Concept of the Automobile

Analysis of Public Speech Given by President George W. Bush essays

Analysis of Public Speech Given by President George W. Bush essays The following is an analysis of a speech given by the President of the United States, President George W. Bush on October 7, 2002. The speech was entitled President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat and was presented at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Cincinnati Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio. In the first instance this important speech is a characterized by a calm argumentative tone and logical persuasion. The central theme of the speech deals with the threat that Iraq poses to the United States and to the world in general. Besides the clear and calm but decisive tone that the speaker uses to convey his massage, the content of the speech is intended to draw attention and to emphasize the serious nature of the subject matter. For example, the speech takes a very broad and general view from the beginning when the President states that he intends to discuss, ... a great threat to peace. (President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat) The use of wide-ranging and evocative words like threat and peace places the speech at a universal level which involves all people and is not localized. By so doing the speaker draws the audience attention immediately to what is obviously a crucial issue. The speaker then builds his argument and states clearly the reasons for the threat that Iraq poses. The argumentative and persuasive nature of the speech is enhanced by continual references to logical factors and their consequences. The speaker is careful to point out that the present crisis has arisen directly as a result of the actions and intentions of the Iraqi regime and is not a result of aggression on the part of the United States. The tone is consistently assertive and condemnatory and uses reason to support the central points. The speaker employs various techniques to bolster and enforce these main points and to make sure that there can be no doubt in the minds of audience as to his sincerity and ...

Women In US History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Women In US History - Essay Example difference. But they have seldom talked about race (ibid 251). While white feminists have engaged in universalizing women’s culture and oppression from white (basically middle class) women’s experience and thereby failed to separate their whiteness from their womanness, Afro-American history also failed to examine the differential class and gender positions men and women occupy in black communities thereby constructing the image of a monolithic black community. This history reverberates with a male voice and is based on the experience of men (ibid 255-56). The social context for the construction of race as a tool for black oppression is historically rooted in the institution of slavery (ibid 256). The slaves were defined by law as â€Å"animate chattel†; they constituted property as well as a social class and were exploited under a system that sanctioned and institutionalized white ownership of black bodies and black labor. Women were denied right to their own bodies and sexuality. Women’s bodies and sexuality was under white ownership and this was institutionalized. It formed and essential part of the system of subordination and exploitation. The children the female slaves gave birth to immediately became the property of the slave masters (ibid 257). It reminds me of Alice Walker’s â€Å"Meridian†, where Meridian’s mother explained to her that Emancipation to female slaves meant that they could retain their own children. In the eyes of the slaveholders, slave women were not mothers at all. They were merely instruments guaranteeing the growth of the slave labor force. They were classified as â€Å"breeders†, animals as opposed to mothers. Hence, their infant children could be sold away like â€Å"calves from cows†. Courts ruled that female slaves had no legal claims on their children (Davis 7). Hard labor in the fields from sunrise to sunset was the norm. Where work was concerned, strength and productivity under the threat of the whip

SKILL DEVELOPMENT PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

SKILL DEVELOPMENT PAPER - Essay Example It does not necessarily mean valuing being different from others, but coming up with a variety of possible solutions to a problem and having the openness to try out ideas which others have not dared do before. Leadership skills are essential in taking one’s group to the right direction, sharing the same vision for the betterment of everyone in the company. It keeps the group grounded in the midst of a crisis. Effective communication skills are critical especially if I work in a multicultural environment. Apart from understanding the cultural backgrounds and communication styles of my co-workers, I also need to learn to read non-verbal communication. I also need to be able to express myself better so that I can efficiently deliver the message I want to convey to others. This would include learning negotiating skills which is not only vital in closing deals in business but in resolving any other conflict with other people. This leads to the final skill I want to hone, team-build ing skills which requires good interpersonal skills. It is inevitable that I deal with others in my future career, so I need to learn to establish harmonious relationships with them in order to develop team effectiveness. Improvement Area 1: Creativity Summary of Source 1: Notar, C. & Padgett, S. (2010) Of The Box Thinking†¦Is Thinking Outside The Box 21st Century Code For Imagination, Innovation, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Intuition?, College Student Journal, Jun2010 Part A, Vol. 44, Issue 2 A common phrase used referring to creativity is ‘thinking outside the box†. According to Notar & Padgett, very successful people never appear to have a â€Å"box† from which they operate. However, a box is something associated with something that confines one to a finite space. â€Å"Thinking outside the box† then means not thinking in a finite space but opening the minds out to infinite space with endless possibilities. Some attributes related to thinking out side the box as having a willingness to take new perspectives to day-to-day work. It also entails openness to do different things and to do things differently. Creative individuals focus on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them. They strive to create value in new ways. Although they already have great ideas in mind, they still enjoy listening to others due to their perennial search for better ideas. Summary of Source 2: Sternberg. R. J. (1996) Successful Intelligence: How Practical and Creative Intelligence Determine Success in Life. New York: Simon and Schuster. Sternberg proposes several aspects of interactions that might create or diminish the creative impulse. When faced with tasks that require creative thinking, teams may either work well together towards a solution or work better individually, depending on their creative thinking styles. Groups that compete against one another do much better than groups that compete within themselves. The team concept is stronger t han the survival of the fittest concept of competition. As well, when an employee feels that he will be evaluated for his creativity, the amount of innovation appears to diminish. Summary of Source 3: Fawcett, M. and Hay, P., (2004) 5x5x5=Creativity in the early years. Journal of Art & Design Education, Vol. 23, No. 3 In a study observing the effects of creative teaching and learning, the children were deeply involved in the learning and creative process. This was because the

Self Analysis Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Self Analysis Leadership - Assignment Example Leadership has been also related to the ability of individuals to control the activities of employees (Rost, 1993, p.101); however, the above description of leadership is not successful since the control of activities of others is not necessarily part of the duties of a leader since it is a task that can be also delegated to an employee at lower levels of the organizational hierarchy. Through my discussions with friends and colleagues, I have come to the decision that leadership is a complex concept; this means that it is difficult to set the criteria that are of primary importance for evaluating the leadership skills of an individual. Under certain circumstances, an individual can be considered as an excellent leader even if he is not capable of communicating with others; for example, a leader that took the right decision in a critical case could be characterized as a good leader irrespective of his leadership skills in general. For me, effective leadership consists of two key eleme nts: the ability to handle crises and the ability to communicate. A Short Life History in Regard to Leadership I have been helping my father in our family business for many years. I had the chance to understand the challenges that a leader has to face. My father had to develop a wide range of tasks including the communication with customers and employees, the development of arrangement with suppliers and the suggestion of plans for securing the competitiveness of the business. In addition, there have been certain family values that have highly influenced my views on leadership: trust, support and cooperation. My father had helped me to understand that cooperation with others is quite important for achieving critical targets; reference is made not only to professional life but also to personal life in general. He had also explained me that cooperation and support should not be considered as weaknesses but rather as attitudes of a successful leader. My father used to say that a leader who has not managed to gain the trust of his followers should not be characterized as a successful leader. In my family, trust has been related not only to the truth but also to inspiration and support. My first experiences in leadership, as developed in the context of the family, have helped me to realize the characteristics of leadership and its power to influence the social and economic life worldwide. An Example of Leadership Attitudes In school I had the chance to experience leadership, even for a short period of time. In the third year of college, I was proposed the position of the leader for an important event – the college’s annual manifestations for the New Year. The duration of the manifestations were 3 days, from the 30th of December to the 1st of January and included a series of events such as a music event, an exhibition with the paintings of the college’s students and a speech of the college’s principal to the students and the staff. During these 3 days my leadership skills were highly tested – for about two months: since the beginning of November, I had to communicate on a continuous basis with students and staff so that the whole project is carefully planned. I had also to check the availability of resources required and ensuring that costs are kept as low as possible. At the same time, I had to cooperate with colleagues so that tasks are appropriately assigned and monitored. Controlling the

Project Management and Operations Management in Construction

Project Management and Operations Management in Construction 1. Abstract This report aims to understand two very important disciplines namely, project management and operations management. Both disciplines are fundamental to achieving long term business success and growth in this highly dynamic business environment. These two areas of management are discussed particularly with respect to the construction industry. It is important to note that project management has its origins in the construction industry and has since then been an integral part of the construction as well as several other industries. Operations management, on the other hand, has largely been neglected for many years. However, over the past few years, management across various firms has realised the importance of effectively managing the operations to achieve business profits and growth. The main objective of this report is to present a discussion on the differences between project management and operations management in construction companies. To present these differences, it is important to clearly understand the basic definition and function of these two disciplines. As a result, this report is structured as follows: It begins by providing an overview of the construction industry moving towards providing a clear understanding of the concepts of project management and operations management. Later, the discussion shifts towards presenting an insight into the importance of these two areas of management particularly with reference to the construction industry. The next section provides a discussion on the differences between project and operations management. This report concludes by presenting a discussion on the necessary skills for a project manager and highlights that it is important for project managers to possess a clear understanding of the operational activities of the firms in order to make sound business decisions. Only those organisations that are able to effectively manage their projects as well as their operations will be able to survive and prosper in the future. Keywords: Project management, Operations management, Construction. 2. Introduction In order to achieve business success, organisations need to perform a number of activities. These activities could either be their operations or projects or a combination of both. It is not possible for organisations to achieve long term sustainable business success without proper measures to effectively manage its projects and operations. Hill (in Slack et al, 2010) clearly indicates the importance of operations to an organisation by pointing out that operation is the function responsible for 60-70 per cent of costs, assets and people. Similarly, almost all the businesses across various industries undertake projects of some sort. One of the key challenges faced by organisations in todays complex business environment is their capability to strike a balance in maintaining current business operations known as business as usual and also to maintain the rate of business change required to survive and compete in future (OGC, 2009). In this context of business change, projects play a criti cal role as they are required to introduce the changes required. Project management is gradually becoming an important discipline in the area of business success as Projects often provide the base for sustainable development implementation. It is important for projects to be well planned and well managed and have specific goals and targets. Although, operations management and project management are different in a number of aspects that are discussed over the next few section, there are a few characteristics that are similar for both projects and operations. Operations and projects both need careful planning, execution and control and are both performed by the human resources of the organisation. Also, they both often face the challenge of limited resources. 2.1. Construction Industry Construction Industry is one of the important contributors to the economy of many countries. The rapidly changing business environment has transformed the way activities and projects are undertaken in the construction industry. Due to the sheer volume of resources required to undertake large construction projects, the construction industry possesses the ability to generate employment and supports economic growth in the region by contributing largely to the Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, it is important to understand that the construction industry operates in a different environment and is susceptible to several factors such as physical environment, legislations, resource availability as opposed to other industries. The Construction sector has a strong impact on the day to day activities of several lives and hence it is crucial to ensure efficient use of resources on the construction projects. Construction projects and operations require a diff erent set of skills in order to manage them effectively. For example: It is important to ensure the safety of team members involved in construction operations and projects as they usually need to deal with many hazardous operations. However, such safety concerns are not so significant in companies operating in the software industry. These challenges and newer ways of performing business activities have placed greater responsibility on the project as well as operations managers who are required to achieve business success within limited budgets and time. This implies that success in construction industry can be achieved by implementation of adequate project management and operations management teams. Before we delve deeper into the discussion related to the differences that exist between project management and operations management in construction companies, it is important to clarify the basic definitions of project management and operations management and their importance in construction companies. 2.2. What is Project management? Projects involve certain degrees of uncertainty as they are unique to the organisation undertaking it. In order to achieve success and desired results, it is important for the project management team to effectively manage the day to day activities involved in a project. Projects consist of a number of separate but interdependent tasks that have the specific objective of creating and developing some new entity (Woodward, 1997). In this aspect project management plays a crucial role. Project management has been in existence for several years and has become an integral area of management over the last three decades. Project Management Institute defines the discipline of project management as the art of planning and controlling various human and non-human resources to be used during the entire project life cycle in order to accomplish already set objectives of scope, cost, quality, and time by using modern management techniques (Barrie and Paulson, 1984). In simple terms, project managem ent can be defined as the process of planning, executing, controlling and monitoring the various aspects of a project in order to achieve the project objectives and deliverables within limited time, costs and resources. Figure 1 shows the various processes of project management in construction industry used to achieve the project objectives and deliverables within limited time, cost and resources. Figure 1 Project management Processes 1. PROJECT DEFINITION 2. TEAM ESTABLISHMENT 3. PROJECT PLANNING (Scope, Importance, Project plan in terms of time frames and resources) Continuous Project monitoring 4. IMPLEMENTATION 5. EVALUATION 6. PROJECT CLOSURE AND HANDOVER Halpin and Ronald (Hendrickson and Au, 1989) point out the three basic ingredients that represent a project management framework. They are: General Management: This is a broad subject that various aspects such as finance and accounting, strategic planning, organisational structure, marketing, organisational behaviour among others. Special Knowledge domains Supporting disciplines For successful management of projects, strong working knowledge of these areas is needed. All these three areas play a key role in effective management as they are linked with the activities involved in undertaking a project. 2.3. What is Operations management? The main objective of any business or organisation is produce high quality goods or services that meet their customers requirements in order to survive and prosper in the future. In order to achieve long term business growth, it is important for organisations to operationally enact the organisations business strategy. In this context, to achieve long term strategic direction, organisations operations play a key role as it is important to effectively manage a large number of daily operations that are aimed at accomplishing the desired objectives to satisfy the customers. In order to achieve this business objective, it is necessary for firms to transform their resources into desired outputs that can be delivered to the end users. Operations consist of all these activities that are necessary to transform and deliver an organisations offering of goods or services to its customers. The main objective of the operations function is to efficiently manage the available resources to produce th e goods and services required by customers. Several large and small organisations have today acknowledged the importance of operations and hence have appointed people to take responsibility for managing all or part of the organisations operations processes. Success of operations within an organisation can be judged on the basis of its profits, growth and competitiveness. Operations activities form an integral part of any business as they focus on the management of a large number of assets, and expenditure to produce customer centric goods and services. Review of literature reveals that operations management within the construction industry is not a well recognized area of study as opposed to other major functional disciplines of marketing, human resource management and finance and accounting. However, the discussion that follows clearly establishes that operations management is every bit as important for Kentz, and other firms operating in construction sector in order to be successf ul. For the purpose of this discussion, it is important to establish the definition of operations management at this point. Operations management refers to the function that focuses on designing, managing and improving the systems and procedures that create organisations goods or services. It focuses on delivering value to the customers (Shtub, 1999). Other functions such as finance and human resources support operations functions and hence are indirectly involved in making products or delivering services. Firms that are able to effectively manage their operations can achieve sustainable competitive advantage. This is evident from the case of Toyota. Toyotas Production System (TPS) plays a vital role in its business success. Toyotas Production System is based on four integral principles namely, the elimination of waste (muda), continuous improvement (kaizen), automation with a human face (jidoka) and the involvement of all employees. The management at Toyota has worked towards imple menting these key principles in day to day business operations and this is evident in their practices such just-in-time, total quality management and team-working. TPS has enabled Toyota to achieve high volumes and high flexibility but with low levels of inventory and minimal defects. The application of these principles to its design operations also typically enables Toyota to get new products to market faster than its rivals, and with fewer design glitches (Slack et al, 2010). 3. Importance of Project management in construction The discipline of Project management initially originated in the construction industry but can be applied across various industrial and commercial sectors. Project management in construction plays a critical role in the construction industry as it is important for companies operating in the construction sector such as Kentz to manage projects on time within limited budgets and to manage risk across a number of projects that are large in terms of budget, time and resources. There is a need for construction companies such as Kentz to maintain a tight control on these constrained resources and finances to ensure profitability. Construction projects are usually characterised by long and complex life cycle and lower profit margins. Consequently, it is imperative for construction companies to maintain strict control over project schedules and costs to avoid any over-budgeting or wastage. Woodward (1997) notes that the project environment related to a particular project greatly affects the project management function. In this context, it is observed that the project environment related to construction project is affected by a number of internal as well as external factors such as availability of resources, legislative environment, physical conditions such as location, weather and the presence of competition. As a result, project management in construction is even more crucial due to the need to achieve high quality standards within limited resources. In construction industry, project management specifically consists of a range of objectives which may be achieved by undertaking a number of operational activities that need to be accomplished within the specified resource constraints. It is important for firms such as Kentz to resolve any conflict that may arise due to the differences in the desired objectives of scope, cost, time and quality, to the limited constraints of budget and human resources, by finding and developing alternate ways to accomplish the goals of the project. Hendrickson and Au, (1989) point out the following functions of project management for construction: Project management in construction is important as it helps in clearly specifying the project objectives and plans to outline the various aspects involved in the projects such as project scope, project budget, project timelines, setting quality standards, and selecting project participants. Project management also helps in procurement of labour and other resources as per the predetermined plan and schedule. Hence, it is important for maximization of efficient resource utilization. Project management activities help in smooth implementation of various operations as its main focus is to ensure proper coordination and control of planning, estimating, and construction in the entire process. Since construction projects are large and complex and often require use of large number of human resources, they may often face the challenge of interpersonal conflicts that may arise due to improper communication. Project management helps in development of effective communications and mechanisms for resolving conflicts among various active participants. 4. Importance of Operations management in construction The Construction industry is characterised by complex and large projects that usually involve substantial costs while leaving little room for profit margins. In this context, efficient operations management is important because it helps in managing an organisations costs. It is important for construction companies such as Kentz to manage their available resources and budget in the best possible manner to generate greater profit margins. If an organisation fails to manage and maximise the utilisation of its resources, it will not be able to achieve sustainable project success. Operations management in the construction industry helps the project team to achieve higher level of efficiency at low operating costs. Moreover, it is necessary that once the projects are completed, they are able to meet the desired quality standards. This is even more crucial in a construction project as any negligence can create dangerous situations in terms of safety. Operations management helps the firms op erating in the construction sector such as Kentz to ensure that they are able to achieve lower operating costs while also delivering high quality products to their customers. As discussed earlier, operations management has a long lasting impact on the quality, timeliness and reliability of the goods produced by an organization. The activities of the operations function are central to achieving these aims. 5. Project management Vs Operations management The above discussion clearly indicates the importance of effective project management and operations management in construction industry. It is established that both these disciplines are important to achieve long term sustainable growth and success. Although, they are an integral part of every business, and practitioners are of the view that project management is considered to be one of the most important functions of an operations manager, there are a few differences between project and operations management. They are as highlighted below: 5. a. Project versus Operations -Differing objectives: One of the major differences between project management and operations management lies in their differing objectives. The key aim of project management is to ensure smooth control and effective planning in order to achieve the desired objectives of the project on completion. On the contrary, operations management aims to manage and execute the daily operations that are necessary to sustain the business. Project management activities are usually designed around the project environment which is unique to a particular project. This implies that since a project is temporary and aimed at achieving some unique objectives to create a new entity, scope of project management is limited to that particular project. On the contrary, operations management is aimed at planning and executing the activities that are necessary for maintaining the current business operations. In terms of construction industry, activities that require procuring goods to undertake large and complex construction project and also that require selling the firms business to its potential clients are its operations. While, project management in construction industry ideally, would deal with the necessary planning of resources, budgeting, estimating of timelines and scheduling. Project management is temporary and is unique to a particular project that is undertaken to create a new entity, while, operations are ongoing and repetitive and deal with maintaining the existing business activities. Management of projects in a construction industry is a challenging task as the project environment is highly complex and the objective of project management is not limited only to the completion of project within specified time and budget. Client satisfaction and meeting the desired quality standards are crucial for project success in construction. 5. b. Time Constraints Another major difference between projects and operations is that projects are characterised by a definite beginning and ending while  operations  are repetitive and ongoing. Projects usually end when the objectives of the projects are achieved. This implies that the project duration is finite as opposed to the operations activities that are continuous. However, this does not necessarily mean that they are short lived. For instance, a large construction company is contracted to complete construction of a large commercial complex for setting up offices. In this scenario, in order to complete the construction project of commercial complex, a business owner who hires the construction company to construct the complex, will usually specify a definite date of start and completion of the building. From the point of view of the construction company, this unique construction opportunity is a  project that has certain time constraints. However, procuring of the building mat erials and other necessary equipments that are not unique to this particular construction project are known as the operations. These activities are repetitive and do not have a fixed time constraint. 5. c. Budget Constraints Project management deals with completion of certain projects within the specified budget constraints, while operations management concerns those activities that are necessary to maintain a specific profit margin. For instance, taking the case of the construction company that has been awarded the contract to complete construction of a large commercial complex by a business owner. In this scenario, the business owner who hires the construction firm will allot a specific cost for the project as detailed in its Request for Proposals. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the operations management at the construction company to, ensure that a predetermined profit margin is achieved on the project and work while outlining its cost structure. 5. d. Project management is future oriented while Operations management is  present oriented Project management activities focus on achieving the future state of business. This implies that they are future oriented. On the contrary, operations management activities focus on maintaining the current state of business and bring the desired business changes, suggesting that the discipline of operations management is highly present oriented. In the construction industry, the aim of project management is to accomplish the completion of the project undertaken while delivering all the necessary expectations. All these activities of planning and coordination are aimed towards achieving a future state. While the daily operations are required to sustain smooth functioning of the current business activities. 6. Project managers should possess operations management skills The above discussion clearly highlights the differences between project management and operations management in a construction industry. However, management across various organisations is of the view that operations management and project management are necessary skills for project managers across all industries. It is important that project managers in a construction environment are able to adequately consider the quality and safety concerns. In a construction environment, any minor defect can manifest itself into a major issue as re-construction may be required leading to larger associated costs and delays in meeting the project timelines. Further, such defects can also often become the cause of several personal injuries or fatalities. Therefore, it is important to appoint skilled and efficient project managers who have the necessary experience to ensure that the job is done right the first time avoiding any major or minor accidents that may occur during the completion of the project objectives. General consensus with respect to success of project management and operations management in construction industry is that it is important that managers are able to motivate the team to collectively work towards business success and accomplishment of business objectives as well as project objectives. It is necessary for management to ensure that individuals part of the projects and operations coordinate and cooperate to form efficient and effective teams that are specialised in a specific knowledge area. It is important for project managers to have sound project and operations knowledge, skills and experience in handling several different teams. It is necessary that the organisations in the construction industry such as Kentz not only possess the necessary experience in the specialized knowledge area but also in the operations of their own as well their customers business. For instance, the management team at a construction may be well-versed constructing and customising the construction units as per the client requirements and yet it may lack the experience in the procuring the resources that are necessary to undertake customer transactions. This indicates the need for project managers to possess the required operations management skills. In order to achieve business success, it is important to ensure that the projects not only meet customer expectation but are also well aligned with the companys ideal profit margins. This can only be achieved if project managers have sufficient knowledge of the operations while creating project budgets. Also, in order to efficiently schedule and plan the budget and resources, it is importa nt for project managers to be well-versed in the supply chain and efficient management of logistics. 7. Conclusion It is established that project management and operations management, are two different fields of management. Project management in construction plays a critical role in the construction industry as it is important for Kentz as well as other companies operating in the construction sector to manage projects on time within limited budgets and to manage risk across a number of projects that are large in terms of budget, time and resources. It is important for Kentz, and other firms operating in the construction sector to manage their available resources and budget in the best possible manner to generate greater profit margins. If Kentz or other organization operating in the construction fails to manage and maximise the utilisation of its resources, it will not be able to achieve sustainable project success. Project management and Operations management are differing in nature in terms of their scope, time and budget constraint. Also, Project management activities focus on achieve the futu re state of business implying that they are future oriented. On the contrary, Operations management activities focus on maintaining the current state of business and bring the desired business changes. However, management across various organisations is of the view that operations management and project management are necessary skills for project managers across all industries. It is safe to conclude that in this dynamic business environment, only those organisations will survive and prosper that not only possess the necessary experience in the specialized knowledge area to accomplish project objectives but also in the operations of their own as well their customers business. There is a need in Kentz as well as other companies operating in the construction sector to appoint project managers that have sound project and operations knowledge, skills and experience in handling several different teams.

Southern Racial Inequality in Faulkner’s Go Down, Moses Essay -- Faulk

Southern Racial Inequality in Faulkner’s Go Down, Moses All the stories in Go Down, Moses had a common thread: the McCaslin family. One story, however, stood out from the rest for lacking a McCaslin main character. This story was, of course, â€Å"Pantaloon in Black.† At first, I thought this story of grief was almost a beautiful love story. When Rider lost his wife and first love, he was so grief-stricken he didn’t even care to live. However, the conclusion on the story took any beauty out of this tragedy. The matter-of-fact way the deputy tells his wife the story, and the even more apathetic way that she accepts/ignores it, was Faulkner’s way of reminding us of the racial inequality in the South. Waiting until the end of the story to throw at the reader the key to the story is typical of Faulkner. We saw him waiting to shock us at the end of Sanctuary with the circumstances of Popeye’s life. He waited until near the end of Absalom, Absalom! to put together all the pieces of that puzzle. While the reader didn’t find out any shocking news at the end of â€Å"Pantaloon in Black,† we were...

Passion of the Christ Essay

Becoming A Better Person For most of us, there has been a particular piece of art that has taken great effect on our lives in a positive way. Whether it being a painting, song, or even a movie, these positive influences change us as people, and we don’t even realize it until we actually think about it. The most influential piece of art that has affected me was the movie, The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson. This movie is based on the New Testament in the bible; the film primarily covers the final twelve hours of Jesus Christ’s life. The Passion of the Christ has had a profound influence on my life by reminding me of the importance of being a better person. This movie has helped me to become more forgiving of others who betray me, to always be accepting towards the people who surround me, to grow stronger in my faith, and to trust in God’s plan for me. Throughout our lives we all come across a betrayal by someone we care about, and this movie has taught me to be more forgiving towards people who have deceived me. In the beginning of the film Jesus tells his disciples, â€Å"An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let them slap your left cheek too. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.† In this scene Jesus teaches his disciples that the urge of revenge is sinful; he tells them to pray for the people who mistreat them. This scene taught me how important it is to never fight fire, with fire. Holding a grudge against someone who has wronged you takes a toll on your life not his or hers. One of the most influential scenes in the movie is when Jesus is nailed on the cross to die and instead of cursing the people who wounded him, he tells his father, â€Å"Forgive them, father. They know not what they do.† This line really taught me to be a more forgiving person because if Jesus was able to forgive murderers, adulterers, and the people who nailed him to a cross, then what makes me think I cannot forgive people as well. I learned that hating others only brings poison to my own heart; it doesn’t hurt the people that have betrayed me in any way. Forgiveness is the act of overcoming the feeling of resentment towards someone who has treated you in a wrong way, and this scene reminds me that although others will hurt me, loathing them will only bring darkness upon myself. Not only have I become more forgiving of others, but I have learned to love the people who surround me. It is natural for humans to judge others on the way they look, or what they believe, and The Passion of the Christ taught me to love and accept everyone for their differences. We live in a diverse population with different styles, beliefs, and cultures, and this film has taught me that we are children of God, and we should love each other the way Jesus loves us. There is a scene where Jesus says, â€Å"You are my friends, and there is no greater love than a man to lay down his life for his friends,† My interpretation of this quote was Jesus telling his disciples that he will stand up for them even when no one else will, and this helps to show me how important it is to stand up for what is right. Countless people are mistreated because they are different and this scene reminds me that we are all created equally and should be treated with respect regardless of our disparity. A nother line in this film that has taught me to always love the people who surround me is when Jesus says, â€Å"My commandment to you after I am gone is this: Love one another as I have loved you.† When Jesus knew that he was going to be killed he told his believers that they should continue to love each other just as he has loved them. This scene has taught me the significance of valuing everyone you come to meet, not only because Jesus said it was right, but also because the small act of kindness you share to a stranger may be the only kindness they receive. The catholic religion has always been a great aspect in my life, but ever since watching this movie my faith has developed in multiple ways. The Passion of the Christ took all of my beliefs and expanded them, making them much stronger. The bible stories I have read multiple times were no longer pictures of my imagination, but were all shown to me so authentically. When the cynics told Jesus to prove that he is the Son of God he replied, â€Å"Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.† This excerpt has greatly affected my life because the Catholic and Christian religion is based on having faith in God. Watching the resurrection scene in the film helped solidify everything that I stand for and believe in. When the  non-believers doubted Jesus’ true identity, it reminded me of myself when so mething I had prayed for didn’t turn out as I had wished. This scene showed me that we don’t need physical proof that Jesus is the Son of God because the whole catholic faith is based off of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Mel Gibson did a great job making everything so realistic and this guided me towards becoming a stronger Catholic. Having faith in God gives me purpose in life; it creates an understanding, comfort and love with an idea that I have someone to look up to. Amongst my growing faith after watching this film, I also learned to trust that God has a plan for each and every one of us. I grasped onto the thought that wherever I am in the world, and whatever I am going through, it is exactly where I need to be at that moment. When the doubtful man pleaded to Jesus that none of his prayers were being answered Jesus answered, â€Å"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.† This line from the movie reminds me how important it is to believe that if something is meant to be, it will be. After I truly comprehended the meaning of this quote, it helped me see all the choices I have ahead of me that can alter the direction of my future. I realized that because of this plan I wouldn’t be given any obstacle that I couldn’t handle, and this has made me significantly more patient towards problems that come my way. During the film Jesus also states, â€Å"The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps,† this reminds me that the choices I choose to make with my own freewill will not affect my final destination in life. This line in The Passion of the Christ has taught me that God will provide all of the resources necessary to help me reach my endpoint; he supplies me with the grace to accept the trials and tribulations to endure any circumstances. Throughout my life I have been given many things to be thankful for, but I have also been given multiple difficulties along the way. The Passion of the Christ helps to remind of the different ways that I can be a better person towards the world. Although this movie is based on Catholic and Christian beliefs, it has the potential to change anyone’s viewpoint on life. If people watched The Passion of the Christ they can learn to become more  patient, forgiving, and accepting towards others. This movie has the ability to change everyone’s outlook on life in a positive way, even if your beliefs differ from the Christian or Catholic faith. The Passion of the Christ Synopsis The Passion of the Christ is an American drama film made in 2004. It was directed by Mel Gibson, and is starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ. This film portrays Jesus Christ’s life according to the New Testament in the Bible; also known as the gospel’s by Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. The movie primarily covers the final 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life, flashbacks of Jesus as a child with his mother Virgin Mary, and also briefly displays his resurrection. Works Cited The Passion of the Christ. Dir. Mel Gibson. Perf. Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci. Icon Productions, 2004. Film.

Ethnographic Reaction Paper

Ethnographic Reaction Paper The Cheyenne people The Cheyenne people refer to the American Indians whose ancestral land lies on the western side of the Mississippi river. Economically they are pastoralists, hunters and gatherers. Socially, they live in villages while the community has clans, which separate the families.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethnographic Reaction Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Politically, they have tribal councils, which ensure peace within the community. The next discussion summarizes the social, cultural, economic and political structures of the Cheyenne Indians, expounding on the impact of European exploration on their lifestyle. The Cheyenne Indians migrated to new places depending on their needs. For instance, economic affairs like trade and hunting, invasion of their land by the whites, and their nomadic lifestyle also propelled them to change their homesteads frequently (Hoebel 4). According to the anth ropological data, the Cheyenne Indians had different identification or names, which depended on the people they encountered. Some of the names used to refer to them include, Chaa, Shahiyena and Shahiela amongst others (Hoebel 2). Depending on the area of settlement, all the names had meanings. Initially, they migrated from their ancestral land for trading purposes. La Salle, a French explorer, was one of the men they relied on to initiate trading activities in their community. However, because of lack of tools used in shaving animal fur, they had to seek assistance from the European manufacturers. In addition to depending on the game meat, they also survived on wild rice from the nearby river, as well as fruits from the nearby forests. They constructed their houses using earth and barks of tree. On the other hand, some external forces like war with other communities or tribes like Ojibwa, Ute, Comanche, Kiowa and Chippewa encouraged them to, not only form military groups, but also a cquire horses and guns for defense purposes (Hoebel 8).Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Luckily, when the United States intervened on the territorial issue, it divided the Cheyenne Indians into two groups the Southern and Northern depending on their location. The Cheyenne Indians had so many cultural ceremonies like the renewal of the arrow, which takes four days to complete. The Cheyenne Indians had medicine men and chief priests who presided over most of the community rituals (Hoebel 20). The renewal of the sacred arrow promoted unity among the people, sanctified them and preached to the people to respect the norms of the community for their prosperity. Furthermore, it was to emphasize the unique powers and the superiority of the chief priests and the prophets in the community. Secondly, the sun dance is a symbol of purity or new world. The ritual takes about eight days . Each day has distinct ritual that people should perform. Some of the hallmarks in the ceremony include the multiplier, the erect horns and the sacred mountain. The third ceremony is the animal dance, which ensures the success of the hunting exercise, as well as victory during wars. The ceremony takes about four days. However, unlike the arrow renewal ceremony, women have a role to play during the ritual process. Socially, a family was a prominent structure in the culture. The conduct of girls and women was the centre of the family. Adolescent girls and boys did not associate to ensure purity among girls. Suitors could only approach girls but not seduce them. Therefore, there were strict rules and regulations concerning marriages and dowry was a mandatory practice. There was a division of families depending on their social status. Property ownership, the character of both the female and male people in the family and the ability to raid other communities are some of the features, wh ich categorized a composite family as either rich or poor.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethnographic Reaction Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There was Kinship in the family and the family traditions and norms, which the family had to abide by strictly. The men were the heads of the families and women had to be submissive. Women who deviated from the normal traditions had to face punishment through whipping or excommunication. There was a division of the families into Kindred, camps or bands depending on the number of people/primary or families present. Each division lays out rules on, which the members have to abide by. The kindred and camps form military personnel whose main role is to protect the community against external invasion. Some of the military structures included Elk, fox, shield and bowstring. The military groups had a different number of warriors with a certain role to play within the societ y. In addition, there was a tribal council, which presided over all the social, economic and political activities of the community. The council of chiefs solved both internal and external conflicts. They also ensured that peace prevailed in the community. The chiefs had certain virtues like generosity, solidarity and wise among others, which qualified them as leaders. Furthermore, the Cheyenne Indians had public laws, which assisted in solving the internal and externals conflicts. The laws ensured there was unity in the community by solving the internal problems. Most of the cases involved murder cases, marital problems, conflicts over property and behavioral. The law and justice structure allowed for reforming of the existing laws, enforcement of the society’s law and the use of military personnel and passing justice. There was a distinction on the roles of women and men and rarely misunderstandings ensued between the parties. Women were subsistence farmers who provided vege tables and other forms of grains while men were hunters and gatherers. The need for hunting ground always raised animosity between Cheyenne Indians and their neighbors. Consequently, the community instilled military tactics and bravery among its men to promote victory.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although they had inferior weapons compared to their enemies, the Cheyenne soldiers always showed bravery because of the reward that lie ahead on any victorious battle out victorious. As earlier mentioned, the Cheyenne Indians had religious and ritual practices. They had religious men like the medicine men who presided over both traditional practices and prayers. All the cultural and religious practices were not only sacred but also practiced in sacred places like on certain mountains. The social and cultural practices spelled out the personality of both men and women. In the mid to late nineteenth century, the Americans explorers, traders and missionary invaded the Cheyenne Indians homestead, which led to changes in their lifestyle (Hoebel 119). The presence of whites and the mining of gold led to the outbreak of diseases like cholera. After the war, the Cheyenne Indians signed a treaty in 1851 with the whites. However, two years later, a war ensued and there was signing of the sec ond treaty in 1861 fort wise treaty (Hardorff 20). The treaties interfered with the social, economic and politics structures of the natives because they had to live under the rule of the Americans. Besides farming and education, they also had to adopt Christianity abandoning their culture. Their dressing styles and languages changed due to the invasion of the Americans. Personally, reading about the Cheyenne Indians has enlightened me on their traditional practices, lifestyle and political structures. Besides being the natives of the Western side of the Mississippi river, they are also among the important people in the American history. First, I have learned about the reasons for their migration from the ancestral lands and they include search for new hunting grounds, adventure and after external invasion from other communities. Economically, they relied on game meat, wild fruits, vegetables and wild rice for food. Second, the family is the most influential social structure among th e Cheyenne Indians and each family member had a unique role to play. Some of the cultural practices were also religious rites. The political structure includes the tribal council, law and justice and the military group. However, the invasion of the whites did not only interfere with their social, economic and political settings but also forced them to acquire new economic practices like blacksmith. Christianity took over their traditional rituals and religion. In the contemporary society, the Cheyenne Indians call themselves the morning star people and economically they have large depots of coal used for generation of electricity. Finally, through archaeology, the history of the Cheyenne Indians is clear to the contemporary world (Haviland et al. 10) as it is the case in the above discussion. Historically, the Cheyenne Indians are among the natives of the United States of America. Besides their nomadic lifestyle, the invasion of the whites into their homeland did not only disrupt th eir cultural heritage but also changed their economic, political and social features. However, in the contemporary society globalization has utterly interfered with their culture. Hardorff, Richard. Cheyenne memories of the Custer fight. Nebraska: University of  Nebraska Press, 1998. Print. Haviland, William, Harald, Prins, and Walrath, Dana. The Essence of Anthropology.  United State: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2009. Print. Hoebel, Adamson. The Cheyennes: Indians of the Great Plains (Case Studies in  Cultural Anthropology. United States: Wadsworth Company, 1978. Print.

Legacy of World Civilizations essays

Legacy of World Civilizations essays The great geographical discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries inaugurated the ascension of Europe as the catalyst behind the development of the modern world, helped spread Christianity on a global scale and led to the formation of the first colonial empires, namely those of Spain and Portugal. Between 1450 and 1550 several naval expeditions were organized at the orders of the kings of Spain and Portugal. These expeditions resulted in significant discoveries on the part of European explorers: America, central and south Africa, the shoreline of India, South-East Asia and the Far East. These expeditions were planned and organized efforts, based on strong resources of human energy and material support. The main incentives behind these discoveries were the spread of Christianity - by force where necessary, the need for gold, spices, silk and other precious resources that were not available in Spain or Portugal, as well as the search for glory and a spirit of adventure. Until the begi nning of the 17th century, the Portuguese and Castilian outward empires had no competitors in Europe. The 1800s saw the ascension of the Dutch and English colonies and later that of the French (Payne: Chp10). The 16th century saw Spain and Portugal competing for territories in the Americas. Nevertheless, it is important to note that their methods of exploration and conquest were very different; it is precisely these differences in their approaches that have shaped post-colonial world history. The thesis of this paper is to illustrate that although the Spanish colonial empire was very large as far as total surface, it was Portugal that represented the greatest naval power with world-wide long-lasting impact. The Hispanic peoples were the most prepared for expansion thanks to their politics of reconquest that had driven them to think in terms of warfare and crusading always attempting to push the boundaries of Latin Christendom in their search for gl...

Ways of a DJ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ways of a DJ - Essay Example The first consideration in becoming a DJ then is acquiring the necessary equipment. While there is nearly an endless amount of technology or equipment that DJ’s have incorporated, all DJ’s must have some basic technology. In terms of basic technology, it is necessary that DJ’s first purchase two turntables ("discjockey101"). Turntables are the actual systems that play the records. While turntables are recognized as an antiquated technology, they are necessary for DJ’s as this allows them to ‘spin’ or manipulate the record to achieve a particular effect of speed. One remembers that speed is highly important in the club environment, as with record speed the DJ control the mood and overall ambiance of the experience. The necessity of having two turntables is to ensure that there is always music being played. In this way the DJ prepares one song to coincide directly with the end of the next song. In addition to two turntables, it is necessary for a DJ to have headphones, RCA stereo cables, and a DJ mixer. The DJ mixer is a complex piece of equipment that is nonetheless essential for the DJ’s job. This piece of equipment has a crossfader. The crossfader allows the DJ to switch the music from the first turntable to the second turntable. Specifically, this instrument fades the music between the two turntables to ensure that the transition is seamless. ... One of the most overarching considerations when choosing which records to match is the drumbeat. The drumbeat is highly important, as it is this element that most dominantly influences dancing within the club ("mahola"). Another prominent consideration relates to the song’s introduction and conclusion. These elements are referred to as the ‘intro’ and ‘outro’. These elements are highly important as they allow the DJ to find unique or seamless elements in combing songs. While the ‘outro’ generally refers to the song’s ending, it is also possible for a song to have a break point. The break out is a period in the song when the DJ can seamlessly transition from it to the next song. While the drumbeat is very important consideration, there are also recognitions involving BPM. BPM refers to beats per minute. The beats per minute are essential as it designates a specific speed of record that is necessary for the club’s specific atm osphere. Additionally, beats per minute designate specific genres of dance music. Generally hip-hop songs are under 115 beats per minute. Hard-house songs are over 125 BPM. Finally, drum and base, and Jungle music are nearly twice as fast as hip-hop music, as they are between 160 to over 200 beats per minute. In terms of the specific process of beat matching, DJs must listen for the ‘outro’ of the first song. They then match the ‘outro’ of the first song with the first beat of the ‘intro’ of the new song. In this way there is a seamless transition as the ending of the first song matches the beat of the next. A final consideration in terms of beat matching is the volume and pitch. DJ equipment allows the DJ to set a specific volume and pitch for each turntable. It is then necessary to have the same

HR practices Business Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HR practices Business - Article Example According to the author evaluating the human resources practices of a firm can help you find way to better employ the talent a firm has (Durkin, 2011). A technique or tool that was mentioned in the article that can help managers evaluate their human resources practice is HR audits. The use of an HR audit can give a manager assurance that the human resources practices of the company meet the current legal standards and uphold the internal policies of the company. It can be beneficial for professionals in the HR industry to belong to professional organizations. An organization that has a lot credibility and power in the industry is the Society for Human Resource Management. The organization’s website has a HR audit tool kit that can be used to perform a preliminary audit of the HR function of a firm. The HR function of a company does not replace the necessity for a legal department. Companies can save money on legal expenses by having a lawyer firm on retainer rather than pay a fixed monthly payment to the lawyers of a department. The implementation of an HR audit can help the firm identify potential legal risks associated with its handling of human resources. The strategy is a proactive approach towards risk management. A problem that is occurring often in corporate America is a lack of knowledge about HR regulations and laws. A lot of companies in the United States are breaking labor laws unknowingly. The fact that many companies do not know the laws does not exempt them from compliance. â€Å"One fundamental human resource function you should inspect is the gathering and filing of employee information, from the application to the termination of employment, and all documentation in between† (Durkin, 2011). A common problem in regards to this type of documentation is proper safeguarding of the information. It all starts with the simple things such as having an employee filing cabinet with a key. The human resource department should separate the per sonal information of employees in various categories. There is sensitive information such as social security number, age, medical record or disability data that should not be in the normal employee file that the managers have access too. Access to such data can lead potential discrimination from the managers towards a specific employee. Companies also have to comply with the Family Leave Act. Employee record retention requirements vary by state law with some common federal laws. Confidential information must be protected to protect both the employer and the employees. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 stipulates companies must keep payroll records up to three years. A topic in human resource that was often discussed in class that I believe should have been talk about more in the article is training and development. The author mentioned that it was important for companies to invest in its human resources, but he did not provide solutions to solve the problem. The performance of employees in a corporation can be improved through training and development. The proper use of training and development can improve the employee retention rate of the company. Investing in training and development should be a company wide initiative, but the firm must also identify talent that deserves advance training because the company determined that the employee has potential. The managers of corporations should receive more training than any other employee since they are responsible for the performance of