Whether Red Bull should invest in the Formula 1 Racing Championship Thesis

Whether Red Bull should invest in the Formula 1 Racing Championship next year or not - Thesis Example The categorisation of the drink as an energizer holds back in the Thailand culture where the same is known as â€Å"Red Water Buffalo†. Further the brand gains a larger market space owing to the use of strategic marketing activities incorporating the creation of â€Å"buzz words and also through the sponsorship activities for extreme sporting events. The target segments for the brand consist of groups like students and athletes and also bars focusing on energy drinks. The sponsorship activity carried out by Red Bull for extreme sporting events helps the company in building a separate image of itself in the global drinks and beverage market. An estimate made during 2004 reveals that around $600 million have been spent by the company on sponsorship events involving Formula One racing events, sponsoring athletes or other musical and cultural functions. A comparison made with Coca Cola shows that where Coca Cola expended around 9 percent of its marketing revenues on sponsorship e vents, Red Bull happened to expend around 30 percent. (Roll, 2006, p.199). Another estimate obtained during the 2001 period shows that this sponsorship activity of Red Bull in extreme sporting events helped the same to conduct a sale of around 1.6 billion cans worldwide. This figure when compared to the 2000 period reflects a rise in around 80 percent in the company’s sale paradigm (Gelder, 2005, p.248). ... This figure when compared to the 2000 period reflects a rise in around 80 percent in the company’s sale paradigm (Gelder, 2005, p.248). The paper in this connection aims to conduct a research on whether Red Bull should continue investing in the Formula One events by reflecting on the probable advantages or opportunities that it can gain through such activities. Aims and Objectives Aims The main aim of the project is to evaluate the future of investing activities of Red Bull in the large scale sponsorship activities pertaining to extreme sporting events. In that it focuses to understand the potential of previous investment made by the company in this area and the advantages and opportunities gained on that behalf. The project also aims to compare the sponsorship activities of Red Bull to the activities of other companies also investing in sponsorship activities. Further the project also aims to understand the factors and situations evaluated by Red Bull before rendering potenti al investments in such directions. Objectives To understand the different marketing strategies of Red Bull To understand the reasons as to why Red Bull invests in Formula One championship events To evaluate the expenses or the cost the company incurs behind making such potential investments and the revenues that the firm tends to gain on that behalf To evaluate the future considerations as to whether Red Bull should continue investing in the sponsorship activities for Formula One championship for the 2011 period keeping in view the expenditure and the opportunity scenario for the 2010 period To compare the investment activities of the company in the extreme sporting events by drawing in examples

Shakespeares King Lear Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares King Lear Essay In Shakespeares King Lear, Nature and Fortune governs the lives of all characters. Every character has his or her turning point where they either travel to the top or bottom of the wheel of fortune. In Act 5, scene 3, lines 153-179, Edgar appears in full Armour and challenges Edmund to a trial by combat after Albany accuses Edmund of treason. This takes place after the French forces was defeated by the English and after King Lear was sent to jail with Cordelia. During this passage, Edgar accuses Edmund of wicked deeds Edmund has committed throughout the play. Edgar fights Edmund and leaves him wounded; and this serves as a turning point for both Edgar and Edmund. For both characters, this fight is a symbol of the wheel of fortune, as Edgar climbs back up to the top while Edmund falls to the bottom. This passage serves as the turning point for Edmund because after this passage, he is wounded, and approaches death. For the first time in the play, Edmund shows signs of regret and goodness, he repents for his wicked deeds by doing some good before his death, that is, he tells the others about where he sent Cordelia and Lear. As for Edgar, his fortune changes because he transforms from a homeless beggar to an armored knight, challenging Edmund and regaining his titles and honor. The theme of order and chaos also dominates this passage. This was because, Edgar, the rightful inheritor of Gloucester was robbed of his titles and honor. And in this passage, he leaves the life of a beggar and comes back to reclaim his titles and honor. In Lines 156-158, Edgar shows his nobility and status as a knight, Behold, it is my privilege, the privilege of mine honors, my oath, and my profession. He finally reclaims his honor and status after losing his titles and rights to Edmund. Moreover, to show that Edgar has reclaimed his noble status, one may look at Edgars speech, his speech has changed, becoming more refined and fit for a noble then compared to when he was a beggar. Edgars nobility is again emphasized in lines 171-172, But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, and that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes. This passage is an restoration of order because Edgar; a noble by blood who was stripped away from his titles, now gains back his titles and honor which were rightfully his according to the chain of being. Again, to show that this passage not only serves as a turning point for the characters, but also a restoration of order. Edmund was defeated and his plots were revealed, which lead to his titles being stripped away and given back to the proper owner, Edgar. As mentioned above, the passage showed the wheel of fortune turning. This is simply because Edmunds fortune is finally fading. Up to now, nobody has publicly accused Edmund for the treachery he has committed. In fact, he escaped blame from many deceitful acts up to now. However, the wheel has turned and Edmunds treacherous deeds are revealed publicly in this passage, lines 161-165, False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father, Conspirant gainst this high illustrious prince, And from th extremest upward of thy head To the descent and dust below thy foot . This is a sign that Edmunds luck and success may finally come to an end, as he is being challenged for the first time. In conclusion, this passage is important because it acts as an turning point in the story, where the wheel of fortune begin to turn, stripping away luck from one to another. This passage is also a turning point for the characters, as Edgar begins to regain what is rightfully his and bring order back to the kingdom while Edmunds luck being to fade, heading towards the bottom of the wheel.

Importance of Language in The Catcher in the Rye Essay -- The Catcher

  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Catcher in the Rye, like many other great works, was met by scornful criticism and unyielding admiration. However, many literary critics also marveled at Salinger's use of language, which was used to make Holden Caulfield, the main character, extremely realistic. Such language includes both repetition of phrases and blatant cursing, in order to capture the informal speech of the average, northeastern American adolescent. Through Holden's thoughts and dialogues, Salinger successfully created a teenage boy. The language used in The Catcher in the Rye has long been a topic of controversy in the literary critic's realm. Holden Caulfield's thoughts and comments serve to deepen his personality and to provide entertainment. Salinger wanted to create a typical teenager while keeping Holden as an individual at the same time. Like most teenagers, Holden speaks in trite sentences. However, he also uses words in places that were then uncommon. Holden often leaves his sentences dangling with words like "and all" and "or anything." Often he uses these phrases to extend some indescribable emotion or action like, "... how my parents were occupied and all before they had me" and "...they're nice and all." Many times there is no significance at all to the expressions as in "...was in the Revolutionary War and all," "It was December and all," and "...no gloves or anything." (Salinger 5-7) Not only does Holden speak like this at the beginning of the novel, but also throughout the entire novel, making this pattern a part of his character. Therefore, the "and all" and "or anything" tags to Holden's speech serve to make his speech authentic and individual. Salinger intentionally used such speech repetition to individualize Holden... ...oughout the novel made Holden Caulfield human. Due to the precise representation of a teenage boy, the reader is able to become intimate with Holden's peculiarities, therefore making him seem more credible. By making Holden come to life through repetition of dialogue and thought, Salinger was able to create one of the most unforgettable characters. Works Cited and Consulted Bloom, HB. Major Literary Characters: Holden Caulfield. Chelsea House Publishers. New York, 1990. Costello, DP. The Language of the Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield. Cambridge, New York; Cambridge University Press, 1990. Gwynn, F. The Fiction of JD Salinger. University of Pittsburg Press. 1958 Salinger, J.D.   The Catcher in the Rye.   Boston: Little, Brown, 1991. Salzman, J. The American Novel: New Essays on the Catcher in the Rye. Cambridge University Press, 1991.

The Malaysian Accounting Standards Board Accounting Essay

MFRS 101-Presentation of Financial Statements prescribes the footing for presentation of general purpose fiscal statements to guarantee comparison both with the entity ‘s fiscal statements of old periods and with the fiscal statements of other entities. It sets out overall demands for the presentation of fiscal statements, guidelines for their construction and minimal demands for their content.Purpose of fiscal statementsFiscal statements are a structured representation of the fiscal place and fiscal public presentation of an entity. The aim of fiscal statements is to supply information about the fiscal place, fiscal public presentation and hard currency flows of an entity that is utile to a broad scope of users in doing economic determinations. Fiscal statements besides show the consequences of the direction ‘s stewardship of the resources entrusted to it. A complete set of fiscal statements comprises: ( a ) a statement of fiscal place as at the terminal of the period ( B ) a statement of comprehensive income for the period ( degree Celsius ) a statement of alterations in equity for the period ( vitamin D ) a statement of hard currency flows for the period ( vitamin E ) notes, consisting a sum-up of important accounting policies and other explanatory information ( degree Fahrenheit ) a statement of fiscal place as at the beginning of the predating period when an entity applies an accounting policy retrospectively or makes a retrospective restatement of points in its fiscal statements, or when it reclassifies points in its fiscal statements. An entity may utilize rubrics for the statements other than those used in this Standard. For illustration, an entity may utilize the rubric ‘statement of comprehensive income ‘ alternatively of ‘statement of net income or loss and other comprehensive income ‘ . Statement of fiscal place Information to be presented in the statement of fiscal place. As a lower limit, the statement of fiscal place shall include line points that present the undermentioned sums: ( a ) belongings, works and equipment ; ( B ) investing belongings ; ( degree Celsius ) intangible assets ; ( vitamin D ) fiscal assets ( excepting sums shown under ( vitamin E ) , ( H ) and ( I ) ) ; ( vitamin E ) investings accounted for utilizing the equity method ; ( degree Fahrenheit ) biological assets ; ( g ) stock lists ; ( H ) trade and other receivables ; ( I ) hard currency and hard currency equivalents ; ( J ) the sum of assets classified as held for sale and assets included in disposal groups classified as held for sale in conformity with MFRS 5 Non-current Assetss Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations ; ( K ) trade and other payables ; ( cubic decimeter ) commissariats ; ( m ) fiscal liabilities ( excepting sums shown under ( K ) and ( cubic decimeter ) ) ; ( N ) liabilities and assets for current revenue enhancement, as defined in MFRS 112 Income Taxes ; ( O ) deferred revenue enhancement liabilities and deferred revenue enhancement assets, as defined in MFRS 112 ; ( P ) liabilities included in disposal groups classified as held for sale in conformity with MFRS 5 ; ( Q ) non-controlling involvements, presented within equity ; and ( R ) issued capital and militias attributable to proprietors of the parent An entity shall clearly place each fiscal statement and the notes. In add-on, an entity shall expose the undermentioned information conspicuously, and repetition it when necessary for the information presented to be apprehensible: ( a ) the name of the coverage entity or other agencies of designation, and any alteration in that information from the terminal of the predating coverage period ; ( B ) whether the fiscal statements are of an single entity or a group of entities ; ( degree Celsius ) the day of the month of the terminal of the coverage period or the period covered by the set of fiscal statements or notes ; ( vitamin D ) the presentation currency, as defined in MFRS 121 ; and ( vitamin E ) the degree of rounding used in showing sums in the fiscal statement.Current/non-current differentiationAn entity shall show current and non-current assets, and current and non-current liabilities, as separate categorizations in its statement of fiscal place in conformity with except when a presentation based on liquidness provides information that is dependable and more relevant. When that exclusion applies, an entity shall show all assets and liabilities in order of liquidness.Current assetsAn entity shall sort an plus as current when: ( a ) it expects to gain the plus, or intends to sell or devour it, in its normal operating rhythm. ( B ) it holds the plus chiefly for the intent of trading. ( degree Celsius ) it expects to gain the plus within 12 months after the coverage period. ( vitamin D ) the plus is hard currency or a hard currency equivalent ( as defined in MFRS 107 ) unless the plus is restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least 12 months after the coverage period. An entity shall sort all other assets as non-current.Current liabilitiesAn entity shall sort a liability as current when: ( a ) it expects to settle the liability in its normal operating rhythm ; MFRS 101 ( B ) it holds the liability chiefly for the intent of trading ; ( degree Celsius ) the liability is due to be settled within 12s months after the coverage period ; or ( vitamin D ) it does non hold an unconditioned right to postpone colony of the liability for at least years after the coverage. Footings of a liability that could, at the option of the counterparty, consequence in its colony by the issue of equity instruments do non impact its categorization. An entity shall sort all other liabilities as non-current,Statement of alterations in equityInformation to be presented in the statement of alterations in equity. An entity shall show a statement of alterations in equity. The statement of alterations in equity includes the undermentioned information demoing in the statement: ( a ) entire comprehensive income for the period, demoing individually the entire sums attributable to proprietors of the parent and to non-controlling involvements ; ( B ) for each constituent of equity, the effects of retrospective application or retrospective restatement recognised in conformity with MFRS 108 ; ( vitamin D ) for each constituent of equity, a rapprochement between the transporting sum at the beginning and the terminal of the period, individually unwraping alterations ensuing from: ( I ) net income or loss ; ( two ) each point of other comprehensive income ; and ( three ) minutess with proprietors in their capacity as proprietors, demoing separately parts by and distributions to proprietors and alterations in ownership involvements in subordinates that do non ensue in a loss of control. Information to be presented in the statement of alterations in equity or in the notes. For each constituent of equity an entity shall show, either in the statement of alterations in equity or in the notes, an analysis of other comprehensive income by point. An entity shall show, either in the statement of alterations in equity or in the notes, the sum of dividends recognised as distributions to proprietors during the period, and the related sum of dividends per portion.

“Magdalena and Balthasar” by Steven Ozment’s Essay

In the story Magdalena and Balthasar by Steven Ozment’s, one is able to reconstruct the lifestyle of a sixteenth-century merchant family that lived in Europe. The life styles specifically shown in Magdalena and Balthasar’s relationship was anything but an average lifestyle. Although the couple dealt with many problems such as the separation due to business, they were able to keep their marriage stable through letters. In these letters one is able to uncover their beliefs about their family life, marriage, parenting, and the affects religion had on them. Although this specific couple had a unique relationship, one could come to some understanding of how a medieval persons’ life was lived. When analyzing pieces from these letters, one could conclude that marriage had to be filled with love, admiration, and cooperation to be successful. Given the role in 16th century society, the husband was the dominant figure and the wife was left with the household duties and children. However, some relationships were ahead of their times and was based solely on reciprocated compassion. If this bond could be achieved it brought a sense of equality in the understanding and responsibility of a marriage. The growing love in a marriage relationship was hard to accomplish. Whether the marriage was based on the similar backgrounds, or mutual feelings about equality, a successful marriage had to be worked on. Many merchants at this time were extremely involved with their work. This meant that when work called they had to reply. If the job took the husband out of town the best way to maintain their relationship was through letters. Although it was hard to keep in touch there were many ways that they could communicate their love. Another aspect that was seen in the medieval time period was the way in which the people expressed their love. In the relationship between Magdalena and Balthazar, Magdalena uses special valued objects in her letters in order to express her love. An example is when â€Å"she folds flowers from their garden into her letters to him†(Ozment 28). Likewise, Balthasar expressed his love for Magdalena through his unique writing style. In his letters he was able to express his love through simple words such as â€Å"honest, good, true,  friendly, dearest, closest bride†(Ozment 28). It can be observed that the common attribute of expressing love in their relationship was not only limited to their relationship specifically, rather it applies to most sixteenth-century relationships. Although Love was a major attribute in relationships trust was another strong hold point of the everyday family lifestyle of this time. There had to be a strong supporting trust from each side of the relationship in order for the family to prevail. For instance, when the couple was separated the husband would have to have a deep sincere trust for the wife to maintain his business at home. The wife would have chores such as, tending to the children, keeping the household running, and other business related tasks. Although it was common for the women to do so anyways, the husband had to rely and trust his wife to take care of these dealing without second thought. Although the husband had to give up allot of responsibility when he was away for work, normally he would not give up the whole authoritative power. For example in a disagreement usually their would be some sort of compromise, but in the end the wife would give in to the big decisions allowing the husband to have authority. The equilibrium between trust and negotiation that was seen in sixteen-century relationships shows how a sense of stability that was formed in their family lifestyles. Parenting in this time period was dealt with by different methods, which were determined by the different marital roles. The primary differences come from their choice of style that was inherited from their forefathers. The wife is usually the consoling and sympathetic parent, while the father was usually the stern and punitive parent. The father had to deal with his parenting from a different town at times, which led to less interactive correction strategies. When a demand from the father was made to the child, the child would usually meet the request without question. Although the wife respects the husband’s requests she usually sympathized for her son, showing an amount of protection, by lessening the demands. The most similar parenting style between the two is their love for their son. Although the teaching methods were different from parent to parent, the child usually received a decent education, housing, adequate food, to fulfill his needs. The love and support from both the mother and the father is astonishing and overall should result in a prudent child. Religion is a very important aspect of sixteenth-century life among medieval individuals. A common belief was that God was involved in their family life and was in absolute control. â€Å"They think of God as an absolutely omnipotent being, who controls human destiny on earth and into eternity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Ozment 144). If there were unfortunate dealing such as sickness or substantial loss in a business deal, it was believed to be â€Å"an obvious punishment of God†(Ozment 144). Religion was also tied into the lives of medieval people by the incorporation of it into their marriages. The medieval people relied on the God given supremacy of the husband’s role for leadership in the family’s prosperity. Parenting techniques also resulted from their Christianity belief. The disciplinary actions of each role in the family originated from the history of Christianity. Even though these teachings seemed strict they closely adhered to them in order to adhere to their beliefs. The particular dealings with Magdalena and Balthazar gave and exclusive illustration of the life of a sixteenth-century family. It also exposed the hardships of the medieval time period. Magdalena and Balthazar gave a significant portrait into how a person in the sixteenth century dealt with the everyday attributes of marriage, parenting, family life, and the affects religion had upon them.

Bill Gates Biography essays

Bill Gates Biography essays When you think of Bill Gates what comes to mind? A computer genius, the richest man in the world, a nerd. When I think of Bill he reminds me of Albert Einstein or even Thomas Edison because of what he did for mankind. William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1951. Gates was the first born to Mary and Bill Gates senior. Bill was a City attorney and his mother was a schoolteacher. Gates sister Kristi Anne was born in 1953. Throughout grade school, Gates did poorly in penmanship, citizenship, and other subjects he found trivial but got top grades in Science and Math. Toward the end of the elementary years, Gates started to have severe behavioral problems that worried his parents and teachers enough that Gates had to go to a psychiatrist. Gates wasnt making much progress with his psychiatrist so Gatess father believed that his problems could be fixed by going to a new school. So in the seventh grade Gates started to attend Lakeside a very strict, private school. When Gates was in the eighth grade Lakeside bought a Teletype machine from the Mothers Club. The machine was an ASR-33 Teletype with paper type connected over a phone line to a GE computer. Mastering the machine would become a contest among the students. Obtaining computer time would become a goal with his best friend, Paul Allen . Gates and Allen got together with two other people, ric weilan and Kent Evan, and these four people called themselves the Lakeside Programming group . This group found a business named Computer Center Corporation, C-Cubed, and this company would pay the group to look for bugs in the PDP-10 machine they had. Gates spent the next few years teaching himself FORTRAN, LISP, and PDP-10. C-cubed eventually went bankrupt and the group was forced to find another source of computer time. The group found a group in Portland that use the same PDP-10 machine that C-cubed used. Gates asked the company that if Lake...

US

US United States (US) and Iran initially has good relations in mid to end 19th century. However, sour relations emerged after the end of the Second World War when the Persian Gulf started exporting huge amounts of oil and the intrigues of the cold war started taking centre stage in international politics.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on US Iran Conflict specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The good relationship between Iran and America was observed under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavis rule but it took a turn for the worse after the Iranian revolution of 1979 (Lesch, 2003, p. 52). Some observers attribute the poor relations to American arrogance but others note that such conflict was unavoidable because of the wave of Islamic revolution (directed against Western domination) sweeping across many Muslim states (Dow Jones Company, 2010, p. 3). One of the greatest hallmarks to Iran and US relations lies in the overthrow of Musdaqq in 1953 (Lesch, 2003, p. 52). Many observers are of the opinion that since the US gave a lot of support to the then leader, Muhammad Shah, and helped plan the 1953 coup (that brought Shah to power), many people supported anti-US/Western ideals which led to the 1979 Islamic revolution (Lesch, 2003, p. 52). The strong anti-US sentiments were largely harbored by many Iranians because it was widely believed that the US orchestrated the 1953 coup to overthrow Musdaqq in order to gain control of Iran’s oil wealth and establish a dictatorship government at the same time (Gasiorowski, 2004, p. 261). After the success of the coup and an establishment of Shah as the Iranian leader, the American government gave a lot of support to Shah’s government. In fact, during Shah’s first week in government, the US gave Iran more than $68million in emergency fund after which it followed by giving the oil rich nation more than $1.2 billion, the following decade (Gasiorowski , 2004, p. 273). US-Iran relations thereafter became very rosy until Iran started getting a lot of money from its oil revenues (within the 1960-1970 periods). This development slowly diluted US’s influence in Iran and consequently made Shah develop a bad reputation in the West. Nonetheless, the support US government had been giving Shah over the past years mounted a lot of criticisms on Shah as an independent leader. Unrest therefore grew in Iran over an upheaval of Western ideals in the nation. These sentiments later lead to the ousting of Shah in the 1979 Islamic revolution which also took the US by surprise. It is however interesting that six months prior to the revolution, the US had passed a verdict on Iran, saying that it was nowhere close to a revolution or prerevolutionary state (Gasiorowski, 2004). After the revolution, Ayatollah was established as Iran’s interim leader.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ayatollah was predominantly against Western ideals; further soiling relations between America and Iran. Subsequent events saw Iranians take Americans hostage for 444 days; a development that greatly angered the US and resulted in trade restrictions and embargoes on Iran (Beisner, 2003, p. 1222). This was to be later followed by warfare; like the failed coup to rescue the American hostages and the 1983 Hezbollah bombings carried out by the US on terrorism grounds (Beisner, 2003, p. 1222). In 1988, the US carried out more attacks on Iran because of the conflict on Iranian mines and also in the same year, the US shot down an Iranian commercial plane which killed more than 255 people including 66 children (Beeman, 2008, p. 132). Nonetheless, these attacks seized after Iranian reformers advocated for more negotiations with the US in solving the persistent wrangles between the two countries. In 2005, Iran got a new president, Mahmud, Ahmadinejad who to a great extent bases his policies on religious principles and anti liberal policies. US concerns on Iran’s nuclear programme has been top in the list, defining US -Iran relations because the US under the Bush government consistently accused Iran of enriching its Uranium deposits and insisted that Iran had to pay the consequences for such actions. This has been the biggest issue between Iran and America today. However, after the exit of George W. Bush and an entry of Obama into White house, the issues plaguing Iran and US relations have taken a milder form, considering Obama’s change in approach to Iran issues. However, this is not to be assumed that the pertinent issues affecting the two countries have disappeared. In fact, after Obama took office, Iran raised a number of concerns which it wanted the US to look into; starting from the 1953 coup, US’s support for Saddam Hussein to attack Iran and US’s shooting down of commercial air flight 655 (Beeman, 2008, p. 132). Collectively, many observers point out that the US has greatly shifted its policies towards Middle Eastern countries and the threat of a nuclear armed Iran has never created peace between the US and Iran. This study proposes that the threat of an oncoming war between the US and Iran is very real because there are a number of issues that still underlie the relationship between the two nations and they are still to be solved decades later. These issues include Iran’s exportation of terrorism and funding of terrorist activities, US’s accusations that Iran holds weapons of mass destruction, Iran’s threats to its neighbors in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s constant assertion that it wishes â€Å"death on America†, Iran’s persistent opposition towards a peaceful Arab-Israeli world, and Iran’s historical violation of human rights.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on US Iran Conflict specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These concerns characterize the Iran-US conflict and its magnitude is slowly weighing down on the two countries by the year. However, this nature of conflict can be explained through a number of theories which will be employed in this study to explain the threat of war between the two countries. The bottom line however remains that there is a high likelihood of war between Iran and the US in the near future. Realist Theory The realist theory has been used for a long time to define how nations relate. It majorly revolves around the concepts of state-centrism, survival and self help (Spegele, 1996, p. 1). State-centrism is based on the theory that states are often autonomous entities and their actions are centrally dictated without the influence of external parties. In this manner, the realist theory downplays the influence of non-state actors but upholds the influence of the state in defining international relations. The concept of survival notes that states are often motivated by selfish interests and would advance their own agendas without much consideration to other relevant factors. This concept also advances the fact that there is no central authority in international relations and states would often do whatever they wish without much control from external agents. The self help concept notes that a nation state should rely much on itself without expecting much assistance from another state. This means that many nations rely upon their resources and capabilities to advance their own interests without expecting much assistance from other states (Spegele, 1996, pp. 1-5). From the above analysis, we can deduce the fact that the realist theory to a significant degree outlines the sour relationship between the US and Iran. Also from the same framework of the realist theory, we can quantify the potential threat of war between the two nations. Most of the actions exhibited by the US expose how much state-centrism characterizes Iran -US politics. Much of US’s actions, starting with the Iran coup of 1953 to the support given to Saddam by the US in attacking Iran are all signs of an all-powerful state. The Influence of non-state actors and international institutions in this conflict is conspicuously absent because of the aggressive nature of the US in determining Iran politics for its own interests.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The 1953 coup was a clear example of the state-centric approach exhibited by the US because the US acted as a billiard ball in influencing Iranian politics. In fact, the actions by the US to orchestrate the coup can be largely seen as a distinct action by the US because no other state or international institution had much to do with the coup. Also, the principle of survival can be observed from US’s interests in Iranian politics. Iran’s actions can also be viewed in the same manner because there is a deep-seated sense of anarchy governing the politics of Iran. The 1953 coup and the Islamic revolution of 1979 is evidence enough of a lack of central authority in Iranian politics. Coups for example often occur because of a lack of central authority where people can express their grievances and at the same time, it also shows a lack of maturity for democratic processes in any country. In advanced countries, the law and the constitution form the government, which later beco mes the central authority. In this case, the existing laws that should set up the government should be the central authority to be respected by all prospective leaders but apparently, this seemed to be what Iran was lacking. This observation prompted the coup and later, subsequent ousting of leaders from power followed. All these actions show a lack of central authority not only on the part of Iran but also on the part of the US. Actions by the US, for example, bombing the Iranian air flight and not apologizing for it, shows the extent to which states go to extreme levels to uphold their selfish interests. The selfish interest being protected in this case is the domination by the US on Iranian politics in order to control Iranian oil reserves. Additionally, Iran’s enrichment of Uranium and allegations of uranium enrichment with consequential effects on US security also reflect on the selfish interests of the states. From the analysis of the realist theory, we can therefore de duce the fact that states are usually very autonomous and operate within an anarchic international system of politics which is largely unregulated. The level of deregulation in international politics and indeed international relations advances the fact that Iran and US can certainly go into war because there are not many international bodies or third parties to stop them. The realist theory also suggests that the two states are likely to go to unprecedented levels (including war) to safeguard their own interests and address their security concerns (Spegele, 1996, p. 3). This therefore means that both Iran and the US can be potentially be very aggressive and war wouldn’t come as a surprise to many. Constructivism Constructivism, developed as a result of the failure of the realist and neo realist approaches to predict the end of the cold war. Nonetheless, the theory emphasizes a lot on social elements as a determinant of international politics (Kegley, 2008, p. 39). This idea c an be evaluated progressively because the theory bases its foundations on the development of ideas. These ideas later develop into international structures which states abide by, but the said structures are likely to lead to the development of state interests which later determine how states and non state actors relate to safeguard their own interests (Kegley, 2008, p. 39). Constructivism therefore derives its authority from the inclusion of social, cultural, persuasive and collective ideas in determining how states relate. This concept can be largely witnessed in the Iran- US relations. Obviously, Iran being an Islamic state, most of its actions and policies are largely dominated by Islamic principles. The anti-western sentiments (leading to the Islamic revolution of 1979) are also social elements which characterize Iran’s relations with the US. In fact, the Islamic revolution was largely dictated by social factors (religion) which the constructive theory relies on to predic t international relations. In this manner, we can deduce the fact that international relations between the US and Iran has to a significant degree been socially constructed. Social construction in Iran-US relations can be largely evidenced in a religious context, especially focusing on the actions of Iran’s leaders. Leaders who were perceived to be Western puppets such as Shah never got a huge following in Iran because of the different social beliefs that characterizes US and Iran. However those leaders who to a great extent resisted Western influence got a huge following in Iran because the people felt like the leaders advanced their own social beliefs. This scenario can be evidenced through Musddaqq and more recently, Ahmadinejad. These leaders have significantly represented strong Muslim beliefs which have determined their actions with regard to Iran’s policies with the US. To a significant degree, some of the most pressing issues between the US and Iran have not be en economic but social because of the apparent differences in religious principles. In fact, Iran’s leader Mahmud Ahmadinejad has been quoted in some sections of the press purporting that US’s arrogance is brought about by the country’s dominance over minority groups (Muslims) (Kegley, 2008, p. 39). These sentiments were also expressed with regards to US’s relations with other Arab nations. The approach taken by US in defining its relationship with Iran has also been largely dictated by Iran’s funding of terrorism activities. This is largely a serious security issue, brought about by the social construct of the US and Iran. Indeed, through the funding of terror groups such as Hezbollah, Iran is doing so with a common purpose of fighting for Muslim interests, especially with regards to the conflict in Lebanon. The US has therefore imposed restrictions and embargos on Iran due to such activities. More vivid is Iran’s stand on the Israel-Lebano n conflict. Iran is in support of Lebanon while the US has been largely assumed to support Israel. What is predominantly seen is the big religious divide that exists in these states. The US and Israel are Christian states while Iran and Lebanon are Muslim states. Therefore, the underlying premise behind the US and Iran relations have been partly attributed to the religious differences between the two nations. The difference between the constructive theory and the realist theory is that the constructive theory does not emphasize a lot on security issues like the realist theory does. Instead, a lot of weight is given to the social construct of the society and its influence on foreign policy. Proponents of the Constructive theory note that international conflicts based on constructive elements may have far reaching implications and may go on for long periods of time. In the same manner, such type of conflicts may trample over materialistic interests because state actions may go beyond rational thought (Kegley, 2008, p. 39). These factors withstanding, war is not an out of the ordinary occurrence between the two nations. Marxist Theory The Marxist theory purports that international relations are majorly driven by materialistic and economic factors. In this manner, states operate within a wider capitalistic system of operation where they are driven by economic interests above all other factors of concern (Chatterjee, 2010, p. 27). This ideology also necessitates the development of class structures, not only in the society but within international relations as well. Coming back to the Iran-US relations, it is evidently clear that the bad relations started because of a pursuance of US economic interests in Iran. More notable is the 1953 coup that installed Shah as the Iranian leader. Shah rose to power with the help of the US because the US found it easy to relate with Iran if it had a pro-western leader. Also, the US’s stand on Iran has been largely motivated by its overall Middle East agenda. In other words, the US has a lot of interest on oil exports from the Persian Gulf and the increased dominance of Iran in the region (which adopts an anti Western stand) has the potential of destabilizing the economic balance in Middle East which the US is benefiting from (Chatterjee, 2010, p. 28). It is therefore important that in the interest of the US, Iran has a Western friendly leader. Such are the intrigues that characterize US’s relations with the Iran. However, subsequent leaders (after the Islamic revolution) saw Iran adopt an anti Western policy on many of its foreign relations. These leaders (like Mahmud) have further soiled relations between the US and Iran because they didn’t/don’t agree with the US’s policies in the Middle East. Nonetheless, these intrigues characterize the Marxist theory because US is largely seen as having adopted an economic agenda which is characteristic of capital accumulation. Of impo rtance is the subcategory of the Marxist theory advancing the fact that globalized capitalistic systems have facilitated the dominance of wealthy nations over poor, third world countries. In this case, the dominant wealthy nation is the US while Iran is the third world state under exploitation. The level of economic interests in play between US and Iran is therefore alarmingly high and when analyzed according to the Marxist theory, the economic interests at stake may lead to a fully blown out war (Chatterjee, 2010, p. 27). This conclusion is drawn from the firm belief by Marxists that economic interests have the potential of transcending all other elements of concern. It is therefore important to note that as much as the relation between the US and Iran is characterized by other issues such as security, if the US continues to lose on its economic agenda in Iran, it may resort to protect it through military means. Conclusion The probability of an emergence of war between Iran and the US is high because of the nature of the conflict between the two nations. Underlying premises to the war can be best analyzed through the realist, constructive and Marxist theories. The realist theory analyzes the concepts of self-help, state-centrism, and survival which are evidently seen in the Iran-US analysis, especially due to the lack of influence from non state actors in the conflict. As a result, the US can take extreme measures in advancing its agenda in Iran and this may include the probability of war. Also, because the conflict between America and Iran is characterized by religious and social differentials, the constructive theory outlines that these factors will characterize future relationships between the two countries to a great extent. Under the constructive theory, such kind of conflict can take a very long time to end and social influences may override economic interests. The probability of a war breaking out, especially from the Iranian part (which is more religi ously socialized) is very high. Lastly, the Marxist theory advances the fact that since the US has considerable economic interests in the Persian Gulf; it may go to unprecedented levels to protect it. This obviously includes war. Considering there is no let up between the two parties, the US and Iran can surely go to war if provocation is felt from the Iranian side. This is in accordance to the Marxist theory, purporting that economic interests may transcend all other interests. The nature of international relations between Iran and the US therefore still remains very volatile. References Beeman, W. O. (2008). The Great Satan Vs. The Mad Mullahs: How the United States And Iran Demonize Each Other. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press. Beisner, R. (2003). American Foreign Relations since 1600: A Guide to the Literature, Volume 1. New York: Abc-Clio. Chatterjee, A. (2010). International Relations Today. New Delhi: Pearson Education India. Dow Jones Company. (2010). QA with Irans Depu ty Foreign Minister for Americas Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123861706862379499 Gasiorowski, M. J. (2004). Writing in Mohammad Mosaddeq and the 1953 Coup in Iran. London: Syracuse University Press. Kegley, C, W. (2008). World Politics: Trend and Transformation. London: Cengage Learning. Lesch, D. W. (2003). The Middle East and the United States: A Historical and Political Reassessment. New York: Routledge. Spegele, R. (1996). Political Realism in International Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Transportation Geography

Transportation Geography Transportation geography is a branch of economic geography that studies transportation and all aspects related to it and the geography of an area. This means that it examines the transportation or movement of people, goods, and information in or across different regions. It can have a local focus in a city (New York City for example), as well as a regional (the United States Pacific Northwest), national or global focus. Transportation geography also studies the different modes of transportation such as road, rail, aviation and boat and their relationships to people, the environment and urban areas. Transportation has been important in geographic study for hundreds of years. In the early days of geography explorers used known sailing routes to explore new areas and set up trading outposts. As the worlds economy began to modernize and develop railway and maritime shipping became increasingly important and knowledge of foreign markets was essential. Today transportation capacity and efficiency is important so knowing the quickest way to move people and products is important and in turn, understanding the geography of the regions in which these people and products are moving is vital. Transportation geography is a very broad subject that looks at many different topics. For example, transportation geography could possibly look at the link between the presence of a railroad in an area and the percentage of commuters using rail to get to work in a developed area. Social and environmental impacts of the creation of transportation modes are other topics within the discipline. Transportation geography also studies the constraints of movement across space. An example of this might be looking at how the shipment of goods varies at different times of the year due to weather conditions. To gain a better understanding of transportation and its relationship to geography transportation geographers today study three important fields that relate to transportation: nodes, networks, and demand. The following is a list of the three major branches of transportation geography: 1) Nodes are the beginning and end points for transportation between geographic areas. The Port of Los Angeles is an example of a node because it is the start and end for the shipment of goods to and from the United States. The presence of a node is important economically because it can aid in the development of a city due to jobs for example. 2) Transportation networks are the second major field in transportation geography and they represent the structure and organization of transportation infrastructures like roads or train lines through an area. Transportation networks connect the nodes and are significant because they can directly affect the capacity and efficiency of the movement of people and goods. For example, a well-developed train line would be an efficient transportation network to move people and goods from two nodes, say, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It is up to transportation geographers to study the differences between two networks to most efficiently move items between nodes. 3) The third major field of transportation geography is demand. Demand is based on public demand for different types of transportation. For example, if commuters are in constant traffic congestion on a daily basis in a city, public demand might support the development of a transit system such as light rail to move them within the city or two and from the city and their home. Overall, transportation is a significant topic within geography because the worlds economy depends on transportation. By studying how transportation relates to geography, researchers and geographers can gain a better understanding of why cities, transportation networks and the worlds economy have developed the way they have. Reference Hanson, Susan, ed. and Genevieve Giuliano, ed. The Geography of Urban Transportation. New York: The Guilford Press, 2004. Print.

What was the most important reason for the growth of Western economic Assignment

What was the most important reason for the growth of Western economic and political power after c.1750 - Assignment Example Many scholars argue that industrialization process was the leading cause for increased economic, social and political changes in the Western. In fact, westerners experienced the tremendous ongoing growth period after 1750 epoch, which was marked as the first notable divergence time. This was the period when the westerners started experiencing increased per capita income and sustained growth across diverse regions globally. This made economies such as Asia and Eastern Europe affluent but Western Europe became prosperous than their counterparts. Therefore, this essay focuses on industrial revolution as the main reason behind increasing economic growth and political power in the western after 1750 epoch. Industrial revolution in the western that was marked by rapid economic and political changes was the main reason behind increased development in the western before the 1750s. Diverse developments sparkled by the beginning of industrialization in the earlier period created economic and p olitical changes. ... For instance, the Great Britain developed after 1750 due to political power and economic changes that was a result of industrialization (Goldstone 2000, p. 176). Many regions started experiencing new development changes especially in architecture. Emerging differences among the medieval and earlier modern religious practices also led to significant changes in the economy due to political changes that was a result of industrialization. Many economies emphasized on the significant of scientific aspects that led to new development in the western religion. The western region emphasized on the greater capacity to sustain economic growth and political development over time. Thus, they concentrated on the use of technology as well as made significant changes in the political system that led to increased democratization in the workplace. Secondly, the steady progression resulted due to trading activities, which was associated by increased infrastructural development. Many westerners advanced their commercial trade especially the European along the Atlantic shore of Africa. They were inspired by the need to find the means through East Asia in commercial activities. The Atlantic Ocean commercial activities that ultimately led to crossings to Pacific marine led to better economic development. This is because of the changes in technology, trade and global interactions that brought many countries together.  The new maritime technologies made global interactions possible; thus creating changes in the trading patterns across the globe. The slave commercial activities augmented because the European colonies in the United States relied profoundly on the slave commercial activities. Many merchants became richer through the slave trade activities as the slave trade activities were

Characteristics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Characteristics - Essay Example A number of nurses and doctors find patients’ culture as an obstacle to treatment. They believe that they, health practitioners, have been trained to know what is best for the patient and tradional beliefs amongst patients should not be encouraged. Science should be the basis on which medicine is supposed to be practiced. Practitioners also argue that the health of the patient should be given top priority, and not their cultural backgrounds or beliefs. (Toni Tripp-Reimer, Lisa Skemp Kelley) Another problem with cultural competency is that it degrades the cultural teachings to a mere technical subject, which the medical practitioners have to learn. Furthermore, the lack of diversity in the hospitals and the medical profession as a whole, leads to a lack of cultural competency care. Nurses or doctors might appear a little indifferent or unknowingly rude to a patient of a different ethnicity. The patients might notice this as a lack of sensitivity on the practitioner’s part and from there on, the communication bridge starts to break down. Also, the systems in the health care service are not up to the mark and do not meet the needs of people of different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities (Joseph R. Betancourt, Alexander R. Green and J. Emilio Carrillo. 2002). Consoling a family in grief and leading them through an adaptive process can be a challenging task for the medical practitioners, especially the nurses. This requires substantial knowledge of different cultural backgrounds, so that there is no breakdown of communication. A lack of respect for someone else’s cultural beliefs comes off as a great hindrance, and does not help the whole consoling process. If a nurse or doctor is familiar with the cultural beliefs or shows respect for people of different ethnicities, he/she can aid a family through the grieving process. But if there is a fine line drawn between two

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2

Human Resource Management - Essay Example In a holistic picture, performance management strives to improve overall processes; achieve continually improving results; and continuously develop resources and effective leadership; it also aims at sustaining employee motivation and commitment. As Cooper (2004) explains, performance measurement can help organisations to demonstrate their value to many types of stakeholders, including the clients and customers, employees and shareholders. The results from performance measurement can help in improving performance further, thereby meeting and even exceeding customer expectations, generating more revenue and profit for the organisation, improving employee satisfaction and morale. However, Colbran Medical Institute does not seem to emphasize customer satisfaction or employee motivation in the real sense. A few effective performance management practices based on theory have been evaluated with respect to situation at Colbran Medical Institute. Benchmarking: Performance measurement is a r ecurring activity, and an essential aspect of performance management. ... The performance appraisal forms at Colbran do not give much evidence of work on benchmarking performance metrics, which further rules out possibilities of effective performance measurement. If performance measurement is only internally focused, then such measurement cannot produce competitive position for the organisation irrespective of its level of performance. Therefore, benchmarking ensures that performance establishes competitiveness and best practice through doing the right things, right first time in the eyes of the end customer (Zaiiri & Leonard, 1994; 81). Performance indicators: At Colbran Medical Institute, performance seems to be measured based on number of goods produced. This is a very generalized approach and tends to ignore many issues that could have occurred during the production process. This process needs to be streamlined in order to provide accurate performance measurement as well as address the issues so that overall productivity can also be improvised. All goa ls that have been benchmarked need to be measurable. For this, the goals need to be converted to measurable indicators. Hatry (2006) asserts that measurement and improvement can be gauged based on specific indicators, and not based on the outcomes. Production units cannot wait until the output is achieved in order to assess performance; in doing so, significant time, effort and money will be lost. Moreover, performance measurement based on outcomes will not consider the gaps or issues that had risen during the production. Therefore, to address these issues, specific outcome indicators or performance indicators need to be assigned to every intended outcome or goal. Performance appraisal system: Performance

Tim Burton and art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Tim Burton and art - Research Paper Example Tim Burton’s controversial pieces in a myriad of forms of art add flair to the debatable position that the art culture continually gets attached to. It can thereby be correctly stated that making a contribution to the industry in the manner in which Tim Burton does is a unique package that any other industry would warmly welcome. In this discourse, a view of the career that Tim Burton has had in art industry is made in order to highlight the importance that individual artists uniquely add to the entire culture. The uniqueness of this artist is particularly given the center-stage in a number of reviews for four different art pieces. Perhaps one striking contrast in the personality of this artist in the discussion is the current profession, though still in art, which is a complete shift from his earlier forms of art works. An introduction to the artist’s cultural environment during his career and his profile enable a critical analysis on his works which ends in a conclusion on the general contribution to American culture in the tail end of the discourse. Artists’ style of work is largely influenced by the prevailing environment due to the close relationship that art and culture or social surrounding of a people. It therefor implies that something can be picked from an artist’s work to depict the form of influential waves prevailing in form of culture that the people in the artist’s community had. Tim Burton’s career commenced in the early 1980’s during which fine art experienced many changes. Tim Burton was brought up at a time when the movie industry was hitting the market and he particularly had a taste for film works. Interestingly revelations on his early life confirm his liking for films where he made the influence contributed to his spirited input in making his first film in 1971 when only 13 years of age. Film making industry influence assisted in bringing out the artist skills in the artist by triggering interest in film

The Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 - Essay Example This discussion briefly overviews the main aspects of this Act and expresses concerns regarding its effects from non-governmental agencies. The Act contains provisions that merge the present immigration appeals structure into a streamlined appeals process with little chance for further appeals by an immigrant. It also addresses undocumented immigrants and disallows financial support from family members outside the UK after appellant is cleared to depart the UK. Further provisions include human trafficking, a continuation of the 'safe third country' measure and lists behaviours, spelled out for the first time in the Act, which could destroy an immigrant applicant's credibility. The Act also includes provisions introducing procedures to reinstate payments of benefits of an immigrant's back-dated integration loan and introduces modifications to homelessness regulations in order that a refugee must attain an association with local authorities. In addition, the Act establishes further legal consequences for those persons who come to the UK lacking proper documentation. As of its enactment, the Act makes it a crime for a pers on not to have a valid document identifying their nationality and identity to the immigration authorities upon arrival in the UK. "A person shall be presumed not to have a valid document if s/he fails to produce it at the request of an immigration officer" ("Explanatory Notes", 2004). Critics charge that, in particular, this Act does not express a national desire to preserve the human rights of immigrants, especially in the case of women for whom there is inadequate protection both internationally and nationally from the realities of gender discrimination. The Refugee Council is of the opinion that this Act punishes refugees for being just that, refugees, which by definition probably have insufficient travel or citizenship documentation from the country they are escaping. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, "in most cases a person fleeing from persecution will have arrived with the barest necessities and very frequently without personal documents" (Refugee Council, 2004). Refugees escaping from state instituted acts of persecution can hardly obtain travel documentation of any type such as a passport from the governmental entity that is itself responsible for the persecutory actions from which the refugees are escaping. The immigrant/ref ugee may explain and defend their right to asylum but they must still prove their legal right to be in the country. If they cannot provide proper proof in the form of documentation, they will be subject to criminal court procedures and subsequent penalties. The major concern regarding this no-win situation for refugees is the plight of women in particular. Women are less likely than men to possess even the initial ability to obtain travel documentation or personal identifying papers on their own. Many countries do not allow women this privilege without the consent of a male family member. This Act, in short, penalises female refugees more so than men, a group already more severely persecuted on a worldwide scale than are men. A provision (Section Four) of the Act, makes human trafficking of persons either into or out of the UK for the purposes of a exploitation criminal

Tim Burton and art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Tim Burton and art - Research Paper Example Tim Burton’s controversial pieces in a myriad of forms of art add flair to the debatable position that the art culture continually gets attached to. It can thereby be correctly stated that making a contribution to the industry in the manner in which Tim Burton does is a unique package that any other industry would warmly welcome. In this discourse, a view of the career that Tim Burton has had in art industry is made in order to highlight the importance that individual artists uniquely add to the entire culture. The uniqueness of this artist is particularly given the center-stage in a number of reviews for four different art pieces. Perhaps one striking contrast in the personality of this artist in the discussion is the current profession, though still in art, which is a complete shift from his earlier forms of art works. An introduction to the artist’s cultural environment during his career and his profile enable a critical analysis on his works which ends in a conclusion on the general contribution to American culture in the tail end of the discourse. Artists’ style of work is largely influenced by the prevailing environment due to the close relationship that art and culture or social surrounding of a people. It therefor implies that something can be picked from an artist’s work to depict the form of influential waves prevailing in form of culture that the people in the artist’s community had. Tim Burton’s career commenced in the early 1980’s during which fine art experienced many changes. Tim Burton was brought up at a time when the movie industry was hitting the market and he particularly had a taste for film works. Interestingly revelations on his early life confirm his liking for films where he made the influence contributed to his spirited input in making his first film in 1971 when only 13 years of age. Film making industry influence assisted in bringing out the artist skills in the artist by triggering interest in film

The history of the alphabet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The history of the alphabet - Essay Example The Latin alphabets are regarded as the most widely used alphabets of the world. These alphabets are derived from the Greek that provided the concept of consonants and vowels (Stephen, p98) The Greek alphabets are rooted from the Phoenician alphabets that basically donate a system that proposed the use of symbols for every consonant. It implies that all the alphabets used in the present world have their roots deeply embedded in to the Phoenician alphabets (Joseph, p65). There are two main scripts that provide the hints for the history of alphabets. These scripts were created somewhere before the end of the fourth millennium BCE known as Mesopotamian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs. These scripts provide the base for the production of Phoenician alphabets and were widely used in the Middle East region. Many of the languages used in the regions are developed from the based provided by the Phoenician alphabets and the two mentioned scripts. The set of 22 hieroglyphs was created by th e ancient Egyptians in 2700 BCE. These hieroglyphs basically represent the individual consonants of their language. In addition to the consonant, the 23rd hieroglyph presented the concept of word initial or word final vowel for the first time (Stephen, p98).

Pitfalls of the American Dream in of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Pitfalls of the American Dream in of Mice and Men Essay I feel that I am a citizen of the American Dream and that the revolutionary struggle against the American nightmare. † This quote by Eldridge Cleaver states that one has the right to achieve the American Dream however, there are factors that work against one trying to achieve the American Dream. In John Steinbeck’s â€Å"Of Mice And Men† , the pitfalls of the American Dreams are more effectively demonstrated in comparison to the movies directed by Gary Sinise. Towards the beginning of the movie one can easily point out differences that were not in the novel. For example, in the book, Lennie and George were aware of Curley’s arriage. â€Å"He got married a couple of weeks ago. Wife lives over in the bosss house (13). However, in the movie the men are not aware of Curley’s wife before she come into the room. This helps to give readers a hint on how this women will play a role in their failure at achieving the American Dream. In both the movie and the book, a women running for her life in a memorable red dress is presented, â€Å"He jus wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them pups all the time(3. 28-30) It is later revealed that Lennie touched her and for that he was on the run. After the introduction of Curley’s wife, one can infer that something similar will happen with her and that this women will also be a pitfall in achieving the American Dream. Thas good, he said. You drink some, George. You take a good big drink. He smiled happily. (1. 7) In this quotes from the book, the readers are lead to conclude that Lennie has mental disabilities as he can be compared to a child. In both the movie and the book, Lennie’s disabilities are displayed which can later on be a pitfall in achieving the American Dream. Run us out, hell, said George disgustedly. We run. They was ookin for us, but they didnt catch us (1. 50-55) Both the movie and the book reveal the situation that occurred in the weeds, George and Lennie’s previous Jobs. Based on events from the past, readers can foreshadow that history will repeat it self which can add to the failure in achieving the American Dream. It is clear that many do not travel together. Aint many guys travel around together, he mused. I dont know why. Maybe everbody in the whole damn world is scared of each other' (35). In both the book and the movie, Slim states that he doesn’t really see many traveling together. In the book however, a better understanding of why men don’t travel together is created. Overall this quotes from the book can aid readers to predict that George and Lennie will not stay together after all and that their friendship will be put to the test. With this being said, their dream will be at risk. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again (106) Towards the end of both the movie and the book, George shoots Lennie. As it was previously predicted, Lennie’s past has caught up to him as he again has violated a women. In this case he has killed Curley’s wife. Due to her death, Curley has vowed to make Lennie suffer. George felt the need to take matters into his own hands and kill Lennie. This event in both the movie and the book highlight the major pitfall of the American Dream. Now that Lennie is dead, the American Dream will not be achieved. However, the book demonstrated this pitfall by creating a better vivid image of what occurred. After analyzing both the movie and the book, one can conclude that John Steinbeck’s â€Å"Of Mice And Men† demonstrates the pitfalls of the American dream better than the move â€Å"Of Mice And Men† directed by Gary Sinise.

Identifying Personal Development And Learning Styles Personal Development Essay

Identifying Personal Development And Learning Styles Personal Development Essay It is obvious that as a practicing first-line manager, your own success is more likely if you use your talents (strengths) to their full extent to exploit the opportunities that present themselves to you. Also, its important to understand your weaknesses so that you can manage them out of your daily work activities and thereby also eliminate any threats which may affect your potential to progress. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis (Stanford Research Institute 1960-1970) is a useful technique to identify and analyse, in a proactive manner, these four areas. Not only that, but it also provides a good framework for reviewing your own personal development needs and enables you to work on your personal strengths and abilities to distinguish yourself from your peers and hence forward your career My own personal SWOT analysis has been appended to this assignment (see Appendix A). Own Learning Style(s) Identified Honey and Mumford (HM) use the terms activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist to represent the four key learning styles (or preferences). These correspond to stages in the learning cycle and are based on earlier work by David Kolb (and indeed are used interchangeably by some authors with the terms in the Kolb model). Both models are particularly interesting from the perspective that they offer a way to understand peoples different learning styles but also explain a cycle of experimental learning which can be applied to everyone. The four HM key stages and styles are typically presented at north, east, south and west on a four-stage cyclical flow diagram. This actually expresses a four stage cycle of learning in which having an immediate or concrete experience provides a basis for reviewing/reflecting on the experience. These reflections are assimilated into conclusions from the experience producing implications for action which enables the planning for the next step, i.e. the creation of a new experience. In theory, the learner should visit all four points of the diagram i.e. a cycle of experiencing, reflecting, thinking and acting. They, and their relationship with Kolbs learning styles, are explained in the Table A below: Table A -Comparison of HM Learning stages/styles with Kolb learning style Kolbs Learning Style HM Learning Style/Stage Preferred learning opportunity Personality characteristics of learning style Accomodating Having an Experience/Activists Practical, hands on Here and now; seek challenge and immediate experience; Bored by implementation Diverging Reviewing the experience/ Reflectors Gather information, consider and analyse Stands back; Thoughtful; listens before speaking Assimilating Concluding from the Experience/ Theorists Logical approach, gathers facts to form theories Rational, objective, dismisses subjectivity Converging Planning the next steps /Pragmatists Seeks new concepts, problem solving Likes quick decisions, bored with long discussions Most people naturally prefer a certain single different learning style. Various factors can influence this and Kolb defined 3 stages of a persons development and suggests that the integration of the four different learning styles improves as a person progresses through the development stages. I have completed an HM Learning Style Questionnaire and my preferred learning styles are Theorist and Pragmatist. This means that I have a preference for a concise and logical approach to learning. For me, ideas and concepts are more interesting than people. I do require a good, clear explanation; however, one slight difference to this learning style is that I like to see that the theory can work in a practical situation as well. I enjoy technically related tasks such as gathering and understanding wide-ranging information and trying to organise it in a logical format. In a formal learning situation, my preferences are reading and lectures and having time to consider things. I like to solve problems and make decisions by finding answers to questions. This was not particularly surprising because my job role as an Assurance Specialist involved in auditing actually demands a logical style of approach to deliver work effectively. Furthermore, problem solving is also a key skill for me in advising teams on how to resolve issues with their management processes. Analyse Learning and Development Options and Identify Barriers and Support mechanisms Two learning/development options one for self, one for organisation My personal SWOT analysis identified two development options as follows: To improve my soft skills such as assertiveness, communication and the effectiveness of my decision making. This would help in meeting the needs of the organisation and of the needs of my immediate team. To gain a better understanding of how Environmental Management is applied by Network Rail at a Project level. This would help me to gain an insight as to how I could apply some of the information I learnt on my Institute of Environmental Management (IEMA) course in a practical scenario. I have added both of these onto a Personal Development Plan, which is attached as Appendix C to this assignment. In terms of development opportunity (1), I could make use of the many e-learning tools available via the Network Rail Intranet site as well as obtaining support from my line manager to check my progress as well as him giving me tasks which will help to develop my soft-skills. I could monitor the success of this personal development through regular (once a month) one-to-ones with my line-manager and via my 6-monthly performance reviews. Listening and learning from what has worked well for him in the past would align itself well with the pragmatic approach I prefer to learning. With respect to my own personal development opportunity (2), there is a course offered through Network Rail about Environmental Management within Projects. I have booked a place on this course and intend to follow it up by conducting audits on Environmental Management across Infrastructure Projects as part of the 2010-11 National Core Audit Programme. In this way, I shall be able to speak to Environmental Specialists who apply Environmental Management techniques as part of their daily activities an gain a deeper understanding of what is involved. Identify Barriers to learning and how to overcome them Some potential barriers which could prevent or slow down my progress are time-constraints, distractions and issues with the suitability of e-Learning to my own learning style. These barriers could be overcome by planning a time-out for learning within my weekly schedule and ensuring that I commit to not allowing any work activities to interfere with it. Im unsure as to whether e-learning will complement my learning style because the courses do not present practical situations to apply what has been learnt. However, perhaps regular feedback sessions and suitable tasks set by my line-manager may serve to complement the e-learning courses. Considering the Environmental Management training I have identified, after completing the course, I will need to liaise with the staff drawing up the National Core Audit Programme so that I can be included for the Environmental Section of at least 2 of the audits across the Investment Projects portfolio. The auditing aspect will require me to make careful preparation before visiting the Programme so that I have a full awareness of how they are managing the Environment. This could involve looking at their Environmental Management Plan in detail and compiling a series of relevant questions before I make the visit. Both the training and my IEMA qualification should enable me to do this and carry out the audit effectively. Support mechanisms for self-development I would look to support from my line-manager and team members through the use of formal (1-2-1s) and ad-hoc reviews of my progress. Regular teleconferences or face-to-face meetings with members of the cohort who attended the same Leading and Managing Teams course could also be set up, where we could discuss our own personal progress and problems. These may prove to be extremely beneficial from a learning perspective for all concerned. I would also like to involve the Investment Projects Environment Manager and Environmental Specialists from the Programmes from the perspective of them being there to provide expert advice on technical questions. Two other support mechanisms which suit my learning style are testing and feedback. I am most comfortable with regularly testing my new skill sets as demonstrated with the Environmental training taking what I have learnt and applying it to actual situations in the workplace and obtaining feedback on what I did well and what I should look to improve on next time. This would provide me with the assurance that, not only do the techniques work, but also that I am progressing in the right direction. It would be an invaluable confidence builder both in my abilities and that the learning plan is delivering the desired results. Monitor and Evaluate Self-development One method to monitor and evaluate self-development I would monitor and review my learning using a learning log. This could be used to plan learning activities as milestones on the way to achieving the completed development activity and as a reference to check that milestones are being completed on time (through one-to-ones with the line manager). The log allows the user to focus in on the particular learning areas which are important to him, and to visualise the progress being made. For me, this would apply to areas such as assertiveness, communication skills and Environmental knowledge, for example. The log will allow others, such as team members and the line manager to understand what it is that an individual is trying to achieve and provide assistance and feedback where it is required. In addition, the learning log is a good tool for recording feedback, enabling the noting down of what went well and what could be improved with each learning activity as well as how the approach can be changed next time. Eventually, it should indicate for me, whether soft skills are still a learning area of me or whether I have shown, through practical demonstration, that I have mastered them. An example of a real learning log (extract) is attached as Appendix B to this assignment. For feedback to be effective, the Action Impact Do/Develop/Different model should be applied That is, the person giving the feedback should provide examples of what was done, its impact on the situation, and what should be done differently next time. This would allow the recipient to consider a different approach and modify his behaviour accordingly This is particular relevant to the skills I am trying to develop. Appendix A Personal SWOT Analysis Weaknesses I have a strong compulsive need to do things quickly especially when my to do list is long. Sometimes this has compromised my decision making ability. My need to keep the customer happy can sometimes lead to me acquiescing to his needs rather than defending my own position. I have a tendency to over-analyse what has happened in certain situations (even after I have prepared really well for them) when events have moved on and I can no longer do anything about them. I get a little nervous about presenting to members of the team and to customers. This can mean that these types of Presentation do not engage the audience as much as Id like. Strengths I have good analytical skills. I enjoy looking through data to determine conclusions and action planning to improve the current situation. I am very conscientious and deliver all work to the very best of my ability. I pride myself in organising my work so that it is always delivered on time. I go out of my way to satisfy or delight the customer. I am completely committed to the success of the team that I work for and creating a good impression of what we do to our customers/stakeholders. I have worked in Assurance/Quality related roles for over 20 years and have experience in most aspects of these functions. My job means a lot to me, I take it very seriously. Threats Potential future reorganisations meaning redundancy. Assurance becomes no longer a priority for the company. Perceptions and criticisms by customers and own team. 2012 move to Milton Keynes and the feasibility of commuting there on a daily basis. My current need for a lot of support from my line manager could be perceived that I no longer feel comfortable in taking decisions without someones help. Opportunities We are currently developing a customer feedback questionnaire which we will get our main stakeholders to complete. The output from this should help us to determine the areas we need to improve on going forward We have a lessons-learnt process and are always looking to improve the auditing process. That I take the knowledge Ive accumulated from the Leading and Managing Teams course and consistently look back on it and apply it to my day job. That I continue to work with my main customers to build a reputation with them so we are clear about what we expect from each other and that this leads to a positive working relationship which delivers results. Appendix B Learning Log (extract only) Date From Date to Activity What went well? What didnt go well? What you will do differently next time Nov. 09 Dec. 09 E-Learning Course Assertiveness The course was completed and all of the intermediate assessments passed There was no interaction element to the course how do you know it works in practice? This needs to be incorporated into 1-2-1 meetings to get feedback from line-management on how I am progressing/if this is still a development area for me. 23/11/09 23/11/09 Opening Meeting CrossRail audit All of the points on the agenda were covered Organisation was poor jumped from one topic to the next and then back again in a haphazard fashion Improve preparation plan out exactly which points to cover and at which times 12/01/10 12/01/10 Closing Meeting CrossRail audit Far more relaxed, bought the correct key people to the meeting deflected difficult questions to them at the right time Nothing to report do it the same next time. Carry this lesson forward for the 2010-11 National Core Audit Plan (NCAP). 15/02/2010 15/02/2010 One-day training session Environmental Management on Projects A good internal training session about how to apply the requirements of the Network Rail Environmental Management Handbook (Guide to Railway Projects Delivery Manual 04) on Projects Additional time to built into the course to go through some of the worked-examples in further detail. This knowledge needs to be applied in future as part of the 2010-11 NCAP audit of Environmental Management. Opportunity to be sought to take part in this section of the audit. Appendix C PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Preferred Learning Style/s Pragmatist/Theorist What do I want or need to develop? What actions / development will I do to achieve this? How will success be determined? Target dates for review and completion 1.My soft skills; e.g. Assertiveness, Listening, Coaching abilities E-Learning. Mentoring from my Line Manager. Experiences in my role. 1-2-1s; performance review meetings; improved confidence April 2010 (end of year review) 2. Understand Environmental Management on Network Rail Projects Network Rail course Environmental Management within Network Rail assisting National Core Audit Programme with Environmental auditing aspects. I will be able to carry out effective Environmental Audits of Network Rail Programme/Projects as determined both by Environmental Specialists on the Programmes and by the Investment Project Environment Manager. October 2010 and April 2011

Flying Solo :: Flying Planes Personal Narratives Essays

Flying Solo Today is the day of my first flying lesson. For the last month I have been putting together a model of the Spirit of St. Louis, the plane Charles Lindbergh used to fly from to New York to Paris in May of 1927, the first transatlantic flight. I love putting together models; I love the intense concentration it requires, the knot of tension that forms at the back of my neck, the dizzying smell of glue. Charles Lindbergh was not the first pilot to attempt this flight, but he was the first to attempt it alone. All those who went before him had gone with flight crews and enormous quantities of equipment, and all of them had failed or died trying. Lindbergh had no crew, no radio, no parachute, no life raft, no food, one quart of water. He told reporters, "If I make it to Paris I won't need anything more, and if I don't make it I won't need anything more either. He even cut the borders off of his map with a razor blade. It was this simplicity that enabled him to succeed. I w ant to find that simplicity in my own life, to pare everything down to the bare essentials. But I can’t. Small pieces, spare parts, keep turning up in corners and under furniture. I think flying will lift me up and away from all the things that clutter up a life. When I arrive at Pulliam airport and look out over the rows of airplanes I feel so light that I might float away. I pay for the lesson with my Visa and shove the receipt into the pocket of my jeans. The waiting room is filled with orange plastic chairs. Waiting always takes on the same quality, no matter where I am or what I am waiting for. It’s the feeling of being trapped in time, removed from the rest of life. No matter what I do, like a reading a book or magazine, I can never forget that I’m waiting. I used to wait for my father every Sunday afternoon, sitting and staring out the window while time froze all around me.

Analyzing Pro Forma Statements Essay

Financial statements that are prepared by a company to consider the effects of potential activity is considered a pro forma statements. A financial statement shows the projected or forecast of operating results and balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. The company XYZ Company Inc. is planning to expand their company in the next five years. This paper will review and discuss XYZ’s Company’s five year plan to expand to their organization. The XYZ Companies pro forma income statement is projected for the next five years which accounts for a 10% increase in gross sales for each of the five years. Financial managers use Proforma statements to assist financial managers to plan accordingly in terms of the company’s financial needs. By acquiring the company’s future income statement and balance sheets, managers can determine how much financing is needed and when it is needed. The Proforma analysis has become the proven tool that can be instrumental for general managers in the planning of employment intensities, inventory and problem solving issues. Proforma can also be used for more than just a forecasting tool. It can also be used for creating mid-stream corrections, evaluate variances, gauge weaknesses, strengths and evaluating performance during the budgeting period. By forecasting Proforma statements are created to predict balances at a certain date followed by combining them with a financial statement format. Acquiring the forces that influence them, one can determined how account balances are forecasted and project how the accounts may be influenced. The following is used to illustrate the ProForma’s five year projection process for XYZ’s Company. Revenue will increase twice in the year 2011 and afterwards continue to increase 10% in the next year. Cost of revenue will be based on total sales percentage. Presented is the Performa statement of the organization for the next five years. XYZ Company Inc.: 2011|2012|2013|2104|2015 It has been established that in the above Proforma balance sheet one has assumed that current liability and current asset has increased in the ratio of sales. In addition, the company has taken on a loan to meet the capital expansion as well as working capital’s needs. Reference University of Phoenix, (2015) â€Å"Analyzing Pro Forma Statements† retrieved from https://newclassroom3.phoenix.edu/Classroom/#/contextid/OSIRIS:44656217/context/co/view/activityDetails/activity/53c06956-87e9-4050-8ecc-815e914705e0/expan

Responsibilities and rights of employees and employers Essay

Responsibilities and rights of employees and employers within own area.The law in UK covers the following aspects: Employment law is the body of law which governs the relationship between employers and their employees. A key component therefore of employment law is the employment rights which are bestowed upon both the employee and the employer. The aspects of employment covered by law are: Minimum wage, Hours worked, Discrimination, Health and safety, Holiday entitlements, Redundancy and dismissal, Training, Disciplinary procedures, Union rights and consultation, among many others. Labour law covers the deal between employee and employer. Health and safety laws cover the work conditions, and minimum wage and other laws set basic compensation levels.We also have the Disability Act, Manual Handling Operations and Regulations, Data Protection Act, The Medicine Act, General Social Care Council code 2001, RIDDOR 1995 and more. To protect the rights of employers and employees by providing rules and regulations that must be followed. Employment rights are numerous, but a few of them are likely to have a more significant impact throughout your time of employment. The National Minimum Wage is one of the most basic and most protected rights, establishing a minimum amount that employers must pay per hour to each of their employees. Employment law also makes allowances to prevent employees from being made to work too many hours, while allowing willing employees to work more hours if they wish. Other employment rules give employees rights in redundancy situations, and ensure that they can be free to take part in union activities. You may well have numerous other rights in your employment contract – for example, you may have been promised a greater holiday allowance than the amount allowed by law. Employment law also holds employers (and employees) responsible for living up to the terms established in the employment contract. Employment Law & Workers’ Rights These days, there is an enormous volume of legislation giving special rights and protections to employees in the UK. These employment rights are designed to ensure that all workers are treated equally, fairly and lawfully. Read more: Essay About  Statutory Responsibilities and Rights of Employees and Employers

American vs. Chinese Culture

Psychological anthropology is the study of individuals and their personalities and identities, within particular cultural contexts (Miller, 2007). Although American and Chinese people are raised in different cultures, their cultures are somewhat similar. Even though individuals are raised thousands of miles apart, is it possible to possess some of the same personality traits? In the American culture, baby showers are held to celebrate the impending birth of a baby. Family and friends bring many necessities needed for the new baby, such as, clothes, money, bottles, stroller, car seat, and or diapers. Once the baby is born it is the American culture to separate babies by gender. It is customary for boys to be dressed in blue and girls to be dressed in pink. As they grow, boys are encouraged to play with trucks, action figures and guns to promote strength and power. Whereas, girls are encouraged to play with dolls, cook with toy stoves, and play house to promote nurturing. As the child grows into adolescence, this is reinforced in the chores delegated to them. Boys are expected to cut the grass, take out the trash, and help out with any other â€Å"handyman† jobs. Girls are expected to wash dishes, do the laundry, sweep and mop floors. Hence, the stereotyping begins. This stereotyping is evident in adulthood. Men are labeled as providers, protectors, and head of the household. Men are expected to work to support their families. Men are often pressured to assert their masculinity and strength within there jobs and at home. Today, men are beginning to take on more responsibilities within the home. Women are labeled as mothers, housekeepers, and nursemaids, to name a few. Many years ago, women were not respected in the workforce. Their job selection was very slim, mainly secretaries. However, during World War II women took the place of men in the workforce showing they could perform the jobs just as well as the men. Today, women are highly accepted in the workforce and hold high powered positions within companies and even own their own businesses. Once men and women reach their senior years, they have achieved their social status. They are afforded the opportunity to retire from the workforce. In doing so, they are able to travel or just enjoy life at their leisure. They no longer have to pay taxes and receive their social security benefits as their compensation for working. Unlike the American culture where there is no animosity over the gender of babies, Chinese culture is different. Boys are considered treasured, so much so that years ago infant girls were killed. In doing this China has created an imbalance in the male to female ratio. In the Chinese culture, a baby’s birth is not celebrated until the infant is one month old. The family holds a â€Å"red egg and ginger† party. This is the time when the parents introduce their baby to friends and family, who bring gifts for the baby: boys receive â€Å"lucky† money and girls receive expensive jewelry. Parents present each guest with a dyed red egg to symbolize happiness and the renewal of life. Traditionally, gender roles in China are similar to the ones in the United States. The man goes to work, the woman is a housewife. This is changing, especially with the ‘one child policy’ in China. Women are not needed at home as much to take care of children since families are only allowed to have one child. In some cases, a family is allowed to have two children. For example, if the first born is a daughter, they may be permitted to have another child. There is a lot less social distance among Chinese people compared to Americans. It is a collectivist culture – people depend on each other and take care of each other. Chinese people spend a lot less time alone than Americans do. One example of this is the family unit is very close in Chinese culture. It is very common for three or more generations to live together because a lot of people still live with their parents when they have established their own families. Chinese people are more reserved when it comes to physical contact or showing public display of affection, especially in romantic relationships. Chinese people initiate physical contact very gradually compared to Americans. Premarital sex is a lot less common in China than in the United States. Both cultures show traits of openness by allowing individuals to explore their curiosity of the world and show their emotions. They also allow for individuals to be conscientious of their actions, to be self-disciplined, and to be cooperative towards others. Although two cultures are different it is possible for individuals to share the same traits. ? REFERENCES Chinese Culture. (n. d. ). Retrieved February 3, 2010, from English in Taiwan. com: http://www. englishintaiwan. com/foreigners/chinese_culture. php Gender: Gender Roles and Stereotypes. (2010). Retrieved February 3, 2010, from Marriage and Family Encyclopedia: http://family. jrank. org/pages/686/Gender-Gender-Roles- Stereotypes. tml Miller, B. D. (2007). Cultural Anthropology. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Olsen, A. (2009, April 10). China's Population Laws Threaten Baby Girls, Favor Boys. Retrieved February 3, 2010, from The Huffington Post: http://www. huffingtonpost. com/2009/04/10/chinas-population-laws-th_n_185626. html Therese Hesketh, P. , Li Lu, M. , & and Zhu Wei Xing, M. (2005, September 15). The Effect of China's One-Child Family Policy after 25 Years. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from The New England Journal of Medicine: http://content. nejm. org/cgi/content/full/353/11/1171

The Four Building Blocks of Competitive Advantage Research Paper

The Four Building Blocks of Competitive Advantage - Research Paper Example Each of these concepts has very different implications for the organization as it relates to being able to successfully outperform competition. Competitive advantage is defined as the specific strategic advantages that a company maintains over rival companies in the same market or industry that serves to strengthen business position. Others consider competitive advantage to be the implementation of a unique value creation that is not currently being exploited by competition (Clulow, Gerstman & Barry, 2003). Whatever the actual definition of competitive advantage, it cannot be successfully achieved without efficiency, quality, innovation and customer responsiveness as the foundation of business. Efficiency means being able to produce more outputs than competition at a much lower price for inputs. The end result of being able to achieve this is having a cost advantage over competition. Cost advantages give the business opportunities to consider flexible pricing structures as they can n ow provide products at a much lower input cost. Efficiency could be achieved by setting up a lean production system that uses less physical raw resources and also reduce reliance on labor payments for manufacturing. A business might be able to find, through strategic alliances along the supply chain, opportunities for volume discounts on raw product procurement. This represents lower input costs to achieve the same or higher outputs. Quality is a very important dimension for achieving competitive advantage.