The Lehman Brothers Collapse. Who, Why, How and Its Long-term Effects Term Paper

The Lehman Brothers Collapse. Who, Why, How and Its Long- Effects on Securities Markets - Term Paper Example There are a few terms which need to be defined before proceeding further. Security markets are the markets where securities of different types are bought and sold with reference to demand and supply. Mortgage markets involve dealings of loans on housing, business and industrial real estates. The markets in which corporations raise new capital by issuing common stock are referred to as primary markets. Secondary markets on the other hand are the ones where formerly issued securities are bought and sold among the investors, with no direct involvement of the corporations. Leverage is usually referred to borrowing. Stockholders are those who buy shares of a company, thereby gaining the rights of votes, earning dividends and profits. In a dramatic manner, Lehman Brothers underwent the largest bankruptcy in the history of United States, with its stocks plummeting drastically, customers opting their way out and assets being heavily undervalued by the official credit rating groups of that time. Lehman Brothers was mutually established by the three brothers, Henry Lehman, Emanuel Lehman and Mayer Lehman. Since its foundation, it was considered to be a very reputable institution in which people used to place immense amount of trust. With the passage of time, the popularity of the firm increased tremendously and it became one of the most reliable financial service companies in the United States, with the launch of its various subsidiaries such as Aurora Loan Services, Crossroad Groups, etc. Since 1993, the company was being led by Richard S. Fuld, Jr, who can be construed as a typical traditional leader with a top down command and control approach. He used to be very daunting in his demeanour and often commanded respect and devotion from his employees on the basis of power. He had a large management team along with him comprising of senior managers and board of directors who always aided him in forming corporate level policies, core business strategies and decision making. Up till 2007, the firm did reasonably well as far as the monetary records are concerned. The company even reported a staggering $4.2 billion profit in the year 2007. However, the consequences of following a superficial policy based on narrow sc ope and risky business were soon revealed when the company suffered the biggest financial turmoil of USA’s history which also triggered the late 2000’s recession. The responsibility of this crisis which resulted in the destruction of one of the most established names in the world of international finance lies directly on the management team of Lehman Brothers which consisted of several heavyweights, led by a very impolite and fiery Chairman and CEO, Richard S. Fuld, Jr. Article Summaries Onaran and Scinta (2008) state that the fourth biggest investment bank of the United States surrendered to the subprime mortgage catastrophe it had initially facilitated to develop in the midst of the largest bankruptcy in history. The old and respectable firm, Lehman Brothers Holding Inc, which had even survived the Great Depression, reported a bankruptcy petition in the US Bankruptcy Court. It had to lose 94 percent of its market worth during this tumultuous year. The filing of the b iggest bankruptcy case ever was led by bankruptcy legal representative Harvey Miller. Within hours, the shares of the

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 11

Management - Essay Example This paper identifies how increased competitiveness creates opportunities for change and how it impacts the manager’s role. One particular management theorist suggests that contemporary managers, in the face of rising competition, must be results-oriented by identifying specific goals as part of the planning process, measure whether these goals have been achieved, and determine whether or not the end results led to peak effectiveness and efficiency (McLean, 2006: 16). This suggests a manager who must make careful use of internal strategy whereby goals are identified and internal staff members are aligned to meet business needs as part of a planning model. Effective measurement of whether goals have been attained could include a total performance management system which provides employees with reward for maximum contribution toward meeting goals or offering criticism or training in the face of subordinate inability to assist the business. As one example, it would seem that in an environment where a business has a great deal of external competition, the manager must remain focused on achieving maximum prod uctivity by effectively controlling the activities of workers and assessing their progress. Additionally, employees seem to be a considerable resource for making a company more competitive. McHenry (2008) identifies that increased competition also comes in the form of whether or not a business sustains top talent under a talent management model. This model suggests that managers must consistently assess the business structure to look for opportunities to motivate staff members to meet long-term goals. The author identifies that effective talent management, as part of management planning, involves maximising career opportunities for workers and also assessing whether the current recruitment and selection criteria is designed to bring the business top talent over that of competing businesses (McHenry). This talent management model would seem to point

General Fitness And Training Physical Education Essay

General Fitness And Training Physical Education Essay My chosen pursued activity is general fitness which is health-related;specifically circuit training. In pursuing such activity I may improve both my strength and cardiovascular fitness.Circuit training is essentially structured exercise.Aerobic fitness,strength and flexibility are all improved pursuing circuit training.Incorporated into such an exercise structure are fixed weights/machine stations which isolate specific muscle groups.A complete exercise set is achieved within a given period of time,usually 20 minutes.An uninterrupted flow of activity from machine to machine may enable proper gain of aerobic benefit.The heart is pumping at a steady high level. Every gym session will consist of a warm-up with mobility exercises;ending with the cool-down.Each exercise station exercises a different muscle group from the last.The whole session should last one hour.(Pollock et al.,1998) Circuit training should not occur on consecutive days,two or three visits to the gym per week being sufficient.Selection of correct weights,repetitions and positions is necessary to minimise occurrence of injury and to achieve desired fitness objectives. Aerobic endurance is exercised by completing a circuit as quickly as possible.Significant gains may occur for strength,muscular endurance and flexibility.Physical fitness consists of components.These are aerobic endurance,strength,speed,flexibility,muscular endurance,power and agility.Training programmes may be customized to improve on a selection of these.The most important aspects applicable to circuit training are aerobic endurance;muscular endurance,and flexibility. When the body performs for a prolonged period of time with a low work rate aerobic endurance comes to the fore;such a training will condition the heart and lungs to function more efficiently.Choosing a work-out on the rowing machine for some 20 minutes as an example;this cardiovascular ergometer is very effective in establishing a proper base of muscular endurance that initiates improvement in other components of fitness. Muscular endurance is a function of aerobic endurance without whose supply of oxygen it could not rapidly perform.It is defined as a single muscle or group performing recurrently against variable resistance.For example dumbbell(DB) lunges or shoulder press with a barbell(BB).Body resistance circuit training that includes both free and fixed weights is well suited to improve muscular endurance. Usually overlooked is flexibility,the range of motion(ROM) at a joint or series of joints.This component however is vital in the prevention of inadvertent injury.It is sufficient to perform the warm up including mobility exercises(developing a full range of movement[ROM]) and cool down stretches;all being required for a main session of gym activity. My gym circuit therefore is comprised of a warm-up lasting 5 minutes on a suitable cardiovascular machine eg the treadmill, that simulates a walking gait exercise aerobically.This is followed by the set of mobility exercises(not stretches) to loosen my joints and produce more synovial fluid;gently and rhythmically exercising.This is still aerobic.There follows a set of stretches to prepare the main muscle groups of the body for an imminent main activity session.These too are aerobic;not as intense yet steady,controlled,positioned for some ten seconds. The main cardiovascular machine chosen for a full work-out of at least twenty minutes is the rowing machine,which exercises all main muscle groups with the heart as target muscle. A customized programme working the rower will produce an aerobic curve with a rising and falling RPE[rate of perceived exertion 0-10 on the Borg Scale](Gunnar Borg(1973) validated by(Kang et al.2003)also (Steed,Gaesser,and Weltman 1994) Aerobic contribution is present in the Cool down using a different cardiovascular machine followed by stretches including some that are developmental;included to improve flexibility in the bigger muscles eg the hamstrings(ACSM,2006) As I want to improve my strength and endurance it is important that I obtain profile data from the apparatus and exercises outlined above so that I can clearly see whether I am making any improvements from when I began. The Principles of Training should be applicable to every exercise and sporting category.Individuals and teams then have specific objectives and goals to aim for in their training schedules.Else, all would be blindfolded resulting in overtraining,burn out and poor performance results. Demands on the body higher than the norm comprise what is known as Overload that in turn has related factors of intensity(how hard);duration(how long);type(sport/activity);frequency(how often). Frequency is self-explanatory,often resulting in a higher level of performance. As workload steps up so does intensity.Heavier weights,longer stretches.Such results take time.Overload may be achieved with a higher number of repetitions or performing the same with reduced time-spans. The body is a natural adapter to overloading,so training should be progressive to prompt a response.When this occurs improvement is tangible especially at the beginning.As sets increase muscle strength and endurance increase. It is important not to be too slow in progression. Biceps curls for example.If working with 10 lb weights taking it to 3-4 sets at 15 reps before muscle fatigue is experienced then it is better to do 2 sets of 15 lb weights. Specificity of a chosen,pursued activity needs to be understood.What am I training for? This is very important and relevant for strength training.Exercise has to be specific for each muscle group and strength type required.Balance has also to be included and therefore other exercises of a general nature such as the squat provide an excellent base for development of specific exercise.Training must be specific which means that it should concentrate on the particular needs of the individual within the training programme.(Sharkey and Greatzer 1993)For example,lifting weights will increase muscular strength but will have little effect on the aerobic capacity of the individual. Although training should be specific to a sport this does not mean that training for sport will have little effect on another.Transfer of training can take place where the sport or parts of a sport have a great deal of similar elements of fitness are common to many sports. The opposite of Progression is Reversibility.Training and performance when falling off will signal to the body for an appropriate response.Aerobic capacity diminishes rapidly with no exercise(Coyle,Hemmert,and Coggan 1986) also (Saltin et al.,1968) Muscular endurance with muscles no longer used falls away three times more rapidly than when gained.Performance of skills may be affected through physical deterioration(Greenleaf et al.1976) A number of training methods exist designed for the different fitness components.Circuit training may be viewed as interval training containing high-intensity anaerobic periods with weights and low-intensity aerobic periods of recovery.This training method is able to improve specific areas of the body for muscular endurance.A circuit improves both aerobic fitness and strength thereby providing for much needed conditioning.Aerobic training also involves continuous/steady state training(McArdle et al.,2006)Other methods consist of interval(McArdie et al.,2006) and fartlek training.Flexibility training incorporates both passive and active,static stretching;dynamic and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) stretching. Suitable to my requirements is a muscular endurance circuit.This will enable me to withstand fatigue,hold to a given position,and to perform repeated muscular contractions for a given period of time.Selection of appropriate exercises needs a central focus of balanced muscle groups.Improvement of cardiovascular exercise and muscular endurance exercise may be achieved by alternating them within a circuit programme.The back squat for instance utilises many muscle groups,that work simultaneously.A main cardiovascular work-out,for example, requires at least 20 minutes on the rower, being correctly positioned within the circuit.The remaining floor-based stretches are performed at the end of the gym session.This saves the heart rate from decreasing too much. Progression and overload are important to consider when a circuit training programme is being planned. The principle of overload indicates your body systems must be stressed beyond their normal levels of activity if they are to improve.(Williams 1993:18).Progression can be maintained simply by increasing the number of repetitions per exercise; reducing the recovery period(secs) between each set of exercises;increasing the resistance of the exercises by weight . Stimulation is applied using the principles of overload and progression during circuit training so that adaptation may occur. Overload is delivered by adjusting one or more of the FITT principles.Frequency(how often);Intensity(how hard);Time(how long);Type(suiting sport/activity). Principles are usually installed in most matters and physical activity is no exception. The principles of training are the rules to follow when using physical activity programmes.Sound and useful training takes into consideration all of the principles and their effects on the body;being essential to the planning of the training programme so that the participant is able to improve their fitness level. Fitness levels vary from person to person so the training needs be systematic taking into account individual needs ; variables of difficulty or intensity are set at the personal level. An example from the free weights exercises for progression/adaptation is the Biceps Curl with barbell(BB).Apart from applying a progressively greater weight performance may be effected through different ranges of motion i.e. halfway up and down.All the way up and halfway down;up again and all the way down;all the way up and down.An example of an adaptation for a fixed weight machine is substituting the seated row for the lateral pull down.Again the seated cable row may be substituted by the single arm row with a dumbbell(DB).Or the Triceps pull down (cable) by selection of a Triceps extension with butterfly grip(DB). It may be necessary to increase aerobic fitness and if so, use of one of the cardio-vascular machines is ideal. The rowing machine for example,is an excellent piece of equipment for a good all over workout,impact- free; protecting joints while improving flexibility Using this machine you will work out your heart,lungs,circulatory system and at the same time shape and tone your legs,back,shoulders,buttocks,arms and stomach. If aerobic fitness needs to be increased interval training is very effective when inserted into circuit training.Interval training is a type of physical training that involves bursts of high intensity work.This high intensity work is alternated with periods of rest or low activity,intervals.[ see Appendix] The term can refer to any cardiovascular workout,for example,rowing,that involves brief bouts at near-maximum exertion interspersed with periods of lower-intensity activity.Interval training improves the exercisers aerobic capacity to exercise longer at varying intensities.This method of training may be more effective at inducing fat loss than simply training at a moderate intensity level for the same duration. With no correction or improvement reversibility occurs.Having ceased training the body loses its conditioning and strength and also endurance.This is relevant to myself as I am pursuing a cardiovascular, strength and endurance programme.A study has been made of cessation of physical activity;in this case an Olympic rower.It was 20 weeks before he was able to resume his activity following an eight week convalescence. The detraining and retraining of an elite rower:a case study.J Sci Med Sport 2005;8;3:314-320. It is recommended there should be no more than three weeks interval since last specific activity. A state of complete fitness involvesthemental,emotional,nutritional,social and medical,not only the physical. How we enjoy life;attention towards any diet at all;how we deal with stress;our emotional world;communicative ability;requirements for relaxation and also of course physical fitness.Circuit training is one of a number of ways to improve components towards a state of complete fitness. Word count 1,783 References: Pollock,M.L.,Gaesser,G.A.,Butcher,J.D.,Despres,J.P.,Dishman,R.K.,Franklin,B.A.and Ewing Garber,C.(1998) ACSM position stand:The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness,and flexibility in healthy adults,Medicine Science in Sport Exercise,vol.30,pp.975-91 Borg,G. 1973.Perceived exertion:A note on history and methods.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 5:90-93 Kang,J.,J.Hoffman,H.Walker,E.Chaloupka,and A.Utter.2003.Regulating intensity using perceived exertion during extended exercise periods.European Journal of Applied Physiology 89:475-482 Steed,J.,G.Gaesser,and A.Weltman.1994.Rating of perceived exertion and blood lactate concentration during submaximal running.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 26:797-803 American College of Sports Medicine(2006) ACSMs Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription(7th edn0,London,Lippincott,Williams Wilkins Sharkey,B.J.,and D.Greatzer.1993.Specificity of exercise,training and testing.In ACSMs resource manual for guidelines for exercise testing and prescription,ed.L.Durstine,A.King,P.Painter,and J.Roitman,82-92.Philadelphia:Lea Febiger Coyle,E.,M.Hemmert,and A.Coggan.1986.Effects of detraining on cardiovascular responses to exercise:Role of blood volume.Journal of Applied Physiology 60:95-99 Saltin,B.,G.Blomqvist,J.H.Mitchell,R.L.Johnson Jr.,K.Wildenthal,and C.B.Chapman.1968.Response to exercise after bed rest and after training.Circulation 38(Suppl.7):1-78 Greenleaf,J.E.,C.J.Greenleaf,D.VanDerveer,and K.J.Dorchak.1976.Adaptation to prolonged bedrest in man:A compendium of research.Washington,DC:National Aeronautics and Space Administration McArdle,W.D.,Katch,F.I. and Katch,V.L.(2006) Essentials of Exercise Physiology (3rd edn),London,McGraw-Hill Williams Melvin H.(1993) Lifetime Fitness Wellness(3rd edn) Brown Benchmartin: Iona The detraining and retraining of an elite rower:a case study, J Sci Med Sport 2005;8;3:314-320 Training Principles[online],Available from:http://www.brianmac.co.uk/trnprin.htm(Accessed 6th March 2011) Fitness Circuit Training[online],Available from http://ezinearticles.com/?Fitness-Circuit-Trainingid=2577578(Accessed 9th March 2011) Aerobic exercise[online],Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic_exercise(Accessed 7th March 2011) Anaerobic exercise[online],Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_exercise(Accessed 7th March 2011) Fitness training[online],Available from http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/fitness-training-how-to-design-a -sports-specific-fitn(Accessed 5th March 2011) Aerobic versus Anaerobic[online],Available from http://doctorsexercise.com/journal/aerobic.htm(Accessed 7th March 2011) Anaerobic Exercise vs.Aerobic Exercise Exercise Tips[online],Available from http://www.empowerment-centre.com/Exercise-Tips(Accessed 7th March 2011) Exercise Prescription:eMedicine Sports Medicine[online],Available from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/88648-overview(Accessed 15th January 2011) The Cardiovascular System and Exercise[online],Available from http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/cardiovascular-system-and-exercise.html)(Accessed 15th January 2011) Aerobic Interval Training-Learn About Aerobic Interval Training[online],Available from http://exercise.about.com/od/intervaltrainingworkouts/a/Interval-Training_2.htm(A ccessed 9th March 2011) Fundamentals of resistance training:progression and exercise prescription.[online],Available from http://www.mendeley.com/research/fundamentals-of-resistance-training-progression-and-exercise-prescription/(Accessed 8th March 2011) Exercise-Exercise Program-Exercise Prescription[online],Available from http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/fitnessevalandassessment/a/ExPrescription.htm(Accessed 8th March 2011) Beginner Cardio-This 20-Minute Basic Cardio Workout is Perfect for Beginners[online],Available from http://exercise.about.com/library/blbasiccardio2.htm(Accessed 9th March 2011) BIBLIOGRAPHY: The Open University(2008) E112 Introduction to sport,fitness and management Study Guide Study Topic 4 Training for health,fitness and sport Caroline Heaney Sharkey,B.J.and Gaskill,S.E. (2007) Fitness Health (6th edn),Leeds,Human Kinetics(Course Book)

Differences between Beatrice and Hero in Much Ado about Nothing Essay

Differences between Beatrice and Hero in the early scenes of Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ has two main female characters, Beatrice and Hero, who are cousins. Both appear to be completely different in the beginning of the play but, as things progress and their characters develop, there are also some very obvious similarities between them. Hero and Beatrice have a very close relationship; they are best friends. Leonato is Hero’s father but Beatrice has no parents, which gives her greater freedom. Where Hero is polite, quiet, respectful and gentle, Beatrice is feisty, cynical, witty, and sharp. Shakespeare uses quite a lot of literary devices and techniques to present the characters of Hero and Beatrice in a way that lets the audience easily compare and contrast them. For example, in the characterisation of Hero and Beatrice, the dialogue used – what they say, how they say it, what other characters say about them and Hero’s silence are all very important in revealing their characters; in a similar way, their actions – what the characters do, and their inaction contrasts and creates significant difference between them, bringing each one’s personality. In addition, Shakespeare’s constant use of dramatic irony, exaggeration and contrasting plots, themes and structure all combine in his presentation of the two. At the start of the play Hero is presented as a typical woman of the time, modest and demure – she says little. In fact, Shakespeare’s first words describing Hero, ‘Is she not a modest young lady’ announce her essential qualities of modesty and decorum. In this period, these were vital qualities to have in a wife and Hero possessed them, unlike Beatrice. By contrast, Shakespeare portrays Beatrice as an untypical woman, being outspoken, independent, witty and unconventional – she is always participating in the conversation even with the men (especially Benedick), which Hero never does. A prime example of this in Act 1 is when Beatrice asks the messenger about Benedick, (a lord, and soldier from Padua) in an offensive way: â€Å"I pray you, is Signor Mountanto returned from the wars or no?† This is part of her â€Å"merry war† with Benedick. Beatrice appears to loathe Benedick and vice versa; they engage in many â€Å"skirmishes of wit.† However, although Beatrice appears hardened and sharp, she is vu... ...he other hand, Beatrice and Benedick are comedy-makers and Beatrice is not ruled by her father as Hero clearly is. It does take Don Pedro’s benevolent plot to bring Benedick and Beatrice together, however. A modern audience would prefer Beatrice to Hero as she is her own self and admirable. The relationships also differ because Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship slowly grew whereas Claudio and Hero’s relationship was love at first sight. Perhaps it was a little hasty as we see in Act 4 how their love turns sour. Beatrice and Hero are both wonderful and intriguing characters. They develop in interesting ways and they represent two extremely different views of society and what it was like to be a woman in those patriarchal times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I find Beatrice the more interesting character of the two women; she is more active and has a fuller character which lets you speculate about her whereas this isn’t possible with Hero because her character is so bland. Beatrice’s character is also more entertaining and she stimulates feelings out of the reader, making you like or dislike her and the way she acts and again this isn’t as possible for Hero because her character is so featureless.

Mm578 Consumer Behavior Course Project Explanation Essay

To help you create a graduate-level submission, the following additional insights are provided to help you learn and to facilitate a high quality written submission. You are asked to choose a consumer product or service about which you either know something or on which you can find good research. You may use either a product/service with which you are actively involved in your business or one from another business. This project supports all of the Terminal Course Objectives in the course. This assignment is due on Sunday of Week SEVEN via the Dropbox. No late papers will be accepted. You are to create a thorough, tightly focused Marketing Strategy that focuses on consumer behavior for either a product or a service. To help you in the process, Appendix B is available on page 738 of our course text. The sections below that are highlighted in BLUE text are found in Appendix B. The insights provided in Appendix B should be very helpful as you assess your paper’s intended content. Those sections not highlighted receive this instructor’s additional perspectives in the â€Å"Additional Instructions† area. Develop a tightly focused, strategically-oriented paper. I will be seeking your depth and breadth of your findings and arguments that communicate via your logical, business-oriented writing that you are a thinking, educated, marketer. As you create your paper, please NUMBER each section so that I can easily determine on which one of the seven (7) sections you are writing. You want to demonstrate in-depth critical thinking, provide examples, and support your assertions with legitimate scholarly resources. Use APA citations each and any time that you have referenced scholarly content. NOTE:Wikipedia. com or Answers. com or other similar â€Å"general go-to-us-for-a-fast-answer† websites are not considered scholarly resources. Please do not use these. Demonstrate scholarly research that utilizes respected resources that identify the subject-matter-expert by name. NOTE:No more than 25-30% of your Course Project should come from external sources. Although this is a research paper, I am more interested in learning YOUR perspectives, based on your analysis. After all, this is a paper that YOU are writing. All assignments are submitted to Turnitin. comâ„ ¢ to ensure originality of work. Thus at least 70%+ of your paper’s content comes from your fingertips and demonstrates your synthesis of content reviewed, your critical analysis, critical thinking, and application of key concepts that you have learned from our MM578 textbook. Papers that are a collection of cobbled-together snippets from other websites will not earn a passing grade and when minimal adult learner synthesis and minimal original content is apparent. Your Course Project asks you to utilize the following seven topics as headings for clarity, as well as subtopics as subheadings. Please clearly label each Heading and Subheading in your paper. Headings and SubheadingsAdditional Instructions 1: Market Analysis †¢Company †¢Customers †¢Competitors †¢Conditions Market Analysis (continued)Utilize concepts from your MM522 Marketing Management course and Chapter ONE of our MM578 Consumer Behavior etext book to complete this section. Describe your Company and your Customers.

Functional Areas Of Business Essay

There has been an ongoing debate between enlisted members and commissioned officers of the United States Military about effective leadership and the scope of control. Enlisted Service Personnel are usually the worker bees, are not managerial in nature, with combat and field experience. Commissioned Officers are the leaders of the enlisted members. Commissioned Officers usually are the ones that can be personified as managers, with little to no field or combat experience. This debate stems from Commissioned Officers executing their managerial roles, how it affects the enlisted member, and how it effects the overall mission. Leadership, strategic planning, law, human resources management, will be utilized to analyze the role of a manager within the functional areas of business. Leadership Most employees will follow an effective leader if the manager exudes confidence, is not a hypocrite, and believes in the organization’s mission statement wholeheartedly. The adage, † If a manager has to claim to be a leader, it almost seems as though he or she is trying to convince themselves that they are a leader, instead of showing that the manager is capable of leading. Motivation, inspiration, and being levelheaded are great attributes in being a great leader. Managers do not have to be an efficient leader in order to get things done, however, they should know how to manage those effective and efficient leaders in order to see the project or mission through. Most effective leaders are effective by being prepared and knowledgeable with some strategic planning. Strategic Planning As the adhesive that was so meticulously put there to hold up that model ship which is encased in a glass bottle, there is a plethora of minutia detail that goes into planning. With regards to the military, it takes an almost insurmountable amount of planning just to execute even the smallest of missions. This component is imperative to have in the manager’s toolbox, in order to maintain the survivability of the organization. A person that fails to plan, he or she plans to fail. Managers have to stay on top of planning, even if it means that sometimes coming into the organization on weekends, or coming in earlier than their standard start time. The organization also depends deeply on the legal department to ensure that the organization will not fall privy to legal troubles. Read more:  Functional Areas Of Business Law There are legal boundaries that dictate what can or cannot take place in the business world. Businesses hire witty, educated, and self-starting legal individuals to interpret the laws. There is a ton of small laws that can get an organization in or out of legal calamity. It could be a zoning law issue, or a morality issue, or what is common with big organizations is an environment issue. Managers have to be cognizant and stay on top of these issues in order to be a successful manager. In order a successful manager, there have to be some exceptional employees. Those employees hire through Human Resources. Human Resources Management Filtering out among the mass applicant pool to hire the best employees that are most suited for the position, rectifying current employees pay if needed, ensuring equal opportunity to the employees are all components of what it means to be in the human resources department. Managers have a few components to deal with when it comes to human resources. According to an a Forbes’ article, administrative director at a law-firm wrote that she needed some advice. The administrator’s employee was pregnant and she wanted to find a way to fire her before the employee tells anyone. She further stated that the pregnant woman would cost the organization a temporary hire, adding that after the baby is born the pregnant woman is sure to miss work due to baby illness. (Ryan, 2014) Managers have to be aware that it is illegal to fire someone for pregnancy, and need to have the wherewithal to be firm, but understand that employees have a choice of motherhood as well as having a  career . Managers in human resources can sometimes be the epitome for the managers throughout the entire organization that set the tone for the organization. When a manager from human resources has to fire an individual, if they are not careful the methods that are used can be detrimental to the entire organization. If the manager calls, emails, or texts the individual that in two weeks time that the person will be fired or laid off, that individual now has time to sabotage, slack-off, give trade secrets to competitive organizations or do something physically harmful to himself or the people at the organization. If the manager tells the individual that is to be fired to come into the office and let’s discuss some of the options that a person may have face-to-face, makes that terminated employee somewhat at ease. The terminated employee will not have to tackle this daunting situation alone. Supply Management In order to stay relevant in business, managers understand that they must have quality products at a reasonable rate from their suppliers. However, when the rates are unreasonable, managers should seek out other suppliers that will accommodate the organization’s budget. â€Å"Mooney agrees that managers will usually be keen on a purchasing department that is good at finding savings. But, he warns, even this can be a double-edged sword, because they can be expected to be much less enthusiastic when it is their area of spend that is being touched upon.† (Wheatley, 2005) Managers have to be diligent and understand that the purchasing department, if not fully understood, can break the financial infrastructure of an organization. Conclusion Being a great leader will comprise of attributes such as not being temperamental, inspirational and having the ability to motivate. Being able to strategically plan has to be in the manager’s repertoire, in order to efficiently run the organization. Laws are meant to be interpreted by the legal team to ensure the organization does not end up in legal trouble. Human resource managers have to be careful with the way they handle terminating employees. Finding the best supplier with a quality product, for a reasonable price is what managers should reach for in order to have a thriving organization. References University of Phoenix. MBA Overview Module. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, MGT/521 Website Wheatley, M. (2005, May). Supply Management. 10-11. Ryan, L. (2014, April). You Think Your Manager is Slimy? Check Out These Guys. Forbes, (), . Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2014/04/08/you-think-your-manager-is-slimy-check-out-these-guys/

Advantages Disadvantages of Online Shopping Essay Example

Advantages Disadvantages of Online Shopping Essay Example Advantages Disadvantages of Online Shopping Paper Advantages Disadvantages of Online Shopping Paper There are many advantages and disadvantages to shopping online. I have been shopping online for over 20 years, and feel that I am fairly well qualified to compare and contrast online shopping. The purpose of bestbookbuys. com is to compare prices before you buy, save time, save money, and make online shopping experience easy and pleasant. This website has different kinds of information such as: books, music, videos, electronics, photo labs, bike stores and hot deals. Best book buys searches a wide variety of online book retailers to find all types of books at the lowest prices. Lets say that you want to buy a $38. 66 hardback book online. You will have to pay at least $7. 48 to ship it (and that is from a company that charges reasonable shipping fees). So, your $38. 66 book will end up costing you $46. 12 before taxes. One time I almost bought a sewing machine online. The sewing machine was on sale for $499. However, after shipping and taxes was added, the cost came to about $606. I saw the same machine and brand at one of the local fabric stores on sale for $399 and I didn’t have to worry about the shipping, just the taxes and that saved me $180. Sorry, but to save that amount of money, I will be glad to put that sewing machine into my trunk and drive it home. But I understand why it cost so much to ship Taylor 2 it; that particular sewing machine was heavy. I have learned with this site, it makes it easy to compare prices, save money and time, check the status of your order, and is very convent to shop. As with everything else in life, there are pros and cons with shopping online. I find shopping online to be an excellent way to shop for certain items. However, for other items, I would rather shop at a local store. Also, there are times when I just want to get out of the house and need to do some shopping.

Henard, Learning Activity 5 Essays - Montessori Education

Henard, Learning Activity 5 Essays - Montessori Education Henard, Learning Activity 5 Montessori Program The Environment It is an open concept area that is warm and inviting to children. All of the centers are age appropriate and child size and in order according to area of the center, and that the children do not feel over-whelmed. Each area is structure to engage the child to master certain skills, while enjoying a bright happy place to play. (Intro to Early Childhood Education, 7e. pg.122). The Children Children range in different ages. They Montessori Programs encourage individual activities (p. 123) in which encourages self-motivation and independence in each child. Montessori Programs gear towards children ages 3-6 years of age. The Teachers The teachers more or less observe children as they go about different activities at the center. They never praise the children as the activities are geared to self-rewarding (pg. 123). The teachers also learn the curriculum and the methods of the program through a very intensive course study on the graduate level (pg. 123). The Materials The Montessori Program offers different didactics to challenge the children to problem solve and receive the immediate feedback on how it works and satisfaction on a job well done when the job is complete (pg. 123). The Curriculum It helps the children to refine their fine motor skills, self-help and learning, while playing, the everyday activities they see or do at home. While they are doing all of this, the sensory part comes into play. The children will use their five senses to do the activities at hand and include the gross motor skills (pg.123). Maria Montessoris plan was to incorporate learning skills in order to help the children to build self confidence in their self-esteem. The reason why I choose the Montessori Program is that the centers are open, warm and friendly to all who enter. It encourages children to explore and learn on their own with self-rewarding satisfaction, of knowing that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to. But, I also think that teacher involvement and creativity should be included in this, along with, language comprehension, reading, play acting, and encouraging the imagination. Resources: Intro to Early Childhood Education, WSCC ECED 1010, 7e. Essa. Pages 122-124.

7 Workplace Tips For Getting a Promotion

7 Workplace Tips For Getting a Promotion Getting a promotion is often a matter of taking the right strategy. Here are a few workplace tips that will make sure you stay at the top of your game at the office and beyond.Dont flaunt your latenessOkay, so you’re running a few minutes late. No big deal. But if you’re running a few minutes late because you wanted to stop at Starbucks and there was a huge line? Problem. Whatever your reason for swanning in tardy, don’t come in with a cup of freshly purchased coffee in your hand.Watch your email toneYou think you’re being professional, but your client is persnickety. Or even if they aren’t- you just want to double check. Reread your email to yourself out loud in the snarkiest, most sarcastic tone possible. Still pass muster? Send away. But if you noticed any red flags where even you would see yourself getting offended, it might be prudent to rephrase.Coworkers stealing your pens?Be super devious and buy a bunch of red (refillable) pens and a bunch of blue ink cartridge refills. (This only works with a brand that has the same model pen in both colors, but it’s a great cheat.) Then put the blue cartridges in the red pens. No one ever â€Å"borrows† a red pen. You’ll never find yourself at your desk without a pen again!Coworkers asking for money for their kids?You know the drill. â€Å"My kid is selling ____ for ______.† Or worse! â€Å"My kid is raising money for the ________.† Instead of coughing up money to your coworker, give them your phone number and ask that their kids call you themselves, any time after 6pm. You won’t get many phone calls. And the kids that do call will have learned to put in the extra work.Coworkers stealing your milk?Put your milk in a jar or other container you’ve brought from home. No one is going to open up the fridge and take your milk if it isn’t in a recognizable milk container. They won’t know how long it’s been in there, for one, and for two? It could come from a sheep or a human or something- hardly worth the risk. You’ll drink your milk in peace.Pay your  job search forwardAs soon as you get hired at one job, copy and save the job description to a running file you store on your personal computer. When it comes time to update your resume and job search, you’ll be very glad you have it.Strike a poseBefore that big presentation, meeting, or interview, take two minutes in the privacy of the restroom or your car and strike a power pose. Hold that power in your body and your face and then walk in with your head held high. Even if you get nervous, your body will remember how you felt going in.flair:Careers Work

Food and migrations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Food and migrations - Essay Example By then, they had no opportunity to put up their restaurants as they were just mere immigrants, and they were still familiarizing with the environment and the culture around. Not long before the K-town started experiencing some developments. The large population, demand for food ad accommodation was high, so the restaurants that were present by then were extremely expensive, both in terms of food prices and accommodation. The restaurants operated all night long, and 32nd street was exclusively the best. It had neon- lit strip and the town was speckled with Karaoke bars and greasy, with restaurants that operated throughout the night, and to date it is absurdly the most expensive retail strips in New York City. It is anticipated that, in a lapse of time, the K-town might be the center of attraction of all the cities in America, given that some restaurants that are set up in other towns use the â€Å"K-Town† label in establishing themselves. This paper shall succinctly d iscuss food and migration and particularly focus on Manhattan Koreatown and the roles played by the restaurants around this place. Community in K-Town, As mentioned in the introduction, Food and migration is a factor that significantly contributed towards the growth the development of the koreatown, better known as k-town. The town is inhabited by diverse people, Koreans, Japanese, Chinese also American inhabitants. In such a case, one would expect that the food available in this place is also remarkably diverse. One has to ensure food is available for all the communities around. Even though, the town is inhabited by various people, Japanese, Asians and Chinese community are in a large population. Its high population also determines the food that is available. At the time, the study was carried out, much about why most of the restaurants are referred to as the Korean restaurants were not conducted. However, from the interviews that

The Medieval Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Medieval Era - Essay Example The Medieval Era or the Middle Ages was characterized feudal system that mostly exalted Knights, Nobles, and Kings. The era mostly lasted between the 5th and the 15th century and was eventually replaced by the Renaissance or the Age of Discovery. During this period, there existed a division amongst Knights including a code of chivalry as noted in Charny’s book A Knight’s Own Book of Chivalry. It means chivalry was a moral, religious, and social code in the Middle Ages in defining a knightly conduct. Additionally, knights of that time had sore lives that depended on charity, justice and faith. Therefore, maintenance of high level of morality was a defining point of morals. However, from 1437 to 1449, Early Modern Period of the Medieval Era experienced certain fundamental changes that later shaped Europe extensively. For instance, the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg heralds a new era of publishing both news and literature in societal domain. The development equally expanded accessibility throughout Europe hence widening readership amongst the citizens. In 1442, the eruption of the Battle of Szeben results to the third victory orchestrated by Hungarian forces under the leadership of Janos Hunyadi. The war is against the Ottoman forces. Also known as the Battle of Sibiu or the Battle of Hermannstadt, the war claimed about 15-20, 000 Ottoman soldiers whiles the Hungarian side lost approximately 3-4,000 men. Unfortunately, the victory could not be translated in the Battle of the Iron that was fought close to the Danube (Newman 145). Another interesting development entails the Battle of Varna that resulted to victory for the Ottomans. Notably, it was a determining battle to reclaim the Crusade of Varna that resulted to the massive defeat of Hungarian-Polish forces and the ultimate death of their leader, Wladyslaw III. On that note, the timeline between 1300 and 1600

Marketing Communications Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing Communications - Assignment Example It is clear from the discussion that in today’s changing environment of marketing, there is a need for marketing communications since markets have been fragmented and very few companies go for mass marketing. The fragmentation of the media is also taking place (Grunig and Hunt, 1984, p. 36). The development of information transfer and technology improvement has caused this segmentation of each mass market. Hence, it is necessary to target each segment and to reach out to these segments particularly. The main forms of marketing communications include advertisement, public relations, sales promotion, personal selling, and direct marketing (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 605). These marketing strategies have to be implemented by a company in a manner of integration so that each of the strategies complements another one. Since nowadays people have access to all kinds of media in the form of visuals, audio, and the Internet there are loads of ways in which messages come to the custome rs from varied sources. These messages may be conflicting at times. The various kinds of promotional activities of a number of companies in the same sector can confuse the consumer in a lot of ways. The brand images that are set in the minds of the customers can also be vague. This problem particularly occurs in the functional specialists who handle various forms of communications for marketing that are independent of each other. Though these days the Internet is used as the most popular medium for the exchange of information, it cannot be the sole medium for promoting a brand. There should be a right mix of other forms of communications like the interaction with the customers and traditional forms of branding which need to be blended well to get the final result successfully. The right marketing message has to reach the public, and for that, the coordination of all the marketing channels is essential (Stern and El-Ansary, 1995, p. 92). The message that would be transmitted to the c ustomers has to be consistent, clear, and compelling in order to convert. For example, when Coca-Cola wants to launch a new flavor of soft drink that it would like the youth to consume, the company has to devise the marketing communication strategies in such a way that it reaches the youth in the most effective way possible. Thus, the strategists have to go for those kinds of media that the younger generation has the maximum access to like the Internet. The main communication activities have to be done in the colleges and the eateries which this generation visits. Any kind of marketing communication would not be successful unless the managers have adequate knowledge about the working of the communication process. There are various steps to this. First of all the target audience has to be identified and the basic questions have to be asked regarding the decision making drivers of the target market. There will be two parties of this communication process, the sender and the receiver. It has to be decided how and where the message will be communicated (Bowersox and Morash, 1989, p. 21). The objective of this kind of communication has to be understood and the message will have to be designed accordingly. Generally, the AIDA models are used for this purpose. Each of these communication messages should have an emotional, rational, and/or moral appeal to touch the minds of the customers.  

Motivation. (Literature review) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Motivation. (Literature review) - Essay Example Motivation in different areas of life and work is an important requisite and is perhaps the pathway for success in any field. Consequently, motivation is a widely recognized problem area and hence is an area of research for many years (Stauber, 31-47). As a result, there is a considerable body of literature in this area. This work would undertake a literature review on motivation applied to academic area (Rawsthorne and Elliot, 326-344). Thus, a simple strategy of literature search based on the key words, "academic", "motivation", and "academic motivation" was undertaken on the available literatures in both electronic and print media. Many journals have articles published on this topic, and the most recent were chosen to critically review them. Interesting to note is that a vast amount of literature is on management education. Mele, in his book, Motivation and Agency, has reviewed many studies to characterize motivation. Motivation is an animal instinct but is not universal across animal kingdom. Motivation is a goal-governed phenomenon. Motivated individuals have a capacity to represent goals. Therefore an attitude encompassed by motivation would have either a goal or a means to achieve it. Different individuals have different intensities of motivations, and an intentional agency to do something is always involved in a motivated attitude (Spera, 456-490). While applied to learning or motivation in academic education, it can happen in one of the two main forms, self-directed learning, where the learner has sufficient control over the process and hence over the purpose, form, content, and pace of the learning, and intrinsic motivation can only generate this. The other form of learning is expressive that need to be elucidated by the external environment, hence may need extrinsic stimulation, and goal always do not elucidate that (Mele, 4-58). Elliot and Dweck in their seminal work, competence and motivation, have correlated motivation to presence of competence, and in this book, in the section of motivation, they have conducted a literature review to define the elusive motivation. They have also commented that there are several different kinds of motivation, and as supported in the literature, the first kind of motivation is the motivation to achieve (Elliott and Dweck, 5-12). It has been demonstrated that people who are high in achievement motivation, take moderate risks and challenges to achieve. These people are attracted to tasks that are neither very hard nor very easy. These people often are motivated to strive constantly to better themselves and their accomplishments. The second kind of motivation is competence or self-efficacy motivation that refers to the persons' beliefs in their own ability to solve the problem at hand (Kinlaw and Kurtz-Costes, 295-311). Achievement motivations theorists tend to explain the ene rgization and direction of competence-based behaviour. The traditional motive theory has been replaced by finding casual attributions that are directed by the development of cognitive psychology (Boggiano, Barrett, Weiher, McClelland, and Lusk, 866-879). Debnath and coworkers deal with the problem of student motivation within the classroom, and the authors examine the influence of appropriate classroom

Inovation 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Inovation 2 - Essay Example In addition to that, the model looks very stylish and conforms to the modernistic standards and trends of furniture. This product was introduced to the market through an entrepreneurship approach, though the product itself was intrapreneurial. The workstation was developed by a student in his research that made part of his Masters program. When he developed the model in the research, it was introduced to the market through his university because the research had become the property of his university when his degree was conferred. This approach had many advantages for both the intrapreneur and the entrepreneur. The approach saved intrapreneur all the cost of launch and advertisement. On the other hand, the gained credit for the model developed by the intrapreneur. However, such organizations as universities do not as such launch a product. Instead, the research makes part of their library and is only consulted when required by the future researchers. When entrepreneurship is used to l aunch an intrapreneurial product: Launching an intrapreneurial product using an entrepreneurship approach is quite advantageous for both the intrapreneur and the entrepreneur in many ways. ... Poor planning becomes the root cause of most product launches that fail to bring the desired results to the entrepreneurs. In order to make a launch successful, the business entrepreneurs need to have certain skills. They have to gain education on methods that have historically proven to be successful. The best source of knowledge is people with past experience. Entrepreneurs need to consult them for launching strategies. Experienced entrepreneurs can offer good advice to reduce the cost of launching. In order to make the launch effective, it is imperative that it is given sufficient time. Rushing the process can make it meaningless. Since the product is intrapreneurial, the intrapreneurs must have conducted sufficient research to develop innovative product because they have to secure their job. If they develop faulty product, their own career is endangered. Therefore, in this approach, there is little to no risk of faulty design, though entrepreneurs are themselves responsible for t he marketing and advertisement of the product which is just as critical and important as the product’s design. The entrepreneurs assume risk of marketing, and also have to invest in it, thus assuming financial risk as well. Organizational assets like logistics are involved and the payment is made by the entrepreneur. When intrapreneurship is used to launch an entrepreneurial product: In many ways, it goes in the favor of entrepreneurs to adopt an intrapreneurial approach to launch their products. Company’s staff is the most concerned about the successful launch of the product because it is not only the matter of the company’s success, but it also plays a decisive role in

Team work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Team work - Essay Example I feel, as a member of my team, that I have been very fundamentally contributing to this team in various ways that have made the team to make the milestones that they have so far, until now, the team is able to reap success in its hard work through commitment. My contribution has been to arrange when to meet every time and also to look for the venue for meeting as a team. I have also been involved in raising thought provoking questions that have been in line with our project, that have enabled our group members to always involve in brainstorming for us to get solutions to the problems that we had to handle from time to time. I can also remember that, when we first came together as a group, it was my initiative to lead the group into carrying out a formal introduction of all the group members. We only came together as team of members, who hardly knew each other well, and this could have been an impediment to our success since, it is hard to work together with people you do not talk wi th. To make everyone feel free and contribute their efforts o the group, I thought there was a need for a session to know each other before we could begin our project. One thing I have to commend my team about is the way in which the tem was organized. We had everyone assigned its duty on every occasion that we met. For instance, we had a team leader whose responsibility was to assign duties to every team member. The team leader could ensure that every team member had a responsibility that would contribute to the team’s success. This was very important in increasing the team’s effectiveness in carrying out the project since every member was involved in contributing to the team’s success. Most of the time, I had the responsibility as the team’s organizing secretary and my duties were to organize and schedule events and fix venues for our team, in conjunction with the other team members. Such kinds of responsibilities were very

Inovation 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Inovation 2 - Essay Example In addition to that, the model looks very stylish and conforms to the modernistic standards and trends of furniture. This product was introduced to the market through an entrepreneurship approach, though the product itself was intrapreneurial. The workstation was developed by a student in his research that made part of his Masters program. When he developed the model in the research, it was introduced to the market through his university because the research had become the property of his university when his degree was conferred. This approach had many advantages for both the intrapreneur and the entrepreneur. The approach saved intrapreneur all the cost of launch and advertisement. On the other hand, the gained credit for the model developed by the intrapreneur. However, such organizations as universities do not as such launch a product. Instead, the research makes part of their library and is only consulted when required by the future researchers. When entrepreneurship is used to l aunch an intrapreneurial product: Launching an intrapreneurial product using an entrepreneurship approach is quite advantageous for both the intrapreneur and the entrepreneur in many ways. ... Poor planning becomes the root cause of most product launches that fail to bring the desired results to the entrepreneurs. In order to make a launch successful, the business entrepreneurs need to have certain skills. They have to gain education on methods that have historically proven to be successful. The best source of knowledge is people with past experience. Entrepreneurs need to consult them for launching strategies. Experienced entrepreneurs can offer good advice to reduce the cost of launching. In order to make the launch effective, it is imperative that it is given sufficient time. Rushing the process can make it meaningless. Since the product is intrapreneurial, the intrapreneurs must have conducted sufficient research to develop innovative product because they have to secure their job. If they develop faulty product, their own career is endangered. Therefore, in this approach, there is little to no risk of faulty design, though entrepreneurs are themselves responsible for t he marketing and advertisement of the product which is just as critical and important as the product’s design. The entrepreneurs assume risk of marketing, and also have to invest in it, thus assuming financial risk as well. Organizational assets like logistics are involved and the payment is made by the entrepreneur. When intrapreneurship is used to launch an entrepreneurial product: In many ways, it goes in the favor of entrepreneurs to adopt an intrapreneurial approach to launch their products. Company’s staff is the most concerned about the successful launch of the product because it is not only the matter of the company’s success, but it also plays a decisive role in

Subverted 19th Century Traditional Social Mores and Norms in Dracula Essay Example for Free

Subverted 19th Century Traditional Social Mores and Norms in Dracula Essay Bram Stoker’s Dracula remains one of the more recognizable novels of its genre despite being published in 1897. A classic horror story which has been retold and produced over and over again since its original publication, Dracula was especially disturbing when it originally was released because of how Stoker attacks Victorian era social mores and norms throughout the entire novel. Stoker subverts traditional 19th Century social mores and norms in Dracula through the portrayal of sexually aggressive and assertive females, Jonathan and Mina’s relationship, and the inverse of Maternity. One of the first examples of Stoker’s subverting of traditional social mores and norms in his novel is Dracula’s Wives. Our first encounter with the â€Å"weird sisters† comes when they approach Jonathan Harker at the Count’s mansion. Christopher Craft described the scene in his reflection as so â€Å"Immobilized by the competing imperatives of ‘wicked desire’ and ‘deadly fear,’ Harker awaits an erotic fulfillment that entails both the dissolution of the boundaries of the self and the thorough subversion of conventional Victorian gender codes,† (Stoker, Auerbach, and Skal 444). Craft is correct that this is a clear subversion of conventional Victorian gender norms. Both Jonathan and the Dracula’s Wives represent a total reversal of what would have been considered normal or appropriate in the 19th Century. Dracula’s Wives are the aggressors in this sexual scene while Jonathan is the passive or cautious sexual partner. His anticipation of the bite from one of the weird sisters is similar to that of a virgin woman waiting for her partner to penetrate her for the first time. The weird sisters represent the total opposite of what a proper Victorian woman is supposed to resemble. They are sexually aggressive and assertive instead of passive and prude. Another female character that occasionally reveals what would be considered very disturbing at the time of the novel’s publication is Lucy. Lucy at one point mentions to Mina that she wishes she didn’t have to choose just one man to be with and that she wishes she could be with all of them. Such a thought was considered scandalous during the time period and even though Lucy is aware that what she is saying is inappropriate she is not able to keep from expressing her true desires to Mina. The wives and Lucy are a few of the key xpressions of subverted 19th century norms in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Jonathan and Mina’s relationship is another example of Stoker’s subverting of traditional 19th century social mores and norms in his classic story. Throughout the book we see Jonathan and Mina’s characters switch gender roles from a more traditional representation to an inverted r epresentation. Mina is no ordinary Victorian age female. She does desire to serve her husband and unlike Lucy doesn’t express the desire to be with any other partners, but Mina is special in the eyes of the male characters in the story. Van Helsing and the other men believe Mina’s mind to be like that of a man. This would be considered a huge compliment at the time because women were not often thought of being capable of thinking on the same intellectual level as men. On the other hand, Jonathan begins to fall apart. He suffers from fevers which cause him to have fits of almost insanity. During this time he certainly is not thinking on the intellectual level that he once did and it is clear that Mina is the more enlightened of the two lovers. This represents one inversion of traditional gender norms. People didn’t considered that a woman could be the more capable mind in a relationship but that is precisely what Mina is during the majority of the novel. That is not the only example of gender reversal in Dracula, at one point Jonathan becomes faint in public and to keep him from falling Mina supports him. It would have been considered very odd to see a woman in public supporting a man like this. Stoker uses Mina and Jonathan’s relationship as another subversion of 19th century traditional social mores and norms in Dracula. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Stoker’s Dracula is the inverse of maternity. The inverse of maternity represents an almost perfect subversion of traditional 19th century social mores and norms. Craft also wrote is his reflection, â€Å"Stoker emphasizes the monstrosity implicit in such abrogation of gender codes by inverting a favorite Victorian maternal function,† (Stoker, Auerbach, and Skal 453). Maternity hasn’t changed much sense the 19th century, women are expected to care for the children above all other responsibilities. Needless to say the feeding on defenseless children by Lucy and Dracula’s Wives is a complete opposite of maternity. The feasting on children is particular disturbing and shocking no matter what era one is born in and represents what is a predominate theme in Dracula the inverse of Maternity. Another example of the inverse of Maternity is the scene in which Dracula cuts his own breast and forces Mina to drink from his wound. Craft writes, â€Å"We are at the Count’s breast, encouraged once again to substitute white for red, as blood becomes milk,† (Stoker, Auerbach, and Skal 458). This interpretation is consistent with what I found. Clearly Stoker is creating a disturbing image that resembles a mother feeding her baby and totally turns maternity on its head. Craft goes on to suggest that perhaps the scene represents more than just an inverse of maternity and that the blood Mina drinks from the Count is actually semen. I agree that the scene resembles forced fellatio but the resemblance to a mother feeding her baby is too obvious a connection not to be made. Inverse of maternity is the true symbol of this scene. In many ways Dracula can be viewed as ahead of its time. Many of the story’s developments, which were considered to be horrifying during the Victorian age, don’t cause many to bat an eyelash in today’s society. Stoker subverts traditional 19th century social mores and norms in Dracula through the portrayal of sexually aggressive and assertive females, Jonathan and Mina’s relationship, and the inverse of Maternity.

Ex-Convict Discrimination in Singapore

Ex-Convict Discrimination in Singapore After leaving the physical incarceration, ex-offenders find themselves entering into the second prison, where they have to tear down the invisible walls formed by the social stigma, the fear and distrust from the society (Youth Reloaded, 2005). Because mindset and attitudes are difficult to change, they often find difficulties in integrating back to the society. If the situation does not improve, inequality will continue to exist in the society. We should then implement pragmatic solutions to alleviate the discrimination against them. The Issues and Who Are Involved Ex-offenders are those who have finished serving their prison term or those with a criminal record or history (Guralnik, 1970). Every year in Singapore, around 11,000 ex-convicts are released back to the society (Singapore Prison Service). The employment statistics is one of the key indicators on the ability of these ex-offenders to reintegrate successfully in the society. Industrial Services Co-Operative Society (ISCOS) has helped 3,000 ex-offenders to find jobs so far (938Live, 2010). 81 percent of those who got a job stayed on for 3 months (Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises, 2008). In this essay, I seek to discuss on the causes, implications, and propose solutions on discrimination against ex-offenders. Support programmes such as the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) and organisations such as SCORE exist and it is important that we evaluate the effectiveness of these organisations in helping ex-offenders to reintegrate into the society. In my opinion, isolating other effects, the re-integration rate will therefore serves as an indication of the level of discrimination against these ex-offenders. The little interaction between the public and ex-inmates is a result of feeling of unequal treatments and stereotyping. The public treats ex-offenders unfairly as they feel that they should compensate for their wrongdoing. Ex-offenders themselves are also aware of the prejudice against them. Some resigned this to their fate and ended up avoid opening up to the society. It is therefore important that we recognize the existence of such issues and raise awareness to reduce the degree of discrimination and to assist these ex-offenders. Firstly, most of the offenders have tattoos on their body, which signifies status, power and belonging to a certain group. Because of stereotyping, we tend to group those who have tattoos as those who have committed crimes. Out of fear and concerns of being associated with these people, we reacted by standing far away. What we failed to recognise is that how we interpret the information we obtained affects our judgement. These tattoos could have been due to a moment of folly during their adolescent stage. On an organisational level, some employers are still unwilling to hire ex-offenders, because they believe that leopards can never change its spots. It is heartening to see the number of ex-offenders being employed have increased with the years but we cannot guarantee that they have been given equal rights as the others. For example, at least 30 employees at the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa had to leave their job because all of them failed the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA)s background checks. Failure to disclose was taken to assess the applicants integrity, honesty and character (Lim Lim, 2010). There is no difference on whether if those with criminal records declared or not, they still had their contracts terminated anyway. Does the criminal history necessarily the best and only predictors for future performance? Do we judge those have continuously erred and condemn that they do not deserve the chance to repent? In addition, job applicants are required to declare that if they have been convicted in a court in any country before. Because this is usually a one-liner question, ex-offenders applications can be filtered out without considering the seriousness of the offences or even the recidivism rate of the offender (Youth Reloaded, 2005). This may provide an opportunity for employers to screen out ex-offenders and justify if there any inappropriate acts in the company in future (Coble-Krings,2007).Being desperate, these applicants may lie about their background and will be marked down further for dishonesty. Moving up to legislation, the Registration to Criminals Act was amended in 2005, to allow the ex-offenders to mark their records as spent, meaning that there is no need to discuss the existence of the records in most cases, if the offences committed are minor and they were crime-free for five years (Attorney-Generals Chambers, 2005). This means that those with serious offences such as sentences imposed include imprisonment term of more than 3 months or a fine exceeding $200,000, are not allowed to do so, thus, the implementation of the policy is unfair as it deprives those with a serious offence a chance to start anew. Comparing with United States, the treatments of ex-offenders in Singapore are, in my opinion, much better. In the United States, the ex-offenders were not allowed to apply for employment licenses or work in organisations dealing with those that needs more attention, such as elderly and children (Love, 2006). Why is it important for us to talk about it? The society plays a significant role in the reintegration of the ex-offenders. Ex-offenders, no matter what mistakes they made, are still part of us and are assets to the society. However, despite their willingness to start to from ground zero, we shun away and discriminate them. High unemployment is linked to increase in rate of recidivism (Finn, 1998).Therefore, when they are unable to secure a job, the path of recidivism seems easier and they will revert back to their old ways to survive. This remains risky although the recidivism rate in Singapore has remained at 25 % since 2006 (Singapore Prison Service, 2009). Where can we start to fix the problem? No steady source of income means ex-offenders and their families may not be able to afford basic necessities for survival and cannot move away from their social class. Those families that grew desperate may resort to crimes to get what they wanted. Thus, it is difficult for ex-offenders to live a better life when they are not given the same opportunities. The vicious cycle continues as their future generations may follow the footsteps of the older generations. To reduce and even eliminate the stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination against these ex-offenders, it is important that we find out the root causes of this issue and implement various programmes and activities to encourage active participation as increased interaction may improve the perspective of the public towards ex-offenders. To begin with, organizations should organize more activities to provide both the public and ex-offenders an opportunity to interact. Such activities may be visit to the prisons and / or halfway houses, outdoor and indoor activities, community service projects or even, encourage ex-offenders to participate in existing events such as Yellow Ribbon Prison Run. Through interaction, we develop bonds and trust and these may change the perspective of the public towards them and therefore reduce the extent of discrimination. Many ex-offenders have low self-esteem and are afraid of rejection. Therefore, we should involve the ex-offenders in the planning and executing of events in the community. These events provide an opportunity for the ex- inmates to showcase their talents in various areas. Also, besides the technical skills acquired from the support programmes, the programmes should also focus on soft skills such as interpersonal skills. These ex-convicts should also learn more about resume writing and interview skills, as these will help them to market themselves well. As mentioned above, employers often do not want to give ex-offenders a second chance. Non-acceptance has killed the only hope that these ex-offenders have to reintegrate into the society. Currently, we have campaigns such as Help To Unlock The Second Prison (Yellow Ribbon Project), which focuses on the role that society plays. However, I feel that the campaigns should also focus on the ability and skills that these ex-offenders have to contribute. We have job seminars from SCORE and ISCOS, but to enhance the public confidence in them, we can consider cooperating with companies to provide these ex-offenders transitional jobs as probationers (Fahey, Roberts Engel, 2006) to start them off for several years so that they have relevant working experience, instead of merely skills acquiring in the rehabilitative programmes. After the transition period, these organizations can also help to recommend the employees to other companies. We should further improve on the interview question so that it allows the ex-offender to declare that they have convicted for which offences and also the year of conviction. Company can now decide if these offences are detrimental to the interests of the stakeholders. The company will suffer the heaviest losses if the ex-offenders cause any troubles. Also, the job applicants gain from this as the employers are practising selective screening rather than a total elimination. There are also calls to ban the declaration box so that past criminal record will not affect employment. (Henry Jacobs, 2007). However, I feel that the employers are right to protect their interests and the ex-offenders should be honest and convince the employers on their efforts to stay out of crime. I acknowledge that the amendment to the Registration of Criminals Act is a good move to redress discrimination. However, I feel that this should be made applicable to all ex-offenders, retaining the five years crime-free period, but instead of disqualifying serious offenders, their time-frame could be extended up to 10 years. If the solutions proposed above are being implemented on a long-term basis, the mindset of the public may change and be more accepting towards ex-offenders and the Singapore will move towards as a progressive society as a whole.

Personal Narrative - To Leave or To Stay Essay -- Personal Narrative G

To Leave or To Stay Have you ever felt lost? Have you ever felt scared of the future not knowing what to expect and what to do? If you have then you have experienced a crisis that you had to resolve in order to continue your life normally. Sometimes it is really hard to know what is best and to realize what have to be done, and the younger you are the harder it is. No matter what you think though, the only way to solve your problem is to sit down and think about it and come up with all the positive sides and all the negative sides of the situation, and then decide what you should do. I was 16 years old when I faced my biggest crisis. I did not know what to do; I even refused to think about it. I thought everything was going to resolve itself but that was impossible. My mother had received an opportunity to come legally to the United States as permanent residents and she was also allowed to take her family with her – my father, my brother and me. They seemed to be happy about it. That was their dream, but I didn’t know what to think and whether to be happy or sad about this. The thought that I had to leave everything I owned and everything I loved and then go somewhere else to start a whole new life scared me. What about all the friends I had? What about the relatives†¦ my dog? What about the beautiful Bulgarian mountains and lakes and the Black Sea, and my little garden in the back yard. What about my whole life up to that point. Would I still be able to come back to it? Would it be the same? Would my friends still be my friends and remember me ? I was confused and scared. There were so many questions in my head. I was afraid to imagine leaving even for a part of the second. Time was passing and my crisis did not resolve i... ... much time together, we still kept in touch and we were not going to forget each other. My sweet best friend, the German Shepard Nora waited for me by the door and gave me a big kiss when she saw me. She looked good and healthy due to my responsible and caring grandparents that took care of her. The other good thing was that I like traveling anyway, so now I have one more good reason to travel more often. This is also why I want to share my favorite quote with you:† Distance isn't for the fearful, it's for the bold. It's for those willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for little time with the ones they love. It's for knowing a good thing when they see it even if they don't see it nearly enough.† I do not know who said this, but I know that it sounds right. Now I know that I have made the better decision and I am glad that I came over to the United States. Personal Narrative - To Leave or To Stay Essay -- Personal Narrative G To Leave or To Stay Have you ever felt lost? Have you ever felt scared of the future not knowing what to expect and what to do? If you have then you have experienced a crisis that you had to resolve in order to continue your life normally. Sometimes it is really hard to know what is best and to realize what have to be done, and the younger you are the harder it is. No matter what you think though, the only way to solve your problem is to sit down and think about it and come up with all the positive sides and all the negative sides of the situation, and then decide what you should do. I was 16 years old when I faced my biggest crisis. I did not know what to do; I even refused to think about it. I thought everything was going to resolve itself but that was impossible. My mother had received an opportunity to come legally to the United States as permanent residents and she was also allowed to take her family with her – my father, my brother and me. They seemed to be happy about it. That was their dream, but I didn’t know what to think and whether to be happy or sad about this. The thought that I had to leave everything I owned and everything I loved and then go somewhere else to start a whole new life scared me. What about all the friends I had? What about the relatives†¦ my dog? What about the beautiful Bulgarian mountains and lakes and the Black Sea, and my little garden in the back yard. What about my whole life up to that point. Would I still be able to come back to it? Would it be the same? Would my friends still be my friends and remember me ? I was confused and scared. There were so many questions in my head. I was afraid to imagine leaving even for a part of the second. Time was passing and my crisis did not resolve i... ... much time together, we still kept in touch and we were not going to forget each other. My sweet best friend, the German Shepard Nora waited for me by the door and gave me a big kiss when she saw me. She looked good and healthy due to my responsible and caring grandparents that took care of her. The other good thing was that I like traveling anyway, so now I have one more good reason to travel more often. This is also why I want to share my favorite quote with you:† Distance isn't for the fearful, it's for the bold. It's for those willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for little time with the ones they love. It's for knowing a good thing when they see it even if they don't see it nearly enough.† I do not know who said this, but I know that it sounds right. Now I know that I have made the better decision and I am glad that I came over to the United States.

Neuropsychological Testing Essay example -- Health, Diseases, Brain Im

Neuropsychological testing is used to assess and diagnosis brain impairments, such as a head injury, dementia, or Alzheimer’s (Gregory, 1999). Purposes of neuropsychological assessments include determining if the problem is physiological (e.g., brain damage or lesion), the nature of the dysfunction (e.g., location or type), and cognitive deficits caused by the problem (Class Notes VIII). For example, following a brain injury, a neurological battery of tests may be given in order to assess the individual to see if there has been any change in cognitive functioning. Results from neurological assessments can provide information on the individual’s current mental capacities, which allows for the development of a specific diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan (Gregory, 1999). Additionally, these tests help document the effects of a progressive illness (i.e., Alzheimer’s) or can confirm the individual’s recovery (Gregory, 1999). Furthermore, if suspici on or referral questions about cognitive functioning are presented, then screening tests are often given beforehand to assess whether or not a neurological test battery or flexible battery is required. These screening tests are shorter versions that are easier to administer and interpret than the long intensive neurological test batteries (Gregory, 1999). A neuropsychological battery of assessments examines areas that are sensitive to brain trauma or disorders, such as intelligence, memory, language, visuospatial and motor abilities, and frontal lobe functioning. The WAIS is specifically useful to neuropsychological testing because it can be used to examine these same areas. The intelligence aspect is generally measured by a standard intelligence test like the WAIS-III or WAIS-I... ...r-level concept formation. Furthermore, reading ability on the WAIS-III can predict the score on the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WRAT). Some problems with using this approach is that reading is dependent on education and verbal abilities and brain damage can cause problems with reading ability (e.g., aphasias), so another test would have to be administered in the neuropsychological evaluation (Schoenberg et al., 2002). Overall, the WAIS can be a useful tool to include in a neuropsychological battery. It can help estimate a person’s premorbid IQ and some of the individual subtests can provide insight into the section of the brain that may be dysfunctional. However, the WAIS may also be a difficult test to use to estimate cognitive decline, because there are so many tasks involved in the WAIS tasks that it is hard to separate out what they real problem may be.

Hemingway’s novel “The Old Man and the Sea” Essay

Hemingway’s late novel â€Å"The Old Man and the Sea† lends itself readily to allegorical and religious interpretation; indeed, myriad critical texts exist wherein   â€Å"solutions† to the novel’s extensive and haunting symbolism crowd the pages until the reader begins to doubt the efficacy of any single interpretation. The complexity of Hemingway’s â€Å"fish† story demands as wide an appraisal as can be summoned by the reader and critic, forfeiting claims to any single or final statement on the novel’s specific religious connotations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Without a doubt, traditional components of Roman Catholicism (as well as ancient pagan religious imagery and themes) form a vibrant part of the novel’s theme. For example, the concepts of sin (and original sin) rise as central to the tension, suspense, and character development of the novel. Santiago, the novel’s protagonist undergoes two seemingly separate battles during the course of the novel: first against a gigantic marlin he hopes to catch while fishing alone, far at sea; the second battle he wages – against sharks who â€Å"steal† his prize – leads to a pyrrhic victory. Along the way, both external events blend with Santiago’s internal monologues, which indicate an inner, spiritual struggle, one which first intimates itself and then clearly reveals itself to be universal, rather than personal, in nature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By creating a deeply sympathetic character during the first third of the novel, and extending this reader-identification through the more morally ambiguous and treacherous parts of the story, Hemingway allows for universal reader sympathy. Santiago’s portrayal is one of honor, courage, compassion, and humility. These aspects of his character align him with a state of â€Å"purity† or sinless-ness, as though his world mirrors that of the â€Å"pre-fallen† Eden. After killing the great marlin and then losing this trophy to a feeding frenzy of sharks, Santiago embodies the original sin of all men, women and, in fact, Satan Himself, as described by traditional Catholicism.   The sin, stated simply is: pride. A more complex interpretation: that Santiago by traveling far out to sea beyond where any other fisherman would go and in attempting to catch a bigger fish than any fisher man could catch alone, demonstrates Santiago’s will toward individualism and – so – a will against his hitherto modest station in life.  Ã‚   When the sharks attack, Santiago construes them as a punishment for what he has done, by venturing out â€Å"beyond all people. Beyond all people in the world.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   During the first night of his fight with the marlin, Santiago starts to feel a sense of guilt for what he is doing. â€Å"I am only better than him through trickery,† he thinks, â€Å"and he meant me no harm.† Previously, Santiago believed that fishing for food was a noble act, at sea, fighting the marlin, he begins to believe differently. His self-directed comment about trickery parallels the idea of the Tree of Knowledge and original sin. Mankind’s pride in intelligence leads to senseless destruction, fueled not by need, but by vanity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Santiago’s plight brings upon intense reader-sympathy and the inner-struggle described through Santiago’s monologues helps introduce and sustain the spiritual catharsis Santiago experiences, also in the reader. One perceives that an act of vanity or pride carries deep repercussions even if it may seem trivial: a fisherman who fishes not for food but for fame  Ã‚   will wound and destroy   beauty.   At the end of the novel all that is left of the great fish is a skeleton washed away in the tide. Santiago’s sin is that he should have loved and not hunted and killed the great marlin, but in falling prey to his vanity he enacted a universal, human urge, which ultimately produced tragedy and then †¦ wisdom, rather than mere â€Å"trickery.†

Every Reality Is a Fiction, the Player Essay

Our world consists of many realties. Two being commercial, and the other, artistic. A commercial reality is one limiting risk, and predictability, always aiming to suit those who yearn for it. Artistic reality however, breaks rules, and has social merit. This means there are many possible outcomes. One could be saddened or depressed by the reality, and others, joyful. It is because of this uncertainty in artistic realities that the film industry, as well as many other industries, have taken it upon themselves to glorify the truth. It is because of their coexistence that causes them to clash. The statement that every reality is fictitious, is rather bold however. Although in numbers, there are a few people who hold very strong moral and have a sense of quality in what they do. The Hollywood film industry is mainly commercial. Offering little or no interest in writers work that consists depth. This reality consumes those considered â€Å"naive† to the industry. Commercial realities are realities that are created by people who want to escape their own and subconsciously create a reality that is deemed impossible to the â€Å"real† world. Commercial realities are attractive to most, because you can experience something otherwise unimaginable. This is known as a reality lacking artistic merit. It is us, the audience of massive Hollywood productions, that show true appreciation of films made by producers who show no other interest than creating fictional nonsense and profiting from it. Hollywood creates commercially successful films without artistic merit, and those that have this merit are difficult to come by. Movies such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Ernest Lehmen, and Boys Don’t Cry by Kimberly Peirce pose a social function, and â€Å"break the rules† of The Film Industry. The film making industry is created by artificial characters living paranormal lives that we aspire to have. However, who can jump from a 4 story building and land on the ground with no injury? Who can be stabbed and instantly heeled by only a bandage and continue battling the world with heroic attributes and a vision to sustain â€Å"humanity as we know it†? Commercial realities are fictitious, stick to a strict formula, and leave us dreaming of a better life. The American Film Industry however, would argue that without these commercially rich movies, there will be no economic growth without the return or investment they provide. A contrasting reality to those of commercial is that of artistic. This reality has deeper meaning to it, and value. Artistic reality may be generally defined as the attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic challenging elements. Artistic reality is better known as ‘realism. ’ â€Å"Realism revolted against the exotic subject matter and exaggerated emotionalism and drama of the Romantic Movement. Instead it sought to portray real and typical contemporary people and situations with truth and accuracy, and not avoiding unpleasant or sordid aspects of life. † – Sourced from Wikipedia’s â€Å"Realism (art)†. Artistic realities reveal the truth, which means they may emphasize the ugly or despicable. Artists use their work as a form of expressionism, which is open to interpretation. Their oeuvre breaks the rules, as they see the ordinary, and can create new pieces that challenge the mind and provide social merit. Many people attempt to depict things accurately, from either a visual, social or emotional perspective. Theatre Realism shares many stylistic choices with naturalism, including a focus on every day (middle-class) drama, colloquial speech, and mundane settings. Realism rejects imaginative idealization in favour of a close observation of outward appearances. Often artistic realities can be labelled as fictitious. This is due to the majority of society being so involved in consumerism, that they can no longer differentiate from commercial being formulated, and artistic as challenging. Commercial realities enhance the breeding of money. Commercial values manipulate the very anatomy of a natural, mundane reality. â€Å"Commercially precious films of ‘reality’ have become the organ grinder’s monkeys of money. † They are made to increase the generative value and staying in power of money, the power of money to breed money, to fertilize itself. They are not made to empower people and provide certain value. Artistic reality however, leaves no stone unturned. Realism sees little value in money, and it sees no reciprocal material possession that could be exchanged for money. Artistic realities merely capture that which is tangible and accurate. Society may attempt to defend themselves by escaping this as it may be deeply depressing. It is the confusion of distinguishing between commercial and artistic realities that ultimately reduces both to nothing but fictitious mumbo jumbo that controls our lives. The difference between the two is huge, however difficult for ‘commoners’, or those not involved in the film industry, to interpret. Whether an individual comprises their lives of commercial or realistic values, these values can be labelled as fabricated or factual. The film industry’s repackaging and misrepresentation of the truth to suit themselves, is entirely profitable. This profitability is their ultimate ruling guideline. If a film does not provide profits, the film was a total failure, regardless of its social merit. Artistic realities are open to interpretation and provide a bit of freedom for people to choose the outcomes of scenarios. Painters, writers, film makers and news reporters are some of the main people involved in the way reality is interpreted because they are their own masters, and creators. Every one watches them, reads their papers or interperates their work. It is important for people to recognise that regardless of the message that is trying to be brought across, that reality is subjective, and hence, it may appear fictitious to anyone apart from their maker. Commercial or artistic.

Hospitality and Destiny in the Odyssey and Sundiata Essay

Princeton’s Wordnet defines hospitality as â€Å"[the act of] cordial reception: [or] kindness in welcoming guests or strangers.† Since the start of this semester, we have read about two different journeys in which hospitality plays an important role in fulfilling the destiny of the main character. In Homer’s Odyssey, many examples of this are apparent, whether they are for the benefit or the downfall of the protagonist Odysseus. However, Odysseus is not the only one whom hospitality rules. His son Telemachus also is affected by his hospitality towards others. In Niane’s Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali, the theme of hospitality runs thick throughout the narrative, as Sundiata is greatly affected by how the other characters receive him. If it were not for the hospitable acts shown to both of the weary travelers, Odysseus and Sundiata may not have been able to return to their homeland. The extreme observance of hospitality in the two texts may be compared with the golden rule: treat others, as you would like to be treated. The rule of hospitality may also be applied to the gods. In the time of Odysseus, gods or deities could take the form of humans or alter human appearance. If a stranger showed up at your door, you might not know whether they are mortal or immortal. If you turned away a god or someone loved by the gods, this could anger them and in turn they could avenge your inhospitable act. The gods might respond with not giving you a good harvest or make your life a complete hell, as Poseidon did to the journey of Odysseus. Good hospitality was to be displayed towards everyone, no matter age or gender. In The Odyssey, not only was Odysseus treated well by the lords of the lands he visited, but, his young son, Telemachus, was treated with respect. In Sundiata, hospitality was not only showed towards men, but also women. When Sassouma forced Sogolon into exile, the neighboring lands and kings she and her children encountered treated them with generosity. In The Odyssey many hospitable acts were displayed before kings even knew who had ventured to their land. When Telemachus travels to Pylos seeking information about his father, King Nestor treated him and Pallas Athena with much respect. As they approached the citadel King Nestor and his son spotted them. â€Å"As soon as they saw the strangers, all came crowding down, urging  them to sit. Nestor’s son Pisistratus, first to reach them, grasped their hands and sat them down at the feast on fleecy throws† (Homer 108, lines 39-44). This demonstrates how welcoming the Pylians are towards strangers. This is truly a hospitable greeting because the Pylians were not just carousing around, but in fact were involved in a feast in honor of the god Poseidon. They invited these foreign guests in as if they were members of the royal family to take part in the feast. Menelaus, like Nestor, treated his guest as part of the royal family before knowing their names. Menelaus provided Telemachus and Pisistratus with food but not just any food but, â€Å"He passed them a fat rich loin with his own hands, the choicest part, that he’d been served himself† (Homer 126, 74-75). The Greeks loved to eat and what an honor it would have been to be given the kings slab of meat. He also had women bathe them, rub them with oil, and provide them with warm fleece and shirts to wear. Before Telemachus was to leave, Menelaus insisted on giving him many gifts but Odysseus’ young son respectfully declined any such gifts. Menelaus insisted on giving him a mixing bowl forged to perfection made of solid silver with a lip of gold made by Hephaestus himself (Homer 144, 692-694). The hospitality shown by Menelaus is a great example of treating others as you would like to be treated. Menelaus, the great and lustrous king, showered his guest with the best of everything, as he would have wanted done for him. Not only in The Odyssey and ancient Greece was hospitality shown towards strangers, but it also occurred in Sundiata. The first stop on the exile journey of Sundiata was Djedeba. The king there received them with a little mistrust, but mentioned that everywhere the stranger enjoys the right to hospitality (Niane 29). The stay with the king of Djedeba lasted two months and not much is mentioned in the novel of what was given to Sundiata and his family. But the stay with Djedeba emphasizes the point that even though someone may be wary of allowing strangers to stay with them, the act of hospitality is entitled to all strangers who need a place to stay. Those who were members of the highest social class were not the only ones expected to practice hospitality. Hospitable acts were to be practiced by  and towards all social classes. When Odysseus returned to Ithaca, Athena disguised him by dressing him in beggar clothes. She directed him towards the swineherd’s establishment. The swineherd had to save the king from his beastly dogs and after this invited him into his home. The swineherd, Eumeaus, told Odysseus, â€Å"It’s wrong, my friend, to send any stranger packing-even one who arrives in worse shape than you† (Homer 303, 64-65). Odysseus told him, â€Å"May Zeus and the other gods give you your hearts desire for the royal welcome you have shown me here† (Homer 303, 60-62). The hospitality that was shown towards the beloved king no doubt pleased the gods. Even though the swineherd could not provide the extravagant baths, bedding, and food of kings, he still gave Odysseus the best of what he had. Odysseus was invited by the swineherd to sit down on a pile of brush and twigs covered with the skin of a shaggy wild goat, which was the swineherd’s own good bedding. He fed the king scrawny pigs that were freshly slaughtered. This was the best food that could be offered by the swineherd because the suitors who overran the home of Odysseus took the fattened pigs. The hospitality shown by the swineherd proves that one does not have to offer the best of things to show hospitality towards strangers. Hospitable acts were not expected only to be shown towards the living, but the deceased deserved the same rights. In Sundiata, when it came time to leave Mema and return to Mali, Sogolon passed away. Sundiata said to the king, â€Å"King, you gave me hospitality at your court when I was without shelter†¦In any case, allow me to bury my mother before I go† (Niane 46). The king was outraged that Sundiata wanted to leave his country and at first refused. But either it was fear, or out of respect he had for Sundiata, or a combination of both, Sundiata got his wish. Burial grounds were provided for Sogolon in the country of Mema. Showing hospitality towards the dead is as important towards showing it towards the living. Hospitality was not to go unnoticed either; hospitable acts were expected to be repaid when the time arose. A great example of repaying hospitality came from Menelaus. Telemachus and Nestor’s son arrived outside the gates of  Menelaus’ estate and lord Eteoneus runs through the halls and delivers the news to the battle-hardened king and ask, â€Å"Should we unhitch their team for them or send them to someone free to host them well†(Homer 125, 33-34)? Menelaus responds hastily, â€Å"Just think of the hospitality we enjoyed at the hands of other men before we made it home†¦And bring them in strangers, guest, to share our flowing feast†(Homer 125, 38-39, 41-42). Menelaus wants to show the same hospitality to those who visit his land just as the rulers showed him when he was in need. Political alliances also proved to be good situations to practice hospitality. One of the stops on the exile journey of Sundiata and his family was the region of Ghana. When they arrived they were greeted by the king’s brother who made them comfortable and brought water for them to quench their thirst. After Sogolon explained where they were from and why they were in exile the king, Soumamba, responded, â€Å"No one has ever found our hospitality wanting. My court is your court and my palace is yours† (Niane 34). The reason for easy welcoming of the strangers was the history of the relationship between Mali and Ghana. The king also said to his brother, â€Å"Brother, look after our guests. Let Sogolon and her children be royally treated and from tomorrow let the princes of Mali sit among our children† (Niane 34). Another hospitable act in Sundiata, which involved alliances between nations, happened again in Mema. This alliance had to do with the family relationship of two kings. Upon their arrival at Mema, the sister of the king greeted Sogolon and her family and housed them in a wing of the palace. They were recommended by Soumaba to come to Mema, and after showing the king of Mema, Moussa Tounkara, a letter from Soumamba the king said, â€Å"My cousin Soumaba recommends you and that is enough. You are at home. Stay here as long as you wish† (Niane 36). Sundiata became so beloved by the people and the king that he became viceroy and even secured a spot as heir to the throne of Mema. This is example of hospitality starts out as a friendly gesture, and evolves into a new set of hierarchal position for the traveling family. The hospitality shown by the people of Mema allowed the exiled royal family of Mali to become pretty much citizens of this new country. The act of hospitality is prevalent in both the Odyssey and Sundiata. Not  only do kings of regions and countries practice this act, but hospitality is expected to be practiced by everyone regardless of their social class. Hospitality should be shown towards everyone regardless how the two parties affiliate with one another. Hospitality goes along way in the stories of Odysseus and Sundiata. It creates relationships with lands that others fear, like the region of Ghana in Sundiata. It also creates relationships with those who have no prior relationships to those of foreign lands, like Telemachus creates with the comrades of his father. If only this type of hospitality was prevalent in society today our world would be a much more friendly and fearless place to live. Fagles, Robert. The Odyssey. New York: Penguin, 1996. Niane, D. T. Sundiata: an Epic of Old Mali. Harlow: Longman, 2006.