Hindu Religion And Women Essays - Midnights Children,

Hindu Religion And Women ?Hindu goddesses are traditionally conceived to be strong figures,even indomitable ones. By comparing his female characters to these goddesses, Rushdie attributes them with a force of character.He perceives India as a matriarchy, where maternal power, energy, and love is the means to social cohesion.? (Jennifer Takhar) Durga, the washerwoman who had nursed Saleem's son in his sickness, is an important figure in Saleem's life. As we understand from the description of her (pg:445), she is a powerful woman who is an opposite image of the docile Indian woman. She may be representing the power that is repressed in these women. Saleem fears her as she symbolizes the hope that he has lost. ? Her name, even before I met her, had the smell of new things; she represented novelty, beginnings, the advent of new stories, events, complexities, and I was no longer interested in anything new.? (pg:445) She is again the one who foretold Saleem's death. So, these kind of women as witches inspired fear in Saleem. Like Durga, Parvati-the-witch, who is Shiva's wife, is another important figure. She causes in creating their child which is necessary for the continuation. Mother was seen as a nation. There is parallelism between continuity of nation through having children. Women have roles in productivity; that is why they are important. Parvati acts as somebody restoring order. She helps Saleem return to Delhi by using her magic basket, making him invisible. Parvati reminded Saleem of things he had tried to put out of his mind. (pg:389) So, we can say that she influenced Saleem as other women, as being representator of a nation. When we come to other women in Saleem's life, for example Mary Pereira. She is the one who gives birth to Saleem; she creates him in both biological sense and metaphorical sense. She changes the babies and at the same time fates. Out of guilt, she attaches her whole destiny to Saleem's life by becoming his caretaker.She also influences the class positions of the babies. (Saleem and Shiva) The pickling process which is a process of preservation, linked to preservation and continuity of traditions metaphorically, is significant. This food process is under control of females and it is an important source of authority and identity for the women. It is the preservation of the past. The women's way is practical, oral; it is a way of transmitting tradition we can say. Pickling process is only a symbol of this transmission. So, Mary P., like the other women in Saleem's life has great effect on Saleem. Reverend Mother, on the other hand, who is the bride behind perforated sheet turns out to be the head of the family. She is also very powerful. She becomes the head after the marriage. She preserves identity of the nation. She is like the other women; asserts her authority in cooking. Her food, for example, revives Ahmed Sinai after freeze. ? She uses food as battleground where she wages her battles against her husband.? (W. Glasgow Philips '92) We see the monitoring of food, so simple and practical but can influence men. It is this simplicity of mothers, their affection influnces Saleem. To Saleem women, like India, is nothing without its past. ? no escape from past acquaintance. What you were is forever who you are. (pg:368) And thi?s connection to past is through these women. They are the ones who create nation and preserve it like the pickles. Amina, Saleem's mother, changes and influences his life also. He sees her naked in the bathroom and witnesses her unfaithfullness on the phone. All this causes him to have some kind of explosion in his head and that explosion causes him to hear voices in his head. It is the birth of ?Midnight's Children?. He sees mother, motherland, the nation-India-,earth is not pure as he identifies women with the nation. Identification is between the country and the body of the woman, especially mother. He sees the body of woman as the country and he should protect country as well as honor of m other. But seeing her motheris not pure, the discovery of impurity in mother will bring crisis in his head- the multiplicity of nation-.

Bot Biological and Cultural Anthropology experiences a Major Change in Theory essays

Bot Biological and Cultural Anthropology experiences a Major Change in Theory essays In the middle of this century, bot biological and cultural anthropology experiences a major change in theory. In biological anthropology, biological anthropologists adopted an approach which on the gene. They saw the human evolution as the process of genetic adaptation to the environment. In the mean time, there were also analogies to evolution. Cultural evolution also followed a process of In the field of anthropology, a very important theory is that of sociobiologists. Sociobiologists focus on adaptation and reproductive success rather than progress toward perfection. Edward O. Wilson was of the most important of them. He adopted an approach that focused on level of the gene. He saw social behavior as controlled, in principle, particular genes, and he saw evolution as occurring at this level reproductive success amounted to increasing the frequency of certain in future generations. However, the insistence of sociobiologists on grounding at least some behavior in universal human genetic runs contrary to cultural anthropologists' emphasis on the primacy of culture itself as the determinant of human social life. Several distinct approaches can be identified in contemporary sociobiology. The first one is evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary psychology is concerned primarily with the analysis of the mind as a device formed by natural selection. The second focus is human ecology. It emphasized populations rather than cultures, human biology, as well as evolutionary ecology. The difference from psychology is that it focuses on testing the hypotheses that culturally patterned traits actually enhance fitness rather than mind. The third approach involves the search for human universals. People advocating kind of approach concentrate on discovering the characteristics found all human societies. (McGee and Warms, 1996) However, this universal evolution point of view is rej...

Management Decision Making Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Management Decision Making - Case Study Example In arriving at a decision, the team applies to cause and effect diagram, which investigates business systems for possible problems which cause inefficiencies. A decision making chain slows down due to lack of harmony among team members tasked with that responsibility. In the same way, a processing machine slows down hindering the continuous flow of goods in the conveyor belt. The team given this mandate uses cause and effect diagrams to come up with overall facts about the system. The process starts with investigations which look into possible reasons for a particular effect. In this case, the team investigates the Executive Information System (EIS) and finds out that major problems lie in the implementation. This is because the management is not equipped with the right skills required to run the system during the implementation stage. Cause and effect diagrams list from the biggest cause for the problem to the least, to guide the team in prioritizing courses for action (Sproull, 200 1). A Pareto chart is a combination of a line and bar graph, used to bring out the differences in data validity, and highlights the most useful ones. This helps quality assurance managers in testing the system for any faults which affecting business process. For instance, when investigating why ATM cards are taking too long to process at a bank, all ATM application issues are listed in order of frequency to establish where the gap is mostly concentrated. This is where problem-solving commences when addressing system issues. The team used a combination of these tools to come up with the recommendations, which excluded software and hardware components from the EIS implementation issues. In establishing the cause, right decisions are made in singling out the two issues. This two-tier approach is ideal for bringing out the most valid reasons for low uptake of the system. The only problem with this approach is that minor issues might be overlooked with has a potential of causing hitches later on in the system.

The businesslike nature of the health care organizations including NHS Essay

The businesslike nature of the health care organizations including NHS - Essay Example The aim of the present study is to prove that NHS is a business organization which has implemented business principles in order to function effectively. The study begins with a discussion on how health care overall in a business and how NHS in UK is also functioning like a business organization. The business strategies being implemented in the organization to improve its performance and efficiency at a low cost are also explained. The trends in global health care are also explained and measures taken by NHS to keep up with the changes are also discussed. The conclusion of the study is presented in the end. Health care as a Business Health care is a USD 6 trillion dollar industry as is very much treated like a business in the global environment. Just like any other business, the health care industry provides provide returns on investments, creates jobs, provides insurance, and is often funded by the government (Ralston, 2007). Moreover, the services it provides are necessary for survi val of a society, thus it must be maintained as a business to ensure the future and present smooth running of the industry. In order to maintain health care as a business, the health care triangle must be maintained, which includes the â€Å"access, cost, and quality† of the services being provided to the consumers (Gandhi, 2012). Since health care is treated like a business, the individuals to whom it provides services are treated not as patients but consumers whose needs must be satisfied. Keeping this view of health care as a business in mind, the concept of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) was introduced by Dr. Elliot Fisher in 2006 (Fisher, 2010). According to this model, an ACO is a â€Å"local health care organization and a related set of providers (at a minimum, primary care physicians, specialists, and hospitals) that can be held accountable for the standards of care delivered to a defined population† (Devers and Berenson, 2009, p. 1). This modal has becom e a major part of the US health care system since its implementation under the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (Gandhi, 2012). The private health care firms operate more like business organizations than the public health care organizations as they provide quick quality care to the patients. Many patients whose treatments are delayed or denied often seek treatment from the private firms that charge their patients the desired price for their services. The private health care industries in the United Kingdom have been a victim of criticism in recently because of their inability to provide precise information of quality and price of their services (Ruddick, 2011).The business for the private health care firms is generated mainly through health care insurance and network agreements while some patients may also choose to pay themselves for the services (Ruddick, 2011). National Health Service as a Business The National Health Services (NHS) represents the three of the four h ealth care systems in the United Kingdom which is publicly funded through general taxation instead of health insurance. NHS is subjected to a number of health care services that are provided free of cost at the time of use. The NHS provides jobs to over 1.2 million people and allows patients with serious conditions, as indicated by the General Physician, a direct access to specialist treatment (Popper, Sutton, Whitnall, and Windmeiier,

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Summary - Essay Example Even in the early twenty first century there was only a minimal use of the internet and that was usually through advertisements and manipulation of simple search processes. These methods had the advantage of being familiar to everyone, and they could easily be monitored to produce hard facts and figures which allowed companies to measure the effectiveness of their marketing and their ratings with the public. It is widely reported that all of this has changed now that social media have taken over the world. The authors observe that traditional media like television are still popular, but they are being affected by the time that consumers spend on more interactive media such as twitter. The size of the shift towards social media is very large, but even more striking is the speed with which this change has happened. Even within the last two or three years there have been massive changes in the percentage share of traditional and social media when it comes to attracting consumer attentio n. Paradoxically the authors see in these modern trends a return to one of the basic truths about marketing, namely that word of mouth sells products more effectively than big budget advertising. Social media open up a new channel in which old fashioned word of mouth can flourish once more. This is an exciting reality for many companies and it is clear that Name: ID engaging in dialogue with customers online is going to be an essential ingredient in marketing in the future. There are a few words of warning from the two authors, however. The first caveat to mention is the fact that social media cannot achieve all of the same things that traditional marketing campaigns used to do. For a start it is difficult to predict how a conversation with the public will go, because of the interactive nature of the communication. A company can control very tightly all of the images and texts which are published with the company logo in magazines or on television. This is not so in social media, be cause the consumers may react well or badly to a product, and they can turn the tables on a marketing professional by engaging in campaigns of their own. This can work in the company’s favor if the message is positive, but it can cause untold reputational damage if the consumers criticise or ridicule the product. The problem with social media is one of control: a company cannot exercise very much control about what is said about their products. Another point to remember is that social media has not replaced more traditional avenues for marketing. It is an additional channel, and it lends itself to particular segments of the market. The speed of its implementation can also offer companies an opportunity to step in and influence the way that a press story or marketing campaign is going. Some people have argued that it social media are free to use, and that this means a word of mouth campaign can be a cost effective option. In reality, however there are quite significant hidden costs in the operation of marketing activities online, such as the need to have sustained and knowledgeable staff input around the clock. Word of mouth can have an immediate and significant effect on sales. This sounds attractive, but it must be remembered that the sales can go down or up, depending on the kind of messages that are being sent Name: ID across the internet. The authors point out also that there are some

Law Essays Admissible Criminal Evidence

Law Essays Admissible Criminal Evidence Admissible Criminal Evidence It matters not how you get it; if you steal it even, it would be admissible in evidence [per Justice Crompton in R v Leatham 1861] Discuss When considering the above statement it is necessary to examine legislation with regard to the admissibility of evidence. The starting point is to look at section 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 which allows the court discretion to exclude any evidence they deem to have been unfairly obtained. There have been several cases where the issue of illegally obtained material has been considered. This paper proposes to examine the cases where judges have both exercised their discretion and excluded the evidence as well as the times when such evidence has been allowed. Within this framework consideration will be given of the factors that judges have taken into account when deciding whether or not to exclude such evidence. This will involve looking at policy issues in relation to the use of illegally obtained evidence in order to reach a conclusion as to whether in general terms the courts will opt to include or exclude such evidence. In reaching a decision as to the uniformity of the application of this discretion consideration will be given to whether changes that have occurred with regard to the rights of the suspect under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 have impacted on the admissibility of such evidence. Although there have been many changes in the law with regard to the use of evidence that has been illegally obtained many judges still use the case of R v Sang [1980] as a yardstick by which to measure whether evidence such be excluded. In this case Lord Diplock commented that (1) A trial judge in a criminal trial has always a discretion to refuse to admit evidence if in his opinion its prejudicial effect outweighs its probative value. (2) Save with regard to admissions and confessions and generally with regard to evidence obtained from the accused after commission of the offence, he has no discretion to refuse to admit relevant admissible evidence on the ground that it was obtained by improper or unfair means.(at p 437) In this case the court following the comments made by Lord Diplock concluded that the judge would have no power to exclude the evidence on the basis that it had been obtained through the use of an agent provocateur. In many ways the decision whether or not to exclude illegally obtained evidence seems to centre on fairness. Sang remains as an authority of the rules on the exclusion of evidence as was demonstrated in the case of R v Nadir [1993] where Lord Taylor CJ said that if a judge considers evidence the Crown wish to lead would have an adverse effect on the fairness of the trial, he can exclude it under s 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.He also has a general discretion to exclude evidence which was preserved by s.82(3) of the 1984 Act which would allow the judge to exclude evidence he considers more prejudicial than probative. In the later case of R v Khan [1994] 4 All ER 426, Lord Taylor seemed to change his opinion of the use of Sang as an authority stating that Since, on any view, the discretion conferred on the judge by s 78 is at least as wide as that identified in R v Sang it is only necessary to consider the question of the exercise of discretion under s 78 which is what the judge did. In general terms although the judge has the discretion to be able to rule the evidence as inadmissible it is more common for the courts to allow the evidence to be adduced. Many judges are of the opinion that the effect of s78 does not make very much difference to the cases brought before the court as most judges seem to decide in favour of inclusion rather then exclusion of such evidence as was the case of R v Mason [1987] and in the subsequent case of R v Samuel [1988]. Mason was later quashed on appeal when it was discovered that the only real evidence against the defendant was the confession and that this had been obtained by telling the defendant that his fingerprints had been found in glass near the scene, which was totally untrue. This decision was reached on the basis of interpretation of s78 where it was considered that there was bad faith and impropriety on the part of the police. A similar decision was reached in the case of Matto v DPP [1987]where the officers persuaded the defendant to undergo a breath test despite the fact that they were conducting the test under circumstances in which they were not entitled to do so. The conviction was quashed with the judge stating that the bad faith of the officers in carrying out the test when they knew they were not entitled to had tainted the case as a whole. This case was distinguished from the case of Fox v Gwent [1986] as in this case the officers were not aware that they were acting outside of there powers. A further case where the court have ruled that the police were not acting in bad faith was the case of R v Alladice [1988] in which the defendant confessed and the confession was allowed to be admitted to the court despite the fact that the police had wrongly refused to allow the defendant access to a solicitor. From all of the above it would seem that the court will only regard the police as acting in bad faith if there is clear evidence that the police deliberately deceived the defendant. There are of course exceptions where the action of the officers was questionable and the courts have still deemed the evidence to be admissible as was the case in R v Christou [1992]. In this case undercover police officers set up a shop were they were supposedly selling jewellery. All transactions in the shop were secretly recorded which led to the arrest of the defendant for dealing with stolen goods and making incriminating statements. The judge held that the police had not incited the offences and there had been no unfairness in their conduct. In the case of R v Smurthwaite and Gill [1994] the officers posed as contract killers and recorded conversations with the defendants who were attempting to hire the services of a contract killer to murder their spouses. The court regarded the officers as agent provocateurs but held that the officers had not incited the defendants to kill their spouses and therefore the evidence was admissible. In this case the judge stated that the fact that the evidence has been obtained by entrapment, or by an agent provocateur, or by a trick, does not of itself require the judge to exclude it. If, however, he considers that in all the circumstances the obtaining of the evidence in that way would have the adverse effect described in the statute, then he will exclude it. In some instances evidence that has been obtained through impropriety has been excluded. Impropriety can occur were there has been a breach of criminal law or a breach of PACE. This was held to be the case in R v Khan [1994] where surveillance devices had been placed on the premises of the suspect. It was argued that the placing of the equipment on the premises amounted to trespass by the police. The court however allowed the evidence to be admitted and the defendant was convicted. In cases where impropriety is alleged most of these cases centre on the admissibility of confessions or incriminating statements. The reliability and admissibility of confessions is governed by s76 of PACE. The most common impropriety is the denial of access to legal representation. The failure to contemporaneously record interviews has also been a problem in the past. One such case where the defendant was denied access to a solicitor was R v Samuel [1988]in which the defendant was arrested for burglary and after having been charged with one offence of burglary was denied access to a solicitor during which time he was interviewed again and confessed to a robbery. At the appeal the court held that the denial of the right to consult with a solicitor was a breach of s58 of PACE and of the Code of Practice on Detention and Questioning. As the judge had failed to exclude the confession at the original hearing the conviction for robbery was ordered to be quashed. The appeal court stated that even if the confession was reliable the breach of s58 rendered the confession as unfair. Within the criminal justice system the gaining of evidence illegally is classed as one of the exclusionary rules where evidence is suppressed or defendant’s rights are violated. Bentham (1827) argued that if you ‘exclude evidence you exclude justice’ He further argued that the solution to the problem was not to deprive the jurors of the evidence but to instruct them about the dangers presented by the evidence and allow the jury to decide for themselves whether to believe the evidence presented to them. Bentham stated that it was rather a contradiction for the court to declare their confidence in the decision of the jury whilst at the same time withholding evidence from that jury for fear of them reaching the wrong conclusion. Bentham stated that If there be one business that belongs to a jury more particularly than another, it is, one should think, the judging of the probability of evidence: if they are not fit to be trusted with this, not even with the benefit of the judge’s assistance and advice, what is it they are fit to be trusted with? Better trust them with nothing at all, and do without them altogether Bentham felt that exclusionary rules are â€Å"insults offered by the author of each rule to the understanding of those whose hands are expected to be tied by it.† He stated that relevant evidence should only be excluded when there was a risk of an inaccurate verdict without the use of the evidence. He went on to advocate ‘the abolition of all formal rules and a return to a ‘natural’ system of free proof, based on everyday experience and common-sense reasoning’. In the case of R v Kearley [1992] the House of Lords held that the evidence of telephone calls and visitor’s to the defendant’s house where they were asking for drugs was irrelevant or inadmissible as hearsay evidence. The primary evidence in this case came from two witnesses who had given evidence stating that the defendants were engaged in the sale of heroin. In this case the persons that came to the house or telephoned dealt with the police who were occupying the house at the time. The evidence of those that had rang or had come to the house could only be used as hearsay evidence as there was no way of getting the persons to give direct evidence to the court. Initially the defendant was found guilty but this was overturned on appeal on the grounds that the judge should have directed the jury of the inferences that could be drawn from the evidence. The court stated that the defendants could not be found guilty on the basis of their association with the people who had rang or called at the house. As with criminal law evidence can also be excluded in civil law cases under Civil Procedure Rules 32.1, though such exclusion is rare as the burden of proof in civil cases is significantly less then for criminal trials. Choo (1989) argued that there are three possible rationales for the exclusion of evidence, these being compensation, deterrence and repute. Choo (1993) stated that judicial legitimacy was the most satisfactory basis for the exclusion of evidence. Ashworth (1977) disagreed with this stating that exclusion was on the basis of discipline, reliability and protection. Hunter (1994) agreed with this stating that discipline is similar to deterrence. One of the main reasons for excluding evidence is on the basis of reliability. Where the reliability of the evidence is in question the courts will frequently opt to exclude the evidence from the proceedings. Bentham (1827) suggests that there is no need for total exclusion and that so long as a caution is issued with the presentation of the evidence the jury should be entitled to hear that evidence. Choo (1989) believes that allowing the evidence to be disclosed to the jury when such evidence could be unreliable is an ‘infringement’ of the rights of the defendant. Choo states that such evidence should be excluded if it admission would have such an adverse affect on the fairness of the proceedings that the court ought not to admit it. From the above it can be concluded that the rules regarding the use of illegally obtained evidence are not uniformly applied. In some instances the court will exclude such evidence from the jury whilst in other cases the evidence will be admitted. It is clear from s78 that evidence that has been illegally obtained can still be submitted to the court if it can be proven to be reliable or if an unfair result would be achieved if the evidence where not presented to the court. The courts seem to place emphasis on the notion of fairness as fair play. This is applicable both in deciding whether to allow the evidence to be heard or whether the evidence should be withheld from the jury. BIBLIOGRAPHY Allen, C, Practical Guide to Evidence, 2nd Ed, 2001, Cavendish Publishing Ashworth, A (1977) ‘Excluding Evidence as Protecting Rights’ [1977] Criminal Law Review 723 Ashworth, A and Blake, M The presumption of innocence in English law [1996] Crim LR 306 E Bentham, J, Rationale of Judicial Evidence 15-16 (1827), London Choo, A Mellors, M, ‘Undercover Police Operations and What the Suspect Said (or Didn’t Say), [1995] 2 Web JCLI Choo, A (1989) ‘Improperly obtained evidence: a reconsideration’ 9 Legal Studies 261 Choo, A (1993) Abuse of Process and Judicial Stays of Proceedings (Oxford: Clarendon Press) Elliott, C, Quinn, F, Criminal Law, 3rd Ed, 2000, Pearson Education Glazebrook, P R, Statutes on Criminal Law, 2001, Blackstone’s Hunter, M (1994) ‘Judicial Discretion: Section 78 in Practice’ [1994] Criminal Law Review 558 Huxley, P, O’Connell, M, Statutes on Evidence, 5th Ed, Blackstone’s Murphy, P, Blackstone’s Criminal Practice, 2002, Oxford University Press Smith. J C, The presumption of innocence (1987) NILQ 223 B Stephen, Sir JF, A Digest of the Law of Evidence, 12th Ed, 1936, Art 147

The Role of Music in Thomas Hardys Writing :: Biography Biographies Essays

The Role of Music in Thomas Hardy's Writing Music played a role of marked importance in the life of Thomas Hardy. Hardy was surrounded by a family and a community in which music enhanced everything from church services to social gatherings at the local alehouse. His family was full of active musicians; his father and grandfather were instrumentalists in local church bands, his uncle was a violin player, and his mother often sang traditional ballads. Like many village musicians, Hardy had the ability to read music and play the violin. Although he owned a written collection of music, Hardy, like other villagers, focused on an oral musical tradition. Hardy could play several hundred songs on the violin, and was exposed to countless others at family, village, and church gatherings. This music, and the rural tradition out of which it grew, were foundations on which Hardy built a literary identity. Through the incorporation of music into his works, Hardy strove to preserve the musical traditions of his familiar rural settings. In his prose, Hardy used music as a means to evoke emotional responses from his characters. The introduction of music into a lush, fertile nature, such as that described in chapter XIX of Tess of the d'Urbervilles, resulted in a heightened sensuality of the character. As Tess walked through the outskirts of the garden, the music of Angel's harp intensified both her physical and emotional states. In chapter VI of Far From the Madding Crowd, Gabriel Oak sought respite from his sorrow through "the sound of the well-known notes [that] cheered his own heart."(Hardy) By playing his flute in the malthouse, Gabriel shared his joy in music with the townspeople. Hardy incorporated a traditional piece of rural life into his novels using folk songs and church music. He presented folk music in Tess of the d'Urbervilles as a symbolic link between Tess's past and her present circumstances. Tess is reminded of a lullaby sung to her as a child as she is trying on her wedding gown. At that point she realizes the significance of the familiar tune with the current events in her life. In Under the Greenwood Tree, Hardy relied on traditional church hymns to develop the Christmas caroling scene with the Mellstock Church Choir. The tradition of caroling in these rural societies exemplifies the role of church music in the lives of the rustic people. Hardy extensively used music in both the structural composition and thematic development of his poetry.

Deception Point Page 44

â€Å"Let's go!† Norah shouted, pulling the tethered group along as she headed toward the perimeter of the illuminated circle. â€Å"I don't know what NASA's up to here, but I sure as hell don't appreciate being used as a pawn for their-â€Å" Norah Mangor's neck snapped back as if she'd been rammed in the forehead by some invisible force. She let out a guttural gasp of pain, wavered, and collapsed backward onto the ice. Almost instantly, Corky let out a cry and spun around as if his shoulder had been propelled backward. He fell to the ice, writhing in pain. Rachel immediately forgot all about the printout in her hand, Ming, the meteorite, and the bizarre tunnel beneath the ice. She had just felt a small projectile graze her ear, barely missing her temple. Instinctively, she dropped to her knees, yanking Tolland down with her. â€Å"What's going on!† Tolland screamed. A hailstorm was all Rachel could imagine-balls of ice blowing down off the glacier-and yet from the force with which Corky and Norah had just been hit, Rachel knew the hailstones would have to be moving at hundreds of miles an hour. Eerily, the sudden barrage of marble-sized objects seemed now to focus on Rachel and Tolland, pelting all around them, sending up plumes of exploding ice. Rachel rolled onto her stomach, dug her crampon's toe spikes into the ice, and launched toward the only cover available. The sled. Tolland arrived a moment later, scrambling and hunkering down beside her. Tolland looked out at Norah and Corky unprotected on the ice. â€Å"Pull them in with the tether!† he yelled, grabbing the rope and trying to pull. But the tether was wrapped around the sled. Rachel stuffed the printout in the Velcro pocket of her Mark IX suit, and scrambled on all fours toward the sled, trying to untangle the rope from the sled runners. Tolland was right behind her. The hailstones suddenly rained down in a barrage against the sled, as if Mother Nature had abandoned Corky and Norah and was taking direct aim at Rachel and Tolland. One of the projectiles slammed into the top of the sled tarp, partially embedding itself, and then bounced over, landing on the sleeve of Rachel's coat. When Rachel saw it, she froze. In an instant, the bewilderment she had been feeling turned to terror. These â€Å"hailstones† were man-made. The ball of ice on her sleeve was a flawlessly shaped spheroid the size of a large cherry. The surface was polished and smooth, marred only by a linear seam around the circumference, like an old-fashioned lead musket ball, machined in a press. The globular pellets were, without a doubt, man-made. Ice bullets†¦ As someone with military clearance, Rachel was well acquainted with the new experimental â€Å"IM† weaponry-Improvised Munitions-snow rifles that compacted snow into ice pellets, desert rifles that melted sand into glass projectiles, water-based firearms that shot pulses of liquid water with such force that they could break bones. Improvised Munitions weaponry had an enormous advantage over conventional weapons because IM weapons used available resources and literally manufactured munitions on the spot, providing soldiers unlimited rounds without their having to carry heavy conventional bullets. The ice balls being fired at them now, Rachel knew, were being compressed â€Å"on demand† from snow fed into the butt of the rifle. As was often the case in the intelligence world, the more one knew, the more frightening a scenario became. This moment was no exception. Rachel would have preferred blissful ignorance, but her knowledge of IM weaponry instantly led her to a sole chilling conclusion: They were being attacked by some kind of U.S. Special Ops force, the only forces in the country currently cleared to use these experimental IM weapons in the field. The presence of a military covert operations unit brought with it a second, even more terrifying realization: The probability of surviving this attack was close to zero. The morbid thought was terminated as one of the ice pellets found an opening and came screaming through the wall of gear on the sled, colliding with her stomach. Even in her padded Mark IX suit, Rachel felt like an invisible prizefighter had just gut-punched her. Stars began to dance around the periphery of her vision, and she teetered backward, grabbing gear on the sled for balance. Michael Tolland dropped Norah's tether and lunged to support Rachel, but he arrived too late. Rachel fell backward, pulling a pile of equipment with her. She and Tolland tumbled to the ice in a pile of electronic apparatus. â€Å"They're†¦ bullets†¦,† she gasped, the air momentarily crushed from her lungs. â€Å"Run!† 50 The Washington MetroRail subway now leaving Federal Triangle station could not speed away from the White House fast enough for Gabrielle Ashe. She sat rigid in a deserted corner of the train as darkened shapes tore past outside in a blur. Marjorie Tench's big red envelope lay in Gabrielle's lap, pressing down like a ten-ton weight. I've got to talk to Sexton! she thought, the train accelerating now in the direction of Sexton's office building. Immediately! Now, in the dim, shifting light of the train, Gabrielle felt like she was enduring some kind of hallucinogenic drug trip. Muted lights whipped by overhead like slow-motion discotheque strobes. The ponderous tunnel rose on all sides like a deepening canyon. Tell me this is not happening. She gazed down at the envelope on her lap. Unclasping the flap, she reached inside and pulled out one of the photos. The internal lights of the train flickered for a moment, the harsh glare illuminating a shocking image-Sedgewick Sexton lying naked in his office, his gratified face turned perfectly toward the camera while Gabrielle's dark form lay nude beside him. She shivered, rammed the photo back inside, and fumbled to reclasp the envelope. It's over. As soon as the train exited the tunnel and climbed onto the aboveground tracks near L'Enfant Plaza, Gabrielle dug out her cellphone and called the senator's private cellular number. His voice mail answered. Puzzled, she phoned the senator's office. The secretary answered. â€Å"It's Gabrielle. Is he in?† The secretary sounded peeved. â€Å"Where have you been? He was looking for you.† â€Å"I had a meeting that ran long. I need to talk to him right away.† â€Å"You'll have to wait till morning. He's at Westbrooke.† Westbrooke Place Luxury Apartments was the building where Sexton kept his D.C. residence. â€Å"He's not picking up his private line,† Gabrielle said. â€Å"He blocked off tonight as a P.E.,† the secretary reminded. â€Å"He left early.† Gabrielle scowled. Personal Event. In all the excitement, she'd forgotten Sexton had scheduled himself a night alone at home. He was very particular about not being disturbed during his P.E. blocks. Bang on my door only if the building is on fire, he would say. Other than that, it can wait until morning. Gabrielle decided Sexton's building was definitely on fire. â€Å"I need you to reach him for me.† â€Å"Impossible.† â€Å"This is serious, I really-â€Å" â€Å"No, I mean literally impossible. He left his pager on my desk on his way out and told me he was not to be disturbed all night. He was adamant.† She paused. â€Å"More so than usual.† Shit. â€Å"Okay, thanks.† Gabrielle hung up. â€Å"L'Enfant Plaza,† a recording announced in the subway car. â€Å"Connection all stations.† Closing her eyes, Gabrielle tried to clear her mind, but devastating images rushed in†¦ the lurid photos of herself and the senator†¦ the pile of documents alleging Sexton was taking bribes. Gabrielle could still hear Tench's raspy demands. Do the right thing. Sign the affidavit. Admit the affair. As the train screeched into the station, Gabrielle forced herself to imagine what the senator would do if the photos hit the presses. The first thing to pop in her mind both shocked and shamed her.

Summary of To Kill a Mockingbi essays

Summary of To Kill a Mockingbi essays The book To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a magnificent story about guilt, fairness, race relations, and about life itself. It is told in the eyes of an already mature six-year old girl named Jean-Louise Finch, Scout for short. In the midst of the story Scout and her older brother Jeremy Finch, also known as Jem, grew more in their maturity by seeing certain events that happened around them. The stories major conflict is self-against-community while at the same time self-against-self. When Scouts father, Atticus, was faced with defending a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white girl, he new that his family would be ridiculed due to the racial prejudice of the time and place; that being Alabama in the 1930s. Additionally Tom Robinson, the accused, was a friend of Atticus. Atticus was faced not only with defending Tom throughout the trial, but also faced with defending his action to his children, whom he was trying to raise without prejudice. Tom Robinson was ultimately found guilty of rape and sentenced to death by a jury of white farmers. Atticus convincingly showed that, due to an injury to his right arm, he could not have inflicted the bruises on Mayellas face. He was further able to prove that Mayellas father was the rapist. Unfortunately, Tom was killed while trying to escape from a prison camp. Mr. Ewell felt ridiculed in court and swore to take revenge on Atticus. Another self-against-self conflict within the story is Scouts and Jem s dealings with their neighbors, the Radleys. Afraid of the adult son Boo Radley, whom they have never seen, they have been led to believe through stories of other children in town, that Boo is a vicious, horrifying looking monster. They always ran past his house so he wouldnt get them. Yet dared, Jem ran onto Boos porch and slapped the house one-day in attempts to get Boo to come...

Globalisation Impacts on International Business

Globalisation Impacts on International Business Introduction Globalisation has been seen as an opportunity for international business. Indeed, it has become part and parcel of international business that influences the movement of goods and services and the nature of trade patterns. Globalisation has been associated with the expansion of international business in various regions around the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Globalisation Impacts on International Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More International business relies on globalisation to bring together different cultures, markets, political settings, economic structures, and social elements (Shoham 2011). Despite these benefits, globalisation has serious effects on international business, which outweigh its positive impacts. Globalisation and International Business An assessment of the effects of globalisation on international business has mainly focused on its positive impacts. As such, globali sation has been attributed to expansion and growth of the global economy. Trade between nations relies on globalisation to foster international elements of business, such as foreign direct investment. The investment opens business opportunities in various countries across the world. It also plays an important role in removing the trade barriers, such as tariffs on imports and exports (Joshi 2009). Foreign investment provides marketing opportunities for multinational corporations. Another benefit of globalisation is that it increases consumer’s income by enabling multinational corporations to increase the wage earnings and salaries of different people employed by the firms (Daly 2001). Globalisation also increases the investment opportunities for investors and business entrepreneurs around the world. Due to globalisation, business entities develop new products to serve new market segments in various countries across the world. Businesses also develop new products to diversify their product lines and serve more consumers in various market segments. Development of new products has also enabled the consumers to access a wide range of goods and services. Consumers who buy goods from international markets are able to purchase their goods from more than one vendor (Meredith 2000). Introduction of new technologies is another factor that has greatly contributed to the positive assessment of globalisation in international business. Organisations in the global arena are exposed to new technologies that are developed by different industries.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Such technologies enable organisations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes. For instance, a business organisation can use new technology to enhance the production process and ensure cost reduction for competitive advantage. The use of technology in production processes is also important in ensuring economies of scale (Sullivan, 2002). Another positive aspect of globalisation is increased performance of local and international companies due to competition. Globalisation increases competition between firms, thereby increasing business efficiency. Companies trading in international arena develop products that are of high quality with superior features and performance. Consequently, such initiatives play an important role in attracting more customers and enable an organisation to improve its business processes. Globalisation provides an opportunity for international companies to identify unique points of competition, which can be used in developing products that meet the needs and expectations of the consumers in the market (Daniels, Radebaugh Sullivan 2007). Threats of Globalisation Many people tend to overlook the threats of globalisation international business. Globalisation has been associated with the collapse of the various domestic companies. It has also been attributed to the deterioration of business culture in various regions across the world. In other cases, globalisation has been associated with rising levels of insecurity all over the globe. For instance, issues, such as terrorism and marine piracy, are subsequent effects of globalisation on international business. It is, therefore, cardinal to highlight the specific threats of globalisation on international business (Clark 1997). The threats outlined are as follows. Unfair Competition Unfair competition remains the key threat that affects international business. Many organisations have been phased out of the global market due to intense competition from various companies. Globalisation promotes unfair competition by enabling multinational companies from developed countries to take advantage of the business opportunities in the industry. Companies from developed countries have efficient technological tools and effective business strategies, whi ch are used to exploit the resources in the business environment. To this end, globalisation promotes the development of well-established companies at the expenses of the less developed organisations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Globalisation Impacts on International Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More International companies strive to increase their market share in the emerging markets by offering high quality goods at low prices, hence killing domestic businesses (Daly 2001). Globalisation also promotes unfair competition through trade policies established by the government of a given country. For instance, in most countries across the word, the government tends to promote the development of local companies. The government provides subsidies and trade incentives to foster the development of domestic companies. Incentives may include tax exemptions and reduced energy cost. International companies in such countries may be forced to pay higher taxes as compared to the domestic organisations in the same country. Trade policies on imports and exports also encourage unfair competition in international trade. Governments and trade entities in different regions around the world have developed trade policies, which are meant to promote the development of domestic trade. For instance, some governments facilitate the promotion of export trade by reducing the trade barriers and tariffs on exports. Such initiatives hinder the free movement of goods in the global market. On the other hand, a country that promotes the trade on imports may promote the development of international companies at the expense of the local based organisation. A country that has adopted such an approach tends to foster mobility of international factors of production, such as labour and capital. Economic development in such countries may be slow due to high levels of unemployment (Sullivan, 2002). Effects of Free Trade on Emerging Businesses Businesses emerging in developing countries are at greater risk of failing due to the development of free trade, which is fostered by globalisation. Globalisation has exposed emerging businesses in developing countries to unfair trade practices and policies that are promoted by free trade. For example, tariff protection policies instituted by developed countries tend to open business opportunities for multinational businesses in developed countries. Most developing countries are mainly importers of the goods that are manufactured by the companies in the developed countries.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, the companies in developing countries focus on the production of agricultural and food products that are less competitive compared to the machines and electronics that are manufactured in the developed states. Moreover, the goods manufactured by the developed countries are not exposed to regulative measures compared to the goods manufactured in those regions. Agricultural goods are regarded as very sensitive and attract low prices as compared to machines and electronics (Daniels, Radebaugh Sullivan 2007). Interference with Cultural Diversity Despite the unanimous positive assessment that globalisation promotes cultural diversity, many people tend to overlook the threats that globalisation imposes on cultural diversity. Globalisation has been associated with dominance of strong cultures over the other. Trade cultures have been found to be influential in determining the development and growth of international trade around the world. For instance, there is belief th at globalisation has greatly contributed to the spread of the western culture across the world. The western culture has been discovered to determine the specific elements of business, such as consumer behaviour and consumption patterns. The dominance of the western culture has led to the decline of business opportunities. As such, international marketers have not been able to identify diverse elements of various cultures, which can be used to develop different products to serve diverse consumer needs (Clark 1997). Disparities in consumer characteristics are very important in diversification and development of new markets. The differences between the consumers transcend from their cultural backgrounds. The western culture has dominated other cultures around the world, hence interfering with the development of new business opportunities. For instance, in the contemporary society, most consumers tend to imitate the western culture on different aspects, such as fashion, lifestyle, and s ocial groupings (Satya 1997). Global cultural unity among the consumers around the world interferes with the cultural heritage of various people. Cultural heritage determines how various people correspond to issues, such as marketing campaigns and products features. Globalisation also increases the gap between the rich and the poor. For instance, when a multinational corporation shifts its operations from a country where the cost of labour is high to a region where the cost of labour is low, the organisation increases the income in the latter state. At the same, the company increases the gap between the rich and the poor in the former country due to increased rate of unemployment and income. The disparities between the rich and the poor in the economy also lead to purchasing power, hence affecting the pace of growth. Environmental Effects Another threat of globalisation on international business is environmental effects. Globalisation is one of the key factors that have been associa ted with degradation of the natural environment around the world. The emergence and spread of new technologies around the world have led to increased utilisation of non-renewable resources. Manufacturing companies around the world use natural resources that are extracted from the environment. The exploitation of such resources leads to environmental pollution and global warming. In other cases, multinational companies tend to take advantage of the loopholes in environmental laws. For instance, business organisations from the developed countries tend to take advantage of the less strict environmental policies in the developing countries. Effects of environmental degradation such as global warming and the depletion of natural resources have been on the verge of increase due to globalisation. Companies from the transportation industry, construction sector, mining industry, and the energy sector have been forced to increase their production activities due to increased demand in the glob al market. The results of such activities lead to increased environmental costs to the businesses, members of the society, and the government. In this regard, globalisation not only interferes with the sustainability and growth of businesses, but also hinders the development of the world (Held, McGrew, Goldblatt, Perraton 1999). Labour Drain Despite the fact that globalisation fosters labour mobility around the world, it greatly contributes to labour drain the labour market. Labour drain is one of the factors that contribute to unfair competition in international business. Organisations, which have the capability to attract and retain highly skilled labour, are better placed to compete in the global market. Such organisation offer good pay packages to their employees in order to retain them and attract qualified experts from the market. On other hand, developed countries have been found to attract well trained workers from the developing countries due to good working and living con ditions in such countries. Labour drain is therefore another key threat on the development of international business. Labour drain also leads to unemployment in some countries. For instance, the importation of cheap labour by multinational corporations from developing countries has been blamed for increasing level of unemployment in developed countries. Labour mobility from one country to another also affects the factors in the labour market. Excess supply of labour in the international labour has been associated with decline in wage rates around the world. Labour demand and supply also impact on the workforce planning strategies employed by organisation. The free movement of labour in the global economy has also weakened the labour sector in various parts of the world. Globalisation has had a negative influence on the labour unions by denying them the opportunity to protect workers’ rights. In other cases, globalisation has introduced confusion in labour laws due to the disp arities in provisions of the labour laws used in different countries across the world. For example, ILO promotes uniform working hours of 40 hours per week, while labour entities in developing countries tend to promote 45 hours per week with low wage rates as compared to the developed countries (Sullivan, 2002). Tax Avoidance and Tax Competition Higher taxes imposed by the governments of various countries around the world have forced organisations in international business to employ tax avoidance and tax competition strategies. Such a move leads to unfair competition between the various companies. For instance, some international organisations establish their businesses where the governments charge low tax rates. The companies also channel their returns through such countries. This practice has been manifested by multinational companies, such as Google and Facebook. The situation is best manifested by Google, which has been very competitive in the international market as compared to rivals, such as Yahoo and other online organisations. Amazon has also employed the same strategies establishing its offices in countries like Luxembourg and Bermuda. Tax avoidance and competition tactics do not only hinder the growth of the local based companies, but also interfere with the development of international organisations. On the other hand, some countries lower corporation taxes for international companies to ensure increased level of capital mobility. Reduced corporation tax may increase the rate of investment in a country. However, it reduces the level of tax income earned by the government. Risk of Foreign Exchange Fluctuations Another key threat that affects the development of international trade due to globalisation is fluctuations in foreign exchange rate. Globalisation exposes businesses to the risk of foreign exchange fluctuations, which affect profitability and growth of such companies. International organisations mainly trade in foreign currencies. For instanc e, the sales and procurement of different items are conducted in foreign currency, which affects the sales revenues and procurement cost incurred by an organisation. A business organisation in a foreign country may experience great losses when translating its profits from a foreign currency to a local one. High translation costs may reduce the level of profits that are earned by an organisation. On the other hand, during procurement, an organisation has to convert its local currency to a foreign currency that is accepted by the vendor. Translation cost may therefore increase the cost of procurement, hence increasing the cost of operation and production. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rate are the key threats to international business. It reduces the level of profitability and raises the cost of doing business globally. The general economic conditions in the global arena also affect the development of international business. In the year 2008, multinational corporations from develop ed countries were greatly affected by global financial and economic crisis (Clark 1997). Economic and financial factors, such as interest rate, inflation, and volatility of shares in the share market, have serious effects on international organisations due to unpredictable changes in the global economy. Higher interest rates in international markets raise the cost of capital acquisition and reduce the pace of trade development. On the other hand, volatility of shares in the stock market also interferes with the profits earned by businesses in the financial sector (Held, McGrew, Goldblatt, Perraton 1999). Security Issues Security factors are also some of the major threats that affect international companies, which stem from globalisation. Despite the fact the globalisation exposes a business to lucrative business opportunities; it also creates avenues of insecurity, which greatly influence the performance and the growth of international business. One of the most common insecurity fa ctors in global trade is terrorism. There is an increase in the number of terrorist activities because of free movement of goods and people around the world. Terrorists around the world target at developed nations that promote international trade. Marine piracy has also increased following the increase in shipping activities all over the globe. Another element of security that affects international business touches on data security (Sullivan, 2002). Increasing on the use of computers and Internet is the major cause of data insecurity in global trade. Internet technology creates a framework where various businesses interact to exchange data and ideas for business facilitation. However, such interactions expose the organisations in international trade to security risk factors, such as fraud, identity theft, and scams. Online fraud is one of the common threats that affect online transactions, such as payment and receipt of goods. Security threats may therefore lead to the loss of finan cial resources and important data in an organisation (Tabb 2002). Political Risks Globalisation also exposes international business to political risk factors which greatly influence the performance of a business. Such factors as political instability, laws, rules and regulations in different countries expose a business to various risks (Held, McGrew, Goldblatt, Perraton 1999). Political instability in a country creates disturbances in the business environment where market factors, such as demand and supply, are greatly affected. Moreover, rules and regulations imposed on various businesses and industries in a country also affect the performance of an international business (Sullivan, 2002). For instance, regulations governing licensing and registration of businesses determine the pace of trade development in a country. Based on these factors, it is therefore important to acknowledge that globalisation is a clear threat to international business (Meredith 2000). Reference List Clark , I 1997, Globalization and fragmentation: international relations in the twentieth century, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Daly, H 2001, ‘Globalization and Its Discontents,’ Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly, vol. 21 no. 2/3, pp.17-21. Web. Daniels, J Radebaugh, L Sullivan, D 2007, International business: environment and operations, Prentice Hall, London. Held, D, McGrew, A, Goldblatt, D, Perraton, J 1999, Global transformations: politics, economics and culture, Polity Press, Cambridge. Joshi, RM 2009, International business, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Meredith, M 2000, ‘Doing business internationally: an annotated bibliography’, Reference Services Review, vol. 28. no. 3, pp.223-239. Satya, DG 1997, The political economy of globalization, Zed Books, Boston. Shoham, A 2011, ‘The global recession issue: Introduction- Part I,’ Thunderbird International Business Review, vol. 53. no. 2, pp. 109-113. Sullivan, JJ 2002, The future of c orporate globalization: from the extended order to the global village, Quorum Books, New York. Tabb, WK 2002, Unequal partners: a primer on globalization, New Press, New York.

Learning contract 489 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Learning contract 489 - Assignment Example 41). When a student engages in the contracting process, where he/she will participate in making decisions concerning their education will increase their internal motivation. Learning contract will enable the student to accomplish other goals apart from working for marks. The student will be satisfied after meeting other goals. Many students respond positively to this technique of learning as they appreciate the efforts applied by the teacher in recognizing and accommodating their individual needs. As the student is from working at an appropriate level, the teacher is satisfied from seeing make efforts and grow. The teacher is also happy that the classroom time is not disturbed by regular distractions. Learning contract teaches the student some life skills like learning the importance of setting goals and struggling to achieve them. Learning contract is important as it guides the learner and the teacher on the procedure of handling various topics or units one after the other (Gomez 2011, p. 73). Learning contracts should be designed in a way that it will benefit the parties of the contract especially the learner. The contract should contain all the contents including the objectives, duties of the parties, time to be accomplished, and the

Discuss how recent changes in the law may impact on the tourism and Essay

Discuss how recent changes in the law may impact on the tourism and hospitality industry - Essay Example A series of constraints can appear causing severe delays to the completion of the relevant projects. Current paper focuses on the effects of law on the airline industry – emphasis is given on the aviation law of UK – as influenced from the European Union law. It is concluded that the update of legal rules related – either directly or indirectly – to the airline industry has affected the performance of the specific industrial sector. The character of the relationship between this industry and the law cannot be clearly specified – being characterized by benefits and drawbacks. However, despite the delays that the changes in the law have caused to the development of airline industry – in the context described below – still, it is necessary that the relevant measures are supported both by the entrepreneurs and the public. After a transition period, the benefits of these initiatives will be made clear – even if currently the introduction of the relevant legal rules is not fully justified. The needs of various industries in regard to their regulation can be differentiated. The characteristics of each industry and the level of its interaction with the public are usually of high importance in order to decide on the form of the regulatory framework developed for the particular sector. Under these terms, the needs of each industry in terms of law are defined by the following criteria: a) the position of the industry within the local economy, b) the structure of the operational activities of the industry’s firms, c) the practices followed in regard to the regulation of similar industries in the context of the international community, d) the rules developed by international bodies and which are binding for a specific industrial sector – for instance the rules of the European Union which need to be promoted within all member states. In the case of the airline industry, the elements of the legal framework used for the