Do curfews keep teens out of trouble Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Do curfews keep teens out of trouble - Essay Example ect various age groups in our society, we fear the most for the young people in our society who, due to reckless abandon caused by their youthful enthusiasm for life, tend to place themselves in precarious situations. These dangerous situations are usually connected to their love of the fun time offered by a night life. As parents who fear for the safety of their children, a curfew placed upon their childs night time activities offers a semblance of protection for both parties. The idea being that if a child is home by a certain hour of the night, he or she will be able to avoid the pitfalls that often befall the adventurous teens at night. An analysis of the history and reasons behind the implementation of parental and citywide curfews reveal the details as to why these sectors find curfews an effective deterrent when it comes to keeping their children out of trouble: the night holds some unseen circumstances that children and teenagers may not be capable of dealing with at their current age. Therefore there needs to be some sort of system in place that can help protect them from the things that go bump in the night on public streets. Since teenagers these days can be really hot headed and emotional, it is important to make sure that they are in a safe place once night time sets in because as the night deepens, tempers may end up flaring in certain situations. It is saddening to note that curfews were not needed during the past eras in the United States. The night streets were safe places for them to hang out with their friends after dinner or on a Friday night so they can relax after a hectic school week. Teenagers were not always held in the grips of curfew mania as they are today. Newspaper articles from decades gone by have shown that there was a time in our country when it was safe for teenagers to go out and party at night. Schools did not need to have metal detectors at the gates, school dances were the highlight of the school year, and teenagers would go

The Letter of Paul to Romans Essay Example for Free

The Letter of Paul to Romans Essay Romans is the longest and most theologically significant of the letters of Paul. It can be described as a tractate letter, one that is composed of a theological argument or series of arguments. A letter essay as it may be, it was received by the people of the church at Rome who were mostly Gentiles. Paul, as the author of the letter to Romans, must have written the letter in Corinth. This is most likely on the near end of his third missionary journey. While there is no certainty of the date in which the letter was written, A. D. 57 is the best alternative. Preparing his way for his planned mission to Spain, Paul might have written his letter for the particular reason of asking for support from them. Yet he also presented his matured views on the issue between the Jews and Gentiles and the law and gospel. In addition, he set forth a teaching on a basic system of salvation that Rome had not received from an apostle ever since. In his letter, Paul explained why it is necessary for God to manifest His righteousness and that humankind can experience this righteousness only by faith. All have sinned and cannot be brought into a relationship with God by mere good works. God alone can change this by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through Him, we can be justified before God and this justification can be gained only by faith. Justification means being blameless to God and this can be achieved by having faith in Jesus Christ. Through Christ, we can be freed from the bondage of sin and hence, sin can no longer dictate our actions, decisions, and our very lives. This is the power of God for salvation shown through the gospel to us. Paul, as well, emphasized that even though God had made a covenant to the Jews, being born as a Jew does not mean that they are automatically saved. It is their shortcomings to accept God’s righteousness that is to be blamed. Also, Gentile Christians (including us since we are not Jews) are not to boast and be arrogant on this matter for it is from Israel that salvation has come. Thus, we are ought to respect each other and humble ourselves down. The Christian is to serve God, as stimulated by His grace, by putting on the armor of light. This means that we must leave behind the deeds of the darkness and that we shall not grant the desires of our sinful nature. We are also ought to love others as ourselves no matter how unlovable they are for Jesus Christ died for them as well. Though free from the law, we still have to submit to the government because God has delegated His authority to them too. In this modern era, many circumstances might hinder us from doing good works. Yes! It is through faith that we are saved but faith without works is dead. Therefore, our lives must reflect on whom we put our faith in. Whatever this contemporary world throw at us, we must stand firm in our faith and even in our actions. Furthermore, do not let good works do the saving rather, mix it with faith and allow God to do the work of salvation. As the saying goes, walk by faith and not by sight.

Case Study Business Ethics Marketing Essay

Case Study Business Ethics Marketing Essay In this essay I would like to consider personal and organizational ethics and provide my own behavior concerning this issue. To begin with it should be noted that personal ethics and morality are the actual core of human behavior.  It can be said that installation of our personal ethics are the guiding for our further actions.  In this context, it is important to understand two principally different systems of personal ethical behavior.  It can be said that one of the systems can be named as system of full personal responsibility.  It includes only human personal principles and ideals and, on its basis chooses different options of human actions and thoughts.  The opposite of this system is a system of strong subordination principle.  As a rule, these systems are distributed among such religions as Islam and Judaism.  Both these systems are very comfortable and have a number of advantages.  I presume that for me, the closest is the Catholic ethical system.  However, as a fact, I have my own principles and beliefs that form my own ethics and determine my actions and words. Nevertheless, all my personal views are corrected by certain higher value system a system of values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹of the Catholic religion. According to Sayali Bedekar Patil (2010), it should be noted that business ethics is one of the most important, but at the same time the least studied areas of modern business life.  As a fact, scope of business ethics deals with issues how certain business practice is acceptable.  For example, does the vendor have the moral right at an organized presentation of products to hide information from the client about the low standards of a product safety?  Should the accountant report inaccuracies found in the audit, knowing that in this case, that the client is likely to cease cooperation with the firm?  Should car manufacturers use expensive new parts, providing security, knowing that for this reason that car becomes too expensive for the client? Despite the legality of such situations, decisions and actions, the latter should be evaluated in terms of various indicators, not just in the scale of true-false.  Business ethics is contradictory in nature.  Without any doubts, su ch questions relate to business ethics sphere of activity. As a matter of fact, business and ethics can not be considered separately from each other.  In their daily work and activity, people (at any level) will inevitably face the need to make ethical decisions.  As a rule, ethical issues arise in the field of management, marketing, manufacturing, research, human resources, financial management, business strategists, and many others. It can be said that ethical and responsible activity contributes to the creation of new competencies, because it draws its members within the entire organization and contributes to the future-oriented/ holistic approach to leadership style and better prepares the company to both external and internal changes, crises.  Hence, business ethics creates confidence, improves reputation, and helps to maintain good relations with various groups, including, customers, partners, owners, investors and organizations, as well as banks and the media.  I am convinced that ethical and responsible activity helps to impr ove the attractiveness of the company in finding good employees, to maintain the goodwill of members and enhance the value and reliability of an enterprise, to provide a consistent and constant development of the enterprise.  As a fact, ethical and responsible activity affects not only individuals and interest groups, but also the interests and profitability of the organization.  Thus, in other words, business ethics is a way to better manage the enterprise. Many experts have different definitions of what ethics  is. To find a common ground I would like to provide some of them, which in my opinion, characterize this concept the most accurately. According to Chris MacDonald (2002), ethics is a measurement of human thought and behavior that emanates from the principles of goodness and correctness. Ethics is an attempt to define the rules that should guide human activities and life values.  Ethics defines how people should treat each other. Ethics is a set of values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹that are positive and correct. Personally I think that all these definitions bear in themselves the answer for the question what is ethic. For me, ethics is a set of behavior rules of a person or organization that create its image and attitude to the person or organization by customers, partners, investors, media, authorities and so on. According to Chris MacDonald (2002), there are following ethical values: Honesty, integrity, promise-keeping, fidelity, fairness, caring for others, respect for others, responsible citizenship, pursuit for excellence and accountability. However, business ethics also include such concept like ethic dilemma. It should be noted that ethic dilemma is a problem of difficult choice between this or that way of behavior. Situations and conflicts that from time to time require making a decision in real life, often raises the ethical dilemma. As a fact, the two possible solutions of the ethical dilemma may involve behavior, which is not acceptable from the standpoint of morality. Ethical conflicts may occur in following cases: There is a significant conflict between different interests; Alternative solutions can be justified equally; The consequences are very important for those, who are concerned. I would like to provide two examples of business ethical dilemma, that in my opinion are of special interest. The first one: a client wishes to receive from a company any product or service, but when he heard the price, the client states that this price is unacceptable to him.  An employee of firm knows that the client can get the same service at competitors store.  Should the employee of the firm tell customer about the competitor or not? The second business ethical dilemma is following: my colleague tells me that he is going to leave the company and begin work on a new site, which is promised to him.  At the same time my boss gives me to understand that he will not give me a promotion, because he is going to give it to my colleague. Should I tell my colleague about it? Without any doubts it is hard to answer these dilemmas unequivocally. In my opinion, business ethical dilemma is always a compromise with yourself. On the one hand, everybody has own interests or interests of t he company. On the other hand, people should behave  themselves towards  others, as well as they  want  people to  behave towards  them. I think that that a person should decide for himself what is more important to him long-term image and honor or short-term benefit. In this part of the essay I would like to provide an analysis of my own work experience at Starbucks Corporation, where I used to work as barista. It should be noted that Starbucks believes and does business ethically and also strives to do the right things that are vital to the success of the company.  I presume that business ethics supports the mission of Starbucks and helps to protect its culture and reputation by providing resources to help partners make ethical decisions at work.   According to Kate McClelland (2007), Starbucks has its own program, which is aimed at comprehensive development of business ethics within  the company  and  as well as in  contact  with the external environment. The program develops and disseminates information materials, including business standards, promotes compliance and ethics training. Also Starbucks program explores sensitive issues such as potential conflicts of interest, and also provides additional channels for partners voice concerns.  Partners are required to report all types of questions or concerns to the program through their choice of communication channels.  As a rule, the majority of reports received on business ethics and compliance involve labor relations issues.  It can be said that Starbucks believes that company should conducting business ethically and always tries to improve its business ethical standards. According to Starbucks Ethical Sourcing (2011), Starbucks business ethics includes social responsibility and its component, among them are: Taking care about countries that produce coffee; Taking care about the environment; Taking care about communities; Taking care about employees. I would like to consider all these concepts more closely. As a matter of fact, taking care about countries that produce coffee is a very important ethical issue for Starbucks. It can be said that Starbucks takes serious measures to help coffee farmers improve their lives and protect the environment in which they grow coffee.  Starbucks has carefully studied many problems, which farmers are faced by today, including economic and environmental.  By taking care about countries that produce coffee Starbucks at the same time maintains a stable state of their plantations, pays attention to the protection of the environment and maintains high standards of coffee quality. Because Starbucks success depends largely on the stable supply of quality coffee, the company has taken steps to maintain the stability of coffee production with a simultaneous concern for the environment.  Starbucks also supports community projects to improve the welfare of families in coffee regions. The second element of Starbucks business ethics program is taking care about the environment. It should be noted that taking  measures to  reduce  waste  production and  processing  allow the company to  preserve  the natural  resources  and raise living standards  around the globe.  Starbucks actively  seeks out  opportunities  to minimize impacts on  the environment  and  contributes a lot of money and time to make our planet healthier. The third element is taking care about communities. As a fact, local Starbucks coffeehouses have become a central part of many neighborhoods, they serve as a place where people can gather, talk, talk, have a good time.  But Starbucks believes that by make their partners responsible neighbors and active participants in the events of those areas in which they live and work, together they can bring more benefits to local communities.  This is an important part of the business ethics and the culture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â ‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹of the company. The forth element of Starbucks business ethics program is taking care about employees. More than 63,000 people work at Starbucks and all these people the company calls partners, who are a tool for success. And since Starbucks success depends largely on the dedication of the partners, the companys primary goal is to show them how much Starbucks appreciate and respect them, according to Tom Allen (2009). In my opinion, Starbucks has positive attitude to business ethics. However, I would like to say that even this business ethics structure needs some changes. First of all, there have to be made certain improvements in the sphere of business ethics because Starbucks is working globally and not in every country ethical principles are identical. That is why Starbucks can not permit to lose its image in the international business. Often, one of the ethical principles plays a considerable role in a customers decision whether visit Starbucks again or not. Good service and exemplary attitude of the staff in Starbucks Corporation always has to use ethical principles that will help the company to succeed. In order to provide the best service and unique products to the customers, Starbucks Corporation has to do everything possible to satisfy the customers needs. If I was a leader, I would create a plan of changes in business ethics and implementation of new approaches, I would take into consideration the analysis and evaluation of the current strategies, business ethical principles, newest technologies and innovative approaches that would have a company to succeed. As for specific steps, I propose the company to expand its presence in popular social networks and make a questionnaire survey in the coffee houses with the aim to improve its fairness and pursuit for excellence. I presume that open desire of the company to hear and take into account opinions and  suggestions of the customers concerning improving service quality will be the best way  to reflect its  business ethics  and  will have a positive impact  on  company image. I am convinced that this step will help Starbucks to gain more fans all over the world. This will show that Starbucks is taking care of people. To sum it up I would like to say that ethics is the humanity, honesty, respect, goodwill, fairness and trust.  It is not possible to provide effective management without business ethics, for the sake of success of the enterprise it is important to treat others with respect, appreciate other people and take into account what is happening in and around the enterprise.  Each organization is the part of the society and the wider environment, disregard for society and the environment can lead to a situation in which the company can no longer continue its activity.  Society and the environment can exist without any particular company, but the company without its environment and society will not survive.  It should be noted that people create the organization and the organization is created in the first place for the people.  All products and services that are produced and offered are created specifically for people and for their needs.   Without any doubts Starbucks Corporation has almost perfect business ethics standards. Although, if I would be a leader of the corporation I would propose the company to expand its presence in popular social networks and make a questionnaire survey in the coffee houses with the aim to improve such important ethical values as fairness and pursuit for excellence. I strongly believe that such step will help the company to hear and take into consideration opinions and  suggestions of the customers concerning Starbucks goods and service  quality and be the best way  to reflect its high  business ethics standards.

The Debate of Animal Testing in Laboratories Essay -- Science Experime

The Debate of Animal Testing in Laboratories Debating over the animal rights movement has raised questions and concerns for many years. Although animal research has been the cause of many medical breakthroughs, is it morally and ethically right to put animals in these kinds of situations? This is one of the underlying questions that must be solved before it is too late. There has already been too much violence and harm caused by the opposing views of this argument. Shouts of protests and riots are heard on the streets, labs and medical equipment are being burned and destroyed and innocent animals are left hanging in the wake. While animal rights organizations fight for more â€Å"kinder, gentler† ways to treat animals, animal research advocates strongly believe that animals unlock the key to curing and ailing diseases. Two sides to pro activists include both animal rights advocates and animal welfare advocates. â€Å"Animal rights means that animals are not ours to use for food, clothing, entertainment, or experi mentation. Animal welfare, on the other hand, permits these uses of animals as long as certain humane guidelines are enforced† (Frequently). Some people believe the concern for animals is a waste of time when there are so many humans in need. Pro activists, however, argue that humans and animals are equally important and both deserve attention. This is a problem that concerns everyone in the world. We, as humans, depend on animals for many things such as food and clothing, so where and when will this controversy end? There must be a compromise, but it is up to us to find the solution to this overwhelming problem. Animal rights activists contribute to the first position on this issue. They believe that animals sho... ...r the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.† It is therefore concluded, from this scripture and research, that animal testing is permissible as long as it is in our best interest and no additional harm is done. Abraham Lincoln summarized my point of view when he said, â€Å"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being† (Practical Issues). There will hopefully come a day when all the controversy can be set aside and people come together for the sake of the animals. However, that is going to take much effort by both sides and cannot be solved in one day or by one alternative. It is going to take time, effort, and most of all compassion. It is our duty as humans to unite and care for all creatures that God created. Only on that day will animals be truly safe and content.

Is the norwegian language under threat?

Is the Norwegian language under threat†? More and more words from other languages is blending in, in the Norwegian language. The biggest threat† to the Norwegian language is English. As the English language slowly took over most parts of the world as the official language of several post-colonized country, it's on the way to take the Norwegian language completely our tongue. No one can deny the fact how much English has Influence our every day, It's a well-known fact that Norwegian words Is substituted with English. AmericanEnglish Is settling faster than British English on the Norwegian shelf. USA has basically been the most dominant force after the Second World War, they have expanded their businesses on a massive scale, they reign supreme on the entertainment and In term of science and technology field, USA Is one of, If not on top. These popular fields which they have exceeded on also bring their American- English on top, other businesses, entertainment Industries, an d the science- technological world must cope with them and, they have to use American-English more consistently on every day basis. They provide the information to the people. D people to tend to catch on words than can maybe explain a word on their mother tongue better or simply because it is a lot simpler to say that word, English tends to be not so difficult language to learn, even for young children, as they use technological devices and internet to read information, or to even play games, chic portrays a strong role, to learn young children into learning English. If this continues, American-English would eradicate the Norwegian language a lot faster than we think. As the linguistic Selfless Limier said, we have to find means to end this American-English language takeover, he mentioned that we need to convert basic English word back into Norwegian e. G bacon-O sidedness. This way we may stand a chance to preserve Norwegian. My thoughts on this matter is straightforward, American -English landed firmly on Norwegian soil and it's here to stay for good, the question remains is how long does it going to take before English becomes the official language of this country. A large number of well know industries which is located in Norway, do only speak English and you also have to apply for the Job on English, even though it means working onNorwegian land, I myself have experienced this. Remember what the history of the English language has done to the population of the world, slowly clawed Its way to the top the tongues of the inhabitants by certain ways, and drained the native language form their core and replaced It with English words and or as an official language Is history doomed to repeat Itself or does the Norwegian language stand a chance, our next generations will live to tell the tale. BY ibbi2206 our tongue. No one can deny the fact how much English has influence our every day, it's a well-known fact that Norwegian words is substituted with English.

Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Essay Example

Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Essay Example Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Paper Lords of Discipline Character Analysis Paper Essay Topic: Literature Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the greatest generals in the vast, eternal history of Europe. He conquered nations and forged a legendary empire. Napoleon accomplished these amazing feats despite being only five feet, two inches tall. He overcame this obstacle and still built a legendary empire. Both Will McLean and John Proctor triumph despite the obstacles presented by the repressive societies they live in. During the epic works The Lords of Discipline, by Pat Conroy and The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the protagonists, Will McLean and John Proctor, overcome societal repression by exemplifying extreme virtue, courage, and contrasting values of honesty. To be a hero, one must be virtuous and always know how to do the right thing when nobody is looking. Both Will and John have these traits. Will demonstrates his righteousness when he defends Pearce and helps him survive the school year overcoming the severe obstacles set in front of him by his peers. His fellow students are all racist against African Americans, and Pearce must endure the most suffering due to these ideals. The Bear asks Will to come down to his office where he soon offers him a chance to support Pearce, the first African American student to attend the Institute. The Bear tells Will he has been charged the duty of preventing Pearce from dropping out and leaving the school. Will says to Pearce while talking about their plan to communicate, there may be a secret group on campus that does not want you to enjoy the fruits of education at this grand institution. I belong to a group that does. Any questions? What group do you belong to, sir? We are called the nigger-lovers, Pearce. (Conroy 70). Although all of his peers and friends are against African Americans like Pearce, Wills character remains strong. He stands against what he personally believes is wrong and will encourage Pearce to stay and become a ring-wearer. In The Crucible, John Proctor is also virtuous. His time of high merit comes when he confronts Herrick and Cheever and rips the search warrant theyve obtained to search his house because they believe Elizabeth, Johns wife, to be a witch. After Cheever shows John the warrant, Proctor and Cheever have a heated conversation, Proctor: Out with you. Cheever: Proctor, you dare not touch the warrant. Proctor, ripping the warrant: Out with you! (Miller 76). Proctor reveals how he knows what Herrick and Cheever are doing is wrong, and he tries his best to defend his wife and put an end to it. His virtuous nature shines through here. He knows it is unjust to just accuse someone of witchcraft without any significant proof. The entire Salem society believes witchcraft to be true. Proctor, acting as the righteous man he is, knows his wife is not a witch. To be virtuous in the face of adversity is an essential trait for a great hero to have. The hero must be virtuous to see through societal repression and say what they believe. Will McLean illustrates extraordinary courage when it comes to overcoming his peers repressive ideals. One of his major difficulties throughout the book is The Ten, a secret group created within the Institute which preys on students not seen fit to continue their education there. When Will discovers they are a real group after searching through Mr. St Croixs journal, he drives to the barn near the Generals house to investigate. He sees ten of his peers about to ignite a flame that could have potentially burned Pearce. Will throws a, brick [which] exploded into the room, suddenly silent, Pearce, its Will McLean and Ive seen it all. (Conroy 389-390). This act is remarkably bold and daring. Not only does he throw a brick into the room to grab their attention but he also yells out his own name, alerting The Ten to his presence and identity. Will tries to overcome the societal suppressive atmosphere The Ten has set around the school. Nonetheless, this small yet daring act assists Will in conquering his obstacles by letting him be stronger, mentally and physically, then his opponents. John Proctor is also courageous and his audacity aids him in overcoming the McCarthyism and hysteria gripping Salem. When John is surrounded by the entire town after Mary loses his case for him and Elizabeth denies the affair between him and Abigail, he yells out, Proctor: I say-I say-God is dead! (Miller 119). This is an absurd and crazy thing to say in such a society where religion is so powerful and God is essential to everyones everyday lives. Since he said this, he knows he will be convicted of witchcraft and it is extremely brave to say something so scandalous. His true courage is found beneath these simple words. What Proctor means is that his beloved town has fallen to Satan and God is dead because nobody trusts anyone. Courage is an indispensible characteristic to defeat the odds put against them and rise to new heights. Although dishonesty is usually frowned upon, in Wills case, it helps him overcome an unfair trial which would have led to the collective repression of Dante Pignetti. Dante, Wills close friend and roommate, is caught by a member of The Ten stealing gasoline from Wills car. During the examination of the witness, Will, the defense attorney asks, Who paid for the gasoline? Mark asked. I had left my wallet in the barracks. Pig gave me money to pay for the gas, I lied. (Conroy 430). Will does do an inexcusable act-lying after swearing to tell the truth on the Honor Court. Fortunately, he lies to save one of his best friends from being forced out of the school. Dante helps Will overcome obstacle by helping him escape The Ten. By lying, he indirectly overcame his obstacles through another person. In contrast, John Proctor is renowned for his honesty. He is honest to Mr. Putnam, Rebecca, Reverend Parris, and most importantly himself in saying how much he despises Reverend Parris and all that he stands for. Parris: There is a party in this church. I am not blind; there is a faction and a party. Proctor: Against you? Putnam: Against him and all authority! Proctor: Why, then I must find it and join it. (Miller 31). John Proctor is very true to himself and knows how he feels about issues that affect him daily. He is confident in his identity and wants everyone around him to know that as well. Saying this is a bit of a risk since the idea of witchcraft is just beginning in Salem and Proctor openly states that he is against the Reverend of the church in town. Being true and honest to himself allows Proctor to defeat his ignorant peers and become a better man than the rest of them. In conclusion, to conquer obstacles, one must have a few vital traits to help them do so. The protagonist must be virtuous, have tremendous courage, and have honest values supplemented by dishonest values. If Napoleon could forge an empire out of nothing with such a physical disadvantage and obstacle, any hero can do the same with these all important characteristics.

Interview With Socrates Essays - Socratic Dialogues, Free Essays

Interview With Socrates Essays - Socratic Dialogues, Free Essays Interview With Socrates Greek philosopher and educational reformer of the fifth century B.C.; born at Athens, 469 B.C.; died there, 399 B.C. After having received the usual Athenian education in music (which included literature), geometry, and gymnastics, he practised for a time the craft of sculptor, working, we are told, in his father's workshop. Admonished, as he tells us, by a divine call, he gave up his occupation in order to devote himself to the moral and intellectual reform of his fellow citizens. He believed himself destined to become a sort of gadfly to the Athenian State. He devoted himself to this mission with extraordinary zeal and singleness of purpose. He never left the City of Athens except on two occasions, one of which was the campaign of Potidea and Delium, and the other a public religious festival. In his work as reformer he encountered, indeedhe may be said to have provoked, the opposition of the Sophists and their influential friends. He was the most unconventional of teachers and the least tactful. He delighted in assuming all sorts of rough and even vulgar mannerisms, and purposely shocked the more refined sensibilities of his fellow citizens. The opposition to him culminated in formal accusations of impiety and subversion of the existing moral traditions. He met these accusations in a spirit of defiance and, instead of defending himself, provoked his opponents by a speech in presence of his judges in which he affirmed his innocence of all wrongdoing, and refused to retract or apologize for anything that he had said or done. He was condemned to drink the hemlock and, when the time came, met his fate with a calmness and dignity which have earned for him a high place among those who suffered unjustly for conscience sake. He was a man of great moral earnestness, and exemplified in his own life some of the noblest moral virtues. At the same time he did not rise above the moral level of his contemporaries in every respect, and Christian apologists have no difficulty in refuting the contention that he was the equal of the Christian saints. His frequent references to a divine voice that inspired him at critical moments in his career are, perhaps, best explained by saying that they are simply his peculiar way of speaking about the promptings of his own conscience. They do not necessarily imply a pathological condition of his mind, nor a superstitous belief in the existence of a familiar demon. Socrates was, above all things, a reformer. He was alarmed at the condition of affairs in Athens, a condition which he was, perhaps, right in ascribing to the Sophists. They taught that there is no objective standard of the true and false, that that is true which seems to be true, and that that is false which seems to be false. Socrates considered that this theoretical scepticism led inevitably to moral anarchy. If that is true which seems to be true, then thatis good, he said, which seems to be good. Up to this tome morality was taught not by principles scientifically determined, but by instances, proverbs, and apothegms. He undertook, therefore, first to determine the conditions of universally valid moral principles a science of human conduct. Self-knowledge is the starting point, because, he believed, the greatest source of the prevalent confusion was the failure to realize how little we know about anything, in the true sense of the word know. The statesman, the orator, the poet, think they know much about courage; for they talk about it as being noble, and praiseworthy, and beautiful, etc. But they are really ignorant of it until they know what it is, in other words, until they know its definition. The definite meaning, therefore, to be attached to the maxim know thyself is Realize the extent of thine own ignorance. Consequently, the Socratic method of teaching included two stages, the negative and the positive. In the negative stage, Socrates, approaching his intended pupil in an attitude of assumed ignorance, would begin to ask a question, apparently for his own information. He would follow this by other questions, until his interlocutor would at last be obliged to confess ignorance of the subject discussed. Because of

Famous Proverbs Shared From Around the World

Famous Proverbs Shared From Around the World Proverbs are usually concise  phrases that give advice or state a truism. Proverbs can sound deep and wise, but it is the cultural context of proverbs that lend them meaning. Without context, these proverbs must be interpreted in light of your own personal experience. Proverbs have been part of human culture for thousands of years. Some of those from China, Africa, and the Middle East, for example, were first coined long before the Roman Empire. Some proverbs from other countries may sound familiar to you. It is common for countries to have their own versions of a proverb. For example, the Dutch proverb Do not wake sleeping dogs appears in the U.S. as Let sleeping dogs lie. They mean the same thing. Here is a collection of famous proverbs from around the world. African Proverbs A kings child is a slave elsewhere. What forgets is the  ax, but the tree that has been axed will never forget. It is no shame at all to work for money.   A loose tooth will not rest until its pulled out.   He who digs too deep for a  fish  may come out with a snake.   The path is made by walking. Australian Proverbs None are so deaf as those who would not hear. Once bitten, twice shy. Dont count your chickens before theyre hatched. A bad worker blames his tools. In the planting season, visitors come singly, and in harvest time they come in crowds. Egyptian Proverbs We tell them it is a bull, they say milk it. Go far, youll be loved more. Do a good deed and throw it into the sea. Time never gets tired of running. Bulgarian Proverbs Tell me who your friends are, so I can tell you who you are. The wolf has a thick  neck  because he does his job on his own.   Measure thrice, cut once.   Help yourself to help God help you.   Chinese Proverbs If youre poor, change and youll succeed. Big fish eat small fish. No one knows a son better than the father.   No shame in asking questions, even to people of lower status. Croatian Proverbs The way it came is the way it will go. Hasten slowly.   All thats well lasts  short.   Dutch Proverbs Cost goes before the profit. Do not wake sleeping dogs. Every little pot has a fitting lid. Think before acting; and whilst acting, still think. English Proverbs When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The pen is mightier than the sword. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. No man is an island. People who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones. Better late than never. Two wrongs dont make a right. German Proverbs He who rests grows rusty. Starting is easy, persistence is an art. The cheapest is always the most expensive. Make haste with leisure. Hungarian Proverb Who is curious gets old quickly. Russian Proverbs Draw not your bow till your arrow is fixed. When the rich make war, its the poor that die. When the cat is away, the mice will play. Many hands make light work. Be swift to hear, slow to speak.

Performance & reword Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Performance & reword - Essay Example The influences could be positive or negative during this journey, but such influences also affect the future course as well and the spirit with which the team members are working decides the future course of the achievements as well. Ans-2: The contemporary job design theories outline a set of functions, components and tasks depending upon the organization settings, based upon the requirements of the organization and the capabilities of the individual. While the meta-process of finalizing minute details helps the organization in attaining the desired heights, it also helps in the individual by way of improving quality of work experience and greater freedom and flexibility (Dolan and Schuler, 1994). Therefore, positive motivations help in a better experience while negative motivations result in adversely impacting the work culture. Motivation in simplest terms can be defined as a means of providing motives. At times, the lack of any positive motivation by the managers often results in an automatic provisioning of negative motivation. How somebody makes use of his/ her efforts towards a goal is determined by the motivating/ de-motivating factors. It is through their behavior that employees give expression to their commitment to work, level of motivation and their attitudes. The performance appraisal and review process helps the management in motivating the performance levels of deserving candidates while providing an opportunity to the one's lagging behind. Organizational goals and objectives can also be achieved if the workforce is able to work with desired levels of motivation. Buyens and De Vos (2001) contend that, "strategic HRM is the linking of the HR function with strategic goals and objectives of the organization in order to improve business performance and develop organizational cultures that foster innovation and flexibility". It is worth mentioning here that the individual feel motivated when they find that their requisite needs are being fulfilled in the process. The Maslow's hierarchy of needs is an important tool to assess the needs of the people in general. Ans-3: Strategic HR management is supposed to align organizational targets with those of the individual and the teams. Mahy et al (2005) contend that a company designs its HR policies to maximize profits, for which the company makes use of job incentives. Such incentives play key role in influencing the attitude of the worker. Thus the incentives turn into profits for the company. If due attention is paid to the periodic feedbacks from the workers, it goes a long way in shaping the policies of the company and provides it an edge in taking on the competitors. For example, Coca Cola the leading icon in a range of beverage products clearly underlines the importance of synchronizing the career requirements of workers with the company's requirements. It states1, "Our Company, your career, together we grow." Considering its people as its greatest asset, the company comes out with a benefit statement which states2, "The Coca-Cola Company values the health and well-being of our employees and provides a variety of market-competitive benefits programs to address employees' benefits needs." It is indeed worth pointing out that company clearly finds a link between maximizing

Hate Speech Phenomenon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hate Speech Phenomenon - Essay Example There is a consensus among the leaders of the international community that hate speech needs to be prohibited by law but the compatibility of the hate speech legislation and the free speech laws is yet to be established. A large majority of people support legislation against hate speech but there are other perspectives as well. The adversaries to the legislation against hate speech present freedom of speech as the strongest argument however there are other arguments besides this. According to some people hate speech should be tolerated because it allows people to release their hatred towards a particular group of people in a much softer way. According to them hate speech helps people releasing the pressure of hatred that is built up inside their minds through their tongue and thus it helps preventing the threat of physical violence. However the case of human beings is different from mechanical pressure vessels and tolerance of hate speech promotes it in most of the cases. The first a mendment to the constitution of the United States ensures the freedom of speech and expression however it has certain shortcomings regarding the saving of the minority groups from hate speech; free speech as a phenomenon ensures the provision of human rights however free speech clause has failed to do so because it has been used as a tool for spreading hatred on numerous occasions. People who are against the hate speech laws argue that hate speech cannot be abolished by enforcing laws against it because it is a moral and social issue which can be solved through arbitration and changing the mindset of hate mongers. Hate speech laws at times ‘overprotects’ minorities like blacks and Jews who exploit these laws while expressing their own hatred towards majority groups so the whole legislative process against hate speech is very critical and laws should be formulated by keeping into consideration all the possible ways in which the laws could be misused (Delgado). In places where hate speech laws have been formulated and are being enforced, some people have reported the presence of ‘underground racists’. These people are those racists who do not openly express their hatred towards the minority groups because the law bars them to do so, consequently they keep their feelings hidden, working silently to cause damage to the minority groups and thus pose a greater threat. So the challengers of the hate speech laws use the case of underground racists as another argument against the enforcement of hate speech laws because according to them a person who hides his hatred is much more dangerous than a person who openly admits his hatred towards other people. Thus the adversaries argue that formulating laws against hate speech is not the solution, moral solutions are much better. For example one of the solutions that they propose is that a person who confronts hate speech should learn to ignore it because ignorance discourages the hate mongers wherea s reaction is considered as offensive and further encourages the hate mongers to continue spreading hatred. But ignorance is sometimes considered as weakness, under such circumstances, the minority groups should learn to reply back. So the person who confronts hate speech is in a much better position to resolve the issue than the authorities who can only impose law which are not effective in stopping the incidents of hate speech. The

Literature review 8 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

8 - Literature review Example By addressing issues such as of poverty, microfinance and its impact on and gender/power relations and women's empowerment, this study will attempt to inscribe itself into broader discourses and debates concerning equity and equality, gendered inequalities, power relations, women's economic and social empowerment as they are impacted by microfinance. Saudi Arabia is an undisguised, self-evident patriarchal state; this study aims at investigating the positive and negative implications microfinance bears on the Saudi female clients. By studying the initiative Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ)1, and examining its underlying principles, rational accomplishments and goals, this study aims to examine its effects on power relations, decision-making and bargaining power in the household. This case study of microfinance in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia aspires to unfold an important and lacking dimension to the current debates surrounding gender and development in developing countries particularly in relat ion to debates surrounding gender equality2 vs. ... There have been continual debates on whether microfinance can be considered as a savior to poverty-stricken women from oppression and gendered inequalities or whether having access to micro-financial resources can empower women economically and socially. ‘Studies generally suggest the poorest seldom benefit from microcredit, while the middle and upper poor benefit the most (Maclsaac, 1997). This doesn’t apply to the case in Saudi Arabia because the BRJ scheme is a charity-based approach that is Shari’aa compliant (offering interest-free loans). There is a debate between whether microfinance can help promote gender-equality vs. gender equity. (See footnotes 2 & 3 for the difference) In the case of Saudi Arabia, gender equality would be an ideological scenario, given the religious, cultural and traditional framework in which there impoverished women operate. Gender equity is more of an attainable goal in this context. Furthermore, there are heated debates surroundin g the issue of microfinance being regarded a tool to facilitate women’s empowerment. A recent study in Bangladesh concluded that microfinance politically, ‘does not directly challenge any official views that subjugate women, nor that any hard evidence was found to prove that microcredit credit promotes empowerment or supports women’s liberation ’ (Faraizi et al., 2011). This study is particularly useful to this research because in many ways Saudi Arabia shares commonalities with the religious framework in Bangladesh; where Islamists in high positions of power officially subscribe to unequal rights for women. Whereby, any contrasting, disparate voices against the patriarchal dominant voice are silenced. (Faraizi et al., 2011) In the kingdom of

Argumentive Essay...on means of elevation by martin delaney Essay

Argumentive ...on means of elevation by martin delaney - Essay Example The societal practices which subjugate the blacks can never be the means of elevation and be construed as part of the welfare state that respects the essential dignity of the individual. I agree with the issues enunciated in the article and would like to put forth my arguments thus: Humankind has access to the lore of religious literature, the relentless sermons on morality in religious palaces, lectures and symposiums on moral emancipation of the free colored people. Scores of legal enactments to safeguard the rights of the blacks are passed and yet what are the ground realities? All this remains on paper. The reformation and welfare measures are pursued half-heartedly. The religion can preach, but as for effecting economic transformation and raise the standard of living and standard of life it has done little. It can fill the mind with noble thoughts for a while, but it cannot fill the hungry stomachs. Until now, religion as it is practiced today, has not provided any hopes to the blacks to reach the level of whites in any segment of life. In a democracy politics dominates every aspect of life of a citizen. A good political system builds a human being; the bad one breaks. Even a good political system can only go the extent of laying down noble societal principles. Its actual implementation as for its day to day disposition will have to be taken care of by the concerned individuals and the regulating authorities. It is easy for the white man to make progress for individual advancement, but the black encounters obstacles at every stage. The prevailing system is designed thus. In every vocation, the white man is in an advantageous position, and the black man is at the receiving end. The white man controls production and the black man is a helpless consumer, and he has to buy on the terms and conditions set out by the white man. He has no options to challenge the craftiness and the salesmanship of

Project Management Strategic Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Project Management Strategic Issues - Essay Example The project officially began on October 2000. Demolition of the old structure was scheduled on December 2000 and the new stadium was expected to open in 2003. However, the project was delayed to 9th March 2007. This was because of delays caused by various factors chief among them financial and disputes related issues. Upon completion, the one kilometre circumference Wembley Stadium was supposed to have a bowl volume of 1,139,100m3 and 90,000 sitting capacity with demountable seats. The most spectacular thing is the 1750 tonne and 133-metre tall arch that became the symbol of the stadium. Wembley Stadium has 2618 toilets, state of art conferencing and banqueting facilities as well as 103,000m2 foot print. There were 3500 workers on site who constructed 90,000m3 concrete and 23,000 tons structural steel. There were 444km main cables, 80 km speaker cables, 87 km security cable, 38 km CCTV cables, 71 km cable tray and 14 kilometre fibre optic within the stadium. Other workings were 15000 steel reinforcements, 21,000 sprinkler heads and 1720 km small power and lighting. However, it was not possible to develop retractable new roof of the stadium and fans became disappointed. The work was quite satisfactory as most specification in the contract was met despite the delay occasioned by factors beyond the construction Company. Multiplex Construction Company made  £70 million over budget. The planned cost of the total project was  £798 million. However, Multiplex was later paid a total of  £834 million indicating project variance cost of  £36million. There are many reasons that explain the delays and increase in the project cost of Wembley Stadium. The delays caused millions of losses in pounds to the Wembley National Stadium Limited, Multiplex and other outsourcing companies such as Cleveland Bridge (steel contractor) and PC Harrington (concrete contractor). Wembley National Stadium Limited paid additional  £36m to the Multiplex (WNSL 2010). In addition, the

Marketing Strategy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing Strategy - Research Paper Example It takes less time to prepare ice cream this way. Therefore many customers can be served fresh ice-cream as soon as they order it. This also gives the customer confidence that they get a freshly made product in just a matter of seconds (Barry 23). Kids will also love the experience of watching their ice cream freeze in front of their eyes. Liquid nitrogen is safe in gaseous form and is not harmful in any way even if it gets in contact with the customer during preparation of their ice cream (Robin 31). My primary target is the millions or even billions of ice cream lovers not only in the nation but globally. With such an innovative idea, I am hopeful that it can expand worldwide and that the ice cream experience can be changed globally (Barry 29). I would like to think that most of my target customers would be children but ice ream lovers are not biased by any factor such as age. Hence for the teenagers and adults, they apply to my target group for frozen ice cream (Robin 36). My key competitors are ice cream makers that are in existence particularly the large manufacturing companies that are in existence today. My product is advantageous with the fact that it is creamier and has less of preservatives. However, I lack the advantage of capital to roll out my idea (Stuart 35). This is especially so when I consider the fact that I do not have a retail store to roll out the business. Also I do not have enough cash to advertise. My competitors also have a well established brand name such that I become a tiny threat to their market share (Stuart 41). Compared to my competitors too, I face the challenge of sales and marketing. This requires capital, time and resources and as of now, I have neither the time, capital nor resources to carry out huge campaigns on my product. Even though I am a small threat to the big competitors, I have the

Argumentive Essay...on means of elevation by martin delaney Essay

Argumentive ...on means of elevation by martin delaney - Essay Example The societal practices which subjugate the blacks can never be the means of elevation and be construed as part of the welfare state that respects the essential dignity of the individual. I agree with the issues enunciated in the article and would like to put forth my arguments thus: Humankind has access to the lore of religious literature, the relentless sermons on morality in religious palaces, lectures and symposiums on moral emancipation of the free colored people. Scores of legal enactments to safeguard the rights of the blacks are passed and yet what are the ground realities? All this remains on paper. The reformation and welfare measures are pursued half-heartedly. The religion can preach, but as for effecting economic transformation and raise the standard of living and standard of life it has done little. It can fill the mind with noble thoughts for a while, but it cannot fill the hungry stomachs. Until now, religion as it is practiced today, has not provided any hopes to the blacks to reach the level of whites in any segment of life. In a democracy politics dominates every aspect of life of a citizen. A good political system builds a human being; the bad one breaks. Even a good political system can only go the extent of laying down noble societal principles. Its actual implementation as for its day to day disposition will have to be taken care of by the concerned individuals and the regulating authorities. It is easy for the white man to make progress for individual advancement, but the black encounters obstacles at every stage. The prevailing system is designed thus. In every vocation, the white man is in an advantageous position, and the black man is at the receiving end. The white man controls production and the black man is a helpless consumer, and he has to buy on the terms and conditions set out by the white man. He has no options to challenge the craftiness and the salesmanship of

Marketing Strategy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing Strategy - Research Paper Example It takes less time to prepare ice cream this way. Therefore many customers can be served fresh ice-cream as soon as they order it. This also gives the customer confidence that they get a freshly made product in just a matter of seconds (Barry 23). Kids will also love the experience of watching their ice cream freeze in front of their eyes. Liquid nitrogen is safe in gaseous form and is not harmful in any way even if it gets in contact with the customer during preparation of their ice cream (Robin 31). My primary target is the millions or even billions of ice cream lovers not only in the nation but globally. With such an innovative idea, I am hopeful that it can expand worldwide and that the ice cream experience can be changed globally (Barry 29). I would like to think that most of my target customers would be children but ice ream lovers are not biased by any factor such as age. Hence for the teenagers and adults, they apply to my target group for frozen ice cream (Robin 36). My key competitors are ice cream makers that are in existence particularly the large manufacturing companies that are in existence today. My product is advantageous with the fact that it is creamier and has less of preservatives. However, I lack the advantage of capital to roll out my idea (Stuart 35). This is especially so when I consider the fact that I do not have a retail store to roll out the business. Also I do not have enough cash to advertise. My competitors also have a well established brand name such that I become a tiny threat to their market share (Stuart 41). Compared to my competitors too, I face the challenge of sales and marketing. This requires capital, time and resources and as of now, I have neither the time, capital nor resources to carry out huge campaigns on my product. Even though I am a small threat to the big competitors, I have the

Different Ethnic Groups Essay Example for Free

Different Ethnic Groups Essay Females are now able to achieve more in the education system. This is due to the pattern of achievement. Since the early 90s females have been achieving higher and high and have clearly overtaken males. In 2003/4 the females had taken over males by 20% in achieving 5 or more A*-C GCSE grades. This astronomical gender gap is now causing some sociologists to be concerned in male underachievement in the education system. However, being publicised by the media, males are not underachieving; they are not improving as quickly as females. Sociologists such as Sue Sharpe and Weiner, Arnot and David look at the reasons for the females success. Whereas sociologists, like Paul Willis and Mitsos and Browne suggest reasons for male underachievement. Sue Sharpes study discovered that in the 1970s girls had low expectations and were more likely to become a housewife and mother. They only saw jobs as a means of getting money before they married. When she when she revisited girls in the 1990s, they had higher expectation and saw jobs as careers. Weiner, Arnot and David are cynical about the underachievement of boys. They feel that the concern about the boys underachievement is a reaction against the progress of women. They say that girls are succeeding because of the National Curriculum at GCSE level, but at A-level the subjects are still gendered. Meaning that not many females pick certain subjects therefore limiting the subjects that can do.

Theories on the Gender Pay Gap

Theories on the Gender Pay Gap Australian women earn about 83 ¢ cents for every $1 a man earns, according to a new report analysing the gender pay gap. Linda McDowell suggests that gendered assumptions have a range of influences on contemporary workplaces. Analyse the gender pay gap, engaging with the theorists you have studied this semester. INTRODUCTION As Linda McDowell suggests, gendered assumptions coming from heteronormative ideals and rules significantly influence contemporary workplaces. This subsequently results in the gender pay gap (1995). This paper seeks to critically analyse the influences emanating from gendered assumptions on contemporary workplaces.   Additionally, the link between these assumptions and the gender pay gap will be examined. This will be executed through examining the impacts of heteronormativity, which result in a never-ending binarised cycle that perpetuates the gender pay gap. Further, the possible challenges to gendered assumptions introduced by Judith Butler will be examined. However, to ensure a well-rounded analysis, the shortcomings of these challenges, and the subversive power of hegemonic masculinity will also be discussed. WHAT IS THE GENDER PAY GAP? The gender pay gap in society is something that is deemed ‘distressingly evident’, and continues to steadily control women in society (McDowell 2014 p.829). In Australia, the Gender pay gap refers to the discrepancy in pay between men and women in employment. Current statistics highlight that full-time working women earn 84% of a mans pay, making the gender pay gap sit at 16%. (WGEA, 2017, p.8). From this, it is obvious that progress is necessary. However, progress is not only slow, but proving to be difficult, as the gender pay gap twenty years ago was sitting at 17%, meaning that it has taken up to two decades to improve women’s pay by a mere 1% (WGEA, 2017, p.8). This is highly indicative of the stronghold that institutionalised gendered assumptions have over the workforce, even in the twenty-first century. A key theorist on the gender pay gap, Linda McDowell, states that women in the workplace have fought to ‘establish the right to be there at all’ (1995,p.80). This idea that women need to gain rights to earn money is embedded in historical ideologies that are not only out-dated but still guide the lives of many women today. Early feminist interventions to improve access to work and pay rates are still ongoing, such as the Liberal Feminist movement. The Liberal Feminist movement began in the early 1800s, with the aim of providing women with rights equal to those of men in education, the workforce and in society   (Tong, 1989). Although some of the endeavours of the movement have been achieved, such as women acquiring corporate and authoritative jobs that were once male-dominated, there are new barriers (Bishom-Rapp, S & Sargeant, M, 2016). The gender pay gap is one of the most significant new barriers implemented by institutions to prevent further development of gender equality in the workforce. The gender pay gap can be seen as originating from the three ‘glass ceilings’ embedded in contemporary society, and subsequently, contemporary workplaces (Bishom-Rapp, S & Sargeant, M, 2016,p. 102). The term glass ceilings refers to the invisible barriers that women confront as they approach the top of the corporate hierarchy. This term was established by the Glass Ceilings Commission, which sought to identify the glass ceiling barriers, and remove the blockages to advancement of women and minorities in employment (USDOL, 1995). The commission found there were three levels of barriers. The first barrier is relates to prejudice and bias, coming from educational opportunities, or lack thereof. The second barrier is concerned with the internal structures of a business. These structures are controllable by the business. They relate to the corporate climate and what is referred to as ‘pipeline barriers’ that come from lack of training and career development, which leads to the stunting of possible career advancement (Bishom-Rapp, S & Sargeant, M, 2016,p. 103). The final barrier is concerned with the government, and the lack of law enforcement, combined with dissemination of information about glass ceiling issues (Bishom-Rapp, S & Sargeant, M, 2016, p. 103). Although these three barriers cannot solely justify the widespread hold that the gender pay gap has on contemporary workplaces, they seek to pinpoint where the gender pay gap stems from, allowing work to be done in addressing these areas. HETERONORMATIVITY IN CONTEMPORARY WORKFORCES With the fundamental aspects of the gender pay gap now having been examined, the forces that perpetuate the existence of this significant issue within society require analysis. The most pressing force is the concept of heteronormativity, which is a harmful gender assumption that has a substantial influence on contemporary workforces. Heteronormativity can be defined as ‘a body of lifestyle norms, in which people tend to reproduce distinct and complementary genders (man and woman)’ (Herz & Johannson, 2015, p.1011). In contemporary society, heteronormativity is deemed to keep women in (within its confines) and also keeps women down, that is, subordinated (Jackson, 1999). Feminist discourse surrounding heteronormativity rose in second-wave feminism, the movement that broadened the feminist debate to address issues of inequality and sexuality, as well as workplace difficulties for women (Evans 1995). However, the origins of the ‘normalised’ heterosexual label within society can go back to the historical and cultural depictions of men and women from the eighteenth century (Boe & Coykendall, 2014). Though heteronormativity has a substantial presence within history and society, its impact as a gendered assumption within contemporary workforces is substantial. As heteronormativity conditions men and women to act a certain way according to their sex (which is also historically and socially defined), it leaves women boxed in.   Heteronormativity and the strict, reinforced gender binaries within society reflect the systems of oppression, and the construction of gender hierarchies (Herz & Johannson, 2015, p.1011). In order to maintain a hold on society, ideas of conforming to hyper-heteronormative behaviours are reinforced by institutions within society. Subsequently, these societal influences reverberate into education, family-life and in particular, the workforce. Although women have gained the right to coexist with men in contemporary workplaces, strict gender binaries prevent women from career development, strengthened abilities, and subsequently reinforce the gender-pay gap. The work of Angela McRobbie, a key theorist in the area of gender inequality in the workforce is highly pertinent to this discussion. McRobbie’s concept of the post-feminist masquerade highlights the harmful impact of gender assumptions in contemporary workforces (2007). McRobbie critiques the hyper-gendered performances women have been encouraged to engage in, as they place emphasis on the sexed body, and in turn gender differences. The ‘post-feminist masquerade’ is a means for patriarchal law and hegemonic masculinity to gain dominance against feminism (McRobbie, 2007, p. 723). Hegemonic masculinity refers to the configuration of â€Å"gender practice, which embodies the currently accepted answer to the problem of legitimacy of patriarchy which guarantees the dominant position of men, and the subordination of women† (Bartholomaeus, 2013, p.280). This is done through encouraging women to engage in feminine consumer culture, so as to reinscribe their femini nity in the workplace (McRobbie, 2007). These hyper-gendered performances include subscribing to common feminine practices, such as wearing tight skirts, high heels and a face full of make up to assert their femininity (McRobbie, 2007, p.722).   As women are encouraged to perform hyper-femininity, institutions are able to reinforce fear of retribution from abandoning heteronormativity in the workplace. This forces women back within the rigid gender binary, creating an even greater divide between men and women in the workspace, ultimately perpetuating the gender pay gap. THE LINK TO THE GENDER PAY GAP AND THE REPERCUSSIONS Based on the analysis to date, the harmful nature of gender assumptions in the workplace has been examined. However, the way that these gendered assumptions impact the gender pay gap requires concentrated analysis. Gender assumptions have a direct link to the gender pay gap, as they dictate the field of work that many women are in. Women are significantly overrepresented in the lowest paying occupations, as female-dominated jobs pay far less than male-dominated jobs (Ting, 2017). Feminised jobs include those relating to care-taking or domestic tasks, such as nursing, cleaning and childcare. These sex-segregated jobs are clearly indicative of the roles ascribed to women within heterosexual discourse. These feminised jobs stems from what is known as the caregiver model. This model is a historical regime that took the inherent caregiver role of women, and limited their employment to areas relating to this heteronormative ideal (McRobbie, 2007).   As more women are found in jobs that abide by the caregiver model, the influence of this troublesome ancient structure today is evident (McRobbie, 2007, p.730) However, this caregiver model cannot explain the fact that the gender pay gap in Australia has been found to exist in more than 1,000 occupations (Ting, 2017). This is due to the fact that men in workplaces are promoted into higher positions rather than their female counterparts (Jaffee, 1989, p.377). This is problematic, as there is somewhat a double-disadvantage coming from these jobs. Women in feminised occupations are â€Å"twice disadvantaged- first by being in a â€Å"female† field, and second by being a woman in that field, since men make more than women, even in â€Å"female† fields†Ã¢â‚¬ (Bishom-Rapp & Sargeant, 2016, p. 137). Additionally, women in corporate jobs face vertical segregation. Vertical segregation refers to the exclusion of women from organisational positions of autonomy and authority, due to the sex differences within workplaces (Jaffee, 1989, p.387).   Thus, the gender pay gap not only stems from the one area of feminised jobs, but also from a lack of career advancement that is within the power of organisations in society. According to Wolf and Fligstein, the sexual differences in power in the work setting ‘are an important factor generating inequality in earnings between men and women’ (1979, 235). This highlights how ideas about the femininity of women drive contemporary workforce standards, as women are expected to perform work according to their performance of heterosexuality. Further, the long-term disadvantages that come from gendered assumptions and the subsequent gender pay gap will be critically analysed. Not only does the gender pay gap lead to disadvantage for women in social, financial and personal situations, but also leads to lifetime disadvantage. Lifetime disadvantage refers to the factors that lead to ‘the retirement ills of many women’ (Bishom-Rapp & Sargeant, 2016, p. 190). That is, the risks that women face from being unequally paid. As women go into retirement, they are at risk of experiencing the critical impact of the gender pay gap. Women subsequently earn less over their lifetime, which results in lower superannuation, and a risk of poverty in old age. In 2012, 21.7% of women aged over 65 were at risk of poverty, whereas only 16.3% of men were likely to experience poverty (Bishom-Rapp & Sargeant, 2016, p. 116). Gender inequality in the workforce not only reflects current social position and power inequalities, but it also leads to detrimental outcomes of lifetime disadvantage for women. TACKLING THE GENDER BINARY Although gendered assumptions continue to drive workplaces, there are ways to tackle this blatant discrimination that women face in employment. According to leading gender theorist, Judith Butler, there is a means to challenge heteronormativity, which forms the foundation for the gender pay gap. Butler believes that gender is reiterated through regulatory practices, and is culturally constructed through the heterosexual matrix (Butler, 1990, p.9). The heterosexual matrix refers to the re-stabilisation of gender through women repeatedly engaging in feminised behaviours and appearances (Butler, 1990). Therefore, the sexed body only gains significance from its constant reification and institutionalised endorsement within society. As the gender binary requires engagement by society, an inherent instability within this social construct can be made out (Butler, 1990, p11). Because of this, women are able to exploit gendered assumptions through their constant reinforcement, as it becomes obvious to those looking to challenge it. Women in the workforce have already taken charge in this area, as the overall gender pay gap in full-time employment decreased in 2015 to 2016 (WGEA, 2017,p.15). By viewing sex and gender as something culturally, historically and socially constructed, society will be able to define themselves with their own limitations and freedoms by challenging these constructed ideals. In particular, the feminist movement will make significant headway in this area through challenging normative heterosexuality. This effect will reverberate in the workforce, as the structures seeking to restrain women from challenging hegemonic masculinity will destabilise. The gender pay gap, in particular, has improved among men and women in trades including machinery operating and building, decreasing by 4% in terms of total remuneration between 2015 and 2016 (WGEA, 2017, p. 16). This is indicative of the progress being made by women in challenging the preconceived capabilities of their bodies. By going beyond the behaviours of gender that limit their capabilities, they are able to challenge both gender constructs and inequality in the workforce. As McDowell suggests, women’s sexed bodies are threatening in the workplace for the very reason that they are not meant to be there -‘They challenge the order of things’ (1995,p.80). Not only have women challenged order through entering the workforce; they have also challenged the very structured foundation of the order.   This provides women with the means to break through the metaphorical glass ceilings that limit equality in the workplace. Additionally, if women persevered with obtaining both equality and equity, it would ‘liberate not only women but also human personality from the straitjacket of gender’ (Herz & Johannson, 2015, p.1010). Therefore, by furthering the feminist movement, those reinforcing hegemonic masculinity and the institutions that enforce gendered assumptions will be disembodied. This includes the governing of each individual of society through the heterosexual matrix. THE PARADOX THAT IS GENDER EQUALITY In current gender studies, there are now ways to challenge gender assumptions that feed the gender pay gap. However, the gender pay gap is not in steady decline, and is expected to hold its position, if not rise in areas of managerial roles (WGEA, 2017, p. 6). As individuals are provided with the previously mentioned means to challenge the reification of gender binaries, the institutional stronghold over sex and gender conceptions tightens, finding new ways to subvert these challenges. By virtue of the fact that women are entering the workforce and fighting for equal pay, hegemonic masculinity is weakened. Because of this, institutions use any perceived gender equality improvements to set the fight back, rather than enhance it. This can be seen through the concept of ‘attribution of capacity’ enunciated by Angela McRobbie (2007). This attribution of capacity refers to the freedom given to women in the workforce. In a post-feminist context, women are provided with roles of accountability and autonomy, with the expectation of embodying a strong, can-do attitude to work. However, McRobbie argues that these improvements are instead reinscription of hegemonic masculinity, leading to drawbacks in the fight for equal pay. Women are ‘invited to recognise themselves as privileged subjects’ and are expected to be grateful for achieving   (with a fight) the fundamental human right of equality (McRobbie, 2007, p, 722). As institutions have relinquished this control over who enters the workforce, they apply new barriers under the faà §ade of equality. Women are now expected to be accomplished subjects who can come forward, however this is only on the condition that feminism fades away despit e neither equality nor equity being achieved (McRobbie, 2007, p.720). Therein lies what Raewyn Connell refers to as the patriarchal dividend, which is the advantage given to men as a group from maintaining inequality within society (2009). Monetary income from the workforce is just one of the benefits, in addition to respect, safety, institutional power and autonomy. (Connell, 2009, p.142). From the reinforcement of hegemony, the patriarchal dividend and gender binaries within society as a response to feminist movements, women are once again placed back into the labels and categories that they first sought to escape from, subverting years of feminist work. Additionally, the critique of the ‘Virgin Atlantic: 25 years: Still red-hot’ highlights the drawback that women face in the postfeminist struggle for equality (Duffy et al., 2016). The article critiques the marketing strategies used to evoke idealised gender appearances in a postmodern context in order to facilitate the perpetuation of gender binaries. The advertisement ultimately utilises ‘good old-fashioned sexism while simultaneously distancing themselves from it’, which suggests that the institutions that seek to retain a hold over postmodern feminism have utilised the newfound freedom of women and bent it to their will, making women slaves in their own emancipation (Duffy et al., 2016, p. 266). CONCLUSION Ultimately, by examining the structures within the contemporary workforce, the gender pay gap has been critically analysed. By examining the institutionalised gender binaries entrenched within society, the root causes of the gender pay gap have been established and evaluated. The analysis reveals that through heteronormativity and the enforcement of gender binaries, the gender pay gap is perpetually reified, with lifelong effects. Although Butler provides an outlet for change through challenging these binaries, the institutional stronghold over the sexed body and its link to societal outcomes proves to be rigidly in place, as discussed by a key theorist studied within the unit, Angela McRobbie. REFERENCE LIST: 1. Bartholomaeus, C (2013) ‘Colluding With or Challenging Hegemonic Masculinity’.  Australian Feminist Studies, vol. 28, pp. 279-293. 2. Bishom-Rapp, S & Sargeant, M (2016) Lifetime disadvantage, discrimination and the gendered workforce. Cambridge University press. 3. Boe, A & Coykendall, A (2014) Heteronormativity in Eighteenth-century Literature and Culture. Ashgate publications. 4. Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, New York: Routledge, pp.1-19. 5. Connell, R (2009). Gender Politics.  Gender. Pp.136–51. Cambridge: Polity Press. 6. Duffy, K, Hancock, P, & Tyler, M (2016) ‘Still red-hot? Postfeminism and gender subjectivity in the airline industry’. Gender, work and organization, vol. 24, pp. 260-273. 7. Evans, J (1995) Feminist theory today: An introduction to second-wave feminism. Sage publications. 8. Herz, M & Johansson, T (2015). ‘The normativity of the concept of heteronormativity’. Journal of Homosexuality. Pp. 1009- 10209. 9. Jackson, S (1999) Heterosexuality in question. Sage publications. 10. Jaffee, D (1989) ‘Gender inequality in workplace autonomy and authority’. Social science quarterly, vol. 70, pp. 375-390 11. McDowell, L (1995) Body work: heterosexual gender performances in city workplaces. (Routledge) 12. McDowell, L (2014) ‘Gender, work employment and society: Feminist reflections on community and change’. Work, employment & society. pp.825-837. 13. McRobbie, A (2007) ‘Top Girls? Young women and the post-feminist sexual contract’. Cultural Studies. pp.718-737. 14. Ting, I 2017. ‘The gender income gap in more than 1000 occupations, in one chart’, The Age. Viewed: 22 April 2017.

Aspergers Syndrome Essay -- Disease/Disorders

Hans Asperger, a pediatrician from Austria, began to study a group of children at his clinic in 1944. He noticed that the young boys he was studying were clumsy, lacked social skills, and did not understand nonverbal communication. Asperger’s syndrome (AS), named after Doctor Hans Asperger, is a developmental disorder. Research by Woodbury-Smith and Volkmar (2009), claim that AS was originally thought of as a less severe form of Autism, in which the individual has higher linguistic ability but still lacks social skills. Many researches now consider AS an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, it is disputed amongst researchers as to whether it is explicit from High Functioning Autism (HFA). Many characteristics of AS and HFA are overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish between one and the other (Woodbury-Smith and Volkmar, 20089, p. 2). In this paper, Asperger’s syndrome, as depicted in the film, â€Å"Adam†, will be evaluated. Asperger’s syndrome is defined as an ever-present neurodevelopmental disorder, in which social communication is affected and discernment and attentiveness may be bounded (Woodbury-Smith and Volkmar, 2009, p. 2). According to Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, Robinson, & Woodbury-Smith (2005), Asperger’s syndrome can be characterized by various behavioral and social symptoms: lacking the ability to understand social cues; preoccupation with one or few interests; disliking change in routines; repetitive behavior; failure to understand emotional tones in speech; and a seeming lack of empathy. The title character in the film â€Å"Adam†, Adam Raki, is a 29-year-old man who has AS. At the beginning of the film, Adam is left alone for the first time after the death of his father. When Adam meets his new upstairs neig... ...Cited Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Robinson, J., & Woodbury-Smith, M. (2005). The Adult Asperger Assessment (AAA): A Diagnostic Method. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 35(6), 807-819. Hurlbutt, K., & Chalmers, L. (2004). Employment and Adults with Asperger Syndrome. Focus On Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities, 19(4), 215-222. O'Connor, K. (2007). Brief Report: Impaired Identification of Discrepancies Between Expressive Faces and Voices in Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 37(10), 2008-2013. Rogers, K., Dziobek, I., Hassenstab, J., Wolf, O. T., & Convit, A. (2007). Who Cares? Revisiting Empathy in Asperger Syndrome. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 37(4), 709-715. Woodbury-Smith, M. R., & Volkmar, F. R. (2009). Asperger syndrome. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,18(1), 2-11.

Salmeterol : The Optimization of an Asthmatic Drug :: Medical Biology Asthma Medicine

Salmeterol: The Optimization of an Asthmatic Drug Abstract: Asthma can be found in so many people all across world. Asthma is not biased; sex, race, or country does not matter. Asthma affects a large percent of the global population. Becoming aware of this is the first step. Now, using a drug in use, salmeterol, I want to optimize this drug to make it better by giving it different analogs, which will give it different properties. Using the latest technology in the Chemistry Lab, Gaussview and Gaussian 03W aided me in creating models for these analogs and optimizing them. 3 Imagine you are a cross country runner competing in the annual Mt. Sac Cross Country Invitational. The finish line is just ahead, and the crowd is going wild with excitement. The top runner is slightly ahead of you, and you decide to sprint the last fifty yards to the finish line, hopefully to attain first place. Nearing the finish line, you suddenly have trouble breathing, and your heartbeat becomes irregular. You quickly realize you are having an acute asthma attack and pull out your inhaler. With a deep breath and a small puff, you feel better. However, the time it took to complete the process cost you, and you will have to settle with second place. Better luck next time! Asthma is a growing chronic condition in America and has taken quite a toll on Americans. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (1), approximately twenty million Americans have asthma, half of which are specifically from allergic asthma. With so many people with the condition, it is no surprise that in 2001, a quarter of all Emergency Room visits were caused by asthma. As a result, health costs for asthma have soared and have hit ten billion dollars annually. Unfortunately, not every person has been able to survive the effects of asthma, and approximately five thousand deaths occur due to asthma yearly. Though the sole cause of asthma is unknown, there are several probable hypotheses as to why one would attain asthma (7). As a result, asthma awareness must be spread. Not only does a large part of the American population have this condition, but they also do not know how they got the condition. This has led me to create a goal: to optimize salmeterol, a drug used for asthma. However, many do not know what asthma is. 4 To fully grasp the concept of asthma, one must first analyze the system that it affects: the respiratory system, which controls the inhalation and exhalation of air. Following the pathway of air, it begins in the atmosphere and enters the body through

Managing Financial Principles and Techniques

Managing Financial Principles and Techniques Assignment 2 Part 1: Financial Appraisal techniques Part 2: Forecasting Part 1-Financial Appraisal Techniques Task 1. NET PRESENT VALUE (NPV) Year PROJECT X ? 000Project Y ? 000Discount FactorXY 0-200-200-200-200 1352180. 90931. 815198. 162 280100. 82666. 088. 26 390100. 75167. 597. 51 47540. 68351. 2252. 732 52030. 62112. 421. 863 229219 1)NET PRESENT VALUE (NPV) X= 229-200=29 Y=219-200=19 PAYBACK PERIOD: Cumulative Cash Flow Year PROJECT X ? 000Project Y ? 000XY -200-200-200-200 135218-165-18 28010-8528 39010538 47548042 520310045 10045 TASK 2: Net Present value The present value of an investments future net cash flows minus the initial investment. If positive, the investment should be considered (unless an even better investment exists), otherwise it should not. It is a calculation based on the idea that ? 1 received in ten years time is not worth as much as ? 1 received now because the ? 1 received now could be invested for those ten y ears and compound into a higher value. The NPV calculation establishes what the value of future earnings is in todays money. To do the calculation you apply a discount % rate to the future earnings. NPV is said to be short for net present value, it is the present value of net cash flows. It is commonly used for appraisals on projects. The advantage of using NPV is that it tells you if a project will add or deduct value from the business and hence decisions are taken of whether to accept it or reject it. Advantages: It will also give accurate position for commonly special projects. -It gives an absolute value. -NPV allow for the time value for the cash flows considers both magnitude and timing of cash flows †¢Consistent with shareholder wealth maximization: Added net present values generated by investments are represented in higher stock prices. †¢Indicates whether a proposed project will yield the investor’s required rate of return Disadvantages: †¢It is very difficult to identify the correct discoun t rate. Many people find it difficult to work with a dollar return rather than a percentage return because it is hard to directly compare projects unlike say a percentage return as calculated using IRR †¢It needs to be interpreted carefully because the overall NPV reflects the scale of the project as well as the rate of return. IRR Like the NPV method used for capital budgeting, the IRR method also uses cash flows and recognizes the time value of money. NPV and IRR may give conflicting decisions where projects differ in their scale of investment. Advantages IRR allows you to compare projects easily because it is a percentage †¢Also it can direct attention to situations where it might be better to do multiple versions of the same project with a high IRR †¢In calculating IRR it can give an indication of how sensitive the Net Present Value is to changes in discount rate †¢Considers both the magnitude and the timing of cash flows Disadvantage †¢Multiple internal rates of return with unconventional cash flows †¢Any change in sign (+,-) in period cash flows produces as many IRR’s as there are changes in the cash flow directions of the investment, lending or borrowing. Assumes cash flow is reinvested at the IRR rate and this may not be a realistic assumption NPV and IRR compared NPV assumes that project cash flows are reinvested at the company's required rate of return; the IRR assumes that they are reinvested at the IRR. Since IRR is higher than the required rate of return, in order for the IRR to be accurate, the company would have to keep finding projects that would reinvest the cash flow at this higher rate. It would be difficult for a company to keep this up forever, thus NPV is more accurate. NPV method assumes that CFs are reinvested at the cost of capital K IRR method assumes that CFs are reinvested at IRR Can lead to conflicts in ranking of mutually exclusive projects Crossover NPV is superior to IRR when choosing among mutually exclusive investments Payback †¢Ignores the time value of money. This weakness is eliminated with the discounted payback method. Advantages †¢It is very simple †¢Helps prevent cash flow problems †¢Useful where technology changes rapidly or there are other sources of risk as it asks the question how quickly do we get the money back? Measure of risk and liquidity †¢Useful for evaluating small projects Disadvantages †¢Ignores the time value of money †¢Ignores cash flows after the payback period †¢Objective not consistent with shareholder wealth maximization rather it focuses on risk minimization ARR Advantages †¢It clearly shows profitability of a project †¢It allows easy comparison between project s †¢The opportunity cost of investment can be taken into account †¢It can be easily compared to the target return on long term capital employed which is calculated in the same way Disadvantages †¢More complex than pay back It does not take into account the effects of inflation on the value of money over a time period. ARR Advantages †¢It clearly shows profitability of a project †¢It allows easy comparison between projects †¢The opportunity cost of investment can be taken into account Disadvantages †¢More complex than pay back †¢It does not take into account the effects of inflation on the value of money over a time period. TASK 3 PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS: Cash In Flows TOIN8% Inflation AdjustmentInflation Adjustment Value T1250001. 0827000 T2250001. 1729250 T3250001. 2631500 T340001. 265040 Cash Out Flow OUT10% Inflation AdjustmentInflation Adjustment Value T01000010000 T11000018000 T1180001. 1020900 T2190001. 2122990 Net Inflation adjusted cash flows NPV INOUTNet Cash FlowNet Present Discount FactorDiscounted Cash Flow T0-1000010000110000 T12700010000170000. 8514450 T1-18000180000. 8515300 T2292502090083500. 726012 T3315002299085100. 615191. 1 T35040-50400. 613074. 4 PART 2-FORECASTING DIXON COMPANY Solution: NOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNE Sales/Budgeted Sales Units (Given)10001200140016001800200022002600 Sales budgeted/ sales ? working note 1)50,00060,00070,00080,00090,000100,000110,000130,000 Budgeted Production (Given)12001400160020002400260024002200 Cost Budgeted Manufacturing Cost ? Material (working note 2)31,20036,40041,60052,00062,40067,60062,40057,200 Labour(working note 3)9,60011,20012,80016,00019,20020,80019,20017,600 Variable overheads (working note 4)2,4002,8003,2004,0004,8005,2004,8004,400 Fixed Overheads (Given)5,5005,5005,5005,5005,500 5,5005,5005,500 Total Production Cost (working note 5)48,70055,90063,10077,50091,90099,10091,90084,700 working note 1 Sales budgeted/ sales ? = Sales/Budgeted Sales Units x 50 working note 2 Material = Budgeted Production x 26 working note 3 Labour = Budgeted Production x 8 working note 4 Variable overheads = Budgeted Production x 2 working note 5 Total Production Cost = Material + Labour + Variable Overheads+ Fixed Overheads Work Out Cash Flow Forecast NovemeberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJune Opening Balance35,500 Sales70,00080,00090,000100,000110,000130,000 Less: Material-41,600-52,000-62,400-67,600-62,400-57,200 Labour-12,800-16,000-19,200-20,800-19,200-17,600 Variable Overheads (50%)-6,400-8,000-9,600-10,400-9,600-8,800 Variable Overheads (50%)-6,400-8,000-9,600-10,400-9,600-8,800 Fixed Overheads-5,500-5,500-5,500-5,500-5,500-5,500 Machinery120034000 Closing Balance Task 2 Solution: NOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNE Sales/Budgeted Sales Units (Given)10001200140016001800200022002600 Sales budgeted/ sales ? (working note 1)75,00090,000105,000120,000135,000150,000165,000195,000 Budgeted Production (Given)12001400160020002400260024002200 Cost Budgeted Manufacturing Cost ? Material (working note 2)31,20036,40041,60052,00062,40067,60062,40057,200 Labour(working note 3)9,60011,20012,80016,00019,20020,80019,20017,600 Variable overheads (working note 4)2,4002,8003,2004,0004,8005,2004,8004,400 Fixed Overheads (Given)5,5005,5005,5005,5005,5005,5005,5005,500 Total Production Cost (working note 5)48,70055,90063,10077,50091,90099,10091,90084,700 working note 1 Sales budgeted/ sales ? = Sales/Budgeted Sales Units x 75 working note 2 Material = Budgeted Production x 26 working note 3 Labour = Budgeted Production x 8 working note 4 Variable overheads = Budgeted Production x 2 working note 5 Total Production Cost = Material + Labour + Variable Overheads+ Fixed Overheads Work Out Cash Flow Forecast NovemeberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJune Opening Balance35,500 Sales70,00080,00090,000100,000110,000130,000 Less: Material-41,600-52,000-62,400-67,600-62,400-57,200 Labour-12,800-16,000-19,200-20,800-19,200-17,600 Variable Overheads (50%)-6,400-8,000-9,600-10,400-9,600-8,800 Variable Overheads (50%)-6,400-8,000-9,600-10,400-9,600-8,800 Fixed Overheads-5,500-5,500-5,500-5,500-5,500-5,500 Machinery120034000 Closing Balance

Music Appreciation Essay

Question 4: Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture was a very interesting song; there were many changes through out the piece. It started out sounding like a battle symphony where Tchaikovsky used the instruments to make a choppy sound, which reminded me of a march, as well as gun sounds. He has a great use of crescendo at the beginning. Along with increasing the sound level he also increases the tempo and brings the piece into a dramatic point as all of the instruments join. This includes many different types of instruments: orchestra, woodwind, and percussion. This composer also has a great use of repetition, in the first minute of the song he repeats small sections with the same instrument, but as the song develops he makes this more complicated and repeats longer sections and changes instruments each time. I really like this style because it allows the listener to hear each instrument individually, which is rarely done in a song. Drums are used to keep the beat in this section of the piece, whic h makes the battle feeling stronger and alludes to a heartbeat sound. But it is really the trumpets that stand out in the song and give the beginning of the battle presentation. After the repetition involving different instruments the song begins a decrescendo, this is a great transition into the next big change in the music. A dramatic shift happens and the music turns into a soft, smooth melodic tune that you would dance to at a ball. There is the use of a tiny bell sound that lightens the mood. The notes in this section are much longer and smoother than previously. Also, the woodwinds were taken out during this section and we only hear orchestra. I did not particularly enjoy this song until it transitioned in such a dramatic way; I have never heard such a transition in a piece where it goes from a battle theme to a ball dance theme. This section is very relaxing when compared to the pervious part. We then  transition into the third section and the tempo speeds up, the instruments still include the orchestra and a tambourine was added. The music quickly becomes quiet with a long pause and returns to the sound of the trumpet just like in the beginning of the piece along with the orchestra. There is a great crescendo and all of the instruments join in together, to me this section really clashes due to all the different sounds. This is where the gun shot sound comes in. All of the instruments join in a long scale that continues to decrescendo as the tempo slows. This is a simple part to write but I believe it is a very good part because it makes all of the instruments really need to work to stay together because it would be very obvious if one were a note off on the scale. As the scale ends the instruments instantly come to a loud crash. There are so many bells and trumpets and other instruments playing that it is hard to distinguish what is going on. This part is very repetitive with all of the instruments playing. The song then changes into a faster tempo and I recognize this tune from somewhere else, it is the trumpets and drums mainly playing until the cannon sound returns once again, and we come back to the battle scene. The is a very big, dramatic scale leading into the large bell sounds as the song is ending. All of the instruments then play the same half notes with short pauses between them and end with a long note to finish of the song. Overall, I really enjoyed this piece it was very interesting to listen to and hear all the different ways that the composer switched up the mood in the song. Question 8: Mozart Don Giovanni Act 2 Finale Part 2 Commendatore Scene is a great piece of opera, and I usually do not like opera. This part of the opera takes place in Don Giovanni’s dining room, he is having a feast made for a king when Donna Elvira arrives to tell him that she is no longer mad at him, but he questions why she isn’t and it is because she now pities him. She then asks him to change his lifestyle, but he refuses to and laughs claiming that women and wine are the necessities of mankind. She angrily leaves and then you hear her scream. Don Giovanni tells Leporello to find out why she screamed. He then leaves and comes back frightened as well and jumps under the table. He tells Don Giovanni that the statue he invited from dinner has arrived. Don Giovanni meets him at the door. The statue tells him to repent  for his sins, but just as before he refuses. When he does this a flash appears and the Earth below them opens and the statue pulls him down to hell. When Donna Elvira arrives on the scene the tempo is quick with light music showing the excitement and turn of events, but when she is asking him the important question of changing his lifestyle the music quiets down because he wants you to hear what she is saying to him. Then during his answer the music crescendos as he pokes back at her and gets down on his knees as well. Then as the discussion continues the music is played as the characters speak and stopped when they stop speaking. At the end of their argument they are holding each other and both singing at the same time and while they are doing this music crescendos with their argument to make it more dramatic. Then when she leaves the room and screams the tempo speeds up and gets loud for a second when Leporello screams. When he is explain what is going on to Don Giovanni the tempo increases to its greatest point showing fear and anticipation. When Leporello stomps on the ground to imitate the steps of the statue the music mimics him as he does it, which adds to the effect. We then hear the great set of knocks at the door accompanied by the whole orchestra and woodwinds. As the flash occurs all of the instruments are playing loudly in a sort of frantic way. There then is a long pause before they all come back in together dramatically as the statue enters. The music quiets as the statue begins to talk and this makes his voice sound very loud and booming in a scary way. It then turns to just the orchestra playing this Halloween type of tune that gives off a scary, creepy feeling. As the statue talks again the music quiets, I really like how the composer does this because it really sets his voice apart from the others. As he continues to speak the music in the background does a little scale heightening the anticipation. This continues quietly as they argue back and forth. The music quiets right before the statue makes his big announcement of why he came and they comes back in with a loud burst when he begins to speak. As the statue speak the music gets louder and as he stops speaking it grows quieter to show his authority. When Don Giovanni is answering the music goes back to the orchestra making the Halloween type of music. As they are holding hands the music cuts in and out, playing when Don Giovanni is talking and stopping when the statue is. This music crescendos as the Earth opens beneath them and does not stop until the play does getting louder and  deeper in sound as it goes. Question 5: Wagner’s Die Walkure â€Å"The Ride of the Valkyries† is a very familiar piece to most people because it is used in many other things. The leitmotif is what is so memorable in this song and what has been used so many times. The purpose of the leitmotif is to have a consistent sound that listeners will remember because it continues to repeat over and over again. A motif is very important because it creates a theme, it then links this sound to the story and when people hear this again they will think back to what was going on. This leitmotif has been used for so many different movies and played by so many people. I think the leitmotif is a great way to make a piece stand out, generating a common theme and repeating it over and over will stick it into the listeners minds and they will anticipate and expect it to come and when they are correct it bring a sense of joy. I like the idea of using this type of form; I believe it is very powerful and effective. Question 7: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 is my favorite of all of his songs. This is another example of a great motif. The first four notes of this piece set the stage for the rest of the song. It is three short notes (G) followed by a longer note (Eb). The time signature is 2/4 and there is a quarter note rest at the beginning of the bar. This was actually used in World War 2 as ‘dot-dot-dot-dash’ for ‘V’, which stood for victory. This is a very widely known set of four notes. The best part about this piece is the fermata that Beethoven put in the opening because it is an indefinite hold which means that the conductor can hold onto the note as long as he wants.