aaron Copland, whose family name was changed from Kapland by immigration officials in New York, was born on November 14, 1900 and died December 2, 1990. His parents were of Lithuanian Jewish descent. His parents emigrated from Russia to the United States. His father owned a department store and they did not live lavishly. As he explained, I was born on November 14, 1900 on a street in Brooklyn that can only be described as drab. It had none of the garish color of the ghetto, none of the charm of an old New England thoroughfare, or even a pioneer street....i He began to take piano lessons at the age of fourteen under the tutelage of his sister Laurine. Soon he wanted more professional lessons. Despite the fact that his four elder siblings had taken lessons with no success, he convinced his parents to pay for lessons. I distinctly remember with what fear and trembling I knocked on the door of Mr. Leopold Wolfsohns piano studio on Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn, and-once again all by myself-arranged for piano lessons.i The idea of composing music was not connected...with my family or with my street.iii By the age of 18 he had graduated high school and decided to devote all his time and energy to music. Under the direction of Rubin Goldmark he studied t...

The History of Life on Earth

The History of Life on Earth The Carboniferous Period is a geologic time period that took place between 360 to 286 million years ago. The Carboniferous Period is named after the rich coal deposits that are present in rock layers from this time period. The Age of Amphibians The Carboniferous Period is also known as the Age of Amphibians. It is the fifth of six geologic periods that together make up the Paleozoic Era. The Carboniferous Period is preceded by the Devonian Period and followed by the Permian Period. The climate of the Carboniferous Period was quite uniform (there were no distinct seasons) and it was more humid and tropical than our present-day climate. The plant life of the Carboniferous Period resembled modern tropical plants. The Carboniferous Period was a time when the first of many animal groups evolved: the first true bony fishes, the first sharks, the first amphibians, and the first amniotes. The appearance of the amniotes is evolutionarily significant because of the amniotic egg, the defining characteristic of amniotes, enabled the ancestors of modern reptiles, birds, and mammals to reproduce on land and colonize terrestrial habitats that were previously uninhabited by vertebrates.   Mountain Building The Carboniferous Period was a time of mountain building when the collision of the Laurussian and Gondwanaland land masses formed the supercontinent Pangea. This collision resulted in the uplifting of mountain ranges such as the Appalachian Mountains, the Hercynian Mountains, and the Ural Mountains. During the Carboniferous Period, the vast oceans that covered the earth often flooded the continents, creating warm, shallow seas. It was during this time that the armored fish that had been abundant in the Devonian Period became extinct and were replaced by more modern fishes. As the Carboniferous Period progressed, the uplifting of landmasses resulted in an increase in erosion and the building of floodplains and river deltas. The increased freshwater habitat meant that some marine organisms such as corals and crinoids died out. New species that were adapted to the reduced salinity of these waters evolved, such as freshwater clams, gastropods, sharks, and bony fish. Vast Swamp Forests Freshwater wetlands increased and formed vast swamp forests. Fossil remains show that air-breathing insects, arachnids, and myriapods were present during the Late Carboniferous. The seas were dominated by sharks and their relatives and it was during this period that sharks underwent much diversification. Arid Environments   Land snails first appeared and dragonflies and mayflies diversified. As the land habitats dried, animals evolved ways of adapting to the arid environments. The amniotic egg enabled early tetrapods to break free of the bonds to aquatic habitats for reproduction. The earliest known amniote is Hylonomus, a lizard-like creature with a strong jaw and slender limbs. Early tetrapods diversified significantly during the Carboniferous Period. These included the temnospondyls and the anthracosaurs. Finally, the first diapsids and synapsids evolved during the Carboniferous. By the middle the Carboniferous Period, tetrapods were common and quite diverse. The varied in size (some measuring up to 20 feet in length). As the climate grew cooler and drier, the evolution of amphibians slowed and the appearance of amniotes lead to a new evolutionary path.

Peer Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Peer Review - Essay Example Though a good paper, the author falls a victim of some of the highlighted mistakes, and, therefore, the quality of the paper has in a way been compromised. In this document, I will review the work so as to analyze its strengths and weaknesses and give my opinion on the nature of the work as a whole. This author, as I had hinted earlier, has done very much to address the points of the prompt. The author discussed all the points except one. The point that is explicitly noted to missing is where the author was required to state whether he/she is a monist, dualist, pluralist, an idealist or a materialist and the reason for being one. This point was one of the primary requirements of the paper, and its omission implies that the quality of the paper, going by the journal requirements, is relatively small. The author, according to my assessment, scored relatively high in the explication of some of the arguments offered by the philosophers and relatively little in others. I would give him the highest score in his elucidation of the arguments of such philosophers as Thales, Democritus, Heraclitus, Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes. The only part where I would have given him a relatively lower score is the explanation that he gives to Pythagoras’ philosophy; it is not convincing at all. The student should have given more information about Pythagoras, for example, he defended pure monotheism and made pupils go through various degrees before he could allow them personal contact (The life and philosophy of Pythagoras). He literarily looks at some of the objects like fire, water, and grass in page 2 of the paper and hurriedly concludes that they are not made up of numbers, and then ends up finding that the philosophy is wrong. He fails to give it the inner eye so as to understand what t he philosopher meant by stating that the universe is made up of numbers. I find his argument on this

Critical Business Issues And Self-Evaluation Essay

Critical Business Issues And Self-Evaluation - Essay Example The global business environment is constantly changing by the day, and these changes impose certain limitations and requirements on the present day organizations; the successful organizations are those that are able to make appropriate adjustments in response to the changes taking place around them. Inability to respond to these changes undermines organizational effectiveness, leading to utter losses and organizational failure accordingly; in this respect, excellent managers are able to make intelligent trade-offs in pursuit of performance and sustainability in the long term. In the current global system, therefore, adaptability or, the capacity to change in the face of increasing pressure in the highly competitive and complex global business environment, is a fundamental precursor to the successful business. As it stands, organizations today are increasingly facing new challenges, and the role of managers has changed drastically from the traditional one since they have to find new w ays of addressing new challenges that beset their organizations today. In this respect, one of the greatest challenges faced by organizations today is the establishment of the right kind of leadership that can yield new innovative approaches to addressing current organizational challenges. Organizational management has to ensure that organizational goals and objectives are met in the most efficient ways possible, even as it strives to steer the organization towards that desired future state, where performance and sustainability are guaranteed. Due to the changing global business environment, particularly as a result to the increased global interconnectedness that has emerged following globalization and technological pressures, organizations have inevitably found it hard to continue operating in their conventional ways. New situations at the workplace have demanded completely new approaches to solution finding and organizations have come under great test as they have been subjected t o rapid changes that have necessitated rapid responses. The highly dynamic and complex business environment today has, therefore, instigated the evolution of the role of managers and leaders today; the changing roles of managers is a function of the new order, which requires that managers adopt new approaches to addressing organizational challenges. Apart from the changing role of managers, the other theme of fundamental importance at the workplace today is teamwork; successful organizations are those that are able to leverage on the pooling of talents, skills, and knowledge of teams to accomplish their organizational objectives. Teams possess greater capabilities as opposed to single individuals working independently because they bring together individuals who are jointly working towards the achievement of common objectives through shared commitment and mutual sense of purpose. Leadership, is a great organizational challenge today, particularly because, organizations seeking to res tate their presence in the global business space need to adopt a new kind of leadership capability that can reframe challenges, interpret options, and provide direction by reforming organizational operations (Powell 2007, p.2). The challenge of leadership, especially in these turbulent times, is becoming real by the day since organizations cannot continue to rely on conventional approaches such as restructuring and reengineering alone.  

Employees in an International Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Employees in an International Market - Essay Example As Groenewald (2009) states, â€Å"staffing, training, compensation, and performance management are basically important tools in the human resources practices† (p. 1). In this paper, we will examine the functions of human resource department in managing employees in an international marketplace. Most Critical Human Resource Functions To manage employees in an international marketplace, the human resource department of a company needs to execute some critical functions. These functions not only ensure a smooth running of business processes but also help a company achieve its corporate goals and objectives effectively and efficiently. Some of the most important HR functions in this regard include aligning recruitment process with corporate objectives, starting programs for employee training and development, and increasing employee motivation. Let us discuss these functions in some details to know their significance for a better management of employees. Aligning Recruitment with Corporate Objectives One of the main roles of the HR department is to align the employee recruitment process with the overall strategy of the company in order to build an inspired and productive workforce. Employee selection is one of those functions that are critical to ensuring a company’s success. It is the responsibility of the HR department of a company to recruit such people, who can prove themselves productive for the company through their skills, talent, and knowledge. A skilled and experienced employee is a key towards the success of a company. Therefore, global HR managers look for such people who can give improved performances and can ensure high levels of profits for the company through their performances. In today’s competitive world, recruiting and forming a diverse workforce...This paper stresses that employee training also plays a valuable role in ensuring long-term profitability of a company. Therefore, HR professionals put their efforts in investing i n employee training and development programs to improve the individual performances of employees as well as to increase an overall organizational productivity. Employee training and development also help in creating a pool of suitable replacements for the employees who either resign from their jobs or get promotions within the company, hence, leaving their positions available for other suitable candidates. Employee motivation is the combination of employees’ job-related behaviors, the level of efforts employees exert, and the employees’ level of determination. Companies are at risk of facing many setbacks with a lower level of employee motivation.This report makes a conclusion that effective human resource management is one of the most important factors that determine the success of a company in local and international markets. The main functions of the human resource department in managing employees in an international marketplace include strategic employee selection and recruitment, developing effective employee training programs, and increasing employee motivation to meet corporate goals and objectives. Some of the main outcomes of focusing on employee management in broader terms include selective and strategy-oriented recruitment of employees, improved organizational performance, improved business efficiency, and formation of a skilled workforce which is able to meet the requirements of the international business environment.

Philosophy of God, Religion, and Spirituality Article

Philosophy of God, Religion, and Spirituality - Article Example The concepts are connected to God. Despite the differences in these understandings, both depict the concept of an individual may be religious but not spiritual (Berryman 67). Additionally, they both bring the understanding that a person can be both religious and spiritual in the context that religion connects to spirituality through an abstract feeling or a supernatural object that creates belief. Therefore, it is agreeable that religion defines guidelines and beliefs that its followers adhere to while spirituality defines an individual’s own reality, with direction to an object. Philosopher A is reluctant to quote that children are born with spirituality; thus, little should be done to influence their spirituality since they will bond to what society provides. On the other hand, B and I concede the necessity of upbringing children in an atmosphere where they get to understand the reasons why certain things happen in certain ways. Philosopher A espouses his position by identifying innate ability that children are born with that makes the newborn capable of identifying objects and activities or practices around them (the children or newborn). B identifies children as societal responsibility that will transform to become what they have been molded to be. From the above premises, it is certain that children are entire subjects of societal beliefs and dispositions. They often grow and become adults defined by the values the society has imparted on them. Certainly, Spirituality connects us to God through religion. Religion sets the guidelines and principles that direct an individual’s spiritual world (Berryman).

CAse study Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CAse study - Research Paper Example The major considerations is whether there exists a trade off in the amount of revenue that hospital earns and the speed up to which the revenue is collected. According to an empirical test conducted between 2004 and 2006 on the relationship that exists among vital financial effective hospital revenue cycle management measures. The article clearly shows that with increased revenue collection there is an increased amount of net patient income for every adjusted discharge, reduced contractual budgets, as well as reduced bad debts. On the other hand, the charity care provisions are higher in hospitals with that have a higher revenue collection speed. Therefore, the article comes up with a conclusion that there is no evidence trade off that exists between patent revenue amount and the revenue collection speed. However, these financial gains of effectual hospital revenue cycle management in most cases go hand in hand. Thus, it is indicated that early results are a complementary, showing th at effectual hospital revenue cycle management attains a multiple of positive results. Another article â€Å"The State of Health Care Revenue Cycle.† By Solomon P. (2011). Suggests that revenue cycle management in all administrative and clinical activities have a relationship to generating and collecting patient revenue. These activates have gained a lot of importance in current business environment whereby hospitals receive challenges in underpayments and delay in payments. Although there is continued practitioners interest, there is no much attention drawn from revenue cycle management in health care financial research. There are studies that have been conducted on current revenue cycle management procedures with an aim of coming up with a financial gains measure in the context of increasing the amount of patient speed in the revenue collection. According to correlation analysis,

Airline mergers case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Airline mergers case study - Essay Example (Holtz and Grimme, 2009, p. 13) An ‘Open Skies’ agreement was signed between USA and European in 2007 that enabled the merged firms to ‘change their ownership structure’ and to get maximum voting rights from Dutch Government authorities. Indeed, the Air France and KLM then became subsidiaries of newly formed KLM – Air France. This was quite helpful in building shareholders’ confidence over top management of new company. (Holtz and Grimme, 2009, p. 14) The governments were paying special attention to develop environmental security laws and regulations to grapple with increasingly large menace of global warming. The demand of air travel was constantly growing since 2002 because of phenomenal economic growth and increase in real incomes in both developed West and emerging nations. This in turn created more opportunities for airlines that later resulted in higher monetary gains, however, the competition among firms increased substantially because of new entrants joined the arena. Indeed, the conditions were quite favorable because of skyrocketing demand for cargo services besides normal visitors. The merger would have easily increased business efficiency, market share and consumer reach. (Friesen, 2005) The increase in employment opportunities and business scope improved the standard of living across the world. Consumers, therefore, were inclined to use air travel services in their leisure. Similarly, business personnel were also required travel services to reach their destinations abroad for negotiation with partners, dealers and parties. Hence, propensity to spend for air travel had increased. (Katarzyna, 2004) The special attention was paid to develop modernised aircrafts with greater seat capacity, range and fuel-efficiency to minimise the threat of carbon emission and pollution. Indeed, the new aircrafts were produced to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. The bargaining power of customers was medium due to the fact the

CAse study Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CAse study - Research Paper Example The major considerations is whether there exists a trade off in the amount of revenue that hospital earns and the speed up to which the revenue is collected. According to an empirical test conducted between 2004 and 2006 on the relationship that exists among vital financial effective hospital revenue cycle management measures. The article clearly shows that with increased revenue collection there is an increased amount of net patient income for every adjusted discharge, reduced contractual budgets, as well as reduced bad debts. On the other hand, the charity care provisions are higher in hospitals with that have a higher revenue collection speed. Therefore, the article comes up with a conclusion that there is no evidence trade off that exists between patent revenue amount and the revenue collection speed. However, these financial gains of effectual hospital revenue cycle management in most cases go hand in hand. Thus, it is indicated that early results are a complementary, showing th at effectual hospital revenue cycle management attains a multiple of positive results. Another article â€Å"The State of Health Care Revenue Cycle.† By Solomon P. (2011). Suggests that revenue cycle management in all administrative and clinical activities have a relationship to generating and collecting patient revenue. These activates have gained a lot of importance in current business environment whereby hospitals receive challenges in underpayments and delay in payments. Although there is continued practitioners interest, there is no much attention drawn from revenue cycle management in health care financial research. There are studies that have been conducted on current revenue cycle management procedures with an aim of coming up with a financial gains measure in the context of increasing the amount of patient speed in the revenue collection. According to correlation analysis,

Paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Paraphrasing - Essay Example The bony structure of the lumbar spine, unlike the body’s thoracic spine, lacks lateral support but is a specialized structure designed to distribute the weight of heavy loads throughout the back. It consists primarily of trabeculae, a highly vascularized cancellous bone, which is organized in a fashion to redistribute stress throughout the spine. The size of these vertebral bodies progressively increases in direct relation to the augmentation of gravitational loads from the cephalic to the caudal segments of the spine. These segments are connected with ligaments and muscular tissue to each concurring segment located above or below the bony structure. The composition of the body’s intervertebral disc consists primarily of outer annulus fibrosis, which holds the transmitting nociceptors and proprioceptive nerve endings, and the inner nucleus pulposus. Nociception is the process whereby chemical responses to interpret pain or sensation and illicit physical reactions from the brain to the central nervous system, including basic movement. The signals are sent through peripheral neural pathways and are received by the outer annulus fibrosis, posterior longitudinal ligament, facet capsule and the associated muscle groups located in the particular segment of the spine. The composition of the inner annulus, which holds the nucleus, provides the spinal disc with supplemental support during instances of compression. A healthy nucleus pulposus consists of the majority of the surface area of each spinal disc, supporting seven-tenths of the compression against each disc. During the course of adolescence, bone growth balances the proportionate decrease of disc height and loading pressure shifts posteriorly. Over the course of an individual’s development, the overgrowth of bone structures and the inherent hypertrophy of facets lead to the narrowing of central canals and progressive foraminal.

The Differences Between American And British Politics Politics Essay

The Differences Between American And British Politics Politics Essay The special relationship the term used by Winston Churchill to describe the uniquely close connection between the United States and the United Kingdom. The relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom goes back almost two hundred years before the United States declared independence from Great Britain. In order to understand American and the British political system, firstly the US constitution, the type of political parties and the presidency system will be conceded. Secondly the British constitution, the type of political parties and the prime minister system will be also considered. Lastly the differences between the political scenes on the two sides of the Atlantic will be also looking at. As define by Adrian Leftwich politics are at the hearth of all collective social activities, formal and informal, public and private, all human groups, institutions and societies.  [2]  This means that politics takes place at every level of social interaction. US constitution is the oldest written constitution and holds a central place in United State law and political culture. The Constitution in 1787 forms the foundations of the United States federal government and created a structure.  [3]  This has remained an active governing force through the changes in US society and a very remarkably stable document the American constitution is the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man  [4]  . The Constitution creates the three branches of the national government: a legislature, the bicameral Congress; an executive branch led by the President; and a judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court.  [5]  The Constitution specifies the powers and duties of each branch. The good thing about the US constitution is the underlying acceptance that it could be wrong. If you dont like the laws, its OK to rewrite them, provided you have enough support and the balance of power between the Judicial/Legislative/Executive. US political system is dominated by two political parties, which are the Democratic Party currently positions itself left-of-centre in American politics and supports an American liberalism platform and the Republican Party, which positions itself as a right-of-centre and supports an American conservatism platform.  [6]  The reason beyond these two parties is that the electoral system is first past the post or simple majority which, combined with the large voter size of the constituencies in the House and the Senate, ensures that effectively only two parties can play. The other reason is the influence of money. Money has tremendous influence on the political process and campaign, there more you have their more you can reach out that is why the US can only afford two parties or, to put it another way, candidates of any other party face a formidable financial barrier to entry. US presidency system is often referred to by the media as the White House. The US President is both the head of state and the head of government; He presides over the executive branch of the federal government, and is the commander-in-chief of the United States armed forces. Within the executive branch, the President has broad constitutional powers to manage national affairs and the workings of the federal government and may issue executive orders to affect internal policies. The total electoral vote is 538 so to become a president in the US you need 270 electoral votes  [7]  . The President is elected for a fixed term of four years and may serve a maximum of two terms. The President is not elected directly by the voters but by an Electoral College representing each state on the basis of a combination of the number of members in the Senate two for each state and the number of members in the House of Representatives. Unlike the US the UK has no core constitutional document or unwritten constitution there is no single document that can be classed as Britains constitution. The UK constitution however has traditionally been the doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty, according to which the statutes passed by Parliament are the UKs supreme and final source of law, the Parliament can change the constitution simply by passing new Acts of Parliament.  [8]   UK political parties are an important feature of the British political system. Tree groups dominate party politics in Britain, the conservative, the labour parties and the Liberal Democrat. In addition to these three main parties, there are some much smaller UK parties, most of these parties are transitory but a few have endured sufficient time to merit examination. Some are significant such as the Nationalists in Scotland and Wales, their support has been considerable in particular areas of the United Kingdom.  [9]  Each party have their own institution, it chooses its leader but all involve all the Members of Parliament of the party.  [10]  The leader of the political party with the largest number of members in the House of Commons becomes the Prime Minster. UK does not have a President. Constitutionally the head of state is the monarch who is a hereditary member of the Royal Family. A historic feature of the UK constitution, the Royal Prerogative gives the Crown (the monarch) special powers, including the power to declare war, to make treaties, to pardon criminals, and to dissolve Parliament. Today the role of the monarch in such matters is largely ceremonial, but the Royal Prerogative gives considerable powers to government ministers acting on the Queens behalf.  [11]  So the most important person in the British political system is the Prime Minister. In theory, the Prime Minister simply chooses the ministers who run Government departments and chairs the Cabinet the collection of the most senior of those Ministers. In practice, however, the Prime Minister is a very powerful figure and increasingly has been behaving much like a president in other political systems, especially in the area of foreign policy. The most fundamental difference of UK and US political system is the constitution or the lack of one. The US has a written constitution which is very difficult to change and UK does not have a single document called the constitution but instead its constitutional provisions are scattered over various Acts of Parliament, any of which can be changed by a simple majority in the Parliament. Like Thomas Paine once said Government without a constitution is power without right this means the British government can make the constitution as whatever the wants it to be. There are three major political parties in the British political system: The Labour Party the centre-Left party, The Conservative Party the centre-Right party and the Liberal Democrat the centrist. Where as the US political system is dominated by two political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The division between the Labour and Conservative in the UK is the same as Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the US. Each country, one political party is characterised as Centre-Left and the other as Centre-Right. The US President holds the position of Head of State as well as Head of Government. The UK Prime Minister, it would appear, has more influence in domestic, able to dominate his part, legislature and executive branch. The US President, on the other hand, appears to have the position of supremacy in domestic politics, He does not hold the same position of power in domestic affairs as the UK Prime Minister, but his position of strength appears to be in the realm of foreign and international matters. In conclusion by referring to the question whether British and American politics are different, we can see that the term special relationship as nothing to do with the way these two countries is lead. In each four areas we see how both countries have diverse ways of viewing politics. Reynolds, D. (1985-1986) International Affairs. Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944. 62(1), PP. 1-20 Heywood, A. P.(2002) Politics Second edition, London: Palgrave Vile, M.J.C. (1999) Politcs in the USA. London:Routledge W.E.Gladstone in McKay, D. (1997) American Politics and Society. Oxford : Blackwell. D. (1997) American Politics and Society. Oxford : Blackwell. Ceaser. W. J (1990) Political Parties. In: King, A the New American Political System. London: MacMillan Education LTD, PP. 87-135. BBC (2008) The US Electoral College. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/3736580.stm/ (Accessed:19november2010) BBC(2003) The UK constitution. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/2561719.stm ( Accessed: 12 November 2010 ) Moran, C . (1985) Politics and Society in Britain. London: MacMillan Education LTD Moran, C . (1985) Politics and Society in Britain. London: MacMillan Education LTD BBC (2003) The UK constitution. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/2561719.stm( Accessed: 12 November 2010 )

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Most graduation speeches are about unity and how close we've become as a class. I don't think that this applies to us. Instead, I think we've all become close as individuals, not because of some imaginary entity we all belong to, but because of who we are. But that is what's important. In 10 years, we won't be chanting "Senior Power"; we'll be remembering the individual relationships we all had. I remember after our eighth grade graduation milling about the courtyard, hugging each other and crying for what would become of us. We were scared of high school - this time it's the real world. And later in life, we will face much bigger obstacles that we will overcome, and high school graduation will be fondly remembered. As we approach this real world, it's important to remember the many people who have helped us along the way as leaders, advisers, peers, and friends. I stand before you as the last of three valedictorians to speak. But valedictorians and academies alone do not make up our class. Each person brings a part of themselves. Our talented musicians have enhanced many...

Dinner is Served :: Technology Food Papers

Dinner is Served I ran into the kitchen to perform some last minute preparations for the night’s joyous festivities. I could smell the inviting aroma of the freshly smoked salmon which I had smothered in a light cabernet sauce and topped with dill to complete the presentation. I must admit that I was quite nervous in regards to the night that lay ahead. I quickly set the table because dinner was to be served in fifteen minutes. I could see the look of anxiety on my face through the reflection of the recently polished silver and stemware. I decided that Ben and Bill would sit across the table from Tim and myself. I knew I was taking a chance inviting the three of them back to my home considering what had happened the last time, but I was in the mood to engage myself into some stimulating conversation. The doorbell rang as I was pouring the last of the Pinot Grigio and my nervousness quickly ceased the moment that I opened the door. I said a little prayer that the night would go smoot hly and proceeded to twist the doorknob, opening myself to the world of luddites and fetishists. Bill Henderson was the first to arrive. He walked into my house with his head held high and placed his cane next to his seat. Bill was in his late 60s and was sure to add his own spice into the dinner party. I asked to take his knee length, brown suede jacket but he looked at me and mumbled, â€Å"I think that I can do it myself. You do realize that I can sufficiently run my life without an absurd amount of help that others seem to need.† "I'm sorry." I said. "I just thought it might be easier for me to take it.""That seems to be the only thing that concerns you people these days! Why must everything be so easy? I actually enjoy taking my coat and putting it behind my chair like the good old days." His breath permeated the smell of aged whiskey throughout the dining room. I led him to his predetermined seat and pushed start on the CD Player. He reached for his glass of wine as Beethoven’s String Quartet in C sharp minor gently entered the room.

Logistical and dramatic factors to be decided upon in a production of Philadelphia Essay

Friel raises issues, explores them to a certain degree. However the end is left open. The play â€Å"Philadelphia, Here I Come!† is both realistic as it presents real life situation, but also expressionistic, trying to dig into Gar’s subconscious. Gar has a choice to make, ultimatum that could vary depending if S.B. was to reveal his true emotions towards his son. Gar lacks the same attribute as his father; the ability to communicate with one another. Gar also failed to make an oral impression on Katie’s father in the past and this element cost him her hand in marriage. We are presented with Private Gar and Public Gar on the stage. Public Gar is the Gar that people see, talk to and talk about. Private Gar is the unseen character, the alter ego of our main hero. Although Public Gar is the only person that can hear Private talk he never looks at him, he cannot look at his alter ego. On stage two characters play Public and Private. One utters what is acceptable and the other utters what he’d really like to say if he wasn’t so inhabited. The central struggle is not between the public and private but between Gar both private and public and his father S.B. Apples don’t fall far from the tree, also outlined in the play by Madge who describes them as â€Å"two peas† that way Gar and S.B. are very similar, they are both afraid and embarrassed of expressing themselves emotionally. Neither one of them wants to look soft nor weak in front of one another, being emotionless proves their masculinity. Gar cannot think straight talking to his father, he contradicts with his thoughts and feels awkward just like he did asking Katie’s parents for her hand in marriage. Eventually we are taken back in time via flashback where we see Gar and Katie in love, they are planning to get married although Gar doesn’t earn enough to support them both, he is afraid to ask S.B. for a rise. Friel made a very deep and realistic attempt to present an ordinary Irish family and problems they are faced with, lack of money in the sixties and most importantly the overdose of masculinity which leads to lack of communication between father and son, issue that may occur in many people’s lives. Music is used to outline the mood changes and current flow of emotions of certain characters; Gar uses a turntable to present his mood and eventually gets frustrated and changes the record to a much more dynamic track, this way author presents the emotions of characters to the audience. The piece of music seems to suggest anxiety, change, and excitement – all emotions that Gar is feeling at that particular moment. This way Brial Friel attempts to dig into Gar’s subconscious. There is a nearly institutional quality to the shades of green, and the dim overhead lighting focuses attention in the central spaces over the kitchen table and Gar’s bed in the two rooms of the split set. Almost everything happens round the kitchen table, Gar’s friends drink and talk, S.B. plays a game with Cannon, Gar talk to S.B. about irrelevant stuff. The entire play happens within twenty-four hours and we are reminded of it throughout by the highlighted clock in the kitchen and clamorous sounds of the clock ticking in between the events. This way, Friel wants to point out the inner conflict of our main hero of the play, his time is running out and eventually, it will be for him to decide whether he leaves for Philadelphia or stays in Ballybeg. This is a play about finding one’s place in the world wherever that might be. Madge clears out some of the unresolved issues by telling us how Gar’s mother died and that S.B. in fact does have feelings but is unable to show them in public, it buggers him and he couldn’t get any sleep the night before Gar’s departure â€Å"It must have been near daybreak when he got to sleep last night†. Even though Gar’s new career in Philadelphia is meant to give him a new life, with lots of money and anything he would have ever wished for. Madge sees this as a way of escaping from Ballybeg and most importantly his father, â€Å"and when he’s the age of the boss, he’ll turn out just the same. And although I won’t be there to see it, you’ll find he’s learned nothing in between time†. Another important relationship is the one between Gar and Katie; they were in a serious relationship when they were younger. Her Father, Senator Doogan refused for them to marry after Gar miserably failed to make a positive verbal impression on Katie’s father. This scene is presented with a flashback where Gar’s mind flows back in time to that particular event. Kathy and Gar are happy together in his vision, Private Gar sarcastically responds to Kathy’s concerns about their possible future and money issues, â€Å"(imitating) how will we live?† Gar often repeated Edmond Burke’s speech on French Revolution â€Å"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the Queen of France, then the Dauphiness, at Versailles† he eventually realises that all this time he has been thinking about Kathy Doogan, this way Friel dug deep inside Gar’s subconscious by revealing his repression of emotions. In the end we don’t know whether he leaves for Philadelphia or stays in Ballybeg. Friel decided to keep the ending opened it’s for us to figure out whether he has any reason to leave or perhaps stay. In conclusion, Friel uses many stage directions to connect the audience with the characters. He presents us with Private Gar, alter ego that raises many concerns about his inner feelings, which we wouldn’t know about if Friel was to use just Public Gar. Flashback is presented to show previous events from the past in order to get deeper understanding of Gar. Music is outlined in the play to show Gar’s current emotions and their change for example we can tell his mood changes as he decides to play a much faster song. The entire play happens within twenty-four and we are reminded of it by the highlighted clock in the kitchen and clamorous sounds of it in between the scenes. Issue of the lack of communication between Gar and S.B. never gets resolved; we can tell that both of the characters suffer, as they’d like to express themselves. In the end with an open ending and not much gets resolved. It’s up to the reader to put the events in order and make personal judgement on the possible outcomes that may have resulted in the play.   

Critique of Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Mr.. Vase Critique of Picasso at the Lapin Agile Written by Steve Martin and directed by Brine Lang, Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a play located at the Lapin Agile, in Paris. Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, both young, headstrong and passionate, come together in a fictitious meeting devised in the comic mind of Steve Martin. It's bohemian Paris, at the turn of the century and everything has fallen quiet to listen to a conversation of exquisite topics. Does art matter? Can science touch the heart? Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder? DidEinstein and Picasso really only excel in their chosen fields in order to get girls? With a little help from a mysterious, visitor from the future (based on order of appearance) these topics get debated in one of the best possible environments, the bar of the â€Å"scurrying rabbit†. Steve Martins sense of humor is very immense in size, based on the bars name. By calling it the Lapin Agile (meaning scurrying rabbit) Martin is foreshad owing an unattainable theme to his play. He has a great sense of humor by calling it this and is very organized throughout the play, by placing hints all throughout the play, about he message of his play.Freddy is the bar tender of the Lapin Agile and is set on stage directions. When Einstein walks in, he realizes something was off and he points out later that, â€Å"In order of appearance. You're not third. You're fourth (11)†. By breaking that third wall between the audience and the play, Martin makes a very humorous act and allows one of his characters to use the play pamphlet to site the location of the casts' order of appearance. With his successful attempt to achieve humor by breaking the wall between the audience and the actors, Martin can be understood to be triumphant at his attempts to create humor.Then, after Freddy citation to the cast in order of appearance, that wall between the actors and audience is set back in place. This is some funny stuff. When Einstein wa lked in, he spoke of meeting a woman, but he never told her the place where they were going to meet. This was Einstein theory that everything happens as an accident and that if something is bound to happen, it will no matter the place or the time. I happen to disagree with the statement because of the face that the world is big and time passes no matter what we are doing. It's hard to Just run into someone who you want to meet, without having a plan first.People these days are busy and they are not always where we think we are. As the play progresses, Germane, a waitress and Freddy girlfriend, speaks about two pieces of work being of the same value. This is a great point that Martin brings forth in his play. But expressing his feelings about how two pieces of work can be seen as one, it makes me thing of two things that are similar in genera, but different in style. I could only think of music. There are many different love songs out their and they are all pertaining to different ki nds of people.But on the other hand, you have many songs that are popular. Is it popularity that is the decision maker in our minds or is it something else? This question is something martin brings forth a lot. Martin has a way of telling Jokes that I have never heard before. When the part comes about the foretelling of the future, Freddy and Germane predict some futuristic creations that they believe to lay ahead. Germane makes some precise predictions that have come true, but the people around her make fun of her and tell her that her thoughts are not real.On the other hand, Freddy makes some predictions such as cloths being made of wax and the French being the almighty rower of Europe, and he is seen as the sane one. Martin is trying to point out that no matter how crazy the idea, it might come true because Germany's theory was seen as a crazy one, yet it came true. It makes me thing of what out future will hold!!! Will there be a possibility of Jet pack and robotic houses that c lean them selves? Germany's ideas were crazy for her time and mine are the same, one never knows if their futuristic predictions will come true.Not only is martin good at making Jokes, he is good at conveying theories, through pieces of work that one would never believe had a deeper meaning than the surface crust. When Einstein and Picasso are having an argument between them about science and say they don't have the same meaning, martin is trying to express his feelings by say that both science and art are connected directly. You have to be an artist to be able to think of the vast universe and there is a science behind drawing a face. It's hard to believe that if you're good at science then you should be good at art as well and vice-a-versa.I still can't color for s*&% even though I am good at science, I don't know how that works out! Later on in the play, Freddy tells a Joke that no one understands. Einstein tryst to interpret the Joke using, his talented scientific thinking, to t he others, but many people still chose to choose their thoughts about it. This brings to me another idea that martin is trying to convey. He is saying that surrealism is interpreted differently to different people and no one answer is correct to a complex surreal question. It's based on the persons understanding to the concept and past experience with the topic on hand.So to me the Joke doesn't make any sense and I would replace the letter â€Å"e† with the letter â€Å"O† because pies are supposed to be circular and BIG. Later Freddy and Einstein have a debate about an â€Å"icebox† laughter. Based on their discussion, a laugh can happen at anytime. It could be that one didn't understand the Joke or moment and decided that it wasn't funny. Then later on, that person laughs about the topic and sometimes it happens without thought and wonder what it is you were laughing about. That has happens to me a lot of times.Later on in the play, another very funny aspect t o martins play is his perception of Picasso as being a womanlier. Germany's assessment of the word womanlier very well fits Picasso' character. Being a profound painter of the twentieth century, Picasso has his hands on many women, of different characteristics. He can have as many as he wants, whenever he wants, which is why Germany's remark of Picasso as being a womanlier is a correct one. I would have said that he is the kind of guy who can be described by the phrase, â€Å"hit-it-and-quit-it†.This man, is one of those who takes women for granted and will do one when he wants, Just to satisfy his lust and will forget about her the next day. What a guy. In my opinion, women should be cherished. They are better to deal with when they're happy, which meaner you have to do less work to please them and they will make you happy as well. On the other hand, if one is to take advantage of women, then they will lose their trust and may lose them forever. That is something that I woul d never want to happen. As the play continues martin introduces many new ideas of his, one being the idea of how beautiful love is.Picasso says he â€Å"would give it all up if [he] could sing songs about love. No more paints or more brushes†¦ Just the moonlight, the June light, and you† (66). By being able to sing, people have the ability to touch your souls. They sing a song that are related to the public and that's how they touch people. Another season why Picasso might want to become a singer, if he could, is because it makes people dance, enjoy them selves, and sing to the beat. Best of all, it captures a lot more attention than paintings and more people can relate to song, rather than paintings.A moment of perfection is something that everyone wants to feel, a time when everything feels like its perfect and that nothing can make you feel bad. Picasso had his moment of perfection, when he saw the painting that was revealed by the visitor. The painting made him have a moment of perfection, where nothing else mattered but the painting. Hard to know when its happened till its over† (72). Moments of perfection are times when you feel like you would do anything to stay and be with the person you're with or to continue a special task of yours, will it satisfies your mind.At the end of the play they are all giving a toast to the new century and Germane stays with Freddy. It's funny how martin leaves Germane with Freddy and doesn't hook her up with Picasso. I guess he is trying to convey the way we should treat women again. He first states this in Germany's comment of Picasso as being a womanlier. By leaving Freddy and Germane together, martin is conveying the Hough that you don't have to be a rich famous person to be with someone, you Just have to be gentle and considerate.He also tries to get across the thought that we shouldn't treat women any different than we treat ourselves. WOW, what a message! Only a guy like Steve Martin would be able t o present such a complex misunderstanding in real terms, with a comical piece of literature. For a guy who used to make a living with fake arrows through his head, a great play. The complex idea within the simple short play is a great way to catch the publics' eyes and attention. Great Job STEVE!

Literary Analysis Paper – Cathedral

Literary Analysis paper – Cathedral â€Å"Cathedral† by Raymond Carver tells us short story about a blind man who comes to visit his friend and her husband. In the story, even though the husband can technically see and has a normal sight, in the beginning of the story he is the one who shows the signs of true â€Å"blindness† through inability to see Robert beyond his blindness, incapability to communicate with Robert, him feeling uncomfortable and acting awkward around Robert. The husband does not realize how Robert's blindness changes him as human being.Carver skillfully shows the occurrence of change in the personality of the husband from being very awkward around a blind man to coming to realization that Robert is a person and not just a blind man. In the story, â€Å"Cathedral† Carver brings out the concept of husband's spiritual blindness and the theme of broke marriage to shows what is wrong with the modern world. Carver portrays husband's spiritual blindness to show parallel to the spiritual blindness of the modern world.The narrator sees his wife's blind friend as handicap and not as a whole person. The narrator is not enthusiastic about the visit because blind people make the narrator uncomfortable â€Å"†¦ and his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movie the blind move slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing-eye dogs. The blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to† (114). In this way, Carver shows how spiritual blindness can limit people in our everyday life just as it did the husband.In reality, spiritually blind people are unable to understand matters beyond their physical site. The theme that Carver touched in the â€Å"Cathedral† of the spiritually blind verses physically blind has been touched in the Bible as well. Passage in John 9:1-41 points out an interesting comparison between physical and spiritual blindness that take s place in this passage. It mainly describes how a blind man who believed in Jesus as the Son of God was forgiven and men with sight who could not see what the blind man saw remained in their sin.It very much gives reassures that personal understanding of the truth, understanding of the things beyond your physical sight are far more important that the physical. Carver brings this theme in order to show the reader the problematic spiritual blindness of our modern society that looks more at the physical rather than looking at thing in a more deeper and meaningful prospective. Another way in which Carver points out the concept of broken marriage relationships in our society is by portraying characters as being in an unhappy, depressed marriage relationship.The narrator lacks true marriage relationship with his wife, as is evident not only in their sparring in the narrative present, but also in the remoteness of perspective as he tells the story of her attempted suicide a few years befo re: â€Å". . . one night she got to feeling lonely and cut off from people she kept losing in that moving-around life. She got to feeling she couldn't go it another step. She went in and swallowed all the pills and capsules in the medicine chest and washed them down with a bottle of gin. Then she got into a hot bath and passed out. But instead of dying she got sick. She threw up.Her officer—why should he have a name? he was the childhood sweetheart and what more does he want? —came home from somewhere, found her and called the ambulance† (115). Although an attempt to suicide may be considered a personal weakness, nether the less, the unhappy marriage relationship had its influence in this matter. Relationship with a person who has mental health problems can lower the satisfaction levels. It surely takes a toll to live with a depressed person. Like in the case with the narrator and his wife, the more depressed and more anxious they become, the more dissatisfied is the marriage.Untreated depression poses a very real threat to a marriage such as in the situation with the wife. This is in reality a big problem in our society today. Such as in the story husband and wife experienced depressed relationship and indeed, in the reality the depressed spouse will experience less happiness, satisfaction and contentment in the marriage. Narrator mentions â€Å"†¦ every night I smoked dope and stayed up as long as I could before I fell asleep. My wife and I hardly ever went to bed at the same time†¦ and in reality the partner will struggle with handling the increased isolation and social withdrawal of the depressed spouse, the loss of emotional intimacy, (and often sexual intimacy as well), and the prevalent negativity in the relationship. When one spouse is depressed, the depression colors everything in the relationship. The depressed spouse sees the world through a darkened lens that limits his or her perspective. The author wants to point out that the negative events are interpreted even more negatively; neutral events are also interpreted negatively, and the positive appenings are often overlooked. The depressed spouse often loses interest in activities that used to bring pleasure and may experience fatigue and listlessness. There can be loss of sleep or sleeping too much; eating too much or be like the husband that smokes marijuana to bring some excitement in to his life. Feelings of love and sexual desire may become dulled or absent when an individual is depressed. The biggest danger when this happens is that the depressed spouse may erroneously conclude that this means he or she is no longer in love with the mate.In conclusion, I would like to draw parallel between the story of â€Å"Cathedral† by Raymond Carver to our modern society. In our modern society, we continue to meet individuals similar to the character of the â€Å"husband† who have physical but not spiritual vision as well as facing simi lar broken marriage problems. The issues that Carver touched in his story are rather social and relevant to our modern society rather than related to single individual. In addition, we see individuals similar to the â€Å"blind man† who are physically disabled; however, they exhibit a truer intuition into life and their surroundings.They have the ability to see spiritual concepts and understand people and the world around them. We learn from the story that those who are physically enabled can still learn from those who may seem disabled but have in reality a better understanding of life. Sometimes experiencing the hard ships of life helps, us grow and experience life in a different way than we normally would. It is like one who cannot see the forest for the trees. Work Cited Jan Zlotnik Schmidt, Lynne Crockett. â€Å"Portable Legacies: Raymond Carver's ‘Cathedral'. â€Å"