Monday, September 30, 2019

The Concept of Globalisation

There are a plethora of factors that have played a role in influencing world politics in the 20th century. There are the political ideologies, each with their own agenda, conflicting or similar, such as Communism, Fascism, Nationalism, Capitalism and Socialism. There are the various worldwide treaties and agreements, such as the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations and the United Nations. Accompanying these are economic agreements, which have an ever-increasing role in world politics, like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), plus regional trade agreements and customs unions such as the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), the European Union (EU) and the Asia Pacific Economic Community (APEC). Even the two World Wars have had an influence. However, the single force that has had the greatest impact on world politics in the 20th century is Globalisation. Globalisation is a concept with many differing definitions. Bayliss & Smith (1998, p. 15) define globalisation as the ‘intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa. † Globalisation is a process that entails the movement of capital, goods, services and labour around the world. Globalisation is the massive control of the world†s economy by big business, transcending national boundaries. The underlying factors in all of these definitions are that globalisation involves worldwide integration of both political and economic ideals. Furthermore, Strachan (1998, p. 159) argues that it involves legal and cultural integration also. But does such integration undermine a country†s sovereignty? Can such integration be achieved without violence and conflict? In order to answer these questions, this essay will examine the driving forces behind globalisation, its downfalls and cultural adaptability. Globalisation is an ever-increasing force, even today, as technological advances literally make the world smaller by increasing communication and decreasing travel times, or what can be referred to as the ‘Communication Revolution† (Durst, 2000, p. 5). Through massive and rapid improvements in the Information Technology industry; telecommunications, exponential increases in computing power coupled with lower costs and the development of electronic communications and information networks such as the Internet, communications are now possible almost instantaneously between any two points on the globe. The threads of global web are computers, facsimile machines, satellites, monitors and modems-all of them linking designers, engineers, contractors, licensees and dealers worldwide (Sims, 1989, p. 21). Physical distance is now irrelevant. This improvement of communications this century from sailing ship to satellite has contributed directly to the globalisation of the world†s economies and political systems (Rimmer, 2000, p. 3). This has taken place across cultural and physical boundaries, effectively eliminating the capacity of countries to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. A prime example of this is China. For most of its existence, China has kept its doors closed to the rest of the world. No outside influences reached China and it remained unchanged and untouched. In recent times however, China has relaxed its legislation to accommodate foreign investment and trade. Its economy has improved and new information on how to do things more efficiently has been introduced. Borders no longer act as boundaries, especially with respect to the movement of information and finance. Furthermore, borders are becoming increasingly difficult for governments to define and maintain. Regional conflicts are arising everywhere; Sierra Leone, the coup in Fiji, Chechnya, Southern Lebanon and Kosovo. As a result, national governments are being forced to redefine their roles, responsibilities and policy relationships. Thus, globalisation has raised fears that the sovereignty of nation states is being undermined. If sovereignty can be defined as the ability to exercise control without outside interference, then nation states are clearly experiencing diminished sovereignty. Governments have no choice but to recognise and work on the assumption that most issues they are required to deal with are affected by or will affect the international competitiveness of the country. Government†s own responses to globalisation or the search for joint solutions to global problems have further effects on sovereignty. Participation in international organisations or the adoption of international agreements puts limits on policy options available to governments (Rimmer, 2000, p. 5). Instead of independence, the world is now pursuing interdependence. Proponents of globalisation argue that unilateral action is not the most effective way to achieve policy goals. In combating environmental problems and international crime, the interests of individual nations can only be protected by collective action. This belief has led to competition between countries on almost all fronts. International investment is encouraged by the activities and mobility of multinational corporations, meaning that most domestic policies such as education and training, taxation, social protection, economic regulation and labour legislation have become international. Even a country†s domestic management policy is a matter of great concern to its trading rivals, because this will ultimately affect a country†s efficiency and competitiveness. Therefore, government policies must increasingly be made more consistent with, or competitive to, those of their trading rivals. Robert Reich is a strong supporter of globalisation, publishing the book entitled ‘The Work of Nations†. In his book, Reich argues that it is already too late to stop globalisation. His view is supported by Joan Spero, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, who states that capital now moves around the world with startling speed. Each day over US $1 trillion is traded in a global foreign exchange market that never closes. (Spero in Strachan, 1998, p. 156). Reich (1991, p. 112) argues that there is no such thing as an American product anymore, giving the example of an ice hockey stick. It is designed in Sweden, financed in Canada, assembled in Cleveland and Denmark out of alloys patented in Delaware and fabricated in Japan and finally distributed in North America and Europe. There are many criticisms of globalisation and Edward Herman (1999, pp. 3-5) classifies his criticisms into a number of categories. Two of those are that, firstly, globalisation is undemocratic and secondly, that it is an assault on labour. In the United States, public opinion polls showed the general public was against NAFTA, even after incessant propaganda, but the mass media supported it and it was passed. In Europe as well, polls have shown persistent majorities opposed to the introduction of the Euro, but a powerful elite supports it, so it moves forward. Globalisation has been a tool serving elite interests. This contradicts the democratic and egalitarian utopia that these regions have been relentlessly encouraging during the 20th century. Globalisation has also steadily weakened democracy because the containment of labour costs and scaling down of the welfare state has required the business minority to establish firm control of the state and remove its capacity to respond to the demands of the majority (Herman, 1999, p. ). One of the main objectives of Transnational Corporations (TNC†s) movement abroad, for example Nike manufacturing shoes in Korea, has been to tap cheaper labour sources. Labour is often cheapest, and least prone to cause employer problems, in authoritarian states that curb unions and enter into virtual joint venture arrangements with foreign capital, as in Suharto's Indonesia and PRI's Mexico. Once again, this directly contradicts government†s agendas. Publicly, politicians speak out in support of foreign aid, human rights and equality, while behind closed doors they are endorsing and funding TNC†s operations that exploit cheap labour in third world countries. Another criticism of globalisation is that it is against the very nature of culture. Culture derives its diversity from the differences between different human communities and the distinctions between their respective geographical roots and historical experiences. Globalisation disregards these factors and ultimately aims to treat the entire world population as if they have the same tastes, personalities, customs, traditions and language, through a universal government system. If this were to be so, the world would be a very boring, robotic, monotonous place, devoid of any form of culture. The ramifications of this are wide-ranging. Diversity, variety and room for change are lost and forgotten. Identities of oneself are lost; ‘I† is replaced with ‘we†. Power is placed into the hands of a select elite few, very oligarchic and undemocratic. If a group of countries were to unite under a common government, equality would not be established. Such a grouping would encompass a wide spectrum of political views, ideologies, religions, races and colours. Instead of one whole body, there would be many minority groups. This transfers an unequal balance of power throughout the states. As the regional conflicts in East Timor, Yugoslavia and Chechnya have shown, conflict shall arise. There are too many barriers to overcome which only leads to frustration and violence. A Commission on Global Governance (COGG) has been established since 1992. In a report published in 1995 entitled ‘Our Global Neighbourhood†, the commission argued that countries have to accept that in certain fields, sovereignty has to be exercised collectively (Strachan, 1998, p. 155). Once again we have a contradiction in terms; by definition, collective and sovereign are exact opposites that are mutually exclusive. Having stated all the above criticisms, it is important to mention that there is no perfect system in society today that is capable of running a country absolutely efficiently. In fact, conflicting ideologies often correct each other. Communism corrects the equality problem of democracy and democracy corrects the problem of efficiency of communism. By choosing one system or the other, up risal and discontent from the people is inevitable. But is it possible to combine the two? Hitler and Mussolini argued that fascism was the ‘third way†; an alternative to capitalism and socialism. However, fascism led to the death of more than six million Jewish people, so it justifiable to be wary of anyone offering a third alternative. So globalisation has had the greatest impact on world politics in the 20th century, mainly because of the technological advances in telecommunications and information technology. This is most likely to continue through this the 21st century. The criticisms of globalisation are that it undermines sovereignty, exploits third word countries and is undemocratic. However, there is no feasible alternative at this time and globalisation is already well-spread and embedded in economics and politics. For now, the world will just have to go with it.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Muscles

Muscles, skeleton and skin give the body shape and form. But it’s the muscle tissues that clearly give the features and shape of the human body. Much effort is given to muscles that it has even become a large global industry just to maintain it. Among the specialized tissues in the body, the muscle tissue is highly specialized. Muscle tissues have contracting abilities and conducting abilities. Muscles are found to carry out electrical impulses. Voluntary muscles are differentiated from involuntary muscles. In terms of structure, muscles can either be striated or smooth. Muscles are commonly known as smooth, skeletal and cardiac. Different organs use different kinds of muscles. Small intestines have smooth muscles. Smooth muscles are neat and form parallel lines. Intestine muscles are involuntary muscles. They contract without conscious thought. These muscles fit the intestines because digestion is not an act of will. Whether you like it or not, intestines will move according to the contents of your stomach either when they are full or empty. The uterus also has smooth muscles. Other organs such as the bladder, blood vessels and other internal organs also have involuntary muscles. Skeletal muscles are confused to be fibres of connective tissues. Skeletal muscles are not of connective tissues because these muscles are not extracellular elements. These muscles describe the individual skeletal muscle cells. These tissues are fibres that are thin and very long. They almost look like threads like the one we see in clothing. Under the microscope, these cells are cylindrical and unbranched. The nuclei of these tissues are neatly arranged that goes around the periphery of the cell. This neat and orderly arrangement is made up of actin and myosin filaments found inside the muscle cell. Skeletal muscle cells that are arranged and form large bundles are called fascicles. These bundles are enveloped with thin layers of connective. Continuous arrangements of these fascicles become parts of a particular muscle organ, for example biceps. Cardiac muscles are almost an integration of smooth muscles and skeletal muscles. These muscle tissues make up the wall of the heart. They are striated and multinucleate like skeletal muscles however, they also seem to be smooth because their nuclei are located at the center and that a lot of cells are required to occupy the length of the muscle. â€Å"It differs from both skeletal muscle and smooth muscle in that its cells branch and are joined to one another via intercalated discs. Intercalated discs allow communication between the cells such that there is a sequential contraction of the cells from the bottom of the ventricle to the top, facilitating maximal ejection of blood from the ventricle during contraction. This occurs with out nervous innervation to each cell or group of cells. Cardiac muscle also differs from the other two muscle types in that contraction can occur even without an initial nervous input. The cells that produce the stimulation for contraction without nervous input are called the pacemaker cells.† (Ackerley, 2006) These three types of muscles help the body more than make it look good. There are many important benefits from proper maintenance of muscle tissues. The muscle is fit when one is strong, has endurance, is flexible and can carry out everyday tasks without injury. Keeping the muscle fit will also keep the organs fit. Programs such as weight lifting or weight bearing help the muscle build endurance and flexibility. One need not be a weight lifter to have properly maintained muscles. Weak muscles are cause of lower back and posture-related diseases that can lead to painful problems. If the muscles are healthy, it will help the skeletons to cope up with stressful activities of the body. Both voluntary and involuntary muscles are important to keep the body balanced. Massaging muscle tissues are almost the basic human instinct that is first aid to muscle pains. Massaging the muscles specially the ones that are in pain or are with disease is a way to increase body chemical flow in and out of the muscles. Given that muscles are smooth, skeletal or cardiac, massaging the muscles will help the muscle tissues from stagnating and being rigid. References: Ackerley, Sandra K. 2006. Muscles. Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved April 1, 2006    Bourne, GH. 1960. The Structure and Function of Muscle. Academic Press      

Saturday, September 28, 2019

President Obama says he'd talk on GOP's terms if they raise debt Essay

President Obama says he'd talk on GOP's terms if they raise debt ceiling, fund government - Essay Example However, the Republicans, led by the speaker of the congress are against this position held by Obama’s administration. To him, what Obama is trying to do, is to force his point of view to the republicans, as a condition of engaging into talks with them (Acosta, Tom and Deirdre, 4). Mitt Romney disagrees with this method that Republican congress men are employing for purposes of preventing the implementation of Obama care (Pham, 2). Romney denotes that there are other methods of getting rid of the Obama care health plan, and this includes delaying its implementation for almost over one year (Pham, 1). According to Mitt Romney, this health care policy will ruin the American economy, and therefore it is necessary to prevent it. Romney further denotes that methods such as educating the population against this policy are also an effective method of preventing the implementation of President Obama policies on health. He gave an example of the 21 hour speech of Senator Cruz, in which he strongly criticized the Obama health care plan. To him, this plan would ruin the American economy, and state. Other methods that Romney proposes include working hard in the campaigns for purposes of ensuring that the republicans gain the control of the congress and the senate. By doing this, they will be able to prevent bills that would work against their interests. The reasons as to why the republicans are not right in forcing a government shutdown, is that the economy of the nation might go into a recession. There is a possibility that the country’s stock market might fail, and over 800,000 federal employees might lose their work (Pham, 3). Romney therefore urges his fellow Republicans to desist from using such draconian measures in forcing the government of president Obama from implementing his health care reforms. This is because such measures are not patriotic, and there effect will be felt through the collapse of the country’s economy. Lately, for purposes of ending the stalemate, the republicans agreed for a temporary measure of funding the federal government initiatives. This measure is attached with a condition that the government won’t attempt to fund any additional policies, other than what was in the budget. The temporary offer would last for six weeks, when both the government and the republicans negotiate on the way forward in regard to implementing Obama care, and reducing the country’s debts. President Clinton also opposes this move by the Republican congress men. According to Clinton, the Republican wants the government of America to fail by denying it money to fund its activities. This is not what the founders of nation advocated for, during the creation of the federation. He further denotes that the proposals by the Republican congress is draconian, and is meant to erase the gains made by President Obama in taking the country out of recession. This move by the Republican congress men will lead to an increase i n unemployment, and to higher standards of living, therefore President Obama is right to refuse negotiating with these congress men based on their demands. According to Clinton, the rate of unemployment has decreased, and the country is nearly reducing its deficit. On this basis, the action by the Republican to cause the shutdown of the government is unwise, and therefore uncalled for. One of the methods that I would suggest in ending this stalemate is for the President and the Republicans to

Friday, September 27, 2019

Technology advance classroom Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Technology advance classroom - Research Paper Example Moreover, the concerned units can accelerate testing procedures, which overtly leaves extra room for execution of other instructional prospects. Additionally, they are also instructional applets. With the electronic respond devices which look like a TV remote control devices with a meagre digital screen, tutors and teachers can effortlessly access students’ test grades at their convenience. This eliminates frequent visits to scanners and other devices to sort county and area assessments that are pertinent in enrolling students for tests taken state-wide. Moreover, the same devices may be useful in instructor-mended examinations or for quickly sorting queries that teachers weave in normal classroom sessions (Meador, 2012). One obligation that teachers have is to strive and ensure that they deliver instructions that are designed and efficiently tailored to adequately provide for all students needs and educational requirements. Furthermore, since assessments and regular examinations are a pertinent mode of learning and tutoring students, offering teachers with these advanced devices that can competitively execute assignments would be immensely consummate and advantageous to both teachers and students (Meador, 2012). However, currently these advanced classroom tools are being utilized effectively for benchmarking and administering shortly termed examinations and assignments in most schools. Furthermore, the technological department is still prospecting on more ways of aiding the teachers to deliver their service to students by aiding them to teach and correct their students in succinct ways. In accordance with a president of a popular data and testing affiliation, this mode of teaching and learning in the institution would obviously elicit better results and performance output for the tutors among other merits such as the assessing procedure (Meador, 2012). Moreover, other

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) - Essay Example The paper will outline my PDP for the module strategic management in hospitality and tourism industry. The action plan is based on reflection, values, awareness, planning, and goal setting for personal development. In week one, we were given the overview of the module strategic management in hospitality and tourism industry. The module focuses on the strategic aspects of hospitality and tourism industry, as well as examining the current and emerging issues that I will face in the work environment. At the end of the module, I was informed by the instructor that each one of us will have to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of hospitality, tourism, finance, people, operations, and marketing, as well as entrepreneurism. The module will be taught through various ways including tutorials, lectures, self-directed learning, journals and case studies, textbooks, scenario-based learning, discussion forums and peer-to-peer learning, module webs, and seminars. The learning of this module needs to be assessed through coursework and phase tests, and not the traditional exams. In week two, I learnt about strategy. Chandler (1963, p.13) asserts that a strategy is described as a long-term goals of a firm and the allocation of resources to attain these goals. I was able to summarise the strategy of an organization in a ‘strategy statement.† A strategy statement needs to have a goal, scope and the particular advantages. For instance, the firm uses training and development an employee retention strategy. Besides, I will need to establish the core issues for an organisation’s strategy in relation to the exploring strategy model. The model outlines those situations that require strategic thinking as termed as ill-structured (Rumelt, 2009, p.198). The model enabled me to fully examine the concept of strategy and the role it plays in the guidance of organizations. I was also able to distinguish that corporate strategy is the overall strategy of company.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

VIRTUALIZATION AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIRTUALIZATION ,CLOUD Assignment

VIRTUALIZATION AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIRTUALIZATION ,CLOUD COMPUTING AND GREEN IT - Assignment Example Introduction Virtualization could be very supportive to the organizations to take benefit of two or more virtual computing frameworks, having diverse operating systems, tools and software on one of hardware logically and inexpensively. In addition, virtualization can help the organizations minimize the distance among software applications, end users, and operating systems from the specific hardware characteristics of the systems they utilize to perform computational activities. Moreover, this technology makes certain to harmonize within a totally innovative signal of hardware and software renewal and also provides simplifying system updates and in various scenarios may get rid of the requirement for such updates (Golden & Scheffy, 2008). This report will offer a detailed overview of this modern technology. This report will discuss several advantages offered by this technology. At the end we will discuss how this technology is connected with other modern technologies such as cloud com puting and green computing. Virtualization We can define virtualization as a logical view of computer based hardware environment through software. Additionally, the thinking behind the design of virtualization technologies is to provide concurrent access on single computer by using multiple operating systems. However, the software of virtualization runs among the operating systems that we normally use for instance, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and other computer supportive hardware, that take input on the operating system and transfer it to the suitable addresses that connect it with hardware. In addition, the virtualization software also performs functionality to reverse, in this way it catches the productive output that we avail from hardware resources as well as redirects it to the various locations of operating system that are suitable for it. In this scenario, one major thing about the os is that it doesn't identify or else any type of concern if it runs on a virtual system or on phy sical hardware. Moreover, the method of virtualization facilitates us to run various Windows of our choice on various operating systems such as Linux based environment, Mac, or PC with our preferred choice. Furthermore, various researches have outline that the virtualization technology is considered as an ideal solution for the usage of those applications that are used for medium or small level (Rankin 2011, Asosheh 2008, Huber, et al. 2010). We know that virtualization technology is considered as a useful technique of maximizing or enhancing physical resources. Additionally, the virtualization technology has a close connection with partitioning. However, it means that partitioning is useful for dividing a distinct physical server into several logical servers. In this scenario, once physical server is patronized, it accommodates logical servers in such a way that all logical servers are free in decision to run or execute a various applications and operating systems of our choice sep arately or independently. It is a true fact that in the mid 1990s, the virtualization technology was principally used to reconstruct those environments that are considered to be end user on a one portion of PC hardware. In some conditions if an IT manager wants to revolve out innovative software, although he wants to analyze its effective functioning on various environments

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Internal Memorandum Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internal Memorandum - Article Example Summary and response: Frymovich starts by discussing the current problems faced by the young entrepreneurs and small businesses in Europe, highlights the business environment by submitting facts and figures, and then explores the reasons behind those problems (Frymovich). According to the article, it is very difficult for small firms to get credit or financing for their operations (Frymovich), and to get an open market in the EU, therefore, the majority of the small firms head towards the U.S. where the laws and policies are more favorable and the market more accepting (Frymovich). It is interesting to note that Europe has almost doubled the number of self employed workers (Frymovich), and if each of those self employed business people were to hire just one more worker, a magnitude of new jobs would be created (Frymovich). However, most of those businesses hesitate to operate in Europe, due to the dearth of venture capital and angel investment, complex government policies and prolong ed time periods for government funding (Frymovich), and the lack of acceptance of high risk in the market (Frymovich). The banks in Europe are still recovering from economic recess (Frymovich), and the firms are protected by the government (Frymovich). This means that downsizing and starting over are more difficult in the EU than it is in the U.S. (Frymovich). Whereas this protection can be viewed as a safety factor for the employees in that they cannot just be fired at whim, and so their economic stability is guaranteed, this safety factor serves as a hurdle for companies which have failed in their venture and want to start anew in some other field of business (Frymovich). For example, by cutting the credit rating of a failed operation, Germany makes it harder for the business to venture into the market again (Frymovich). Although there are some agencies working for the benefit of the small operations, they

Monday, September 23, 2019

Commuication at Diageo Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Commuication at Diageo - Case Study Example The details of the internal communication strategies by Diageo, as discussed in the case study, show that the all the different strategies implemented were mostly focused on the change management issues after the merger. One of the reasons for Diageo's internal communication to be successful is because both the upward and downward communication within the company is made easily possible (Ramgopal, 2008). The company's communication activities are in direct contact with strategies and plans; therefore Diageo sees every communication that is done is to achieve its business objectives. This is because even if all the top level management makes Diageo's business goals and objectives, it is the internal communication process that enables these goals to circulate within the organization (Armstrong, 2006). According to the case study, all the leaders in the company are encouraged to think of communication as a tool, which can play a role in achieving the company's goals. Another initiative in the communication process by Diageo, according to the case study, is the amount of information delivered to the employees. Employees at Diageo are informed about their role at the wider sense of the business. This helps in motivating the employee and once again implementing the concept of unification under the brand name. Another initiative in the internal communication process is the introductio... It has quarterly meetings through teleconferences and short period conferences. 12 top executives of Diageo participate in these meetings. In these meetings leadership community is the object of discussion and reform (Duncan, 2007). There are over 800 managers who are part of the leadership community at Diageo. At the leadership community they have introduced many new innovative ideas that can enhance the internal communication process at Diageo. These ideas include use of a new and imaginative buddy system - where all the top level managers and executives are teamed up with communications team. Each of them are assigned a ''buddy''; a communication guy. This can help in improving the communications skills of all those managers and executives. Then there is also the fortnightly update that is sent to the whole community (Robbins, 2009). That update is about all business developments and achievements, and is sent to the whole group by email, according to the case study. This helps in keeping all the leaders in the loop and once again imposing the brand building of the Diageo. This fortnightly update can also play a great role in the motivation of all the leadership community. Another tool to support the leadership community is through the company's own intranet. This is perhaps the most cost effective and simple way to keep the leadership community with over 800 members together and effectively in touch. According to the case study the intra net is password protected. Each member of the community have access to the information according to his or hers respective designation at Diageo (Clark, 2008). There are also many different activities at the leadership community;

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Defendant Protections Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Defendant Protections - Assignment Example However, this has presented a major challenge as time to initiate arrest warrants can lead to dismantling of evidence and even to the extreme; the suspects may disappear as they evade arrest. Before searching for an arrest warrant, a neutral judge should grant the arresting officer permission to arrest the suspect. This move should be backed by adequate evidence of crime that must convince the judge or magistrate in order to issue an arrest warrant. If the evidence presented by the officer does not convince the judges then arrest warrant is not granted. In general, the fourth amendment deals with the aspect of search arrest and investigation. On to the Fifth Amendment, no defendant is held to answer for any infamous crime including a capital crime unless on indictment or presentment by the grand jury. No person is to be deprived of his liberty, life or property unless under the pronouncement of the law. Private property seized for the use of state must also be duly compensated (Brawell & McCarthy, 2011). The Fifth Amendment mainly governs pre-arraignment and post-arrest proceedings. The sixth amendment major deals with pre-sentecing and post arraignment proceedings. Under the six amendments the defendant has got the right to not only fair bit also speedy trial. He should be informed of the crime he is accused of and face pronouncements from an impartial jury. There should be a witness against him and should also have a witness in his favour.The defendant have also the right to find a counsel to advise him on relevant legal procedures regarding the case presented against him. Lastly, the eighth amendment deals with imposition of bails fines, bails and punishment of defendants. A defendant should in no time be subjected to unfair treatment and cruel punishment beyond the offence committed. Excessive bails and fines should not be imposed on defendants outside what is stipulated in the law (Wei, 2001). The magnitude of sentence pronounced

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Managing diverse workforce Essay Example for Free

Managing diverse workforce Essay Workforce diversity includes the obvious differences we see when we look around: race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion and ethnicity. But it’s also the less obvious traits, the subtle differences that often register with us unconsciously, such as socioeconomic status, marital status, educational background, language, accent and appearance. We all have something that makes us unique, some special talent or ability that we bring to the table that differentiates us from our colleagues. That’s diversity at its best. Sourcing and managing people from a diverse background have become a critical part of an employment and management strategy. Workers who vary in age, gender, ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background or culture, ethnicity and language, make a positive contribution to an organization’s workforce — they’re an asset to organization culture and the bottom line as companies and managers are realizing every day that passes. There is a common belief that a diverse workforce brings innovative and creative solutions to an organization from ‘outside the box’. An effective corporate diversity program is a powerful way to gain a competitive advantage and stand apart from competition. It can’t be overstated that diverse workforce brings real bottom-line value to any organization. Diverse workforce allows organizations to break barriers, attract new customers and build customer-base and help form strategic alliances with partners across the globe by having better knowledge of the target markets and establishing better communication capabilities and having ability to communicate in a variety of languages including understanding of cultural differences. Just over half of the employers polled in Canada said they anticipate a shortage of quali? ed workers in the next ? ve years and approximately 67% believe they currently have a more diverse workforce than 5 years ago. These forward-thinking companies are not only placing an emphasis on making a positive contribution to their workforce – but on their bottom line. Source:Randstad Despite Workforce diversity is becoming common phenomenon across Canada, managers of today are increasingly facing the challenges of handling a diverse workforce and being sensitive to this diversity (Tjosvold, 1985). The rationale behind this research is to understand challenges organizations are facing as a result of managing diverse workforce. Additionally the research would try to look into various ways managers can overcome these challenges and make managing diverse workforce a real success. The concept of managing diversity originated in America following the growing need to manage cross-cultural and individual differences in an increasingly diverse demographic workforce (Cox Blake, 1991). In Canada, immigration and large numbers of women entering the workforce promoted diversity management efforts since the 1990s, although the workplace composition differs from that in the USA (Miller A. Rowney, 1999). Experts (Fernandez, 1993; Rice, 1994; Carnevale and Stone, 1994) indicate that business owners and managers who hope to create and manage an effective, harmonious multicultural workforce should remember the importance of the following: Setting a good example: This basic tool can be particularly valuable for small business owners who hope to establish a healthy environment for people of different cultural backgrounds. This is because they are generally able to wield significant control over the business basic outlook and atmosphere. The leaders must exhibit strong commitment to addressing issues like myths, stereotypes, and real cultural differences, as well as organizational barriers that interfere with the full contribution of all employees. Communicate in Writing: Organization policies that explicitly forbid prejudice and discriminatory behavior should be included in employee manual, mission statement and other written communications. Diversity should be a super-ordinate goal instead of a goal assigned to individual group. Training Programs: Awareness and skill building training programs provides information on cultural norms of different groups and how they may affect work behavior. New employee orientation programs are ideal for introducing workers to organization’s expectation regarding treatment of fellow workers irrespective of their cultural or ethnic background. Recognize individual differences: There are number of dimensions around human relationships. These include but not limited to: acceptance of power equality, desire for orderliness and structure; the need to belong to a wider group etc. Difference should not be assumed to be cultural. Other sources are personality, aptitude or competence ( Goffee, 1997). Actively seek input from Minority workers: Seeking opinions of minority groups and their involvement on important matters is beneficial not only because of the contributions they can make but also as it sends a message that they are valued by the organization. Revamp reward system: An organizations performance appraisal and reward system should encourage and reinforce effective diversity management. Flexible Work environment: Cox (1994) indicated that flexible work environment could be highly beneficial for and to people of non-traditional cultural background because their approaches to problems are more likely to be different from past norms. Continuous Monitoring: Experts recommend that business owners and managers establish and maintain systems and routines that can continually monitor the organization’s policies and practices to ensure that it continues to be a good environment for all employees. Periodic surveys should be conducted by management to understand employee’s needs (Jorgensen, 1993). Impact of Diversity on Organizational Culture: Hill and Jones defined organizational culture as those set of norms, values, and attitude that defined the way the employees of an organization behaved and interacted with each other and with others outside their organization (Hill and Jones, 2001). Organizational culture has been seen as instrumental in impacting individual employees in an organization. A positive organizational culture promotes diversity by taking advantage of diverse talent pool as well as intellectual capital whereas a negative organizational culture will stifle and discriminate against diversity and thus affect the work environment and consequently the employee productivity (Chatman and Spataro, 2005). Thomas identified that organizational culture is responsible for the systematic and planned way in which a diverse workforce is managed in an organization and their skill sets are put to use for the benefit of the business (Thomas, 1992). With dramatic adoption of diversity as a value-add across number of organizations, it’s become important to make sure organizational culture promotes workplace diversity. It means extensively analyzing a organizations current culture and changing those parts that limit cultural diversity. Also, it means recruiting new employees for the skills they can bring to the organization rather than their cultural homogeneity. Lastly, it means working with a management team to help them understand that cultural diversity is a business issue, and their own careers will benefit from enabling their employees to reach their full potential (Managing Diversity, 1999). Diversity management contains three (3) components: 1. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action programs direct attention to laws that guide recruitment and promotion. 2. Valuing differences centers on interpersonal qualities that shape managements relationships with their employees. 3. Managing diversity focuses on the diverse quality of employees work-life needs such as childcare, family leave, and flexible holiday schedules. It requires setting policies and procedures that empowers managers to meet employees needs (Galagan, 1999; Jenner, 1994; Wilkinson, 1999). Managing diversity is managing human resource needs, says Ben Harrison. ( Jenner, 1994). Human resource personnel alone cant do the work of managing diversity. All levels of managers should implement programs designed to heighten awareness of cultural differences, foster appreciation for these differences, and identify the commonalties among the various ethnic groups. Managing diversity is an effort that will involve all members of the organization In order to reap the fruits of diversity. The process should start by including managing diversity into the overall strategy, this will promote cultural synergy and effectively integrating the better elements associated with multiple cultures. This tactic will help in aiding of identifying and implementing of new practices in companies with diverse units. Steps to be taken to begin managing diversity are: 1. Assess your organizations needs by conducting an organizational audit to determine which diversity problems exist. The audit should consist of surveys, interviews, focus groups, or a combination of these. 2. One should learn all s(he) can by exposing him/herself to different types of people, for this can reduce Stereotyping. 3. Strengthen top managements  commitment level. White males control the resources and feel most of the fear; therefore, they should be informed of the importance of their involvement, for this can reduce if not eliminate their fear. 4. Develop new selection criteria that include personality characteristics. Promote cultural synergy by effectively integrating the better elements associated with multiple cultures. 5. Invest in communication training to reduce prejudice and develop 6. Choose soluti ons that balance strategy to achieve the organizations goals. 7. Build diversity into your leadership team: You must plan for the development and promotion of your employees. 8. Look for ways to adjust your organization to your workers. This means the organizations culture should be employee oriented. Instituting flexible management systems to accommodate diverse workers can do this. This includes job sharing, flextime, and separate reward and benefit systems. (Managing Diversity, 1999,Galagan, 1999;Nelton, 2000) Conclusion At the end of the day appreciating diversity in people means recognizing, accepting, and supporting their differences. In addition, properly managing diversity means creating an environment that takes advantage of the different characteristics of everyone, which is in the best interest of the organization and the employee. The concept of managing diversity was developed as a result of the changing demographics of workforces, imperfections of Affirmative Action programs, and discrimination laws. Managing diversity involves consumption of all program and resources to building systems and a culture that unite different people in a common pursuit without undermining their diversity. It differs from solely using from Affirmative Action programs or other of its kind, because it creates an environment where all individuals can contribute to their maximum potential. Attaining support from top management is the most important implementing step in the process, which is necessary to ensure success. Additionally, it reduces the fears of the dominant group. Through the use of all valuing diversity, managing diversity and affirmative action companies create a qualified, diverse work force that appropriately reflects the demographics of its communities.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Bang Olufson Marketing Analysis

Bang Olufson Marketing Analysis The aim of this report is to critically assess the marketing strategies of Bang Olufsen considering their business in United Kingdom. It comments on the B2B and B2C products in brief. The report comments on the following: The macro business environment Organisations Marketing Mix Organisations segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies. Based on the findings and observations, some recommendations are put forth at the end of the report. Company Background Bang Olufsen manufactures a highly distinctive and exclusive range of televisions, music systems, loudspeakers, telephones, and multimedia products that combine technological excellence with emotional appeal. Founded in 1925, by Peter Bang  and  Svend Olufsen in Struer, Denmark, Bang Olufsen a/s is world renowned for its distinctive range of quality audio, video and multimedia products that represent their vision: Courage to constantly question the ordinary in search of surprising, long-lasting experiences. Bang Olufsen employs over 2,550 staff members and had a turnover of DKK 4,092 million (EUR 5486 million) in the 2007/2008 financial year. (Bang Olufsen) The Macro Business Environment Most of the BO products are manufactured in Denmark. Considering the business in UK, it has to understand the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological environment in UK. Since Denmark and UK are the members of European Union (EU), there are some advantages for the organisation. Political The European Union (EU) allows the free movement of goods and services between almost 500 million consumers in 27 EU member states. Due to this, import duty is not payable on goods sourced from Denmark, being one of the EU member states. (Business Link UK) There could be changes in the VAT and service taxation policies with the formation of new government. Economic The economic crisis and recession had affected the business of BO as people and businesses are more likely to hold on to their cash and not to spend it on high priced consumer goods. Due to the fall in share prices and real estate markets, the consumers of the high end products, like BO, will be less likely to spend as earlier. Another economic factor faced by the BO is currency exchange rates. As large part of the products produced in Denmark and with the Danish Krone (DKK) pegged to Euro, devaluation of GBP to the Euro has affected sales in UK which is one of the largest markets of the company. Socio-cultural BO has adopted the philosophy of Danish Design, which is renowned for its high class design and quality. The products of this class are considered as status symbols and products of pride. Technological Competitors like Bose, Loewe who are also known for their design, quality with the high prices are coming up with new products with the same functionalities as BO with equal or slightly lower prices. Due to the advancements in the technology, components are getting cheaper which may help companies like Sony, Samsung etc. with range of products in various qualities, targeting customers spanning across price conscious segments to quality focused segments. Legal The company has to ensure the protection of the trademarks of the brand. The logos and other trademarks should be registered in UK. The company should ensure that there are no patent infringements. Environmental Develop and produce products under circumstances that comply with the demands of the standards ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Bang Olufsen as an environmentally responsible company desires to create sustainable products. The considerations involved in the operation, design, and longevity of the products must be in mutual balance with the environmental impact of production. (Environment, Bang Olufsen) The Marketing Mix The marketing mix is a combination of the Four Ps Product, Price, Place and Promotion all used to together to meet the customer needs. To create the right marketing mix, businesses have to meet the following conditions: The product has to have the right features for example, it must look good and work well. The price must be right. Consumer will need to buy in large numbers to produce a healthy profit. The goods must be in the right place at the right time. Making sure that the goods arrive when and where they are wanted is an important operation. The target group needs to be made aware of the existence and availability of the product through promotion. Successful promotion helps a firm to spread costs over a larger output (The Times 100). Product Bang Olufsen manufactures a highly distinctive and exclusive range of televisions, music systems, loudspeakers, telephones, and multimedia products that combine technological excellence with emotional appeal. Classification of Product Speciality products have unique characteristics that are important to buyers at any price. BO products are classified speciality product. BO products are made to fit in at a place where people feel at home. BO products are designed with the philosophy that they should provide: Unique experiences Relaxation Comfort and stability Uncomplicated solutions make life easy Tranquillity and longevity Consumers are ready to pay premium prices for all the above characteristics. Product Mixes, Lines and Items BO product mix comprises of several product lines such as audio, video etc. The company has a diverse product portfolio. The product range today consists of acoustic, audio, video, plasma, telecom, gift items/accessories, as well as the business areas Automotive and Enterprise. The portfolio has more than 50 individual products, many of which are designed and manufactured as per the customer desires. (The Beoworld) Product Line BO has various products in each line, e.g. their audio product line has offerings as BeoSound 8, BeoSound 5, BeoSound 9000, BeoSound 3200 etc. They all belong to the same product class high-end audio systems. (Audio, Bang Olufsen) Four Dimensions of Product Mix: The four dimensions of BOs product mix are as follows: Width: various product lines such as acoustic, audio, video, plasma, telecom etc. Depth: on an average, in each product line 6-8 items are offered Length: video line of the BO offers various dimensions of TV (e.g. BeoVision 7 comes in 3 different dimension viz., 50, 40 and 32) Consistency: all the products lines closely related in end use as all the products fall under similar set of products (i.e. high-end consumer appliances) (Adopted from Bang Olufsen) New Product Development The four product-mix dimensions permit the company to expand its business in four ways. It can add new product lines, thus widening its product mix. It can lengthen each product line. It can add more product variants to each product and deepen its product mix. Finally, a company can pursue more product-line consistency. (Kotler, 381) Line Stretching and Filling The company usually adds the items in the current product lines stretching it both-ways to some extent by adding lower as well as higher price products. It also fills the lines by releasing the products in same line with different versions e.g. a new 50 TV was launched in the video line. BO markets its products in a manner that opens up more than one product from the product portfolio. E.g. the home integration line which consists of remote controls designed to control all of the other lines in just one remote control. In addition all products carry the same type of design and thus fit together aesthetically. Product management Great design, mixed with robust technology, allows it to charge obscene sums to well-heeled consumers who want to buy originality and quality from an exclusive brand. Competing on price and product variety would be a dangerous game. The company is a pipsqueak in a consumer-electronics world dominated by giants such as Sony, Samsung, and Royal Philips Electronics. Like Apple, it brings out very few products a year. In fiscal 2007 it released just 10 new models. But unlike Apple, BO keeps its handful of products on the market for up to a decade or longer without abandoning them for new models or cutting their prices. (Jay Greene, 2007) Product Features/benefits BO products are made to fit in at a place where people feel at home. Products are also designed to be serviced and are expected to have a long life span. BO will actively support products for 10 years following its discontinuation and often longer. The design itself carries a price tag as does the exclusive image. Branding BO regards itself as the only company currently bridging the gap between design and consumer electronics. (Hansen and Nielsen, 2008) The philosophy is: creating audio concepts that combine brilliantly authentic sound quality, simple yet surprising design and a touch of magic. So that living with it becomes a special pleasure. (Bang Olufsen Design Philosophy, Beoworld, 2010) The gear should look smart, but technical performance should be outstanding. Designers and technicians work together in close collaboration from the very start of a new product. (Bang Olufsen Design Philosophy, Beoworld, 2010) After sales service Every Bang Olufsen customer is offered customised installation of products and link systems on delivery. Bang Olufsen provides the guidance and advice needed to ensure that the customer gets the full benefit of the new products from day one. (Installation, Bang Olufsen, 2010) The BO products offer performance and pleasure beyond expectations, so does the BOs International Guarantee. The Bang Olufsen product is guaranteed against all defects in workmanship and materials for three years. (International Guarantee, Bang Olufsen, 2010) Price Bang Olufsen: for those who discuss design and quality before price. (Who are Bang Olufsen customers?, Beoworld, 2010). BO follows the Image Enhancement Pricing objective because BO products are seen as lifestyle products. BO products are always highly priced as the company delivers the quality, elegance, design, status quo equivalent of the price. (Solomon et. al., 2009) (Hansen and Nielsen, 2008) Quality Bang Olufsen products are designed to be not only aesthetically pleasing but also essentially functional and easy to use. The expectations raised by a strikingly individual appearance must be completely fulfilled in terms of high quality performance in all areas when the system is switched on. Therefore, excellence in providing the consumer with the highest pleasure in both ownership and use rests on high quality as the common denominator of all activities and competence areas. (Competences, Bang Olufsen, 2010) Place Bang Olufsen products are sold by over 1.200 dealers in more than 100 countries in an extensive network of retail stores. Approximately 65% of these stores are B1-stores, which exclusively sell Bang Olufsen products. The B1 stores account for 81% of the total turnover. (About us, Bang Olufsen, 2010) (Bang Olufsen (2010) Annual Report 2009-10, p24) Bang Olufsen products sold with the premium and luxury cars such as Aston Martin, Mercedes AMG and Audi A8 to name a few. Considering the huge costs involved in the luxury yacht market, it is amazing how little customers spend on their on-board entertainment systems, and how little consideration they give to the total entertainment experience, often buying a pre-defined package; says Torben Ballegaard Sà ¸rensen, CEO, Bang Olufsen. (Ecoustics, 2005) Along with premium cars, BO also offers entertainment systems in the luxury yacht market. Promotion Pull Promotion In order to promote their products and utilize their existing distribution channels (exclusive BO stores), BO needs to address their product turnover life cycles and provide newer and improved products to their stores. In attempt to meet the customers demand for high quality, unusual design and up-to-date technology, BO needs to approach innovation and creation uniquely. This is where Idealab enters into the picture. It is BOs hope that this new, innovative approach to product design, development, production and sales will be their keys to answer this dilemma. Marketing Strategy: Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning Segmentation Demographic This segmentation categorises market based on age, gender, family structure, income and social class, race and ethnicity and geography. BO customers can be divided into four categories. First category is of people who are young and well qualified, who have very few commitments, have large disposable income and are eager to fulfil their dreams. The next category is of younger people who have just started a family, money is tighter and hence purchases are made only after careful consideration. The third category is of the ones who have it all, children are grown-up, despite of some possible financial obligations, the family still has surplus income and are looking for luxuries as second homes, exotic holidays or may be BO equipment. As per Jan Dalskov from Market Intelligence, most BO customers fall into this category. The last category, Grey gold, whose children have left home, have money to burn and can think of buying BO products for the sake of change or due to the external influences. (Who are Bang Olufsen customers?, Beoworld, 2007) Psychographic Unlike other mass producers of electronics, BO makes a few select products for the clearly defined few. Its therefore: broad appeal versus individual needs! (Who are Bang Olufsen customers?, Beoworld, 2007). Behavioural This segmentation slices consumers on the basis of how they act towards, feel about or use a product (Solomon, Marshall, Stuart, Barnes, Mitchell, 220-21). BO products are often seen as Life-Style products. As the slogan says, BO products are for those who discuss design and quality before price. (The history, Bang Olufsen, 2010) Targeting Differentiated Targeting BO uses a differentiated targeting strategy. It focuses on design and quality over price. As a result of this they charge premium prices to customers to recover the higher designing and production costs. Differentiation is about justifying premium prices to prefer the product over other, less differentiated products. Due to this BO products are positioned as High Price = High Quality. Positioning BO products are very elegant in design to justify the higher price. Price Design BO Sony Samsung BO products deliver best quality as compared other mass production electronics giants. As they describe It will never skip a beat. (BeoSound 2, Bang Olufsen, 2010) Price Quality BO Sony Samsung BO products are available in many of the luxurious 5-star hotels, high-end cars such as Aston Martin, Mercedes SLS AMG S-Class. As Carsten Sander (Senior Director Scandinavia and Baltic) says that people normally have to decide between taking a vacation to some exotic place abroad, renovating their homes, upgrading their car etc. or buying one or more BO products. (Hansen and Nielsen, 2008) Price Status Symbol BO Sony Samsung Discussion and Conclusion The company, BO, looks very strong at their brand position and recognition. Higher prices, elegant designs, supreme quality and collaborations with the luxury brands have placed company products in a niche market. Consumers are buying experience when buying BO products. Ownership of BO products creates a feeling of belonging to certain social class. Company is successful in keeping their brand image intact by delivering cutting-edge technology, high performing products. The company has strong and wide product mix, good length and depth of the product lines. Currently company has a generally tendency to launch 2-3 products in a year. The company can work on stretching the product line in both ways by keeping the brand image intact. Stretching the product line downwards i.e. offering the products of lower costs may affect consumers perception of High price = High quality. Entering into the lower price market will result in increase in competition from electronic giants such as Sony, Samsung etc. If company can concentrate on filling the product line i.e. more variations in existing product lines then it will give the consumer to choose the best suitable and feasible product to their needs. While working on the product designing and manufacturing, company can also invest in promotions. Focussing on top executives of the corporate firms may help the company to approach the potential customers. They can promote some free demonstrations, introductory offers to these executives who are willing to burn out some cash in order to maintain their social status. Exploring and expanding in this new segment of the market will give company the chance to reach to the potential customers. While exploring new B2C segments, company can also enter into B2B solutions by providing Audio Video solutions for the renowned conferences like Apples WWDC, Microsofts PDC etc. Similar to luxury yachts and cars, they can also reach Charter Jet manufacturers for collaboration, widening the product mix.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

romanticism in song lyrics :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a boy lays in a field of grass, near a stream, beneath the sun, he sings to the daisies. He is Mother Nature’s son. There is a childish peacefulness throughout the song. It is spiritual because Mother Nature is the stream and the wind and the field of grass. There is an almost surreal and dreamlike atmosphere and a certain sweetness in tone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The word choice and diction throughout â€Å"Mother Nature’s son† are directly related to the tone of the song. Words such as young, singing, all day long, boy, and son contribute to the youthfulness of the poem. Beside a mountain stream, pretty sound of music, and swaying daisies sing a lazy song are peaceful diction. Poetic devices such as assonance, â€Å"young country†, and alliteration,†sitting singing songs†, are euphonic, offering pleasant soft sounds. Inversion is used for emphasis â€Å"all day long, I’m sitting singing songs for everyone.† Nature is personified as a motherly being and human attributes are given to the daisies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The song presents to the listener a new ear to listen from. This ear is intuitive and can hear the sounds of nature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the song â€Å"Mother Nature’s son†, there is a deep appreciation of the beauties of nature which is a highly stressed Romantic quality. Rationalism and physical materialism are condemned throughout the piece. It is easy to imagine a poor boy who has no cares besides his individual and his connection to nature. He seems so connected that he becomes the son of Mother Nature herself. There is freedom from idealization and rationality as the boy sings along with the sounds of the universe. Emotion is held above reason and the senses over intellect. â€Å"Listen to the pretty sounds of music... beneath the sun.† The boy hears the noises of the earth and feels the warmth of the sun and isn’t concerned with much more than the peace he has found.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Oppression of the Black Community as Depicted in Langston Hughes Poem, Freedom Train :: Hughes Freedom Train Essays

Oppression of the Black Community as Depicted in Langston Hughes' Poem, Freedom Train The poem, "Freedom Train" not only demonstrates the state of oppression the black community faced in 1947 but uses historical events and movements of the era. Langston Hughes wrote this poem in response to the train called Freedom Train that carried historical documents across country on September 17, 1947. On board the train was the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and a draft of the Constitution. The reader gathers from the poem, the setting takes place in the South during the recent announcement of the Freedom Train's departure. The narrator is a black man who has just heard about the Freedom Train. Immediately a visual came to mind of a man standing in the streets on a hot September day rejoicing and questioning the arrival of the Freedom Train. A million ideas and thoughts run through the mind of the narrator in a short period of time. He expresses throughout the poem so many questions and concerns regarding the Freedom Train. The main concern of the narrator is th e true meaning of "freedom" behind the Freedom Train. He questions whether or not this freedom is meant for him or if it's the freedom of the white man. He says in stance thirty, "What shall I tell my children?...You tell me-Cause freedom ain't freedom when a man ain't free". Personally, I believe this to be most profound statement in the entire poem. From the narrator's perspective, a man isn't truly free if he doesn't have the same rights as a man with white skin. He continues to question who the Freedom Train is really coming for. Will the blacks be sincerely welcome on this train? He ask in stance twenty: "When it stops in Mississippi will it be made plain Everybody's got a right to board the Freedom Train? After reading the poem a few times, I concluded that the narrator really wants freedom for all, which will not happen unless there is racial equality. The statement made in stance fifty and sixty backs this idea up because he states: "For the Freedom Train will be yours and mine!", "Black men and white men will say, Ain't this fine?" This expresses his hope and concern for everyone, not just the black race. The narrator refers to the term Jim Crow throughout the poem.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Surpasing Laws for one own right :: essays research papers

Our society is an ever-growing community of law breakers, not to condemn themselves morally, but to stress what they believe to be just, and correct. Just as Martin Luther King Stepped in front of our nation and broke several laws, he did so in order to express his passionate belief of our constitution that "all men are created equal." Unfortunately, to this days we have trouble to fully synthesize are laws with our constitution, which has lead to several rules being broken, for a right cause. Currently we are still living in an unequal nation. Not necessarily ethnic issues, but our jobs are endangering the people of this country. Today thousands of workers working in meat-packing companies have been arrested, fined, sued in result of their complaints against the company for mal-treatment, violations of the job safety rules, and their health. Our president George W. Bush recently signed the Cheeseburger act, which denies any complaint against such large meat packing company, which further lets these companies continue to grow as a monopoly, and inequitable.. According to the book Fast Food Nation, thousands of people are injured, abused, and given false docter treatment that endangers their life, which is completely contrary to the basis of our working rights, and structure of this nation. And for the Higher government to support this is completely unjust, and immoral. Having thousands of injured workers apparently doesn't matter to the government, because it is from these companies that our government gets much funding. Specifically it is because of this reason that the government would never go against them, because much of their own personal funding would be gone. This is only a sample of how corrupt our government has become. Laws will continue to be broken, in order to fight for equality, life, and health from these meatpacking industrial workers, and several other dedicated workers. Gabriel Ahmoso a meatpacking employee for Tyson has upheld several courts fighting for the return of his health, family, and his old life. An immigrant from Mexico, who worked in Colorado ten years for Tyson, was forced to go late nights to fix chemical spills without the proper equipment, along with cutting meat one inch away from a person. After Losing 4 fingers, being abused, and having heart-attacks in result of the chemicals he ended up losing both his daughter and wife. Leaving him because he was continuously drinking in order to relieve the much pain he had to withstand everyday at work.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Excerpt from Ignor Stravinsky Essay

In this passage, Stravinsky discusses orchestra conductors, making observations and conclusions concerning their true necessity. He seemingly has carefully studied conductors’ behavior and effectively conveys his view to the reader. To present his point of view clearly, Stravinsky makes use of diction, satirical statements, and comparisons. Stravinsky manipulates his diction throughout the passage. He often uses quotations to place emphasis on certain words. His placement of quotes around the words â€Å"great† and â€Å"style† encourage the reader to look into the word for added meaning. Throughout, Stravinsky’s overall diction and statements seem rather rash and bold. He does not hesitate to present his feelings about the subject. For instance, he boldly states that â€Å"the incidence of ego disease is naturally high to begin with.† In doing so he presents the reader with the feeling of confidence. In turn, the reader doesn’t question Stravinsky’s overall knowledge of the subject matter. Also this creates a sense of informality. Throughout the passage, it seems as though Stravinsky is simply conversing with his audience. He uses parentheses and dashes within statements to create somewhat of an aside with the reader as in lines 9 and 31-34. Using this technique makes the reade r feel more comfortable and therefore better relate to the ideas being presented. Stravinsky also employs satire to attack the necessity of conductors in orchestras. Opening, Stravinsky states that conductors’ careers are not dependant on music ability, â€Å"but on the society women (including critics).† Through this statement, Stravinsky communicates that a career dependent on the ideas of women contradicts a career in music. Continuing, he speaks of ego as a natural trait in all men, and as an uncontrollable disease. In this, Stravinsky attacks how the conductors are merely concerned with their status rather than the quality of the music they render. The quotations around the words â€Å"great† and â€Å"style† also serve to create a satirical emphasis on the words’ accompanying connotations. For instance, conductors are often revered as great but for various reasons. According to Stravinsky, this status is not acquired through the creation of â€Å"great† music, but through making the former seem to be true. Also the conductor’s â€Å"style,†Ã‚  according to Stravinsky, is not a genuine technique in conducting, but merely a series of fabricated gestures that make them unique from other conductors. Several comparisons to conducting also serve to express Stravinsky’s overall point of view and desired message. First, he relates conducting directly to politics. He regards conducting as â€Å"more for the making of careers and exploiting personalities.† Conductors must manipulate people just as politicians do; they must be a â€Å"complete angler.† Through the manifestation of the relationship between politics and conducting, Stravinsky depicts conducting as a dishonest and manipulative affair. Stravinsky then speaks of conductors’ ego and relates it to a disease, a â€Å"disease that grows like a tropical weed under the sun of a pandering public.† This comparison demonstrates how conductors’ egos control their actions and provide the social faà §ade of â€Å"greatness.† Stravinsky relates conductors to actors as well. He mentions that conductors must play a role to appear great. Also expressed in the passage is that most audiences know very little about the music being performed, therefore allowing the conductor to merely show the audience how to feel and react. In conclusion, Stravinsky attacks the actual necessity and overall role of orchestra conductors. Throughout he effectively uses distinct rhetorical devices and language and, in turn, successfully conveys his inclusive perception of them.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Knowledge without application is worthless Essay

A great philosopher once said, â€Å"Without knowledge action is useless and knowledge without action is futile†Good morning ladies and gentlemen I’m Abdul Rafae and today I’m going to speak on ‘knowledge without application is useless’Humans have a common ability of applying almost everything in their life. Talking about new fashions, trends, innovations but when it comes to applying knowledge, situation is slightly different. Not all people r experts but the qs is what lacks in most knowledgeable humans that becomes an obstacle for them to become an expert. Ladies & gentlemen the answer is as simple as that, they simply lack the ability to use that knowledge just wen it is requird.. I’ve often been hearing an old saying†¦knowledge is power. However, I never agreed with it. I knew it had to be corrected to application of knowledge is power because this is what’s important. Cramming us with useless knowledge contributes to no added value. Rote learning of the books particularly ends up is ruining one’s life. I don’t say being a knowledgeable person is bad but if one has the knowledge yet fails to implement it where required†¦he’s a man of no worth!Considering the competition prevailing in our society today, we’re now in a much more complex state where everybody is seeking knowledge either by book or crook, but when it comes to application of that knowledge we fail to see ‘those geniuses’ getting successful. I’ll support my idea by a very well-known example which I know would be acceptable to all my fellow friends sitting here. This example is of Bill Gates. Yes I’m talking about one of the richest men on earth today who is not even a high school pass out yet is controlling consumers around the globe. Now what exactly do you think is the key to his success? Luck†¦ Source†¦ Or excessive knowledge? Let me tell you it was none of these three. In fact for being another Bill Gates you need to have a passion and you need to know how to apply your skills with respect to the need†¦.and ladies and gentlemen trust me it maybe possible that application along may get you to success. However knowledge alone may not do so. Now let me define the difference between having knowledge & applying it. Lets suppose for e.g. you have a novel of your favourite author but you don’t know how to read the words in it. Would you be able to ever finish it?That’s exactly my point, when u don’t know how to apply ur reading skills how wud u read?Interestingly every student wants an exam free life, don’t we hate exams? Yes we do†¦ its bitter but a fact that if we are not tested on what we acquire from our respected teachers we may never learn to apply it. Hence instead of considering them as a nite mare take exams as a step towards applying whatever ur taught. As time is limited I would like to end my speech by saying that I Abdul Rafae have 2 A’s in my o’levels till now and a successful educational background. My purpose is not to show off but I’m proud to say that I’m not only a knowledge person but I’m a man above that†¦ because I believe knowledge is just the information and only by applying that information we make ourselves what we are. Thank you!

Dulce Et Decorum Est And The Soldier

Dulce et decorum est is written regarding the First World War in the hindsight of the battle of the Somme. This takes a somewhat cynical view on warfare. The soldier by Rupert Brooke on the other hand takes a very strong patriotic feel and this shines through more then anything else. The soldier paints a picture of English serenity and whereas â€Å"dulce et.† portrays Owens anger at the indifference of those at home who continued to propagate lies. You can see the influence of Siegfried Sassoon in this piece. The language is more direct and shocking â€Å"guttering, choking, drowning† helps convey the grievance in the air. In the soldier the language is less deplorable and has a feel more of a love poem â€Å"her sights and sounds†¦ under an English Heaven† this coupled with the fact that the poem is written as a sonnet reiterates the feel of Love. Both poems are based on death in Wars. However Brooke paints a more glamorised and less direct picture of death â€Å"if I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field†¦blest by suns of home.† This evokes the idealistic image of a perfect England in a ‘Golden' age, such as many believe existed immediately prior to the First World War. This does however expose the arrogance that Brooke perhaps had. It places too much importance on his own sacrifices and not on the general sacrifices being made by so many, and on the loss of a way of life, which the war would bring out like many other First World War poets such as ‘Edward Thomas' and ‘Charles Hamilton Sorely'. Owen on the other hand almost haunts the reader using fiery vocabulary to help depict the shocking death of a soldier â€Å"guttering, Choking, Drowning.† Owen clearly wanted to address the people at home and suggests to them that if, in their worst nightmares, they could re-live this experience, they would not keep repeating that it is good and sweet to die for your country. He is saying that no one who has witnessed these horrors could ever encourage anyone to take part in such a war. He had already pointed out the exhaustion of the soldiers â€Å"drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots† helping the reader to visualise the lack of awareness of the soldiers. This certainly will give the reader a much more negative take on the war contaray to the over-hyped propaganda war that those at home believe. Brooke conveys the image that was painted by the media in Britain at the time of the war and even in death, he believes he cannot remove that sense of pride from him and his passing will not be in vain if, at home in England people are, once again happy and at peace. He feels that by his death he will have given back to England everything, and more, that it gave to him. The happiness and security earned by his sacrifice will buy his eternal peace † this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind† Owen continues his cynicalism of the war in the last verse using necessarily harsh and wicked language â€Å"come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs†. They fling the man into a wagon, because they know there is no point in being gentle- he will soon be dead anyway. The description of his face and eyes â€Å"And watch the white eyes writhing in his face† gives him a ghost-like quality. This verse is intended to demonstrate the realism of a violent, u nnecessary death; hence it builds to a crescendo of anger, before a final earnest plea to stop the lies. These two poems could be no more different. ‘The soldier' is a poem supporting the war in a way not too dissimilar to the way the media in that time promoted it whilst ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est' is a pessimistic take on a war that was conveyed by the British media as far from the truth as possible. Owen wanted the British people to know the truth about the war and expressed these feelings best in his poetry. Brooke in contrast went along with the glamorized image that had been portrayed by the media, which wasn't a fair reflection on the war.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Dysexecutive Syndrome

Dysexecutive Syndrome occurs when there is a loss of executive brain function. The term was first coined by Alan Baddeley and may result from physical trauma such as a blow to the head, a stroke or other internal trauma. Executive brain function, which includes insight, judgment, planning and initiative, makes it possible for humans to successfully manage the problems of everyday life. These functions allow individuals to carefully navigate day to day activities, make certain decisions, while evaluating the outcome, and plan accordingly.Loss of executive function occurs as a result of brain disease, injury, intellectual disability or psychiatric disorders. The loss of executive function may be permanent as a result of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, schizophrenia or massive head injury. Temporary loss may result from delirium, physical illness or intoxication. While the syndrome manifests itself in various ways, it is mainly apparent from the â€Å"afflicted person’s pr ior personality, life experiences and intellect†(Royal Hobart Hospital Department of Health and Human Services ).Dysexecutive Syndrome was once thought to be associated with frontal lobe syndrome. However, researchers have come to realize that this syndrome may occur as a result of impairment to other parts of the brain and not just the frontal lobe. Symptoms of Dysexecutive Syndrome may fall into three different categories: cognitive, emotional and behavioral. Symptoms include loss of memory which causes the individual to lose track of conversations, have trouble interacting socially and following a story-line.Therefore it is very difficult for a person suffering from this syndrome to carry on with simple tasks that were once the norm for them such as reading and maintaining simple conversations. It is also very common for individuals with this syndrome to lose problem-solving skills and lack good judgment which are essential for daily activities, communication with others an d general behavior. The lack of insight leads to a loss of social skills such as normal speech and how to behave in social and group settings.Due to their loss of cognitive reasoning, they may also react aggressively or appear stubborn and self-centered. They have little or no control over their reactions to frustration or their lack of understanding. They have forgotten how to control their behavior and have no sense of what is acceptable in certain social situations. It is also common for patients suffering from this syndrome to have disturbed sleep patterns. They also have the tendency to become resistant and aggressive when others try to provide care as they are unable to recognize or fathom what is happening to them.Many times, the person with this illness does not realize that they have a problem therefore they are unable to do anything to rectify it. There is no cure for Dysexecutive Syndrome, however, therapy is available that helps the patient to cope. In order to assist so meone experiencing Dysexecutive Syndrome, the caretaker should encourage conversation while focusing on familiar, reminiscent and here and now contextual information. These conversations should take place in a quiet place where there are no distractions. Large group conversations should be avoided as this may confuse and frustrate the patient.The caretaker should also give orientating information regularly throughout the conversation, providing gentle reminders about the conversation topic and explaining things clearly and simply. They should ensure that the patient understands the conversation and take care to repeat and simplify if necessary. The caretaker should also aim to provide structure for the patient by trying to keep the same daily routine where possible. They should point out problems gently and tactfully and encourage the patient to write important things down.Assist the patient by providing memory and orientation aids such as a clock, diary, calendar, timetable, notebo ok, photo album, etc. And avoid asking complex questions which require good understanding and memory. With the loss of the ability to perform simple, everyday tasks, patients experience a loss of self-esteem and self-worth. This may contribute to frustration, boredom and aggression. To avoid this, caretakers or loved ones should be sure to involve them in the activities that they are still able to do.Encourage responsibility and contribution to the household in order to reinforce their importance. Engage them in diversional, recreational and functional activities. It would also help to write out activities so they are able to read and follow steps. It is difficult for both a patient and a loved one dealing with this illness. Since the patient is experiencing a loss of cognitive reasoning, it is up to the caretaker or loved one to recognize the symptoms and assist the patient with regular day to day functions.It is the caretaker’s responsibility to try and uplift or maintain t he patient’s self-confidence while assisting them with navigating the normal issues of day to day life and activities. While it is never easy on anyone involved, there are strategies that can alleviate the situation. Recognizing the symptoms of this syndrome is the first step in helping everyone to cope. Reference Alderman, N. , Burgess, P. , Emsile, H. , Evans, J. J. , & Wilson, B. A. ,(1996). Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) by Barbara A. Wilson, Jonathan J.Evans, Hazel Emsile, Nick Alderman and Paul Burgess. Retrieved from http://www. dwp. gov. uk/docs/no2-sum-03-test-review-2. pdf Dysexecutive Syndrome. (2012). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved October 29, 2012, from http://www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/1432238/dysexecutive-syndrome Royal Hobart Hospital Department of Health and Human Services. (n. d. ). Retrieved October 29, 2012, from http://www. dhhs. tas. gov. au/search? queries_all_query=www. dhhs. tas. gov. au%2FDysexecutiveSyndr ome¤t_result_page=1&results_per_page=10&submitted_search_category=&mode

Friday, September 13, 2019

HRM Outsourcing Paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HRM Outsourcing - Term Paper Example The question on what should be outsourced has always been a widely debated issue. This paper will explore the issues around human resource outsourcing, particularly those concerned with firm’s performance, strategic direction, ethics and corporate social responsibility. It will also evaluate these issues with regard to how they can be addressed and balanced to achieve the best performance, productivity, and efficiency. An Evaluation of HR Outsourcing One of the ultimate gains of outsourcing is the division of work and skill/expertise specialization, which results in a better outcome and performance. Business process outsourcing (BPO) including HR outsourcing is not only aimed at financial value; relevance of a strong relationship management is that it leads to value addition such as innovation and customer satisfaction (Enlow & Ertel, 2006). The importance of a healthy relationship management cannot be overlooked. According to McKinsey & Company, as quoted by Enlow and Ertel ( 2006), 50% of outsourced services fail to create the expected value. Firms find value when specialists, who can be more effective in providing services that were previously handled internally, are engaged because both the firm and the supplier can focus on what they do best to improve performance. HR outsourcing is beneficial to any firm and whatever the size of the organization, outsourcing must follow phases for it to succeed. According to Anonymous (2007, July), the use of outsourcing as a strategy proved beneficial in a large funeral and cemetery company, Service Corp. International. The company boasted of the workforce of 2,400 employees in 2,500 locations. The funeral company decided to outsource human resources services; through an advisory firm, various sources of outsourcing were used while focusing on the various phases of the outsourcing process. Because of the many administrative tasks of the company, HR outsourcing led to a reduction in costs. Outsourcing and shared ser vices provide avenues for reducing cost while enhancing efficiency in organizations. Cost cutting associated with outsourcing occurs when staff is assigned with other tasks through involvement of experts or by saving money (Anonymous, 2007, April). While outsourced members focus on their areas of expertise, organization’s staff members focus on core responsibilities. Information Technology investments may not yield results for a long time. Thus, outsourced IT services help to avoid colossal capital investment costs. Equally, the use of shared services appears to be advantageous to organizations by reducing the need for maintaining a massive workforce leading to a reduction in costs through sharing of talents and resources and enhancing productivity (Anonymous, 2007, April). Ethical issues that have been associated with HR outsourcing have included loss of employment in the host country where firms are outsourcing human resource. The practice of getting expertise and staff fro m other places in order to save costs has been perceived negatively from a social point of view by the local communities from which the outsourcing firm hails, particularly when outsourcing involves expertise or skills that are also available locally. Cultural differences are another concern of outsourcing, which has been mentioned especially among multicultural environments where different skill sets are in existence (Adobor, 2012, p.245). For example, there exist immense

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Environmental Planning and Landscape Urbanism Essay

Environmental Planning and Landscape Urbanism - Essay Example The resulting phenomenon is that the architectural features within the region are gaining new exploitations as tourist destinations and mediums of cultural preservation. For many cities in North America therefore, the culture of architecture is being exploited as a means of creating a brand synonymous with destination travel, themed cultural entertainment and tourism excursions. With more and more residents moving out of the cities and into the devolved suburban environments, the importance of landscape is becoming more glaring as it is essential in the creation of environments that the urban contemporary population deem preferable for habitation. The preferred surroundings of residence are a fusion of massive vegetation and built environments with minimal density and room for the utility of automobiles. As a result, landscape is a fundamental element in the development and maintenance of the multifaceted natural surroundings, the management of post-industrial locations and planning of communal infrastructure (Waldheim, 2002). Key Concepts in Environmental Planning and Landscape Urbanism In his article, ‘Terra Fluxus,’ James Corner metes out an in-depth analysis into some of the concepts of landscape urbanism. One of the concepts emphasized by Corner is that of the importance of processes compared to that of time in landscape urbanism. Corner states that â€Å"the processes of urbanization are more significant to the shaping of urban relationships than the spatial forms of urbanism† (Waldheim, 2002, n.p.). Such processes include the protection of the physical environment, deregulation, the process of globalization, and the accumulation of capital. This concept dispels the impression that the process of socialization can be redesigned by the construction of new physical structures. This is not to say that the spatial element does not contribute to changes in urbanism; but rather to imply that the relationship between the spatial frame and urb an processes is one that entails urban processes streaming through the spatial frame in order to manipulate and protract it. This shift emphasizes the systems that acclimatize the dispersion and density of urban structures, rather than the material properties of space. This poses the greatest challenge to designers and planners (Waldheim, 2002). The implication of this development on the spatial planning of cities and their regions is that their structuring has to borrow more from a comprehension of the processes that urbanism involves as opposed to an insight into the concept of form; that is, an understanding of â€Å"how things work in space and time† (Waldheim, 2002, n.p.). According to Corner, in this respect landscape may act as a propellant for the formation of cities. A case in point is the development of the Olmsted Central Park in Manhattan, which was initially envisioned as a space that could provide a respite to the city residents from the unremitting nature of li fe in the city. The effect of the construction of the park however turned out to be more than just that, as it acted as a catalyst for massive real estate development within the region (Waldheim, 2002).

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Hobbes and Locke - Philosophy Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hobbes and Locke - Philosophy Paper - Essay Example The "nature of state" is that this desire can only be kept under control by the supreme power of the sovereign. In Chapter X Hobbes describes that "the nature of state" cannot be applied to all situation of human behavior. Although Hobbes thought "the nature of state" could be limited in time or scope, when people authorize a sovereign to order, they make him their unlimited representative. Whatever the sovereign does is authorized and binds them; consequently every effective government represents. Thomas Hobbes described life in a state of nature as "solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short." (Hobbes), but certainty could be created artificially, if men agreed not to exercise their rights in the cases where it was uncontentiously obvious that they were already under attack, and to hand over the power of defending themselves to a sovereign, who would make the appropriate judgment about difficult cases. Hobbes sees people naturally impelled into the war of all against all. Each will be an enemy to all the rest, not because people are 'sinful' by nature - Hobbes insists that people are not - but because people are both timid and competitive. Fear impels people to strike down their competitors before they can strike humans. (2) Hobbes sees the emergence of "civil society" as a dramatic improvement, because it brings law and authority to people. "Civil society" is contrasted with paternal authority and the state of nature. These changes afforded comfort and decency to civilized and intelligent persons, and a law-abiding political order comprised a satisfactory and progressive state of human affairs. Government was necessary because people were often too short-sighted to realize that their interests were best served by adhering to the rules of justice. It arose less by deliberate decision than through people coming to see that it was to their advantage to support any authority that enforced the rules effectively. The limitation of "civil society" is inability to keep humans genuinely moral. Under morals Hobbes, meant: "mankind that concern their living together in peace and unity" (Hobbes, Chapter XI). It shows the people necessity for strong power, and the lengths at which a person will go to save his life. (3) In the "Letter Concerning Toleration", Lock's principle argument is the claim that religious belief, because it requires consistencies assent, cannot be subjected to effective external coercion; also, the contention that the proper function of the state was to maintain public order and security and that therefore religious toleration was justified only when necessary to achieve that end. Lock created a concept of a "church-society" explaining that all people are born free, but, on the other hand, they starts to share religious believes and values. The move from the state of nature to political society is seen as a response to problems of covetousness, conflict, and ethical uncertainty caused by the development of money and the growth of inequality. Though Locke presents a gradualist account of the actual development of political institutions, the process is described abstractly in terms of state-church relations.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Michelangelo Buonarroti Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Michelangelo Buonarroti - Research Paper Example v-vi). During this period, there was a renewed interest in the symbolism and skill represented in the achievements of the ancient world – the Greeks and early Romans whose ruins still dotted the local landscape. People who lived and worked around these ruins saw them as evidence of a lost golden age of shared culture, reason and creativity. They viewed the frescoes and mosaics as evidence of a society much better off than they were and began working to bring it about in their own world as trade centers began to grow and wealth became more widely available. By the late 1400s, a great deal of artistic practice had grown and the arts had begun to flourish. This was the time of the great masters - Giotto, Da Vinci, Michelangelo. A study of any of these artists reveals the energy and creativity of the age. Because of his position essentially at the height of the Renaissance period, Michelangelo Bounarroti is a logical choice for this type of investigation. His life and his times he lps to explain some of the great sensitivity he had in undertaking his many works of art, including painting, sculpture and architecture, reflecting in each the nature of the creative process that was sweeping through Italy at the time. One of the key characteristics of the Renaissance period was the greater number of educated people with money. Artists in towns like Florence quickly linked the mathematical knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans as expressed in their art and architecture to the proportional focus of their own world and realized how this could make their art more representational. These mathematics were a form of shared knowledge between the artists and the businessmen who paid them. â€Å"In an age of non-standard shipping units, one had to be able to calculate contents and quantities of shipments fairly rapidly† (Lemaitre & Lessing, 1993, p. 15). Painters used this foundational knowledge of geometry to depict everyday elements in their paintings that hel ped to convey their deeper intentions to the greatest possible audience. â€Å"In the same way that a painter could reduce the human form or settings to a play of geometrical figures, so could the merchant simplify all things to geometrical configurations† (Lemaitre & Lessing, 1993, p. 15). The melding of mathematics with artistic expression enabled artists to give their figures an impression of weight and volume that presented a more three dimensional appearance. This new ability to create realism within the flat surface of a painting and other forms of expression led artists to continue investigating other ways in which the world was revealed through the senses. This, in turn, contributed to an even greater explosion of thought, design and implementation that would eventually change the world. Michelangelo Buonarroti of Florence was actually born closer to the coast in the town of Caprese in the year 1475. His father was the governor of the town when Michelangelo was born, but he lost this position soon afterward and the family had to move back to Florence. His mother was a frail woman so Michelangelo was given to a wet nurse to care for him. This wet nurse was the daughter and wife of nearby stonecutters, giving the infant child his first taste of stone cutting tools which would one day make him famous. â€Å"